The Critic's Corner

Ty Hampton

Critic's Corner

"Slumdog Millionaire" — 4 out of 5 stars

A powerful love story, great director, moving music, and organic ensemble cast make this multi-Oscar award winning independent film a universally appealing story for all.

Jamal (Dev Patel) and brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) grow up in the slums of India’s largest city Mumbai where they witness the murder of many including the slaying of the mother in their own neighborhood. Jamal and Salim band together with slum orphan girl Latika (Freida Pinto) for survival in a dangerous world.

The story is viewed from Jamal, who is being interrogated for possibly cheating on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” Jamal explains to investigators his story to allow them to understand how fate has brought him to the show not for money, but rather to catch the attention of his beloved Latika who was taken from him years back.

The struggle of enduring love against all odds between Jamal and Latika and loyalty vs. betrayal between Jamal and Salim make this foreign eastern tale an easy and compelling drama to connect with.

The story is moving, inspiring, and true-to-itself – and that’s all great – but a good story is made a great story by its storyteller. In this case, meet visionary and eccentric director Danny Boyle.

The British filmmaker is the creator of such acclaimed successes as “Trainspotting” and “28 Days Later”, an underrated sci-fi masterpiece like “Sunshine”, and a monumental flop like “The Beach.”

Although the story was adapted from a rather unknown novel to screenplay by British writer Simon Beaufoy (who also took home an Oscar as did Boyle), it is this bold director who takes the camera lens and shows us life from a truly different angle than we typically see it with each shot.

At the same time, I would not call any of Boyle’s work abstract as his unique take on things only seems more true to life, capturing the hidden beauty – even that of the impoverished slums – that we are too preoccupied to regularly see.

The cast all unknown to me – I literally had not seen a single face in this movie before I stepped into that theater and they were an amazing ensemble. The individual standout performances from the lead three characters self-dubbed the “Three Musketeers” were something else, but the entire foreign cast working together in unison like different parts of some sort of larger organism – now that was amazing.

In my opinion the biggest reason why this movie won the Oscar for best picture is all the interesting hurdles and roadblocks this film had to overcome to make it and the impact it has had as a true underdog film. Without a doubt, Slumdog is one of most successful independent films ever.

Was initially looked at to go straight to video but received an engaging turnout on the small limited release level before hitting big screens around the globe and winning over audiences worldwide with its heartfelt story.

Also a fact that has come out recently in the press is that most of the child actors in the film were actually recruited from the “slum” neighborhoods and have been given new homes for their families and a guaranteed means of higher education from the Indian government due to their roles in the successful film that exposed the darkside of impoverished life in Mumbai’s ghettos.

Anyways, back to the film itself. I haven’t seen a film since “Little Miss Sunshine” this filled with uplifting spirit that the movie’s climax makes you smile, clap, and even tear up a bit with joy all at the same time. I won’t say any more because I hate spoilers.

Oscar politics, hype, and global impact aside – this was not the best film I’d seen lately. I recently preferred the story and message of Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” which I gave 4.5 stars for a drama compared to the 4 out of 5 stars I’m giving Slumdog. Either way, both are great movies that I encourage you to see when you get the chance.

Slumdog is rated R for some violence, disturbing images, and language. The film is showing at Polson’s own Showboat 2 Cinemas at 4:15, 6:50, and 9:15 p.m. nightly.