Blog Review: Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Produced by: Christian Colson

Screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy

Starring: Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor, Madhur Mittal, and Freida Pinto

Born to nothing in the slums of India to grow up and become a millionaire. It wasn't luck nor greed that got him there, rather it was love and the desire to be with the one he loved, no matter what it took. This is no common love story, which may already be obvious, instead it is a story filled with danger, pain, greed, an unrelentless love, and a game show. What would seem to be an odd combination is actually a movie that you will fall in love with.

Danny Bole's "Slumdog Millionaire" steps away from the typical love story and makes a film that crosses several genres but can still be identified as a beautiful love story. This film is a story of how and why an uneducated man from India was able to answer every question correctly on "What Wants To Be A Millionaire?". This young man, Jamal Malik, is suspected of cheating on the game show and is kidnapped and questioned in order to find out how he knew these answers. Most of the movie consists of Jamal telling his captor exactly how he knew each question and how he had learned these things in his life. As he explains himself, the audience watches his life unfold from a young boy to a young adult and we find out how he got where he is. 

The film is really  a story within a story. As Jamal is telling his life story, he is also revealing his feelings for a girl he saved when he was very young and all the times he lost her. His purpose is finally revealed as his desire to find Latika, his one true love, and take her as his own.

The audience is able to view Jamal's life by the use of flashbacks throughout the film. This film really takes you for a crazy ride through the life of Jamal Malik and the amazing adventures he experienced. The story is thrilling, disturbing, and beautiful at the same time. This movie will make you laugh and cry and will ultimately keep you on the edge of your seat as you root for Jamal. 

The use of flashbacks in this film truly adds to its uniqueness. Danny Boyle does an excellent job of connecting two stories without making it confusing or too busy. The film has a great plot line and the story would keep anyone's attention. The cinematography is excellent, the acting was exceptionally good, and the story itself was nothing short of fantastic. It was altogether a great movie and is sure to entertain.