Slumdog Millionaire Review

Danny Boyle's work is always a wonder to me. The man has tackled most genres in the industry and in my humble estimation, conquered them all. From the family fantasy Millions to the modern zombie film 28 Days Later to the underrated Sci-fi gem Sunshine, Boyle is one of my favorite directors. But trying to classify his most recent film is difficult. If I were to take a shot at it I'd say it's a Brotherhood/Crime coming of age romance story with elements of something out of Bollywood. Whatever it is, the movie adds another great list to his resume.

Slumdog Millionaire takes place in India with the story of Jamal Malik, a young man who is on the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Jamal is accused of cheating and is then interrogated on how he knew all the answers. This leads to the life of Jamal Malik and how he came to be on the show. He grew up in the slums (hence the word Slumdog) and was forced to leave his home at an early age with his brother. The two figured out ways to get money, illegally and legally, but Jamal's brother turns to the life of the mob. Along the way they pick up Latika, a young girl also on her own. The two form a bond which holds true as they separate.

At it's core the movie is a romance. Latika and Jamal's first interaction is a fantastic scene. They notice Latika out in the rain and Jamal let's them come into the abandoned warehouse that the brothers were sleeping in. Everything works perfectly.

But the overwhelming question of the movie remains: Why is Jamal on the game show? He doesn't want the money but instead, after being separated from her, hopes Latika is watching and will come to him. The idea is fantastic but all the kudos goes to Boyle. The camera angles and different shots he use are really well done, particularly a chase scene between a security guard and several of the slumdogs.

But the movie ruins itself near the end. The credits sequence take place behind a dance number involving all the cast in a local train station. It feels like something out of a Bollywood film. Whether it's a throwback to those movies I don't know but it felt out of place. Another scene that felt awkward to watch was a scene involving poop. That's all I'll say. That's neither here nor there, just a warning. Also The music was good including M.I.A's Paper Planes which fit perfectly.

Slumdog Millionaire was a brutal ride that kept going whether not you were on board. But the underlying problem of the movie is it's sometimes TOO brutal. I get that India can be dangerous but going in you won't expect how intense the scenes get. Tone it down Boyle. You have one of the years best films still but maybe next time a little less gore. Grade - A-