Mini-Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire

I saw this movie almost three weeks ago but wanted to give it a review. This review isn't the full one it deserves but I wanted to say something.

This is a fascinating movie that revolves around a boy from the slums, Jamal, who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. On his first night on the show he gets to the last question and is to appear the next night for his shot at glory. The host, assuming a "slumdog" can't possibly have this much knowledge, has him arrested and interrogated by police because he is convinced he is cheating.

During the interrogation they go through each question and Jamal explains how his life events have given him the answers to each question. By showing the circumstances of Jamal, his brother Salim's and his lifelong crush Latika's difficult and tortured upbringing, director Danny Boyle has created heroes you can identify with and cheer for. Watching Jamal go one way was Salim take the other fork in the road is a bit cliched but works very effectively.

The most fascinating thing about the movie is the juxtaposition of the young brothers growing up in the slums of Bombay then returning to the thriving economic center of Mumbai, where their former slum is now full of skyscrapers.

The acting is fantastic, the music top notch, and the characters all extremely likable. This movie will get a lot of attention at awards season and deservedly so.

9/10