The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Intrigued by Jamal’s story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out…
February 17th, 2009 at 3:28 am
A wonderful flick filmed in a city of dreams – Mumbai. The strongest point of the movie is the logical screenplay which unfolds with the movie. It makes it all the more special. Not to mention some of the touching scenes which portray the energy and daily life of Mumbai – a city with many faces and colors. Almost all actors are Indians and the core team is from Hollywood. Danny Boyle surely captured the plot of the novel in the best light. Jamal’s plight initially while being tortured by police was so touching and emotional that it seemed as if we were witnessing it first hand.
I would give it – 4 stars.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:59 am
With 8 Oscar awards, the whole team of Slumdog Millionaire has surely caught the attention of the West and in fact, the whole world – thanks to Danny Boyle.
This movie shot completely in Mumbai, is a story of hope – simple and pure in its essence. Clever direction and screenplay – they keep the audience involved in the movie. It is sad to see so many people live in the slums and lead a terrible life. Boyle has not changed or added a lot of glitz and glamour to the slum scenes… what you see in the movie is almost what is there in the slums.
Through the movie, you feel sad and empathise with Jamal and slowly grow to like his character. A must mention are the kids who have done a brilliant job. They are so realistic in each and every scene they appear in and this adds a lot to the movie. The music of the film is brilliant and kudos to AR Rahman for his 2 Oscars.
In short, Slumdog Millionaire is a simple story told cleverly. I would rate it – 3.5 stars! A good watch!
February 24th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Maybe I will the only person giving negative comments about this movie, I think the movie is really over rated! Why you ask, if you have ever watched bollywood (Indian) movies you will know that there a hundred such movies out there. Now don’t get me wrong, I think that the movie was very well done, I love the part of the kids, they are the real talent and should be the real winners of all the awards. The movie revolves a boy how had a tough life living in the slums and then goes on to winning the game show with a million! The smart part is how he actaully knows the answer to all the questions, as they are based on various events in his life.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I went into this movie a little bit skeptical. The premise of a poor orphan just “happening” to have experiences in his life that perfectly aligned with the questions he’d be asked on game show seemed a little forced to me. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to suspend disbelief or would find the plot machinations cutesy. To the contrary, I was swept up in the drama and optimism of this movie almost from the start, and I was happy to let go of any disbelief and just allow the story to take me where it would. Is it likely that this scenario could happen in real life? Most likely not, but that’s the whole point of movies sometimes–to wrap you up in a world that you wish could exist, where the good guy is able to win in the end and where sometimes things work out the way that you wish they would. Slumdog certainly has enough dark and depressing subject matter that the world it presents seems entirely real and believable. The “real world” dark points in the movie also make more willing to embrace the light points and accept the twists of fate that might otherwise seem a little contrived. In the end, Slumdog is a gutsy and bright little movie that lets you leave the theater feeling uplifted. Cute as the premise might seem at first glance, any movie that can sweep me up in its world and make me walk out of the theater feeling a little more optimistic about life is one that I will gladly recommend to everyone I find.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:35 am
I came to this movie with considerable incredulity; I don’t like to be told that “insert overrated movie here” is the best film I’ll see all year. Slumdog Millionaire Pleasantly surprised me with its pitch perfect balance between gritty reality of the Indian slums and criminal underworld and the Fairytale love story. I have to admit that I’m a sucker for a story told in flashbacks when it’s well done, and this was done exceedingly well. I found the connection between the “Slumdog” Malik and his lifelong love Latika to not only believable but emotionally engaging. Slumdog manages to bring to life the hopeless slums while simultaneously boiling with the hope of a better life and redemption. The cinematography was beautiful and effect and actually enhanced the storytelling rather than compete with it. This movie is the whole shebang a great movie to watch with your lady but wouldn’t be embarrassed at all to watch it with your boys.