SLUMDOG MILLIONAIREMain Players: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, et al.
Calling the shots: Danny Boyle (with co-director: India) Loveleen Tandan
Running time: 120mins
What's it about? Jamal is on the brink of a fairytale. He is on the last question of India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. When the show wraps for the night, he is kidnapped and interrogated on suspicion of cheating. As the questioning begins it slowly becomes apparent that this boy from the slums might be destined to win it all.
What did I think? Such a pity that films like this will never get the recognition that it requires. Well, maybe except during award season but it won’t make much at the box office. But it’s not all about the money…right?
The film is masterfully crafted (feels like I use that phrase a lot). The look of the movie is fantastic and it flows well. In lesser hands, the jumping timeline could have become a confusing and muddled mess, but under the guidance of Danny Boyle there’s no such issue. It is quite different from his other works (‘28 Days Later…’, ‘Trainspotting’) in theme but definitely the same style.
The relative unknown cast (correct me if I’m wrong, they are unknowns to me), do a marvelous job. They make complex characters seem everyday and somewhat relatable. You want him to win in the end because, gosh darn it, he deserves it.
It’s not completely without its flaws. The movie lacks a real “wow” moment. Even in its climatic moments, it lacks a certain “snap” and it’s almost rather confusing and pointless. The soundtrack also as good as it is, at times feels inappropriate and rather random. They also completely overplay the “fate/destiny” hand, so if that type of things doesn’t tickle your fancy, it might rub you the wrong way (that whole sentence sounded wrong).
It’s an enjoyable arthouse film. One of those movies you are unlikely to see again but it’s definitely worth your time. It’s thought provoking and makes you want to believe in destiny and fate. A hidden gem; in amongst the rubbish that gets released these days.
70%
No comments:
Post a Comment