Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

You know it’s a recession when I have to choose between two movies, in this case Watchmen or Slumdog Millionaire. After seeing the Tomatometer at 94%, reading a few excerpt of critics wetting themselves, and of course being aware that the movie snatched up most of the hardware during award seasons among which the Oscar for Best Picture, we went for the Slumdog. Despite having to endure 20 minutes of pre-show waste timer (not even trailers!!), and nearly suffering a cerebral hemorrhage from that Army National Guard commercial spot, I did not regret it. Slumdog Millionaire was quite entertaining and yet profound and memorable.

The movie takes place mainly in Mumbai, India where the main character Jamal, is living a potential rags-to-riches dream come true. He is one question away from winning it all on the Indian version of Who wants to be a Millionaire? (not me, I want to be a billionaire). He was however arrested on suspicion that he is somehow cheating. How could an uneducated 20-yr old from the slums make it so far in the show? Through his interrogation, we get flashbacks to his destitute and violent childhood and how he knew the answers to the questions. Now to make it more complicated, Jamal doesn’t care about the damn money (idiot!), this simpleton is driven to get back with that girl Latika he fell in love with years ago. And what an investment he made!! From this:

On a much less important note, the cinematography was gorgeous, giving the viewer memorable images of both extreme poverty and wealth, capturing the beauty of India, and its fast paced upheaval. Although it’s a romantic story at its core, the movie dwells on the abject poverty of slum life. How orphan urchins are fetched and exploited as tools to make money and how the flame of love can keep going in the worst conditions possible. The creative structure of the screenplay doesn’t take anything away from the plot and the cast was outstanding, from top to bottom and beginning to end. A feel good story that will leave you with an appreciation for what we have.