For All The Rupees
Written: Dec 30 '08 (Updated Jan 01 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: A fine story and performances
Cons: May be too stereotypical for some
The Bottom Line: Not all answers are multiple choice.
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| pmills1210's Full Review: Slumdog Millionaire |
A young man makes an improbable run on a quiz show that has been syndicated all over the world. He's on the Indian edition of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" and just one question away from winning the top prize of 20 million rupees. Before he was the star of the moment on TV sets all over his country, he often lived a homeless existence on the streets of Mumbai. However, he did land a job serving tea at a telemarketing center, prompting the MC to joke that this teen is an "assistant phone basher." In reality, the MC wonders if the contestant is for real. In "Slumdog Millionaire," the young man is made to prove that during a night of police interrogation.
Virtually every question in the run of eighteen-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) has a connection to an event in his life. As host Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor) asks his questions, we see events from Jamal's life that show how the contestant came to know so much with so little formal education. Every correct answer not only makes him a face to watch as he goes for the money, but it makes Kumar a little suspicious. The film shows that experience has been a great teacher to Jamal, who has retained many a vivid memory of his young life. After his mother is killed in a mob action by anti-Muslim extremists, Jamal and his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) are forced to live on the streets of Mumbai. Jamal, against Salim's wishes, invites a fellow orphan named Latika (Freida Pinto) to live with them. One day, all three are given shelter by a man named Maman (Ankur Vikal), who runs an orphanage. His orphanage, though, merely serves as a front for his exploitation of children. Before Jamal can be exploited, Salim distracts Maman and his staff. The brothers make their escape, with Latika following. While the girl is recaptured, the boys make money by posing as tour guides at the Taj Mahal and by other means. Jamal, though, can't help but thinking about what has become of Latika.
The teens return to Mumbai and find that Latika works in a brothel run by Maman. A failed rescue by the boys results in Maman's death, and Salim going to work for a rival mobster named Javed (Mahesh Majrekar). Latika also remains, though she wants to be with Jamal more than anything. Javed, though, keeps her protected, for she is a valued commodity for anyone willing to pay big money for a virgin. When Javed decides to move, Jamal loses contact with his brother and his friend. When Jamal goes to work at the telemarketing company, he is able to relocate one of them, then the other. He learns that Latika is a fan of the game show, and uses the work phones to arrange for a tryout. When he's on the verge of winning the show's top prize, he is taken into custody forced to explain himself to Sergeant Srinivas (Saurabh Shukla) and an unnamed police inspector (Irfan Khan).
"Slumdog Millionaire" is the flipside of "Quiz Show," as Jamal has no intention of taking an unscrupulous path to wealth. In one sequence, Jamal is stuck for an answer going into a commercial break. Someone plants an answer in the men's room that proves to be incorrect. He won't use it, believing that someone is trying to give him an unfair advantage. Jamal is a contestant that everyone comes to admire. He is trying to make something of his life, yet he is willing to gamble all the money he has won to achieve that end. He's not only there to prove himself to Latika, but he is also there to prove himself to all doubters. He'd prefer to leave with nothing that win dishonestly. As he nears the end game, the street people look to find a place with a TV to see if one of their own can succeed.
Director Danny Boyle captures the stark conditions under which Jamal, Salim, and Latika live with realistic detail. Any indoor activity is a luxury to them. Yet, some signs of wealth can be found amid the extreme poverty. Most western societies wouldn't give a second thought to owning a TV, yet it's not an option for many where Jamal lives, even though electronics stores have them. At one point, the brothers look out Salim's apartment window to see how much Mumbai has changed in a few short years. They see many high rise buildings on the streets where they once lived. The script, which is based on the Vikas Swarup novel "Q & A," was written by Simon Beaufoy, whose other screen credits include "The Full Monty," about a group of laid off workers who inventively get back to work. He poignantly presents a portrait of three companions who eventually wind up on opposite sides of the law. Their bonds of loyalty, though, are ones that won't be broken. Ultimately, Jamal's wishes and behavior influence a key decision at the film's climax. Circumstances may have divided the three, but their love for each other is unconditional. Boyle also gave co-directing credit to Indian casting director Loveleen Tandan, whose film casting credits include three Mira Nair films - "The Namesake," "Vanity Fair," and "Monsoon Wedding." She helped to give Boyle a solid cast, including three young actors in each of the lead roles (I have merely mentioned the oldest of the three actors who played Jamal, Salim, and Latika). Kapoor is amusing as the suspicious Prem, and Khan is also very good as the inspector who takes all the facts about Jamal into consideration.
In "Slumdog Millionaire," a young man gets the rare opportunity to win riches that few will get to see. The tension mounts, whether a studio audience is watching or not. Some think he might be a cheat, but nobody really wants to find that this is true. Jamal Malik may not know everything, but he has a memory filled with other sorts of trivia that prove to be useful. It is the trivia and the experiences that have made him who he is. It could be said, however, that Jamal is already a rich man, no matter how many rupees he has to his name.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Feel-good Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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pmills1210
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Member: Pat Mills
Location: East Chicago, In.
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"Nothing in moderation." - Ernie Kovacs. Read and enjoy!
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