slumdog millionaire

THIS is a GREAT film. Go see it. Go, go, go. It is beautiful and revolting and wonderfully fresh like your favorite flavor of saltwater taffy found in the pocket of an old but comfy jacket, halfway out of its wrapper about four weeks after you went to the state fair. Whoa. Disgusting. Gotta eat it. Delicious.

Despite what reports are saying, SLUMDOG is *not* a film about a young man from Mumbai who goes on the hit show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" to impress his girlfriend. No. It's about a kid named Jamal who's been given shit to eat--at times literally--most of his life who goes on a game show to attempt to save the one girl he has ever loved. The part of his love interest, Latika, is clearly played by an Indian model (with some decent acting chops). Our main man has big ears and looks like a virgin. He definitely loves this girl.

SLUMDOG will pick you up, not right at the beginning, but about fifteen minutes in, when young Jamal jumps into the cesspool below a public potty hole (eww) as a sign of affection for his favorite celebrity. From there on, SLUMDOG is a ride you'll believe in. As one of the guards who questions Jamal later in the film intimates, this film makes it "bizarrely plausible" to believe love can conquer all. Oh, don't worry--I'm still a romantic cynic--but as far as cinematic cynicism is concerned, SLUMDOG has temporarily cured me of mine. FINALLY, a good movie. In an out. Not a hitch. Like my festy favorite, KISSES, it is artistically brilliant in its portrayal of "slum" life (or life in the "kiff" as the Irish kids would say), often relying on color to weave the tale on words' behalf. I loved it. And I'm officially expecting a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Simon Beaufoy (it's adapted from the Swarup novel "Q and A"), and perhaps a director nod for Danny Boyle, who has officially redeemed himself in my book after the likes of SUNSHINE. Egads.

plot: Anyone can win or lose.
thought: Who doesn't love the underdog?
in five: 4.5/5

for twenty million rupees: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/