Slumdog Millionaire Review
by Homer Yen (homeryen88 AT gmail DOT com)January 29th, 2009
"Slumdog Millionaire" - An Enjoyment of Riches
"Slumdog Millionaire" hits the ground running and even though most trailers show that the film revolves around the ubiquitous multiple-choice game show, it's certainly a whole lot more. The trailer is actually almost unfairly lighthearted and syrupy given how gripping the journey of two brothers (Jamal and Salim) from the slums of Mumbai is. It's 20% "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"; 30% "Oliver Twist"; and 50% "City of God".
Through luck or destiny, Jamal eventually winds up on the popular game show, and having the game show as the backdrop is very smart. First, it is a point of reference that everyone can relate to. Even though this is a foreign film (half of it is in English and half of it is in Hindi with subtitles) virtually everyone has seen Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. As a side note, apparently India's version is much tougher to play as the host is somewhat sinister and a wrong question causes the contestant to lose everything (instead of falling to some pre-determined amount of walk-away money).
Meanwhile, as the host asks Jamal each esoteric question, the film cuts away to his past, enlightening us on how Jamal came to know these answers. And it's not like Jamal spent his time getting good grades in school and hanging out at the library. The opening third of the film is heart-wrenching as we see both the elementary-school aged Jamal and Salim survive the squalid and brutal conditions of the slums. Thanks to some great cinematography and a pulsating soundtrack, the slums give you a sense of awe as much as it does a sense of revulsion. Indeed, Act I is the strongest.
The film follows the journey of these two brothers. They escape/travel across India. They meet vicious gangs. The two are extremely enterprising as they slowly accumulate wealth. They advance in their affluence. Their adventures bring them close to death many times and Jamal is saved frequently by Salim. But Salim is simultaneously a guardian and antagonist, rueful and selfish. Most hurtful is Salim's betrayal against Latika, the girl that Jamal loves. The film loses its footing somewhat in Act II as the brother's differences force each to go in a different direction. It was much more kinetic when it was the two of them working together against the cruel world. However, the love story that emerges is bittersweet given the against-all-odds scenario. Act III brings it all together as the destinies of the Jamal, Salim, and Latika come to its
conclusion.
"Slumdog Millionaire" crackles with energy. It's a film that surprises us with its relentless tenacity while it inspires us with its story of dogged determination. Here's a show not to be missed. So, what makes "Slumdog Millionaire" one of year's best?
a) It's a penetrating rags-to-riches story
b) It's a compelling against-all-odds story
c) It's an unlikely love story
d) It's a wholly different movie experience
Pick any of these choices as your final answer, and you you'd be right.
Grade: A-
S: 2 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
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