Review: Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionare (2008)

starring: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto

dir. Danny Boyle

co-dir. Loveleen Tandan

Danny Boyle is one of those filmmakers that I forget about constantly and then as soon as I am reminded of him, I remember how great of a filmmaker he is. The guy can tell a story and has a visual style that he adapts to each project, but still remains cohesive across all his films. Slumdog Millionaire is no exception to this rule.

The basic gist is Jamal (Dev Patel) is one question away from winning 20 million rupee on India's version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. He is accused of cheating and questioned/beaten by the police. During his interrogation we flash back through his life to discover where he gained the pieces of knowledge that supplied his answers as well as showing his relation ship with his brother Salim and love of his life Latika. It is a well drawn story that earns every emotional moment and never delves into sentimentality or nostalgia to earn our heart.

This may also be Boyle's most visually stunning film to date. Anthony Dod Mantle has shot two other films for Boyle as well as several films for the Dogme 95' movement, but here he seems to be channeling Christopher Doyle through Bollywood. Incredible colors and framing create an atmosphere out of a Wong Kar-Wai film. There isn't a shot wasted and Mantle captures beauty in a world that is knee deep in squalor and suffering. If this doesn't get a nomination for best cinematography at this years Oscars I might as well toss my hands up in defeat, which makes typing very difficult.

Everyone is good in this. There are three actors each for Jamal, Salim and Latika through different periods in time and they work seamlessly. Patel walks away with the show of course as he portrays Jamal with a level of honor and dignity that never leans into cartoon heroism. Anil Kapoor, a veteran Bollywood star plays the game show host with a hidden agenda brilliantly. This is a roll that easily could have become a mustache twirling scenery chewer, but Kapoor keeps it tight and puts Regis Philbin to shame.

In a recent interview, I was listening to Boyle talk about his casting director Loveleen Tandan, who had ended up helping so much and being such a benefit to Boyle, she received a co-director's credit from Boyle. The guy is cool, admit it.

An all around great movie, Slumdog Millionaire deserves all of the praise it is getting and reminds people that Danny Boyle is a filmmaker not to be taken lightly.

8.25 out of 10