From a "Slumdog" to Top Dog

“Slumdog Millionaire” is leaving audiences breathless. Right from the start “Slumdog” charges at the audience with its eye-opening look at the slums of Mumbai and doesn’t stop until the very ‘bollywood’ credit. Scene after scene, “Slumdog” proves that it is exactly the opposite. Director Danny Boyle (“28 Days Later,” “Sunshine”) doesn’t disappoint and instead has created a craze that is sweeping Hollywood.

The movie, almost released straight to DVD is now a Hollywood hit. After gaining praise from its first screening at the Telluride Film Festival “Slumdog Millionaire” has steadily gained momentum in Hollywood and is now sitting on 42 award wins and 36 other nominations. It is no surprise that “Slumdog Millionaire” has landed ten Oscar nominations, and each one has a strong chance to take home the Oscar.

The story, based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup, follows Jamal Malik as he answers question after question correctly in the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” The film begins with the typed question on the screen, "Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees," it reads. "How did he do it? A) He cheated. B) He's lucky. C) He's a genius. D) It is written." From there, the story is told in episodic flashbacks of Jamal’s life in the slums where each flashback reveals how Jamal knows the answers. Jamal Malik’s childhood is unlike any imaginable by American audiences and, therefore, is captivating. Jamal, his brother Salim, and ‘third musketeer’ Latika are all orphaned and left to fend for themselves in their youth. Throughout their tumultuous childhood, they become thieves, gang members, or prostitutes.

The film is filled with exquisite cinematography matching the energy and feel of “City of Gods”(directed by Fernando Meirelles) with the use of light and action shots. The editing of the “Slumdog” is impeccable, especially with the transitions between the youth of Jamal, the game show and the questioning by security. The soundtrack is just as seamless as the other elements of the film. The mix of semi-traditional Indian rhythms and electronically infused pop music suits each scene.

Despite all of its strengths “Slumdog Millionaire” seems cliché in parts, the ending is no surprise and completely predictable. Through the acting of the entire cast and the rest of the cinematography these shortcomings can be overlooked.

Throughout, the actors all prove themselves. The adult Jamal (Dev Patel from “Skins”), Salim, played by Madhur Mittal, and Latika, played by Freida Pinto, were full of a range of emotions and executed each scene stunningly. The best moments come from the interactions between the children that play Jamal, Salim, and Latika. Taken from the actual slums of Mumbai and placed in the movie, the Hindi-speaking children, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, and Rubiana Ali, respectively, are so engaging and convincing in their parts it is difficult not to fall in love with each of them (Through her work in the Indian casting, Loveleen Tandan, gained status as co-director). In particular, the interactions between Khedekar and Ismail as brothers are impeccable, even in their youth both actors grasped the intensity and depth of their parts.

So where does the success of “Slumdog Millionaire” come from?
D) It is written.