I saw Slumdog, just as something was brewing in the air about this film being the next biggest thing to grace our cinema screens and DVD boxes. All I knew about it, is that it was directed by Danny Boyle (‘Sunshine’, ‘28 Days Later’), was set in India, involved something to do with ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and had that boy from ‘Skins’ in it. I also knew from the inescapable advertising, that this was ‘The Feel Good Film of the Century’. To say I was intrigued is an understatement. So, what did I think?
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I thought it was really good, but I just can’t fathom how this 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 I found with this film, was that it was an 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 nature of this horror, was described as someone coming in and ripping off the bandage and leaving the wound gaping open, then casually throwing in salt. The Mumbai people, know they have this wound, but it’s their wound, and their horror that lives with them. Also, when we see the children living in the slums who grow up to become somehow westernized in accent, just feels odd. It’s almost as if the very making of this film was the insult to the terrible injury of life in the slums.
Essentially, the film is a Jamal Malik’s (Dev Patel) life story told through the device of a quiz show, where the questions co-incidentally relate to moments in his life. Questions take us back to his younger years in the Dharavi slums, which in turn shows us a snapshot explaining how he might or might not know an answer to help him win 20 million rupees. Indian’s Chris Tarrant was played by Anil Kapoor, who spoke in English (well, obviously) and had a really annoying habit of pronouncing ‘Millionaire’, as ‘Milliner’…once you notice it, it’s all you start noticing, then you start cringing, then you start rolling your eyes and it goes down hill from there.
The plot was interesting, shocking and heart wrenching at times, but moreover, essentially unoriginal. I found the originality in the story telling, by using the device of a quiz show to tell the story. But other than that, I felt like I was watching one of those confessional biographies of the troubled. Some scenes were shocking and brutal, but as far as a piece of entertainment goes, I felt like I had seen it all before. The interaction between the three lead characters (brothers Jamal and Salim, and Latika) also known as the three Musketeers, growing up together, was well acted, especially by the youngest cast (surprisingly played by children who actually live in the slums). Each character is played by three actors, as we watch them grow.
The film questions, in essence, the idea of fate and destiny. Is it written? The very first thing we see, is a question that comes onto the screen: ‘How did he do it? A) He cheated, B) He’s lucky, C) He’s a genius or D) It is written (to find out the answer, you’ll have to watch it). Other issues raised throughout the film include racism, religion, class, crime, gang warfare and love.
As already mentioned, this film has been described as ‘Feel-Good’. I had a chat with my mates about what feel-good actually means. If, in this context, it is used in the sense that it lifts you up and makes you feel good about yourself, then I completely disagree and think this film certainly isn’t that...but if ‘feel-good’ is defined as revealing something about the plot, meaning that the characters feel-good and are happy, well then I see where they’re coming from – but I don’t think that’s really the case either, at all. The more I think about the hype of this film, and using phrases such as ‘Feel Good’, makes me like the film that little bit less…although really my frustration should be aimed at the promotion and media…grrr!
However, one thing that I loved about this film, was the cinematography. The colours were vibrant, and the cinematography was interesting and beautiful, paradoxically as lot of what we see in the film is hellish. There was one moment, with a train and the children’s silhouettes against a stunning sunset. Stunning.
Another thing that I really liked about this film, was the soundtrack. The music used was varied and fresh, with clips of Indian influenced music juxtaposed against a more western sound (using songs such as M.I.A’s ‘Paper Planes’). Hats off to A.R.Rahman for composing and arranging. Weirdly as it may sound, his previous accolades include the soundtrack for ‘Bombay Dreams’ (with Andrew Lloyd Webber) plus the soundtrack from ‘Lord of the Rings – the Musical’.
I must say though, for the few bad things I’ve had to say about Slumdog, all was made up with the credit sequence…a tribute to Bollywood if ever I saw one! The cast having fun, with the contagious enthusiasm and fun, seeping through the screen and washing the audience with joy, as they leave the cinemas (or sofas) wiping away any tears with a smile on their face.
The film is released in the UK, on DVD in June 2009. For more information about the film go to: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
Production Year: 1989 - Drama - Director: Ken Cameron - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Nicole Kidman, Denholm Elliott, Hugo Weaving, Joy Smithers, Norman Kaye, Jerome Ehlers, Judy Morris
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
I did enjoy the film, but read the book it was based on after (questions and answers) and found this much better :-)
anonymili 23.04.2009 16:57
I might be one of the few people who thought this did not deserve any of its Oscars! x
RICHADA 10.04.2009 22:40
I might have actually beaten you to seeing this one! Your review is right on the money, although I actually avoided all the hype in the first place and probably enjoyed it the moreso for having not read or watched all about it. Richard.
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...
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