Slumdog Millionaire' Continues Award-Season Domination With 10 Oscar
Nominations
Nominated composer A.R. Rahman says film has 'paid magical dividends
for so many people around the globe.'
The big winner from this month's Golden Globes staked a significant
claim to Oscar glory Thursday morning (January 22).
"Slumdog Millionaire," the story of a destitute Indian boy named Jamal
struggling to survive and locate the lost love of his life, garnered
10 Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Director
and Best Original Score. The accomplishment comes on the heels of four
Globe wins for the film. While "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
secured more total Oscar nominations (13), "Slumdog" must be
considered a favorite heading into the ceremony at Hollywood's Kodak
Theatre on Sunday, February 22.
In both the Best Picture and Best Director categories, "Slumdog" faces
almost the exact same foes "Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "The
Reader" it triumphed over at the Globes (the only divergence in both
cases is that "Milk" has taken over for "Revolutionary Road"). Of
course, good fortune at the Globes is no sure indication of any
victories at the Oscars.
Among the other "Slumdog" nominations were selections for
Cinematography, Film Editing, Original Score, Original Song and
Adapted Screenplay.
With a script from the writer of "The Full Monty," a director who has
been critically praised but never entered into mainstream award-season
chatter and a story planted firmly in Indian history and culture,
"Slumdog" seemed like anything but a surefire hit for Warner Bros. Yet
the film has established itself as this year's Cinderella story, and
while that distinction is often applied as much to mock a movie
("Juno," anyone?) as it is to praise it (how about "Little Miss
Sunshine"?), "Slumdog" has come in for almost universal acclaim.
Director Danny Boyle first made a name for himself with the intense,
surreal heroin drama "Trainspotting" and went on to deliver both
disappointments (Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle "The Beach") and surprises
(terrifying zombie fest "28 Days Later"). But all of his films even
2007's confounding "Sunshine" have been riveting simply to watch.
With "Slumdog," Boyle found the perfect story to meet his kinetic
visual style, and Academy voters took note.
For as much praise that has been showered on the drama, its actors
have been conspicuously ignored this award season. Boyle has become
known for breaking new, strong male actors (Ewan McGregor in
"Trainspotting," Cillian Murphy in "28 Days"), and Dev Patel (BBC's
"Skins"), who plays the grownup Jamal, follows in that same tradition.
His sweaty, stoic performance competing on "Who Wants to be a
Millionaire" and explaining to a police inspector how a poor kid from
Mumbai can even know the quiz-show answers more than holds up when
compared to earlier Boyle-directed roles. Similarly strong
performances overlooked by awards voters include those by Anil Kapoor
(the game-show host) and Irrfan Khan (the police inspector).
While the acting is undoubtedly first-rate and Boyle's whip-fast pace
provides a satisfying sense of chaotic energy, perhaps the film's
driving force is its score. Credit goes to Indian music legend A.R.
Rahman, who locked in three Oscar noms for Best Original Score and two
for Best Original Song, including the infectious tune "O Saya,"
performed by M.I.A.
"I am overjoyed by this nomination and deeply grateful that the
Academy has embraced the music of this film," Rahman said after
learning of the nominations. " 'Slumdog Millionaire' has paid magical
dividends for so many people around the globe."
The Boyle/Rahman tandem proved to be highly successful, but it was
something of a last-minute endeavor. Late last year, Rahman told MTV
News that Boyle was already filming in India when the director called
and asked if the musician would like to score "Slumdog." Rahman said
that usually the first thing people ask him is, "Can you get an Oscar
for us? Can you give us heaven?"
Rahman never revealed what his typical answer is, but in this case, he
just might deliver on that near-impossible request.
