Slumdog Millionaire

Walking into Slumdog Millionaire, I had no idea what to expect. I knew the basic outline of the story; it was set in India, had Who Wants to be A Millionaire, and was centered around love. There was good word-of-mouth, but that isn't always reliable. So how did it turn out?

Great. The way the film weaves in and out between present and past, connecting the dots to why Jamal, a poor "slumdog", was on the popular game show, was exciting to watch. It is for Latika, his true love, but we expected that. The audience is supposed to ask why is this is the best way of getting her attention. The two come in and out of each others lives, with fate always cruelly separating them until their next reunion. Plus, Jamal's brother Salim is kind of a prick. He often assists fate in separating Jamal and Lakita. And director Danny Boyle can add another entry to his ever expanding genre list: Love. Watching Slumdog, I was reminded at times of another great film, City of God. Not that Boyle necessarily meant this, but the connection existed for me. Slumdog is a very worthy film, and it is certain to receive all kinds of awards. It deserves it.

Genre - Drama/Romance (3.75)

Screenplay (4)
Acting (3)
Production (4)
Directing (4)