Production Year: 2008 - Drama - Director: Danny Boyle - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto, Iffran Khan, Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor more
British director Danny Boyle takes another intriguing career turn with this heartfelt underdog tale. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a street kid (or 'slumdog') who has landed an... more
Slumdog Millionaire DVD
Winner of 8 Acadamy Awards and 7 Baftas including Best Film and Best Director. Today is ... more
the biggest day in Jamal Malik's life. A Penniless eighteen year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai he's one question away from winning a staggering 20 million...
Slumdog Millionaire
Today is the biggest day in Jamal Malik's life. A Penniless, eighteen year-old orphan from ... more
the slums of Mumbai, he's one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? But when the show breaks for the night, suddenly, he is arrested on suspicion of cheating. After all, how could an uneducated street kid possibly know so much? Determined to get to the bottom of Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector spends the night probing Jamal's incredible past, from his riveting tales of the slums where he and his brother Salim survived by their wits to his hair-raising encounters with local gangs to his heartbreak over Latika, the unforgettable girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out... The result is the sweeping, stylish, intoxicatingly human experience of Slumdog Milliomaire, the new film from acclaimed director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, Millions, 28 Days Later, Sunshine). Part exhilarating love story, part eye-catching journey into the underbelly of the so-called maximum city of Mumbai, part stirring tale of an Everyman's triumph against a harsh, cynical world, Slumdog Millionaire is a visceral, action-packed Dickensian epic for the 21st Century. At the heart of its exhuberant storytelling lies the the intriguing question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.
Slumdog Millionaire
Today is the biggest day in Jamal Malik's life. A Penniless, eighteen year-old orphan from ... more
the slums of Mumbai, he's one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? But when the show breaks for the night, suddenly, he is arrested on suspicion of cheating. After all, how could an uneducated street kid possibly know so much? Determined to get to the bottom of Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector spends the night probing Jamal's incredible past, from his riveting tales of the slums where he and his brother Salim survived by their wits to his hair-raising encounters with local gangs to his heartbreak over Latika, the unforgettable girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out... The result is the sweeping, stylish, intoxicatingly human experience of Slumdog Milliomaire, the new film from acclaimed director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, Millions, 28 Days Later, Sunshine). Part exhilarating love story, part eye-catching journey into the underbelly of the so-called maximum city of Mumbai, part stirring tale of an Everyman's triumph against a harsh, cynical world, Slumdog Millionaire is a visceral, action-packed Dickensian epic for the 21st Century. At the heart of its exhuberant storytelling lies the the intriguing question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.
Drama - Director: Martin Scorsese, Dennis Hopper - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Harvey Keitel, Albert Brooks, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper
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Production Year: 1993 - Drama - Director: Steven Spielberg - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Sagalle
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1981 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray, Richard Kiley, Penelope Milford, Beatrice Straight
A review by Praski on Slumdog Millionaire March 14th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?
Outstanding
Advantages:
A Film Bursting with Colour and Energy
Disadvantages:
none I can think of
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Manchester born Danny Boyle has certainly had a diverse career as a film director. In the 1990's he presented movie goers with his controversial and widely acclaimed film, Trainspotting which you could say made him famous as a director. Then followed Life Less Ordinary, a romantic comedy, followed by The Beach, a colourful portrait of stoners paradise. Then came along, 28 Days Later, a distressing vision of London being devastated by a rage virus and then Millions, a light hearted comedy drama, starring two boys who find a bag full of dosh and have to spend it before the currency changes to Euros. All very different genres but each bare Doyle's individual trademark. No matter how depressed and gloomy you feel while watching one of his films, you know there is always a colourful side and light will shine through.
His new film Slumdog Millionaire is again different. The film does contain pale and cheerless sequences but rather than waiting until the end for the ray of light, it weaves and bobs throughout the narrative so you don't forget it exists.
A young man, (Jamal Malik), is taken into police custody during an interval of the filming of the Indian version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionare." This kid was born and raised in the ghettoes of Mumbai so how on earth could he possible be able to answer all these questions and get the correct answers? He has never been educated and spent most of his life hustling to survive.
Two police officers viciously question him and use violence to make him talk. They are convinced he is a criminal. They want to know how a young kid who works in a call centre can be so close to winning the jackpot prize of 20 million rupees when lawyers and other professionals on the show can't come anywhere close. He has to be cheating. Having a clear conscience, Malik sits down with the police officer (Irfan Khan) and his story unfolds through a series of flashbacks..
Jamal and his older brother, Salim (Madhur Mittal) have lived in poverty most of their lives. They live in shanty towns built of garbage that has been discarded by other privileged members of society. During an anti-muslim raid, terror strikes and their mother is murdered leaving the two boys to struggle for themselves. They manage to survive on their wits and befriend an orphan teenage girl called Latika (Freida Pinto) with whom Jamal falls in love with.
They are picked up by a street hustler who runs a criminal orphanage and taken in a van to his hide-out. On arrival they see other kids through the window of the van and start to smile and clap their hands. I am not sure what sort of place they think they are being brought too but it turns out to be not the den of joy and happiness they first thought. Every day the kids are sent out to beg on the streets and then bring back their earnings to their benefactor. As Salim spots the danger signs he gets scared and together him and his brother escape but leave the girl behind.
Over the years the brothers survive in different ways. Jamal takes on odd jobs of which some are kosha and some are not. In contrast his brother sells his soul to the highest bidder and gets involved in violent crime.
Missing Latika, the love of his life, Jamal wants to return to Mumbai to look for her. Eventually they find her but not in the best of situations - she has been sold like a piece of meat to a rich man. The brothers never lose their optimism and don't give up on the idea that they will all be together one day.
Because of what life has thrown at Jamal he has had to be shrewd and perceptive. Stored in his head is a library of hellish chapters which he is capable of drawing on when needed, like appearing on the garish game show. As he sits in in the chair on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" every question thrown at him correlates to his life experiences. Not really caring about the prize money but more about whether Latika will watch the programme and see him, he suddenly becomes shocked at the fact that he is winning. The audience who watch him every night also become transfixed as they turn on their TVs as do the two who will decide on his fate, the programmes host and the police officer.
Summary ~~~~~~~
Slumdog Millionare, directed by Danny Boyle and based on a novel written by Indian novelist Vikus Swarup, is a film bursting with colour and energy. The images on screen are astonishingly beautiful amidst squalor and poverty. Throughout the film the camera moves quickly, runnning, and soaring, moving from side to side so that images are sometimes out of line and disorderly, Close up shots are always intimate. The focus is on India in the past and present, a place of filth and deprivation as well as as a place of spiritual regeneration, a metempsychosis. At times, the film portrays great sadness and Boyle doesn't hide the dreadful conditions of which people live. There is tragedy but also happiness, humour and always a thread of optimism.
The very young actors who play the two brothers bring life, joy and energy to their roles. Young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) has the sweetest face and deep down is a good boy although extremely mischevious. He has the most beautiful smile and you really do want to pick him up, swirl him round and giive him the biggest of hugs. He is totally endearing. The young Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) is a little different - not as cute but more cunning and boisterous - always ready for a scrap. Latika as a young girl is a bit of a dreamer - her tangled mop always unruly and her deep slanted eyes always staring into Jamil's eyes or away in the distance.
The choice of actors to play the boys and Latika as adults was spot on and each one fitted their roles like the smoothest of gloves. Dev Patel had only had a small role in the Channel 4 television drama series, Skins. He is a wonderful young actor; with his sad, brown eyes and enthusiastic smile, you can't help but love him. He has great presence with his fixed stare and rigid body, conveying nervousness but at the same time dignity and pride. I love the way he holds his head when answering the questions on the game show. He is so intense and very shy at the beginning but gradually he loosens up and gets a bit cheeky. Here we see the younger Kamil shining through and he is still that cheeky boy.You want him to win the money and and hope that he will find his true love.
For Freida Pinto this was her debut role and isn't she a true beauty? When she looks into his eyes there is such passion for her knight in shining armour who is always trying to free her from her shackels. On screen they are so charismatic, two very young and beautiful people.
Madhur Mittal is an actor I don't know anything about but he has such screen presence. There is something menacing in his eyes and his whole body breathes superiority and cockiness. When he was in one of his moods he really did turn into the devil and was quite scary. There was something definitely dark about his persona. A wonderful performance - I really loved his acting.
One of the scenes I find the most interesting and entertaining is when the wealthy, well spoken host tries to out wit the softly spoken kid form the slums. Here Boyle illustrates the class war within this framework. Being very much in love with himself, the game show host doesn't like the fact that the kid is popular with the audience so he starts to mock Jamal for being poor, from the slums, and only a tea boy in the call centre. You may think the host is middle class with his posh clothes and swanky talk but he isn't and later on towards the end of the film you will realise why he treats Jamal with contempt and mocks him for being a chaiwalah.There are lots of little snippets throughout the film which show different sides to Indian culture and class.
Final Thoughts ~~~~~~~~~~ I first saw Slumdog in December before it was released in the UK. This sometimes happens because in Warsaw some films hit the screens first. I am a keen film buff and in 2008 saw nearly all of the blockbusters and other films as well but only this film really caught my attention and knocked me for six. I remember coming out of the cinema with tears in my eyes and a pain in my heart and thinking that this was one hell of a movie - the best I have seen for a long, long time.
The night before the Oscars I was very excited because I so much wanted this film to walk away with the awards but for some reason I didn't think Danny Boyle would achieve this because Hollywood being what it is would want to give the top prizes to a home-grown movie. Well, they didn't and I was over the moon. But the same night I had a friend over to stay who is Asian and promotes Bollywood films in Warsaw. We had a very long converstaion about this film. Well, he lectured me and I listened and wriggled at the same time. He said that the film was only mediocre and there were better Bollywood films around. He also said that Dev Patel was a middle class kid with a middle class voice. Certainly not a voice from the Mumbai slums. He also told me that Indian film critics had criticised the film for glamorising poverty and not representing the subject authentically. Well, of course I disagreed with him and thought, what the heck is he on about.
So last week I went to one of the small independent cinemas to see the film again. As soon as I saw the colours on screen I was captivated once again. The music, cinematography, acting, everything about this film drew me into the world of these kids. I started off sitting upright on the seat but slowly, being so absorbed, I kept slipping further down the seat until I was nearly on the floor towards the end. Every time Jamal answered a question correctly I wanted to jump high in the air and shout, 'YES!' I kept asking myself, 'How did they manage to film the slum scenes?' - they are just so fantastic. The journey on the train through the countryside with the most dominant colours being blue, red, yellow and green is a wonderful piece of escapism. Such a kaleidoscope of beauty, depriavtion and colour. And the miusic of AR Rahman's soundtrack will blow you away. It is imaginative, original and evocative adding another layer which enhances the experience whilst totally complimenting the screen play and cinematography.
The second time round I loved the film more, came out of the theatre, blubbing and a heavy heart just as before. I still think my friend is totally wrong about this film except for one thing - and that is Dev's voice. After studying it closer this time, I would say it is rather middle class and not the voice of a boy from the slum but that is my only criticism and it is a very small one.
This is one of the best films I have ever seen. It is an absolute gem. It is a fairy story and you must treat it like one - don't go looking for realism. The film is a very accomplished piece of work and Danny and the gang deserve the trophy for best film because it was the BEST FILM! They also deserve all the other awards too.
Running Time 120 minutes Certificate UK 15 (The certificate has not been given lightly and there are one or two scenes that some people might find disturbing). Languages English/Hindi *This review was first posted on Dooyoo, then Ciao.com. The review has been slightly altered since first posting*
Advantages: Excellent visuals, Great cast, good story Disadvantages: none
...Money ~ Slumdog Millionaire was one of the most talked about films of 2008 and has had a lot of media coverage. I rented the film from the local DVD shop about five months ago whilst babysitting my little brother. I really wanted to go and watch it in the cinema but never really got round to it. The cinemas are just too expensive and to be honest a film today does not take long to be released on DVD. Even though I had pre order the film on my Love ... ...~ PLOT ~ Slumdog Millionaire is adapted from a novel called Q7A (2005) written by a Indian author named Vikas Swarup. The movie focuses on the life of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who reaches a chance of being rich and famous. He appears on an Indian version of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ and he is being accused of cheating. Jamal the protagonist is seen knowing all of the answers and is arrested for this. He takes the policemen through ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average exceptional
Advantages: Direction of Mr.Danny Boyle, Brilliant acting by Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, highly engaging story Disadvantages: Story develops in a Fairy-tale style (more or less).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Slumdog Millionaire is one of the most discussed movies in 2008-09 movie arena, and has created a huge hype in general audience. This movie tells us about the journey of a poor, neglected slum-kid’s life towards accomplishment and achieving his goals. and This movie reflects truthful and honest reflection of poor slum life in such a beautiful way, that not only impressed and won the million of audiences heart but also gained ... ...audience is the movie named Slumdog Millionaire, and once again he succeeded to win everyone’s heart, from the normal viewer to the most hard-hitting movie critics. ~STORY ADOPTED FROM~ The original story of this movie based on a novel named Q &A, written by an Indian Diplomat Vikas Swarup. It was author’s very first novel and earned him the Boeke Prize (South-Africa), 2006 and also the Prix Grand Public prize (Paris Book Fair), 2007. Mr. Swarop’s ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average exceptional
Advantages: Some amazing acting from some untrained actors. An uplifiting film Disadvantages: A lot could have been taken out, it's too long.
...mate that we must see Slumdog Millionaire before it wins the awards that it has been nominated for. After a day of injury and bad headaches, I knew that I would have to watch something good or I'll be flat out asleep on the uncomfortable cinema chair within five minutes, I was probably the worst critic that this film could have got, and amazingly it kept me awake and it even 'healed' my aches and pains. The Plot The film follows a young man Jamal ... ...you won't have heard of Slumdog Millionaire, the film is well known for it's rag to riches story and the rags to riches that the film went through in real life, Danny Boyle and the rest of the crew nearly had to send the film straight to DVD but Fox Searchlight Pictures picked it up and distributed it and now it is nominated for I believe 10 Oscars and it has already won a lot of the big awards in Hollywood/England. This film is really a very emotional ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A wake up call for those that think India is better off now Disadvantages: A touch too long.
...already Danny Boyle's latest offering Slumdog Millionaire is being touted as the best movie of the year (leaning back into 2008 of course). From looking at the trailers for the movie and how perfectly pictured each frame is, you could be persuaded to believe that the movie is great family viewing, but Boyle's world is as dark and nightmarish as it is beautiful. Told in flashbacks the movie opens in not the best of ways, finding its star Dev Patel ... ...answers to the questions.
Slumdog Millionaire is a really emotional journey, but despite its feel good factors its incredibly dark. In one of the earliest of the movies scenes brothers Jamal and Salim look on in horror as their mother and hundreds of others are massacred while doing their washing. Sadly for the brothers and the newly acquired Latika (a girl orphaned in the same tragedy) this is just the first of a string of nightmare scenarios. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The acting, the music, the cinematography Disadvantages: Too much hype
...has won so many awards. Slumdog has gone on to win 8 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes and 7 Baftas, all of which include Best Film. It won a massive 8 oscars! What the f**k? It was good, but wasn’t that good, clearly the panel of Academy Award selectors didn’t have a big choice of films to choose from, is the only conclusion I can come to. The film also grossed $243,443,965 at the cinemas. This film’s esteemed recognition is hard to ignore. The oddest thing ... ...Indian film that was essentially British, directed by a British director starring a British lead actor, and predominantly Western originating team. I saw in an interview that there was a mild backlash from the Indian media and cultural commentators, revealing sentiments of offence caused by this very fact. The people that live in Mumbai, know that the slums are horrendous, but by a Western influence coming in and ripping open the lid to show the ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Moving Story With A Underlying Sorrow Disadvantages: None
...I first read about The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button in a review in Empire Magazine, it had been given a 5 star rating and this is the sole reason I wanted to see the film, although I am not a regular reader of Empire I had heard that they rarely give 5 star ratings, so I went to see this film with high expectations.
The film also had a massive reception and was nominated for 10 BAFTA's of which it won 3, and has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards. The film main competition has been Danny Boyle's, SlumdogMillionaire which was reviewed in the same issue of Empire and also recieved 5 stars. After been beaten to the best picture and director awards at the BAFTA's by SlumdogMillionaire it will be interesting to see how Fincher's effort fares at the Academy Awards.
The film is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and there...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: acting Disadvantages: storyline a bit too dull for some
...For me, there have been three truly brilliant film releases in the last year: SlumdogMillionaire, The Reader, and Revolutionary Road. However, whilst the greatest strength of the first two is the plot or storyline, the power behind Revolutionary Road comes in the tour de force of acting given by all involved.
THE PLOT:
The story itself is fairly low key: Frank and April (Leo Di Caprio and Kate Winslett) are a normal couple in 1950s America. On the surface they are liked and respected, but go a little deeper and they're both massively unfulfilled. In a moment of creativity, they decide to move to Paris to follow the life they always wanted, but April's new pregnancy soon puts stop to that, and the couple spiral down into brokenness.
WAS IT ANY GOOD:
Although perhaps an average story, it is the acting that powers this film. Di...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Terrific performances all round, compelling film Disadvantages: Disappointing eding
...winning films, to my mind they always seem to fit a certain criteria of being overly long, drawn out and ultimately very dull. There have of course been a few exceptions to this rule, the most prominent film for me that comes to mind is of course Titanic, a film that I just can?t help but love and most recently there?s been SlumdogMillionaire which I approached with an air of scepticism but was taken into a very different world and the overall performance was phenomenal. After SlumdogMillionaire managed to melt my heart I decided to succumb to temptation and watch the critically acclaimed ?The Wrestler? on Sky Box Office last night. I wasn?t expecting it to be good but these Oscar winning and nominated films are really starting to change my opinion and I?m starting to believe that they?re nominated for Oscars for a very good reason...
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Official Website: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/
Consumer Advice: Contains strong language and violence
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
Plot: Britain's own Danny Boyle, director of 28 DAYS LATER and TRAINSPOTTING travels to India for this film starring Irrfan Khan and Anil Kapoor. In SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, a young orphan rises above his roots in poverty to win both the ultimate prize on India's WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE and the heart of a former love.
Release details
Studio(s): PATHE, 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS, PATHE; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS, PATHE VIDEO; 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
DVD Region: DVD
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital
Special Features: Making-of, Deleted scenes, Director’s commentary, Featurettes
DVD Description
British director Danny Boyle takes another intriguing career turn with this heartfelt underdog tale. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a street kid (or 'slumdog') who has landed an appearance on India's version of the hit TV game show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Jamal exceeds expectations on the show, and the producers alert the police after they become suspicious of his methods. The young contestant is subsequently arrested and is interrogated at the hands of a nameless police inspector (played by Bollywood star Irrfan Khan). As the interrogation proceeds, Boyle tells Jamal's story through harrowing flashbacks that both show the terrible poverty of Mumbai and help explain how he knew the answers to the MILLIONAIRE questions.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is a tightly woven story that has been expertly edited into shape. The contrast between Jamal's upbringing and his chance of escaping it on the show are adeptly juxtaposed. Mumbai is portrayed as a place of terrifying poverty and unforgettable brutality, and Jamal and his brother get into a never-ending succession of challenging situations. But the way Boyle ties together Jamal's life experiences with his answers on the show is quite brilliant, and the film really does run the full gamut of emotions as we see him growing up, falling in love, coming close to death, and teetering on the brink of escaping from his terrible predicament. The film belongs to Boyle's cast, Patel, in particular, gives a startlingly mature performance that audiences are likely to remember long after the credits role on this affecting feature.
Award information
BAFTA: Best Original Film Music 2009 (A.R. Rahman)
BAFTA: Best Direction 2009 (Danny Boyle)
BAFTA: Best Screenplay (Adapted) 2009 (Simon Beaufoy), Best Direction 2009 (Danny Boyle), Best Original Film Music 2009 (A.R. Rahman)
OSCAR: Best Music - Scoring 2009 (A.R. Rahman)
OSCAR: Best Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced Or Published 2009 (Simon Beaufoy), Best Music - Scoring 2009 (A.R. Rahman)
Professional reviews
Review: A movie to celebrate... A sharp, teeming, dark, very romantic film... A buoyant hymn to life (Time Magazine, 28/11/2008)
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Listed on Ciao since : 03/12/2008
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