TIFF Review: Slumdog Millionaire
You will not hear me say this often when it comes to a review of a movie but I do not believe I can do Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire justice in a review. I could star listing of hyperbole after hyperbole and I would not be exaggerating one bit on how I feel about this movie. This is the movie that has made TIFF worthwhile by itself for me and I can’t recommend it strong enough.
The movie starts with Jamal, played by Dev Patel being tortured by a Irfan Khan, the police inspector. He wants to know how someone from the slums could be able to answer so many questions correctly on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. After Jamal is unwilling to admit to cheating during the torture they put him in front of a TV and one by one they go through the questions with him explaining how he knew the answers. Using this premise Danny Boyle is able to provide the audience with one of the most truthful, heartfelt stories that is so much more than the simple romance which it could have been.
One by one Jamal explains how he grew up with his brother Salim in the slums and how they became orphans and how they were taken in by gangsters who had the worst of intentions when it came to the young boys. We see time and time again Latika played by Freida Pinto come and go from Jamal’s life. All of his life in the slums of India have lead him to this point has lead him to where he is today. And each flashback gives beautifully told glimpses into the life of the poor in India as well as being a wonderful story.
I have yet to see Millions but I had heard before going in that Danny Boyle had a knack for getting the best out of child actors and I now fully believe it. Question by question we see Jamil, Salim and Latika age in front of us. We see them during their times of happiness and during the moments in their lives when everything has been turned upside down on them. Never once did I question the emotions and the acting of any of these children. Each and everyone of them were near perfect in their roles. Never once did question the love Jamil had for Latika nor how Salim could end up on a dark path.
It has been a while since a movie has touched me like Slumdog Millionaire did and from the reaction of the audience I am not alone. The applause for it was thunderous and I have never seen an audience clap along with the music in the closing credits. Danny Boyle has truly succeeded in creating a pitch perfect wonderful optimistic yet truthful movie that I am going to watch over and over again for a great many years.
I refuse to believe you John. The man who made Millions is irredeemable when it comes to stories about kids.
Comment by rot — September 8, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
well………
you rock….the movie rocks..and all the characters rock bigtime….
specialy the character of the oldest salim is brriliantly played.
Comment by the man above sucks — November 13, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
To be honest….Slumdog Millionaire Sucks…..no depiction of truth…even if it is made docu type…yep it sucks big time….only darker side of mumbai is shown and in fact muslim women and men get too much freedom in India that is even not possible in pakistan as well as middle-east countries. The undying and lively spirit of Mumbai should also been shown. And yes this is recorded:It is only city in the world that after going through series of blasts since 1991 (of course conducted by muslim terrorists) still has peaceful ambience (because Hindus & Christains of Mumbai never strongly reacted). This element of tolerance was absent in the movie which makes it void in loss of facts.
Comment by Anne Zinta — January 24, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
SlumDog Millionaire touched my heart…the harsh reality made me cry.I’ve seen this movie 10 times! The child actors were brilliant! The child actors of Salim,Latika,Jamaul and the others touched me deeply…i keep thinking about them especially when im on a long drive…
Touching movie!
Comment by Ann Ramdeo — February 1, 2009 @ 7:13 am
It fucking sucks by all sensible standards of film-making. I can’t beleive the hype this film has generated, just goes to show the marketing people involved are at the top of the game. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE, the film is ridiculous.
Comment by asdfw — February 10, 2009 @ 9:06 am
This movie totally sux. It does not have a hint of truth in it. Acting is mediocre and the script is ridiculous. There have been much better movies and surely this stink pile does not deserve 11 oscar nominations.
Comment by Ankur — February 13, 2009 @ 5:05 am
This movie was loosely and i mean loosely based on my life. I can tell you that this movie doesnt do me justice. in fact i hate this movie and am currently bringing on a indictment for character assassination. I didnt get any of my rupees. Let’s be honest 20 million rupees is worth roughly 435,000 us. I didnt end up with latika as they call her in the movie. her name was really rakeesha. I killed my brother and his name was not salim, it was saveem.
Comment by Story of my life — April 13, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
just kidding, i loved this movie and believe it was deserving of its awards. just had to be a antagonist before being a protaganist.
Comment by Story of my life — April 13, 2009 @ 2:52 pm