Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

I’m a huge Danny Boyle fan, I love his directing style and the stories that he tells through his films are always incredibly captivating. Before I saw Slumdog Millionaire (2008), which has become my new favorite Danny Boyle film, I watched 28 Days Later, Trainspotting, The Beach, and Yesterday. I enjoyed all those films except for Yesterday which fell a bit flat for me. Out of the Boyle films that I have watched, Slumdog Millionaire is an absolute standout (Trainspotting coming in at a close second). The 2008 Best Picture winner is full of flashy colors, sobs and smiles, and a seductive storyline. 

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of 18 year old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), who is a contestant on an Indian version of the gameshow, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Jamal is an orphan from the slums of Mumbai who is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. As he continually answers the game show question answers correct, flashbacks to his childhood show how he knows all the answers. When the game show breaks for the night, police arrest him because they suspect he is cheating. In order to prove his innocence to the police, Jamal tells stories of his childhood in the slum with brother Salim, of their adventures together as orphans, of experiences with gangs and orphanages, and of Latika, a friend from the slums who he loved and lost. Each questions asked during the game show adds layers to Jamal’s story and the life experiences he went through to learn the answers to the show's tough questions. 

One of the main themes that I picked up on throughout the movie was the idea of fate and free will. The idea that fate brings you opportunities and that free will determines if you will take them. Throughout the movie Jamal believes that it’s his fate to be reunited with Latika, a friend from his childhood. Jamal’s strong belief in destiny guides him through life. Another concept that I noticed was incorporated into the film was magical realism. Magical realism usually refers to books, but it’s the idea that a realistic narrative is tied together with magical elements of fantasy or dreams. Magical realism is directly tied to the idea of fate and free will, and because of the magic component of the movie, it may slightly overuse the power of coincidence. Slumdog Millionaire is a modern fairy tale set in squalid penury. 

Slumdog Millionaire is a ferocious piece of cinema. I love this movie, and I don’t say that lightly. I love the way that the movie is set up, switching from present day Jamal in the gameshow seat to Jamal’s childhood in the slums. I love how the cinematography is graceful with a thuggish edge. I love the fantastic acting performances from Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, and Madhur Mittal. I am in such awe of this movie. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on one of cinema’s finest works of art.

This video capture the essence of the film excellently.