Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle, 2008): UK/USA

Reviewed by Nicole Bacher. Viewed at the 2009 Santa Barbara Film Festival.

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Is the popular TV show where contestants answer trivia questions in a chance to win a million dollars, and is the main event in Danny Boyle’s new film Slumdog Millionaire. This vigorous film follows the lives of brothers Jamal (Dev Patel) and Salim (Madhue Mittal) as they grow up and follow their own destiny. Through out the movie we learn the history and other main characters in graphic flashbacks, as Jamal answers questions on the TV show. He uses his life experiences to answer questions but some seem to think it’s a big hoax.

Jamal is searching for two people from his childhood: his wild older brother Salim who is now a thief and killer, and his adored, one true love Latika (Freida Pinto), now stepping up from child prostitute to plaything of a gangster. As the police continue to interrogate Jamal, Boyle shows us the terrible poverty of Mumbai and helps explain how he knew the answers to the questions. The contrast between Jamal’s upbringing and his chance of winning on the show amazes me. I thought the way the flashbacks from the present to when he was a little boy are so creative and Danny Boyle gives us yet another box office hit.

Mumbai is portrayed as a place of extreme poverty and unforgettable brutality. Jamal and his brother get into a never-ending succession of challenging situations. The film really brings up a full range of emotions as we see Jamal growing up, falling in love, and coming close to death. The film belongs to Boyle’s cast, who are mostly unknown outside of India. Patel, in particular, gives a startlingly mature performance that audiences are likely to remember long after the credits role on this affecting feature. Danny Boyle’s film is beautifully shot with great sensitivity to color by cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantel. It’s a seamless mixture of thrills and tears, armchair tourism and crackerjack professionalism. I recommend everyone to see this one of a kind film.