NOTE: I'll try and add more to this review tomorrow. I'm still trying to process my thoughts on it so I can express myself better.
Slumdog Millionaire will do many things for audiences on an emotional level. It will captivate them, thrill them, make them sad, make them laugh a bit, and most interestingly, make them care about "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" again (although I don't expect the American version to suddenly experience a ratings spike). In his latest directorial outing, genre-master Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Sunshine) moves beyond gritty horror stories and epic science fiction yarns, and turns to one of the world's most chaotic countries in the world: India. Jamal Malik is a contestant on the Indian version of "Millionaire", and as the opening text informs us: "He is one question away from 20 million rupees. How did he do it? (A) He cheated, (B) He's a genius, (C), He's a liar, (D) it is written...". Once this is established, we're thrust into the sprawling flashback/flashforward narrative that covers just about all of Jamal's life leading up to his current situation. What could have been a tedious back-and-forth story is instead a marvelous, exhilarating, electric journey that showcases India and its people in their worst and best lights. Cinematography and editing are spectacular, and A.R. Rahman's score pulses with life, while the mostly young cast create characters that we care about. To spoil too much of this enchanting fantasy would be criminal, so instead let me offer this piece of advice: stop what you're doing, and go see this wonderful gem of a film.
Grade: A/A+
Nominations: Best Picture(#1 WINNER), Best Director - Danny Boyle(#1 WINNER), Best Supporting Actor - Dev Patel(# ??), Best Adapted Screenplay(#1 WINNER), Best Cinematography(#1 WINNER), Best Art Direction(#2), Best Original Score - A.R. Rahman(#1 WINNER).
Number of 2008 films seen: 45
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