Impoverished Indian teen Jamal has had a rough life. Just as things finally start to turn a corner for our young protagonist as he gets to the last question on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, he is accused of cheating. Jamal is then forced through a grueling interrogation, where we learn how he came upon each answer and what his true motivations are for appearing on the show. I'll leave the synopsis at that, as part of the joy that comes from watching Danny Boyle's (28 Days Later, Trainspotting) latest is watching the story unfold.
Boyle has crafted one of his best films from a truly excellent script from Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty). As I said, the way we are told of Jamal's past via flashback and seeing how the answers to the questions are hidden throughout his life experiences is one of the many joys found in the film. That, coupled with excellent performances across the board, a heavily M.I.A'ed soundtrack, and some spectacular direction and visuals combine to create one of the best cinematic outings of the year. I'm sure we will be hearing something about Slumdog come awards season o'clock. Now some might argue the film manipulates emotion or plays with your sympathy, and I'd argue that Boyle has such a way of crafting his films that it all comes out organically. You never feel forced to feel, you just do, despite some of the scenes clearly being some of the most depressing shit (pun intended for those in the know) you could think of.
Boyle has managed to reinvent himself many a time by always trying out different genres while, at the same time, nailing each and every one of them. This is the film that almost wasn't, and it definitely warrants your attention. So many studios were afraid of this film, and Boyle has been pretty public of how the festival circuit kept this film alive when he thought it was over and done with. Do yourself a favor and check this one out when it hits a screen near you.
Review by: Greg MacLennan
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