By Sean J.
Ever been to see a film ‘from the director of Trainspotting‘, and left feeling disappointed? Whether 28 Days Later or sci-fi epic Sunshine; I enjoyed both these films but neither contained the energy or originality of Trainspotting. Slumdog Millionaire however, doesn’t disappoint.
The film begins with protagonist Jamal Malik, played by Skins’ Dev Patel, reaching the final question on India’s ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’. The producers are naturally curious as to how a poor kid from the slums of Mumbai made it this far, and pull him backstage to find out. ‘I knew the answers’ he tells them, and what follows is an account of his life so far, and an explanation for each answer.
This is based around Jamal’s difficult relationship with his brother Salim, and his romance with Latika. The story reminded me of a fable, a rags to riches love story that spans years. The tag line says it all: ‘What does it take to find a lost love? A. Money, B. Luck, C. Smarts, D. Destiny’. It is unashamedly sentimental, and is a massive breath of fresh air for this. The soundtrack, which fuses classical Indian music with modern R&B, completes this positive mood. With many movies focusing on dark subjects recently, it’s gratifying to watch a film teeming with optimism.
This isn’t to say that it’s all smiles. The narrative certainly has its dark edge; without it Jamal and Latika’s relationship would be meaningless. The leads give natural performances too, impressively realistic for such a young cast. But the real star is the film’s director.
Danny Boyle has said that filming in India was like being a director for the first time, and it shows. The joy of filming is obvious, in vibrant, kinetic camera movements through the streets of Mumbai, and a sequence where the boys hitch a ride on top of a train that is simply stunning to watch.
Verdict: 4/5 stars.
An electrifying film that is as thrilling as it is beautiful. From the director of Trainspotting? You better believe it.