While some might say that the sentiments of Slumdog Millionaire are false (with the unlikelihood of the questions relating to Jamal’s life events chronologically and the closing dance video that brings Bollywood to Hollywood), remember that the film is a fantasy story. It’s about going from rags to riches and attaining the seemingly unattainable. It’s about cherishing love and trusting in the powers of fate. More than anything, it is a young man’s quest – through tough terrain – to locate and enrapture his soul mate. You won’t find chance, greed, or counterfeit emotions anywhere here.
In fact, I challenge you to name one emotion that doesn’t ring true. The laughs, the cries, the smiles, the screams, even the unsettling sequences and the warming sensations all thrive on multiple levels. The film has it all and solidifies that the lowest of the low can reach the highest of the high. Slumdog Millionaire deserves to walk the high-class streets with its head held proudly.
With his ninth motion picture, director Danny Boyle bends genres and appeases all. In addition, Slumdog’s cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle and score by A. R. Rahman enlighten all crowds of the ugliness and beauty of India. Furthermore, its multi-colored and non-intrusively placed subtitles (placed in creative locations to not divert the eyes to the bottom of the screen) amiably invite those afraid of reading foreign languages. Simply put, Slumdog Millionaire is suitable for everyone (of age).
After-all, doesn’t everyone share in the same aspiration: to win one million dollars (or more) through a lottery/game-show/Publishers Clearing House/etc. and be with the one they love? If this is the case, immerse yourself in awe and live the dream vicariously with Slumdog Millionaire. Here’s your chance to "walk into another life."
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Article comments
1 - Mumbai
I saw Slumdog Millionaire today. Boyle has really done a good job with this movie. While the movie deals with the gory details of the underbelly of Mumbai, it doesnt really leave you with a sick feeling. The story feels like a commentary and at the end you just feel good about the whole movie. Very well done I must say.
The music score by Rehman is amazing, the actors who played junior Jamal and Salim were the real stars. They were simply too good. Freida Pinto had just 15 mins of screen presence. I think she was overhyped.
2 - Cindy
Slumdog Millionaire's Poverty-stricken Child Stars Appear Used and Discarded by Filmmakers.
The film grossed more than $326 million, yet all this time later the two children who made this revenue possible are still living in squalor.
MUMBAI, India " The makers of "Slumdog Millionaire" met with the film's two impoverished child stars Wednesday in Mumbai, but the father of one of the children stormed out of the meeting, saying they've been forgotten since the movie won eight Oscars.
Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, both lost their homes this month as city authorities cleared out parts of the slum where they live.
Rubina has been staying with relatives and Azhar has been living in a makeshift shanty of tarps and blankets with his parents.