Movie- Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire was a multiple Oscar nominee, getting two major nominations for best picture and best director, both of which it won.

The phenomena of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) was something to behold. A picture that was not Hollywood, that was feel-good, that was so out-of-the mainstream---and it took over the country! It is hard to seperate all that from the actual movie itself.

But you know what? The movie was actually really good! The Siskel to my Ebert was expecting another typical Bollywood movie and was really surprised about how good this film was. She had lower expectations about it, and so, experienced it like a lot of people who created the buzz about it.

I had heard more about the film, and still enjoyed it quite a bit. Part of the enjoyment was simply the construction of the film. Though not rocket science, director Danny Boyle choose the right framework for telling this story. Using the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" questions as the catalyst...explaining how this "slumdog" from Mumbai knew the answers to the questions of the show in flashbacks of his life...was perfectly done. The only small gripe I had was that it each question ran completely in the time line of his life...it might have added even more dramatic appeal to have his life pieced together in different stages, to create the total tapestry.

Details of the movie were just right: The host of the show trying to undermine the success of Jamal-- The image of Jamal's mother being killed in ethnic violence (an image that still lingers in my mind)--The "orphanage" where Jamal, Saleem and Latika stayed as young children. All these details and images stand out and linger, they are remembered and remain felt.

Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent movie. Even despite the hype. It is proof that a movie like this can prosper and win the "big one." I will have to wait to see ALL the movies nominated for best picture before deciding whether I agree that it should have won the Academy Award though.