When people ask me if I think they'll like a movie, I usually ask them what they like so I have context for my answer. With that said, trust that I do not say the following lightly. The beauty of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire lies in its universal appeal; an appeal achieved without sacrificing cinematic brilliance, visual style and a genuinely invigorating soundtrack. Slumdog Millionaire is for everyone, everywhere of every age. The fact that it's rated R is - a downright crime - and due to two instances of somewhat rough brutalism. Beyond that, Slumdog Millionaire invokes a wonder for a life well-lived; a life lived for more than money, fame or success. This should be remembered as 2008's best film.
Jamal Malik's life could never be defined as easy. Orphaned at an early age by an anti-Muslim riot, Jamal and his brother make their way between a Fagan-like caretaker, stints as impromptu tour guides at the Taj Mahal and beyond. Along the way they befriend a girl, Latika, whose path converges and diverges with their own due to circumstances beyond Jamal's control. But through it all, due to both the plot's sometimes cheesy circumstances yet equally brilliant construction, the story of Jamal and Latika presents the most compelling and heart wrenching story the cinema's seen all year long.
This brings us to the present, wherein Jamal hangs by his hands in an abandoned complex getting the Lethal Weapon shock treatment. Why? Because his recent appearance on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire has captured the imagination of everyone in India after he's successfully reached the final question. While this may sound less impressive to the American audience, the Indian Who Wants to be a Millionaire's notoriety comes from stumping even the most educated men and women who dare to take a place in the hot seat. So needless to say an uneducated Slumdog making it all the way to the final round has more than just a few people suspicious of his success - thus the rather brutal interrogation. As the officer in charge traces Jamal's success question by question we're shown his life story as it pertains to the answer of each question. Questions which bring him ever closer to gaining the attention of Latika, one of the show's many devoted fans.
In anyone else's hands the game show mechanism would have come across as cheap and empty - but with such a strong story and performances behind it, Slumdog Millionaire becomes a narrative triumph. The evolution of the three main characters becomes even more impressive when you take into consideration that each was competently, and at times superbly, acted by three different child actors to show their age progression. Each of these child actors, save for the oldest, present day, incarnations can claim Slumdog Millionaire as their first serious role - which will simply blow your mind when you see how beautifully they all perform (especially the youngest of the cast, unbelievable). The performances of greatest import undeniably come from Dev Patel and Freida Pinto who take the story of matured lovers with fate blocking every turn and make it more than just believable - they force you to connect.
Like Trainspotting and all of Danny Boyle's films, Slumdog is equal parts audio and visual. When aerial shots of chases through dingy India streets aren't jarring your mind with a perspective that lends context to the potential insignificance of any and all stories that can happen in India - the audio will kick your ass. Slumdog Millionaire takes the seemingly average story of seemingly average urchins and shows how extraordinary their circumstances become through something as simple as pure, unbridled desire to live a life beyond their means. The camera work keeps the viewer bouncing from each equally intense and entertaining scenario. The soundtrack, in typical Danny Boyle fashion, gives the film a vibrance that at times will put a smile on your face guaranteed. Just as Trainspotting was as much about its soundtrack (which is why it was released on two separate discs) as it was about the video, Slumdog Millionaire takes that setup and puts it in a vehicle with a subject matter much more audience friendly (no heroine and no dead heroine babies on the ceiling).
Slumdog Millionaire actually makes audiences stand up and clap. Not in that cheesy way that parents will do at a Disney movie to make their kids smile - it genuinely sparks a reaction from the deepest parts of humanity and triggers something real. Oh...and the awesome Bollywood dance number during the credits doesn't hurt either.
If Benjamin Button didn't exist - I'd tell you right here and now that Slumdog Millionaire will win the Best Picture Academy Award. It still probably will; Benjamin Button just makes it slightly less certain. That should be all the reason you need to go out and see it - because for once it'll be nice to have seen the small limited release flick before people start making a big deal about it. This is a truly great cinematic experience; you owe it to yourself to see Slumdog Millionaire.
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