Slumdog Millionaire an engaging love story ISHIKA MOHAN/FOX SEARCHLIGHT Jamal (Dev Patel), left, appears on show hosted by Prem (Anil Kapoor) in a scene from 'Slumdog Millionaire.' Email story Print Choose text size Report typo or correction Email the author License this article Subscribe to the Star's weekly movie update Nov 12, 2008 04:30 AM Be the first to comment on this article... Peter Howell Movie Critic
________________________________ Slumdog Millionaire (out of 4) Starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan. Directed by Danny Boyle. 120 minutes. At the Varsity. 14A ________________________________ That any kind of cohesive narrative could emerge from Slumdog Millionaire's burst of brilliant images is reason enough for applause. The fact that it all comes together for one of the year's most engaging love stories makes it even more special. It might seem odd that two Britons, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, would set a movie in Mumbai starring mostly unknown Indian actors. The appeal outside of South Asia isn't readily apparent, especially with the film's exuberant nods to the song-and-dance traditions of Bollywood cinema. So much for assumptions. Boyle is one of the most nimble of helmers, distinguishing himself in such diverse genre categories as dark comedy (Trainspotting), horror (28 Days Later), sci-fi (Sunshine) and family (Millions). Beaufoy, meanwhile, is the man who turned jobless jocks into daring disco dancers in his memorable script for The Full Monty. Their enthusiasm is palpable and the tale they chase with wonder and fury couldn't be more universal. Adapting the award-winning novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup, it's Oliver Twist by way of City of God, with a thread about reality TV that will resonate with anyone who has switched on the box in the past decade. Shifting between the past and present as pieces of a puzzle fall into place, Slumdog launches with a brutal Mumbai police interrogation for protagonist Jamal, 18, a call centre tea boy who looks too innocent to even think bad thoughts. He's accused of cheating on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, scamming his way through a series of questions that lead to a prize of 20 million rupees. Jamal denies the charge and claims good luck, but how could a poor orphan like him do so well, when he's obviously not a genius? He has embarrassed the show and its preening host Prem (Anil Kapoor). Jamal's stern police interrogator (Irrfan Khan) begins to warm to his charge as he realizes the kid might be telling the truth. Flashbacks, beginning with Jamal's wretched childhood, fill in the blanks. For every one of the questions asked Jamal on the show, there will be a meaningful connection to his past. We learn how Jamal and his devious brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) became orphans at an early age, and were forced to rely on their wits to survive the squalor and violence of Mumbai's slums. They meet Latika (Freida Pinto), an orphan girl who immediately catches Jamal's eye and heart but also figures in Salim's more sinister plans. (Younger actors play the characters at different ages; all do so superbly.) The paths of Jamal, Salim and Latika continue to cross as they encounter Fagin-like villains who want to brutally exploit them, gangsters who want to conscript them and tourists who want to pity them. Part of the film's genius is how it reveals, almost in passing, the rich-vs.-poor dynamics in a city as complex as Mumbai. Fate becomes the mystical mover. "It's our destiny," Jamal insists, as his love for Latika leads him to acts of bravery and tests of endurance beyond his imagination, including his appearances on the TV show that promises so much more than money. Slumdog Millionaire deserves all praise – it won the People's Choice Award at TIFF 2008 – but families should take note of its adult content, including scenes of torture and disfigurement. Reality isn't always pretty, but in the hands of an astute observer like Danny Boyle it can be wondrous to behold. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/535190
