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Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan.[2] It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup. Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati in the Hindi version) and exceeds people's expectations, thereby arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.

After its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival and subsequent screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival,[3] Slumdog Millionaire initially had a limited North American release on 12 November 2008 by Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, to critical acclaim and awards success. It later had a nationwide grand release in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009 and in the United States on 23 January 2009.[4] It premiered in Mumbai on 22 January 2009.[5] It was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on 31 March 2009.[6]

Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009 and won eight, the most for any film of 2008, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score and Best Original Song. It also won five Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globes, and seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film. Slumdog Millionaire has stirred controversy concerning language use, its portrayals of Indians and Hinduism, and the welfare of its child actors.

Set in 2006, the film opens in Mumbai with a policeman torturing Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a former street child from the Juhu slums. In the opening scene, a title card is presented: "Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it? (A) He cheated, (B) He's lucky, (C) He's a genius, (D) It is written." Jamal is a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati) hosted by Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor). He has already won 10,000,000 rupees (about US$200,000) and has made it to the final question, for 20,000,000 rupees, scheduled for the next day. Following up on a tip-off from Prem Kumar, the police now suspect Jamal of cheating, because the other possibilities — that he has a vast knowledge, or that he is very lucky — seem unlikely. For almost every question, Jamal had a life experience that enabled him to answer it.

Jamal then explains that, while at least the question about Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was very simple, he knew the answers of most questions by chance, because of things that happened in his life, conveyed in a series of flashbacks documenting the details of his childhood. This includes scenes of him obtaining Bachchan's autograph, the death of his mother during anti-Muslim violence (rekindling memory of the 1993 anti-Muslim attacks in Mumbai in the slums),[7] and how he and his brother Salim befriended Latika (Rubina Ali). He refers to Salim and himself as Athos and Porthos, and Latika as the third of the The Three Musketeers, the name of whom they never knew.

In Jamal's flashback, the children are eventually discovered by Maman (Ankur Vikal) while they are living in the trash heaps. Maman is a gangster (a fact they do not actually know at the time they meet him) who pretends to run an orphanage in order to "collect" street children so that he can ultimately train them to beg for money. Salim is groomed to become a part of Maman’s operation and is asked to bring Jamal to Maman in order to be blinded (which would improve his income potential as a singing beggar). Salim protects his brother, and the three children try to escape, but only he and Jamal are able to do so, catching up to a train which is departing. Latika catches up and takes Salim's hand, but Salim purposely lets go, and she is left behind as the train accelerates away.

The brothers make a living, traveling on top of trains, selling goods, picking pockets, and cheating naive tourists at the Taj Mahal by pretending to be tour guides. Jamal eventually insists that they return to Mumbai since he wishes to locate Latika, which annoys Salim. They eventually find her, discovering that she had been raised by Maman to be a culturally talented prostitute whose virginity will fetch a high price. The brothers attempt to rescue her, but Maman intrudes, and in the resulting conflict Salim draws a gun and kills Maman. Salim then uses the fact that he killed Maman to obtain a job with Javed (Mahesh Manjrekar), a rival crime lord. Salim returns to the room where the three were staying and orders Jamal to leave. Jamal, knowing his brother is here to claim Latika as his own, attacks his brother violently before being overturned by Salim and confronted by a revolver as Salim threatens to kill him. Latika intervenes and tells Jamal to leave, breaking his heart and sacrificing herself to keep him safe. With Maman's men searching for Salim, Salim and Latika flee to an unknown location, leaving Jamal alone to fend for himself.

Years later, Jamal has a position as a "chai wallah" (tea server) at a call center. When he is asked to cover for a co-worker for a couple of minutes, he searches the database for Salim and Latika and succeeds in getting in touch with Salim, who has become a high-ranking lieutenant in Javed’s organization. Jamal confronts a regretful Salim on tense terms. Jamal asks him where Latika is. Salim, annoyed and bewildered that his brother still cares about her, responds she's "long gone." Salim invites Jamal to live with him, and after Jamal follows him to Javed's house, he sees Latika (Freida Pinto) there, and she also notices him. He bluffs his way in, pretending initially to be a dishwasher and then later a chef. Jamal and Latika have an emotional reunion, but elation quickly turns to despair after Jamal discovers that Latika is with Javed. Upon discovering this, Jamal tries to persuade Latika to leave. She rebuffs his advances and insists that he forget about her and leave, but instead Jamal confesses his love for her and promises to wait for her every day at 5 p.m. at Mumbai's largest train station, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T.), until she comes. One day, while Jamal waits there, Latika attempts to rendezvous with him, but she is recaptured by Salim and Javed's men. Javed slashes her cheek with a knife as Salim drives off, leaving a furious Jamal behind with a crowd of onlookers.

Jamal again loses contact with Latika when Javed moves to another house outside of Mumbai. In another attempt to find Latika, Jamal tries out for the popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, because he knows she'll be watching. He makes it to the final question, despite the hostile attitude of the host who feeds Jamal a wrong answer during a break. At the end of the show, Jamal has one question left to win two crore, or 20 million rupees (about 400,000 U.S. dollars), but the host calls the police and Jamal is taken into police custody, where he is tortured as the police attempt to learn how he, a simple "slumdog," could know the answers to so many questions. After Jamal tells his whole story, explaining how his life experiences coincidentally enabled him to know the answer to each question, the police inspector calls Jamal's explanation "bizarrely plausible" and, knowing he's not in it for the money, allows him to return to the show for the final question.

At Javed's safehouse, Latika watches the news coverage of Jamal's miraculous run on the show. Salim gives Latika his phone and the keys to his car. He urges her to run away and to "forgive him for what he has done." The final question asked of Jamal is to name the third musketeer in the story of The Three Musketeers. When Jamal uses his Phone-A-Friend lifeline to call Salim, Latika barely succeeds in answering the phone in time and they reconnect. She does not know the answer to the final question, but she tells Jamal that she is safe and (in unsubtitled Hindi) says "I am yours" before the phone connection cuts off. Jamal simply guesses the correct answer (Aramis) to the question of the one musketeer whose name they never learned, and wins the grand prize. Simultaneously, Salim is discovered to have helped Latika escape and allows himself to be killed in a bathtub full of money after shooting and killing Javed. Salim's last words are "God is great." Later that night, Jamal and Latika meet at the railway station and they share a kiss. It is then revealed that the correct answer to the opening question is "D) it is written," implying that it is destiny. During the closing credits, Jamal and Latika — along with dozens of bystanders and even the juvenile versions of themselves — dance in the C.S.T. train station to the song "Jai Ho," the title of which epitomizes victory.

Differences from the book Q & A

In the book, the story is told to his lawyer, rather than the police. The Bombay Hindu-Muslim riots play no role in the book, as the ethnic or religious heritage of the main character is uncertain. In the book, the central character is instead named 'Ram Mohammad Thomas' by the village elders, choosing a Hindu name, Muslim name, and Christian name to maintain the balance among all the religious communities after his mother abandons him at birth. Ram grows up in an orphanage, and his only 'brothers' are his fellow orphans; Salim is his best friend. He was adopted by a Christian priest as a youth, which is how he learns English, and then is nearly molested by a visiting priest. The priest scenes are not included in the film script, and the movie does not explain how Jamal learns fluent English. Latika is not his childhood friend in the book but rather a prostitute named Nita with whom Ram falls in love when he visits a brothel at age 17.

Production

Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy wrote Slumdog Millionaire based on the Boeke Prize-winning and Commonwealth Writers' Prize-nominated novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup.[8] To hone the script, Beaufoy made three research trips to India and interviewed street children, finding himself impressed with their attitudes. The screenwriter said of his goal for the script: "I wanted to get (across) the sense of this huge amount of fun, laughter, chat, and sense of community that is in these slums. What you pick up on is this mass of energy."

By the summer of 2006, British production companies Celador Films and Film4 Productions invited director Danny Boyle to read the script of Slumdog Millionaire. Boyle initially hesitated, since he was not interested in making a film about Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which was produced by Celador.[9] However, Boyle soon found out that the screenwriter was Beaufoy, who had written The Full Monty (1997), one of the director's favorite British films, and decided to revisit the script.[10] Boyle was impressed by how Beaufoy wove the multiple storylines from Swarup's book into one narrative, and the director decided to commit to the project. The film was projected to cost US$15 million, so Celador sought a U.S. distributor to share costs. Fox Searchlight Pictures made an initial offer that was reportedly in the $2 million range, but Warner Independent Pictures made a $5 million offer to win rights to the picture.[9]

Gail Stevens came on board to oversee casting globally. Stevens had worked with Boyle throughout his career and was well-known for discovering new talent. Meredith Tucker was appointed to cast out of the US. The film-makers then travelled to Mumbai in September 2007 with a partial crew and began hiring local cast and crew for production in Karjat. Originally appointed as one of the five casting directors in India, Loveleen Tandan has stated that she "suggested to Danny and Simon Beaufoy, the writer of Slumdog, that it was important to do some of it in Hindi to bring the film alive [...] They asked me to pen the Hindi dialogues which I, of course, instantly agreed to do. And as we drew closer to the shoot date, Danny asked me to step in as the co-director."[11] Boyle then decided to translate nearly a third of the film's English dialogue into Hindi. The director fibbed to Warner Independent's president that he wanted 10% of the dialogue in Hindi, and she approved of the change. Filming locations included shooting in Mumbai's megaslum and in shantytown parts of Juhu, so film-makers controlled the crowds by befriending onlookers.[9] Filming began on 5 November 2007.[12]

In addition to Swarup's original novel Q & A, the film was also inspired by Indian cinema.[13][14] Tandan has referred to Slumdog Millionaire as an homage to Hindi commercial cinema, noting that "Simon Beaufoy studied Salim-Javed's kind of cinema minutely."[13] Boyle has cited the influence of several Bollywood films set in Mumbai.[15] Satya (1998) (screenplay co-written by Saurabh Shukla, who plays Constable Srinivas in Slumdog Millionaire) and Company (2002) (based on the D-Company) both offered "slick, often mesmerizing portrayals of the Mumbai underworld" and displayed realistic "brutality and urban violence." Boyle has also stated that the chase in one of the opening scenes of Slumdog Millionaire was based on a "12-minute police chase through the crowded Dharavi slum" in Black Friday (2004) (adapted from S. Hussein Zaidi's book of the same name about the 1993 Bombay bombings).[14][16][17][18] Deewaar (1975), which Boyle described as being "absolutely key to Indian cinema," is a crime film based on the Bombay gangster Haji Mastan, portrayed by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, whose autograph Jamal seeks at the beginning of Slumdog Millionaire.[14] Anil Kapoor noted that some scenes of the film "are like Deewaar, the story of two brothers of whom one is completely after money while the younger one is honest and not interested in money."[19] Boyle has cited other Indian films as influences in subsequent interviews.[20][21] The rags-to-riches, underdog theme underlying the film was also a recurring theme in classic Bollywood movies from the 1950s through to the 1980s, when "India worked to lift itself from hunger and poverty."[22] Other classic Bollywood tropes in the film include "the fantasy sequences" and the montage sequence where "the brothers jump off a train and suddenly they are seven years older".[21]

Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, the host of last episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) aired prior to the release of this movie, was initially offered the role of the show's host in the film, but he ultimately turned it down (the role is played by another Bollywood star, Anil Kapoor).[23][24][25] Paul Smith, the executive producer of Slumdog Millionaire and the chairman of Celador Films, had previously owned the international rights to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?[26]

Cast

• Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, the protagonist, a Muslim boy born and raised in the poverty of Mumbai.[27] Boyle considered hundreds of young male actors, and he found that Bollywood leads were generally "strong, handsome hero-types." Boyle's daughter pointed Dev Patel out from the British television ensemble drama Skins, of which he was a cast member.[9][12]
  • Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as Younger Jamal
  • Tanay Chheda as Early Teenage Jamal
• Freida Pinto as Latika, the girl with whom Jamal is in love. Pinto was an Indian model who had not starred in a feature film before.[9] Regarding the "one of a kind" scarf she wears, designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb says, "I wanted to bookend the journey—to tie her childhood yellow dress to her final look."[28]
  • Rubina Ali as Younger Latika. Rubina is a child from the Mumbai slums in real life.[29]
  • Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar as Early Teenage Latika
  • Madhur Mittal as Salim, Jamal's elder brother.
    • Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail as Younger Salim. Azharuddin is a child from the Mumbai slums in real life.[29]
    • Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala as Early Teenage Salim
    • Anil Kapoor as Prem Kumar, the game show host. Boyle initially wanted Indian actor Shahrukh Khan to play the role, but things didn't work out. Khan is the real life host of the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Kapoor has also starred as a guest on the show with Amitabh Bachchan and won Rs 5,000,000. [30]
    • Irrfan Khan as the Police Inspector
    • Saurabh Shukla as Constable Srinivas
    • Mahesh Manjrekar as Javed
    • Ankur Vikal as Maman
    • Rajendranath Zutshi as the Millionaire show producer
    • Sanchita Choudhary as Jamal's mother
    • Shah Rukh Munshi as a slum kid. Shah Rukh is a child from the Mumbai slums in real life.[22]
    • Mozhim Shakim Sheikh Qureshi as a crippled slum kid. Mozhim Shakim is a child from the Mumbai slums in real life.[29]
    • Janet de Vigne as the German tourist at the Taj Mahal.
    • Devesh Rawal as the boy in costume as the God Rama, painted blue.

    Release and box office performance

    In August 2007 Warner Independent Pictures acquired the North American rights and Pathé the international rights to distribute Slumdog Millionaire theatrically.[12] However, in May 2008, Warner Independent Pictures was shut down, with all of its projects being transferred to Warner Bros., its parent studio. Warner Bros. doubted the commercial prospects of Slumdog Millionaire and suggested that it would go straight to DVD without a U.S. theatrical release.[31] In August 2008, the studio began searching for buyers for various productions, to relieve its overload of end-of-the-year films.[32] Halfway through the month, Warner Bros. entered into a pact with Fox Searchlight Pictures to share distribution of the film, with Fox Searchlight buying 50% of Warner Bros.'s interest in the movie and handling U.S. distribution.[33]

    Following the film's success at the 81st Academy Awards, the film topped the worldwide box office (barring North America), grossing $16 million from 34 markets in the week following the Academy Awards.[34] Worldwide, the film has currently grossed 326,000,000 (aprox).[1]

    North America

    Slumdog Millionaire was first shown at the Telluride Film Festival on 30 August 2008, where it was positively received by audiences, generating "strong buzz".[35] The film also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2008, where it was "the first widely acknowledged popular success" of the festival,[36] winning the People's Choice Award.[37] Slumdog Millionaire debuted with a limited North American release on 12 November 2008, followed by a nationwide release in the United States on 23 January 2009.[38]

    After debuting on a Wednesday, the film grossed an impressive $360,018 in 10 theaters in its first weekend, a strong average of $36,002 per theater.[39][40] In its second weekend, it expanded to 32 theaters and made $947,795, or an average of $29,619 per theater, representing a drop of only 18%.[39] In the 10 original theatres that it was released in, viewership went up 16%, and this is attributed to strong word-of-mouth.[41] The film expanded into wide release on 25 December 2008 at 614 theaters and grossed $5,647,007 over the extended Christmas weekend.[38] Following its success at the 81st Academy Awards, the film's takings increased by 43%,[42] the most for any film since Titanic.[43] In the weekend of 27 February to 1 March, the film reached its widest release at 2,943 theaters.[1] As of 31 March 2009, the film has grossed $139,341,484 at the North American box office.[1]

    Europe

    The film released in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009, and opened at #2 at the UK box office.[44] The film reached #1 in its second weekend and set a UK box office record, as the film's takings increased by 47%. This is the "biggest ever increase for a UK saturation release," breaking "the record previously held by Billy Elliot's 13%." This record-breaking "ticket surge" in the second weekend came after Slumdog Millionaire won four Golden Globes and received eleven BAFTA nominations. The film grossed £6.1 million in its first eleven days of release in the UK.[45] The takings increased by another 7% the following weekend, bringing the film's gross up to £10.24 million for its first seventeen days in the UK,[46][47] and up to £14.2 million in its third week.[48]

    As of 20 February 2009, the film's UK box office gross was £22,973,110,[49] making it "the eighth biggest hit at UK cinemas of the past 12 months."[50] As of 2 March 2009, following its success at the 81st Academy Awards where it won eight Oscars, the film has returned to #1 at the UK box office, grossing £26 million as of 2 March 2009.[51]

    The film's success at the Academy Awards led to it seeing large increases in takings elsewhere in Europe the following week. Its biggest single country increase was in Italy, where it was up 556% from the previous week. The takings in France and Spain also increased by 61% and 73% respectively. During the same week, the film debuted in other European countries with successful openings: in Croatia it grossed $170,419 from 10 screens, making it the biggest opening there in the last four months; and in Poland it opened in second place with a gross of $715,677. The film was released in Sweden on 6 March 2009 and in Germany on 19 March 2009.[34]

    Asia-Pacific

    In India, the premiere of Slumdog Millionaire took place in Mumbai on 22 January 2009 and was attended by major personalities of the Indian film industry, with more than a hundred attending this event.[52] A dubbed Hindi version, Slumdog Crorepati (स्लमडॉग करोड़पति), was also released in India in addition to the original version of the film.[53] Originally titled Slumdog Millionaire: Kaun Banega Crorepati, the name was shortened for legal reasons. Loveleen Tandan, who supervised the dubbing, stated: "All the actors from the original English including Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and Ankur Vikal dubbed the film. We got a boy from Chembur Pradeep Motwani to dub for the male lead Dev Patel. I didn't want any exaggerated dubbing. I wanted a young unspoilt voice."[54]

    Fox Searchlight released 351 prints of the film across India for its full release there on 23 January 2009.[55] It earned Rs. 2,35,45,665 in its first week at the Indian box office,[56] or $2.2 million according to Fox Searchlight. Though not as successful as major Bollywood releases in India during its first week, this was the highest weekend gross for any Fox film and the third highest for any Western release in the country, trailing only Spider-Man 3 and Casino Royale.[55] In its second week, the film's gross rose to Rs. 3,04,70,752 at the Indian box office.[56]

    A few analysts have offered their opinions about the film's performance at the Indian box office. Trade analyst Komal Nahta commented, "There was a problem with the title itself. Slumdog is not a familiar word for majority Indians." In addition, trade analyst Amod Mehr has stated that with the exception of Anil Kapoor, the film lacks recognizable stars and that "the film ... is not ideally suited for Indian sentiment." A cinema owner commented that "to hear slum boys speaking perfect English doesn't seem right but when they are speaking in Hindi, the film seems much more believable." The dubbed Hindi version, Slumdog Crorepati, did better at the box office, and additional copies of that version were released.[57] Following the film's success at the 81st Academy Awards, the film's takings in India increased by 470% the following week, bringing its total up to $6.3 million that week.[34] As of 15 March 2009, Slumdog Crorepati has grossed Rs. 15,86,13,802 at the Indian box office.[58]

    The film's success at the Academy Awards led to it seeing large increases in takings elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, the takings increased by 53%, bringing the film up to second place there. In Hong Kong, the film debuted taking $1 million in its opening weekend, making it the second biggest opening of the year there. The film was released in Japan on 18 April 2009, South Korea on 19 March 2009, China on 26 March 2009, Vietnam on 10 April 2009[34], and 11 April 2009 in Philippines.

    Critical reception

    Awards and honors

    Slumdog Millionaire is highly acclaimed, named in the top ten lists of various newspapers.[59] On 22 February 2009 the film won eight out of ten Academy Awards for which it was nominated, including the Best Picture and Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song (two songs were nominated from the film; "Jai Ho" won the award), losing only Best Sound Editing to The Dark Knight. It is only the eighth film ever to win eight Academy Awards[60] and the eleventh Best Picture Oscar winner without a single acting nomination.[61]

    The film also won all four of the Golden Globe Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Drama Film; five of the six Critics' Choice Awards for which it was nominated; and seven of the eleven BAFTA Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Film.

    Reactions from the Western world

    Slumdog Millionaire has been critically acclaimed in the Western world. As of 16 April 2009, Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 94% rating with 193 fresh and thirteen rotten reviews. The average score is 8.2/10.[62] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 86, based on 36 reviews.[63] Movie City News shows that the film appeared in 123 different top ten lists, out of 286 different critics lists surveyed, the 3rd most mentions on a top ten list of any film released in 2008.[64]

    Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave the film four out of four stars, stating that it is, "a breathless, exciting story, heartbreaking and exhilarating."[65] Wall Street Journal critic Joe Morgenstern refers to Slumdog Millionaire as, "the film world's first globalized masterpiece."[66] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post argues that, "this modern-day "rags-to-rajah" fable won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, and it's easy to see why. With its timely setting of a swiftly globalizing India and, more specifically, the country's own version of the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" TV show, combined with timeless melodrama and a hardworking orphan who withstands all manner of setbacks, "Slumdog Millionaire" plays like Charles Dickens for the 21st century."[67] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times describes the film as "a Hollywood-style romantic melodrama that delivers major studio satisfactions in an ultra-modern way" and "a story of star-crossed romance that the original Warner brothers would have embraced, shamelessly pulling out stops that you wouldn't think anyone would have the nerve to attempt anymore."[68] Anthony Lane of the New Yorker stated, "There is a mismatch here. Boyle and his team, headed by the director of photography, Anthony Dod Mantle, clearly believe that a city like Mumbai, with its shifting skyline and a population of more than fifteen million, is as ripe for storytelling as Dickens’s London [...] At the same time, the story they chose is sheer fantasy, not in its glancing details but in its emotional momentum. How else could Boyle get away with assembling his cast for a Bollywood dance number, at a railroad station, over the closing credits? You can either chide the film, at this point, for relinquishing any claim to realism or you can go with the flow—surely the wiser choice."[69] Several other reviewers have described Slumdog Millionaire as a Bollywood-style "Masala" movie,[70] due to the way the film combines "familiar raw ingredients into a feverish masala"[71] and culminates in "the romantic leads finding each other."[72]

    Other critics offered more mixed reviews. For example, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film three out of five stars, stating that "despite the extravagant drama and some demonstrations of the savagery meted out to India's street children, this is a cheerfully undemanding and unreflective film with a vision of India that, if not touristy exactly, is certainly an outsider's view; it depends for its full enjoyment on not being taken too seriously." He also pointed out that the film is co-produced by Celador Films, who own the rights to the original Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and claimed that “it functions as a feature-length product placement for the programme.”[73][74] A few critics also panned it. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle states that, "Slumdog Millionaire has a problem in its storytelling. The movie unfolds in a start-and-stop way that kills suspense, leans heavily on flashbacks and robs the movie of most of its velocity.... [T]he whole construction is tied to a gimmicky narrative strategy that keeps Slumdog Millionaire from really hitting its stride until the last 30 minutes. By then, it's just a little too late."[75] Eric Hynes of IndieWIRE called it "bombastic", "a noisy, sub-Dickens update on the romantic tramp's tale" and "a goofy picaresque to rival Forrest Gump" in its morality and romanticism.[76]

    Reactions from India and the Indian diaspora

    Slumdog Millionaire has been a subject of discussion among a variety of people in India and the Indian diaspora.

    Controversies

    Slumdog Millionaire has stirred controversy on a few topics including its portrayals of Indians and Hinduism and the welfare of its child actors.

    Soundtrack

    The Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman, who planned the score for over two months and completed it in two weeks.[77] Rahman won the 2009 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and won two out of three nominations for the Academy Awards, including one for Best Original Score and one for Best Original Song. The song "O... Saya" got a nomination shared with M.I.A., and the song "Jai Ho" won the Oscar, which A. R. Rahman shared with lyricist Gulzar. The soundtrack was released on M.I.A.'s record label N.E.E.T. On Radio Sargam, film critic Goher Iqbal Punn termed the soundtrack Rahman's "magnum opus" which will acquaint "the entire world" with his artistry.[78]

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787 Responses to “Slumdog Millionaire”

1. slseel from United States Says:
   September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am

   Must-See

   This is an extraordinary film. From the original concept of the novel
   on which it is based (Q&A by Vikas Swarup), the screenplay by Simon
   Beaufoy (Full Monty) but especially the masterful creation and
   direction of the film by Danny Boyle. From the opening moments until
   the final scene, the audience was fully engaged. I was completely lost
   in the world that Danny Boyle created. This is not a story that has
   been told and retold, hashed and rehashed. It is fresh and engaging -
   all at once quickly moving, romantic, violent, culturally insightful,
   desperate and slightly fantastic. There are some comic elements to the
   film but to describe it as a "comedy" seems inappropriate. The film was
   shot on location in India, mostly in Mumbai. Slumdog Millionaire is yet
   another testament to depth and range of Boyle's artistic talent who has
   directed such diverse films as Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, 28 Days
   Later and Sunshine.I saw the film on at the 2008 Telluride Film Festival as a "sneak
   preview." The film was introduced by Boyle who said that the official
   opening of the film would be the next weekend at the Toronto Film
   Festival. He also said that there may be some final tweaking of the
   film prior to Toronto.In the discussion after the film Boyle strongly recommended three
   Indian made films: Satya, Company and Black Friday. He described each
   as superb. Boyle also stated that a portion of the Slumdog Millionaire
   was shot with a Canon EOS still camera, especially around the Taj
   Mahal, rather than a proper movie camera which creates unwanted
   attention while filming at popular tourist locations in India.8.2

2. Jar_of_Inspiration from Toronto, ON Says:
   September 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

   The little movie that will wow audiences this year.

   There has already been some talk coming from Telluride that this film
   is set to be this year's 'Juno.' It does have the same distributor and
   it is set for the same release period, and for anyone who hears this
   buzz, they will definitely not be disappointed.During the premiere of the final cut (in the words of director Danny
   Boyle) at the Toronto International Film Festival, the audience gave
   the film an incredibly enthusiastic response, and it went on to win the
   People's Choice Award. Boyle, who is sometimes called a British Richard
   Linklater for yet again surprising the audience with such diverse
   subject matter, worked his magic. He transcended genres and created a
   truly unique and energetic picture.Just about every aspect of this film deserves merit, and above all it
   belongs to Boyle, who managed to assemble such a massive achievement.
   The score by A.R. Rahman, with contributions from M.I.A., perfectly
   accompanies the action on screen. Still, it is great enough to be
   listened to on its own. With India as a backdrop, Boyle and his
   cinematographer have composed some remarkable images. The acting is
   roundly impressive, especially coming from the younger cast, almost all
   of which has never acted before.The film begins as Jamal (Skins' Dev Patel) is under interrogation by
   Mumbai police for cheating on India's version of Who Wants To Be a
   Millionaire, being only one question away from winning it all. As the
   inspector says, even doctors and lawyers cannot come close to the 20m
   rupee prize, and so Jamal, having grown up on the streets of Mumbai,
   cannot possibly know these things. As Jamal tries to avoid further
   torture, he begins to explain to the police how he knew each of the
   answers. Flashbacks present Jamal's boyhood and explain how he got to
   the show.At the centre of his journey is his brother, Salim, and a girl, Latika,
   who is left a homeless orphan after an attack that took Jamal's mother
   as well. After running from a man who exploits the trio for labour,
   Jamal replays the incident when Latika left his life when she was
   unable to catch a moving train. His uncertainty of her fate on the
   streets of Mumbai and his intense desire to see his first and only love
   again lead him to the interrogation room where the film began.Like 'Juno,' Slumdog Millionaire is by genre a comedic drama, but it
   becomes much more. The film asks questions about fate, righteousness,
   greed, and even urban sprawl. Above all, however, it asks about love in
   the face of the most dire obstacles, and if it can truly prosper.
   Jamal's story is a tragic and unfortunate one, but as seen through his
   eyes, it is still beautiful. The vast colour palate of India overwhelm
   any negative feelings, and Jamal's hope of finding and being with
   Latika overwhelm despair. For Jamal, 20m rupees isn't his prize. It
   would be nearly impossible for there to be a better picture this year.

3. Jamesbond1974 from Canada Says:
   September 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

   Wow, I really wasn't expecting what I saw…..

   This movie was one of the best movies that I have seen so far at the
   Toronto International Film Festival. This film is beautifully filmed as
   Danny Boyle can do. He is a film master. The acting is magnificent as
   well. Imagine using 3 children under the age of 7 to tell the early
   part of the story plot. The film uses past tense, and present tense to
   tell the whole story, which is also seamless. Filming took place in
   India as well. Their was a question and answer after the showing of
   this film at TIFF-Toronto International Film Festival. Please go and
   see this film. This film is has and exceptional cast, and should be
   seen in the theaters. It was magnificent.

4. Jay from Canada Says:
   September 8th, 2008 at 12:00 am

   WOW is right

   I also saw this film at to Toronto Film Festival. The audience gave it
   a well deserved standing ovation. This story is told seamlessly. The
   revealing look into the Mumbai slum is just one of the beautiful and
   terrifying story lines. The use of flashbacks to tell the story took
   you on a journey in time and culture. They used three sets of actors of
   three different ages to move the story. The use of the youngest actors
   (actually slum kids from Mumbai) stole the show. These kids were
   incredible showing both the beauty and the horrors of growing up in Bombay. And that’s not to take away from the amazing
   performances of Freida, Dev, and the actor playing the older Saleem.
   There performances moved many to tears. See this movie it won’t
   disappoint!

5. carda1 from Toronto, Canada Says:
   September 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am

   Run, don't walk to see this film

   This film is bound to be a classic like Cinema Paradiso, Rocky or any
   number of films that celebrate the underdog. Sure it's manipulative,
   but tell me which great film isn't. The audience is rooting for Jamal,
   the young protagonist, from the first frame to the final fade out.
   Simon Beaufoy's marvelously inventive screenplay, plus Danny Boyle's
   exceptional direction should make this a hit, in spite of the fact that
   there are no known actors (at least known in N. America) and chunks of
   the dialogue are in Hindi. It is a crowd pleaser in the best sense of
   the term.Note to Fox Searchlight: If you market this properly, you could have
   another Little Miss Sunshine or Juno on your hands. Frankly, this is a
   superior film to either of those.

6. emilyvondisco from United States Says:
   October 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

   This movie is awesome.

   I saw this movie at a free advance screening in Boston with no
   expectations or prior knowledge of the film and was completely amazed.
   This is by far the best movie I've seen in the last few years and I
   plan to see it again upon theatrical release. Script, acting
   (especially excellent very young actors), cinematography,
   soundtrack…etc…are amazing. Everything about the film is beautiful
   and flawless. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I was
   surprised by an epic dance finale lasting about five minutes and
   including the entire cast.Seriously. Go see this movie now.

7. samka-2 from NY Says:
   October 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

   The most original , cinematic film I have seen in ages

   Saw a screening last night. Just a great film. Unlike anything you have
   ever seen. The screenplay is brilliant and written not just with great
   dialogue but in visual terms. Danny Boyle's direction is kinetic and
   most appropriate to convey the feeling of the Mumbai slums. The editing
   builds tensions throughout and this is one of the most effective uses
   of flashback ever.First rate acting and a great score.The audience cheered and gave it a standing ovation after it was over
   (of course could have been because Danny Boyle and Dev Patel were in
   room but I do not think so).Lots of awards will follow.The perfect combination of a film to satisfy your intellect as well as
   a real crowd pleaser.Don't miss it!

8. JABKool from United States Says:
   November 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am

   One of the top 5 movies of this year

   I just saw this at the Savannah Film Festival (on Friday October 31st,
   2008), held by the Savannah College Of Art and Design (SCAD) and as
   soon as the credits started rolling for this movie the first word that
   came out of my mouth was "WOW!!!" This movie is easily one of the best
   of 2008, I honestly don't know how the people have given this movie a
   average rating of 7 here on IMDb. This movie is the heart wrenching
   tale of a person who has everything he ever loved taken away from him,
   only to try with everything that he has to regain his true love and
   gain more than he could ever hope. It is preformed and put together in
   such a way that it forgets and bypasses every love story cliché. The
   movie starts out a little confusing but is very quickly sorted out and
   understood. Danny Boyle has made a film that inspires and encourages
   people of all ages.To summarize the deep and perfectly delivered message of this movie;
   you don't have to be a genius to know the answers in life, sometimes
   life is just written(whether you call it fate or destiny). This movie
   I'm sure will find its place amongst the great love movie's like "The
   Princess Bride", "Casablanca", and "Titanic". Some people I know have
   problems over the fact that this movie takes place in India, but if you
   just for one moment let go of that and watch this movie you will
   instantly find out just how amazing this movie is.Even though I am writing this review now in November, I hope that you
   will read this review when the film comes out officially in January and
   go out and see it. BECAUSE WHETHER YOU GO INTO THAT THEATER ALONE;
   WITHOUT A GIRLFRIEND OR NOT, YOU WILL WALK OUT OF THAT THEATER
   INSPIRED, ENCOURAGED, HOPEFUL, BUT MOST OF ALL IN LOVE WITH THIS FILM.For my closing statement I need to mention that recently this film got
   an undeserving "R" rating, but this is one movie you should not be
   ashamed to have your parents take you to see. And is the perfect movie
   to take a loved one to.

9. anhedonia from Planet Earth Says:
   November 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

   A stunning achievement: The best film of the year and one of the most exhilarating film-going experiences

   I won't see a better, more exhilarating movie this year than Danny
   Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." If Academy voters have any sense, they
   will nominate this for Best Picture and Best Director and then vote
   overwhelmingly for it for both awards.Boyle has taken what is essentially a story about a young man on
   India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and transformed it
   into a gritty, realistic, powerful and, at times, gut-wrenching fairy
   tale. It's a Dickensian picture about a world rarely, if ever, seen in
   mainstream movies, a film that grabs us from the opening frame and
   doesn't let go until the credits roll at the end.This is why I love movies. Films like "Slumdog Millionaire" are rare.
   They are things of beauty, works of art that make me fall in love with
   movies all over again. Boyle has done it twice. First with "Millions"
   (2004), which also, coincidentally, was about a young boy and money;
   and now with "Slumdog Millionaire." This is Boyle's masterpiece - a stunningly original piece of
   film-making.Every once in a while there is a sleeper film, usually an independent
   movie, that comes along, takes everyone by surprise, then gets terrific
   word of mouth and becomes a huge success. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
   (2002), "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) - though I did not care much for
   it - and "Juno" (2007) are such films. But, frankly, those films can't
   hold a candle to "Slumdog Millionaire."What might surprise many viewers is that a third of the dialogue is in
   Hindi. (And Boyle's placement of subtitles on the screen makes such
   good sense!) Please do not let that dissuade you from seeing this
   marvelous film. Do not let the R rating prevent you, either. What was
   the MPAA thinking? Honestly! There are far more offensive, vulgar and
   violent movies that are rated PG-13. "Slumdog Millionaire" should never
   have received an R rating. (This film should be mandatory viewing for
   young people, especially those in industrialized nations.) Simon Beaufoy's script was originally entirely in English, but Boyle's
   decision to have the Indian kids speak in Hindi, instead, is the right
   call. Having the children speaking in their native tongue makes perfect
   sense, especially because Boyle and Beaufoy depicts the realism of the
   kids' lives.That's what incredible about this film. Boyle and Beaufoy do not shy
   away from showing the squalor of Bombay. These kids live in deplorable
   conditions amid the grime, sewers and trash dumps of the slums. And,
   yet, thanks of Boyle true ingenuity, he creates uplifting and even
   humorous moments in the slums. There is one moment - and I shan't spoil
   it for anyone, but you will know it when you see it - that very well
   might be my favorite film moment in the last five years.Boyle doesn't do a thing wrong here. From his choice of actors to the
   music to his choice of colors, Boyle works his magic.The performances are uniformly good. Irrfan Khan finds the right
   balance between a tormentor and a quasi-father figure as the police
   officer. There's young Dev Patel as Jamal, playing with confidence,
   bringing a wonderful swagger to his role, as well as a sense of fear
   that we completely understand. Freida Pinto as the love interest is
   superb. And, of course, there are the three young 'uns. Perfectly cast,
   they actually make the film work. Their performances as Jamal, Salim
   and Latika are so utterly convincing that they completely draw us into
   the picture and make the jobs of the older actors playing them much
   easier."Slumdog Millionaire" is, I suppose, a dramatic comedy at heart. But it
   is also much more. It is a film about friendship, gratitude, love,
   betrayal, poverty and hope. It makes you laugh, weep and cheer as you
   can't help but marvel at Boyle's sheer genius.The film moves along at a breakneck pace, yet none of the cinematic
   flair - and there is plenty - seems superfluous. Everything Boyle does,
   including the Bollywood touches, makes sense. There's such a
   brilliantly kinetic energy to this film that it is impossible not to be
   enthralled by it.What Boyle has done is truly miraculous. He has turned a film about
   street life in Bombay into a visceral, genuine crowd-pleaser. And you
   will walk out of the movie theater feeling inspired and hopeful,
   knowing you've just seen something very special."Slumdog Millionaire" is not to be missed. It is the best movie of the
   year. And it is, without any doubt, one of the ten best films of the
   decade.

10. katiemeyer1979 from Los Angeles, CA Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Just What The Doctor Ordered

    An exhilarating realistic fairy tale that will make you feel like
    flying. I certainly felt it. Rewarding without being opportunistic.
    This tale of two orphan brothers in a slum of Bombay is a mixture of
    heart wrenching and uplifting emotions. I didn't know anything about
    the film other that what I just mentioned and that was part of the
    enjoyment so I won't talk about the film to allow you the same
    discovery I went through. Let me just say that this is Danny Boyle's
    best film and the cast of unknowns is truly extraordinary. The last few
    minutes of the film will have you on the edge of your seat hoping
    against hope that what "is written" is really written.

11. visionent7@aol.com from Los Angeles Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A boy survives the horrific slums of modern India and must answer questions on a TV game show and prove that it is life and love, not cheating that has given him the answers.

    Kudos Danny! This film is the best film I've seen all year. Hands down.
    It's brilliantly directed, the casting and performances are superb, the
    story is both riveting and heart warming. The locations are mind
    bending and the realities of life in modern India are both fascinating
    and appalling. It's a shocking, thought provoking, make-you-feel-good-
    to-be-alive kind of film. The audience broke into applause at the DGA screening. Every one I
    heard leaving the theater said, "best movie of the year." This is the "CRASH" of 2009. I think word of mouth will give it lift off! Too bad it's a limited
    run. Somebody need to get behind this movie, if for no other reason
    than it has all the makings of a great, classic feel everything movie.Thank you Danny and all involved. You made magic!

12. Patrick Dwyer from Seattle Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    More excellent work from Danny Boyle

    I just got back from Slumdog Millionaire and I can't think of many bad
    things to say about it. It's a beautifully paced narrative with superb
    acting. He got great work from the kids and the casting of the
    characters as they age is excellent work, allowing you to become very
    invested in them. The story was engrossing, the photography was
    stellar, and the exoticness and energy of India jumps off the screen.
    Boyle's frenetic camera work and India's frenetic pace are a great
    match. The Bollywood references are great and the final scene as the
    credits roll is memorable, leaving you with a good aftertaste. It's all
    backed up with a great soundtrack. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll
    cringe, you'll gasp… all that good stuff. I had a couple of issues
    with the ending but not enough to spoil what was otherwise a hell of a
    ride. A great movie and one that I highly recommend.

13. jurobinson from Seattle, WA Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    See this movie ..

    I went to see this movie, tonight, with zero information on it other
    than Danny Boyle was the director. I am a fan of Trainspotting, and
    absolutely loved 28 Days Later. What I got here was something nothing
    like either of these movies, but something else, wholly beautiful.From beginning until the very end, I was enthralled in this film.
    Everything in this movie has a purpose, whether it be to give the
    characters their human qualities, or to be used for plot later on.
    Usually with films like this, I have found, you find somewhat of a
    filler section (which is why I have never been really a fan of these
    genres) … but here, here was something very special.I felt with the main character, through everything in his life, and
    that everything in the entire film is bringing him to the conclusion of
    this film. I sat and experienced the things he had gone through, and
    was genuinely moved as it came to conclusion.Beautifully written, shot and acted, I feel I am compelled to tell
    people the virtues of this movie. It is a classic love story, told in a
    wonderful way.I know I will be seeing it again.

14. Vincent Cadena from California Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the best films of the year

    Danny Boyle has been a favorite of mine since I saw Shallow Grave,
    since then he's gone on to make three masterpieces(Trainspotting,28
    Days Later and Millions), a near perfect film(Sunshine) a guilty
    pleasure(The Beach) and a total miss(A Life Less Ordinary). Slumdog
    Millionaire comes out of nowhere and it could very well be his best
    film and one of the best films of the decade. Visually like Boyles
    previous work it's stunning, Apocalypse Now and City of God come to
    mind and there are dutch angles galore. The raw style mixed with the
    amazing locations make this film one of the most cinematic experiences
    you'll ever see. The Sound is perfect, I haven't heard audio like this
    in a while. This film needs a Sound Oscar nomination, it sounds that
    good. I went into seeing this knowing very little about it and the
    person I took with me didn't know anything about it, so I'll just say
    it's about a young man that goes on Indias Who Wants to be a
    Millionaire, it's a very unconventional film where they tell the story
    of his life in flashbacks while he plays the game. It's funny, sad,
    thrilling, basically a very enjoyable film that deserves numerous Oscar
    nominations. Also the lead actress is one of the most beautiful women
    I've ever seen, if she isn't a huge star after this I'd be extremely
    surprised. If the academy doesn't honor this film with numerous
    nominations it will be a shame but this film will be studied in 20
    years and whoever sees this will love it, so even if it doesn't get a
    single nomination it won't matter. Don't miss this film, it's perfect!

15. lisazug from United States Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    An imperfect gem

    What a fun movie this was! The images are lush with the color and grit
    of a poverty-stricken Mumbai, India. The overall structure of the film
    was refreshing — our hero, Jamal, has been accused of cheating on the
    popular show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Having grown up an
    uneducated, homeless, orphan the police find it hard to believe he
    could possibly answer so many obscure trivia questions correctly. Jamal
    claims that his life experience taught him lessons that, at least in
    the context of the chosen game show questions, served him as well as a
    formal education. The police inspector has a video of the show and as
    Jamal explains question by question how he knew the answers… the
    audience learns the story of his life through flashbacks.The film vibrates off the screen with a texture and realism that could
    only be captured on- location in India. I've never been to south Asia,
    but a couple years ago I saw a film about a group of impoverished
    Indian children called "Born Into Brothels," which won the Oscar that
    year for Best Documentary. The documentary was shot on video and
    revealed a world unlike anything I'd ever seen before. "Slum Dog
    Millionaire" is pure fiction, but Boyle and company have truly captured
    the vibrancy, the movement, and the indelible hope that can be seen
    reflected in the eyes of children growing up in destitute poverty the
    world over.The youngsters who play Jamal, his brother Salim, and Latika (Jamal's
    childhood sweetheart) are some of the best child performances I've ever
    seen on film. The child who plays the youngest incarnation of Jamal is
    nothing short of a miracle in my opinion. Even more surprising is the
    revelation that these kids are not actors, but were plucked from slums
    not unlike the ones depicted in the film. The best part of the film are the flashback sequences– they have a
    life of their own thanks to some incredible cinematography, a pulsating
    soundtrack, funny writing, and great performances. The game show
    sequences do their job, despite being over-simplified — Anil Kapoor,
    who plays a mean-spirited Meredith Viera, slithers through his scenes
    with slimy finesse. He's even able to pull off a ridiculous scene in a
    bathroom where his character tries to manipulate Jamal. I just found it
    distracting that this opportunity would even present itself. But that's
    just me.As for the latter part of the film, it fails to live up to the promise
    of the beginning. The weakest part is a love story that seems oddly
    forced/clichéd given the other strengths of the storyline. I suppose
    it's not really an Indian film if it's not about love, but from the
    start this film seemed to be about the relationship between the two
    brothers. I couldn't help but feel like there was some opportunity lost
    to tell a different, more interesting story there. Dev Patel (from the terrific BBC show "Skins") plays the oldest Jamal
    and does a solid job. His appealing innocence is what makes us care
    about him from the first moment we see him. Unfortunately by the end,
    it's that same innocence that makes it hard to buy that he experienced
    the difficult life that's been revealed to us over the course of the
    movie. The beautiful Frieda Pinto (who plays the oldest incarnation of
    Latika) has a similar problem. She's given even less acting to do, but
    pulls off the damsel in distress role as well as anybody. The ending
    falls flat in a final game show sequence that is notable for it's
    complete lack of suspense. We have a trivia question the western
    audience knows the answer to, and the wrapping up of a storyline that
    we see coming from 30 minutes away. In the final 15 minutes, things are unraveling quickly, and yet Boyle
    saves the ending by doing away with the predictable "guy gets rich,
    gets girl, and drives off into the sunset" motif. Instead Boyle keeps
    it simple and stays true to the world he did such an impeccable job
    creating. And to seal the deal? A marvelous Bollywood dance send up
    during the ending credits. This ending sequence is so much fun and
    leaves us, not thinking about the film's shortcomings, but rather with
    the memory of all there is to LOVE about this movie: Energy, color, and
    optimism in the midst of very harsh world.

16. theoneandonlysav from United States Says:
    November 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The little Indie that could this year at the Oscars

    Boyle is back, and in top form. His trademark shots are all there, his
    excellent transitions, masterful score, and compelling character's that
    connect to the very end. I'm a fan of Darjeeling Limited and the India
    aesthetic in general, but this film is relentless in its depiction of
    the gritty slums that surround it. The unknown cast only adds to the
    realism, no parallels can be drawn to previous works.I'm not of a fan of spoiling anything in reviews, it peeves me when
    more often than not I read a review and nearly most of the film is
    compressed into three paragraphs. I'm not going to do that. I will say
    that the film is promising and should court some Oscar buzz this year.
    However, not in the common "little Indie that could" fashion, this film
    goes beyond that.It has so many things going against it here in the States, the usage of
    south Asian characters, and… well I'll stop there. If the Academy can
    look past their ignorance, this coming of age tale will surely
    captivate, if American's can look past the obvious determinants.

17. aharmas from United States Says:
    November 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the best cinema offered in 2008

    Danny Boyle has come up with some interesting cinema, certainly
    defining himself as someone above average. What he achieves in "Slumdog
    Millionaire" is transcend the line between inspiration and a miracle,
    awakening an emotional connection to the very special element great
    cinema can deliver. The packages might have changed, and the contents
    are more controversial and maybe a bit more tied to reality, certainly
    taking us to an exotic local, teaching us that our world extends beyond
    our freeway and limited perception of how more than the other half of
    the world's population has to deal without certainly preaching to us.The tale of two brothers' lives is told to us through episodic
    flashbacks tied to an episode of India's "Who Wants to be a
    millionaire?". At first, the story introduces one of the brothers as
    being the subject of a very strong interrogation to find out whether he
    is being truthful about some knowledge that might be relevant to the
    game. As he answers the questions, we discover that this young man's
    life story might be more interesting than we originally expected.There is an element of freshness in the way the story is presented, as
    we accompany Jamal through his life odyssey from a young child in the
    slums to a man who is determined to save those he loves. There are some
    strong emotions in the film, and Boyle's direction keeps the film
    dynamic and engaging.Prepare yourself to be overtaken by emotions as varied as joy, pity,
    happiness, anger, revulsion, surprise, and an exhilarating conclusion
    rarely seen in movies anymore. This film has made me grateful to be
    alive and that we still have people in cinema like Boyle who
    understands the power and beauty of the medium. He knows that the
    perfect mix of a great story and the respective imagery can provoke
    unforgettable memories in its audience.

18. hemal_triv from United States Says:
    November 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A great production value but insensible story telling

    I saw this movie yesterday at MIAAC film festival in New York. I had
    heard great reviews of this film and was really looking forward to
    watching this film. the first 10 minutes were fantastic! It won't be an
    exaggeration if I say that it was work of a genius. I told myself that
    this is going to be a great, Salaam Bombay type of, film. The filmmaker
    seemed to completely understand the spirit of Mumbai and Mumbaites.But the next hour and twenty minutes of the film were a disaster. Every
    clichéd and stereotype imaginable about India, Indian class struggle,
    Indian religious struggle was reinforced in the film in an even more
    exaggerated form. Every character in the film was either good or evil,
    black or white. Every system was either fair or unfair. There was no
    room for nuances and subtleties. The story telling was too much on the
    surface. For e.g. a scene from '92 riots, where a bunch of Hindu
    fanatics were attacking Muslims in their slums. That scene was a
    biggest turn off for me. I was in fact offended by the insensitivity
    and insensibility of the filmmaker who presented such a big historical
    tragedy in simplistic and stereotypical way. I have lived through those
    riots and I know exactly how it feels. It for sure wasn't as
    simplistic. And the scene where the two brothers were pushed out of the train
    because they were stealing bread. Common! Give me a break! I have never
    seen such things happen in India in my entire lifetime. And I've lived
    in India for most of my life.Also the kind Caucasian couple who graciously gives $100 to Jamal. I've
    never seen such kind tourists in India ever. I've seen Western tourists
    sometimes haggle for 10 cents. Forget India I've never seen such a
    gracious Caucasian exhibiting such kindness even in New York City.And besides that Caucasian couple nobody from the higher economic
    strata of the society was kind and generous. Everyone was brutal,
    cruel, conniving…as if there were only two types of people in Mumbai.This was yet another stereotypical Western view of a "third world
    country" gone wrong. I think this film is made purely for the Western
    audience, so that they feel good about themselves. The film does
    nothing else but reinforces the stereotypes. And after looking at all
    these favorable reviews I feel that there is a great divide between the
    way the West sees the world (or wants to see the world) and the way the
    world really is. One of the roles of media, in my opinion, is to
    challenge these stereotypes, whereas this film, to become popular,
    simply reinforces them. The film in my opinion is shallow, lame and
    absolutely insensible.I gave it a generous four stars because I loved the cinematography and
    the performances. But I wish I could give negative points for
    storytelling.

19. linkinem41 from United States Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    not a Danny Boyle fan but still this movie works……….Recommended..

    Slumdog Millionaire is almost a Fantastci movie…. OK i wont deny its
    GOOD but maybe a little short from GREAT!!! the first half was so fun
    and well written… but the second half was a bit cheezzy……..
    though there were excellent moments like when he is on the show and
    everyone is on his side…. it feels great………. but the finale
    just doesnot seem great…… remember Little miss Sunshine… the
    ending where all the family members get up on stage… HOW GOOD DID
    THAT FEEL?? or how good did JUno's Love confesson in the playground
    felt?? well i am not saying Millionaire has no such moments….. but
    just not near the ending………… anyways Wonderfully acted by the
    lead… Boyle couldn't have found anyone better…. I did love this
    movie… and i hope it does GREAT…….. the viusals the scenes are
    great… the story is UNIQUE….. A+…….. with all the Oscar buzz
    around this movie… well I wish it all the best… but something tells
    me maybe not….Recommended!!!!!!!!!

20. joel massie (GoneWithTheTwins) from www.GoneWithTheTwins.com Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog Millionaire Movie Review from The Massie Twins

    Slumdog Millionaire offers an enticingly original presentation of
    familiar tales by utilizing a flashback system of storytelling that
    fuses exhilarating adventure with suspenseful drama. Many of the
    scenarios created are nothing new, but the fantastical delivery and
    extraordinary setting undoubtedly provide a refreshing take on more
    traditional themes.In a series of flashbacks, Slumdog Millionaire retraces young Jamal
    Malik's (Dev Patel) life up to his current predicament. He is a
    contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and,
    much to the chagrin of the show's producers and arrogant host Prem
    Kumar (Anil Kapoor), Jamal manages to reach the million dollar
    question. But before he can answer, time runs out and he is brought
    backstage to be violently interrogated by Mumbai's thuggish police. As
    Jamal explains how he knew the answer to each of the questions
    presented, we learn the amazing tale of the youth's turbulent childhood
    and his undying search for a long lost love.Slumdog's finest accomplishment lies within a unique method of
    flashback storytelling that perfectly complements the line of
    questioning presented during the game show. As Jamal recounts his
    adventurous and often dangerous childhood growing up in the slums of
    Mumbai, we slowly learn the trials and triumphs he has faced and his
    ultimate reason for competing on the show. This steady build of
    characters and settings creates a mesmerizing vehicle that allows the
    audience to easily ride along with Jamal on his tempestuous journey to
    face his destiny.For a cast consisting primarily of child actors and debut performances,
    the acting is surprisingly strong. The three main characters are shown
    at several different stages in their lives and each perfectly
    complements their previous incarnations. The children truly steal the
    show as they face the hardships of growing up in such despondent
    situations, yet while their innocence is lost their spirits remain
    unbroken, and Patel, Mittal, and Pinto admirably carry on their
    legacies to a fateful conclusion.Slumdog Millionaire presents a recognizably surefire love story that
    has been seen before. But the process in which it is used - the method
    of storytelling - is wholly original and genuinely entertaining. A rare
    setting, a coming of age flashback setup, and wonderfully developed
    characters make Slumdog Millionaire a winning fantasy of unyielding
    love. It knows when to provoke emotions through heartache, musically
    driven segments and ardent drama, and knows how to keep the viewer
    captured by the beauty of love's destiny.- The Massie Twins

21. UCHoodman from California, United States Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    What a surprisingly great film

    Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting, has done it again with a vastly
    different in content but similar in style film. It's got all of Boyle's
    edgy editing and use of music, but the content is about how a poor boy
    from Mumbai goes through several hardships to wind up on the Indian
    version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He appears on the show solely
    to find the love of his life, Latika, whom he met a very young age, but
    circumstances and his ambiguous brother, Salim have kept them apart.This film has lots of fun parts, but also lots of tense drama and
    suspense actually with a brilliant concept of using flashbacks to show
    their affect on his chances on the TV show.I walked in knowing nothing about this film, but was blown away by the
    end. My only fault is that the film is a little contrived, but beyond
    it's one of the best movies you'll see of 2008. I highly recommend you
    go see it where you can.

22. kindalikesorta from California Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    For love's sake, life is worth it

    Even as we watch the bleak, matter-of-fact portrayal of the existence
    of people who live among garbage heaps, there is a delightful humor and
    hopeful strength throughout Danny Boyle's new film, SLUMDOG
    MILLIONAIRE. It's an inspiring, brilliant, funny and epic underdog
    story set against the slums of Mumbai, India, (the city formerly known
    as Bombay), and a reminder that true love is worth life's trials, and
    indeed, worth the wait.The movie begins with an intense, interrogation scene where a young
    man, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is being viciously questioned by local
    police because of his recent appearance on India's hugely popular TV
    show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The law enforcement isn't
    convinced that this lowly 'slumdog' could know so much and be on the
    verge of winning 20 million rupees.So when the police review the game show tape with Jamal, each game show
    question brings up a specific memory in Jamal's life, and the seemingly
    predestined circumstance in which he learned the answer to each
    question. He simply tells his stories of the a poverty-stricken life in
    the slums, where he and his older brother, Salim, grew up, including
    their years on the road, train-hopping and hustling locals and tourists
    for survival after a tragic raid on their hometown. and the encounter
    with their "third musketeer", Latika (Freida Pinto) – Jamal's long-lost
    girl he'd never stopped loving.As his almost whimsical story unfolds, it becomes clear that the
    driving force in Jamal has always been the love for this lost girl.
    While Salim, the more entrepreneurial brother, had become hardened and
    driven mainly by money, it becomes clear as Jamal's almost-whimsical
    story unfolds, that the driving force in Jamal has always been his love
    for Latika.Even through the years of odd jobs and hobo-like travels, Jamal never
    stops thinking of this beautiful orphan girl. Until one day along the
    way, while working as a "chai walla" (the Indian equivalent to a
    "coffee boy"), Jamal comes across Latika, now one of the girls
    belonging to an infamous gangster.I don't want to give away anymore details, but the movie is awesome.
    And as this tale unfolds, we see how Jamal ends up on the television
    show, so close to winning the biggest prize ever in its history. He
    inadvertently becomes the symbol of hope for over sixty million
    viewers, the inspiration for so many who are like him – from the slums
    with nothing but faith, hope and love to keep them going.He ends up being a hero in the eyes of millions of poverty-stricken
    people who watch the show because it's a reminder of the possible
    chance to escape the sadness around them. Which is partly why SLUMDOG
    is so wonderful – it is both escapist fantasy, reminding us the
    importance of dreaming while while never denying the reality around us.So yes, in a sense, Jamal is another Messiah figure – a hero willing to
    go through anything for love. And by doing so, he inspires millions of
    people who didn't have a voice – the lost and broken swallowed up in
    life's toils and snares; the forgotten ones and those who've given up
    hope.The subtle theme or running commentary of SLUMDOG also happens to be
    "It is written", referring to the predestination of life. The film
    gives us a 'big picture' view of life and the interconnectedness of all
    things. We realize that despite the ups and downs of Salim's and
    Jamal's lives, it all happens and comes together for a reason.Even the smallest incident involving sacrificial love from one of the
    most crooked characters in the movie shows us that their existence too
    is a part of the Big Picture – and even in death, they can provide
    life. Because of this hell and death that the characters experience,
    life can begin once again, and in many ways, start over. There is a
    beautiful scene where Jamal has a chance to kiss Latika, and
    figuratively kisses away her scars, a symbol of restoration and the
    beginning of a new life.SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE will definitely inspire audiences and put a smile
    on your face, possibly through tears of joy. The film's message is one
    of hope and triumph in the face of life's most difficult circumstances.
    It's my favorite movie of this year so far, and I hope that many others
    will enjoy it as much as I did. Hopefully SLUMDOG is a reminder that
    when we 'cross that river' and look back over all the hardships and
    trials, we'll be able to smile in the face of the Creator and say,
    "because of Your Love, it was all worth it."

23. brocksilvey from United States Says:
    November 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The Final Answer Is: Fake

    "Slumdog Millionaire" is the kind of film that many people will
    probably rabidly adore, because it's energetic, invigorating and, at
    first glance at least, feels like something we haven't seen before. But
    a whole other group of movie goers may find themselves resistant to its
    questionable charms, as I did. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a fake. An
    accomplished fake, to be sure, but a fake nonetheless.The film tells the story of Jamal, who grows up in the slums of Mumbai,
    India, only to find himself in the hot seat on the popular Indian
    television version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Each question
    he's asked during the game show triggers a flashback sequence that
    fills in a little bit more of his story — we see him become estranged
    from his brother, who gives himself over to the life of a gangster, and
    we see him stay true through all of his adversity to his one love, a
    girl named Latika.It's fairly clear that director Danny Boyle intends this film to be a
    fairy tale, with the love story providing the film its heart. But much
    of the film is nasty and unpleasant, reveling in every distasteful
    detail about Jamal's childhood. Within the first 20 minutes of the
    film, we've seen Jamal tortured with electricity, Jamal jumping into a
    vile pit of human excrement in order to get an autograph from his
    favorite Bollywood star (this scene is played for laughs, because isn't
    someone covered in sh*t always good for a laugh?) and we see his mother
    bludgeoned to death by anti-Muslim extremists right before Jamal's and
    his brother's eyes. Later, we see small children getting their eyes
    burned out with hot spoons in order to make them more effective
    beggars. Everyone in the movie but Jamal and Latika, who remain blank
    slates as characters, is hateful and repellent. Boyle heaps calamity on
    top of calamity for so much of the film that its facile, simplistic
    conclusion wrings impossibly false. You can't have it both ways. You
    can't have your film be both a gritty, slice-of-life indictment and a
    frothy romantic soufflé. The end product is like "City of God" meets
    "Moulin Rouge!" This isn't the first time I've felt this way about Danny Boyle movies.
    He frequently strikes me as a director who's not in control of his own
    films. His brand of film-making mistakes the fast and furious for
    interesting and compelling, and he gets in the way of his own
    narratives, distracting us when he should be drawing us in.A lot of people might mistake this for a great film. And who knows? –
    maybe it is. After all, greatness is a matter of opinion. But my
    opinion is that this film falls very short of greatness.Grade: B-

24. James J Cremin (jjcremin@yahoo.com) from Los Angeles, CA Says:
    November 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Who was the third musketeer? I don't know either.

    Before I did, I must admit the only Danny Boyle film I have seen before
    this is TRAINSPOTTING, desperate youths whose getting high is the
    thing. It's practically a slapstick comedy compared to what the slumdog
    kids aka the three musketeers go through. It doesn't matter that the
    happy ending is improbable. Dramatically it works.The basic storytelling structure is a series of flashbacks. Jamal (Dev
    Patel) is about to be given the 20,000,000 Rupee question on India's
    version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." The host Kumar (Anil
    Kappor) strongly suspects Jamal, this slumdog, India English slang for
    gutter trash, is cheating. He turns him over to the cops who torture
    him. In fact, it's this torture that launches this narrative.However, when no confession comes out, the Police Inspectoer (Irfan
    Khan) listens to Jamal's story. It turns out that just about all events
    that has happened to Jamal's life has been key to all the questions
    being answered on the show. Also in these images is the smiling Latika
    (Freida Pinto) whose story gets revealed.In fact, both Jamal's and Latika's characters get played by younger
    actors along with Jamal's older brother Salim (adult played by Madhal
    Pattal) who saves Jamal from blindness but who also takes Latika away
    from him. That these kids survived into adulthood is a miracle onto
    itself.However, there is humor interspersed. Would you fall into a pile of
    human excrement just to get an autograph? But mostly, it's the
    underbelly of child predators, street gangs and even prostitution of
    barely legal virgins that gets exposed here.I already gave too much away but will close what clinched my like of
    this movie for me. One of my favorite books growing up was "The Three
    Muskateers" by Alexandre Dumas. I'm glad the last question pertained to
    that.

25. Chris Knipp from Berkeley, California Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Horatio Alger in Mombai

    An exhilarating entertainment, an adrenalin rush, and a non-stop
    two-hour blast of colorful image and sound, Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog
    Millionaire' is a feel- good fairy tale but also a rough guide to the
    Dickensian low life/high life contrasts of modern Bombay/Mombai. In the
    story, by a fluke 18-year-old "chai-wallah" Jamal (Dev Patel) has
    gotten onto India's version of "I Want to Be a Millionaire." He's been
    delivering chai around the offices of the TV station and they've
    discovered he's smart. He's been winning hugely as the contestant and
    has reached the 20 million rupee mark when, right as the movie begins,
    he's jerked out of the TV studio to be interrogated and tortured by the
    police because they think a ghetto kid would have to cheat to get those
    answers right.The interrogation becomes a frame-tale worthy of the "Arabian Nights,"
    because each of Jamal's explanations of how he knew the answer to a
    particular "Millionaire" question takes the form of a hyper-kinetic
    flashback to yet another exciting, heart-stopping moment of his
    tumultuous emotional roller-coaster slumdog life. Fast-paced, fluent
    editing integrates sequences of Jamal's TV show performance, the police
    interrogation, and his recollections to explain how he knew a
    particular answer. It's a juggling act that never falters, and the
    high-energy film-making ensures that all three settings are
    consistently exciting and suspenseful. Every childhood reminiscence is
    a shocker, a tearjerker, and a cliff-hanger as Jamal strives to survive
    poverty and exploitation and unite with his childhood beloved. We don't
    know how the interrogation's going to wind up. And most exciting of
    all, the whole country is waiting to see if Jamal, the poor boy making
    good, will win the big jackpot or sink back into poverty, and we don't
    know how that's going to end.Eschewing the machinery of the huge city's Bollywood studios (though
    utilizing several of its stars), Danny Boyle and his Hindi-language
    co-director Loveleen Tandan took lightweight digital cameras directly
    into Mombai's side streets and ghettos and worked with non-actors to
    portray the young life of Jamal.When accused by the police of cheating, Jamal sullenly replies that he
    simply "knew the answers." As we see the questions actually being posed
    during the show, Jamal is cool, rather dazed, in front of the
    boisterous TV audience, being played and teased by "Millionaire" show
    host Prem (Anil Kapoor, one of several big Indian stars in the film),
    yet coming up with the right answer. Then the scene shifts to a
    flashback of an anti-Muslim mob that slaughters Jamal's mother. Jamal
    and his brother Salim must flee and live on the streets by hustling and
    stealing. They take on the pretty Latika as a partner, who becomes the
    love of Jamal's life. At one phase they're kidnapped by the evil,
    Fagin-like Maman (Ankur Vikal), who makes them think they're at a spa
    for poor kids and then puts out his little captives' eyes and trains
    them to be street singers (the blind ones make more money). Jamal and
    Salim escape by hopping a train but lose Latika. Later the boys steal
    shoes from tourists visiting the Taj Mahal and sell them in a street
    market, and they act as charming but uninformed guides while allowing
    their host's cars to be stripped by pals. Eventually Jamal is betrayed
    by Salim, who's always cheated him and turns into a criminal.'Slumdog Millionaire' is like an animated history of John Locke's
    theories of memory. Every recollection contains the answer to a
    question in the show as a fact engraved on Jamal's brain by the power
    of the accompanying joy or trauma he was experiencing when he learned
    it. In the later phases of Jamal's story, he tracks down Latika,
    finding her beauty being exploited in a low-life activity, and in
    seeking her, he runs back into Salim, whom he remains linked to, but
    cannot forgive. Eventually everything gets resolved appropriately and
    the ending is happy, with Jamal and the now gorgeous Latika (Freida
    Pinto) united in a kiss. The closing credits boldly flaunt the film's
    unreality as the principals and a host of extras do a light-hearted
    dance in the Mombai train station.'Slumdog Millionaire'' tells a story more notable for its ingenuity
    than its verisimilitude, but there's a tumultuous reality about it
    nonetheless. It can be admired–not to say loved–on many levels, and
    seems likely to stand as one of the year's best films. There are dozens
    of good actors. Superstar Irfan Khan (whom Americans have seen in 'The
    Namesake,' A Mighty Heart,' and 'The Darjeeling Limited') adds
    inestimable subtlety and warmth to the role of the police inspector.
    Anil Kapoor is vivid as the show host–and the film is highly
    successful at capturing the drama and suspense of "Millionaire" shows.
    Dev Patel, actually English-born (only the young Jamal actors speak
    Hindi), was a star of last year's realistic British comedy series about
    Bristol teens "Skins," which from all reports is an absolute gem and
    ought to be seen. Tall and thin, Patel projects a perfect combination
    for the role of nerdiness and purity, innocence and will-to-succeed.
    Much credit goes to 'Full Monty' and 'Miss Pettigrew' screenwriter
    Simon Beaufoy who adapted Vikas Swarup's ingenious novel, 'Q&A.' This
    is a wonderfully cinematic effort whose essence is its intense visuals
    by DP Anthony Dod Mantle, coordinated effectively by editor Chris
    Dickens and underlined by the lively music of A.R. Rahman. Boyle has
    always gone for the wild stimulus package ('Shallow Grave,'
    'Trainspotting') and the exotic adventure ('The Beach,' 'Sunshine').
    He's also shown skill at working with children ('Millions') as he does
    in the many scenes of Jamal's early life here. This is his most
    intensely sui generis effort. It's one of his greatest successes and a
    disturbing, thrilling, heart-warming pleasure to watch.

26. djtansey from Silver Spring, MD, USA Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Fantastic Movie. About as Good as Hollywood's Ever Offered.

    I loved this movie. It really did capture a life (many lives, in fact).
    Some parts were touching, others striking in their social commentary.
    The cinematography was excellent; even with a non-linear plot, our
    perspective was never lost and the transitions were never jarring.I have to laugh at myself. I never watch TV, and never watch shows like
    "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," but I was on the edge of my seat half
    the time. I think it's because the characters were so well developed, I
    cared about the outcomes. And because the characters were so plausible,
    I felt like the events in the movie weren't just determining the fate
    of these few people, but were giving a voice to the millions who lead
    similar lives.I recommend everyone see it. Let yourself relive the process of growing
    up, when you have to learn some hard realities of life and determine
    which of your youthful beliefs are worth preserving.(And, just in case that was too touchy feely, let me make it clear:
    there is something in this movie for everyone. It is entertainment at
    its finest. Exciting, mesmerizing, and meaningful.)

27. rabinpatra from United States Says:
    November 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    What movies are made of

    This is how movies should be. A bit of fantasy, fling with destiny,
    touch of reality. We first see Jamal in the beginning about to win the
    contest, but then we see how all the events in his life were only
    leading up to this. Reminds me of Forrest Gump where Tom Hanks gets
    involved in all the major events of the nation's history. Or of
    Midnight's Children, where the destiny of the children all get tied up
    as the story progresses. Also great visuals of Bombay, the slums, the
    trains of India. And it does not flinch also - showing riots,
    exploitation of street kids, the police, the underworld, the greedy TV
    industry. Stunning acting by the street kids - the first half of the
    movie, the later half has some weak performances. Also, should have
    been made fully in Hindi, street children and low level cops speaking
    English just doesn't make sense.

28. erinedwards6700 from United States Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Danny Boyle

    I am a Danny Boyle fan and I love his other movies, this one was not as
    good but I still say it's worth seeing if you like his other movies,
    and who wouldn't?! Just kidding some people don't like him and they
    won't like this movie, but if you like him it's worth the cost of a
    ticket to see it in the theatres. Don't wait until it's out on DVD or
    on TV because it's worth seeing on the big screen starting with the
    credits at the beginning! The story is good and engaging it kept us
    interested through the whole thing. Maybe it's a bit predictable
    depending on what movies you've seen before but it's still fun to watch
    and not Danny Boyle's best but still good.

29. hfgirl from United States Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Interesting review

    There is a really great review of Slumdog Millionaire from two old
    school Hollywood veterans. These two have made and seen so many films
    and they have very strong opinions especially about this film. Is it
    really an Oscar contender? What about the story structure and writing?
    These two discuss the themes and make comparisons to other foreign
    films. They are so enjoyable to watch and their explanation of the film
    and scenes to look out for are delightful. You will find their insight
    and humor refreshing and they may even inspire you to go out and see
    Slumdog. Check the review out at
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y55cLe0c6g

30. B C from United States Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A true joy to watch!

    It's about time we are given a real movie that is not just about
    Hollywood formula, but is a rich and intense tale ranging in spectrum
    from devastation to exhilaration, and many of the stops in between.
    Another reviewer here says it well, and I agree, this movie has
    everything. It is action, suspense, drama, comedy, political
    commentary, a love story and so much more; a timeless story with a
    refreshing twist. The cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful, the
    acting superb, the writing fantastic, and the music perfect. I can't
    say enough good about this movie. It is truly a joy to watch, as we are
    carried through the life of it's main character. The pacing of the
    movie was such that the viewer is able to stop and breath before the
    next round of events, and the balance between the harsher scenes (which
    are at times very harsh) is struck perfectly with comedy and beauty
    subtly offsetting the shocking and brutal without undermining either
    one. One of the best endings I've seen in a film in a long time, and
    one of the best happy/sad moments I've ever seen in a film. I left
    feeling excited, glad to be alive, and inspired. A wonderful work of
    art!

31. raysond from Chapel Hill,North Carolina Says:
    November 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The overall Oscar contender for Best Picture of 2008, "Slumdog Millionaire" is simply brilliant

    The Indian police are faced with a quandary: How could a street urchin
    from the slums of Mumbai accomplish what doctors and college graduates
    have been unable to do-win the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a
    Millionaire?" This is the mystery at the heart of this feel-good fairy
    tale from director Danny Boyle,the man who directed such memorable
    classics as "Trainspotting","A Life Less Ordinary","Sunshine"(the Oscar
    winner of 2006),and was the helm behind the science fiction/horror
    thriller "28 Days Later". "Slumdog Millionaire" works on all levels as
    simply brilliant as a forerunner of the 2008 Oscar race for Best
    Picture. One question away from winning 20 million rupees,Jamal(Dev
    Patel)is arrested on the suspicion of cheating. In order how to explain
    how an uneducated orphan could know the answers to the questions faced
    on the show,Jamal is forced to recount his life story for his
    interrogators. He must provide them with explanations for each answer
    has has correctly given,up to the penultimate question.The real star of the film is the city of Mumbai which is gorgeously
    brought to life by Boyle's expert work. The overcrowded slums breathe
    energy into the film's atmosphere as the cameras careen in and out of
    the narrow streets of Mumbai's shantytowns. The city is characterized
    by extremes that define and parallel Jamal's life. Although each
    life-altering experience conveniently provides Jamal with the knowledge
    he needs later in life,the movie never feels overly contrived. The
    script weaves an engaging tale of penury,love and friendship. Jamal's
    life hurtles from extreme poverty to obscene wealth,but he is a
    character the audience will root for the entire way.The film is intentionally gimmicky. It really casts a life of horror
    and squalor as an upbeat love story. But because the film never tries
    to be anything but an entertaining rags-to-riches narrative,it succeeds
    beautifully in every detail. One of the year's best films of 2008.

32. David Ferguson (fergusontx@gmail.com) from Dallas, Texas Says:
    November 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    It is Written

    Greetings again from the darkness. What a terrific story and
    interesting film to watch! One of my favorite overlooked films of the
    past five years is "Millions", also directed by Danny Boyle (best known
    for "Trainspotting"). The screenplay is by Simon Beaufoy ("Miss
    Pettigrew Lives for a Day" and "The Full Monty") and is based on Vikas
    Swarup's novel "Q&A". Not really sure how to describe this other than a
    classic love story wrapped in a rags-to-riches story of survival.We get a glimpse of India's underbelly without it being a guilt-ridden
    social statement. The movie is actually three parts interwoven
    beautifully. The working class pauper is having a nice run of success
    on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". Of course his success brings with
    it the assumption of cheating. As he is being wickedly tortured and
    questioned by the police, we are provided flashbacks into Jamal's
    childhood which explain each of the answers he "miraculously" knows.The only actor most American audiences will recognize is Irfan Khan as
    the sadistic police interrogator. Mr. Khan will be remembered as the
    wise father in "The Namesake". Despite that, the acting is superb and
    we are treated to story lines of our three main characters at three
    different stages in their life.This is purely expert film-making with a creative and multi-faceted
    story. I can't recommend this enough to anyone who enjoys interesting
    entertainment and appreciates Mr. Boyle's expertise.

33. Michael E. Piston from Mercer Island, WA Says:
    November 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Simply a great film

    Slumdog Millionaire seamlessly combines an expose of the Darwinian
    struggle for survival among the abandoned poor children of urban India
    with an underdog's struggle against all odds and a touching romance. It
    portrays an India that is as attractive and modern as it is archaic and
    repulsive. Astonishingly it even succeeds in presenting Indian police
    as both brutal and sympathetic, both the guardians and prisoners of a
    corrupt society. Finally, it manages to be both angry and yet hopeful
    and even proud of India, an indictment and a celebration of all that is
    ugly and beautiful about this newly emerging service superpower. It is
    great entertainment, great education, great drama and even great
    comedy. In short, it is simply a great film.

34. screenwriter-14 from United States Says:
    November 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    "A Bollywood/Hollywood" Romeo and Juliet

    All the buzz here in Los Angeles for Danny Boyle's brilliant SLUMDOG
    MILLIONAIRE is absolutely right on the money for this Fox Searchlight
    film and "sure-to-be" Oscar Nom for Best Picture. What a heartwarming
    journey three young Orphans take in a tale that is so reminiscent in
    the story of Romeo and Juliet, but you have to wait to the end of the
    film to see if Romeo gets his Juliet. The film locations, action scenes
    and the drama set against a Quizz show brings to the screen a story
    that is a global one and makes you laugh and weep all at the same time.
    It is just so exciting when you find a jewel of a film in SLUMDOG that
    brings such tremendously interesting characters to the screen. Bravo
    Simon Beaufoy on your writing SLUMDOG and for the collaboration with
    Danny Boyle in a film that jumps off the screen with such energy and
    zest. I can hardly wait until the Globes and Oscar Noms and I look
    forward to SLUMDOG right up there for awards.

35. viralmedia from Dallas, TX Says:
    November 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Shortly Put, Magnificent

    Just saw it in Dallas. BLOWN THE F AWAY. The trailer doesn't do it
    justice. Its not what you expect, it's better. Sometimes you get a
    small glimpse at a pattern of humanity the interweaves us all. This
    film taps on such a painfully gorgeous cruelty in life's circumstances
    the culminates into hope from tragedy that we all can take note from.
    There is nothing polished or censored. It is gritty, in your face and
    at time tough to watch. It defies normal Hollywood visuals as it does
    bother dressing to make the image favorable. India is photographed raw
    and dirty so breathtaking. It's almost a Monet painted with the waste.
    I will not speak to the plot points as it must unravel to you as it did
    for me. This movie needs nationwide release. If it is near you, GO SEE
    IT NOW. I hope this is not Danny Boyles crescendo as I hope to see what
    else he can do.

36. Howard Schumann from Vancouver, B.C. Says:
    November 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A celebration of life

    Winner of the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival, Danny Boyle
    and Loveleen Tandan's radical Slumdog Millionaire is the feel-good
    story of an orphaned, street-wise young man trying to make it big on
    India's version of the TV show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" while
    hoping that the girl he has loved since childhood is watching. Based on
    the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup and supported by the stunning
    cinematography of Anthony Dod Mantle and the music of A.R. Rahman,
    Slumdog reflects the chaos of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) India where it
    was filmed. Submerging the viewer in a cacophony of color and sound,
    the camera swoops and swirls in an often dizzying pace, taking us from
    the desolation of back alleys and garbage dumps to modern high rises
    and the fantastic beauty of the Taj Mahal.Boyle uses nine different non-professional actors in three different
    time frames, each faithfully representing their character as they grow
    and develop. In the opening scene, the hero Jamal Malik, brilliantly
    performed by Dev Patel, is being questioned by Police Inspector (Irrfan
    Khan) who simply cannot understand how a "slumdog" like Jamal, without
    any education, can answer question after question on the game show
    without lying or cheating. In a city of 13 million people where the
    police know they can get away with almost anything, the methods of
    torture used to extract a confession are graphically displayed. With
    Jamal, however, they only succeed in uncovering the deeper truths of
    his character as the film flashes back to specific incidents in his
    life that reveal how his knowledge was gained by personal experience.He knows, for example, that the star of the 1973 film Zanjeer was
    Amitabh Bachchan because he was his favorite actor as a little boy and
    was willing to cover himself with filth just to get his autograph.
    Built on memory, the film relives Jamal's life from the death of his
    mother to his entry into service to a cynical gangster who turns street
    children into blind beggars, reminding us of the millions of
    third-world children, not as lucky as Jamal, who fight against unending
    poverty each day. Jamal is fortunate to have allies, however: his
    brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) and Latika (Rubina Ali),
    another orphan that Jamal becomes attached to form the "Three
    Musketeers", ready to do battle with the world.Though circumstances lead the three into different areas when they
    become adults, Salim (Madhur Mittai) into the criminal underworld,
    Latika (Freida Pinto) to be "kept" by a rich man, and Jamal to become a
    "chai wallah", a server of tea to telemarketers, Jamal does not give
    up, knowing that his life is governed by destiny and ruled by love.
    Using their wits to survive, the funniest scene is when Jamal and Salim
    find themselves as tour guides at the Taj Mahal, inventing stories
    about the history of the building that are probably as true as the
    official versions in the brochures. The center of the film, however,
    revolves around Jamal's contesting for millions of rupees on the game
    show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", not necessarily to become rich
    but to woo Latika whom he knows is a fan of the show.We root for Jamal try to win his jackpot and get his girl. While we are
    aware that the film is an unlikely fantasy, we also know that as
    barriers between individuals and nations break down and the world moves
    toward a greater sense of unity, the distinction between what is
    possible and what is not is less rigid. Slumdog Millionaire may or may
    not be the best film of the year, but with headlines telling us daily
    that the economy is sinking and that climate change threatens our very
    existence, a film that is a pure celebration of life is welcomed with a
    grateful heart.

37. mistarkus from New York, New York Says:
    November 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Vastly different place

    It doesn't make sense that someone who succeeds on a game show (the
    Millionaire show) would succumb to beatings, torture and treatment as
    though he is a worthless dog due to suspicions of cheating. After all
    could not this person simply have been lucky in guessing the multiple
    choice questions correctly. We quickly realize how different things can
    be in a land different than our own.We do get a sense of the vastness of the country and how different it
    is than the west. Not only do we get this sense from the shocking way
    people are treated just from being of a lower class and from scenes of
    unfathomable squalor, but simply from the questions that are asked on
    the Millionaire show. When the basic, low value questions will be so
    obscurely vague to us if we are westerners, but are so rudimentary for
    Indians, and the hardest most obscure and highest value questions for
    the Indians are not that difficult for us, we realize the individuality
    of the country's culture, history and society. When a whole other world
    of a billion plus people can be obsessed by this person who might win
    it all, and we would never hear of him, we really feel the largeness of
    the world and how small we are in comparison.It is fast paced, lots of running and action packed. It seems a bit
    artificial as cheap thrills and raw entertainment took precedence over
    realism and a true immersion.The story could have simply been about life on the streets in India and
    what growing up was like for these "slum dogs". The cut to the
    millionaire aspects seems a bit gimmicky and almost oddly thrown in to
    make the movie more entertaining. It probably was more entertainment
    and crowd pleasing as a result of the Millionaire Show parts, but it
    did not create a more fulfilling cultural experience, as the best
    foreign films can be.

38. zken from United States Says:
    November 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    a film that will show you another world

    This is a wonderful film that is a thrilling movie experience. The art
    of film is so fantastic because it combines elements of painting, uses
    music, is like the theater but beyond it, and has a magical
    metaphorical level as well. This film is an excellent example of this
    multi-level art form. The story is a simple one about a lost child. and
    his fate in the world. Set in the sprawling slums of Bombasy (Mumbai),
    the plot is based on a Charles Dickens like melodrama. The other part
    of the story deals with the consequences of the child's early life. The
    whole story line is driven by an absolute wonderful energy that is
    really irresistible. I found myself drifting only at the very end when
    I felt the whole machine had simply run out of time and plausibility.
    Never the less, this is film is a delight that should not be missed.
    Luckily I was able to watch it with a friend of Indian heritage, and I
    think she will be able to answer some of the deeper cultural questions
    that it poses. What is sure is that few films move across such a
    rainbow tapestry of cultural, political and artistic canvases with such
    verve and power. I wish there was something this fun to watch every
    week.

39. street_trash_FTW from United States Says:
    November 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    a counterfeit feel-good movie

    This is far from a great film. Aside from being largely incoherent,
    it's just hard to fathom why this movie was made. It's more or less an
    Indian version of "Quiz Show" directed by an English guy. This strikes
    me as the kind of film that people who claim to be "worldly" will say
    is the "BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR OMG IT'S GREAT".I'm not against making modern fairy tales, but my major qualm with this
    film is setting a fairy tale against the backdrop of a capitalistic,
    Western game show, transplanted in India where they have their own rich
    culture that should be celebrated. This whole movie is centered around
    the idea that money is power, yet Boyle tries to disguise this with an
    over-the-top love story. It just reeks of bullsh*t.I'd rather watch a straight up Bollywood musical than this drivel. No
    thank you.

40. Ravi Ravinder from Australia Says:
    November 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Saw this Movie the day after the hostage taking

    First of all, a story line that is overblown like much of Salman
    Rushdie's work (also a native of Mumbai), but firmly rooted in reality.
    Excitingly shot in widescreen with sound (and music to match); not
    following the book in every detail, but nevertheless riveting,
    confronting, often amoral, and for those unfamiliar with Mumbai one
    hell of an introduction. Dev Patel - who would have thought the eager,
    immature character from Skins could turn up with a portrayal like this.I saw this movie at a preview as the Taj-Oberoi hostage crisis was
    evolving. In a sense, the two narratives intersect, but only
    marginally. But the back story is the same - Indian Muslims (and not
    all of them are poor, downtrodden and denied opportunity), sensing the
    hopelessness of their fate, carry with them the additional 'stigma' of
    being Muslim in a Hindu majority country. They may then turn to crime
    (as in the movie) or into terrorism (as in the events of Nov 27
    onwards). Simplistic? Perhaps. But Slumdog Millionaire will get you
    closer to understanding, albeit tangentially, why Mumbai has been
    struck by terrorism so often in the last 15 years. Ahh, Mumbai.. I
    lived there for 4 years in the '70s - my favourite Indian city.

41. Turfseer from United States Says:
    November 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Cheesy Bollywood Production Still Entertains!

    Slumdog Millionaire chronicles the odyssey of Jamal Malik from the
    slums of Bombay to now modern Mumbai. The film's framing device is
    Malik's attempt to win the Hindi version of "Who wants to be a
    Millionaire". He ends up answering each question correctly and a day
    before he attempts to answer the final question for the grand prize,
    he's whisked away by the police on suspicion of fraud. The police want
    to know how a kid from the slums could possibly answer all those
    questions correctly. As they question him (sometimes using torture at
    first), the viewer is treated to a series of flashbacks which explains
    how he's able to successfully answer each question.The first half of the movie (the much better part) involves Malik first
    as a young child (of about five) and later at about the age of 10
    (played by two different child actors). Malik's older brother, Salim,
    is the more aggressive of the two, in contrast to the sensitive younger
    brother. We see how they are orphaned at an early age when their mother
    is killed during a riot where Hindus attack Muslims. The children must
    fend for themselves in the slums of Bombay and there are many memorable
    and shocking scenes that chronicle their tactics of survival. One
    indelible scene involves Malik securing an autograph from a famous
    Indian singer who is on a publicity tour in the area. Malik extricates
    himself from inside a locked latrine and appears at the autograph
    signing covered head to toe in human excrement. Eventually Malik and
    Salim are lured by a gang of criminals who end up training them to
    become professional beggars. The gang goes so far as to increasing
    their profits by blinding certain children who have sweet singing
    voices. The blind children are used by the criminals to manipulate
    unsuspecting tourists who feel sorry for the now handicapped children.
    Salim alerts Malik to the gang's nefarious plan and they escape along
    with another child, Latika who Malik falls in love with.At the midpoint of the film, with Salim now a young teenager, he takes
    revenge on head of the gang who almost blinded Malik by shooting him to
    death. But Salim incurs Malik's enmity by raping Latika. Flash forward
    to the present as we find Malik working at a menial job as a gopher at
    a large international customer service company. Malik eventually
    locates Salim who is now working for the boss of Mumbai's biggest crime
    syndicate. And he finds out that Latika is basically an indentured
    servant in the boss's mansion. In the film's climax, the police release
    Malik who goes on to answer the final question correctly and hooks back
    up with Latika who escapes the crime boss's lair (with the help of
    Salim, who, in a final act of contrition, sacrifices himself by
    murdering the crime boss and in turn is killed by the boss's
    bodyguards). Slumdog Millionaire has a lot going for it. It's highly entertaining
    and features some great performances (especially by the child actors in
    the first half). Dev Patel as Malik is also excellent as the low-key
    hero who eventually gets the girl. The passionate conflict between the
    two brothers adds to the verisimilitude of the story.Slumdog is really designed to be a gritty fairy tale. But even fairy
    tales must have some kind of internal logic. The weakest part of the
    story for me was the whole idea that the producer of the 'Millionaire'
    show was some kind of crook who wanted to fix things so Malik would
    lose. And was it at all believable, that Malik, who had become a
    national hero, would suddenly be brought in by the police and tortured
    merely because they could not believe a kid from the slums could answer
    such the tough questions on the show? In reality, the police would
    never have chanced abducting Malik while the show was going on and risk
    losing their jobs due to possible adverse press coverage. And why would
    the producer of the show want Malik to lose? If he wins, the producer's
    ratings go much higher and he makes more money.Slumdog also stumbles by becoming a Bollywood production in the second
    half. The villain in the first half, the child exploiter is much more
    believable and menacing than the crime syndicate boss in the second
    half. And Latika is wholly an underdeveloped character—she has nothing
    much to do except being the love object of Malik.I'm not sure if Slumdog Millionaire deserves to be nominated for an
    Academy best picture. But as a solid piece of entertainment, it will
    keep you riveted in your seat.

42. Thauseef Ahmed from United States Says:
    November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A grim fairy tale with bursts of originality and beautiful visuals.

    A director like Danny Boyle, who gave us the sickeningly tragic comedy
    "Trainspotting" and the more insane "A life less ordinary" (which for
    some equally insane reason, I loved), and of course, "The Beach", takes
    up a subject closer to my home country; Without doubt, I am intrigued.
    Also, given Boyle's penchant for seeing humor in sadness and pain, I
    wonder even before I step into to watch the movie, if he will present a
    slightly harsher version of the (under?)developing country India is.Surprisingly, Danny Boyle has done a great job of putting together the
    glimpses of life in the slums, an element that the richer Indian has
    almost developed an invisible eye to. We know these issues exist, but
    it takes a movie like Salaam Bombay or in this case, Slum dog
    Millionaire for us to realize that this is exactly what the city holds
    in its slums, despite all the fame and glamor of Bollywood and the
    moonlighted houses at Harbour Road.The movie is technically strong, visually appealing and bristles with
    the sort of innocence that only young artists seem to bring out so
    finely. The background score by A.R. Rahman, is simply fantastic and
    coordinates so beautifully with all the chase sequences in the movie
    (there are plenty). Parts of the movie, with their rich color and the
    harsh truths behind them appealed to me as brilliantly unique and
    brashly artistic. The cinematography and editing blossomed with
    originality. The script however, was anything but unique. I tried to give it the
    benefit of doubt and think of it as a sort of crude fairytale version
    of live, but the harsh realism was too much in contrast with some of
    the prolonged displays of love, which neither Dev Patel or "girl with
    non Indian name and a shot to fame with no real good acting skills",
    seemed comfortable or good at. I felt that while the younger artists performed brilliantly in the
    movie, the older actors for the most part, came out looking
    unbelievable. Here was the host of the show, who talks and mocks about
    a Chai waala, something they would NEVER do (and never did) in the
    original show. Some of his jabs are plain ridiculous and its
    unbelievable that the sets had an audience that seemed to enjoy it.Dev Patel, as the innocent (confused? nervous? what was he trying to
    portray?) kid on the seat, was confusing in his expressions. One of my
    friends asked me during the movie, if he was blind. That was a genuine
    question, considering how Dev Patel looked a little blurry eyed in many
    scenes. Same with Mahesh Manjrekar as Latika's husband? His performance
    was a little over the top. And yet despite these little faults, the movie does stick on to its
    promise of wrapping up with a fairytale ending. It gives you one last
    surprise though, and when it finally ends, you are not really unhappy.
    And it follows up with a Bollywood type number as the credits role, and
    thats the sweet chutney in your spicy Pani puri. No reservations
    whatsoever. The Pani puri has worked its magic.

43. from United States Says:
    November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    This movie hit me with a punch to my stomach

    I had skimmed a review in the NY Times of this movie, and must have
    read something that made me want to watch it, but the only thing I
    remembered was the premise: slum kid competes in Who Wants To Be A
    Millionaire.Hence, I was totally unprepared for the visceral onslaught of this
    movie: the poverty, the squalor, the filth, the degradation, the
    violence, the lead character's continuous sufferings. The movie is like
    a horrific car wreck that you can't help ogling. And to be honest, all
    throughout, I felt physically ill enough to almost walk out, run to the
    toilet, and vomit. That was how much it affected me.But I managed to stay put to the end. And, you know what, close to the
    climax of the movie, tears just quietly, involuntarily flowed down my
    cheeks. I couldn't help it. Who wouldn't sympathize with the hero,
    orphaned as a tot, living as a child beggar, separated from the love of
    his life, given one chance to better himself and reunite with his lost
    love. As another reviewer noted, you will feel thankful about your own
    life after seeing this movie.Afterwards, I re-read the NY Times review, and saw that it had noted
    that Western audiences may find many scenes revolting. As my intense
    physical reaction shows, the movie may not be for everyone. In fact I'm
    not entirely sure that I'm not sorry I didn't see it. But if you do go
    and see it, you'll never forget it.

44. first_time_movie from United States Says:
    November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Liked it very much

    I wanted to go see a film and a friend of mine said go see slumdog
    millionaire. I said, "What is that" I was going to go see Quatom of
    Solace, but I was not very enthused. So I took my friends advice
    searched and found this film. Which should be playing to many more
    theatres. I had no idea what to expect as I thought it was going to be
    some hardcore gangster flick (my interpretation of title) It had some
    gangster stuff in it, but that is far from the core. This movie moved
    me in many ways throughout. I was so impressed and loved it because I
    felt my friend pushed me to a gem. I am taking my girlfriend to see it
    tonight. She is like "what is that" she will find out and I know she
    will love it. It has drama, romance, action, violence, sex, brotherly
    love and just a good film.

45. sameer sharma (sameshar) from India Says:
    November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Excellent Movie !!!

    Saw this movie in Boston, MA. When i was in India, i was crazy about
    movies but here… movies don't make that big of a deal for people.
    Anyways, the movie is exceptionally Good. Rather the BEST MOVIE of
    2008. In the movie, every scene, every dialog, every character is well
    thought of. Character of Jamal is played by 3 different actors,
    representing 3 different stages of his life. All 3 have acted really
    well and i appreciate the performance all the supporting cast too. It
    interesting to see how a Call Center Assistance knew answers to all the
    Questions in the Millionaire Show and not because he read any book or
    something but knew it because he learned everything in his day to day
    life. Every question with story associated with it was a good way of
    presenting the whole movie and along we understood and witnessed
    Jamal's life.GOOD JOB !!!

46. timbermisc from United States Says:
    November 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    You'll be thankful you live in America when you see this film

    This is a Thanksgiving movie. You will thank your mother for having
    born you in the U.S.A. Imagine begging for a living. Then imagine
    people who own people who then go out and beg for the owners. Then
    imagine the owners who physically deface some of their cadre of beggars
    so that they can earn more money through the greater pity attracted by
    the defaced beggar. This is only 2% of this movie, so take heart;
    there's a lot more. It isn't a downer, it's an inspiration. This movie
    will pull you through the life and times of a child beggar in India.
    You will follow his triumphs, his love story, his devotion to his
    friends. You will see a beggar 10 year's old give money to a "lessor"
    blinded beggar child out of pity and mutual respect for the suffering
    blind child. Child beggars giving to child beggars. Oh, how Thankful
    You Will Feel when you walk through the exit door of the theater past
    the warming popcorn and into your street crammed with new, polished
    Mercedes, Fords and Chevy's on a clear evening with the streetlights
    glistening. You will ask yourself how it is that you could complain so
    much lately about your own life after seeing this movie. This movie
    touches real human values. It is one of the best movies of 2008. I
    recommend you recommend this movie to anyone who is depressed about
    their life. An alternative movie to see, and just as inspiring is, "The
    Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith. Also, "Seabiscuit". This movie
    will drop you down into your soul. It has a happy ending!

47. WeeWillie from Markham, Ontario Says:
    November 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A crackling good story about the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

    Clever, quirky, romantic, colorful, good story, good action, and
    violent at times - "Slumdog Millionaire" has it all, and I am sorely
    tempted to give it a 10/10. It also sports a lively sense of the absurd
    - although this is latent and based on the unfolding of events! The
    movie is set in India, with protagonist Jamil as an unlikely candidate
    in the Indian version of "So You Want To Be A Millionaire". The
    gameshow is used to signpost the "slings and arrows of outrageous
    fortune" on Jamil's life and on his relationship with his love, Latika.As far as I can see, the movie puts no foot wrong, and it doesn't hurt
    that the various incarnations of the seductive Latika are absolutely
    sizzling, all sporting to the nines that exotic beauty that the Indians
    do so very well! This movie crackles, and I recommend it for anyone with a pulse!

48. Jane Brownrigg from Australia Says:
    November 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog Millionaire is a brilliant., genre jumping revelation

    Slumdog Millionaire is a genre jumping revelation that comes across as
    bizarrely plausible when events that seem impossible are contextualised
    in flashbacks that illustrate the life of our 18 year-old hero Jamal
    (Dev Patel), an orphan from the slums of Mumbai. Jamal has entered the
    Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" in an effort to
    contact his lost love Latika (Freida Pinto). Much is made of Jamal's
    lowly status as a chai wallah (tea boy) at one of Mumbai's many call
    centres.This underdog status helps him to win the hearts of the viewing
    audience but arouses suspicion from the show's host, who pulls strings
    and has Jamal arrested and savagely interrogated when the show breaks
    at the end of the day's episode. Slumdog Millionaire jumps back and
    forward in time illustrating the parts of Jamal's life experience that
    have taught him the information he needed to correctly answer questions
    on the show. Much kudos must go to the cast and crew for uniformly
    excellent performances, filmed in often harsh and immensely difficult
    circumstances. Resourceful and resilient, once orphaned at a young age
    in a religious uprising, Jamal and his older brother Salim (Madhur
    Mittal) travel widely in their quest for safety and survival. The boy's
    hair-raising, and often hilarious, exploits on Indian railways and at
    the Taj Mahal are played out against marvelous scenery. Slumdog
    Millionaire successfully combines many genres such as history, 'road'
    trip, crime, coming of age, romance and quiz. All are deftly handled
    and interwoven in a total package that is hard to fault. Stay through
    the closing credits and you even get a Bollywood style dance number!
    Brilliant.

49. kunalkhandwala from United States Says:
    November 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The sensational rags to riches story

    The country of 1.6 billion watches the gripping moment of Who wants to
    be a millionaire being hosted by Anil Kapoor as Jamal Malik reaches the
    penultimate question. The throbbing background music of the show
    resonates with Jamal's heart beat and the beatings that he suffers in
    the police remand room as he is taken in for interrogation on the
    suspicion that he might have cheated his way to come this far on the
    show that usually requires a well educated genius to even get half way
    through. Will he survive the night? Will he face the question tomorrow?
    Will his destiny fall upon him or will he make his own? 'Slumdog
    Millionaire' answers all your questions and in epic style.This is your quintessential rags-to-riches story with Jamal (Dev Patel)
    playing the protagonist, raised in the filthiest slum of Bombay with a
    series of horrific events that led him to escape from the city after a
    communal civil war took away from him whatever he had. A brief
    encounter with an underground ring of child beggar trainers shows us
    the grim reality of how humans can fall to unknown levels to achieve
    their sadistic objectives, from which, our hero runs leaving behind
    another memory, another piece of the puzzle that makes up his traumatic
    yet eventful childhood. Jamal's childhood is influenced by his only
    brother in crime, Salim (Madhur Mittal) and the beautiful Lathika
    (Frieda Pinto) who is the angel he has adored since his early days of
    being abandoned in the city's rain. Each of the characters is played by
    different actors at various stages in the character's life and one does
    not realize that because of the brilliant screenplay and performances.
    From the filth of the slums to the ring of beggar trainers to knick
    picking in trains and tourist attractions in Agra to make a living and
    then to the underworld crime lords of Bombay; Jamal and Salim together
    find devious ways of living until an incident involving Lathika sends
    Jamal on a more righteous path by himself and he takes up an assistant
    (Chaiwala)'s job at one of Bombay's call centers. Fate brings him to
    the glamorous set of Who wants to be a Millionaire and as he answers
    every question, by reflecting upon his past and unfolding each event,
    he makes considerable progress. But his background of being a slum
    dweller and an uneducated 'chaiwala' at a call center puts the host in
    utter disbelief, thus leading to the Police interrogation. Irrfaan Khan and Saurabh Shukla are outstanding in portraying the
    typical roles of Bombay's Policemen who soon realize through Jamal's
    narration of his life that every piece of the puzzle that fits in to
    make Jamal's life so far is also a clue to the answers to the questions
    on the show. The screenplay in this aspect is exemplary even though it
    may have adapted from the novel 'Q&A'. Director Danny Boyle has a good
    understanding of the city and its eccentricities but he may have gone a
    little too far in portraying how dirty it gets but he's a foreign
    director and that is much expected of him. Meanwhile, on a parallel
    level, there exists a petulant love story between Jamal and Lathika
    that gives us the escapist romanticism that somehow blends in
    beautifully with the more intense, brutal and dark side of the film's
    story. This underdog tale is what we need for our escapism from life
    and as we see the slum child emerge through the grey shades of life
    onto the glittery world of fate's game, we cannot help but laugh out
    loud when in a moment of overjoyed disbelief, he asks the host (Anil
    Kapoor) if he is nervous before the next question! Such is the film's
    connect with the audience in all its splendor of colour, darkness,
    horror, filth, loss, deceit, hope, aspiration and love. We have seen
    heroes in films but this underdog is somehow more pleasing. Just go
    celebrate the film and its grand showdown of Bollywood song and dance
    with Jamal and Lathika swinging to A.R. Rehman's upbeat tunes.- 8.445 on a scale of 1-10.

50. nyshrink from United States Says:
    December 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Best Movie So Far This Year

    Everyone should see this movie. Not only is it a very well done film
    and entertaining story, but it couldn't be more relevant.The film is the story of two Muslim boys living in the slums of Mumbai,
    who are orphaned by a pogrom against Muslims. (Unfortunately, such an
    event occurred in real life). They survive by their wits, and their
    wits are considerable. One ends up on a game show where he is poised to
    be a multi-million rupee winner. How did he end up there, and why is he
    getting all the answers right? The movie is the story that answers
    those questions. It is also an intense drama, and an expose of what
    India is really like. It's true the story is not realistic, in that
    there are too many coincidences. But the setting and the characters are
    realistic. The story does what it is meant to; it is meant to entertain
    and surprise you, and it does.

51. yanyi from United States Says:
    December 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Perfect in Every Way

    I was going to give this movie 9 stars, simply because IMDb scores are
    always so bloated, but I really can't think of anything wrong with it,
    and I'm obliged to give it 10 stars. It's an optimistic, humorous,
    romantic and inspiring tale under grim circumstances, which sets an
    interesting mood for the movie. The pacing is perfect, there's not a
    moment when the audience is not engaged, the story kept rolling, but
    not lacking in those tender and quiet moments of character exploration.
    Every scene was full of energy, humor and passion, and the plot was
    seamlessly put together and everything happens in a way that really
    hits the spot for the audience. It's the best movie I've seen this
    year, and probably one of the best movies I've ever seen–I watch 1-2
    movies per week on average.

52. Catbutt from Chicago Says:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Great images, contrived, asinine plot - "exploitation" film?

    I usually like Danny Boyle films for content, subtext, and technical
    style, but I can't remember the last time that a supposedly "serious"
    movie relied on so many contrived plot coincidences to build and
    resolve suspense. This movie was exotic and pretty but unbelievable,
    empty and asinine.Please don't take seriously its depiction of beautiful, exotic 3rd
    world poverty. Instead this is a genre mash-up of the good brother/bad
    brother gangster movie with the Dickensian orphan rags-to-riches story.
    It does pretty well on those modest terms, but it's a colorful, violent
    fantasy, not a serious expose or a National Geographic documentary.The use of police torture to build suspense in the first act (not a
    spoiler - these are the opening sequences of the film); stylized
    violence against children; reliance on prettified poverty and the
    exotic "other"; the gratuitous resolution of the "bad" brother's story
    arc: you know what? If this movie had been made in the 70s it would
    have been set in Harlem and today we'd call it "blaxploitation." This
    movie is about on the level with "Shaft" and "Superfly." There's just
    something about setting it in India that has blinded certain white
    audiences to the fact that this is a pretty stupid movie.That said, Freida Pinto - and much of the movie - is stunningly
    beautiful to look at.

53. Alex P (miskatonic86) from Baltimore, Maryland Says:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    If this film doesn't make Boyle an A-rate director, there's something wrong

    Most of us know British director Danny Boyle as the director of the
    drug-trip TRAINSPOTTING and that zombie movie, 28 DAYS LATER. His later
    films are only regarded as pure "eye candy," but his latest one,
    SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE should be enough to tell the world of his
    potential.This movie takes place in Bombay, India. Jamal is an 18 Muslim from the
    ghettos of Bombay. He grew up in filth and didn't have much, if any
    schooling. Then he gets onto the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a
    Millionaire?" where he scores big. But when the officials think he's
    cheating, we begin to figure out how Jamal really knew the answers.If anything, this should put Danny Boyle on the road-map of great
    art-house directors. This is a film that not only should be taken
    seriously, but also very intriguing to watch. There are tense moments,
    disturbing moments, comedic moments, and overall, moments who can't
    walk away from.If anything, this film should be acclaimed for it's quick editing and
    beautiful on-location cinematography. Overall, it's a rags-to-riches
    story to the max.

54. acehle from Detroit, MI Says:
    December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog is a magical yet harsh journey through India life and culture

    "Slumdog Millionaire" is beautifully written and amazingly captured by
    the dual directors. There were many incredible shots of past and
    current India, starting right out of the gate. Most of the film
    involved the incredible and scary journey of two brothers as they try
    to survive and make it in a cruel world. The tale was fully engrossing
    and captured our hearts. But there also were many gasping and look-away
    moments showing the harsh reality of the slums. I really enjoyed the
    score and cinematography, and appreciated the reality of the boys
    situation and the things that had to be done. The directors left in
    some biting comments on religious zealots, crime lords, and even
    economic progress. The tale of Jamal and his brother was told in
    between bits of a showing Jamal on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", and
    with the current Jamal being interrogated. The "flashbacks" were never
    forced and the audience always wanted more. In all, this was an amazing
    movie that I would pay to see again. There were great moments of love
    and hardship, humor and sadness, destitution and success, all wrapped
    up in a tale of a boy trying to be a hero and striving to win the girl
    of his dreams too.

55. ankurmisra from United States Says:
    December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Boyle's knowledge of India is remarkable.

    After spending 6 weeks in India then coming back for a week and
    watching this film, I did enter with a bias attitude, however within 30
    minutes I was enthralled with the cinematic beauty that portrayed India
    and the then developing Bombay. The story, a game show turned into a
    movie, is not extremely original, but the way this one was depicted
    made it original and outstanding. The standard love story Bollywood
    plot mixed with Boyle's trainspotting nature made Slumdog a delightful
    2 hour experience that I strongly recommend to all and exceedingly urge
    Desi's to watch, even my Indian mother loved it, although I know my
    father also enjoyed he may have a had a bit more bias in him.

56. G_Squared from United States Says:
    December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Visually stunning.

    Pros- "Slumdog Millionaire" was a fantastic film. The cinematography
    was incredible and resembles that of "City of God". The performances
    were great and will definitely put these budding actors on the map.I felt that the use of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" was extremely
    risky and daring, but done in a very unique and interesting way.Cons- I felt as though it had many cheesy tendencies. Im not
    criticizing anything but the writing. I definitely feel like it could
    have done without many lines such as "You are my destiny," and so
    forth.As great and fun as the dancing at the end was, I feel like it did NOT
    fit at all. Unnecessary and somewhat of a cop-out for Boyle.

57. J_Trex from Philadelphia Says:
    December 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    "City of God" with less blood

    This is a story set in the slums of Mumbai, about two orphaned brothers
    who grow up on the streets. Like "City of God" (set in the slums of Rio
    De Janeiro), one of the boys is good (Jamal) and one is bad (Salim).
    They both love the same woman (Latika). Each brother watches out for
    each other as they grow up, but it's clear that Salim is a ruthlessly
    violent character.The story begins with Jamal playing for the top prize on an Indian
    version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionairre". Before he can play for the
    top prize, the show ends & he is asked to return the following day to
    finish the game. However, the game show host suspects the boy is
    cheating & has the police take him away for questioning. The police
    brutally interrogate Jamal, but he does not break down & confess, but,
    re-counts his upbringing on the Mumbai streets to show how he was able
    to gather the knowledge to correctly answer the questions on the show.
    In the process, the story of his life unfolds.This is an excellent movie. While it is clearly an Indian cast and
    setting, the language is English. It's a very clever fusion of
    Hollywood & Bollywood. The cinematography was stunning, the music was
    great, the characters very engaging, the plot was excellent, with an
    ending that tied up everything beautifully.I highly recommend this movie.

58. VoodooKlown from USA Says:
    December 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Unrequited Love

    A young man sits sweating in the contestants chair while competing on
    the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". He's navigating
    a path through his mind and memory to find all of the answers. It all
    comes down to the final question…Danny Boyle's triumphant new film, 'Slumdog Millionaire', is a frenetic
    journey through the childhood and young adulthood of street
    urchin/pauper, Jamal Malik. Mostly told through flashbacks from a
    police station, we see the story of Jamal unfold as he tries to explain
    to police how it is that he has managed to get to the final question on
    a quiz show that even doctors and lawyers could never reach. Destiny is
    the key element here. Each answer to each question that is asked of him
    while in the game shows' hot seat, has already been presented to him
    through real life triumph and tragedy. Jamal is not book smart
    necessarily; he has lived to gain his knowledge. He knows things that
    are seemingly so random, that police are convinced that he is somehow
    cheating his way to a final grand prize payoff. That's where the meat
    of this film lies - Jamal's life. The film's structure is segmented in
    this formula: Irfan Khan (who was quietly amazing as usual), as the
    police inspector, watches tape of the game show and then asks Jamal to
    explain himself for each question and answer. Jamal begins to explain
    and then we are whisked back into the past to actually see him
    "learning" that particular question through events in his life. When
    that segment is over, we are brought back to present day in the police
    house for the next question. This goes back and forth for a majority of
    the movie, and Boyle is spot on during these transitions. His
    soundtrack is perfect. His shots are gorgeous as usual and his choice
    of what to show us depicts tragedy, comedy and adventure. And most of
    Jamal's adventures are experienced with his older brother Salim. From a
    very young age they are inseparable, and as they grow together, we get
    two sides to the same story. It's amazing how two people can go through
    the same things together and come out of it so completely different. So
    why is this kid on this show to begin with? Love. I've not yet
    mentioned a third party to this life-adventure. Her name is Latika, and
    she joins the boys at a very young age and Jamal is immediately taken
    with her. Due to some circumstances, she is then taken away… This is
    where fate and love come into play, and that's really the theme here.
    Sadly enough though, that's the only real fault I can find with
    'Slumdog' .. not enough punch and romance is put into Jamal & Latika's
    relationship. the film seems to be more about the two brothers with her
    as an outsider, but when the film takes its turn around the final
    stretch and enters the last act, it almost feels like a forced
    storyline. For me, the scope of this movie should have had a better
    payoff to its main theme. I still loved it though. Great, great film.8 out of 10.

59. soular04 from Cinephile Says:
    December 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Beautiful… The First Time I Cried in the Theater

    I am a 22yr male who takes pride in his machismo, but I when I saw such
    an amazing story, I didn't even try to hold back the tears. I am a
    college student who reads voraciously and enjoys reading mainly because
    of the meticulous character development that movies never attain to, or
    even aspire to for that matter…. but this one did. It is such a
    beautiful story with universal themes. The score of the movie is
    beautifully constructed with songs that truly fit the scenes. It is a
    movie that is set in the slums of India; but the film is far from
    Bollywood, gritty, dangerous, and exciting. Although not particularly
    Bollywood, the movie takes from it the vivid colors and one well
    choreographed dance during the credits, as if to show pride in Indian
    movie-making history. This movie is already one of my favorites.

60. Nighthawk1 from Toronto, Canada Says:
    December 6th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    An entertaining film. A crowd pleaser.

    A lively, vibrant and visually stunning production from director Danny
    Boyle who has demonstrated great diversity in the projects he has
    chosen. Dynamic camera-work is on display. Both style and substance
    permeate this enthralling movie. An energetic vibe flows throughout the
    film. Despite the physical hardship and mental strain that the main
    characters go through, the movie is always interesting. Truly moving
    and heartbreaking at times. Dynamic camera-work is on display. Both style and substance permeate a
    captivating movie. An energetic vibe flows throughout the film. Despite the physical hardship and mental strain that the main
    characters go through the movie is always entertaining and interesting.
    Truly moving and heartbreaking at times.The movie successfully held my attention. I wanted to know how
    everything was going to end up as I watched Slumdog Millionaire play
    out. With great anticipation I waited to see what was going to happen
    to the characters that I was following and had invested time in. The
    conclusion of the movie works as well. Even though the main character goes through plenty of hardship and
    sorrow I would still call the movie a crowd pleaser.Slumdog Millionaire is written commendably, admirably produced, notably
    acted and highly entertaining. A lot of people who see it will be
    impressed and affected emotionally.

61. pdlaker34 from United States Says:
    December 6th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    How to make THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR: Amelie+City of God+Quiz Show+Bollywood+Danny Boyle= THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR

    Danny Boyle has created a modern day version of what the great old
    films use to be like, mixed in perfectly with what grounded modern
    indie cinema is supposed to be today. The film has elements of life
    determining fate, Crime in poverty stricken streets, heart-pulsing
    sound, a bone chilling score that should earn A.R. Rahman an Oscar,
    great soundtrack, performances by unknown actors which adding even more
    vitality too the film, competition and love between brothers, and a
    destined romance. what more can you ask of a film today. it is so hard
    too accomplish something like this today when most of the films that
    try too this fail, look at Baz Luhrman's "Australia". That project
    failed because it tried too copy the old instead of using the old and
    too create something more unique. The chase scene through the streets
    of mumbai when Jamal is a boy running from the cops is just as of an
    action scene as when Harvey Dent is being transported too the Jail and
    The Joker is chasing him in the Dark Knight(noticed I said almost). The
    film is tragic and deals with real issues, but because you are seeing
    the film through a child's eyes it is not depressing because children
    never get down for too long. Children and Pre-Teens always find the
    bright side of a situation, they are really much better at getting by
    happy then adults. This is a bold film that reached for a lot of
    different goals and succeeded triumphantly. If the film doesn't win
    best picture at the Oscars, I will loose all hope in the academy. Look
    out for a Oscar nominations in editing, sound, screenplay, director,
    and I wouldn't even be surprised if Dev Patel gets nominated for best
    supporting actor.SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the best film of the year and MY FAVORITE FILM
    OF THE YEAR, because of not being afraid to be about fate and crime and
    love and death. It deals with everything in life and it's fun and
    powerful at the same time.

62. mark tusher (markymnstr@aol.com) from United States Says:
    December 6th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Smart, intuitive, unpredictable and refreshing.

    Danny Boyle goes to India. This is one helluva director who really
    likes to play the gamut. From "Trainspotting" to "Millions". From "28
    Days Later" to "Slumdog Millionaire". The only thing any of these
    movies have in common is they're extraordinary works of film-making
    that both critics and consumers seem to love. And you won't find a
    blockbuster among them, and you probably never will from Mr. Boyle. But
    the lack of box office recognition will probably be the last thing on
    Boyle's mind come award season when "Slumdog Millionaire" predictably
    becomes an Academy Award sleeper. Is it that good? You betcha! The
    style, the substance, the tone, the story all scream wow! And all defy
    description. It's a heart wrenching, gut wrenching, heart tugging,
    heart warming, soul searching, spirit lifting, epic drama that is as
    much romantic as it is harrowing, as suspenseful as it is funny.Slumdog is the name attached to orphans that grow up in the human
    cesspool of Mumbai India that somehow manage to survive much like poly
    wags would in stagnant pools of waste back here in America. Against all
    odds. Miracle against miracle, this slumdog grows into a smart,
    streetwise young man, who makes it onto India's version of "Who Wants
    To Be A Millionaire?" And…well, without spoiling the film, all I'll
    say is "he doesn't." "Want to be a millionaire, that is." Smart,
    intuitive, unpredictable and refreshing. With a Hollywood ending that's
    only succeeded by it's Bollywood ending. Is this one of my favorite
    movies of the year? You betcha! The film's location and occasional use
    of subtitles will dampen it's overall appeal. But this should find a
    very loyal and enthusiastic following on DVD and Blu Ray.

63. darkboarder84 from United States Says:
    December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Wow…

    I've come out of a lot of movies in my life realizing that I just
    wasted 2 hours of my time and 10dollars of my money. I have walked out of movies feeling completely
    satisfied with the time and money I just sacrificed. I have never walked out of movie though
    realizing I wasted the time had to go see the movie. Never felt that I had cheated myself out
    a great life experience by waiting too see a movie. Never until I saw Slumdog Millionaire this
    afternoon. Danny Boyle mayhave just done his greatest work in this heart warming film. I will be
    forever grateful that I saw this movie. I could even go to say it is one of my favorite movies
    ever, and this is no exaggeration.

64. jrichx123 from United States Says:
    December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Worth watching

    The director, director, Danny Boyle, did a very good job with Sumdog
    Millinairem which was written by Simon Beaufoy (screenplay) and Vikas
    Swarup (novel). The pacing and the way they got us involved in the
    story works great.The actors were all excellent. I think it's about time that non-Hollywood-formula movies are starting
    to rise. Technology has brought us here, because now, more than ever,
    movies are being made in places other than Hollywood. Maybe now, we'll
    see stories which don't conform, with regard to the script and the
    actors, to old fashioned Hollywood standards, and that the majority of
    the people on this planet would find interesting. So good work to all involved. The personal aspect of this movie kind of
    reminded me of 7 Dias - another foreign made movie.

65. lawrenceb56 from United States Says:
    December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Shallow, formula and the Regis guy couldn't pronounce Millionaire"

    This is a movie that makes Americans feel like all people of other
    cultures really want to be is "surprise," just like Americans! A silly
    and unbelievable plot, 30 quick shots per minute, LOUD music, and waaay
    to much Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Hey, I stopped caring about this
    movie in much the same way as I stopped caring about seeing people vie
    with Regis to become rich. It's boring! If you can't think of anything
    more that you want in a film than, Guy loses girl, guy makes a lot of
    money and gets girl back, you'll love this one. Other than some
    wonderful performances by tiny little kids in the first half hour, this
    film is the CRASH of 2008. Something that makes shallow viewers feel
    like art house afficinados.

66. JackGattanella from United States Says:
    December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    one of Danny Boyle's best!

    When film can uplift someone emotionally by having two characters who
    should be together, (mostly) want to be together, and who are as the
    cliché goes "made" for each other, and it's done without false
    sentimentality (different from sentiment, which Slumdog has in spades),
    it can be one of the best things in movies. Danny Boyle's film is one
    of those and, like another masterful take on romance from this year
    (WALL-E), it utilizes cinematic style, urgent and sometimes feverish
    and joyfully passionate turns with the camera and editing, to take us
    to incredible heights.In fact, this is very much a Capra-esqe picture, but in a manner that
    doesn't insult today's intelligence or betray any of the characters'
    genuine emotional components. Boyle plunges us into the story of Jamal
    (Dev Patel, as older Jamal, in an outstanding breakthrough
    performance), who lives a young life in the slums of Mumbai and Bombay
    and other places, with only his older, mischievous brother Salim, and a
    girl named Latika. They're the "Three Musketeers" of the story, but
    they go through a series of circumstances and events that pulls them
    apart, brings them together, and tears them away once more via gangster
    connections with Salim and Latika's basic imprisonment under the mob or
    whoever's control.Like in any strong love story, we got to have someone to root for, and
    Jamal is one that makes us root for him so much along the way (not
    least of which when he is in the midst of his nail-biter of a shot on
    "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") because he is a good person, a genuine
    one, so much so there may be one or two scenes we might wonder if
    Latika is "good enough" for Jamal's overwhelming desire to be with her,
    to take her away from all the terrible elements of slum life. But
    ultimately, they're a as pure souls as are, in their own rotten way,
    the criminals, and even the (eventually) conflicted brother Salim.A lot happens that I could go on more about in Slumdog Millionaire, but
    it's moot to try and go into the big plot points or even some of the
    surprising twists. This is just absolute, crystal-clear terrific
    storytelling by a director who trusts his actors to find the ripe
    nuggets of truth with the characters- what makes them basic and honest
    or dishonest- when faced with the various clichés or conventions or a
    story like this. And on top of having a great cast, and having such a
    wonderful and varied taste in music (some Indian, some not), and of a
    deft attention to the plot as it skips from back and forth from the
    interrogation of Jamal to childhood and back in little flashes, it's
    also as dazzlingly filmed and executed via cinematography as anything
    from Boyle's cannon.He's never one to lack appropriate style or to push the envelope just a
    little further to make his stories so absorbing (Trainspotting and 28
    Days Later come to mind as prime examples), but rarely has one seen so
    much attention to the raw power of the characters and the actors as in
    here. Even with Millions, also dealing with mostly child actors,
    Slumdog Millionaire gives Boyle a showcase for his talents as a
    provocateur with the camera, as a constant experimenter, while making
    sure we don't lose sight of those he's got in his sights. It's more
    than just appropriate to use such force as a filmmaker for such a
    tender and tragic/hopeful story, it's almost required. Boyle reaches up
    to that and then some: some of the shots in this movie are hard to lose
    out of your mind (that sudden vision of the blue Hindu child during the
    massacre is one, but there are countless others), and I for one can't
    wait to revisit them again. A+

67. rangaa from San Francisco, USA Says:
    December 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Good movie, great direction, poor storytelling

    I'm a little surprised that almost all reviews of this movie have been
    overwhelmingly positive. Don't get me wrong, it is a must watch.
    However, I'll stick to negatives; for the positives, yes, they are all
    correct.The first few minutes of the movie were enthralling - it showed the
    real Bombay, the slums of India, with great screenplay and camera-work.
    I was left expecting something of great quality, cinema in the genre of
    "City of God". Judging by those high standards, the movie was somewhat
    of a let-down as it degraded into a Bollywoodesque entertainer.
    Half-an-hour in, I got the impression that the director did not quite
    associate himself with India, and parts came off as condescending and
    flippant.The main problem was an incredibly weak storyline. The story is that of
    a slumboy in chapters as he answers questions on India's version of
    "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". The correlation of the questions to
    his life is contrived at best, but this doesn't matter since the aim of
    the movie is to showcase his life in the Indian slum. It is a
    travelogue of India to the Western audience. In this respect the movie
    succeeds entirely. It is very real, gets to the heart of India - its
    immeasurable poverty, its craze for Bollywood and cricket, its social
    problems. However, I didn't like the carelessness with which some
    topics were treated. While this saves us from an overly sentimental and
    depressing movie, I feel it almost condones some of these evils, or at
    least accepts them as a part of everyday life.Overall, it is a very entertaining feel-good movie that you won't
    regret watching no matter who you are and what you like. If you are a
    Bollywood fan, this will be the best Bollywoodish movie you have seen
    in ages. If you are the movie-critic, you will have plenty to enjoy and
    ruminate.My rating: 7/10

68. Lloyd Constable from United Kingdom Says:
    December 8th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Best British FIlm Ever!

    I feel so lucky to go to a special screening of this film.This film is simply amazing. A true love story that will have you
    hooked from beginning to end. The film's first half is so intense and
    sad and funny and so painfully real you just want the world to stop to
    help these poor children.The second half is more about Jamal's redemption. Don't want to give
    anything away but it will have you in tears.You will hate but forgive Salim in the end too.Brilliant British film, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar deserves and Oscar for
    his amazing performance as the youngest Jamal and great to see a young
    British actor have such a meaty, gritty role - well done Dev! Go see
    this film!

69. David H. Schleicher from New Jersey, USA Says:
    December 8th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Not Even Bizarrely Plausible

    A young call center worker from Mumbai with a rough-and-tumble past
    named Jamal (a likable Dev Patel) becomes a contestant on the Indian
    version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" in the hopes that his true
    love (the beautiful Freida Pinto) will see him on TV and come back to
    him for good. Much of "Slumdog Millionaire" is done in flashbacks as
    the audience learns the personal story behind each of the questions.
    For some strange reason the filmmakers want us to think a person like
    Jamal wouldn't normally know the answers to these random trivia
    questions, but he does because of his unique life story, see? Well,
    it's a mildly interesting central conceit that quickly falls apart. At
    one point, a policeman questioning Jamal remarks that his story is
    "bizarrely plausible." I wish I could say I felt the same.It seems to be a trend this year for movies to contain wildly shifting
    tones. This is the type of film that thinks it's endearing and cute
    when a little Indian boy is given no choice but to dive into a pit of
    raw sewage to get a chance to meet a movie star, and then tries to be
    gritty and deadly serious when a man takes out an orphan's eyes with a
    spoon so the kid will make more money on the street as a blind urchin.
    Combining elements of "Oliver Twist", "Romeo and Juliet" and "City of
    God", Danny Boyle and his co-director Loveleen Tandan create a flimsy
    mosaic of convention and post-modern pastiche. With its sometimes
    fascinating look at Mumbai and its strange juxtaposition of modernity
    and immense wealth run amok with the biggest slums on earth, "Slumdog
    Millionaire" is not without some intense and keenly interesting
    vignettes. However, the paper-thin script full of lazy
    characterizations and arbitrary moments leads to a painfully
    predictable denouement with a silly message about Destiny.Boyle is a director whose style has run out of steam. All of his
    trademarks are here: the shoddy editing; the shaky, grainy digital
    photography; the hyper-bright lighting that washes out most colors and
    makes whites and yellows blinding. Why is it I always feel like I'm
    getting an eye exam when I sit through his films? It left me with a
    headache that wasn't helped by the loud soundtrack. Any compelling
    moment, like the train ride that ends at the Taj Mahal or the early
    chase scene through the slums of Mumbai, I credit to Boyle's
    co-director Tandan."Slumdog Millionaire" is an energetic film I desperately wanted to
    like. Had it a sharper focus and harder edge that more thoroughly
    explored just one of the millions of enthralling stories that exist in
    cities like Mumbai, it could've been a rousing success. Instead, with
    its slapdash enthusiasm that feebly tries to thread some meaning into
    the barely plausible tale, I'm left thinking that Mumbai deserves a far
    better film.

70. babubhaut from buffalo, ny, usa Says:
    December 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Dreams of so many, on the floor … Slumdog Millionaire

    With this new film, Slumdog Millionaire, the Boyle treats us to a
    touching love story, backdropped into a world of crime and poverty in
    Mumbai, India. It is such a simple tale, yet told in gorgeous
    flashback, peeling back layers when necessary and enhancing the
    relationships between our lead Jamal and those around him; those on his
    "friends and family" plan. Here is a young man from the streets, a boy
    who witnessed his own mother's murder, living only to be reunited with
    the one person he truly loves, Latika. His bond to her leads him on an
    adventurous life full of violence and cruelty, events so harrowing that
    one would be hard-pressed to forget even the smallest detail about
    them. This is a great fact for Jamal as it will soon be shown how his
    life was lived with a destiny to be achieved. When he becomes a
    contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", it's as though the
    questions were written especially for him.Accused of cheating and arrested by the police, (talk about rights
    violations, at least we have rights in America), he is tortured to
    discover how he was able to trick the system. Only when nothing yields
    results does the Inspector, (the great Irfan Khan), decide to hear
    Jamal out and find the truth. What transpires is the film we have come
    to watch—a story told from a police chair, one of how the rough and
    tumble life of a slumdog gave him the exact right experiences to keep
    going towards a purse of twenty million rupees. Boyle, never one to go
    conventional, cuts between flashbacks of childhood, (the actual event
    being remembered), with Jamal in the hotseat on television, thinking of
    his past tragedies to continue the game as long as he can, in hopes
    that his love is watching, wherever she may be. With gorgeous cuts at
    the start—flashes of memories jumbled together as he is submerged in
    water or electrocuted—the structured chaos soon calms down to a normal
    pathway of three converging timelines: childhood, the previous night's
    game show, and the present incarceration. We are shown exactly what we
    need at exactly the right time. The film couldn't have been shot any
    other way and be nearly as successful as it is.It all began in the slums with Jamal and his brother Salim. The two
    were inseparable no matter how much the older sibling would wreck the
    younger's joy for his own laughter. They always believed in each other,
    even though they took diverging paths in life, the bond was never
    broken. These two Musketeers did what they needed to survive, looking
    out for one another and also for their surrogate third "brother"
    Lakita. Separated often, the three had a knack for finding one another
    through the years, until an event risks shattering any love between the
    brothers … an event that proves crucial to what characters do once the
    final trivia question is asked. Only when the bottom drops and one sees
    the monster they have become can he finally try to make amends. It's a
    journey through time that proves how strong love is. Money is
    meaningless unless there is a life to live spending it. Who knows, if
    you live your life correctly, without regret, good things can happen.
    One doesn't necessarily need to seek fortune in order to earn it and
    that fortune doesn't always have to be monetary.Boyle orchestrates it all with a steady hand, creating stunning visuals
    with composition, editing, (especially the numerous chase scenes on
    foot), and tempo changes; adding mood with a stellar soundtrack, (I'm
    enjoying it as I write); and allowing his actors to breathe free and
    give some powerfully natural performances. You have to give all those
    involved credit, for controlling three different actors as each of our
    three leads, all of which stay true to each other, never allowing you
    to believe they aren't the same person just at different stages of
    their lives. Straight across the board, Jamal, Salim, and Latika are
    three-dimensional people trying to survive, no matter what they must
    do. I really enjoyed the youngest Salim, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail,
    with his infectious and mischievous smile when he tricks his brother,
    and also the middle incarnation by Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, a boy at the
    crossroads of a path towards salvation or a descent ending with an
    eternity in the slum. Freida Pinto's oldest Latika is wonderful as the
    troubled girl knowing only the kindness of one man, a man that she
    pushes away in fear of his death should they run away. However, it is
    Dev Patel's Jamal that steals the show. With his blank stare and
    unceasing drive to find his love, Patel pushes on through it all.
    Severing ties and mending others to get closer to his dream, this young
    man never strays from his quest and you can see the wheels turning
    behind his eyes, calculating his next step.A tale of destiny and striving to be good, Slumdog Millionaire is an
    uplifting parable showing how karma works. Everything happens for a
    reason, nothing is left to chance. Perhaps it is all written, but that
    doesn't make the journey any tougher to endure. Jamal could have,
    understandably, given up at many times in his life, but his drive would
    not allow him that convenience. Conquering all odds, coming from the
    streets, to the point he didn't even know Ghandi's face was on his own
    country's currency, Jamal gets the chance at a fortune and an
    opportunity to finally be free. I seriously found myself hoping he'd
    get the final question correct; it engrossed me that much. You'll have
    to watch yourself to find out.

71. george.schmidt (george.schmidt@hbo.com) from fairview, nj Says:
    December 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Aborbing and winning drama; one of the year's very best!

    SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008) **** Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto,
    Madhur Mittal, Azharuddin Mohammad Ismail, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar,
    Rubiana Ali, Tanay Chheda, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala. Aborbing and winning
    drama set in poverty stricken India with Patel as a teen whose pure
    survival skills through out his amazing life on the hard-bitten streets
    helps him gain access to the Hindi version of the TV game show "Who
    Wants to be a Millionaire?" Told in flashbacks filmmaker Danny Boyle -
    and co-director Loveleen Tandan, does a fantastic job of holding the
    audience's attention as each piece of the puzzle finds its way to the
    climactic moment of truth for our hero: his long-lost childhood love
    Pinto (ethereally beautiful and truly worthy of being a prize for
    anyone's hopes and desires). One of the year's very best.

72. John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com) from Columbus, Ohio Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The Best

    "That he should be so abject, base and poor, To choose for wealth and
    not for perfect love." Shakespeare's Henry VIIn a time of global fusions, Slumdog Millionaire is a successful blend
    of thriller and Bollywood hyperbole, a feel-good story of love,
    fidelity, and brotherhood set in Mumbai's most dangerous and glamorous
    places. We are alternately thrust into the streets where children are
    relentlessly exploited and into the sumptuous set of the Indian
    equivalent of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Danny Boyle's fabulous story has the Dickensian motif of poverty to
    riches and the American dream of crossing class lines to triumph with
    altruism. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) rises from an abysmal childhood
    running from the worst of adult supervision to become a finalist in a
    quiz show he hopes his lost friend and love, Latika (Freida Pinto),
    will be watching, the 20 million rupees prize never his real goal.
    According to the formula for romantic, uplifting dramas of the poor's
    struggle for a place in middle class life, no one could mistake what
    will happen to Jamal on his quest.Indeed, he fulfills Joseph Campbell's monomyth formula, the cyclical
    pattern for the mythological hero: separation, initiation, return.
    Although a few attempts at humor seem out of place, Jamal never varies
    from his serious knightly quest to save the fair maiden.Boyle has wisely and creatively veered from the staid and standard to
    keep his formula fresh. For instance, he begins in Citizen Kane style
    at the end, the quiz show, and then ingeniously interweaves questions
    on the show with how Jamal learned the answers in the course of his
    life, thereby justifying multiple flashbacks. Also, Boyle, for the few
    parts of the film that need translation, has placed the subtitles where
    I have not seen them before, and I appreciate the audience-friendly
    approach.It is a time for pulling out the genres—epic adventure in Australia,
    scary vampiring in Twilight, and predictable action in Quantum Solace
    and Transporter 3. Slumdog is by far the best of the re-imaginings.

73. thewisetraveller from USA Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Sometimes, it just works.

    I have been to India three times and from my experience, Mumbai is
    still the craziest place on Earth. The British understand India more so
    than any other outsider like me. This work of Danny Boyle just
    reaffirms that fact. I was manipulated by the reviews to catch a free preview in Buffalo(NY)
    and I was shocked by the huge crowd that showed up. The movie began
    with a very powerful note- a torture scene. I could tell people sitting
    next to me were not so fond of it. Then, the ride began. I saw the
    India that I was very aware of but never had a chance to see deeply.
    Danny Boyle is a unique storyteller. You never completely realise what
    you have signed up for and that's just brilliant. The movie gives you a
    microscope image of poverty in India, besides the glitz of Bollywood
    and the power of India's growing economy. It shows you a different
    world within India. The movie is not really about any of that,
    interestingly. 'Who wants to be a millionaire', a mere metaphor as I have seen it
    before half way through the movie turned out to be the pillar that kept
    our fears, expectations, confusion, adrenaline, hate, excitement,
    senses together until alphabets began to roll. The movie ended and
    there was an applaud for about a minute. People loved it because it was
    real. People loved it because they saw something far beyond their
    expectations of a world they didn't know existed. They participated in
    the quiz and they were right almost every time. Yes, that's important.
    This movie will be big. You'll see.My only regret is that I can never watch it again for the first time.

74. bollywoodplusplus from United States Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A Bollywood sprinkled Hollywood movie - must watch!

    The making of the film is very Hollywood, but the script is very
    Bollywood! And I don't mean anything in a sarcastic way - this is truly
    an amazing collaboration! The Bollywood has been producing dreamy, Utopian, feel-good (or
    sometimes bad), heart-over-mind, good-over-evil scripts for ages, and
    it has not only worked for thriving industry, but is slowly expanding
    way beyond Indian subcontinent. So something that appeals to may be
    couple of billions of people can't be wrong - can it?On the other hand, Hollywood takes keen interest in realistic,
    mind-over-heart, fact-over-belief scripts. Nothing wrong with that
    either.This movie brings the best of both - you cannot afford to miss it. The
    story will keep you engaged from the word go. Very able acting by the
    newcomers, Dev Patel (Jamal) as a spl mention. But the young slum
    urchins played by child actors are absolutely fantastic! Cinematography is pure master craftsmanship - hardly seen Mumbai
    (Bombay) in such vivid visuals! A.R.Rahman's music brings a bit of unconventionality - miles apart from
    his bollywood affair, and rightfully so! This kid in the movie reminds me of a clip of a young urchin near a
    tourist place in India, who has picked up conversation in many
    languages just trying to sell something to international tourists.
    (Watch: youtube watch?v=DZOwvQRs-W0). That kid never went to school,
    yet he can carry on a conversation in more languages than any of us
    can! Coming back to the movie: 2 words: WATCH IT!

75. Ali 007 from Canada Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the year's best !

    This movie is definitely one of my favorite movies. Because half of the
    actors were sincere and Danny Boyle make them look so beautiful. Loved
    the story loved the music from A.R. Rahman the musical maestro. First i
    heard that the cast of the movie were all Indian or N.R.I.'s that what
    it took me to look forward of the movie. Dev Patel delivers a strong
    performance i was blown away. Anil Kapoor the host of the ''Who want to
    be a millionaire'' was really good in his first Hollywood movie. One
    things is for sure this movie will not be ignore at the Oscar ceremony
    because its so real and so touching at the same time. Danny Boyle
    amazed me who's is gonna believe that he is the same director of an
    horror movie year's ago he is an great director and his movie is really
    touching and heart warming for everyone.

76. jalka from United States Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A testament to the indomitable human spirit

    I had heard about this movie from watching a preview off of one of my
    my recent rentals..sadly that title is slipping from my memory. I was
    fortunate however to attend a free preview of Slumdog last night.I will say that the movie touched me in ways other movies haven't.
    While watching the movie and Jamal's progression through life I kept
    thinking how many American's are still clueless to the struggles that
    go on in the rest of the world.Of course being that I'm a newlywed Jamal's love for Lakita and his
    perseverance throughout the movie is what touched me the most. It was
    amazing to realize that he would always look for her regardless of how
    my obstacles were put in his way.Technically I found the film wonderful as well. There were a couple of
    wonderful transitions visually. The music was spot on and fit the film
    as well. As for the dance number at the end I thought it was a nice
    touch and upbeat considering everything that Jamal had gone through to
    get to his final destination.I would recommend this film to anyone that has ever been in love or
    that would like to be reminding of what true love can be.Enjoy!

77. (kalm77) Says:
    December 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    NINE pages of comments! Add mine to the heap

    wow! I remember WALKING OUT OF "Trainspotting" at the heroin withdrawal
    scene of the baby with the razor blades…IT WAS THE SOUNDTRACK that
    propelled me through to that point though…Trainspotting was very dismal, but oddly cool! I see the SAME DNA in
    SLUMDOG: the story of the borderline fringes of society who in fact
    show how "abnormal" society itself is..! Slumdog is more
    family-palatable than Trainspotters was. Also common, killer
    soundtrack. I want to buy the CD. If you're Indian, you know AR
    RAHMAN's music…man is he SOLId! Madhur Mittal is going big time! He
    looks super cool. Hope he gets more notice.This movie is poignant, funny, memorable one for all time. BUT I Don't
    LIKE THAT SILLY GAMESHOW: 'who wants to be a …$$$'.

78. leenabr from Canada Says:
    December 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Heart-Breaking tale of a gutsy SlumKing- exceptional

    Slumdog Millionaire was one of the best movies of this year. Danny
    Boyle was extremely smart while selecting the cast, theme and music
    director for this film. It has the art aspect for the West to
    appreciate the slums of Mumbai, the poverty, corruption, sex all
    excellently handled. Then there is a love story which would appeal to
    all audiences around the world. Lastly to put a cherry on the cake
    there is amazing musical score by A.R Rehman whose talent South Asians
    absolutely salute If one thinks about the movie a few days after
    watching it, the story seems pretty customary; a poverty stricken boy
    from the slums of Mumbai manages to score twenty-million rupees on a
    television game show purely by case of luck. However what makes this
    movie exceptional is Danny Boyle's narration of "why" this boy manages
    to win the money, and "how"- By connecting pieces of his life together
    and finding the answers through introspection. He is a complicated
    character with disturbed relations with his brother, and a long lost
    love from the slums he is still searching for. In the end the movie
    leaves a lot of messages about youth, innocence, vulnerability, keeping
    your shoes in a bag and taking them inside the Taj Mahal to avoid
    theft, not trusting every mineral water bottle seal in restaurants etc.
    But the one that strikes out is the value of money, and how petty the
    whole charade is. This boy has no regrets about his life, in fact in
    their younger versions they show how living in the slums is also a
    lifestyle, and it doesn't mean people are unhappy if they live there.
    It's our way of thinking that luxuries are intrinsic to survival that
    makes their condition look pitiable. Moreover it also makes one realize
    that money is worth nothing without happiness, even if that happiness
    vests in one person, one object, or a relation. On the acting
    department, Dev Patel has done a great job. I was surprised to see him
    so nervous and slightly immature on his interviews especially with
    David Letterman, but since he's only eighteen, and just tasted the
    glamor I'll give him benefit of the doubt. Frieda Pinto does a good job
    as Latika, although my favorite version of Latika is when she is
    youngest and befriending baby Jamal. Pinto looks older than Jamal in
    the movie which she also is in real life. Madhur Mittal as Salim does a
    fantastic job and has a Mithun touch to his looks and acting. He is
    superb in his role. The main flaws in this movie are in Anil Kapoor's
    character. Hosts of such shows have been Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh
    Khan and never have they made fun of a guest, mocked them openly and
    humiliated them. So I don't understand why Anil Kapoor's character was
    shown to be soo cocky. One other thing I did not like was how Latika
    had been made a complete prostitute/slut who if imagination may run
    wild would have slept with 50 people before finally meeting Jamal, and
    despite everything he treats her like they just met and nothing ever
    happened. With someone whose gone through soo much, himself and her
    included, things take a while to get to normal and settle. If she was
    as in love with him as he was why didn't she ever bother looking for
    him like he did? why did she go anywhere money called at her? Well
    these questions crossed my mind but may vary for everyone. Overall the
    flashbacks in the first half of the movie were superb. Hats off to the
    little actors who played their characters exceptionally well. The music
    made it all more entertaining and groping. There was no need for the
    dance sequence at the end, it almost ruined it. Maybe because none of
    the leads could dance, or maybe because it didn't do justice to
    bollywood dances which are superbly choreographed and extremely well
    performed. Overall, great movie, sort off artsy just believe the story
    and you won't be disappointed.

79. Seamus2829 from United States Says:
    December 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    The Return Of Danny Boyle

    Danny Boyle has certainly made his share of worthy films since his
    first offering, 'Shallow Grave',in 1994, to be followed up by
    'Trainspotting' the following year. Despite one clinker (28 Days), he
    has managed to earn my respect as a talented director. 'Slumdog
    Millionaire' is just another hands down winner for Boyle. The film
    concerns a homeless "Chai Wallah" (tea dispenser)who manages to get
    himself on India's equivalent to 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'. The
    film works within the frame work that it's believed that he is
    cheating, and is carted off to the local police department for a
    confession (under some brutal torture). Within the use of flashbacks,
    we find out about just how he got to where he is. The film's cast
    includes actors known from Bollywood musicals,including some others
    recruited from their work in Indian television. The romance angle also
    works,as well. This is a film that manages to evoke a myriad of
    emotions for the central character. It has a certain Charles Dickens
    feel to it,as well as a rough & tumble inner city drama (think in terms
    of 'City Of God'). Rated 'R' by the MPAA, this film serves up some
    brutal violence & rough language,as well as some unpleasant child
    abuse. Okay for older teens,but you may want to leave the younger
    children out of it.

80. Trevor from Sydney, Australia Says:
    December 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Both heartbreaking and uplifting!

    This film encapsulates the predominant feeling and impression I have
    had about India ever since I travelled through it – that it is the
    people's thirst for life despite incredible adversity that so endears
    me about the country. There are scenes in this film that are absolutely
    devastating and others that will make your heart soar, often at the
    same time! Particularly the scenes involving the protagonists as
    children - one scene in particular will haunt me forever and gave me a
    devastating new insight into the world of child beggars. Be warned, you
    are going to cry in this film. I did. The film follows the story of
    Jamal and his brother Salim, reflected through the Hindi version of
    'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'(!), the major quiz show that Jamal
    manages to appear and become a national hero on. As the show's host
    cannot understand how a 'slumdog' like Jamal can have the answer to all
    the questions, he is brutally interrogated by a couple of security
    officers as to HOW he knows the answers. It is through Jamal's life
    experiences that he knows the answers, and we uncover it in the film
    through flashbacks. It is a life that involves abject poverty,
    religious violence, crime, love and many other 'life' experiences that
    we witness through Jamal and his brother Salim's life; and also through
    the relationship with his lifelong love, Latika. The performances all
    round are excellent, the cinematography mesmerising, and the script
    both absurdly hilarious and heartbreakingly real. How the two brothers
    manage to survive is extraordinary, much like the film itself. This
    film has already won a slew of Audience and Critics awards and has
    recently been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director at the
    Golden Globes. It deserves every one of them.

81. Drake T. Neal (forindcine) from United States Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the best films in 2008!

    "Slumdog what?" Get off the Internet, rush down to your local
    independent theater and checkout one of the best films this year!'Slumdog Millionaire' is based on 'Q&A', a 2005 novel by Vikas Swarup.
    His novel tells a story about Malik, a young orphan, who has never read
    a book or gone to school. This young 'slumdog' makes his life begging,
    stealing and running hustles in and around the streets of Mumbai,
    India.The screenplay introduces the young man Malik (Dev Patel) being
    tortured by police after being removed from a taping of the Indian
    version of the television show 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' for
    cheating. After unsuccessful attempts to get Malik to confess the
    police permit him to tell his story.Director Danny Boyle sets his film through a series of flashbacks with
    Malik sharing his life experiences, which include his brother Salim,
    and friend, Latika. He explains how his experiences provided him the
    answers for winning 20 million rupees. But for Malik no amount of money
    can get him what he really wants from his tough life.'Slumdog Millionaire' combines the excitement of a popular game show
    with the difficult lives of many children in Mumbai. Coupled with
    moments of humor and the natural desire to root for an underdog, this
    uplifting film is both inspiring and definitely worth viewing.

82. Dan Franzen (dfranzen70) from United States Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Well worth the hype

    A young man sits in a chair under bright lights, his face a cypher. He
    is on the popular Indian game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and
    he’s just correctly answered a question worth ten million rupees. As
    the episode ends - a cliffhanger! - the young man is arrested and taken
    to police headquarters on charges of cheating in the game. How could a
    boy from the poorest area of the country do so well on this knowledge
    show? The tale unfolds under the withering questions by the police
    inspector. Jamal (Dev Patel) explains how he came to be able to answer
    the show’s questions by describing his life, from his impoverished
    beginnings in Mumbai to his involvement with a Fagin-like misanthrope
    to his stint as an illicit tour guide at the Taj Mahal. Through it all,
    Jamal’s relationships with the two closest people to him - his brother
    Salim and their new friend Latika - strongly inform his own
    decision-making abilities. Jamal’s love for Latika, who we shortly
    learn is the impetus behind Jamal’s appearing on the game show, and his
    envy (or fear) of Salim are the crucial cogs in Jamal’s frightening
    existence.Director Danny Boyle doesn’t just show us the life and times of a poor
    Indian boy; if anything, that might make the movie more of a maudlin
    rags-to-riches story. No, this is a romance story, full of passion and
    undying love. No matter how many times Latika is separated from Jamal -
    he always finds her again, his heart pounding whenever she is near. It
    is for her that Jamal is on this game show, and as we learn, he knows
    the answer to each question he’s been asked because he remembers a
    specific event in his life on the run that connects him to that
    question.Jamal’s journey from boyhood to early adulthood is fraught with danger;
    his mother his bludgeoned to death in front of him by an anti-Muslim
    mob, and the Fagin-like creep who takes the brothers in does horrible
    things to boys like them, especially if they can’t carry a tune (and
    thus make money). But no matter what happens or where he lands in life,
    his thoughts are first and foremost with the beautiful Latika. Jamal
    believes it is written that they will be reunited, and because he
    believes it so strongly, we believe it, too.Hardly a false note is rung in this spellbinding, electrifying movie.
    Everything feels authentic, not a show staged for the pursuit of
    Western dollars. (There cast is composed of mostly Indian actors, not
    ringer Americans with “Indian” accents.) Boyle’s commanding, sure hand
    tells the dual stories of Jamal’s upbringing and his time on the game
    show, bringing them both to the same - and powerfully emotional
    conclusion. Dry eyes are not likely in the final third of this movie.

83. crossbow0106 from United States Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Experience Is Everything..But

    Having read about all the critics falling over themselves praising this
    film, I thought I would be greatly entertained. I was, but only mildly.
    The story of a contestant on "Millionaire" whose knowledge all stems
    from experiences in his life is a great idea, but by the end of the
    film I just did not care enough about him to see whether he would take
    the prize or not. I don't think Jamal's character is particularly
    sympathetic or likable enough for me to be behind him. The relationship
    with Latika was, to me, not explored all that well. I was in a theater
    with a fairly sizable audience and no one laughed. I shrugged my
    shoulders throughout. Well made as it is, it just didn't matter to me
    what happened to Jamal. Thats unfortunate. Thats why I recommend the
    film as a film that has merit in its execution but little merit in its
    characters. I wouldn't want to know anyone in this film. Thats why I
    didn't love it, only kind of liked it.

84. tjbibuld87 from United States Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Not just one of the best films of the year…One of the best films of all time

    I'm not going to talk about the originality of a gritty subject matter,
    or a love story, or a coming of age story. The late, great Joseph
    Campbell once said that we have only a finite pool of human stories to
    tell, and we continue to retell them throughout the ages. What makes a
    story truly unique is its telling through the eyes and experiences of
    particular generations. What I am going to talk about is this
    particular version of a love story, a slum story, a coming of age
    story, a story of fate, and a story of perseverance.Jamal Malik: the films hero, is the Indian Oliver Twist: A boy from
    such tragic and unfortunate circumstances, and yet at the same time so
    persevering, so pure of heart, you can't help but root for him. His
    love for an idealized fallen woman, is so chivalrously unwavering, that
    you cannot help but be overcome with such intense longing for its
    bittersweet culmination. The characters are so well developed, that the
    strong performances seem like hooks that immerse the audience deeper
    into the multi-sensory experience of this film.The genius of this film however, is in the method of its telling. It is
    an old story retold through the eyes of Jamal Malik and his
    experiences. The film's most creative points are in its narrative: its
    use of flashbacks, its editing, the seamless use of montage to mark the
    passage of time, its use of color and sound, and its ability to use all
    of these elements to create a dynamic film experience.I will also tell you precisely why this film will go down in history as
    one of the best ever made. It is an emotionally arresting modern fairy
    tale, that will obliterate every cynical cell in your body. (believe me
    I have MORE than my fair share of cynicism.) I find that this film
    takes you on a journey through tragedy and depravity, and shows you the
    only solution to enduring the barren landscape of this world. And that
    solution is through believing firmly in the human connections we make
    with one another. That despite the tragedies we endure, if we believe
    in love and those we love whole-heartedly, we can overcome anything.
    This is a film that shines a light on the parts of our soul that are
    called upon in hard times; a unifying factor that pervades us all. And
    THAT my friends, is what makes a GREAT film.Forget film to be what it often is: a tool to convey reality, to
    convince you of a story's believability. Instead remember that film is
    merely a medium through which truly beautiful art can be created.
    "Slumdog Millionaire" made a hopeless romantic out of me, and anyone
    who sees this film will not be able to help themselves but follow suit
    with me, and the throngs of fans who flock to see this film over and
    over again.

85. Rahul Prasad (maveric1974@yahoo.com) from Melbourne, Australia Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Re: Danny Boyle reinvents himself

    Just saw this at Cinema Nova and I was blown away..Love Danny's early
    work such as Shallow Grave and Trainspotting but wasn't the biggest fan
    of Sunshine or 28 days Later..This, however, was amazing..So rich in
    characterization..I'm Indian myself from Mumbai so watching this was
    nostalgia and also a sense of how much we have it good and we don't
    even it know it sometimes :-)The early childhood sequences with the two kids were awesome..Funny,
    poignant and sad..However, as is life in Mumbai, the kids were always
    smiling and they just get on with life..Because there just isn't any
    other alternative..All you can do is dream, and for some, their dreams
    do come true..Well realized movie and the cutting back and forth between the quiz
    show and the way Jamal knew the answers kept the suspense and the
    momentum going..The sights and the colors of Mumbai were amazing and
    the two leads, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto excelled, in particular, Dev
    Patel, who I thought was an absolute revelationIs this the best movie of the year come Oscar time as a lot of people
    are claiming it to be? One thing is for sure..This is absolutely the
    FEEL-GOOD movie of the holiday season..Take your friends or your
    partner or watch it with the whole family and you will come out feeling
    good about life and love and dare to dream

86. rmanory from Mid-West Says:
    December 14th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    An unbelievably believable film

    I agree with the writers of the previous comments.This is an
    unbelievable film, and what is unbelievable about it is that…it's
    believable. The movie describes the harsh life of misery in India's
    slums, the viciousness of those who benefit from this misery, and in
    this aspect it is very hard to watch. But, on the other hand, the movie
    has romance, real drama, true love, hope, and -of course- suspense. In
    short, it has the complete recipe for a good movie, while also drawing
    attention to issues such as India's slum children and Police brutality.
    However, Danny Boyle follows a tradition set by movies such as City of
    God, Totsi and others in depicting life in the slums. In this aspect
    this movie reminds one also of other big-city slums in the world,
    Central Station that takes place in Sao Paolo, Man of the Year (on the
    slums of Rio), Totsi (South Africa), and others. The topic is popular
    among filmmakers, and among these, Central Station and Totsi have won
    Academy Awards. I would expect Slumdog Millionaire to get not only a
    nomination, but also an award. The story is very good, the acting,
    direction and cinematography are also excellent and in all these
    aspects the movie is flawless. The only problem I had was with the
    sound, it was excessively loud for the small theater I watched the
    movie in.

87. raven1-1 from United States Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Very well written, directed and acted movie

    The best movie I saw this year. Unbelievable scenes of poverty, yet
    life is growing out of it as flower in the desert. The story blossoms
    into a beautiful love story, with pretty people. The protagonist is a
    lost boy, who keeps his innocent honesty throughout the movie. It opens
    your heart.Also it is interesting to see modern day India. It seems like an
    amazing country with many contrasts. The audience didn't move after the movie ended. We all needed time to
    release emotions and get back to reality. It made me appreciate my life and the place I live. However, happiness
    is everywhere.

88. Clayton Davis (Claytondavis@awardscircuit.com) from New Jersey Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the best pictures in ages…

    Truly deserving of all the praise its receiving, Slumdog Millionaire is
    the best film in years. Director Danny Boyle completely outdid himself
    with this touching tale Jamal Malik, a "slumdog" who makes it to the
    final question of the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a
    Millionaire?" When he is suspected of cheating, he explains his
    extraordinary tale of how he knows each answer.Dev Patel in a terrific breakthrough role, gives a daring and emotional
    performance as Jamal. Freida Pinto stars as his love Latika, and as
    beautiful as she is, the role doesn't demand too much of her.Cinematography is the chief technical point of the film with crisp
    editing, a score to die for, and an amazing story that you couldn't
    believe it true unless you witnessed. This might be, (in my humble
    opinion) the best love story of the last 25 years and definitely the
    best picture of the year.****/****

89. karlosfandango from Stevenage, United Kingdom Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Highly recommended.

    I didn't have high expectations about this movie even though it was
    directed by Danny Boyle. I saw a screening at my local cinema, and to
    be honest most screenings I have seen there have been a waste of time.
    I watched the trailer before going but was still not sure what to
    expect. Well, I can report that this movie was everything you want from
    a film and more. The storyline was different from any other movie I
    have seen and it was cleverly pieced together in flashbacks that are
    all relevant to the main theme. All the characters were believable and
    likable(especially the two main characters) or dislike-able as they
    were meant to be and the ending was neither twisty nor a foregone
    conclusion. It also showed India as it really is(I have been there)
    which for some I think will be shocking. In fact everybody in the
    cinema stayed until the credits had finished and unusually people were
    not speaking when they left? I would describe it as a Guy
    Ritchie-Bollywood movie! All in all this movie was a roller-coaster
    ride of emotions and I defy anybody not to be moved, or not enjoy it.

90. nehpetstephen from Washington, DC Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    A gritty fantasy

    Fairy tales have always been pretty bleak, I think because you need a
    grim landscape from which the goodness can emerge. Morality and virtue
    aren't that interesting if there's no evil to oppose them. Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is a Dickensian fable where a huge
    portion of predestined luck, an underdog commitment to always doing
    right, and an ability to suffer the system and make it work allows
    impoverished orphan Jamal Malik (newcomer Dev Patel) to rise above his
    brutal, oppressive surroundings. More so than ever in Dickens, however,
    these surroundings are gritty, stark, and disturbing, with none of the
    comic caricature that surrounded the Scrooges and Fagins in his work.Of course, Boyle's no stranger to horrific morality tales–recall the
    eye-gougings and blood splatterings in 28 Days Later or the blue baby
    in Trainspotting. Nor is he unfamiliar with warmhearted family films,
    as Millions proved. Slumdog Millionaire mixes both, opening with the
    film's skinny, teenaged protagonist hanging by his wrists, soaked in
    sweat, about to be electrocuted by two spittle-spewing interrogators.Irfan Khan, as the head police inspector, is convinced that Jamal, an
    assistant at a call center whose primary job responsibility consists of
    serving out cups of chai, an orphan with no education, no fixed
    address, and no recorded background, has been cheating during the
    smash-hit game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" (the Indian
    version). Jealousy is a strong motivator; how could a poor urchin who's
    done nothing with his brain all his life be so close to earning so much
    money when doctors and lawyers and educated, wealthy people have all
    failed short? How could an Indian boy who doesn't know that Gandhi's
    face is on the 100 rupee bank note know that Benjamin Franklin is on an
    American 100 dollar bill?The bulk of the movie, of course, consists of flashbacks that reveal
    the twists of fate and important moments that have guided Jamal's
    tortuous, torturous life–rising literally from a cesspool, escaping
    with his brother and a pretty girl named Latika from a race riot that
    kills his mother, living in vast garbage heaps, panhandling on trains,
    perfecting con games, and falling prey to trustworthy, smooth-talking
    adults out to destroy their wards. India may be post-caste by the time
    of the film (in the late 90s through 2006), yet society seems bent on
    keeping the downcast down: Hindu racists storm Muslim slums, police
    target poor suspects, and an angel-faced savior toting ice cold Coca
    Cola recruits an army of ruthless eight-year-olds to serve as deformed
    panhandlers on tourist-busy boulevards. Some of the handicaps are
    easily faked; others he inflicts himself, since in this world "blind
    singers earn double." Money costs and you have to earn your pay, even
    arbitrarily. No boy singer gets money just for a beautiful voice; the
    eyes have to be taken first. Jamal can't just answer game show
    questions correctly. First his head must be violently ducked in a
    bucket of water.So when one of the giveaway first questions ponders India's national
    motto–"Truth alone triumphs"–Jamal falters. Lies and cons have saved
    him more than honesty, and having seen what he's seen he knows the
    reality behind "Money alone triumphs." He uses a lifeline and asks the
    audience, which overwhelmingly knows the answer despite his ignorance.
    Jamal's success depends on luck and true life experience, not anything
    he's read. His success is also independently won; when a trustworthy
    source offers him an opportunity to actually cheat, he struggles with
    his options, having learned long ago that in his India there are no
    trustworthy strangers.More interesting than the theme behind his rise on the show–that
    experience fosters a more worthwhile, meaningful, and memorable
    intelligence than a memorized education–is his reason for being on the
    show. Having never known the benefits of money yet having witnessed its
    destructive power in the life of his ladder-climbing gangster brother,
    Jamal doesn't particularly want the twenty million rupees he stands to
    win, probably doesn't even know what he'd do with it. What he desires
    is more human and more valuable–a chance to be seen by the love of his
    life, Latika, on the most-watched show in India. Fate has brought them
    together and torn them apart many times. Crime and money have cursed
    and fooled and abandoned both of them. With his shy face on the small
    screen long enough, he might just be able to reconnect with the only
    person he's always trusted, loved, and been able to depend on, the most
    beautiful girl he's ever seen, something her billionaire thug husband
    can acquire but never own, something unsullied by the filth and money
    surrounding everything.Jamal escapes his interrogation when the inspector realizes, "You can't
    be a liar. You're too truthful." Latika escapes her sexual hostage
    situation when an important friend realizes that more is at stake than
    sex and money. And in the end a Dickensian happy ending is earned. It's
    not one that's incredibly deep–all in all, Jamal and Latika hardly
    know each other beyond their faces–but its purity shines amongst all
    the grit.The final question is predictable to anyone paying attention to the
    details. What happens after the question is a touching surprise.Boyle has earned another success with a fast-paced, pleasurable, and
    meaningful story. Dev Patel's acting is solid as the skinny, cute
    underdog, always prepared for the attack but never quite knowing how to
    prevent it, staring at a bright world at once swathed in color and
    grime, soaked in a sun that illuminated while it swelters and blisters.
    The music by M.I.A. also adds a nice touch, with her songs that are
    simultaneously fun and serious.Slumdog Millionaire is a fable with messages and outcomes that are a
    little too good to be true and a little too sweet for the most cynical
    of us, but vivid, on-location shooting and top-notch direction add just
    the punch to make it rise above.

91. sdugar74-1 Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Again, who directed this Bollywood flick?

    I was ecstatic, elated, on cloud nine after coming out of the theater.
    What a Bollywood flick I just finished watching! But then I found
    myself in a confused state. Why revered film critics across the globe
    have showered so much accolades on this Bollywoodish make. I must be
    missing something. And I don't.The movie centers around tumultuous life of two boys, their journey
    from a Mumbai slum to two different worlds, dominated by corruption and
    adolescence like naiveté.The movie has all the elements of a Bollywood masala flick that is
    ridiculed by foreign and Indian media on a regular basis because of its
    filmsy, melodramatic, and often childish like treatment of any and
    every subject. THIS MOVIE IS NO EXCEPTION. Recall the following scenes from the movie:Two brothers, one treads the path of eternal honesty while the other
    ventures into the world of immorality. That reminds me of Deewaar
    (1975). I bet Mr. Danny Boyle must have taken few lessons of Bollywood
    movie-making from likes of Subhas Ghai, David Dhawan, Manmohan Desai
    etc. Come on Admit it.Then the love interest of the younger brother is found in Mumbai's red
    light areas? Reminds me of Sadak by Sanjay Dutta, among others. Damn
    it! It must be me. Danny simply imagined these stuff from his vast
    experience with Indian way of life and it has NOTHING to do with
    Bollywood masalas.Then recall the death scene of the older brother. That's a typical
    Indian death scene. The last scene where the male and female leads meet
    each other, are we watching a romantic Hindi flick?The script of the movie is filled with Mr. Boyle's faulty and
    nonsensical imaginations. Where the older kid gets the gun, suddenly?
    How these two most shabbily looking kids manage to check into an
    apparently five-star hotel? How come the older kid knows the address of
    the local mafia? There are many. What Mr. Boyle was thinking. Then there is efficient selling of world famous Indian poverty filled
    with filth and pain, and agony and all other stereotypical things that
    go well with Western view of any "third world countries". Ultimately
    Mr. Boyle dishes out a palatable Bollywood flick.If all these things were captured in celluloid by a NON-WHITE
    filmmaker, then western media would simply reject it straightaway. But
    this is not the case here. Its made by a WHITE filmmaker, for a WHITE
    audience who love those movies made on third world countries, which
    only reinforce their age-old ideas about India. I can bet that all the
    Bollywood directors are weeping in secret and thinking why can't I make
    such a terribly bad movie and garner all these international accolades.
    YOU CANT because you are not a white. As simple as that. So Mr Boyle thanks for selling India to the western world, making a
    cliché non-sense melodramatic movie and hiding behind neo-realism
    film-making shell and at the end of the day just pretend (when you will
    be receiving some filthy award) that you are such a genius. And for
    western film critics, you may have some knowledge of good films, but
    you are ultimately a White person, enjoying deep in heart the poverty
    of a developing world. What a nonsense.

92. Chad Shiira from Mililani, Hawaii Says:
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog atheist

    Jamal saw her first. Latika just showed up one day near the familial
    home like a hungry cat, a very wet cat. As the hard rain poured down on
    her, the young boy, grieving along with his older brother Salim over
    their dead mother, had the presence of mind to invite the drenched girl
    inside his house, and heart. As adults, Salim became a Muslim, but not
    Jamal, not after seeing his mother cut down by a mob of Muslim-hating
    Hindis. If Jamal became a Muslim, the Islamic faith would only stand in
    his way. Praise Latika, not Allah. To a self-righteous man, Latika is
    damaged goods. Sold into prostitution, the girl's formative years were
    spent in the company of men; she even slept with Salim. From Jamal's
    point of view, Latika is neither pure nor impure; no label of virgin
    nor whore to define her in patriarchal terms; no stigma. Since Jamal is
    godless, the harsh Islamic laws which subjugate women goes
    unacknowledged by the young man. To his religious older brother, her
    womanhood is spoiled; that's why Salim has no reservations about
    sleeping with Latika after they save her from prostitution; that's why
    he throws her back into sex slavery once he spends himself.Jamal loses her. He also severs the family line, and loses him.Jamal hatches a plan to get Latika's attention by appearing on "Who
    Wants to be a Milionaire?" The popular game show plays in the
    background during Jamal's reunion with Latika, who lives with a crime
    boss, Salim's employer. This mercenary finds cricket more interesting
    than the woman. Structured through a series of flashbacks, "Slumdog
    Millionaire" shows how Jamal acquires the basis for answering the
    host's questions, all of which are things that he knows. In one such
    sequence, the contestant remembers seeing the man who's the career
    leader in goals on Salim's employer's television screen. The correct
    answer is good for one million rupees. "Slumdog Millionaire" recalls an
    episode of the defunct NBC sitcom "Cheers", where Cliff Clavin, the
    erudite know-it-all mailman, makes an appearance on "Jeopardy" and has
    the good fortune of encountering categories that play into his
    wheelhouse("Civil Servants", "Stamps Around the World", "Celibacy").
    Since the questions being read by the show's host drives the narrative,
    some may argue that "Slumdog Millionaire" it much too paradigmatic for
    its own good: each Q & A composite just happens to push the story
    forward in linear fashion. While the story itself is formulaic, what we
    see while the story unravels; a privileged peek into the hard-luck
    lives of Mumbai Indians, more than offsets the inorganic plotting.To answer the final question, Jamal uses his lifeline. No other person
    for an Indian man is more important than his own brother. But that
    lifeline was cut long ago when Salim had sex with the fair figure of
    his idealized love. Instead, Latika becomes Salim's surrogate, which
    makes "Slumdog Millionaire" recognizable to a western audience, because
    in Islamic culture, men do not lean on women for support. On the matter
    of the question about the all-time scoring leader in cricket, the host
    tries to give Jamal the wrong answer, which cements our topsy-turvy
    feelings of defamiliarization we get from seeing an American
    institution being transferred to a foreign culture that his differing
    social norms. The host's attempt to railroad Jamal is a far cry from
    Robert Redford "Quiz Show", in which the producers of the game show
    "21" supplies Charles Van Doren(Ralph Fiennes) with the right answers. No god can tear this love apart. No god can debase Latika in Jamal's
    eyes. Love and money, not love of money, or a god, is what's important
    to these fated lovers when their lips, at long last, press together,
    outside the jurisdiction of the warring religions. "Slumdog
    Millionaire" quietly preaches secularism in a country where religion
    weighs heavily on its people.

93. Arun Jose Francis from United States Says:
    December 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Wonderful Movie

    Danny Boyle has depicted a beautiful story in this movie. This is a
    must watch. This movie is going to win laurel after laurel in coming
    Oscar awards. Listen to the background scores deeply and you will be
    able to appreciate one of the great talents named A.R.Rahman. Simon has
    written a well woven screenplay. The acting by everyone in this film is
    unbelievably natural.Danny Boyle suggested watching movies like Satya, Company and Black
    Friday from bollywood. Watch the movie Taare Zameen Par also, which is
    a great movie that came out of Bollywood this year. It is as good as
    Slumdog Millionaire.Don't miss these movies as they sure will take you to an altogether
    different world!!!

94. bradydanger from United States Says:
    December 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog Millionaire Helps Redefine Romance in Cinema

    The film Slumdog Millionaire is the latest feature film for the
    incredibly versatile director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days
    Later, Millions). In this film Boyle goes into the heart of Mumbai,
    India, as well as the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
    Through this he shows the story of a young boy, Jamal (played very well
    by the newcomer Dev Patel), growing up in the slums and his undying
    love for the girl of his dreams, his childhood friend Latika (played by
    the incredibly beautiful Frieda Pinto). At the film's onset we are
    immediately thrust into the crowded and fast paced slums through the
    beautiful directing of Boyle. He shows a young Jamal, along with his
    brother Salem and their cohorts, antagonizing a cop as he chases them
    through the streets. This scene plays out to Indian music and gives a
    true sense of what the slums entail. At the conclusion of the scene the
    camera goes through a series shots backing further and further up to
    show the true enormity of the slums. Through this it is clear that
    Boyle's directing would be the true marvel of the film The film
    simultaneously shows the upbringing of Jamal and his battle to prove
    his validity of winning the show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Jamal
    was accused of cheating on the show and needs to justify his answers to
    an investigative cop. It is shown that every question Jamal answered
    correctly on the show somehow correlated with an important event in his
    life. This is the unique part of the screenplay, because the story of
    Jamal's life and the investigation play out simultaneously. At times
    scripts such as this can become gimmicky and irrelevant to the plot.
    However, Slumdog Millionaire¸ does not suffer from this. The back and
    forth storytelling of the game show and the Jamal's upbringing helps us
    not only identify with Jamal as young man growing up in the slums, but
    also shows the importance of his present situation. The culmination of
    his life leads to the game show and it is clear that nothing is more
    important to Jamal than his present state. Through this style of the
    story telling, duality becomes a major theme in the film, the duality
    between the past and the present, the duality between the rich and the
    slums, the duality between love and money and duality between good and
    bad, which is showed through Jamal and his brother. While none of these
    are answered, the dichotomy of the each is presented and put in front
    of us as the viewer. It is through the themes of the film truly
    resonates. This unique screenplay couples perfectly with Boyle's directing. By
    making the film in this way it allows for duality to be stressed at
    every moment of the film. We are able to compare Jamal on the game
    show, to Jamal that grew up in the slums. Along with that, we are able
    to witness his motives for being on the game show. It becomes clear
    through the development of both his upbringing and his interrogation
    that the idea of the money actually matters very little to him. This
    allows Boyle to work within his full range of capabilities, because of
    his very scattered past of movies he is able to perfectly developed
    both equally important stories effective while also simultaneously.
    Ultimately it becomes clear through this plot device that the Jamal's
    motives are to impress the girl that he met in his childhood, that he
    loves. Throughout Jamal's life he crosses paths with Latika several
    times. Through these encounters Jamal finds out that Latika loves the
    show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" This is his main objective for
    getting on the show. It is clear that Jamal would do anything for
    Latika and the prize money from the show matters very little in
    comparison to the pursuit of love, and in turn Latika. The film
    concludes beautifully as Jamal must give the final answer and hope that
    his efforts will eventually lead him to her. Slumdog Millionaire is a
    beautiful and uplifting film that should be required of anyone that
    enjoys romance in cinema. It doesn't reinforce the same ideals we have
    become accustomed to seeing in typical romance films, it gives a new
    type of story of undying love. It is not sappy it is real. The passion
    of Jamal could be relatable to anyone who has been in love. Through
    Danny Boyle's camera the essence of the slums in Mumbai are masterfully
    captured while he also develops a cast of memorable characters. The
    film will certainly be up numerous awards in the upcoming season and
    should not be missed.

95. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy) from Memphis, Tennessee Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Slumdog Millionaire is the best 2008 sleeper film of the year

    (Synopsis) "Slumdog Millionaire" tells the life story of two orphan
    brothers, Jamal (Dev Patel) and Salim (Madhur Mittal), who grew up in
    the slums of Mumbai and Bombay, India. Jamal works as a chai wallah
    (tea boy) at a call center where he calls in and gets a chance to be a
    contestant on India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The uneducated
    Jamal is put in the hot seat to answer each question. While playing the
    game Jamal remembers the answer by having a flashback of his life. The
    show's host cannot believe how a street "slumdog" like Jamal can
    correctly answer all the questions. As the show breaks for the day with
    only one question left, the host gets the police to interrogate Jamal
    to find out how he is cheating. After being tortured by the police,
    Jamal explains the sequence of events from his life in which he learns
    the answers. Jamal is released in time to answer the final $1,000,000
    ($20,000,000 rupees) question.(My Comment) This is the 2008 sleeper film of the year that should win
    an Oscar for best film. The movie, describing the real India and the
    harsh life in India's slums, follows the life journey of three
    children, Jamal, Salim, and Latika (Freida Pinto), that is told through
    Jamal's eyes. These children lived in deplorable conditions growing up
    in abject poverty, crime, violence, also friendship, love, and hope. We
    get to see a slice-of-life that we really don't want to see; children
    living in squalor and adults taking advantage of them. However, all
    this will change if Jamal wins the TV game. If we played the
    Millionaire game, we would know the answers from what we learned in
    school, whereas, Jamal learned the answers from living a hard and
    eventful life. Jamal's flashbacks, revealing the details of Jamal's
    journey, are done in such a way that the film flows with ease. Stay
    through the closing credits and see the Bollywood dance number. This is
    one movie not to miss. (Celador Films, Run Time 2:00, Rated R) (10/10)

96. The_Half_Blood_Spy from United States Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    One of the most inspirational and beautiful stories ever told on film

    First off, you need to believe the hype surrounding this film. Whether
    it be one of the most gripping and heartwrenching stories ever shown on
    film, or the wonderful direction of Danny Boyle, everything you've
    heard about this film is true, as Slumdog Millionaire is not only one
    of the best films of the year, but one of the best I've ever seen.I've never been more sure of a film's greatness this quickly before.
    Even for my all time favorite films, it took a few viewings to make
    them my favorite. Not this one. The story behind this incredible
    journey is inspiring, as are the technical achievements of it. It's a
    capsule that will transport you into an entirely different culture, and
    give you an experience that should stick with you for a long time.For those that do not know, the film's plot follows Jamal Malik, who is
    one question away from winning the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be A
    Millionaire?". However, once he is suspected of cheating, Jamal uses
    his past as a "slumdog" to explain how he knows the answer to every
    question. What follows is easily the best story of 2008 on film, and it
    would be a crime to tell you any more.Though Slumdog Millionaire focuses on three characters in particular,
    it's hard to review all of the actors…Mostly because a grand total of
    NINE different actors portray each of the characters in total, three
    each for each time period. However, that doesn't stop Dev Patel from
    turning in an Oscar worthy performance as the oldest version of Jamal.
    His performance, as well as those of the other two boys who play Jamal,
    carve out one of the most likable characters you'll ever find, because
    of his perseverance, determination, and unwavering kindness. This is
    more of a case of an actor riding the coattails of such a well written
    character.Freida Pinto as the oldest version of Latika did a wonderful job in
    such a pivotal role despite limited screen time. She was a joy to
    watch, both from a movie goer's standpoint and a male's standpoint, as
    she's unbelievably gorgeous. There is no weak spot in the cast, right
    down to all the other actors who play the kids, as well as the adults
    in the film. It's one of the best ensembles of the year.Though Slumdog Millionaire is an "inspirational" movie, it is not
    without its darker themes, as it deals with deception, betrayal, and
    the brutality of living in the life that Jamal must lead. It's even
    more amazing how kind and caring Jamal is despite the environment the
    film takes place in.The awesome genre director Danny Boyle may already have his masterpiece
    with this film, and I really think he hasn't even hit his peak yet, as
    this would be tough to top. It takes a lot of ability to bring such a
    fine script to the screen without messing it up, but Boyle does a
    beautiful job with his vivid sets, as well as camera work that reminds
    me of his excellent film, "28 Days Later". Though this film is vastly
    different, they share the similar theme of survival, something that is
    a recurring theme in all of Boyle's films. He was already one of my
    favorite directors, but now he may be getting close to David Fincher
    for the top spot.As I've already said, the sets, camera work, and editing are all
    flawless, but I think it's the film's score that really sets the tone,
    as it flows so well with the setting, characters, and the story itself.
    This was part of the reason I was in tears at the end, which really
    doesn't happen to me all that often. Every aspect of the film is at
    such a high level that it all blends together perfectly to craft what
    may be the best movie of 2008.Slumdog Millionaire, in short, is a film that cannot be missed by
    anyone. It's an inspiring and beautiful story that will move anyone. I
    know it's already one of my favorites, and it may end up staying there
    for a very, very long time.

97. Patrick Goggins from Coconut Grove, FL Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Transportation by Film

    The film does transport you to the slums in India, in a very real way.
    The contrast between the poverty of the slums and the (relative)
    opulence in which the gangsters live is echoed by the (false) opulence
    of the game show.The major theme: "it is written" echoes the fatalistic Hindu theory of
    pre-destiny, while at the same time setting up the protagonist as a
    Christ figure – he's the only character in the film who is pure and
    good.Well written, well shot, and well cut, the film uses the traditional
    good-triumphs-over-evil theme as a template to view the religious and
    class tensions in modern-day India. And yes, Salim was right: India is
    a force to be reckoned with these days. It might behoove us Americans
    to get to know her.

98. Dylan Wilbur (gmdwilbur@gmail.com) from United States Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Terrible, Don't see this film, you have better things to do with your time.

    A film about a young boy in India who implausibly makes it all the way
    to the final round of India's version of "Who Wants to Be a
    Millionaire". It's not that he is a genius, it just so happens that the
    20 questions they ask him coincide with the 20 most important instances
    of his young life! The answers are so ingrained in him, that they are a
    part of his very being! From the religion that caused his mothers death
    to the song that almost made him blind, every question is a chance for
    us to revisit his life story and reveal the "heart wrenching" past that
    made this boy who he is. Oh, and did I mention that the questions also
    just happen to be in chronological order, so that we get his life story
    all neatly packed up in a coherent time line that builds to the end of
    the film? What genius writing this is…Don't ever see this movie, ever. Its not worth your time, not even for
    the ridiculously out of place dance sequence at the end of the film.
    The whole thing stinks of sub par writing and less than original
    film-making. The one semi-clever moment was the transition between
    young and older actors (which occurred when they fell off a train and
    were rolling in the dirt, with the camera rolling with them (Straight
    on close up, ala Requiem for a Dream (The bridge from summer to fall)
    or the old MTV show "Fear") they then emerge from the dust as their
    older selves. Clever. Sorta. At least I thought they handled it well.
    But the whole film is really a series of poorly connected events that
    are meant to give rise to this epic love story, which is highly
    implausible due to the fact that the boy and girl involved were around
    7 years old when they first met, but I guess it could happen. Really
    though, and this maybe due to the venue that I saw the film in, and the
    fact that I've been reading the "Stuff White People Like" by the guy at
    "http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/" (good stuff), the whole film feels
    like a chance for American and White audiences to feel cultured and
    understanding of those living in developing countries. Just look at the
    mise-en-scène of this boys past, which is filled with so much filth,
    dirt, and debris (at one point he even jumps into a vat of human feces
    so he can get an autograph of his favorite actor), that one couldn't
    help but root for him to succeed and conquer his troubled past, get the
    money, get the girl, and dance at the train station. The film is filled with hip and edgy montages (including a sequence set
    to that damned MIA song, you know the one, with the sound effects and
    stuff) that somehow allow the protagonists to get by with their
    miserable settings. In fact, these sequences are so bouncy and happy
    that they almost manage to portray their settings in a positive light.
    I suppose that its good to look for the positive, but how about a bit
    of realism for a change, a bit of truth of the cinema that shows the
    good and the bad. Because no matter how cool the music makes it look,
    fighting everyday for food and having to steal, and fight, and kill for
    your meals is not an existence to be envied. Did I mention that each
    setting that they exist in has a convenient mob of kids that are
    willing to make friends and strike a living together? It's just as
    great as Peter Pan and the lost Boy's out there! Who wouldn't want to
    join in on the fun? The energy of the film is terribly unbalanced, and
    I wonder if the book that it is based on "Q&A" is so one-sided in
    portraying the hardships of these kids. The worst part, if there even is one moment that warrants being put on
    top, was the fact that the films final climactic tension, the last bit
    of drama before we are released to the happy ending, was nothing more
    than the same tension one finds on an episode of "Who Wants To Be a
    Millionaire": Will he answer the question correctly? DOES HE KNOW THE
    ANSWER? OH MY GOD! I had almost hoped that the film would redeem its
    self with some crazy twist that requires the audience to revisit every
    sequence in the film to look for the hidden truth (there were some
    interrogation scenes that strongly reminded me of those from the "The
    Usual Suspects"), but no. Instead, our final moments of the film are to
    be left up to the same devices as a TV game show. Pathetic. Just
    Pathetic. Top it off with one terribly, terribly, corny (and cliché) final scene
    where the protagonist and the girl are reunited (He says: "It was
    destiny" She says: "Kiss Me") and you have your self the stuff to make
    soccer moms and teenage girls swoon. And this is supposed to be
    independent cinema? Looks and smells like Hollywood to me… Bottom line: 2/10 Don't see it, don't rent it, don't even watch it on
    TV. Unless you liked Twilight, then maybe you might find this film
    enjoyable. Otherwise, beware.

99. aurora7 from Montreal, Canada Says:
    December 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    An ode to humanity

    Danny Boyle does it again! While being grossly under-appreciated in
    Hollywood circles, this generation's answer to Frank Capra, Steven
    Spielberg and Francois Truffault has crafted yet another masterpiece
    for the Generations X and Y crowd, in the vein of "Trainspotting",
    "Millions" and "28 Days Later". With visuals reminiscent of "City of
    God", a soundtrack straight out of the hippest clubs of London and a
    tale which is both evocative of Charles Dickens (in it's depiction of
    the poor and the slums) and Sinclair Lewis (with his social commentary
    on "Progress" with a capital P), Boyle has finally brought India to
    mainstream Hollywood and North America. This film will become a
    historical document as Mumbai itself is the backdrop of the story and
    we witness the transformation of that city from 3rd world mega-city
    backwater, to being on the verge of becoming one of this century's
    financial and cultural hubs, along with Beijing and Dubai. As Asia
    takes center stage as it shakes off centuries of colonial-imposed self-
    doubt and lack of confidence, Boyle has masterfully delivered a
    narrative for the ages on the cost of progress, both morally and
    historically and on the redemptive power of true love. The cast of
    largely unknown actors were first-class with an exceptionally talented
    group of children. It may sound sad at first glance, a story about kids
    growing up in slums etc. but in actuality this is a film of exuberance,
    full of life, intensity and joy and to paraphrase Richard Corlis of
    Time, an ode to humanity. Don't wait for the DVD, see this on the big
    screen NOW! ( 10/10 )

100. Tyy Tad from United States Says:
     December 19th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Simply great.

     Slumdog Millionaire evoked every emotion for me in its two hour running
     time: I laughed great belly laughs, I jumped in fear at every moment of
     intense pain Jamal went through, I felt my heart pound furiously in
     anxiousness and, not surprising, I wept tears of sorrow and joy. I sat,
     legs crossed, looking at the screen in constant awe. If ever there was
     a film to watch in order to get away from your daily stress, Slumdog
     Millionaire is it.To say that it is a film is a great one to watch to get away from the
     troubles of your everyday life doesn't mean the film is a smooth
     sailing fairy tale. No, here is the story of Jamal, the kid who grew up
     in India with only his brother to get him through. Well, not just his
     brother. Jamal also stumbles on an orphan girl named Latika. From the
     first look that Jamal has for Latika we know what's going on — the
     love at first sight we see in every romance movie. This film isn't like
     any ordinary romance, however, and the love in the hearts of Jamal and
     Latika is not puppy love but rather a deep love that can't be hampered
     with an unnecessary sex scene between the two. We don't need to see the
     two make love to know that their feelings are strong — the way Jamal
     and Latika always look after each other and the way they both admit
     that they are destined to be together forever is more than enough to
     get the message across.Jamal's life story is told in flashbacks while he is held in custody by
     the authorities after they believe him to be cheating. You see, Jamal
     appeared on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and has
     won ten million rupees and was going for the final question worth
     twenty million rupees whenever the program ran out of time and he must
     finish the game on the next day. Authorities are puzzled that Jamal
     could make it to 16,000 rupees, much less ten million. Jamal did not
     cheat, however, and he simply knew the answers to all the questions.
     The reasons why Jamal would know answers like whose face is on a one
     hundred dollar American bill is directly related to situations that
     happened throughout his extraordinary life.I could go into more detail about the plot, but I won't, as I want you
     to watch the movie with the same about of prior knowledge that I did.
     Before seeing Slumdog Millionaire I had just watched the theatrical
     trailer and heard it was a human epic set in India. I could not word it
     better myself.The film impresses in all stretches. The acting is top notch, which is
     an accomplishment considering the actors are all young foreigners
     without much on their resume. If I were any one of them working on my
     resume, I'd put Slumdog Millionaire in a font size twice as large as
     anything else, and the title should be underlined, placed in italics
     and bolded. Critics are singling out the adult version of Jamal that
     appears on the game show and who tells his life story to the cops. This
     version of Jamal is played by Dev Patel. Remember that name, as I
     expect something of a long career out of the young actor based on this
     performance. Also breathtaking is the visual features that the film
     boasts. I don't recall seeing India in this light ever before in a
     film. There isn't an attempt to make the place look entirely beautiful.
     Sure, there are many beautiful places in India and the film isn't shy
     from showing, but much of the flashbacks take place in dumps and the
     hard streets. Still, even with much of the background being horrible
     living conditions, the film is never something that isn't beautiful to
     look at. From the high paced film editing to the contemporary
     cinematography to even the lively subtitles … it's all a visual
     treat.Some may argue that Slumdog Millionaire is predictable, that we know
     how it will end from the beginning. Honestly, the film doesn't have an
     ending that is unreasonable given the genre, but the lack of a fresh
     and new ending doesn't hinder the quality of the film one bit. The film
     is very old-fashioned in the way it is set up, as we don't look for
     surprises but instead we just look for a fascinating journey to go on.
     Credit director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy for taking
     the viewer on a heart warming journey, worthy of every smile and tear
     that theater patrons will feel while watching.Rating: **** out of ****

101. commandercool88 from United States Says:
     December 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A fairytale story you will never forget.

     'Slumdog Millionaire' is something of a miracle. In an industry where
     heartbreak and tragedy often rule out, here is a movie you can
     genuinely root for. One that hits all the right notes. Whatever you may
     take away from Danny Boyle's aesthetic journey through India, it will
     almost certainly leave you with a smile and sense of wonderment.Oddly enough, there isn't anything particularly groundbreaking about
     'Slumdog Millionaire'. It is in many ways a traditional rags to riches
     story, but told with such freshness and endearment that everything you
     see on-screen is exciting and unpredictable. A bizarre story, told
     through the eyes of a young man competing on India's version of 'Who
     Wants to Be a Millionaire'. One question away from the million dollar
     question, our main character Jamal is arrested and accused of cheating.
     He has, as time will soon show, become a national hero. Because Jamal
     does not come from a privileged background. He is, in fact, an orphan
     who has not had a proper education since he was a young boy. But there
     is an amazing story intertwined, and it's as dazzling as it is
     unforgettable.To prove his honesty, Jamal traces his steps back to the very
     beginning. He tells the story of his life, weaving in every question
     asked on the show and applying it to a life lived without any
     shortcuts. From innocence to maturity, and a never ending search for
     one girl's affection. We're given access to a side of India rarely seen
     by outsiders, as beautiful as it is impoverished. There is such passion
     behind Boyle's direction, an English filmmaker who has given us a very
     diverse collection of films throughout the years, and he presents us
     with a picture that desperately seeks for truth and greatness. A vision
     that affirms life around every corner even when encountering the lowest
     of lows.'Slumdog Millionaire' is the right film at the right time. It's an
     underdog story we can all cheer for, and one that has the awesome
     potential to move an entire audience. The film's cast, many characters
     are played by multiple actors as the years pass, all come together to
     form something very special. Dev Patel in particular, who plays our
     present day Jamal, is a great young talent who delivers a fine
     performance. And from its dizzying but fantastic editing to
     breathtaking cinematography, 'Slumdog Millionaire' is everything you
     could ask for in a film and then some. Nothing I say could possibly
     give a film like this justice, you simply have to experience it for
     yourself and witness the power. 'Slumdog Millionaire' is about as good
     as they come. A fairytale story you will never forget.More reviews:
     rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=219276&view=public

102. bjorkrazed from United States Says:
     December 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     "Doctors, lawyers never past 16,000 rupees… he's at 10 million. What can a slumdog possibly know?"

     "Slumdog Millionaire" In a time filled with economic worries, a
     feel-good film is certainly a vacation for viewers. Stylishly crafted,
     and deeply engaging, director Danny Boyle is triumphant in creating a
     crowd-pleasing fantasy. In his past, Boyle has assembled films like
     "Transpotting" and "28 Days Later", exemplifying his flexible abilities
     as a varied director. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a dazzling, original gem
     of a fantasy, marking Boyle a master of yet another genre.The film, while ultimately uplifting, can also surprise its audience
     with the brutality shown in the slums of Mumbai. Jamal Malik is a young
     boy forced to survive alone with only the companionship of his older
     brother. While working together to fight the elements of a
     poverty-stricken environment, the two eventually are pulled apart. An
     older Jamal is now a contestant on the Hindi version of game show "Who
     Wants To Be A Millionaire?". He's doing quite well for a slumdog,
     coming closer and closer to the top prize of 20 million rupees. The
     problem is doctors and lawyers couldn't get nearly as far. The
     authorities question him. Was he cheating? And so, the flow of the film
     is revealed to us. Jamal knows the answers through experiences in his
     past, in which he's constantly fought for the reunion of himself and a
     young beauty, Latika."Slumdog Millionaire" was immediately the center of Oscar buzz
     following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The
     hype is certifiably lived up to, with such a beautiful, intense and
     conclusively satisfying work of art. Dev Patel portrays the older Jamal
     with subtlety and passion. The actor is especially impressive given
     that "Slumdog" is his first feature film. He's only had experience on a
     British teen drama, "Skins".Boyle shoots the film with a clear motive. While telling the story of
     Jamal Malik and how destiny works in amazing ways, Boyle shows the
     conditions of some areas in India. The portrayal can be viewed as
     upsetting, but Boyle's interpretation suggests the people of those
     slums are happy in their home.Dramatic musical scores and clichéd tones are not to be found. Instead,
     the film uses a pulsey, imaginative score complete with unusual song
     choices. "Paper Planes", a chart-topping hit from British rapper M.I.A.
     fits the mood and story extremely well. Original songs "Jai Ho" and
     "O… Saya" flawlessly blend a mixture of Indian culture with
     innovative beats and sounds.A sure bet for the Best Picture Oscar, and also likely to go down as a
     classic, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a cinematic festivity. Once the end
     credits stop rolling, the film plants a seed in your head that can't go
     away easily. 4/4.

103. shariqq from United Arab Emirates Says:
     December 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A wonderful celebration of hope, destiny and Cinema.

     Once in a while you get to watch a movie like Slumdog Millionaire. A
     well-crafted, well-written tale of destiny and triumph, Danny Boyle and
     Lavena Tandon take us through three timelines simultaneously in Jamal
     Malik's journey from Dharavi's slums to the Hot Seat of the Indian
     version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?". Encountering a wave of
     colorful characters along the way and events that leave lasting
     imprints on his mind, Jamal eventually plays the game with one purpose
     - and it's not winning.Laced with a wonderful engaging soundtrack by A R Rehman, many scenes
     of young Jamal are presented with such charm and down-to-earth honesty
     that you start rooting for the protagonist early on. A few Bollywood
     actors fill in some of the supporting roles, notable Anil Kapoor, Irfan
     Khan and Mahesh Manjrekar, to bring added vibrancy to a movie set
     against and for the undying spirit of a city that's seen it all.Unfortunately, and in a bad choice by the makers, they have made the
     movie predominantly in the English language. Those familiar with the
     city, country or the culture will find it absurd that a boy from the
     slums speaks with a British accent, let alone that most of the other
     characters are conversing in English (the cop & his "havaldar" or the
     "bhai").This glaring issue aside, the movie succeeds on all accounts as a
     wonderful celebration of hope, destiny and definitely of Cinema.

104. rjyelverton from United States Says:
     December 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     "Slumdog" is visually stunning

     Sex. Love. Death. Fame. Violence. "Slumdog" tells an epic story of
     greed, love, and redemption in under two hours. With an impressionistic
     style and economic storytelling, director Danny Boyle has crafted a
     thoroughly romantic tale of treachery and longing. It's a Movie filled
     with larger than life Villains and a from the slums Hero trying to
     secure the treasure, win the princess, and vanquish the dragon. But
     it's also merely serviceable. A way to pass the time.While I didn't dislike the film, I think it falls short of the
     transcendence it wants to achieve. Boyle wants to create an old school
     love story with over-sized emotions that sweeps you up and leaves you
     high on its Movie Majesty and celebration of Love. (See also Baz
     Luhrmann.) Instead, I was left admiring Boyle's editing as the
     characters are too thin to leave an impression. Also, the motivations
     of the film's on again off again villain turn on a dime and wholly
     serve the script rendering him more a device than person. The movie
     will give you back what you put into it. An impression of transcendence
     will have to be supplied by the viewer because the filmmaker is too
     concerned with crafting a whizz bang movie machine.The film's first fifteen minutes or so are its most gripping. Slum
     dweller Jamal and his friends play cricket on a nearby airfield and are
     soon chased away angrily by club wielding cops on scooters. The flight
     of the slumdogs takes them across the roofs of a Mumbai slum while the
     screaming police pursue. It's a great, alive scene that gives us an
     immediate sense of place, poverty, and oppression. Jamal will soon meet
     the Girl who will become his Quest and repeatedly be hindered by his
     avaricious brother."Slumdog" consistently displays a dynamic visual sense, but leaves much
     to be desired in the storytelling department. Cynical? Maybe, but the
     characters are too thin and too motivated by the needs of script to
     move this viewer.

105. pravben-1 from United States Says:
     December 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant

     This is one of the best films I have seen. It would rank along with all
     time greats like Gandhi,Citizen Kane, Stalag 17. It is sure to win the
     Best Picture Award. Dev Patel's acting was superb. The kids were
     equally good. It is the first Bollywood like movie from the West.
     A.R.Rahman's music(remember the title score in Inside Man) is as usual,
     top class. That someone could think of making a movie using the
     Television millionaire show speaks of the amazing genius and creativity
     of the human mind. Mumbai's poverty, its misery and richness is
     exquisitely (if it be the right word) portrayed. The scene wherein Dev
     Patel picks choice D instead of B which the villaneous Sayed Jaffrey
     has hinted on the Bathroom is a masterpiece. It makes you sit up in
     your seat. A must see movie

106. ashmohan from United States Says:
     December 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     IMDb top 250??? really!!!!?

     OK. This is certainly a colossal waste of my time but I need my voice
     heard…but before that..Is there provision for me to get a refund?What a Long, Boring and Silly Bollywood Flick. Before I start, here are
     a few recommendations…1. Salaam Bombay (Go watch it!) 2. City of God (As pointed out by many
     here) 3. Kite RunnerSo there are parts of the movie that can be credited to the director
     esp. for getting great work out of the slum dwelling kids. The Music
     director (fyi: Bombay Dreams) is certainly well known in those parts of
     the world and being familiar with his work, the music was certainly not
     his best till date.-The director seems to want to showcase the flora and fauna of India
     and in a matter of minutes, there are camera shots of the hill stations
     in southern India to the desert in the western part - all on the same
     train?-The protagonist in the film, seems to have captured the attention of
     millions of people, yet after he has successful won the show, manages
     to sit at a train station - completely unnoticed?? Really? -The policeman sits in his vehicle, as someone stands in front burning?
     Huh - Am I to assume the impression is that somehow the law enforcement
     is to be played out as a joke?I am at a lack of words to express how silly this movie is! Go watch it
     if you still want to kill your brain cells. I am guilty of it.

107. TsarStepan from Astoria, New York Says:
     December 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Danny Boyle takes on the Indian trinity and delivers the year's best picture.

     Slumdog Millionaire is a cinematic typhoon of chaos, corruption,
     betrayal, chance, and romance. The foul world depicted in this film
     rivals the violence, the poverty, and the filth of another impoverished
     world, that of Fernando Meirelles and his magnum opus, City of God.Danny Boyle takes some great risks by making a movie in Hinglish, sans
     Hollywood stars, with a story revolving around a television game show
     of all things. But it works. This modern folktale works exquisitely.The cities of India depicted in Slumdog are Boyles's leading
     characters. Anthony Dod Mantle captures the light, the color, the dirt,
     and the energy of these antiheroes with an eye that doesn't flinch.Boyle does wonders with his amateur actors and his actors don't fail
     him. Dev Patel gives a notable performance as Jamel, who is the Indian
     trinity of pathos being an orphan, a Chai-wallah, and an untouchable.
     The Academy needs to take proper notice. Jamel's affection for Latika
     leads him through his odyssey that will go into the canon of great
     romance films, (Casablanca; The Princess Bride; The Constant Gardner;
     and The Fountain), where the hero sacrifices his freedom, his life, his
     honor, and his dignity for his love.Boyle takes the standard boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl,
     boy flirts with fate in order to get the girl formula and keeps the
     formula vivid and vital by amongst all things dowsing his protagonists
     in dirt, crap, and unbridled class prejudice. He does so not out of
     some kind of masochistic fervor held against his characters but out of
     deep respect for these spirited souls who will try and triumph at all
     cost.A warning must be given to those who are squeamish. Beware of several
     flinch worthy scenes: torture; violence against children; and one
     infamous crap scene for which I will not waste your time writing about
     as you probably already know about it.Best Motion Picture of the Year, (***); Performance by an Actor in a
     Supporting Role: Dev Patel; Achievement in Directing: Danny Boyle and
     Loveleen Tandan, (***); Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy, (***);
     Achievement in Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, (***); Original
     Score: A.R. Rahman; Achievement in Editing.

108. Willie-12 from United States Says:
     December 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A Masterpiece

     First, I want to say that I have waited two days to post this review.
     The reason I waited? I wanted to make sure that my feelings about this
     movie right after I saw it were genuine, and that I wasn't just caught
     up in the hype that surrounds this film. Slumdog Millionaire is a
     masterpiece, and quite simply one of the best movies I have seen in the
     last fifteen years. It is the ultimate story of hope and redemption,
     and it ends on a note so satisfying, that the only other movie I can
     even think of comparing it to (as far as satisfying endings are
     concerned) is The Shawshank Redemption. I don't know if Slumdog is as
     good as Shawshank, but I do know that it is pretty darn close. What's
     even more amazing is that I don't think I have ever heard of any of
     these actors, and yet all of them give powerful, compelling
     performances. Indeed, the only person's name I did recognize in the
     credits is Danny Boyle's. And what a movie Boyle has orchestrated here.
     It is my opinion that one could not ask for anything more from a movie
     than what is present in Slumdog. We have action, we have suspense, and
     we have loads of drama. There's tragedy, and there's triumph. It has a
     wonderfully written screenplay, and is edited in such a way that the
     pace of the film never slows down. I was so engrossed in this film, and
     the journey that is taken by the characters, that I honestly could not
     believe that I had sat in a theater for just over two hours. I know
     there will be naysayers here. But they will be few and far between.
     There will be cynics that complain about the unrealistic nature of the
     "coincidences," and there will be those who are unconvinced by the
     happy ending. But they will be a small minority. And they are entitled
     to their opinion. However, it is my opinion that if you love movies,
     and if you are looking for a powerful story about ordinary people
     surrounded by extraordinary circumstances, then you need to see this
     movie. Trust me. It is the type of cinematic experience that only comes
     around once in a great while.

109. takethecab from Australia Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Everyone involved in this production should be very proud…

     I just watched this yesterday with a friend and we were both baffled
     with just how amazing it was. This is one of those rare movies that
     inspires you. It follows the life of Jamal, his brother Salim and
     Jamal's true love Latika. All of these characters have suffered in
     their childhood and the movie shows how their troubles extend into
     their adult lives. It is a movie about survival, of love, of family and
     of fate. I thought the setting in India was very appropriate and
     moving- a lot of these issues are reality for many people- and I
     applaud Danny Boyle for bringing light to them. Slumdog Millionaire
     shows us how goodness can triumph and, at the expense of sounding
     clichéd, gives hope. Go see it, it will make you feel a mixture of
     sadness and happiness and you will not be bored for a second.

110. scchait from IL, USA Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     "Slumdog" beautifully bridges life in India and Western film

     It doesn't seem like a stretch to suggest that America might now be
     ready to embrace films in the style of India's Bollywood films. While
     "Slumdog Millionaire" is far from a Bollywood tragic love story filled
     with singing and dancing, the way director Danny Boyle will rivet
     audiences with his film that is authentic to Indian culture while using
     a distinctly Western style of film-making might be enough proof that
     there is a profit to be made here."Slumdog Millionaire" is a drama exposing the tragic effects of poverty
     in gigantic Indian cities like Mumbai that is also fused with a modern
     day Indian fairytale. Jamal Malik is a young man on India's "Who Wants
     to Be A Millionaire" and is a question away from one million dollars
     when he's arrested on suspicion of cheating. Because Jamal is from the
     slums of India and has no educational background, it seems entirely
     improbable if not impossible that Jamal could make it this far, but
     each question is connected with distinct and sometimes painful memories
     for Jamal. It's as if he is destined to win, even though he only went
     on the show to impress a girl he has loved his whole life, Latika.Danny Boyle ("28 Days Later," "Sunshine") takes us from memory to
     memory as Jamal advances question by question toward the million
     dollars. These memories offer vivid insight into poverty in India as
     well as the lives of Jamal, Latika and Jamal's older brother Salim. As
     children they are left parentless and taught how to swindle tourists,
     leading to lives of little fulfillment or even corruption. Despite
     being separated, Jamal and Latika are reunited several times and in
     fact Jamal's only motivation in life is his love for her.While the young, unknown, Indian actors are absolutely amazing in this
     film, the biggest kudos go to director Boyle, who creates an
     astonishing film. For Boyle to go from science fiction and zombie
     thrillers to taking on a project as daring and unusual as "Slumdog
     Millionaire" proves that he's not only a brave director, but a
     versatile one. His great success with making this film intense,
     eye-opening and full of heart all at the same time prove that he's also
     an incredible one. "Slumdog" is just the beginning for Boyle who might
     be one of the most progressive and talented directors working today.It's hard to be completely blown away by a film whose core message is
     about destiny and leans on the fact that Jamal is simply fated to do
     this well in explaining what has unfolded, but like any good film ought
     to, Boyle makes you a fan of the characters and not care as much about
     the logistics as you might normally do. The fact that this film starts
     out so dramatic and real makes it hard to embrace the fairytale it
     blossoms into, but it's the great visual storytelling along the way
     that makes it so enjoyable.

111. DJMo from Baltimore, MD Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     One of the best films of 2008

     Like a cross between 'City of God', 'Quiz Show', and hmm, 'The Usual
     Suspects', 'Slumdog Millionaire' is Danny Boyle's ('Trainspotting', '28
     Days Later') best film to date. Set in the slums of Mumbai, the story
     traces back through each successive game show question from Jamal
     Malik's (Dev Patel) tragic childhood in abject squalor, through his
     life as a teenager in the slums with his criminal-minded brother Salim
     (Madhur Mittal), and Jamal's pursuit of lifelong crush Latika (the
     incredibly beautiful Freida Pinto). It starts off auspiciously and ends
     somewhat conventionally and a little trite, but it's impossible in this
     case not to root for the underdog. The soundtrack features famed Indian
     producer A.R. Rahman and M.I.A.

112. tonymurphylee from USA Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     The most uplifting film of the year.

     This is the story of the journey of a boy becoming a man and what he
     will do to prove his love to the woman of his dreams. He gets on Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire, a show that she is fond of, and tries to win
     the top prize in rupees. His journey is not without a lot of pain and a
     lot of challenges. This was a surprisingly uplifting and beautiful
     film, which is a surprise considering how dark and intense it is in the
     earlier scenes in the film. While the film does have a lot of style in
     terms of music and color, the camera never stops moving. It is always
     very shaky and always cutting away. This helps to establish how intense
     the situations in the film are. The characters are all clearly defined
     and given a lot of personality and quality. Even the most minor of the
     characters are given plenty to work with. The film just bursts with
     life and with beauty and innocence and emotion. There are scenes of
     incredible clarity and power. This is, by far, Danny Boyle's most
     ambitious film yet! It's certainly not his best(in my opinion that
     would by Trainspotting) but it's one of his better films. It's easily
     the most accessible and the most enjoyable for most audiences. It's
     probably his most mainstream film. I have a feeling that this film was
     what he wanted A Life Less Ordinary to be like but at the time didn't
     have the money or ability to pull it off. Slumdog Millionaire is a
     success and it is a good movie. There are flaws, don't get me wrong.
     Some of the music doesn't work, the middle section of the film is
     surprisingly weak and confusing, there are too many unnecessary chase
     scenes and fight scenes, one of the characters does some really extreme
     things that seem out of the ordinary, and the film's editing can be to
     abrasive at times. Still, this film is fun, it's entertaining, and it's
     uplifting. This is the "feel good" movie of the year. See it, not
     because you want to but because you deserve to.

113. absyrd from United States Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Best Film of the Year

     When it comes to a film like Slumdog Millionaire, we're not watching
     for an end result, because we already know how it'll end. It's almost
     comforting, in a way, knowing the best will become of our characters.
     The film isn't about waiting for some sappy ending, but about building
     up and culminating a story to enthrall us till the end. And the journey
     found here is exhilarating. It tells a story that requires us to become
     a child once more to relate. We don't just sit back and watch, the tale
     evokes our own memories of grief, hope, and love in a way of contrast.
     You undergo a truly personal experience with this movie. None other
     this year has come close to the stirring magic this incites. It doesn't
     tell a love story, but rather a story of love, friendship, and destiny,
     tangled up in a web of poverty, greed, and deception. Simply beautiful,
     sad, inspirational, and brilliant film. Danny Boyle has outdone
     himself.

114. Chad Anderson (ande8162@umn.edu) from United States Says:
     December 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A fairytale for adults: $1 million solves all problems

     This is a great film, it pulses with life, music, and culture, but the
     majority of its greatness can be seen in the first hour. I tried my
     best to avoid the hype, maybe I waited too long, maybe I'm part of the
     'backlash,' but I would like to think this would have been my reaction
     even if I'd seen it sooner. The first half has it all. Laugh-out-loud
     comedy becomes devastating tragedy leading to grand adventure all
     across India. It's magic, you are right there in the slums, the game
     show set, the train, but the illusion begins to wear off at about
     midpoint as things begins to flow, inevitably, toward an ending where
     everything will come together and be right. Stories can do this while
     still maintaining tension, and the finale of this film does have its
     tense moments, but it also loses a lot of steam. I get that it's a
     fairytale, and this is one of the great modern day fairy tales of our
     time, but it's hard to relate to characters when they are just purely
     good or evil for the sake of being one or the other. The only character
     who struggles with this dichotomy is the older brother, Salim. For this
     reason he's the most interesting character, because he's the only
     unpredictable character. I couldn't stand the game show host. He was on
     the evil side of things, but I'm not sure why. Ultimately, I wanted to
     see an ending that could equal its beginning, but it didn't hit me like
     I wanted it to. The guy and girl love one another just because they do,
     regardless of knowing whether or not they share any interests or
     actually get along over an extended period of time.

115. jk8n from Virginia Says:
     December 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Extreme Cruelty

     I was really looking forward to this movie based on the reviews, and
     made my two teenage sons go with me. I had to leave after 30 minutes.
     It was so cruel and vicious I just couldn't sit through one more act of
     inhumanity against children. If you thought Trainspotting was rough to
     take, it's nothing compared to Slumdog Millionaire. I loved
     Trainspotting in spite of the violence, but this movie was just
     relentless. I've seen much more effective depictions of the
     victimization of children in India, and the civil war between Hindu and
     Muslim, without resorting to MTV-style artistic violence. Danny Boyle,
     the director of both films, did a masterful job of using violence to
     make his point in Trainspotting; in Slumdog Millionaire I wondered
     whether he was actually getting off on it. Unless you have a really
     strong stomach and don't have a problem watching children treated like
     cockroaches, give it a miss. I feel certain you won't be missing much.

116. kimmerie-1 from United States Says:
     December 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     You need a strong stomach and a strong heart for Slumdog Millionaire

     If you don't have a strong stomach, don't bother with Slumdog
     Millionaire. If you have a strong stomach AND a strong heart, this may
     be one of your favorite movies of 2008. It is now, one of mine.It's Christmas time in the cinema. All the good movies are out or
     coming out. Oscar is waiting in the wings for his darlings to embrace
     him.I am embracing Slumdog Millionaire. I have yet to see some of the top
     shelf films but at this point, I'd give this movie every award.Almost any movie that is shot in India is inevitably filled with color.
     (Think Monsoon Wedding) In Slumdog, the palette is oranges, reds,
     yellows and golds waving like fabric against cardboard and tin huts in
     the ghetto. Miles and miles of them.Clothes washing, bathing and swimming in polluted water. Shoeless,
     brown- skinned children chasing each other at the dump over mounds and
     mounds of garbage.Squalor like most westerners have never seen close up. Or at all.Slumdog Millionaire is about, Jamal, one of the unlucky boys who grew
     up in the Mumbai ghetto. Ghetto being a word too small to capture the
     vastness of this place. Early in the movie we witness the set up of the
     boy's life. Abject poverty, mother loss, he and his sometimes devious
     brother, Salim, ( I mean seriously devious) against the world.Then we fast forward to the miraculous event in the boy's life where he
     becomes a winning contestant on India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
     show. But, how is it possible that this "slumdog" young man who serves
     tea for a living can know all the show's answers?Swept away by thugs following his first night of winning, "authorities"
     try to beat an explanation out of him. He must be cheating.Here's the most masterful part of the movie. Jamal, who has been
     through way too much for this torture session to have much of an effect
     on him, takes his interrogators through horrendous episodes in his life
     where he lived the answers to the questions on "Millionaire."Superimposed in these scenes is the recurrent attention to a particular
     girl, Latika, to whom Jamal, is devoted since early childhood. It is
     this love, maybe the only constant in his life ,that provides the
     motivation that got him to the TV set and likely gave him a reason to
     live at all.The story is painful. There are a lot of scenes where I was forced to
     look away. But, the beauty of it is equally impactful. Upon leaving the
     theatre I felt myself exhale for the first time in nearly two hours and
     was exhausted from holding all of the muscles in my body in a vice
     grip.The characters are beautiful as children and as adults. The contrasting
     choice of paths chosen by the brothers, stunning. There's some basic good and evil stuff. Love conquering all. But, never
     did I think the messages were trite.It's how they're told that I find so remarkable.I probably won't be able to watch Slumdog Millionaire twice but I
     strongly urge you to see it once. It's storytelling at its very best.visit me at
     http://www.helpmewithmybook.com/blog. See you there!

117. Michael_Elliott from Louisville, KY Says:
     December 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Masterpiece

     Slumdog Millionaire (2008) **** (out of 4) The incredible story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) who grows up in the
     slums but gets a chance on India's version of 'Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire'. The only catch is that he isn't doing it for the money
     and his answers come from his own life experiences while searching for
     his one true love (Freida Pinto). I really wasn't sure what to expect
     walking into this film but it grabs you from the very first shot and
     not once lets go and in the end this turned out to be one of the most
     impressive films I've seen in many, many years. Perhaps if I thought a
     tad bit longer a title would come to my mind but as I'm sitting here
     writing this I really can't think of another film quite like this one.
     The movie works brilliantly as a love story. It works brilliantly as
     pure drama. It works brilliantly as a heart-pounding thriller. This
     film is so many things that it's really incredible that director Danny
     Boyle was able to handle all of it and deliver one of the most
     heartbreaking yet rewarding film in many years. The movie is told in an
     extremely fast paced and it's visually very stunning. The brilliant
     editing mixed with the cinematography and visionary music score makes
     for an amazing assault on our senses but it mixes so well with the love
     story that you can't help but feel everything that the hero is going
     through. What I loved most is that Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy
     could have played it safe and delivered a PG-13 love story but instead
     they wanted to show the viewer what the slums of India are like. We get
     a couple extremely violent scenes that are rather shocking and we get
     to see what poverty is like in this country. The way the children are
     abused might make some think twice when seeing them on the streets over
     there. The screenplay captures every note correctly in telling this
     story and Boyle's wonderful direction really brings it home nicely.
     Patel and Pinto do a masterful job in their performances as does Madhur
     Mittal who plays Jamal's older brother. The three of them work so
     incredibly well together that their performances help sell the story.
     The three of them are played by two sets of younger actors earlier in
     the film and these kids also deliver very strong performances. What's
     really amazing is that it seems the filmmaker's goals were met early on
     in the film yet they just kept climbing and climbing until they've
     reached something bigger. I'm still early on in my quest to watch the
     best reviewed movies of 2008 but I will be shocked if I come across a
     better film than this one.

118. uftguy9 from Canada Says:
     December 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Awesome

     Wow! this is one of the great movies. Bollywood was learn from this
     come and make something as creative and original as this movie. The
     acting as superb. The story line was superb. The direction was superb.
     This movie really shows what as great story can do. I also loved the
     songs in this movie.I loved the how they went back and forth between the quiz show and the
     story. I would have liked to see more of Salim's role. The first part
     of the movie was very emotional. Specially those blind kids. However,
     the scene in the Agra was pretty cool. Reminded me of my trip of IndiaGreat work!!

119. cthulhu-32 from United States Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Great except perhaps for certain viewers

     Appearing on India's version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, 18 year
     old Jamal is one step away from winning the grand prize of 20 million
     Rupees. Millionaire-style, a question is posed: How did he do it? A)
     He's lucky, B) He's a genius, C) He cheated, D) It is written… It quickly becomes clear that the host of the show and the local
     constabulary believe the answer is C. Jamal is a slumdog, perhaps a
     step or two above the Untouchables, but certainly not much more than
     that. How could such a cipher be the very first contestant in the
     history of the show to reach the final question? Impossible without
     illegal means, or is it? The movie then reverts largely to flashbacks
     of Jamal's life and his experiences with his brother Salim and soon
     their female compatriot Latika. We are introduced to Jamal and Salim as
     young boys, while Mumbai was still Bombay, and the review of the past
     continues to a time within months of Jamal's appearance on the show.
     Turns out, why he is on the show is about as important as how he has
     done so well… Slumdog Millionaire falls almost exactly in between Hollywood and
     Bollywood sensibilities. The run time of two hours is a bit long for
     Hollywood standards but short for Bollywood. While there are no true
     musical numbers (with the minor exception of the closing credits), the
     soundtrack is heavily featured (and was quite loud in the Arclight
     theatre where I saw it). The Bollywood chapter-like structure is in
     evidence but the pacing is far more Hollywood action/adventure. It is
     quite the unique creature and that, in itself, makes for interesting
     viewing.As to where the movie succeeds and falters, it is more of the former
     than the latter. Danny Boyle most definitely deserves consideration for
     Best Director this year. He sometimes dances close to the edge of music
     video cliché but manages to avoid triteness based upon the images and
     set pieces he selects. His rapid cut modes create exhilaration rather
     than confusion even when subtitles are required (during the scenes with
     the youngsters – apparently their English just wasn't sufficient). The
     acting, overall, is more than adequate, though in this regard, the
     movie might be benefiting from our lack of experience with Indian
     emotional expression and body language such that we have more
     difficulty judging realism; the few American/English tourist characters
     in the movie come off flat and lame, most likely purposefully but
     certainly not realistically. As with potentially the acting, the
     writing clearly does come off better in translation to a foreign
     tongue. With expectations dampened and exotica abounding, simplistic
     scenes absorb dramatic weight and play heftier than they would in the
     middling Hollywood fare they would normally inhabit. On the positive
     side, the script does manage the majority flashback structure well and
     rarely creates doubt as to where the story is at a given moment. The
     greatest weakness is the highly elementary fable plot but worse movies
     than this one have been forgiven for such things.When the movie was over, I thought it was one of the best movies I have
     seen in a long time, however, I am not sure this reaction should be
     taken for granted. My wife was, in fact, quite upset at the movie. The
     main thrust of her critique is valid, I believe, namely the movie does
     trade upon some pretty horrific events, many of which happen to
     children, in service of generating positive feelings in the audience.
     Obviously not the first movie to ever do this but, if one is sensitive
     to such things, this movie may not be "entertainment." Perhaps
     disturbingly, critics may be inured to such thinking and the average
     American film-goer may very well be less responsive to the suffering of
     alien others hence the almost universally positive reviews. Thus a
     caveat: if you are particularly sensitive to bad things happening to
     children or extreme poverty in general and you easily empathize across
     cultural lines, you may wish to think twice before committing to this
     film.

120. N Dasgupta (xbsd) from US Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     The masterpiece of masterpieces

     As others have noted, Slumdog Millionaire, is a very unconventional
     film about a young boy who grew up in the slums of Bombay/Mumbai and
     goes on to become a winner at the Indian version of Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire (Indian series title - Kaun Banega Crorepati). The movie
     touches on many subjects - the hindu-Muslim religious tension, the
     living condition in Mumbai slums, the abuse of young kids, child
     labour, the list goes on. Weaving all these unconnected themes into a
     movie is in itself a very difficult task, but Boyle seems to have not
     only woven them together, but he has done so remarkably well ! Jamal,
     the main character represents the "untouchable" in a typical Indian
     society. He lives in abject poverty in the dirt and filth of the slum,
     where life has little value and dwellers have almost no chance of
     earning a white collar job. When he finally makes it to the seat of the
     most popular show of India, the quizmaster parodies that a chaiwalla
     (tea boy) has made it to show like this. He makes fun of Jamal, often
     making stinging remarks about how a low class slumdog has foolishly
     aspired to become a millionaire. But, soon, the show takes a more
     serious turn as Jamal begins to answer the questions successfully.The story begins with Jamal sitting in the interrogation room, being
     tortured by police officers who suspect that his feat the night before
     at the show was attained through deceit. When all methods of torture
     fails, the head officer demands to know how Jamal knew the answers. To
     him, it seems impossible that a slum dweller could be so knowledgeable
     as to outshine the very learned Indian men and women. Jamal then
     proceeds to explain how he knew the answers, and how living the low
     life of a slumdog gave him the answers to all the questions. The movie
     matures with every explanation given by Jamal. This culminates into a
     wonderful story about love, hope, determination and the real side of
     life.I don't write reviews in general, and very few movies have made me sit
     up and make the effort of writing one. This movie belongs to the genre
     of Shawshank Redemption, of Crash, of City of God, of Cinema Paradiso,
     or of It's a beautiful life and it seems that the movie has taken the
     best of all of these masterpieces and molded the pieces together into a
     movie called Slumdog Millionaire.

121. Vaibhav Mishra from India Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Depiction of true India without Bias

     Excellent movie , and excellent depiction of how everything works here,
     the direction is marvelous , he doesn't introduce any kind of film
     element to hide what really goes down here without going to extreme
     details. All the actors seems to be natural, not actor but real human ,
     kids were marvelous , the most natural acting. hard lives of slum kids
     and country element make movie a perfect watch, natural speaking and
     natural expressions , everyone seems fantastic, Anil Kapoor was
     marvelous portraying Amitabh Bacchan's character of KBC's(Indian
     version of who want's to be a millionaire) host. Although sometimes
     background music doesn't seem so natural and seems to be the only week
     point of the movie but for me it's a perfect 10

122. Shivajyoti Kundu (shivajyotikundu@yahoo.co.in) from Kolkata, India Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     An awesome movie, based on true facts

     I didn't read Vikas Swarup's book, but I can tell you for certain, that
     this is one movie which you can see without reading the book and feel
     bad about it later. Slumdog is a refreshing movie, one which I for one
     hope will open the gates of Bollywood to the Western world, if it
     hasn't already. It shows the character of Mumbai, the heart of India,
     the financial hub. Starting from the communal riots to the life of
     poverty that is led by the homeless. The cruelty inflicted on them, the
     inhumanity makes your heart go out. The scene where young Jamal gets kicked in the face by the cab driver
     when he sees that his cab has been ransacked, and Jamal says,"You
     wanted to see the real India, this is it!!" What an ironic and true
     statement!!This movie apparently has all the qualities of a typical Bollywood
     flick, but yet so different. Firstly the excellent screenplay and
     casting of characters. The sequence of young Jamal explaining to the
     American couple about the Taj Mahal was hilarious. Also the scene when
     the evil Maman gouges the eye out of a boy, so that he can earn
     more,just because he has a special talent in singing.(Trust me folks,
     such things happen, and even more worse things too) You can shudder at
     the gore, and your heart will go out when a grown up Jamal sees him
     later and gives him the 100$ because he wants to, makes your heart go
     out to the poor kid.The casting, I felt was brilliant. Right from the young Jamal and Salim
     to the middle-aged Jamal and Salim, it was absolutely awesome, and
     Danny Boyle got the best out of both the actors. Of course Dev Patel,
     himself was brilliant as well, so was Anil Kapoor as the shrewd, evil
     host of the show. The film also has its bit for the Western Audience, and the ones who
     don't understand Hindi, in an innovative way of putting in subtitles.
     The music, is also too good. A.R. Rahman does it again, like he has
     done so many times, and an Oscar nod may be on its way, it was a long
     time coming. Not going to harp on the story, since the trailer pretty much gives you
     an idea about it. But I'll just sign off saying Kudos to Danny Boyle
     and the "Slumdog Millionaire" team for this wonderful movie.

123. eastbergholt2002 from United States Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant Movie

     I really enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire it is one of my favorite movies of
     2008. The story is well told and although you occasionally plumb
     emotional depths the film is not depressing. Danny Boyle directs the
     film brilliantly. The camera work and editing and very slick are make
     for a fast paced and visually stimulating movie.Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) serves coffee to call center workers in Mumbai
     and the film contains flashbacks to his awful childhood as an Indian
     street urchin. His life is precarious and he encounters a collection
     Dickensian grotesques. Despite his misfortunes Jamal remains positive
     and optimistic,which makes you care about his life will turn out. There
     are many humorous scenes which lighten the mood. By the end of the film
     you are glad you invested the time. Having spent a lot of time traveling around India, mostly staying at
     expensive hotels, I almost recognize the main characters in this film.
     Anytime I went out alone as a well dressed foreigner I was hustled by
     street people, who wanted my money. At the time, the lack of personal
     space was an annoying intrusion, but this film provides a fascinating
     insight into the lives of Indian street people. Highly recommended.

124. nikk1988 from India Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Uplifting but Simplistic

     I wanted to see this movie for ages seeing the hype it received in many
     international film festivals.And I must say, while not being exactly a
     letdown, it did not seem to quite justify the hype.The film is modern taken on the rags-to-riches story set in
     Bombay,India.The bad things about the story first: The film is very
     predictable,you can tell the whole story of the film in approximately
     10 mins.All the characters are either black or white,excepting the
     hero's brother.The climax was a let down,typical of bollywood films(a
     frantic climax where somehow everything becomes right!).And as an
     Indian, yes,i did find the part about "real America" offensive.Inspite of these faults,the film does strike a chord in one's heart.The
     cinematography is brilliant,the city of Bombay is presented in a whole
     new light,one can see beauty amidst squalor.A.R Rahman's music adds to
     the mood of the film.And finally,the movie is a triumph of human
     spirit,of fighting against the odds and yet surviving,and for
     projecting this superbly,this movie is worth a watch.No marks for
     plausibility though,but as the movie says " Some things are written,are
     meant to be".Go watch it,but put your cynical self to rest.All in all , i felt the movie was good but not worth all the Oscar hype
     it is getting.There are better movies coming out of bollywood then this
     movie

125. socact-1 from United States Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     How Expectations Affect a Film

     I went to see Slumdog Millionaire based on the words of countless
     critics, Top Ten Lists, and awards season rumors. Hailed as one of the
     best films of the year by virtually every news source in the U.S., I
     had to see what all the fuss was about. So I took my dad (a guy fairly
     opposed to subtitles and films with a budget under $100 million), and
     we saw this film the day before Christmas, when Hollywood releases its
     arsenal of heavy-hitting Oscar contenders.For me so far, 2008 seems to be the year of films not living up to
     expectations. Unfortunately, Slumdog Millionaire seemed to fit into
     this category, although this is not to say the film is a bad one. It
     has a compelling storyline, fantastic actors (young and old), adequate
     suspense, and compelling visuals. To elaborate, the story revolved
     around one boy's experience on India's version of Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire, whose success stems from a lifetime of struggle, betrayal,
     poverty, and death. The film follows Jamal, the contestant, in
     snapshots of his young life in Mumbai, from his childhood in the slums
     to his seat in the Millionaire studio. It is a riveting sequence of
     events, which both define and challenge Jamal as he grows from a young
     boy to a young man.At the center of the story is Jamal's relationship with his brother
     Salim and friend, Latika. He pursues her throughout the film, as she is
     lost and found, again and again. These three characters form the
     emotional center of the movie that culminates in the final scene, and
     for me at least, their chemistry held the story together. All of the
     actors playing Jamal, from age 5 through 18, depict a spirited,
     intelligent little boy whose innocence ebbs as the game show, and his
     childhood, progresses. It is a tragic, but powerful transformation.Danny Boyle strings the scenes together with emotion, sensuality, and
     an innovative soundtrack. He really drew me in to the setting, a
     difficult feat when trying to bridge American prosperity with Indian
     poverty (and I especially enjoyed the dig on American tourists). But
     this film could not have taken place anywhere else, which was
     especially poignant in the scenes of Mumbai's citizen's watching Jamal
     on television.Overall, Slumdog Millionaire was a solid film that offers a refreshing
     storyline, compelling young actors, and capable direction by Boyle. But
     I can't see it as an Oscar contender, perhaps for its lack of anything
     truly exceptional. In a year, though, of superhero franchises, tired
     sequels, and over-budget epics, I will gladly take a little film like
     this one that captivates the masses, as Jamal did, with its humility
     and simplicity.

126. oscarfanatic from United States Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Great little film, actually…

     Slumdog Millionaire is a very nice achievement by director Danny Boyle.
     Combinging the dirty slums of India with the roller-coaster of emotions
     that is "Who wants to be a millionaire?", Boyle gives an appreciative
     audience an experience not to be forgotten.Performances were solidly good, with props going specifically to Petal.
     He plays up the story and becomes a character that everyone can relate
     to. And the music in this movie? I mean… WOW. Amazing is all I can
     say. Simply amazing. "O Saya" and "Jai Ho" are two songs I would most
     definitely like to see around Oscar time. With it's euphoric ending and
     emotional weight, Slumdog succeeds on many different levels, making for
     a……. FRESH movie going experience.Now, do I think this is the best movie of the year? No. I think critics
     have done what they usually do and chosen a champion of the season to
     lavish everything on. 2008 has proved to be a very good year in film,
     and so with that in mind, I do think this will and should get a best
     picture nomination. Do I think it should win? Probably not. Would I be
     upset if it did? Never =]

127. lem82 from United States Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Best thus far, 2008

     Story telling is the original derivative of movies and is truly an art.
     The best stories and some the longest lasting stories of all time use
     elements of truth mixed with dazzling arrays of fancy. But without
     truth their would be no true emotion derived from the story, and with
     no emotion their is no connection. And you know what no connection
     leaves you with (just hang up a phone or have some one hang up on you)
     dead. This film grabs you from the beginning and you never want it to
     lose it's grip. It just seems to engage every inch of your being
     without defrauding you in any since. And while the story tetters on
     edge of reality and fancy you still tend to relate and connect
     throughout. The start with the children is just so engaging and focused
     that it makes you want to commission a miniseries if not a television
     series on the adventures of…their lives. And flashbacks really
     involve you in the story and the director allows you to relive along
     with the characters. And even as the children age and the story
     digresses along with the climatical scenes you still are so enthralled
     that you heart and head keeps telling the director not to slow done,
     and at least not to let up, and you hope for an ending with an
     screeching halt instead of a slow grind. But nevertheless all things
     must come to an end. I didn't enjoy how the second half was less
     effective than the first, but maybe that's how life is. Remember when
     you were a child life seemed so engaging and the days seemed to last
     forever, and the older you get the faster the days and time goes and
     less engaging and adventurous life seems. The director might be pushing
     this direction or maybe he just needed a correct way to end things. Top
     notch writing, directing, and acting. Even though I was disappointed
     with the lack of emotion or true drive from the Latika's character
     especially the aged leads. But spot on recreations and beautiful camera
     work. I only expected a seemingly better ending possibly less
     conclusive than live happily ever after with millions while your
     brother rots …but, hey hopefully the DVD has alternate endings. If it
     were my decision the academy would have an easy decision to make for
     major awards across the board, and the winner is Slumdog Millionaire,
     Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire!

128. sharbeen from India Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Dosage of goosebumps from the slums

     The reason, I got the hype for this movie in the first place is because
     of the man who composed the soundtrack, A.R. Rahman. But yet after
     viewing the things took beyond from where my hype began. From the story
     line, the script, choreography, screenplay to the way the music was
     arranged. Everything was flawless. What more amazed me where the young
     Jamal and Salim characters, those kids acted well and gave the natural
     Indian child feel from the slums. Danny, made sure even the small
     characters performed well and I was pretty amazed to see Anil Kapoor's
     acting as the host show for the Who Wants to be a millionaire in the
     movie. In the whole the movie is touching, inspiring and romantic. A
     must watch for every one - families, couples, etc. A movie with no flaw
     and an entertainer from the start till end, I give it a 10 on 10!

129. drvikramsamal from India Says:
     December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A gritty tale of rags to riches..Feel good cinema at its best..

     When you watch a highly acclaimed American movie then you expect
     nothing but the best and you are more hooked if its about India. But I
     held my apprehensions intact because I sincerely feel the Americans
     only love poor and hungry Indians fighting for survival..Look at past
     Oscar nods for Indian films(Salaam Bombay, Lagaan) the same aspect has
     been resplendent..Slumdog Millionaire is one of those films which deal with a very tried
     and tested formula but the way it has been dealt with is what makes it
     different..Its the story of rags to riches of a Slumdog(a boy brought
     up by the atrocities of a Slum and thereabouts), his grit, his head on
     take of adversities and the way he triumphs in the end..Its feel good
     cinema from start to finish and will put a smile on your face
     throughout and you would love to root for the "Slumdog"..The narrative and screenplay is what makes Slumdog Millionaire so
     different..Its a non linear interplexed way of story telling which
     basically revolves round the super success of a "Slumdog" in a reality
     game show and side effects thereof..But Slumdog Millionaire is the most
     realistic take on BPL India and no two ways about that..What astonishes
     me that an American director has put across a face so realistic of
     Indian poor diaspora which no Indian had ever managed to represent so
     convincingly and entertainingly..Dev Patel the protagonist playing Jamal Malik is brilliant and the word
     doesn't exactly suffice..He is a revelation..He deserves all the
     accolades he is getting..The only problem I had with him is his British
     accent which actually sticks out sorely..Anil Kapoor is brilliant as
     well and I am happy to see him finally getting his due..Irrfan Khan and
     Frieda Pinto are good..But the scene stealers really are the kids who
     play the protagonists in their respective young ages..They are lovable
     and have been directed brilliantly..Danny Boyle who somewhat got lost after the similar gritty
     Trainspotting redeemed him self somewhat with Sunshine last year and
     with Slumdog Millionaire he proves that he is one of the very best in
     Hollywood..His thought provoking cinematography is brilliant and as
     previously mentioned he has managed the non-linear graph of the story
     quite brilliantly..And a special mention for A.R.Rehman who just makes Slumdog Millionaire
     a treat..Each and every interlude is just magnificent and so well
     thought about..Even the ringtone in the protagonist's mobile phone is
     excellent..A must watch and highly recommended but I just wish that Americans
     would look beyond the anorexic starving Indians and make a film on
     Indian glory and more so because our very own director are impotent
     enough to do that..Kudos to Boyle and wish him luck at Oscars..9.5/10.

130. (pat@globalxpres.com) from seattle Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Astonishing Film

     Astonishing is the only word for this film. I have been raving about
     this film to all my friends. I tell married men to take their wives to
     this film and win major bonus points. I totally disagree with the
     review that called this one of the five best of the year. To me it is
     one of the five best films of ALL TIME! The dramatic mechanism in this
     film is almost perfect. By that I mean the way the we are drawn into
     the plot of the total underdog winning all (classic theme) when he came
     from the Mumbai slums. The essence of good storytelling is the
     'believable coincidence" and this film has us believing. But more than
     that, to make a truly great, classic film you need dramatic scope and
     this is where this film exells. The emotions that are invoked are huge.
     Finally the visions and lessons of a civilization in transition (India)
     are very real. I was waiting for everyone to clap at the end of this
     film. They didn't, but I think it was simply because everyone has
     overwhelmed by this effect of the experience of this film. Slumdog
     Millionaire defines why film is a transformational medium.

131. sioenroux from United States Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Delightful pacing, an engaging emotional story and Dev Patel

     I hate to gush, especially when a movie hits the formulaic notes of
     sappy heartstring-pulling…but this one is worth it. Boyle moves beyond the formula — not a lot,
     but enough to keep you smiling and interested and saddened and
     everything else that comes with the story of one of the billion or so
     people from the world's slums. He has captured a gorgeous depiction of
     India and a lovely romance.There are some weak points: The romance is nearly entirely left up to
     the viewer to provide, unreasonable coincidences must be ignored, and
     the tragic but happy ending is obvious from very early on.There are worse flaws, though, and here, they make sense. This is a
     bigger-than-life picture befitting a bigger-than-life locale and paying
     homage to Indian cinema. The dance scene during the credits is a tiny
     added pleasure.Go see this to feel good and be entertained.

132. waynefeuer from United States Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Why all the questions about meaning?

     I saw this movie in St. Petersburg Florida on Monday, but live in
     Tampa. It was an incredible movie, perhaps the best I've seen this year
     and I see a lot of movies. (I mystery shop Muvico Theaters). I don't
     understand all the questions being posted about this feature. I'm
     speaking of the obvious line of questioning regarding motivation,
     Muslim references and the like. I'm not Muslim nor am I Christian nor
     am I from that part of the world and I think I got it! It is
     written…does that really need an explanation? Why are you all trying
     to make it REAL, it was a movie, its not meant to be plausible. What it
     did do was give us a glimpse at that part of the world and for a brief
     2 hours and 17 minutes allowed us to believe that sometimes, money
     isn't everything and love does conquer all.

133. Unborn P from United States Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Watch it at least once while you are still alive

     The movie has already earned a lot of praise,recognition and awards
     till now and hopefully will go a long way into becoming one of the most
     watched classics like 'GodFather','The Dark Knight',''Pulp
     Fiction',etc.Being from the city Mumbai around which most of the movie revolves I
     can relate to the kind of philosophy this movie follows. It has got a
     lot of dark and ugly moments. But behind or inspite of these horrible
     aspects of life there are certain light and beautiful elements and
     characters that when discovered give hope that survival is possible
     even in the most unreasonable conditions. This is what makes disgusting
     look surprisingly awesome at times like many of the scenes in this
     movie. One aspect of this movie is the literal story about a filthy and
     uneducated "Chaiwala" becoming a millionaire having to suffer an ordeal
     and his gruesome past with the lost love of his life. But there are
     many other aspects of this movie each telling their own story from the
     history of one of the toughest cities in the world to the scandals of
     child abuse and an apathetic system. In the midst of all of this you
     find the most unlikely thing called romance and its not as typical as
     your girl meets boy. The director has done a good job at keeping the story as real as
     possible although it is just a work of fiction. In a sense many of the
     things in the movie do happen in a non-glamorous way in a normal
     Mumbaiites life. He has offered a glimpse in the psyche of some of
     those devastated by the workings of this city. This movie's success
     belongs to Danny Boyle because of the way each of its crucial scenes
     have been dramatised.The actors look real too and apart from Anil Kapur and Irfann Khan,
     everyone is fresh in this movie. Most if not all have done a good job
     at depicting the directors vision. My only complain is that sometimes
     they do appear to be more sophisticated than the people whom they act
     as in the story the main reason being that English is largely used in
     this movie, understandably so to cater to international audiences. But I want to clarify that people in India do speak English although
     not the uneducated especially those living a low life. Being an Indian
     I found it distracting at times that the actors were speaking in
     English ever so often because we are not used to seeing a character of
     an Indian policeman or a gangster speaking it let alone being fluent.
     Also this movie is not about Mumbai or India in general because we have
     a vast culture and this is just a dark variation of it.Go ahead and watch this movie with or without expectations, you are
     going to be satisfied enough to watch it again some other time.

134. Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Absolute Best Film of the Year! The one you can't miss!

     Truthfully, I didn't want to spend a couple of hours in a movie theater
     on Christmas Day but my sister wanted to see this film. It was a
     remarkable experience because it far exceeded my expectations. The
     casting was perfect with three actors playing the main role of Jamal
     Malik who goes from the slums of India to possibly becoming the first
     person to win the grand prize in Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? In the
     beginning, he is suspected to have been caught cheating and is
     interrogated for the night quite harshly but it's nothing compared to
     his life. He works as a gopher for a telemarketing office in Mumbai
     which is India's Hollywood. There is a reason for everything and the
     film is well-thought out and executed to perfection. The young actor
     who plays Jamal is brilliant in the role. Everybody in the film really
     delivers as well as the thousands of extras. Of course, there are
     difficult scenes to watch but I won't go there and spoil it for those
     who haven't seen it. I can see why this film is a front-runner for the
     Oscars. It has everything going for it including a great cast, a great
     script, and directed brilliantly with the perfect edited portions.

135. AdnanZ from thecinemajournal.blogspot.com Says:
     December 25th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A crowd-pleasing masterpiece?

     The editing, digital cinematography, and Danny Boyle's direction (with
     co-director Loveleen Tandan) create a fascinating aesthetic which is
     perfect for the material. However, barely anyone (among the vast
     minority of people and critics who didn't care for this massively
     acclaimed film) is complaining about the film's technical virtues
     however, so how about all that contrived, sappy melodrama? To my surprise, "Slumdog Millionaire" is very tasteful in almost every
     respect. The romance scenes are either beautifully understated (most of
     the scenes with them as children/young teenagers, and a couple after
     that) or fantasy melodrama like much of the stuff near the end of the
     film (although the actual final pre-credit shot itself is again, a
     tender and beautiful moment). I have no issues with the fantasy
     melodrama however, because most of the film is done in that tone. Even
     the very realistic and brutally true-to-life scenes involving the raids
     of Muslim sections of the slums by Hindus, and the luring of children
     to a life of begging on the streets (for gangsters and criminals) in
     exchange for accommodation and food are done in a manner that is both
     tastefully evocative of reality while fitting in tone with much of the
     rest of the film, which has a more hopeful tone. It sounds improbable,
     but that's what the screenwriter and director(s) achieve here. The film
     doesn't strive for 'gritty realism', but everything in the film (yes,
     everything) is perfectly evocative of reality. The trouble with 'gritty
     realism' is that it often is gritty and hopeless in a way life rarely
     is to most of us, and is actually laughable if done wrong. Jamal's
     flashbacks to the begging end in misery, but before that we get the
     happiness and relief of slum life that these children felt. The raid is
     unrelentingly horrifying, but it is a haunting memory rather than
     something the film dwells on without stopping. The film also gives us
     scenes of comedic escapism which are still within the realm of
     plausibility as well. If you don't know the general plot by now, here it is: Jamal is a boy
     from the slums of Mumbai who has reached the final question on "Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire" against all odds. The film, through a plot
     device I won't reveal even though it's only a mild spoiler, reveals the
     sources of Jamal's knowledge of the answers to each question (except
     for the ones he doesn't know and guesses at/uses the lifelines for)
     through flashbacks to him throughout his childhood and teenage years.
     Here enter the accusations of the film's supposedly 'hilarious',
     'impossible', and 'dumb' contrivances. There's no way a chai wala knows
     the answers to those questions, and it's too convenient that he happens
     to have experienced something suitable for all those answers. I beg to
     differ. With a life like Jamal's (which is, believe it or not, being
     led right now by many children in India) I should hope that he gained
     at least that much knowledge. He didn't actually know the answers to
     every question, and on a game of both luck and knowledge it's entirely
     plausible to me that Jamal's game could actually happen. The only huge
     contrivance is the nature of the very last question and what happens
     when it's asked, but by then the movie had me in its grasp and the ploy
     worked. The fact that every member of the cast is absolutely excellent,
     including the child actors, doesn't hurt either. It sounds odd, but "Slumdog Millionaire" seemed to me like it found a
     way to combine a realist look at India (and, according to the Indian
     person with whom I attended the film, it is absolutely spot-on in
     almost every regard, and certainly doesn't contradict anything I saw
     during my short visit to India) and a romantic melodrama. The end
     result, with the screenplay that combines the drama, comedy, and
     thriller genres to great effect, is both an aesthetic triumph, and
     unlikely as it sounds, a crowd-pleasing masterpiece. Also, the music is
     brilliant, both the original score by the legendary A.R. Rahman and the
     excellent choices made when it comes to the pop music included in the
     film (though that is to be expected from a Danny Boyle film). As for
     those moaning about the love story, perhaps you have not found that
     person yet, get back to me when you do.

136. Jim-947 from Houston, Texas USA Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     This is an inspiring film.

     A young man, who grew up in a slum, is on one of those television shows
     where you answer questions to win a lot of money. After each win he has
     the option of quitting with what he has one or passing the money up for
     an opportunity to win more. He is a phenomenal success, although he
     does not seem to care whether he wins or loses.Through flashbacks the viewer learns about his growing up in a slum and
     of the suffering and degradation entailed in that. Some really terrible
     things happen to the characters in this tale.There is a love story. This movie has characters you come to care
     about. It is not like the soulless, puking garbage Hollywood keeps
     shoveling at us. It is a work of art. See it if you get the
     opportunity.

137. jakedilucia from New York City Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A Wonderfully Stylistic Love Story

     Danny Boyle has proved himself again and again as one of the most
     powerful men behind a camera. If Danny comes in contact with a
     fantastic script, the end result is nothing less than a masterpiece.
     Slumdog Millionaire is just that, a beautiful blend of visual style and
     fantastic story.The story is a wonderful puzzle. We follow the troubled life of
     protagonist Jamal, who is trying to prove that it was fate that he
     would do so well on a Hindi version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire",
     and not that he cheated.The film is told in a series of flashbacks and stories from Jamal's
     life. The questions on the game show relate to event that he has
     experienced, which executes the theme fate that is present throughout.
     "It is written". The events are often very tragic, sometimes comical,
     but always interesting. There is a great deal of tension in this film
     that keeps you glued to the screen.Often times, telling a story through flashbacks can be disorienting and
     even take a viewer out of the action. But with Slumdog Millionaire I
     found myself in a trance; captivated by the events and life of Jamal. I
     cannot stress enough how beautifully written the script was.Perhaps the most impressive aspect, however, is the beautiful style
     executed by Boyle and the camera crew. The cinematographer didn't hold
     back at all, and some of the shots in the film will take your breath
     away. Important and impressive compositions were frequent in Slumdog
     (not unlike a Spike Lee film, or something shot by Gregg Toland of
     Citizen Kane) and really marvelously mixed the modern edgy look with
     classic camera work.I give this film an 8.5 out of 10. I want to give it a 10, but that
     might because I'm still sort of 'high' from just recently experiencing
     it.Go see this movie.

138. the_rattlesnake25 from Sheffield, UK Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     "If you get the answer wrong Jamal, you lose everything."

     Danny Boyle is back behind the camera with a change of scenery and a
     story of one slumdog's rise from nothing to something in the blink of
     an eye on the Hindi version of 'Who Wants To Be Millionaire'. Nobody
     believes what is happening, not the presenter, nor the police, however
     as Jamal Malik continues to defy convention by getting question after
     question right, we are not only watching a potential millionaire in the
     works, but are also thrown into the distant journey of his past. With
     one question separating Jamal from an astounding 20 million rupees, one
     question remains; why is Jamal really on the show? 'Slumdog
     Millionaire' is a story of love, life, family, poverty and ultimately
     one man's rise from the foundations of dirt to the creation of gold
     through life itself. In a world where wealth can be won in an instant,
     it is only those who strive for the inspiration and delve into their
     own determined mind that can achieve this, which Jamal is, an underdog.
     And we all know how much we love to connect-to and adopt an underdog no
     matter whom, why or where he or she is.From the first scenes where we see Jamal being tortured in the Police
     Station as he is held in the same contempt as a common thief to the
     final suspense fuelled moment, Danny Boyle manages to tug on every
     heart string available to viewer all at a swift pace. From
     heart-warming entertaining scenes, such as when Jamal and his brother
     Salim pretend to be Taj Mahal tour guides to the foreign tourists, we
     are juggernauted and catapulted into the emotional opposite with Jamal
     constantly fighting the demons keeping him apart from the only girl
     that brings to a smile away. It is this constant emotional battle that
     keeps our eyes open and our mind ticking. Why? Because we simply want
     to know how Jamal got there and where he is now headed.Danny Boyle is almost flawless in his melodramatic direction of
     'Slumdog'; he allows the film to build without ever dragging out a
     section of the film to the point where you wish Jamal would stop
     'reminiscing'. However I mustn't overlook the other technical and
     stylistic aspects which allowed this film to flourish, most importantly
     Anthony Mandle's beautiful cinematography of the various contrasting
     lands of India and Chris Dickens smoothly worked editing guarantee that
     the brilliantly written script from Simon Beaufoy flows effortlessly
     into creating a wonderful modern fairytale that will by the end make
     you laugh, smile or cry, or all three.When I first heard Danny Boyle, the director of Trainspotting, 28 Days
     Later and Sunshine among others, was attached to direct a Romantic
     Drama set within the deep confines of Indian culture and society, I
     laughed. However it's Boyle who is having the last laugh, as he has
     created a chilling, yet warm, frightening, yet uplifting film that
     touches upon pretty much every human emotional response available, but
     will definitely leave you exiting the cinema with one feeling fresh in
     your mind and your gut; that you have seen something special.

139. ani_tomcruise from Bangalore,India Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     This is India

     Ever go to a movie , whose story depicts the country you grew up in &
     squirmed in discomfort how awfully little they understand about it. I,
     after every such movie, used to wonder what do people really think
     about India ? Is this it ? How much of that glimmer of dignity is going
     to deteriorate after that movie ? . [ Temple of Doom & Octopussy got it
     Awfully Wrong . No, we NEVER ate brains ] Till now no one had ever
     thought of adding Danny Boyle, A.R.Rahman & a brilliant screenplay by
     Simon Beaufoy, who also wrote Full Monty by the way . And now that they
     have, they formed a combination with a Unique Universal Appeal .Jamal Malik, a Muslim former street child from Mumbai,leads us through
     the history of his short but full life . From Living on the trash
     heaps,to his place on the Hot Seat, but the ride is an exhilarating
     one. Born into a brutal existence , Jamal, a petty thief, impostor and
     survivor, mired in dire poverty, improvises his way up through the
     world , realizing gradually how every life's experience helps him at a
     crucial point . The film uses dazzling cinematography, breathless editing, driving
     music and headlong momentum to explode with narrative force, stirring
     in a romance at the same time. Danny Boyle combines the suspense of a
     great game show with the vision and energy of "City of God" and never
     stops sprinting.The Cast is Astounding . Perhaps the Best of 2008 .The
     kids were adorable little rascals. They'll be with you long after the
     movie is over. He makes Trainspotting , Shallow Grave , 28 Days Later . . . & now a
     power package of The Shawshank Redemption / Forrest Gump / Quiz Show /
     Pulp Fiction / The City of God. I'll VERY surprised if any other movie
     wins the Best Picture .One of the most upbeat stories about living in hell imaginable . This
     is a bright, cheery, hard-to-resist movie it's joyfulness evokes an
     honest cry from the heart about the human spirit.Gandhi & A Passage to India came quite close , but this movie just
     snatched the pure essence of India. Yes, this is how India was , this
     is how India is now & this is the movie you would want to see to get
     into the flesh of Being an Indian.Slumdog Millionaire is the PERFECT Fusion of Hollywood & Bollywood .I'm hoping for Best Picture, Best Director & Best Original Score at
     Oscars for this Phenomenon, though it could win others , but I feel it
     faces a stiff competition in both Best Adapted Screenplay & Best
     Cinematography with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. David Fincher
     also seems to be quite in form , Oscars will be very interesting !

140. vasant_6969 from India Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire a Pathway to Oscar ! A clear winner

     Excellent, superb, fantastic is the word that I wanna use for director
     Danny Boyle.This time he has picked up a completely different subject to portray
     unlike his previous films. While watching through the entire movie I
     was amazed how closely this person was able to capture small moments
     that mesmerizes our minds and stays on for a while. Great job done.
     Most of us were amazed and asking this question to me whether this
     movie was actually made by Danny Boyle or by some Indian director.
     Never ever throughout this movie you'll feel that this movie has been
     directed by a Hollywood director.The treatment and the feel of the movie was awesome. This one will not
     knock the doors for Oscar but would rather kick the doors and break it
     down until its open and I mean it. This is one movie which cannot go
     unnoticed. In my own words I see many shades of "Salaam Bombay" which
     earned India its 2nd Oscar nomination, but this was better than Salaam
     Bombay and even not as depressing as Salaam Bombay. It has fantastic
     and soothing ending unlike Salaam Bombay.Performance wise the heart and soul of the movie has to be the 2 small
     kids from the where the movie starts off, they were so natural and the
     best part was that they reminded us the actual 80's & 90's feel yet not
     depressing and it has its life on it own which is immortal.The movie has already been praised outside India. But I'm highly
     disappointed by the producers as its not been promoted in India to
     large extent which it surely deserves. This movie needs a high
     promotion just like Ghajini as it is the only best movie of 2008 if try
     to compare it with any movie that has released in 2008 so far.You'll have to watch it to believe. It's a lifetime experience.Watch it & enjoy it.

141. cinebuoy drowning from India Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     average but lacks Indian

     First of all this movie is a bit overrated according to me.This type of
     content was already handled by many Indian directors but was not gained
     this much of a hype. I would say that in my view Salaam Bombay was a
     much better film because it had a poignancy in it and also the music
     was pleasing. Since i am from India i really didn't like the characters
     speaking in English especially the leads (slumdogs).Music,Cinematography and editing are the three things which can create
     the mood. Here all the above three are westernized.I don't want to go
     deep into this movie and criticize thoroughly rather i would like to
     say that this movie is a poor slick flick about the poor which lacks
     true Indian emotions and Indian feel of the movie.

142. The_Discolored_Chameleon from Fraggle Rock Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A Magnificent Movie That Tells An Extraordinary Tale Of Survival, Courage, Integrity, Redemption and Above All, Love

     From start to end, I was mesmerized by 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I love
     Danny Boyle as a director. I loved his 'Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'
     and 'A Life Less Ordinary' which are films I can revisit and easily
     enjoy. Yet, I got much more from 'Slumdog Millionaire' than I expected.
     It is completely different from anything Boyle has done.The execution may at times very mildly remind one of 'Trainspotting'
     but this film is a lot more colourful. It stresses on the exoticness
     and cultural richness of India. The visuals are spectacular as there is
     plenty of detail and the shots are authentic. Boyle shows an impressive
     understanding of both life in the slums and streets and the modern
     Indian culture. I liked how the slums were filmed in a very genuine
     style rather than the 'pitiful dump inhabited by miserable savagelike
     people' as seen on the news channels. Boyle really balances the
     positive and the dark side. Even though little Jamal and Salim were
     slum-dwellers, they were shown to live a happy life with their mother.
     He also effectively portrays the harsh reality of life on the streets.
     The cinematography is fantastic and the editing is slick, while the
     film moves at a swift and steady pace maintaining the suspense and
     keeping the viewer engaged. The writing deserves mention as the
     characters are very well-etched, the dialogues are solid and the story
     itself is creative and fascinating.I would never have guessed that A.R. Rahman was responsible for the
     soundtrack. To me, it is entirely different from anything he's done. It
     boosts of energy. Think of adrenaline. Or think of oxygen supply to the
     blood. That's what the soundtrack is to the movie. Hope Rahman gets the
     long deserved international recognition for it.The acting is sublime. The child actors perform naturally and are
     outstanding, particularly those who play the youngest versions of
     Jamal, Salim and Latika. Dev Patel is good as the older Jamal.Freida
     Pinto is brilliant. It has been more than a decade since I've seen Anil
     Kapoor do any decent acting in any decent movie. Here, he seems to be
     back on track and delivers one of his best works (although he looks
     more like a drifter in a suit rather than a quiz-show host). Saurabh
     Shukla is getting typecast but he's effective and Irfan Khan shines
     once again.It's hard to define 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Is it a rags to rich story?
     Perhaps, but becoming rich was never the protagonist's goal. Is it a
     story of survival? Yes. A Story of love? Yes, the search of a lost
     love. A Comedy? Yes. Intense drama? Yes. Thriller? Yes…but forget
     about finding the answer to such questions because 'Slumdog
     Millionaire' is much more than one could describe in a paragraph. Watch
     for yourself and see. Many seem to label it as this year's 'Juno'
     (though I personally find 'Juno' overrated) and compare it to other
     great examples of cinema. However, I found it to be very much its own
     film. I would easily call it one of the best movies of recent times.
     Hope it gets all the acclaim and recognition it deserves. A must see
     for everybody.

143. wonder-32 from United States Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Excellent whether an Indian movie goer or otherwise

     This film offers something not seen on screen before now, a lovely
     presentation of fantasy and love mixed with the reality of slum living
     in India and the juxtapositions of democracy and criminality in local
     government.This might have been a Bollywood production with its moments of love
     and fantasy, the vibrant color.. The end dance with the film's cast and
     production crew is so lovely-genuinely Indian. I loved it and will
     continue to recommend it above all others this year including Milk and
     certainly above Doubt. I am not surprised that most viewers agreed with
     me if for different reasons.

144. anotes from United Kingdom Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Misleading marketing.

     Well, to start with, the English posters saying "The feel-good movie of
     the year" are not at all correct. Driven by them I went to see this
     movie expecting something like "Life less ordinary" set in India, but
     the only place I remember I laughed was the loo scene and even that was
     overshadowed almost instantly by the elder brother's behavior.So on my opinion, this movie is nearer to the City of God than to a
     feel good movie. It's not to much of a comedy, rather a bittersweet
     coming-of-age tale of an Indian boy (slumdog?).But I wouldn't say it's a bad movie, although for me it wasn't great
     either; I've found a lot of what I've seen before. (A bit like "21",
     after which I've felt that I've seen this movie before, if even not
     specifically in a Vegas setup.) Cinematography, direction is good;
     maybe not exceptional and the actors are good, believable. All in all,
     go, see the movie, but know what to expect.

145. Gerald Clare (gclare@charter.net) from San Luis Obispo, California Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant, beautiful, fascinating

     Yo Moviegoers, I just saw the best movie. Slumdog Millionaire. It's
     playing at the incomparable Palm Theatre. This is a fantastic romantic
     adventure.It tells a fascinating story of two brothers, Jamal & Salim from a slum
     in Mumbai, Bombay to y'all stuck in the 20th century. This is an epic
     that does not disappoint as it follows the boys and a girl they
     befriend.Jamal befriends and ultimately falls in love with Latika but life is
     not simple for orphans running loose in India and the kids have some
     serious scrapes. Jamal is on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire and how this uneducated slumdweller can answer the obscure
     questions is the spine of the plot.Powerful romance, action adventure, fascinating glimpses of an exotic
     culture, great story, beautiful photography and people. Ya gotta see
     Slumdog Millionaire, it is wonderful. It's at the Palm.This is 1340 KYNS

146. witster18 from United States Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     This is a great movie…. here's the problem with the detractors.

     Contains MIld Spoilers.Reading through the negative reviews I couldn't help but feel regret
     that those more associated with Indian culture have turned on this
     film. I can say that, personally, I can't speak with any knowledge of
     the subject(Indian Culture and History). I can only say that I don't
     believe that racial stereotypes were the focus of the director(s) and
     nor should they be the focus of the viewers. And it is important to
     note the Boyle doesn't claim to be an expert on India and that he
     employed the services of many to help him with this vision.However!<, I can say that I have seen over 10,000 films from many
     different countries including many from India and to say that Slumdog
     Millionaire DOESN't belong with some of the quality Indian films would
     be unfair. As for quality(cinematography, music, acting, etc), you
     would be HARD pressed to find better films than this in India or in
     America.Fact is, there are poverty stricken people in both countries that could
     end up in similar circumstances…. and to criticize this film for
     racial discrimination would be selling this movie short.Slumdog Millionaire is EASILY one of the years best. The film follows
     the life and struggles of two brothers. One of the finest aspects of
     the film is how Boyle and Co. found a group of young actors to play the
     roles of the brothers. So many times this shows the weaknesses of one
     group or another, but in Slumdog, they do an equally fine job in each
     segment of the characters' lives.Another unwarranted criticism of Slumdog concerns the plausibility of
     the film. To say that this could never happen would be like saying that
     no one ever hits the lottery. Sure, the chips rarely fall into place,
     but it happens none-the-less. How many times have you watched 'Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire' and just happened to know some of the huge
     dollar answers because of happenstance? It happens all the time. The
     smallest and least significant moments of our lives can be the most
     enlightening. You just never know when some piece of information you
     thought you'd never use will become useful.Jamal Malik perseveres because he's tough. He's been through so much
     that he's wiser…. smarter than he appears… an education outside of
     the realm of education. At one point in the film his rough childhood is
     the only reason he gets an answer right… It was a lesson about trust
     that he learned a long, long time ago. It marked one of many great
     moments in this film.Slumdog entertains from start to finish. At times it is hard to watch
     the violence towards the children in this film, but that violence is at
     the very center of the story. This is definitely not a children's film.
     The line from 'Shawshank Redemption' comes to mind… "Andy Dufresne
     crawled through a mile of the most God awful smell and came out clean
     on the other side"…. That is Slumdog in a nutshell. I loved this
     movie. They make movies about poverty, violence against children, and
     religious upheaval in America and England too. Remember that before you
     try to tear this apart for casting a dark light on Indian culture.
     Slumdog Millionaire is a huge success and deserves all the accolades it
     has received and then some. 9/10 92/100

147. ikanboy from United States Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A decent attempt for Bollywood to go Hollywood.

     Even though the movie is directed by a Brit, the movie still has it's
     roots set firmly in Bollywood. I don't know if it was intended for a
     wider western audience, but it was certainly intended to appeal
     primarily to it's base: the Indians. All of the usual Bollywood touches
     are there; the soap operatic drama, the manufactured tension, the boy
     gets/loses/searches for girl, and of course the dramatic ending, where
     hero wins both fame, fortune, and the girl. Unfortunately what is also
     there is the unsophisticated/adolescent populist tone of most Bollywood
     movies. But fortunately we get spared the dragged out musical number.
     Or perhaps, for western audiences it was expunged!The idea is fascinating. Put a boy from Mumbai's slums and have him
     become an overnight sensation on the Indian version of "who wants to be
     a millionaire." How does he know so much trivia? For every question we
     see something in his harder than hard scrabble life that has given him
     the answer, and which he has retained. The death of his mother to anti
     Muslim mobs; the stint in a beggars prep school run by asocial thugs -
     shades of Fagan and Twist; the growth of his brother from street gamin
     to mobster gunsel.The view of life in the slums goes from depressing to horrific, and
     while one brother Jamal stays centered to a basic morality, his
     brother, more unstable from the start, sheds his street punk facade for
     the big time, and sheds his brother (and steals his girl) in the
     process.What doesn't work is the host of the TV show. A self serving, preening,
     ambitious, hollow character, who acts more as a cattle prod than an MC.
     What definitely doesn't work is the way he decides to find out how the
     boy knows the answers. This may play in Mumbai but it ain't going to
     play in the west, where TV hosts who project their insecurities out on
     the contestants sadistically don't survive. Arrogant pricks, sure, but
     sociopaths? Will he answer the final question? That one question we
     know will be asked, because they give us several hints early on. Who
     will he call as his "phone a friend?" Here the movie separates itself
     from the well known rules of the show. Those who are "friends" are
     holed up somewhere next to a phone, and a computer, and probably a
     gaggle of helpers, not, as in this movie, at the end of a cell phone
     whose owner doesn't even know she/he's being called. And the final
     question? In the US or Europe it would go for a third of the price.

148. shivasparksuoff Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     "Awesome" manifested!

     In the past 2 days I have watched this movie 3 times. Its such a simple
     yet intriguing film. Danny Boyle and his team has shown the difference
     between the rich "have" India and the poor "have-not" India in a way
     that can inspire awe in the biggest of the Indian directors, who till
     now have never portrayed something like this with such beauty. Everyone
     in India can identify with the characters in the film. Be it the beggar
     syndicate, the thugs or Jamaal.Resplendent!!Perfect direction, perfect
     star cast, perfect music.I wish Danny Boyle and his team best wishes
     for the Oscars. To choose between Slumdog and Dark Knight is a
     consternation inevitable.Best of luck Danny and thank you for this
     beautiful film.

149. griffolyon12 from United States Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Danny Boyle's Best Film to Date!

     Slumdog Millionaire is one of those rare films that comes along every
     once in a while that is simply breathtaking, and it achieves this
     status not through big flashy special effects or massive Hollywood set
     pieces, but rather through its unique direction, superb writing,
     amazing acting, and genuine heart.Slumdog Millionaire is the story of a young man named Jamal who grew up
     in the slums of India. Jamal has found his way onto India's version of
     "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". The story starts, Jamal is only one
     question away from winning the jackpot, 20 million rupees, but the show
     ends shortly before he can get to the final question, so he must wait
     until the next episode to finish his run. After leaving the show, Jamal
     is kidnapped by the Indian police and is accused of cheating. Through
     his interrogation, Jamal describes in flashbacks just how he knew all
     of the various answers to the questions from different points in his
     life, as well we end up learning why he even went on the show in the
     first place.This film is quite easily Danny Boyle's best film of his career thus
     far. It has all of his usual trademarks that you expect from his
     directing, but it has something more that many of his previous films
     did not have, a true heart. That's right, Slumdog Millionaire is one of
     the most heartfelt films I have seen in years, and Danny Boyle's
     kinetic direction keeps the film rolling at a terrific pace, while
     never forsaking the true heart of the story.The film as well features terrific acting from all of its cast,
     especially Dev Patel who plays the oldest incarnation of Jamal. Also
     the film's script, written by Full Monty scribe Simon Beaufoy, is
     simply marvelous and is one of the best written scripts I have seen in
     a long time.To sum it all up, Slumdog Millionaire is easily one of the best films I
     have seen in a while. It is Oscar worthy in every single sense. If you
     see just one more film this year, make sure that it is Slumdog
     Millionaire, you will not regret it.I give Slumdog Millionaire a perfect 10 out of 10!

150. televisionando from Brazil Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Just a poor piece of film-making

     So is this the movie they are predicting to win the Oscar for Best
     Picure? Oh please.I am from Brazil, and I am truly familiar with City of God. I've seen
     it five times. I know almost every frame of it. This movie is a lame,
     poorly acted, awfully written, copy of City of God. It does look like a
     vivid piece of film-making. But it ain't. The main idea is: how does a guy know every answer on Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire? Wow. Did some kid thought of it when he came back from
     school and Who Wants to be a Millionaire was playing on TV? That's when
     the City of God concepts come in. The cinematography has no concept but
     to look great. In five minutes, we are already exposed to aesthetically
     self-complimentary situations that look awesome, but more than that,
     artsy. And that's the worst part. There's no art in this movie. There
     is no good story. You are caught up in a seducing empty piece of
     film-making. If you don't watch out, the movie ends (and when it ends
     it changes from Who Wants to be a Millionaire to High School Musical -
     really) and you may be loving it.It may sound silly, but there are frames here that are exactly like
     City of God. But that movie was an honestly Brazilian soulful portrait
     of the bad side of a Third World country. Slumdog Millionaire is pretty
     generic. As a Brazilian, I would have thought the story was taking
     place in Brazil if not for the language and soundtrack. But here's the
     thing: I believe it wanted to be the least original possible, so it
     wouldn't harm. Poverty is sad, but there is not a moment where sadness
     settles in here. The glamour it gives to the narrative is morally
     wrong, I personally think. The actors have familiar faces, the kids look cute - where is the
     cultural shock here? It's pretty much an American commercial movie,
     when all is said and done. Subtitles look colorful, so they don't
     really look like subtitles - poor American viewers can't read them if
     they are simply subtitles. And English is always there - the language
     itself, the dollar bill, the American tourists. I have not read the
     book that originated this movie, "Q&A," but I bet it feels more Indian
     than the movie.Now, back to Oscar talk - is that the message Academy members want to
     send foreign filmmakers? That your movie will be accepted by us if it
     only looks bold and daring, but without really being such things? Oh
     please.

151. woodywp-1 from Austria Says:
     December 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Don't believe the hype!

     While "Slumdog Millionaire" features amiable characters - one really
     cares about the three little kids - its story is not very original.
     There are no real surprises in this movie, which is - for me - Danny
     Boyles weakest outing. "Shallow Grave", "Trainspotting", "The Island",
     "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine" were much stronger movies - visually
     richer, better paced and more entertaining - in every aspect. Wanna see
     a real good movie about slums? Watch "City of God"! The main problem of
     "Slumdog Millionaire" is its weak script, which doesn't offer a single
     scene one hasn't seen in other variations before. Killing off the
     interesting villain ("Maman") in the first hour of the movie, only to
     replace him with a totally cliché gangster boss in the second hour, was
     also not a very sound decision.

152. Philby-3 from Sydney, Australia Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Colorful saga from a fast-changing land

     Danny Boyle is a versatile director, having done productions as diverse
     as Inspector Morse episodes, the mordant comedy-drama "Shallow Grave",
     a celebration of the junkie lifestyle in "Trainspotting, misadventures
     on the hippie trail in "The Beach", plausible science fiction in
     "Sunshine" and this colorful Indian romantic fable based on Vikas
     Swarup's novel "Q&A". It's Bollywood meets Hollywood all right, but
     there's also a little of the British Ealing comedy in it, where the
     good little guy takes on the bad establishment. He does so as a
     contestant in the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire".A cynic might say that all we have here is another way to exploit the
     "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" franchise, since one of the production
     companies, Celador (now itself owned by Sony Pictures), also owns the
     TV show which is given plenty of screen time here. But Jamal Malik (Dev
     Patel from "Sins"), 18 year old Mumbai slum dweller and and chai wallah
     tea boy) in a call centre, has non-monetary reasons for wanting to win
     the contest. He seeks instead to win the affections of his childhood
     friend, Latika (Frieda Pinto), a rose from the gutter who has fallen
     into the hands of an obnoxious gang boss, Javed (Mahesh Manjrekar).The story is cleverly framed around the quiz questions. Jamal gets each
     answer right because each question happens ('it is written") to be
     connected with an incident in his own life (fortunately more or less in
     chronological order). He manages to convince the policeman who has
     arrested him for fraud (how could a slumdog answer all those
     questions?) that he is on the level. The climax of the story is the
     last question. Unbeknown to Jamal, Latika is watching and - not far
     away.The two hours running time is filled with people, incident, noise and
     music. There's even an interlude at the Taj Mahal, where Jamal briefly
     becomes a (very) unofficial guide.) I note the film has not been
     released in India, and given the stark portrayal of some of the less
     attractive aspects of life there (police malpractice and corruption,
     communal violence, stinking slums and wide-scale gangsterism) I doubt
     it ever will – appearances are everything on the sub-continent. Unlike
     films such as "Earth" and "Water", serious pieces made for Indian
     audiences but banned or never screened there, Slumdog Millionaire,
     despite the almost all Indian cast and crew, is a Westerner's view from
     someone who knows how to make squalor entertaining. Danny Boyle doesn't
     care who he offends as long as he entertains. The last almost
     post-credits scene of hundreds dancing on the railway platforms to
     Abba-like music says it all. This is one cheeky film director. But in
     Noel Coward's words, he has a talent to amuse.I'm not sure what impact a film like this has on tourism – it might
     repel as many as it attracts – but one thing does emerge very clearly –
     India and countries like it (eg China) are changing faster than we
     imagine. Your correspondent recently spent a few days in Abu Dhabi.
     This Persian gulf oil sheikdom has gone from a few grass huts to a
     shining modern (if car dominated) city of nearly a million people in
     less than 40 years – most of the work having been done by
     "guest-workers" from Muslim South Asia. Is it not possible that in 40
     years time the slums of Mumbai will be history, just as Dicken's London
     has become?

153. vikrant jindal from India Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A Great Experience !!!

     First things first. After a long time comes a movie set in India which
     does not deal with racism or common unmentionable issues.The movie is set in the Heart of India. While the current story deals
     with the "Slumdog Millionaire", the flashback portions show us the Real
     India. The portrayal of the the protagonists is done by 3 different
     artists depicting 3 different ages. The smallest ones show the initial
     struggle and earn huge applauds. The middle ones show the key decisions
     made in life, while the elder ones show what life has made of them…The character formation is very strong, and the editing is superb. It
     keeps you on the edge for the full duration. The logic and sequencing
     is top-notch which makes the movie believable. Its one of the few
     movies which does not rely on abusive language or useless skin show to
     gather attention. It relies on pure cinematic experience. It does not
     preach anything, nor does it have a message.All it tells is how a Slumdog becomes a Millionaire !!!

154. anant (anant_films@yahoo.co.in) Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     really, wasn't expecting what i saw too…

     it's a surprise a person having made a film like Trainspotting can come
     up with such a poor adaptation and a really bad portrayal of a city
     like this. but more surprising than that is the reception and the
     reaction of the so called 'western' audiences. i'm an Indian and i
     utterly dislike the film. Mumbai is so wrongfully portrayed in this
     fantasized modern-day 'fairy tale'. i do not think Ebert or any other
     film critic has ever seen a better film which portrays Mumbai truly.
     and let us be true to ourselves people, Slumdog looks like a less
     violent, more sentimental 'Cidade De Deus'. kids with guns, a humble n
     honest protagonist, stark lighting, paced-up editing…Mumbai isn't at
     all like the city of god! about the music, A.R. Rahman is a genius,
     nobody can deny that. but this is not his masterpiece. he has given way
     better music than this; in Roja, Bombay, Rang De Basanti, Dil Se. even
     if he ends up with an Oscar for this, this soundtrack would still
     remain among the not-so-good Rahman albums.the film is a real let down at least for all the Indians i know of who
     have seen. its cheesy, Bollywoodish, immensely predictable and, too too
     clichéd…clichés which do not work…perhaps for the fantasy-driven, fairy-tale, living-in-a-dream viewers.

155. Neeraj Mahajan from Doesnt matter Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Great movie!

     Just after seeing Ghajini recently, this movie is like a masterpiece.
     The direction is great, cinematography is excellent. The story is
     strong. Nothing seem to be exaggerated – the slums shown are what exist
     in Mumbai . Little kids forced (by bad guys or by birth .. doesn't
     matter) into begging are what one sees in Mumbai at signals and under
     bridges etc. There are no unnecessary songs and no stupid dances and no
     hackneyed plots. The character of Jamal is slowly and steadily
     developed and his love is well depicted. Somewhat out of place was the
     ending part of Salim's character. His character was developed as a
     fierce person but at the end it kind of switched. But it's a small
     aspect and that might be only my observation.This is a great movie and goes in my top 100 list.

156. Theo Thomas from India Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Too real

     Let me start with the basic point that the story ain't exaggerated , it
     is real India. That is what i loved most about it.Danny Boyle(of
     Trainspotting fame) captures Bombay(Mumbai) like it is .I am amazed by
     the level of detail shown in the film cause it's ironic as even Indian
     directors often restrain from showing the grittiness of Mumbai slums.A story about a chai(tea)-wallah,Jamal who is detained by the police on
     suspicion of cheating on the game show "Who wants to be a millionaire
     ?".Of the cast,the child actors seem to outperform the lead actors.I
     strongly recommend this film especially if you are visiting India as it
     may serve as a "travel advisory" for you.The only thing I couldn't understand is how they got the British accent
     all of a sudden.

157. red_identity from United States Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A beautiful, exhilarating, sweeping Motion Picture!

     Slumdog Millionaire is probably the most satisfying film in years.Slumdog Millionaire is such a fine film. It is so colorful, so
     beautifully told and made. The direction is amazing. Danny Boyle's
     finest work to date. He has created his masterpiece. This is a drama,
     an intense film at times, but such a warm and romantic film at it's
     core. The screenplay is marvelously written in such a joyful way to
     captivate the audiences. It truly is original, very ambitious also.
     Yes, it does follow a very simple love arc, but the journey getting
     there is so brilliant. The acting is top notch. All the actors are
     unknown, but they all deliver their best, as well as the many child
     actors. The editing of scenes is so well done, I hope it wins the
     Oscar, and the cinematography is just so artistically captured, all
     it's realism.I have to say, all the Oscar buzz surrounding this film is all greatly
     deserved. It surprised me a lot, it is an amazing piece of cinema, that
     is able to remain exhilarating and captivating. A must-see. One of the
     best films of the year

158. Red-125 from Upstate New York Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Did they see the same movie I saw?

     Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, is a fairy tale about the
     obstacles to true love amidst the poverty of India. As I write this
     review, the movie has an average rating of 8.6, putting it in the top
     250 movies of all time. All I can ask is, "Why?"The movie has its strengths–Dev Patel, the male lead, is a good actor,
     and Freida Pinto, the female lead, is a beautiful woman who acts well
     enough. The film shows graphic, repeated images of ghastly poverty. If
     one picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what this film would be
     worth.Beyond those positive–or at least valuable–aspects, this film is
     mainly fantasy, interspersed with scenes of horrible violence, cruelty,
     and brutal torture. Don't go expecting a Bollywood production, and
     don't go expecting Cinderella, either. In fact, my advice would be,
     "Don't go at all."

159. Uday Pulleti from India Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A taste of bollywood…

     The first thing I want to mention is that I'm an Indian, an average
     Indian moviegoer. I never felt the need to mention this in any of my
     previous reviews. But, this is very important here as the opinion about
     the movie seems to change drastically depending on your perspective. I
     have been reading raving reviews about the movie from all over the
     world and the movie itself is bagging several acclaimed international
     awards. But for me, it is a "typical Bollywood movie". No doubt it is a
     good movie, excelling both in the acting and technical departments, but
     typical bollywood. This is exactly the language used by an average
     bollywood filmmaker. A boy meets girl, falls in love, gets separated,
     in between some bad guys, drama added and finally they reunite. This is
     Slumdog Millionaire. As an Indian, I'm very happy that this movie won
     so many plaudits. That means people all over the world are
     understanding the language of bollywood. But at the same time it makes
     me sad that many Indian movies that are many many notches above slumdog
     not even got close to the recognition this movie got. May be because
     the dialog is in English. It was annoying for me to listen Mumbai
     dwellers talking in English. But I think non-Indian audience will not
     feel a thing or may even feel more connected to the characters in
     English, in the same way as me preferring a French or German movie with
     English dialog than in native language. Or may be because the story was
     told by a British director. The language is bollywood but the accent
     British. Whatever may be the reason, slumdog's success is good news to
     Indian cinema. But, if you keep the Indian aspect aside, as a movie, I
     don't see slomdog as anything superlative. It is "a simple love story
     told in the language of bollywood with English dialog". Good job by
     Danny Boyle to cut the crap and retain the essence of bollywood story
     telling. Music and background score by Rahman is fabulous. Performances
     by Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto and the whole cast are well
     up to the mark. Special mention of childhood Jamal and Salim is
     necessary as they excel. And cinematography by Dod Mantle captures the
     essence of Mumbai slums which is the canvas on which the whole movie is
     painted. But all said and done, the movie dose not have the soul to
     take it to the next level. It is an average film which is well
     executed. For showing the world a new language of story telling,
     Slumdog may be a nomination worthy movie but not win worthy. Again,
     this is the perspective of an average Indian movie goer who has seen
     much complex and compelling stories told in the same language. So, for
     the viewers around the world, enjoy a taste of bollywood but remember
     we have much more delicious flavors. Indian viewers, have a glimpse of
     a bollywood film from a foreign director. All in all, Slumdog surely is
     a worthy watch for everyone.

160. Gordon-11 from Hong Kong Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     An amazing cinematic experience

     This film is about a lowly man from a slum, who performs unexpectedly
     well in a quiz show that will make him a millionaire."Slumdog Millionaire" has to be the most captivating and breathtaking
     film for a while. The visuals are perfectly done, making the film
     stylised and uplifting; yet preserving the dismal nature of slums and
     the horrific experiences of Jamal. The flashbacks are the most
     gripping, it bares Jamal's tortuous past, exposing his emotional wounds
     that still has not heal. Since the characters is developed well, I care
     about Jamal and Latika deeply, and I greatly sympathise with their
     tragic past. Jamal knows a lot, only because he lived life like no one
     else, and he learnt everything the hard way.Along with the uplifting music, colourful visuals and the promise of
     hope, "Slumdog Millionaire" is an amazing cinematic experience.

161. bodhistore from United States Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Excellent work Mr Boyle!

     This movie is really a masterpiece and the directing is brilliant! I've
     dealt with slum kids in India, and the film really depicts their
     resourceful nature with great accuracy. Its a movie about good, evil,
     greed, and innocence - and most importantly, about hope. Really,
     although fictional it could almost be a documentary about the many
     shanti towns in Bombay. Rather than wallow in depressing sorrow over
     their situation, the film deals with the harsh realities of homeless
     kids in India in a very humorous manner. It also shows two sides of
     India which is very real: ruthlessness and innocence, all in a huge
     potpourri. The little kids are amazing, natural, actors in the movie
     and deserve an award. They are truly beautiful! And there's a lot of
     funny incidents quite typical for India. The whole story is cleverly
     intertwining Jamal's life story with his ability to answer the
     questions in the huge Crorepati (game show) contest. Its quite
     remarkable that Danny Boyle has been able to depict slum life and the
     underbelly of Bombay so well, after only being in India for three
     months! The only criticism I have is that the main characters are too
     light complexioned to be believable to be from the slum. It would have
     been nicer to have dark complexioned characters, since light and dark
     skin is such a deep issues in India.Anyone who sees this movie will be moved by it, and will have a lot of
     laughs. The added plus is that it also has a happy ending! Go see it
     and enjoy!Excellent work, Mr Boyle! I think Slumdog Millionaire will end up being
     at least as popular and widespread as Mamma Mia although its not a
     musical. It has a happy and hopeful spirit running through it, common
     in many musicals.

162. movielover2905 from Cyprus Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     best movie of the year 2008

     yes , it is the best movie of 2008 . i was blown away by the narration
     , the sound , the colors , the hope its generates , the tragedies its
     shows and the message its sends to the viewers . Its written somewhere.
     . the hero of this film is the tight script and the music .The Music is excellent . The first scenes of chase of children makes
     you just seat up on your seat waiting for what happens next . The
     director does full justice to the script and the actors are excellent .
     The city of Mumbai has never been shown like this . I have been to that
     city and its raw energy which makes you alive . Its shows how much life
     is there to live other than spending in shopping malls .I would recommend this movies to all my friends and hope its wins lots
     of awards. Cheers

163. martisco from United States Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Enjoyable, but slightly overrated

     I was expecting something a little more gritty, less like an Indian
     retelling of Dickens, but as pure entertainment the film succeeds if
     you don't go in expecting Best Picture material. Alas, I see it is
     being hyped as just that… when in reality it's just a conventional
     rags-to-riches movie with an unusual setting (for American audiences).
     The social commentary in the screenplay is not particularly deep,
     although I suppose modern India's great contradictions can just stand
     for themselves. All of the child actors are very good, and Dev Patel is
     the discovery of the year. Old Bollywood hand Anil Kapoor also stands
     out as the game show host. Unfortunately the film just seems to run out
     of steam in the final 5-10 minutes (the resolution of the quiz show
     final question and also of Latika's situation are rather flat) and
     apparently Danny Boyle did not know how else to finish the film except
     with way too many gooey flashbacks and a big rousing Bollywood dance
     number. Fun, but tacked on. Not enough to spoil the film however. Not a
     bad way to spend two hours.

164. tgyasmine from United States Says:
     December 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Dreams and Love

     Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent movie that depicts a side of India
     with a cruel reality. The movie has a raw edge that is hardly found in
     most Bollywood films. Jamal, the main character, is excellent in
     playing his role though I was more impressed with the younger Jamal
     than the older one. The movie opens with the interrogation of Jamal,
     the 18-year-old boy from the slums who just won 10 million Rupees on
     the the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. After picking
     all the right answers, his honesty is questioned as how in the world
     can an uneducated boy from the slums of Mumbai win 10 million Rupees on
     the show. He recounts his life story to his interrogators as he tells
     on how he knew the answer to every question.The picturesque scenes of rubbish-laden hillsides among the slums and
     tough travels on India's train system tells a story of struggle growing
     up homeless. The movie also recounts Jamal's experience of Hindus
     rioting against the Muslims in India, torching villages and people, and
     of a man who fed the homeless children and in turn use them to beg for
     money. And yet, one can still find innocent happiness among the
     children. Perhaps this had caused Jamal not have riches as his primary
     concern but rather just finding his true love that he once lost a long
     time ago. As if fate had it that he was only asked questions he knew
     of, like Benjamin Franklin on a $100 bill, but not Ghandi on a 1000
     Rupee note which he did not know of. In the end, in his quest to find
     his love, and ironically not for the money, he wins both.

165. Grantz777 from United States Says:
     December 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire.. Movie Review

     "Slumdog Millionaire" .. RStaring: Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Madhur
     MittalSlumdog Millionaire, is the story of two grade school age brothers and
     their little female playmate, left parentless in the streets of Mumbai
     India. The viewing audience is given a deep and very open look into life in
     the slums of India. The film is gut wrenching, disturbing and
     emotionally aching at times. Yet unveils one of the greatest love
     stories in cinematic history and explores every range and depth of the
     human heart.The story begins with an angry riot in which Jamal and Salim's mother
     is killed. The two brothers and a little girl named Latika, are left
     alone to fight for survival in the slums of the city. Living in
     make-shift tents at the city dumps and scraping for whatever food can
     be found amid the rubbage.Eventually the three children are taken captive by an insidious and
     evil criminal who forces the children to sing and beg for money. Even
     horrendously removing the eyes of some children, in order to make them
     more effective beggars.Jamal is no coward, but Salim is a very brave fighter. Eventually the
     two brothers are able to escape the clutches of the evil enslaver. As
     Salim bravely facilitates a dangerous and harrowing escape. Latika,
     however, is not quite fast enough runner, and at the last second is
     captured. And her rare beauty is subsequently exploited by the captors,
     hoping to eventually sell her.The two brothers manage to scrape and survive the slums into their late
     teens. When Salim is drawn into the gangster life, in a mob run by his
     former captors, who still hold Latika captive. While Jamal turns to
     working at whatever job he can get. Always vowing to return and rescue
     Latika. After one failed attempt, which leaves Latika with a knife wound, for
     the escape plot. Jamal qualifies for India's number one television
     show. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Hoping that Latika will see him
     on the show, and somehow they can finally be re-united.Jamal is so good at the history/trivia game that the host becomes
     jealously enraged. And has Jamal arrested, tortured and questioned all
     night by the police. From there unveils one of the most redemptive and
     profound stories of the human heart to ever be told.

166. IndyMan88 from United Kingdom Says:
     December 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Excellent, 28 Dec 2008

     As a British born Indian, I wanted to see Boyle take on his version of
     a bollywood film with a good mix of his direction, all the charm that
     most of Indian films have. Result, a good directorial effort with an
     Indian version of City of God; far less brutal and replaces that
     sardonic hardship from City of God to the hopeful dreams of a young boy
     from the slums, very much a style common in Indian films today. I've been to India before and seen what this film shows. It doesn't
     make it less dreary by sugar coating; that's not Boyle's style, he will
     show what is there and this film depicts India's culture, beauty,
     depression, poverty, lustre, greed, vengeance, corruption and all the
     moralities. You might be mistaken into thinking I'm being patriotic but
     the fact is Boyle has made a very good film, with keeping the actual
     Indian viewers of this film in mind. He has given it a love story like
     most Indian films while providing the action and tension that so many
     Indian-film lovers sitting on corner streets in Mumbai and Delhi will
     want to see. I've lived in West London all my life and this is as close to showing
     India any European film has done in the last 20 years, that includes
     Bend it like Beckham, etc. West-Londoner-born, like myself, Dev Patel made his debut on SKINS, and
     excellent UK drama series involving the life of College/Sixformer
     teens. A good choice since learning an language and accent is easier,
     but also a familiar face to those who watch Skins. The main focus is on
     him becoming more than he is, a subtle underdog story that doesn't
     boast of its pious superiority. He just wants to find the girl, Latika,
     he met when he was a boy, save her from poverty, prostitution and give
     her a life she deserves. Along with that, Dev's character known as
     Jamal Malik has a older brother Salim Malik who cares for money and the
     high-life, anyway he can get it. It's the Romulus and Remus tale with
     loads of morality. There are 3 actors per character of Jamal, Salim &
     Latika, each depicting the 3 main characters at different ages who are
     excellently cast, cute and innocent from the younger ages; to the older
     actors who play them as time and chance have made them into what they
     are now, with their knowledge of the world changing their day-to-day
     perceptions. Dev's character gets the chance to play on "Who wants to
     be a Millionaire" in India (Indian Version) with familiar host and
     legendary Indian actor Anil Kapoor. What could a slum-dog know of the
     world, more than most. He's graduating from the university of life. Contrasting, political, brutal, and bitter-sweet. 8.5/10.

167. Steveoknox24 from United States Says:
     December 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     We expected great, we got wonderful.

     I cannot possible overstate how moved and amazed I was by this picture.
     It is easily my pick for the best film of the year and, unless I've
     lost some of my memory, the greatest I've seen in half a decade.I've seen so many reviews about the visuals. I don't want to duel on
     this because there are so many, but they certainly warrant noting.
     Mumbai's slums radiate in such a way it's beautiful and
     heart-wrenching. Boyle has shot these locations in such a way that the
     audience can be mislead into thinking they're seeing a set. But the
     brutal reality is that they are not. The houses are really that close
     together, they are that rundown, and life is that hard. Something to
     think about is the use of digital rather than film. Everyone knows the
     debate and I'm more partial to digital (I agree that film is far more
     beautiful but it's become impractical). Boyle finds a way of making
     digital gorgeous.The greatest thing about Slumdog Millionaire is that the story and the
     performances take the focus off of Boyle's distinctive style
     seamlessly. That is quite a feat.Dev Patel was magnificent as the grown Jamal and I cannot wait for him
     to start appearing in more productions. Freida Pinto was just as
     miraculous as Latika and pulled off the type of beauty anyone can
     believe falling deeply in love with. You'd wish these actors had more
     screen time if the rest of the cast did not perform as well. However,
     there really is not one weak link here.The story sweeps this film away and shines as the most beautiful
     element. Jamal Malik is a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
     (in India). He's gotten up to 10 million rupees and has only one
     question left for 20 million. However, during a break between episodes
     he is accused of cheating. Flashbacks then reveal how Jamal knew each
     question he has been asked but ask one of their own: "Why is he on the
     show?". The answer is limitlessly touching. Dark and light elements are
     played throughout, many times in quick succession. You'll want to cry
     at how hard Jamal, Salim, and Latika's lives are but you'll also want
     to cry at the amount of hope that is underneath every adventure. That's
     the message of the film: Hope is always there. As bad as things can
     get, if you don't quit you have hope. This one is certainly a gem and
     one that you can actually smile at. That's really saying something with
     films like Marley and Me, Rachel Getting Married, Dear Zachary, and The
     Curious Case of Benjamin Button all coming out. The reviewers aren't
     wrong, its a crowd-pleaser (to the surprise of the audience I saw it
     with, people actually gasped at the ending).Romantics will swoon. Cynics will grouch until they're broken by the
     end. Sensitives will cry. But you will enjoy this film as it proves to
     be supremely magical.

168. joestank15 from United States Says:
     December 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Good little movie.

     Slumdog Millionaire - A former street child Jamal Malik (Dev Patel)
     from Mumbai is arrested and questioned for knowing all of the answers
     on an Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" He explains,
     in flashbacks, his past and how he has come to know all the answers to
     the questions. The film is shot and diced up with three time lines:
     Jamal's childhood, his experience on the show, and his recounting of
     both to the police. It's a cool novel way to tell a story that is
     essentially a love story between Jamal and Latika (Frieda Pinto)The first half of the film is gritty, urban and akin to realism in
     aesthetics. The rundown lived in qualities of India are rich and very
     human. I enjoyed them in Salaam Bombay and I liked them here. It's very
     pleasant to see India's culture unadulterated. India is beautiful and
     beautifully shot. I expect this film will get many props for
     Cinematography. The soundtrack is also very good, with many catchy
     easy-to-groove-to songs. The performances are all top notch. It's a
     sweet little journey Jamal and his big brother Salim (Madhur Mittal)
     are on. They commit all sorts of trickery and get into much hi-jinx to
     survive. It's the main contrivance of the plot (the catch) that is irritating,
     and leads to the pulpy fluff of the second half. Nearly EVERY question
     asked on the show pertains to this young man's life in some key way? He
     didn't study at all? I just have to roll my eyes, and did several
     times. Many of the questions are also dead easy in addition to
     corresponding far too easily with Jamal's past. It's less a tale of a
     poor man making it to fame and riches with his own abilities than being
     carried there by the movie gods.In the end, we have a rather good movie that should not be held up to
     the hype surrounding it. This happened for me with Babel a few years
     ago. It's a shame we have awards and award campaigning to cloud our
     judgments on films. This will probably be held up as better than it is
     by people looking for hope in our current depression. Slumdog's not the
     best I've seen this year, but it's still a good little movie that
     rekindles the faith lost in Danny Boyle after Sunshine. Good but not
     the best, Slumdog gets a B+

169. Hitesh Gupta from India Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A movie that made me understand destiny

     A great movie! The movie's cinematography is excellent. I love the
     movie for its authenticity. The Mumbai slums and Indian conditions are
     shown brilliantly. The actors were also brilliant, specially the child
     actors. There is good work by bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor and
     Irrfan Khan. In my opinion, the movie does justice to Vikas Swarup's
     Q&A(the novel it is based on).I had never really got hold of this 'destiny' or 'bhagya' thing. But
     this movie showed me how people can hold on their beliefs of destiny
     and move on after so bad things have happened. Destiny is a way of
     life.

170. come2whereimfrom from United Kingdom Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     What a terrible film.

     Firstly if you don't like 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' then steer
     clear of this film as it's like watching a feature length interrupted
     episode minus Chris Tarrant. Secondly, if like me you have a cold dead
     robot heart, avoid this at all costs, you have been warned. Danny
     Boyle's 'feel-good film of the decade' (News of the world) is so packed
     full of clichés it feels like its trying to reach a million itself. The
     rags to riches story will melt even the hardest of hearts, the 'oh look
     he used to be covered in sh*t and now he is a millionaire' stick starts
     wearing thin pretty early on and doesn't get much better as Boyle tries
     to inject some pace by including chase sequences to a thumping
     soundtrack that consists mostly of M.I.A. tracks. The film is long and
     boring with each flashback explaining how this dumb kid could possibly
     know the answer to a certain question, honestly he didn't cheat he
     knows because (cue some horrific part of his upbringing which he just
     happens to now be being asked a question about) of his experiences. But
     honestly it is so cool when the whole nation gets behind him and the
     suspense comes thick and fast as when filming the show they have to
     take an advert break, I was on the edge of my seat (desperate to leave
     the cinema). The idea is weak to begin with but stretching it out to
     two hours is excruciating, but he's only got one lifeline left, I tell
     you I still had long nails by the end, yep definitely no biting there.
     All in all a waste of time movie that offers nothing new or indeed
     anything old revamped. In fact the only reason I can see that this film
     got made was to once again rinse the pockets of the idiots who made
     'Mamma Mia' the biggest British film of 2008. Yeah that's right she
     can't afford to heat her house but she can afford to go see this
     rubbish, your granny will love it whereas I hated it.

171. alipardiwala from India Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Phenomenal… Absolutely Brilliant

     I'm born and brought up in Bombay, and when I first heard about this
     movie I was skeptical. I've seen plenty of the local Hindi movies
     depicting the city in all kinds of ways, be it good or bad. But this is
     the first film I've seen on my hometown that has really blown me away.
     As a fairly well off Mumbaikar, I've never really known how life is in
     the poorer parts of the city, and just how hard it can be. This movie
     showed me things I never knew about my own home. Anil Kapoor has never
     been an actor I'm particularly excited about, and I generally avoid his
     Hindi films. But he played the part of the game show host brilliantly,
     and I can now say I have respect for him. Another absolutely brilliant
     performance was from the slum kids playing the roles of young Jamal and
     young Salim. With an award winning story and script, this movie is
     easily the best and most moving film I've seen this year. Two thumbs up
     to a fantastic film that everyone the world over will love for its
     entertainment and emotional value, and it'll even tell you a thing or
     two about a mesmerizing city that no homegrown local would know…

172. Chris Docker (eyeforfilm) from Scotland, United Kingdom Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Impressive conjuring tricks from Mr Boyle

     In his most mainstream movie to date, director Danny Boyle successfully
     transfers Trainspotting's renowned raw realism of economic deprivation
     to bustling, modern day India. Colourful and ingenious, Slumdog
     Millionaire adds that pure warmth of the child's smile to the kick of a
     curry made from a moneylender's intestines, well-laced with raw spirit
     distilled from fermented slum-dwellers. Rich and poor come together in
     an orgy of excess, bolstered with a love-song whose words you barely
     decipher but whose tune stays in your heart. Boyle has been reborn in
     Mumbai.India is a country of inimitable charm. Yet asked to describe what is
     good, I am usually stuck for words. It's dirty. Corrupt. Unreliable.
     Disingenuous. It leeches off you like a starving African stealing food
     at a Band-Aid concert. Oh, and it stinks. Quite literally.Yet, if you lean your weight against the old buildings near the Taj
     Mahal, something magical can happen. Somehow it is easy to feel your
     spirit leave the body. It will flow back through thousands of years of
     rich and vibrant history. Gandharvas and mythical kings. Back in
     reality, look up at the monkeys as they scamper across parapets, the
     sun dazzling you, and Hanuman and Lord Krishna echo from past aeons. Or
     walk through the mess that is modern Mumbai. Suddenly there's the
     architectural wonder of the railway station. An incongruently colonial
     splendour bizarrely appearing in the teeming twenty-first century.Slumdog Millionaire uses the Taj Mahal and Mumbai Station as iconic
     reference points, rising from the dirt and chaos. Like the boy dressed
     as Rama, who pops up early in the film. Timeless and almost
     mythological. But conflict simmers broodingly beneath such visual
     wonder. Muslim versus Hindu. Strong versus weak. And Slumdog versus
     Millionaire. Something says the twain ne'er shall meet, so when a kid
     from the slums succeeds on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, everyone is
     suspicious.On the other hand, unpredictability is the norm in India. The sense of
     this is so strong it could almost be described as 'spiritual.'
     Disconcertingly, it is easy to believe that India is a land where
     miracles could still occur. Even a child of the slums becoming
     fabulously rich.The freshness with which Boyle paints the country, the punchy editing
     and charismatic performances, all conspire against our recognising this
     is a standard against-all-odds story, a standard rags-to-riches, and a
     standard do-anything-to-get-the-girl. It is standard pulp. But done so
     well we barely notice. He has put together a film of surprising
     maturity, and perhaps his first to win general audiences in a big way.
     It's a film that uses lessons from Boyle's earlier movies – the
     gross-out shock value of Trainspotting, the lovable rogues of Shallow
     Grave, the exoticism of The Beach and the bold visual experimentation
     of 28 Days Later and Sunshine. It repackages them in feelgood form for
     all but the most delicate of tastes.True, the sight of a young boy diving through an ocean of sewage (with
     filmstar photo held aloft) recalls the stronger images from
     Trainspotting. But here it is done for humour and too brief to be
     offensive. Everything about the film is refreshingly clever and a
     delight to watch. If occasionally there are subtitles, they are
     inventively inserted at interesting places on the screen with their own
     background colours.The plot starts just before the question that lays the golden egg and
     cuts engagingly back through the boy's life using flashbacks. Why is he
     being tortured? How did he get on the show? Why doesn't he care about
     the money? In the background is his love, Latika, whom he has known
     since childhood. Both orphaned, she saw him by chance (standing
     abandoned in the rain) and he lets her share a corrugated iron shelter.
     It's a touching scene without too much sugar. And chance is the theme
     of the film. How does a Slumdog like Jemal guess the answers to general
     knowledge questions that could baffle the educated? That's what
     everybody wants to know.Few Western directors have managed to embrace India so convincingly.
     Colours become sanitised, dirt becomes exotic. Boyle leaves us in no
     doubt as to the degradation, but makes it palatable through daring
     cinematography. This is no work of realism such as that of Satyajit
     Ray. Apart from a joyful closing credits scene, neither is it
     Bollywood. And although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I can't help feeling
     that some critics have gone overboard in estimating it to be more than
     the sum of its parts. As if Mamma Mia! could become art-house if it
     only had had one more ancient artefact. The film has nothing very deep
     to say. It is entertainment, pure and simple. Boyle's hodgepodge
     talents have been brought together for once in a recipe that any
     professional chef should be very proud of. It might even be his best
     film since Trainspotting, but it is heralds no new frontiers. A rounded
     display of talent that holds its own against the best in the Hollywood
     tradition. I would hate to think that the future of British film-making
     is in India, but I'm pleased Danny Boyle has firmly found his wings
     again. And I was also very pleased to see one of the stars of the
     outstanding TV series, Skins, conquer the lead role.Slumdog Millionaire is a bag of very colourful tricks. The end result
     is great entertainment. It would be more remarkable if, in a later
     film, we were to see these stirring skills used for real comment on the
     human condition (for instance) and take us off the popcorn ride. When
     will the real Danny Boyle stand up? Near the Taj Mahal, I once looked
     down and saw boys pretending to levitate a corpse. They wanted tourists
     to throw money down to them (with a cut, no doubt, for the boy beneath
     the stretcher). It was all good fun. But made me wonder when the real
     fakir would appear.

173. alerter from United States Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     some of the cool stuff Danny Boyle disclosed in Q&A about Slumdog Millionaire

     I attended the San Francisco screening on Danny Boyle's b-day, where he
     participated in a follow-on Q&A. My impression of Boyle is that he is genuinely down-to-earth,
     culturally sensitive/astute and an exceedingly humble person. It is
     equally apparent, from everything we see in this film and come to feel,
     that Boyle possesses a seething passion about film making and a genius
     for story telling. These all infuse every frame of this film. The film is powerful and moving, with seamless performances by all
     three sets of actors portraying the three lead characters. There's also
     a who's who of Bollywood heavy weights in pitch perfect supporting
     roles. Two of the three youngest players were cast straight out of the
     Bombay/Mumbai slums. This casting choice then necessitated that all of
     the scenes involving the first trio of Jamal, Salim and Latika would
     have to be entirely in Hindi. Fearless as ever, non-Hindi speaking
     Boyle turned to his India casting agent, Loveleen Tandan, to direct the
     Hindi-only speaking actors. Boyle directly credits Tandan for the
     verisimilitude of the children's' performances and he gladly elevated
     her to the title of co-director, in recognition of Tandan's and the
     children's numerous original contributions. I love what was done with
     the subtitles, too. (The bone crushing poverty and pervasive corruption that exists in
     Bombay/Mumbai is a harsh reality. It is something that Boyle says has
     to be accepted for what it is, with compassion, but also without pity.
     At the end of one shooting day, one of the principal child actors went
     home, only to discover that the government had dissolved that
     particular ghetto that same day. Production staff then had to search
     high and low, across Bombay/Mumbai, to locate the family and reunite
     them. Then the next day dawned. There are many more stories about these
     real life children, too.) I never read Vikas Swarup's Q and A; but I take Boyle's word that the
     book, as written, would be impossible to film. Tremendous credit has to
     be given to Simon Beaufoy's brilliantly loose screenplay adaptation. It
     is a feat that withstands direct comparisons with The English Patient
     and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for grasping the essence of an
     original and then lovingly taking it into the stratosphere. Boyle has a deep cultural and artistic appreciation for Bombay/Mumbai
     and Bollywood's traditions, yet he lensed the story with a respectful
     Western eye. Suketu Mehta's book Maximum City - Bombay Lost and Found,
     served as a production bible, and was referred to just as much as the
     script. (One can only hope that if Mehta finally ever options his book
     for film that Boyle will get a real crack at making it.) Where ever there were scenes in Beaufoy's script that could be taken as
     being sacrilegious, creative adjustments were made. One specific
     example given was the appearance of Rama, which was supposed to have
     been represented on a t-shirt, but was, instead, turned into a
     quasi-magical-realism vision/appearance during the Muslim-Hindu riot
     scene. Not only was this change culturally sensitive, it was vastly
     more striking. The love story, between Jamal and Latika, is one of Beaufoy's story
     inventions. Given three sets of actors portraying Jamal and Latika,
     there is so much that could go wrong with this central and interrupted
     thread of the story. The seed of love first has to become apparent,
     then its shoots must bud and become Jamal's quest. No part of this can
     be sappy, if this is to hold together. Before I saw SM, I had no idea
     how much of a romantic Boyle is and, at the same time, he is also one
     who does not wear his heart on his sleeve. You just have to see the
     film to know what I mean by that. I don't care what any of Dev Patel's detractors have to say about any
     of his work prior to SM. All I know is what I saw in SM where Patel's
     Jamal went toe-to-toe and scene-for-scene with Bollywood Royalty, and
     he acquitted himself decorously as leading man. Boyle also resorted to some special technical innovations. The spectacular scenes running through the Bombay ghettos were captured
     using a pole mounted camera/lens, tethered to a MacBook (in a backpack)
     serving as DVR. In addition, the MacBook had to be cooled using slabs
     of dry ice. This allowed the camera operator to "roll" in the midst of
     all the action. Dry ice had to be cached along the way, in so many
     locations, that there were surreal swirling clouds of CO2 "smoke"
     seeping from the various hiding places. Boyle's crew also lost access to the Taj Mahal before all of the shots
     were completed. In a brilliant move, the DP armed an alternate camera
     crew with a Canon EoS camera and used it, in rapid frame mode, to pick
     up all of the remaining Taj Mahal shots. If no one had told me, I would
     not have known the difference. And neither, apparently, did Taj Mahal
     security. I've seen this film three times already and cannot wait for the DVD to
     come out. If it's handled correctly, there will be hours of bonus
     features. One the one hand, there is so much to enjoy, in terms of pure
     entertainment. On the other hand, there are so many engaging stories
     about the making of this masterpiece. Finally, I am deeply torn, this year, because I love both SM and The
     Curious Case of Benjamin Button and they are both squarely in the
     category of adapted screenplay. I love SM for its dense compactness and
     I love tCCoBB for its sprawling expansiveness. Might it be possible for tie votes to win, in more than one category? The magical realism of the two gives me reason to hope.

174. fleetmind from Los Angeles, CA Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Enjoyable But Really Overrated

     Saw "Slumdog" last night and wasn't terribly impressed. I enjoyed it
     for the most part but near the end I thought it got a bit tedious. Here
     are some other problems - Latika and Jamal (the older ones) seemed to
     have no personality. All this raving for Dev Patel's performance…well
     I just didn't see it. He was dull and so was the girl who played
     Latika.This movie is also VERY clichéd. Cartoon mob bosses and the troubled
     brother that has to redeem himself in the end. Yadda yadda, like you
     couldn't see all that coming? The earlier stuff was much better and I
     enjoyed the first two "Jamals" a lot more.Good ending credits, though!

175. prasad-subramanyan from India Says:
     December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Vibrant, Pan-Emotional, Striking & Moving.

     The movie Slumdog Millionaire is a name that doesn't quite tell you
     what the movie is about. Of Course it's about a slum-born Indian Oliver
     Twist who appears on an Indian version of "Who wants to be a
     millionaire?". But the move is so much more.The movie is extremely moving in it's plot narration. It's constantly
     on the move, striking a chord with every different frame, yet it
     doesn't dwell unnecessarily. From young Jamal's dive into filth for an
     autograph of Amitabh Bachan to the Anti-Muslim attack in the slum to
     the "Orphanage". Each plot element is elucidated just right. Not too
     shallow, not too boringly in-detail.Then there is the actual plot itself, much has been written about the
     moving love story between Jamal & Latika, of the coming of age of Jamal
     and how he trumps all odds. But what has not been brought out (from
     what I've read until now!) is complicated relationship between Jamal
     and his elder brother Salim. The latter, a character who is riddled
     with opposites. He doesn't let Jamal invite Latika in the post-riot
     scene, yet we never see an objection later. He rescues his brother from
     the orphanage/Mamon, but leaves behind Latika despite his brother's
     protests. He returns with Jamal back to his home-town, but abandons him
     after Latika's rescue. The movie in itself is moving in a umpteen scenes. Comically, as in the
     Taj Mahal scenario where Jamal is mistaken for a guide and he makes up
     a whole load of believable tosh about the Taj. Movingly, the one where
     Jamal recalls his encounter with a 100$ bill. Worryingly, with the way
     Jamal wades through human-excreta to get an autograph and how his
     brother sells it for some money. The movie is brilliant in its narration and moving in it's motive.Boyle has clearly given us one of the best, if not THE best movie of
     2008.

176. tiger jack (warthogjump@hotmail.com) from Australia Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     MOOOOVE out of my way!!!

     All movies competing for the upcoming Oscars, move out of Slumdog's
     way. Slumdog for best picture for sure!!! This movie is so greatly
     directed, it is beautiful to watch in every scene. The music, the
     colour, the acting, the scenery, etc.Benjamin Button was a good flick, but should not be able steal what
     belongs to Slumdog.Wow is all I have to say. I did not look at my watch once to see when
     the movie was about to finish. It is so compelling and the scenes when
     Jamel is a child is by far the best scenes in the movie. The music is
     so heart wrenching.Wow wow wow!!! watch this movie!!!

177. Sabih Ahmed from Bangladesh Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Mind-blowing masterpiece!

     its a matter of great pride that i am an avid movie fan in the era of
     movies like "slumdog millionaire". just like "the godfather" of 70's or
     "the shawshank redemption" of 90's… this i believe will turn out to
     be in "hall of fame". just a simple rags to riches story told in such
     engrossing manner with electrifying camera moves and enticing acting…
     this is a true treat for you all movie lovers. i would be really
     disappointed if movies like these don't make it BIG in Oscars, but at
     the end of the day; who even cares, its by far the best movie of 2008
     for sure. movies are made from events of life, yet not all make it to
     touch your heart as sensibly as it did mine. Mumbai might have slums
     and hooligans; it might make way for gunslingers and gangsters more
     often than a true hero; but it does feature the perfect setting for the
     millionaire who made it big without having an inch of knowledge!

178. Pratik Jasani from United Kingdom Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     A Good Film By Danny Boyle - Worth Watching.

     Not really knowing what this was all about except that it was filmed
     entirely in Mumbai, India and that it had a Bollywood Actor in it, I
     was totally surprised with it content.A Indian teenager, who lived in the slums in Mumbai (previously known
     as "Bombay") and works in a call centre as a servant, goes on to the
     famous game show, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," known in Hindi as
     "Kaun Banega Crorepati," which was initially hosted by superstar
     Amitabh Bachchan when it started in India and then later by an equally
     superstar, Shahrukh Khan, in the hope of winning his girl, who he has
     known since his childhood days.The movie stars Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan,
     Mahesh Manjrekar and Ayush Mahesh Khedkar. This is directed by Danny
     Boyle and Loveleen Tandon and the music score is by A.R. Rehman.Filmed entirely in India and mostly in its financial and entertainment
     capital, Mumbai, most of the scenes are filmed in the slums and this
     really brings out the reality of how lives in those slum areas as Boyle
     captures it as it really is. This also shows the reality of how
     children, from such areas are sucked into crime, begging and at a later
     stage of their lives, particularly females, into possibility of
     prostitution. Dev Patel is very convincing in his role as the teenager
     who comes from the slums but more than that it is his younger version,
     played by Ayush Mahesh Khedkar, who really makes it all look natural
     when it comes to acting a child who lives in the slum. He portrays what
     a child is like in that area and more so when it concerns big movie
     stars of "Bollywood." Freida Pinto, could have done a bit more in her
     role, but none the less, she has done a good job. Anil Kapoor as the
     host of the game show, made one feel rather uncomfortable when sitting
     opposite him in the chair as compared to the British host of the game,
     Chris Tarrant and of the Indian version of the game – Amitabh Bachchan
     and Shahrukh Khan, who made the contestants feel at ease. Irrfan Khan,
     who has done some good "Bollywood" movies, is good in this as well but
     it is Mahesh Manjrekar, in the role of "Javed," once upon a time a
     gangster in the slum, that is perfectly cast.Watch out for Amitabh Bachchan's hand in this movie.This is a movie that is definitely one of the best this year and is
     worth watching.

179. ad_upclose from Pakistan Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Good, but not Great as everyone makes it out to be

     So did the movie live up to all the Oscar buzz going around? well, in
     part yes.I gotta say thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the film. It was
     wonderfully shot; I loved the sequence where the slum boys were being
     chased with A.R. Rehman's fantastic score in the background. Moreover,
     the acting of the youngest versions of Salim and Jamal were fantastic.However, the second half kinda let me down a bit. I was not impressed
     with the older versions of the the lead actors, especially Saleem. He
     was such a good character at the start but his older version was a poor
     actor and it just turned into a weak role. Also, the ending could've
     been better thought out I felt. It was too predictable for me.Overall, this still is a really solid movie, and is definitely one of
     the year's good ones.

180. MegaGDtox from United States Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     An excellent celebration of life, destiny, and the power of love

     Walking out of this movie will be the worst part of the experience
     because you won't want to leave the amazing world of Slumdog
     Millionaire. Danny Boyle has created a portrait of humanity not seen in
     a long time. This epic rags to riches story is a testament to the power
     of love and the truth. With breathtaking cinematography, stupendous
     acting, and an amazing screenplay from Simon Beaufoy, we are dropped
     into the mind of Jamal Malik, a young man from Mumbai. Through his eyes
     we see the pain of poor orphans, tricks played on various tourists, and
     the how organized crime has evolved in India's maturing society. Not to
     mention that Boyle and Beaufoy have given us a love story unparalleled.
     Despite much of the movie being in a foreign language, Slumdog
     Millionaire's story can be understood and appreciated by all, it is the
     first true global masterpiece.

181. jdkraus from Maineville, Ohio Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     One of this year's best pictures!

     I'll be honest, I did not even hear about this movie until I roamed
     around on the Internet and found it at IMDb. Seeing that it had a high
     rating and being nominated for 4 golden globes, I chose to see it.
     After the two-hour movie flew by, I couldn't help but think how amazing
     it is. "Slumdog Millionaire" is about an orphan who grows up in the slums of
     Mumbai. It is told through flashback by an 18-year old boy named Jamal
     as he is questioned by the police of the crime of cheating on the
     Indian version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" The movie does
     follow the typical rags to riches scenario, but it is made creative by
     the Indian performers who I thought were well excellent in their roles.
     Dev Patel as Jamal is on his way for a very promising career. In addition to the cast, Danny Boyle's direction not only tells the
     story but also makes it alive. The way he filmed it made me feel like I
     was in the slums of India, right in where the people sleep in trash
     heaps and poop in little outhouses that are right by the river. His use
     of wide and master shots makes this magic believable. Such use of
     camera shots, as well as quick editing and close ups helps build the
     tensions in the scenes throughout the film.At the same time, he captures another India of the wealthy. He reveals
     the real, modern-day India, unlike films such as "Passage to India" or
     "Ghandi". One thing I couldn't help but notice about this film is the
     work of the photographer. The cinematography is different than any
     other movie I have seen. There's something very "surreal" and vibrant
     about the lighting and color in the film, as if the sun is the primary
     source of light (which to a degree is in the outdoor sequences).
     However, I noticed that in the indoor scenes, this surreal look is
     still present, particularly based on light sources within those scenes. In addition with the cinematographer, the sound editors put a lot of
     emphasis on the background noise. This adds more to the authenticity of
     the film. For instance, when a train goes by at a train station in the
     movie, it is very, very loud, as it is in real life. But the one thing
     that is always louder than the field sound is the thunderous and heart
     pounding score by A.R. Rahman. I will note that his love theme at the
     end of the movie is very touching and moving. Overall, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a unique film that explores a world
     that no one would want to be apart of, yet millions of people live it.
     There is some very good humor at times and there are some very shocking
     and disturbing scenes. Not the gory kind like in a war picture, but
     rather the depictions of starving kids running away stealing and lying
     to earn money and get food maybe emotionally intense for some people.
     It is a hard film to watch, but it is a very good one. It's not one for
     everyone, but I love it and I consider it to be one of this year's best
     pictures!

182. coreyno1 from United Kingdom Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     final answer???

     The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of
     Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from
     winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A
     Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him
     on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in
     the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together
     on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the
     girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the
     game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered
     story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly
     impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no
     apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question,
     the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the
     heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know
     the things they know about life and love…an absolute masterpiece in storytelling, Boyle has done something that
     no one has done before, someone reflecting their life via the gift of
     'who wants to be a millionaire'.it's funny in places, heartbreaking in others, and at times, feels like
     a fantasy movie.the cinematography is second to none, and all the cast are fine in
     their respective roles. although it's predictable thanks to the title,
     it's an uplifting feelgood movie, even though it sometimes it borders
     on the dark side. it's violent in places, but doesn't justify it's r
     rating.it's a beautiful story, full of beautiful moments and an excellent
     soundtrack, leading to some brilliant characters and marvellous set
     pieces.i urge you to see it…

183. collin-clark-22 from United States Says:
     December 30th, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant.

     This is a movie unlike I've ever scene before. The way that the story
     is told is possibly the best thing about the movie. It's main focus is
     the Indian version of who wants to be a millionaire, but the film is
     much much more than that. It's about a Kid who goes from the biggest
     slum in Asia, to fulfilling all his dreams. This movie has the best
     child actors I think I have ever seen. Having them witness riots,
     murders, torture is truly terrifying. It really makes you feel for
     people in those parts of the world. I'm not saying that this is a sad
     film by any means. This is perhaps the only movie aside from The
     Shawshank Redemption that had me crying tears of joy. Go see it, best
     film of 2008 by far!

184. Emunah from United States Says:
     December 31st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     It Has it's Moments, but it's Not Brilliant or Anything

     I was dying to see this movie, because of all the hype. And, needless
     to say, I came away somewhat disappointed. Its a fine film, don't get
     me wrong, but it's not a masterpiece, and I wouldn't even say its one
     of the 10 best of 2008. Maybe top 15. But definitely not top 10.
     Sometimes its clever and funny, other times its cliché and
     uninteresting. The ending is one giant sap-fest, unfortunately. I was
     expecting an original finale, but it was not to be. While this may be
     an "Indie Darling", it still has a lot of elements of modern Hollywood
     pictures, filled with a lot of predictable moments, and as said
     earlier, a very unsatisfying, and unoriginal ending. I'd still
     recommend seeing it, its one of those movies you have to see to fully
     judge the year in film. Its a good movie, just a little over-hyped,
     that's all.

185. rudgeno1-1 from United Kingdom Says:
     December 31st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     Danny Boyle hits the money (ho ho)

     To call this a return to form for Danny Boyle would do an injustice to
     Sunshine and 28 Days Later, two decent efforts since the marvel of
     British cinema that was Trainspotting (still in my top 10), but Slumdog
     Millionaire certainly reminds us of his directing talent.This movie is all about fantastic direction and vision. The Indian slum
     setting is reminiscent of City Of God, and the manner in which a sense
     of adventure is brought out is excellent.This is the story of a boy who from nothing came within one question of
     becoming a millionaire just through the amazing experiences life had
     thrown at him. The romantic element is not overblown and dealt with in
     appropriate delicacy but this is not a story of romance, this is a
     story of inspiration, achievement and dealing with what life brings,
     whether that be sewage or mobsters.It will have a commercial impact simply through being an Indian set
     movie made by a British director, but an audience from far outside
     these boundaries can feel the emotional power and take inspiration from
     this. Impressive effort!!

186. fbarrie from Albany, New York Says:
     December 31st, 2008 at 12:00 am

     The funniest sequence in a film EVER?

     No sequence in this powerful movie shows the slumdog life better than
     the outhouse sequence: A way of life totally shocking to a middle class
     American who enjoys indoor plumbing. Slumdog life requires lining up to
     take a crap at an outhouse guarded by a child who collects a small fee.
     With our hero sitting on the pot, a "customer" shows complete
     frustration in having to wait to crap and goes to another outhouse. Our
     hero has caused the loss of a fee. The next events are played out in a
     shocking way: The pop celebrity arriving by a helicopter which causes
     thousands of people around the outhouses to run off seeking his
     autograph. Our hero, punished for the loss of a customer, is unable to
     exit due to a door pinned under the entry doorknob by the child guard.
     So he slips out of the outhouse in the only way possible, down the hole
     into the pool of crap. Covered in crap, he runs right up to the
     celebrity. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, with excrement covering his
     entire body, the masses of people part to let him approach unbarred by
     any brave soul. He gets the sought after autograph. This scene made me
     howl in laughter. A laughter I have never experienced quite so in a
     movie- uncontrollable. A laughter I will always remember. The funniest
     sequence in a film Ever! But what makes this movie a 10 out of 10 is
     the purposefulness behind this extraordinary scene. The celebrity/pop
     culture transforms the direst conditions into something that can be
     forgotten and endured. Our hero wants the autograph of the celebrity so
     badly, he'll swim in a sea of excrement to get it. This film is a
     remarkable critique of capitalism, greed, and the inhumanity of human
     kind. But it also shows that the consumer/celebrity culture can be a
     kind of opium of the masses. Slumdog Millionaire is thought provoking,
     shockingly sad and powerfully hilarious. THANK YOU Danny Boyle.

187. ac1137 from United States Says:
     January 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Well worth it!

     My husband and I went to go see this because it was getting such good
     reviews. I was kind of iffy about it until it started. The movie was
     very good. It had action, drama, suspense, comedy, tragedy, and it was
     a different kind of movie which was refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed
     the soundtrack, the scenery, and the unique story line. I am wondering
     why this movie is flying so low on the movie radar. We only had two
     choices of theaters in our area of a gajillion theaters. It was well
     worth the drive though because we both enjoyed it. I'm hoping that this
     will win lots of awards because the movie and those involved with it
     deserve some significant praise. My husband and I both give it two
     thumbs up (which is a rarity!). We highly recommend it.

188. Joe S. from United States Says:
     January 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Horror movie masquerading as an Indian game show comedy drama

     The top reviewer said "the story introduces one of the brothers as
     being the subject of a very strong interrogation". Think of what the
     latter phrase is a euphemism for. It's not a spoiler but a warning to
     say that this scene is graphically violent, followed by many similar
     scenes. I walked out after 50 minutes.I really don't understand how this movie can be listed as a comedy
     drama, given the endless graphic violence it contains. The only
     audience laugh was when a boy is prevented from doing something he
     really wants to him unless he swims through a cesspool. Talk about
     potty jokes taken to an extreme! I wish I had never been talked into seeing this film. It will be a long
     time before I can get these extremely disturbing scenes out of my head.
     All ads and reviews of this film should have an explicit warning of the
     horrors in it.

189. bob the moo from Birmingham, UK Says:
     January 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An energetic, stylish and engaging fairytale that has enough about it to cover the main weaknesses it has while you are watching

     This film came to the UK on a wave of Oscar hype and critical praise
     and I was looking forward to see it even though the reasons "why" it
     was good seemed a bit vague to me. On one hand it seems to be set in
     the gritty poverty of India, with descriptions of some very unpleasant
     scenes but then, on the other hand it was described as being uplifting
     and the feel-good movie of the year. I was curious how this conflicting
     information resolves itself within one film without off-balancing it.The overall sweep of the film is very much a rag-to-riches story with
     love being the real heart of the film even if "money" (or a game-show
     for money) is the narrative driver and essentially it is modern day
     fairytale. In this regard it is an excellent film because you are
     engaged throughout, are totally on the side of the main characters and
     ultimately the viewer would give anything if they could only end the
     film happily. In this way it is uplifting and (ultimately) a really
     cheering film that is worth seeing with an audience because it is one
     of those things that unites an audience with a common feeling of cheer
     and goodwill. The method of delivery really helps the plot work because
     it is colourful, frantic and stylish.I really enjoyed the fragmented time structure that uses the
     re-watching of the Millionaire questions in the police station as a
     trigger for flashbacks. This means we are gripped by several
     threads/times rather than it being a straight flow. It is not an
     amazingly unique device but the manner of it being put together
     prevents it ever being clumsy or obvious by how it transitions from one
     time to the other. Speaking of delivery and style, the film is
     understandably an Oscar contender generally thanks to its upbeat nature
     (after darker material last year and the current downturn in the world,
     Oscar probably will look for some feel-good stuff) but the areas I
     think it stands a great chance are those of cinematography, editing and
     direction. I say this because visually the film is a treat. It captures
     the colour of India with great camera work that puts us right in the
     scene. An example is the early chase through the slum, with a frantic
     camera, plenty of colour (in terms of palate, places and people) and a
     great visual style with the sun hitting the camera from above as it
     moves and other effective devices. With this much movement in the
     camera throughout the film, the editing is key in making these scenes
     work and it is excellent throughout – even putting the subtitles in a
     stylish and arresting fashion which helped sell the use of Hindi but
     does also match the style of the film more than standard text would
     have. As director Boyle delivers on all this and his use of music is
     great as well. It does feel like we have the grit and style of City of
     God but yet also the warm uplifting story of the very best the
     "underdog" genre can provide.That it achieves this is a testament to how well the film is delivered
     because it does have to overcome the fact that the majority of the film
     presents us with a terrible world of poverty and suffering and then
     gradually pulls the main characters out of it. This is a problem that
     the delivery covers but ultimately the viewer is left with some fairly
     harrowing realities that haven't gone away by the end of the film. I
     totally understand those who love the film unquestioningly but I do
     agree with those that take pause on this issue and note that it is an
     aspect of the film that really doesn't stand up in the cold light of
     day. You see, it is gritty and it is unpleasant and, although not based
     on a true story, this is a reality in our world and to see so much of
     it in a film that ultimately leaves you feeling good about life and
     happy that everything worked out alright is not a mix that sat
     particularly well with me. It isn't helped by the dance number over the
     end credits, which involved lots of people and pushed the "isn't
     everything great" idea more than the proper conclusion of the story
     did. I didn't like this part of the credits for this reason and also it
     would have been nice to see a film based in India that didn't feel it
     had to "do" Bollywood.The cast mostly play to the "fairytale" side of the film more than the
     grit, although the young children are very impressive in the first
     sections of the story. Patel took a minute to grow on me but, although
     not the most charismatic of performers, he is really steady as the
     underdog who is driven. Kapoor is a great villain, driven by a hate
     that says a lot about the class system in place. Pinto is stunning and
     has a much stronger presence than Patel. Khan works the investigation
     scenes well, which was important as these are where the story is told
     from. There are no real weak links in the performances – the fairy-tale
     nature of the tale means everyone has to focus on that side of it but
     they are still good.The film is not as perfect as you will hear but it is still very good
     at what it does. It is a wonderfully stylish and slick romantic
     fairytale that is cheering and uplifting but of course this does give
     the slight problem that it is a stylish, slick and uplifting film that
     features horribly real images of cruelty and poverty. It doesn't manage
     to reconcile this but it is strong enough to make you ignore this for
     the vast majority of the time, leaving you tense, hopeful and weepy.

190. marissabidilla from United States Says:
     January 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Works better as an India travelogue than as inspiring drama

     "Slumdog Millionaire" uses a clever narrative strategy to tell the life
     story of Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old former slum kid, and at first,
     that was one of the things I liked best about the movie. When Jamal
     wins ten million rupees on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the police
     don't believe he could have done it without cheating, so he must
     explain how he came to know the answers. Cue a series of flashbacks of
     Jamal's life, each of them incorporating the answer to one of the game
     show questions. It's an innovative way to tell a story, and the
     flashbacks are all exciting and dramatic. Jamal has confronted
     murderous religious mobs, sinister orphanage-keepers, and tough modern
     gangsters in his young life.But the suspense disappears somewhat when you realize that no matter
     how much filth and poverty Jamal encounters, no matter how many
     villains pursue him, he will survive to appear on the game show.
     Furthermore, it becomes increasingly clear that Jamal's story is a
     fairy tale, and that destiny is going to work in mysterious but
     positive ways to make sure that everything turns out all right.Thus "Slumdog Millionaire" works better as a tour of modern India than
     as a story about Jamal Malik. There is a terrific montage sequence set
     on a train, an interlude at the Taj Mahal, and some thought-provoking
     scenes of the gentrification of Mumbai. Meanwhile, the movie also gives
     an un-sugarcoated look at some of India's major social ills: religious
     conflict, extreme poverty, and prostitution/exploitation. Danny Boyle
     manages to fit this all together by directing everything in an
     exuberant, colorful, quick-cutting style. Even the subtitles are
     playful and color-tinted! (Most of the film is in English, except for
     the scenes where Jamal is a very small child and speaks Hindi.) Dev Patel, who plays Jamal at 18, has an open, innocent face and
     frequently seems a little out of his depth. This quality is useful
     during the game-show scenes, when Jamal is in the hot seat and dazed by
     his own success. But he otherwise seems like a nice suburban kid:
     someone who witnessed the horrors that the younger Jamal has seen
     should be both grittier and more soulful. The same goes for Freida
     Pinto, who plays Jamal's love interest Latika: she is a very pretty
     young woman but hard to believe as a former street waif. Additionally,
     Latika is not given much of a personality, which makes the love story
     hard to really cheer for.Ultimately, "Slumdog Millionaire" failed to move me, despite how hard
     it tried to do so. The flashy cinematography and propulsive action made
     the movie fun to watch, but also made it difficult to connect
     emotionally with the characters. And although the movie is meant to be
     the inspiring story of an underdog who triumphs, it makes clear that
     Jamal succeeds because destiny has chosen to smile upon him. He's a
     good-hearted and sympathetic boy, but a passive character in his own
     life. "Slumdog Millionaire" wants us to think "It's OK that Jamal
     suffered all these hardships, because it enabled him to win millions of
     rupees and the girl of his dreams," but what about all the other Indian
     slum kids who suffer with no hope of relief, whom Fate has not chosen
     to favor?

191. nipunmenon from India Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Easily one of the best movies i have seen..

     Excellent direction by Danny Boyle and asst director Lavleen and superb
     screenplay 2 …must watch for sum excellent performances by especially
     the children. .The youngest Jamaal,Salim and Lathika.. .I am pretty
     sure that the movie will be nominated for Oscars and even win it
     because this year very few good movies as this 1 has come up. The movie
     apart from drama and crime also has some excellent humor… .You have
     to appreciate the fact the hard-work the directors and the crew have
     taken to shoot the movie inside the dirty slums of Mumbai ..An extent
     what it's like for the poor kids that have to make it on the streets,
     it really gets to me.. I hope more people do see the movie because
     these kids don't have much of a voice in their own country, let alone
     the rest of the world, but movies like this give them one and it should
     be heard by everyone..A must watch movie for its excellent story line and
     screenplay……..OK.

192. Matthias Glanznig (matsmail@gmx.at) from Vienna Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     memories from the slums

     First of all I've never been especially fond of director Boyle.
     "Sunshine", "28 Days Later", "The Beach"… well…it quiet wasn't my
     cup of coffee. Nonetheless I really like "Slumdog Millionaire" !Tandan seems to be the right co-director for this kind of project. And
     thanks to a clever novel "Slumdog Millionaire" is no movie in need of
     any popular cast. Besides the film provides a modern visual style and
     an excellent soundtrack (in India composer Rahman is a terrific source
     for wonderful music). This US/UK production is probably also one step
     closer to Bollywood (yeah I know some won't like to hear that but I
     think it's safe to say, there will be more fusion like this one in the
     future).Conclusion: gripping story, modern style, great soundtrack, fine movie.
     In my opinion the only thing that really went wrong are the engl.
     subtitles (confusing use of subtitles).

193. sagar-naupada from India Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Worth a Million

     I too lazy to write a review for a film…but this flick moved
     me…sure it is capable of striking a spark in any kind of a
     person.Right from the way the title shows up…the way the plot is
     introduced…the journey is revealed…leaves the viewer staring at the
     screen.The skill and talent of the director and the team effort of the
     crew and casting is evident.The most notable aspect of the film is the
     "Real India" depicted on the screen.No one can ever show the slums so
     beautifully.Watching the film any ordinary person starts to feel the
     pulse of the movie..yes,this movie is no less than a living walking
     life form.In short , this film is worth a million.

194. marolas14 from Portugal Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best film of the Year

     One has filmed really spectacular! Slumdog Millionaire shows as the
     life can give many returns, two brothers and a friend with a life very
     difficult and afflicted, by the way, is a picture of thousand of
     children for this world rejection. I liked very the young actors that
     acting very well, had shown what really it is to represent. I liked
     particularly a scene it film, where the small Jamal sees its ídol and
     locked in a house of bath for the brother, it orders if for sewer where
     the people made its necessities, holding the photograph of its ídol
     without making dirty, and of followed runs to ask for the autograph to
     it and obtains. This history goes if uncurled of form very obtained
     well, with the two brothers of shapes and different personalities to
     follow opposing ways. The Jamal young inscribes in Who wants to be
     Millionaire so that it sees it to the Latika to try to change the life
     of the two, and has that to give the congratulations to the writer for
     the form as the questions that were made in the program were answered
     certainly by the Jamal on the basis of its experiences of life. It is
     impressive as this film obtains to captivate, great love that Jamal
     feels for Latika is impressive and shows in that never we must give up
     the people who really we like, and above all orders a great message,
     that the essences of the life is without a doubt the love, the courage
     and the friendship. Better film of 2008 without a doubt, of 0 the 10 I
     give 11 to it.

195. bexandbarn from Spain Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Oscars at the ready.

     One of the best films of 2008 and should definitely win best picture
     Oscar as it presses all those buttons that the industry loves. A great
     concept - that all the questions on 'Who wants to be a millionaire?'
     have some significance in the life of a Mumbai street urchin. I think
     this will have added resonance for those who have visited Mumbai and
     Agra, but even if you've never been to India you will warm to this
     movie. The acting is excellent, from the children up to the adult
     protagonists, the story is believable and well paced, and the end
     credits are very uplifting. The soundtrack is also fantastic. It has
     the distinct feel of a European Independent film, like Cinema Paradiso,
     with the whole life story of the leading characters being played out.
     It may be a bit schmaltzy towards the end for some, but this can be
     overlooked due to some great cinematography and emotional performances.
     A classic.

196. Craig McPherson from Montreal, Canada Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Cinematic Perfection

     Rarely in cinema has a movie so approximated perfection as Danny
     Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. Easily the best movie of 2008, and
     arguably of the past decade, the movie tells the story of Jamal Malik,
     an orphaned Muslim street urchin from the slums of Bombay who, as the
     movie begins, finds himself one question away from winning the jackpot
     on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.With the final question postponed until the next show, Jamal is whisked
     away by police for interrogation on suspicion of cheating. After all,
     how could a kid with no formal education possibly have gotten further
     than all comers before him, right? It's under this setting that the
     viewer is made privy to how Jamal knows the answers based on flashbacks
     to his life growing up on the streets, and a rich tableau it is.Boyle and co-director Loveleen Tandan, working from a script by Simon
     Beaufoy (The Full Monty) which was, in turn, based on the novel Q and A
     by Vikas Swarup, tell a tale that rich in plot twists,
     characterization, and so completely full of heart that it ought to be
     institutionalized viewing at film schools.Set against the backdrop of the India's rich social underbelly, we are
     introduced to a love story that spans years, as Jamal relentlessly
     pursues his childhood dream-girl Latika (portrayed by the stunning
     Freida Pinto as an adult), whom he meets while scouring India's garbage
     dumps for resellable scraps, while maintaining a love/hate relationship
     with his brother Salim. Along the way we are given insight into the
     moral makeup of each brother, and the ever growing divergent path that
     each will take later in life. At each stage, the acting by various cast
     members entrusted with depicting Jamal, Salim and Latika is uniformly
     seamless, further enhancing the movie's almost mesmerizing effect.Boyle, Tandan and Beaufoy work their movie canvas akin to Rembrandt as
     they spin their enthralling web, which is as perfectly plotted, paced,
     characterized, acted and edited, as possible, making this as close to
     cinematic perfection as can be.If you see one movie this year, make it this one. As a reviewer I can
     give it no greater accolade.

197. EddieM718 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     My Pick of the Year

     Slumdog Millionaire is a fairy tale, a comedy, a tragedy, a love story,
     a tale of hope, a tale of brutal realism, a window into slum life in
     India and all with a dash of Bollywood. The basic premise of Slumdog is
     fairly simple and has been covered in depth by other reviewers. Jamal
     Malik, a product of the harsh slum life found in Mumbai's dark
     crevices, ends up a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. How
     does a "slumdog" with no education wind up being successful on the
     show? Behind each answer is a story, a story that hearkens back to
     events in Jamal's (mostly young) past, growing up with his brother
     Salim and eventually the object of Jamal's obsession, a girl named
     Latika) on the streets of Mumbai and how they do whatever needs to be
     done to ensure basic survival, whether it be, trawling around rubbish,
     begging, scamming or stealing.The early scenes involving young Jamal and Salim will move you, the two
     kids are absolutely adorable, and it's difficult to believe their
     acting is acting because their performances are hands down the best and
     most memorable in the film. In particular, the outhouse scene is
     absolutely classic. I haven't laughed and simultaneously cringed at a
     scene like that in quite some time. Notwithstanding the comedic
     moments, there are tragic moments that are difficult to digest, but
     important in conveying the harsh realities of their respective lives
     and the lives of many in the slums. In the face of all the difficulties
     of slum life and being forced to grow up well ahead of their
     chronological years, the two boys are remarkably resilient and that
     resilience to survive sets Jamal and his brother off in entirely
     different directions as they adjust to hard life in Mumbai. The cinematography in this film is superb. Even amidst the squalor of
     Mumbai's slums, the depth and vibrancy of the colours bring the city of
     Mumbai to life like no other film I've seen. It truly represents film
     as artwork. I was completely immersed in the Boyle's imagery of Mumbai,
     much as I was in the depiction of Rio de Janeiro in "City of God" and
     there are certainly visual aspects of Slumdog's story and
     cinematography that are reminiscent of "City of God". Anil Kapoor is superb in his role as Millionaire's host. He perfectly
     creates the tense atmosphere of the show. You feel the tension *as if*
     you are watching the show. I am not a game show enthusiast and I
     thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the film. Previously not knowing that
     Anil Kapoor was a famous Bollywood actor, he was so believable in his
     role that I initially assumed that he was the actual host of the
     Millionaire's Indian version.There is clearly a fairy tale aspect to this film. But as one reviewer
     noted, to say the premise is unrealistic is to say that someone winning
     the lottery or a game show in "real life" is unrealistic. Putting that
     aside, the movie is not really about "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire",
     this is simply an unconventional vehicle to tell a harrowing tale of
     the life many children in Mumbai must live through and how it shapes
     Indian society. In fact, Jamal's motivation for being on the show has
     absolutely nothing to do with being on the show or becoming a
     millionaire, and that is made very clear during the course of the film.
     This is a different type of fairy tale, one overlaid on a harsh
     depiction of life for many in Mumbai. Some reviewers get caught up in
     the fact that the questions posed on the show all relate to some aspect
     of Jamal's life, when that is exactly the point. The movie would not
     work if it were otherwise, Jamal's appearance on Millionaire is just
     the means to the end and not what the film's focus is supposed to be,
     notwithstanding the film's title. Excellent film. You will leave the film with a smile on your face, but
     also appreciative of how harsh slum life can be in Mumbai.

198. dtgonehome from United States Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Truly uplifting; one of the best films of 2008

     Slumdog Millionaire is the tale of an Indian teenage boy by the name of
     Jamal. Jamal works in a call-centre in Mumbai delivering tea to
     employees; however his humble life is changed forever when he becomes a
     contestant on the Indian version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'.
     Jamal surprises viewers as he correctly answers every question, and
     shocks the nation when he wins 10 million rupees. Upon leaving the
     studio, he is kidnapped and arrested by the police. They are highly
     suspect of Jamal, as it is unlikely a tea-maker could be so smart.
     During his interrogation, Jamal reveals to the police how he knew the
     answers; through the use of various flashbacks, Jamal reveals his
     'short but full life', and how he became who he is today. Slumdog Millionaire is arguably director Danny Boyle's best film since
     1996's Trainspotting. Boyle tells the story so well, interweaving
     flashbacks of Jamal's life with present events. Even though a lot of
     the movie is set in the slums of Mumbai, the film is exquisitely shot;
     it captures the atmosphere and essence of Mumbai extremely well, and we
     easily become immersed in the film. Although Slumdog Millionaire has a
     fairly ordinary start, the pacing soon picks up and we become
     enthralled in Jamal's life story. The film's climax is also extremely
     well done, emulating the tension of the game show perfectly.
     Furthermore, the film's ending is deeply touching and emotional – it
     was so well-made that it brought me close to tears. There is no doubt that Slumdog Millionaire is one of the best films of
     2008. It is a prime example of a successful modern fairtytale, set in
     the contemporary backdrop of commercial Mumbai. A near-masterpiece,
     Slumdog Millionaire is a film to look out for come Oscar time. It will
     without a doubt be nominated for Best Picture - and if it does, it has
     a very, very good chance of winning. 9.5/10

199. haider ejaz from Pakistan Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Interesting movie, excellent 1st but a bit dull 2nd half.

     The movie is Good and interesting…. Direction is good but some times
     get dull… Story is acceptable but a bit unauthentic.. First half is
     far better than 2nd half.The movies scripts is very faulty…1) No show in history has ever sent a man to JAIL… lets talk about
     REAL Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.. most of people came in that show
     were from below average status and some were from even slums.. all of
     us know India in general is a poor country (don't get angry thats truth
     and not a taunt.) Many of them got 20 million rupees now go ask Bachan
     And SRK (2 big hosts of the show) how many of them were sent to jail?2) Now lets talk about children talking in English…. I remember some
     great cinema which is translated in English (from other languages
     especially Italian.) why did Danny Boyle and the script writer focused
     to shoot entire picture in Hindi because children from Slums don't
     speak English even if they are assistants in Call Centres and children
     who Guide Tourists … they could have shoot the picture in Hindi so
     that entire India could Enjoy the movie… 30% Hindi and Urdu and 70%
     English… whats the point.. they want to show that this movie is not
     for INDIANS….Pakistanis….And other south Asians? thats why this
     movie ended earning less than 0.5 million dollars in India. How the
     hell the people who don't know English (from slum according to
     them)will understand this movie which they consider is made for Markets
     like US and UK…3) What is the point to choose latika's character of 26+ years (she
     looks mature) and Jamal's character (18 years) he looked like Latika's
     elder brother in the movie.4) Why did they choose JAMAL from UK? can't an Indian do this?5) What the hell was the ending? a hard to be called kiss and then a
     poor Song what was that? whatever that was awful 6) I could find a lot of script errors…. and they call British
     literature is superior than American (notice my point 2 )7) Danny Boyle just used Laveen Tondon (co-director from India)…. she
     was not supposed to be co-director because she was real director of the
     film… DAMN u Danny Boyle from each movie up to 4 directors can be
     nominated for Oscar.there are some very serious issues with the film…. start of the film
     is excellent….. the scenes when children are in trouble melts Ur
     heart and the cinematography is also praiseworthy a good movie 7/10. as
     a critic 8/10 as an audience

200. TuFNuT from India Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Deserving of not a Million but Billion applauses!

     There are movies and there are movies. Some entertain while some are
     cinematically brilliant but lack mass appeal. And then there are some
     like 'Slumdog Millionaire' that transcend all barriers and manage to do
     both.At its very core 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a magnificent love story,
     which seems like a fairytale, yet it is so damn realistic and
     believable. We have all dreamt of the perfect romance, the kind which
     blossoms and gets better over time like wine. Slumdog Millionaire is
     living that dream on celluloid for two hours. It's about the
     perseverance of the protagonist, a Mumbai slum kid named Jamal
     portrayed brilliantly by the two child actors and Dev Patel, to unite
     with the love of his life – Latika, whom he met, fell in love and was
     separated from in the direst of circumstances.Filmed entirely in India, it captures the life, the spirit, the
     greatness and the follies of the nation and its people in a way, which
     perhaps no other foreign film has been able to. In fact the excellent
     production values achieved by this US-UK and Indian joint venture is
     something that will put many popular Indian film-makers to shame. Of
     course, it goes without saying that this venture would not shine
     without the A Grade effort of the Indian crew right from the assistant
     director to the lower level technicians. The soundtrack composed by
     A.R. Rehman is a major highlight of the movie. His brilliance in this
     foreign venture stands out proving that Indian artists can match the
     best of the best in the business. Each of Rahman's composition has the
     effect of cocaine injected into your blood stream.The British director, Danny Boyle is clearly the captain of the ship.
     Slumdog has some clear and refined shades of his other highly acclaimed
     movie – Trainspotting. But here Boyle outdoes that effort by perfectly
     understanding the essence of this Indian story, bringing out its soul,
     thereby brilliantly executing it. In fact, Indian film maker Madhur
     Bhandarkar would do well to learn a lesson or two on how not to
     stereo-type and play the same record again and again.Coming back to the film, the game show, 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire'
     hosted by Anil Kapoor is the pivot around which the story revolves.
     Jamal, a chaiwala in a call center is on the verge of winning the grand
     prize in this popular show. But how could a chaiwala, a slum boy
     possibly do that? His euphoria is short lived as he is arrested on
     suspicion of cheating and interrogated by the police inspector played
     by Irrfan Khan. The story goes back and forth, with Jamaal revealing
     his adventurous journey with his elder brother Salim and Latika, the
     love of his life. The riveting tale starts from the slums of Mumbai.
     With a glib charm it gives us an engrossing depiction of their
     turbulent lives which take unanticipated turns time and again. It is
     commendable how brilliantly plots like the massacre of Muslims and the
     organized child- begging business are woven into the story. As is often
     the case to gain audience's sympathy for the characters, the
     film-makers do not resort to any emotional manipulation even in the
     most intense scenes. Instead, they establish a strong and resilient
     central character of Jamal backed up by equally powerful characters of
     Salim and Latika. Whenever they are in a spot of bother the viewer is
     rooting for them with all his heart just like in a football match when
     one supports a minnow against the league champion.Slumdog millionaire will uplift you to a feel good pedestal where you
     are less cynical and in a more positive life state. That there is a
     thing called DESTINY will force even the cynic to think about once he
     watches this. Of course, destiny always doesn't have to be as over the
     top as shown in Slumdog but it does exist in everybody's life and that
     the elements of the universe conspire for you to achieve your's.Maybe in that envelope for the 2009 Oscars there is a card where it is
     written : BEST MOTION PICTURE – Slumdog Millionaire.

201. moviewizguy from United States Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Is that your final answer?

     There's no need to phone a friend, ask the audience, nor choose a
     fifty-fifty to determine if you should see this film. The answer is
     obvious: SEE IT NOW. The film follows the story of the life of an
     impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik, who becomes a contestant on the
     Hindi version of "Who Wants to be A Millionaire?", wins, and is then
     suspected of cheating.Throughout the film, we learn that Jamal is able to answer the
     questions in the game show correctly because of key points in his life.
     Not only is this about a game show, it's about Jamal's life story. The
     film mixes the flashbacks and present flawlessly. Probably telling a
     life story of someone is not new. Just last December, there was "The
     Curious Case of Benjamin Button." However, the fact that the film mixes
     Jamal's life story with his ability to answer the questions in the game
     show is quite clever and ingenious. It adds another fresh twist to what
     might be another story about someone's life.Even too, the game show plays a crucial element to the plot so the
     whole puzzle fits together perfectly in the end. It's just another
     thing that makes this movie so great. Now let's talk about the
     performances. Wow! Weren't they great? Dev Patel gives us a
     breakthrough performance. Everyone else, although not as memorable as
     Patel, gave us their all in here too. The soundtrack is also very good.
     I loved it.So what makes this movie so great? Just watch it. I really can't spoil
     it. Maybe I can just say it's about fate and destiny but then you might
     roll your eyes. It's just a captivating film with fantastic
     performances from unknown actors and in the end, I'll admit it, I
     really can't find anything to not like about the film. It's what I call
     a nearly flawless film. Compared to Danny Boyle's previous
     disappointing film, "Sunshine," "Slumdog Millionaire" is several steps
     up to the right direction, not to mention one of the best films of this
     year.

202. robbanio from Sweden Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Definite Must See

     This movie is one of the best i've seen, without doubt the best movie
     of 2008, it has it all. It's one of those movies that catches your mind
     and you truly remember after having seen it. It's a mindblower if you
     like movies like Crash, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, movies
     with good story and not only shooting - this movie is a masterpiece.The movie speaks for itself as the movie manages so well to tell the
     story of the boys that Mercedez wants its logo taken away from the
     slum-scene.It's not quiet as emotional as Crash but at least as impressive because
     of the rich, interesting, insight and it is a must see because it can't
     be described before it's been seen.

203. trigger_jam from United States Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Okay

     Typical movie about India that western audiences love so it isn't
     surprising it has all these great reviews and nominations. AR Rahman's
     score is good. The acting is decent enough. The whole notion of the
     actors speaking in English was difficult to get over. Especially when
     the "slumdog" busts out English in an English accent. What was the
     point of having a mix of Hindi and English dialog? Story is very
     similar to Hindi movies of the 90s like Parinda, Sadak etc. But of
     course the whole "who wants to be a millionaire" is a unique touch over
     the typical "slum" stories. There is nothing extraordinary about it but
     there is nothing all too dull about it either. It sits comfortably in
     the middle.

204. Mukund Khatiwoda (mukund_rebel@hotmail.com) from Nepal Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     It's a crime to miss this one!!

     When a orphan named Jamal Malik, from the slums of Mumbai, makes it to
     the final question on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire, his credibility is put into question. Did he cheat? The
     police arrest and torture the 18-year-old, hoping to uncover some kind
     of illegal motivation, but instead they get the heartwarming story of
     his life so far. And that's why Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is
     really clever. The film is not really about winning 10 or 20 million
     rupees on Millionaire, it's a love story, told through flashbacks.There are three different types of people: Those who know a little
     about everything, those who know a lot about one or two things, and
     those who just know what they have been exposed to over the course of
     their life. Jamal fits neatly into the third category. Every answer
     Jamal got right on the game show, leading up to the final question, was
     the result of an important moment from his childhood living on the
     streets of India. And of course there is Latika, a girl who serves as a
     through-line for Jamal's adventures. She is the love of his life, the
     love he lost. In fact, Jamal only tried out to be on Millionaire with
     the hope that Latika might see it and that they could be reunited.Featuring an electrifying score by AR Rehman, Boyle presents India as
     it has never been seen before, from the slums to the Taj Mahal. Vivid
     visuals combined with this City of God-like tale of a few orphan kids
     trying to survive in a gang-infested city. Based on the bestselling
     Vikas Swarup novel Q and A, Slumdog Millionaire was scripted by Simon
     Beaufoy, who had also written the script for The Full Monty, one of
     Boyle's favorite films. My only complaint is that the torture sequence
     that begins the film felt unnecessary to the story, and out of place in
     this film. But it's only a minor issue.

205. vicky-bahl from India Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     I am an Indian, and this one came as a surprise to me too!

     Yes it did! Slumdog Millionaire - a title that made me think about
     three things - slums, dogs and a millionaire. And this movie related
     all three of them and made it into a masterpiece. It is not a
     Godfather, Shawshank Redemption or Pulp Fiction. But it is REAL - as
     real as it can get. The 'in your face' reality of Indian slums (or any
     slum for that matter) and its hard to digest.How does it relate the three? - A guy from a slum - with a life
     comparable to a dog, aspires to become a millionaire, and the story is
     told artistically, with such perfection, honesty and beauty, that you
     don't feel like talking, moving etc. while its on the screen. The life
     of Indian slums answers all questions of LIFE, because life is lived
     (with all experiences) by people who struggle, for money, food, love,
     clothes etc. You will definitely enjoy this joy ride.8/10

206. binoj88 from London, England Says:
     January 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best Movie of the Year 2008

     Wonderful.. just awesome. Excellent direction and the way the storyline
     picks up is fabulous. All characters leaves an impact on you.
     Especially our Hero Jamal.I got really surprised when the Quiz master gave him the answer and
     Jamal gave 'D' as the answer. The climax was very different from an
     usual Romance movie.If you have time go and watch it. It's worth it. Trust me :)It's my first review in IMDb and I give Slumdog Millionaire a 10/10A special mention to A.R.Rahman's outstanding music. My god.. he is
     really the new generations MOZART. Cheers to the Crew.

207. dlieb10 from United States Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An alternative viewing

     An interesting perspective from Slumdog Millionaire at
     http://www.alternativeinsight.com/Slumdog_Millionaire.htmlWhat is the explanation for the film's ethereal quality? The
     explanation is that the adolescent contestant has scammed the quiz
     program and the film scams the audience. An alert audience should
     recognize the scam and think - well, what has actually happened?We observe the film through the voice of the youth until the end. The
     cardboard characters of criminals and his long sought lover are as he
     wants us to believe them. The relationship between the characters are
     too movie like, unlike the naturalistic description of his childhood
     battles with deprivation and despair. The imagined criminals are
     undoubtedly associates in the scam. The contestant is probably wired
     with a receiver (under the skin, similar to a pacemaker?) and is
     receiving transmitted information from his collaborators, who watch the
     program, find the answers on the Internet and transmit the answers to
     the ultimate millionaire. The transmission only needs one, two, three
     or four vibrations to provide either the A, B, C, or D response to the
     questionPerhaps this analysis of Slumdog Millionaire sounds absurd and
     conspiratorial. That's a valid response. But without the explanation,
     the film is a betrayal and disaster, only another fairy tale Sleepless
     in Seattle story? Isn't there something more that is underlying the
     words and actions of the characters? Isn't the movie more meaningful
     and dramatic if the audience can figure out the scam and not be
     scammed? The scam gives the film a moral: The difference between those
     who are poor and those who are rich is only a scam and underdogs can
     beat the odds if they adopt the practices of those who control their
     destiny.By a clever use of subtext, Slumdog Millionaire becomes a work of art.

208. Ram Logan from United States Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Forrest Gump comes to India

     Slumdog chronicles the life of Jamal who is born in the slums of
     Bombay. His life journey takes him through some of the dark aspects of
     India during the 90's. Starting from the forced child begging to the
     '93 Hindu Muslim riots and the notorious Bombay underworld, the movie
     reveals everything that is nasty about the country. So why should anyone watch this movie? Well, its because of the amazing
     screenplay which keeps the viewers interested till the very last moment
     - and the thrill is not about whether or not Jamal wins the 20 million.
     Its more about how he gets there. In addition to the screenplay some of the other outstanding aspects of
     the movie include 1. music by A R Rahman is top notch. 2. casting (Loveleen) was amazing. Especially the 2 child actors who
     played Jamal. Their resemblance to Dev Patel (as grownup Jamal) was
     simply uncanny. 3. acting was apt. Nobody overdid their part and thats just what this
     movie needed. As any other Indian watching this movie, I couldn't help wonder why the
     movie focuses only on Slums, underworld and other dark areas of India.
     Why are only such movies critically acclaimed in the West? Is it
     probably because that is our only USP at this point - which is sad
     considering 'Salaam Bombay' made 20 years ago offered the same. Don't
     we have anything else other than Slums and Gandhi?9/10.

209. seabala from Chennai Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Danny succeeds where Bollywood fails.

     With 90% of movies coming out of India consciously avoiding the grim
     reality of what India is, in favor of showing the upper class and
     super-rich which allegedly appeals to the West, Slumdog cut through the
     bullshit of Bollywood clichés and got the pure essence of living in
     India. It took a British director, yet again!. This film will give new meaning to the phrase "Life is tough". It will
     make your troubles in life seem so meager. It will show scenes that
     will make your heart cry out "enough" and yet you come out of the
     theater livelier than ever. It will make you laugh when you least
     expected to. Most of all, this movie is there to stay, refreshing
     itself in your memory, giving you the "push" to move on when faced with
     trouble.A.R.Rahman once again proved to be India's best. I'm proud to be living
     in the same city as him. The music lifts the movie to a whole different
     level. M.I.A. was awesome too.Its a shame that directors in India failed to realize that they can
     make a movie in slums and yet sell it in the west. But I'm glad Danny
     took this on. I can't imagine this story in any one else's hands.
     Overall, the movie has everything it needs, to be a classic. Hope it
     gets the awards that it clearly deserves over its competition.

210. frankenbenz from Sydney, Australia Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Why Such Praise?

     http://eattheblinds.blogspot.com/One movie that won't be on my year-end best of 2008 list is Danny
     Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. What's surprising to me is that I might be
     the only critic on the web to not have it on their list. After watching
     it last night, I want to know: why all the love for a routine melodrama
     dressed up as something exotic?As you expect from Boyle, SM is exceptionally stylish, fluid and
     kinetic. The more I think about why so many people love this movie, the
     more I come back to how expertly the film is crafted. It is a hyper
     film, bristling with action, drama, emotion and energy. India makes for
     a truly epic backdrop, with splashes of color, clutter and exotic
     wonder. With the languages breaking in and out of English, Hindi and
     other regional dialects, SM feels like a completely foreign, yet
     utterly accessible movie. In nearly ever superficial way imaginable, SM
     strives to be a palatable form of culture shock. Based on its success,
     it seems Boyle has succeeded.For the first half of the film, the story's winding structure
     deliberately keeps you guessing, your head spinning amidst a whirlwind
     of backstory and puzzling present tense. But by about the halfway mark,
     I found my bearings, and once I did, the artifice of the film started
     to reveal itself. At this point, a very simple, but (potentially)
     revealing question popped into my head: if this whole thing was set in
     the USA with familiar actors and locations, wouldn't it just be another
     syrupy sweet romantic melodrama?Perhaps the real culprit was when the story and character's
     transitioned from childhood to maturity. With the first half of SM
     reminiscent of the adventures of Satyajit Ray's Apu, I was swept up and
     completely sucked in by young Jamal's struggles. But once Jamal was
     transformed into a young man, the events unraveled into a predictable
     teenage soap opera, with plot lines seemingly plucked from The O.C. or
     Gossip Girl.By the time the end credits started to roll and the cast of actors
     broke into a choreographed song and dance routine, I felt like Boyle
     was mocking me. For a movie that starts out with such a kick to the gut
     in terms of gritty, gutter level realism, for it to end on such a
     completely phony level, I can't help but feel Boyle pulled the wool
     over everyone's eyes. Perhaps that's the point.It's no secret SM is a fairy tale, furthermore, much of it is lifted
     right out of the pages of Dickins' Oliver Twist. The film also
     references Puccini's Tosca, a three-act opera considered by many to be
     the most dramatic of all operas. Since Boyle unabashedly acknowledges
     SM's operatic and dramatic origins, then perhaps his fault is his
     ambition. His ambition is to turn a contrived melodrama into a social
     commentary, to thrust into the spotlight the issues of poverty, a
     developing India, the caste system, globalization and the injustices of
     capitalism. Big themes indeed, but Boyle is not Brecht and there's
     nothing post-modern about SM's shamefully manipulative attempt to hide
     behind realism. I might be the only critic on the web to dislike this movie…but at
     least I know why.

211. steelcurtain82391 from United States Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Should have won Picture of the Year

     I am not a fan of romantic movies but this movie was exceptional. It is
     not a boring love story. It contains a lot of action and even a rape
     (not shown on camera but you know it happens) and all this relates to
     the completely original and heartwarming storyline. You can watch this
     movie again and again and you will still feel the same sense of passion
     each time you watch it. I also loved how Salim, who had always ruined
     his life, in fact saves it in the end. I give it a 9 out of 10 because
     it is not perfect and I have never given a movie besides Shawshank a
     10. This movie ranks in my top 3 of all time after Shawshank and
     Reservoir Dogs and as you can see it is very different from the other
     two showing how good this movie really is.

212. fwomp from United States Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Bollywood Trumps Hollywood?

     I'm going to try and do this film justice by reviewing it with as keen
     an eye as I can muster, but I fear I'll still fall far short of the
     mark …so here goes…SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the best movie of the year for a couple of
     reasons. The first is that it is both compartmentalized and global at
     the same time. It harkened me back to my love of another favorite film
     of mine, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, in which a man sits in a police station
     and tells his story in flashback. But any similarities between these
     two ends with the police station and their equally excellent scripts
     (sidenote: The Usual Suspect remains my top favorite film script of all
     time but this one's pulling up close).Slumdog takes place at a police station as young man named Jamal (Dev
     Patel) goes through a tortuous interrogation at the hands of India's
     police force. Having recently been on India's version of "Who Wants To
     Be A Millionaire" — and answered all of the questions correctly so far
     — he was whisked off to the local constables office on the possibility
     of having cheated. The show has had lawyers, doctors, physicists, and
     many other well-educated people on the show who didn't get as far as
     Jamal, so how did he — a chai tea delivery boy — get so far (only one
     more question remains and he'll have his million)? The story is
     complex, funny, grotesque, horrible and loving, all within the same
     breath. Each answer comes not from Jamal's limited education, but from
     his time on India's hard-bitten streets where he grew up an orphan
     along with his brother, Salim (Madhur Mittal). Having watched their
     mother murdered during a religious uprising against Muslims, Jamal and
     Salim had to make their way in the world on their own, their paths
     separating wildly and then re-merging, often years later. But during
     their younger days as little kids, they encountered a pretty young
     orphan girl named Latika (the amazingly beautiful Freida Pinto), whom
     Jamal finds an instant fascination with. And it is his fascination and
     love for her that will drive him for the rest of his young life
     …which include his chances on the millionaire show. Separated time
     and again (including thanks to the departure from his brother as he
     falls in with some very bad gangsters), Jamal never gives up his quest
     to be with her, even when it seems impossible.It is Jamal's remembrances of his street life that are the hardest to
     watch, making for some gritty scenes (and some funny ones, including a
     scene where Jamal must jump down a latrine hole in order to escape and
     get a much-wanted autograph from a local movie star). Forced child
     labor is nothing new in India's slums, and it is brought into
     nauseating focus as we watch kids beaten, deformed ("Blind singers earn
     twice as much") and sent onto the streets to beg for money …all at
     the hands of adults wanting to take advantage no matter the cost.The stories back and forth nature (like the aforementioned The Usual
     Suspects) was a great way to show Jamal's life in a bubble. The
     audience really, really, really cared for him and wanted to see him win
     (the show I went to had audience members applauding — loudly — when the
     film ended), showing how well the script was put together and how well
     acted the film was by these relative unknowns (the only actor I was
     familiar with was Irrfan Khan who was in another favorite Bollywood
     film of mine entitled THE NAMESAKE …note: see that movie, too!)
     Hollywood should take note of this film, and apparently has as the
     Golden Globes have come out with their nominations (2008) and listed it
     among four categories (Best Director, Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best
     Original Score, and Best Screenplay).One final note: This film is truly an independent, tolling in at $15
     million for production costs. I've seen much, much lesser films (in
     terms of quality) that had a budget ten times that. But one can't
     forget that filming in India is much cheaper than here in the States.
     Still, Hollywood, take notice! This is what great cinema is all about.Oscars! Here comes Bollywood!

213. enteerocks from India Says:
     January 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A truly awesome movie about Bombay!

     Slumdog is a truly awesome movie which has Bombay in great detail,
     manages to cover some important events in the history of the city(the
     communal riot scene with the police) and some dark facts which are
     swept under the covers (like the scene about kids being blinded for
     begging, the police brutality). The irony in the movie is truly
     amazing.The question about the poet Surdaas and the connection about the
     blindness scene was that the poet was blind even though he spoke of
     'seeing' his lord.The movie constantly reminded about the book 'Shanataram' again about
     the history of the city and of violence.The performances were superb especially from Dev Patel and the actress
     who is truly beautiful. Irrfan Khan is not a Shahrukh Khan(and Thank Go
     for that) and never ceases to amaze.And having seen Cidade de Deus(which I truly enjoyed watching), I
     thought this movie is a lot more plausible.

214. robert szita from Canada Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Better than Bejamin Button!

     I felt this film very refreshing! A good creative storyline as well as
     above average acting from faces that where not Hollywood familiar to
     me! It kept me in from the beginning till the very end! In all i felt
     this film was not! a typical Hollywood predictable storyline with
     familiar Hollywood faces. If this film walks away empty handed in the
     foreign film category at the awards i will not just be surprised! I
     will be disappointed! In fact if this film was not coming out of the
     foreign film category i would be picking it over most if not all movies
     nominated this year! I think that is saying enough considering the
     amount of great films that will be in the running this year perhaps
     more than several in the past!

215. moviedovie from India Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An unbelievably believable movie

     I have been on a movie watching spree recently and have subjected
     myself to a helluva lot of them ranging from downright pathetic to some
     very wonderful. But none of them could give me the feel or the punch
     that you secretly crave for from each movie that you watch. Maybe it
     was this feeling that had eluded me that made me watch dozens after
     dozens. But Slumdog has put this desire to a rest. The speciality of
     this movie is the audacity it contains. Capturing the essence of India
     in a way that is neither too artistic to be considered soft nor too
     gore to be sidelined as rash. The vision behind this movie is
     definitely laudable. The actors have been chosen very very
     painstakingly and the performance that they give out takes the movie a
     few notches higher. The script, although rather flimsy, has been told
     in a very convincing manner. The music remains true to the nature of
     the movie, neither going overt nor getting lost in the chaos. Count on
     Rehman to beat himself. The narration was flawless, it reminded me of
     Pulp Fiction. After watching the movie, you would feel a certain kind
     of happiness that cannot be put into words easily. And I credit the
     director for having created that aura. Overall, I must say, this is a
     breakthrough movie. The story is old, the plot is oft abused, the theme
     is offbeat but the perspective taken makes this movie a standout among
     the crowd.Watching this movie is an amazing experience and I am sure worth an
     encore !!

216. Travis Lepine (t_lepine18@hotmail.com) from Canada Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     This may very well be the best movie of the year; if not, the best I've seen in my life..

     I have seen this film at several of screenings and it simply beautiful.
     It honestly makes me question what love really is. I still may be a
     young man and may not find true love for many years but this film will
     clearly show you what true love really is. Even though this movie gives
     off the feeling of an emotional drama at the beginning, and even at
     times a legitimate biography, it still is very much one of the most
     romantic films that a person can witness. It is about a young Indian man, 18 years old, who lost the one and only
     true love of his life when he was young. This young boy has also lived
     most of his life as an orphan. He travels around the country of India
     in search of his one true love, Latika. On his journey he discovers
     past acquaintances, enemies and family. Jamal, the protagonist, is now a young man and is on the game show "Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire." Every moment of his painful, dramatic,
     profound and love-filled life leads to the answer of every question on
     the game show. The game show, however, is not about money or fame but,
     simply for love.Once you view this film you will not be disappointed for it involves so
     many aspects of life that can be related to (even if you cannot relate
     to the characters themselves).There are scenes in this film that will make you cry, applaud and even
     laugh but overall, this is a film to be watched and cherished for many
     years because it shows the true nature of love; it can be perceived
     when it is observed hard enough but it takes effort to hold onto it and
     retain it for the rest of your life.

217. Ed Uyeshima from San Francisco, CA, USA Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Emotional Connectivity Blends with Visual Panache in Boyle's Hindi Fanciful Tale of Destiny

     It's difficult to categorize a film that takes as many precariously
     driven dramatic turns as this 2008 picture directed by the versatile
     Danny Boyle. So why even bother since he manages to navigate fluidly
     between the feel-bad and feel-good extremes of Simon Beaufoy's ("Miss
     Pettigrew Lives for a Day") emotionally dense script with aplomb? The
     apt title refers to someone who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, and in
     this case, is on the verge of becoming very wealthy due to a
     serendipitous situation that leads him to be a finalist on the Hindi
     version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" On the surface, the premise
     sounds rather silly, but the familiar game show, already a trivia
     footnote in this country, provides the catalyst for the vividly
     rendered events that unfold for one particular boy named Jamal Malik, a
     coffee carrier at a local telemarketing company. Contrivances aside, it
     is his life experiences that feed him the answers to the increasingly
     difficult questions, but the producers suspect a scam at work and have
     the police torture him in order to confess. What really emerges is
     Malik's undying devotion to his one true love, Latika, from whom he has
     long been estranged due to the desperate circumstances in her life.The movie's childhood flashbacks have a Dickensian quality set against
     a cultural tableau unfamiliar to most of us. They focus on young Jamal
     and his older brother Salim, who are soon orphaned after their mother
     is killed for being a Muslim. They are joined by another abandoned
     orphan Latika, and together they dub themselves the Three Musketeers.
     They eventually find themselves indentured under the servitude of the
     deceptively kind Maman, who goes to extremes in keeping the children as
     street beggars. The brothers escape and eventually figure out how to
     scam tourists at the Taj Mahal, while Latika suffers the consequences
     of being left with Maman. The rest of the plot shows how the brothers
     diverge in values and how Latika becomes an unwilling mistress for a
     rival gang leader. Amazingly, Beaufoy's screenplay juxtaposes these
     spiraling events with the multiple-choice questions posed by Prem, the
     jocular "Millionaire" host, a popular figure who reveals his own sleazy
     underside in short order. There is such a swirl of activity with every
     episode in the film that there is little time to question the
     plausibility of the many plot turns because the resulting
     implausibility is what makes the movie so arresting.Boyle gives co-directing credit to Loveleen Tandan, previously a
     casting director specializing in India-themed films like Mira Nair's
     "Monsoon Wedding" and "Vanity Fair", and it's obvious that the
     combination of their talents gives us a greater intimacy into India
     than one would expect from Boyle by himself. Other than his charming
     fable, "Millions", there is little indication in Boyle's resume (the
     sci-fi shocker "Sunshine", the post-apocalyptic thriller "28 Days
     Later", the drug-infested "Trainspotting") that he would have been
     capable of telling such a fanciful tale so convincingly. At the same
     time, the visual flourishes (thanks primarily to the stunning
     cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantel) and fast-cut editing reflect his
     familiar touches. The no-frills performances befit the story with Dev
     Patel bringing emotional focus to the grown Jamal and Frieda Pinto
     appropriately fetching as the grown Latika. Smaller roles are filled
     with a few more familiar faces with Indian movie icon Anil Koopar
     playing Prem and character actor Irrfan Khan (the father in "The
     Namesake") as the determined police inspector. There are times when the
     film feels overly manipulative, but the buoyant spirit keeps thing
     afloat just when you feel you've been left on sensory overload.

218. khun-marcus from somewhere out there Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     One of the best films of the year, if not the best

     On paper, the film sounds like nothing extraordinary. A young man from
     India gets a chance of a lifetime to go from rags to riches by being a
     contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."
     Throw in another plot strand, that of the same young man trying to
     reunite with his long lost love, and it sounds like a been there, done
     that type of story. Yet director Danny Boyle, in what is probably his
     best film, comes up with ingenious ways to tell this story in what
     surprisingly turns to be one of the most original films I've seen in a
     long time. Told with a hyperkinetic pace and punctuated by an
     outstanding soundtrack (with songs by M.I.A., one of the hottest
     singers of this generation), this film, detailing the struggles of two
     brothers growing up, one a street-smart hustler, the other, the hero of
     the story, more innocent and good-hearted, is never predictable, and is
     by turns funny, suspenseful, sad and inspiring – sometimes all in the
     same sequence. Boyle makes a point to show the side of India we hardly
     see in pictures – instead of a country of glossy palaces that is home
     to a more than a few billionaires and an industry which exports
     four-hour long hyperbolic Bollywood melodramas, we see (in superb
     shots) a struggling, overcrowded India full of hardship and despair,
     where slums stretch for miles and life is very cheap, if even worth
     anything at all. But in no way is this a depressing sob story nor is it
     a predictable fairytale trying to be this year's Oliver Twist; in fact,
     it's a hugely entertaining film that offers sharp, incisive social
     commentary on not just the impoverished of India, but of economic
     hardships and what people do to overcome such adversity no matter where
     they may be in the world. That is no easy task, and the fact that Boyle
     accomplishes it so entertainingly well makes it all the more
     remarkable. It sounds like it shouldn't work, but as one character
     notes on Jamal's life, it's bizarrely plausible. It's also one of the
     most audacious, daring and best films of the year. Stay for the end
     credits.(Side note: This film, in one harrowing sequence, confirmed for me what
     my good friend from Singapore told me: That you should be very cautious
     when giving money to beggars, particularly those in Asian countries, as
     they are more than likely controlled by the mafia. Especially if they
     are blind or look maimed in some way – the more pathetic they look, the
     more they are able to elicit sympathy money from unsuspecting
     tourists.)

219. Rajiv Gohel from Australia Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Delightful fantasy and amazing story telling…!

     Well… well… well…! Now this is what a movie should look like…!
     It is true to life… though it is fantasy. It takes you to the deep
     and dark streets of the life of two brothers living in Mumbai slums.
     The destiny of one took him to be a Millionaire and the amazing
     direction of Donny Boyle take us to an over the edge journey. The
     direction certainly at it's best and the performance given by all the
     characters are honest and true to life. The love story of Jamal and
     Latika is also it's best. The story revolve around how Jamal get to
     reach at the final question on the Hindi version of "Who wants to be a
     millionaire?" How his destiny was written that he will be the
     millionaire and how he will get her love after loosing her twice due to
     his fate.You should not miss this movie by any mean. I give 9 out of 10.

220. The_Film_Addict from El Paso, Texas Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     "Slumdog Millionaire" is an impressive, visceral piece of film-making that captures the romance of a memorable movie going experience.

     What begins as a ferocious, gritty film initiating the likes of a
     Martin Scorsese crime drama, quickly catapults itself into one of the
     most endearing films of the year. With the energy of a high octane
     thriller, to the subtle, tender romance of young love, director Danny
     Boyle's operatic "Slumdog Millionaire" is an impressive, visceral piece
     of film-making that captures the romance of a memorable movie going
     experience. From the violent opening, to the Bollywood-like dance
     number at the end, "Slumdog Millionaire" is without a doubt one the
     year's best.Using his life's experiences to successfully answer questions on
     India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?," Jamal Malik (Dev
     Patel), is one question away from landing the game's top prize: 20
     million rupees. As soon as the show's ticking clock runs out, Jamal is
     immediately taken into police custody where he is brutally interrogated
     when he is accused of cheating. Carefully taking the time to explain
     his situation to a police inspector (played by Irrfan Khan), Jamal
     reminisces about his nostalgic childhood with his brother Salim, and
     childhood sweetheart, Lakita, and explains his true intent on why he's
     on India's highly watched television show: to find his love, Latika,
     who is a fan of the show.A story of this magnitude could have easily been told within the
     conventions of a mediocre romantic thriller that reeks anything
     Hollywood has attempted to produce in the last 10 years. Instead,
     director Danny Boyle, who gave drug addicts their will in
     "Trainspotting" and zombies their aggressive agility in 28 Days Later,
     has crafted a film of the highest caliber by injecting it with a heavy
     doses of heart-pounding excitement. Boyle's camera captures the
     dilapidated backdrops of "Slumdog Millionaire" in a new light by
     showcasing a devastatingly poverty stricken India, which is emotionally
     heartbreaking yet oddly engaging. Boyle, once again, proves that a film
     doesn't need expensive visual effects and overpaid movie stars to be a
     powerfully emotionally enthralling film. Boyle's technique is superb
     and it's evident in every inch of this film.Set within the beat down slums of India, outside the comforting,
     pleasing film aesthetics most films opt for, "Slumdog Millionaire"
     creates a visually stimulating environment by igniting every frame with
     fantasy like elements. Though grim undertones prevail the film,
     "Slumdog Millionaire", in the end, leaves one with a euphoric feeling
     of enlightenment. With the illustrative cinematography of Anthony Dod
     Mantle, Boyle not only captures a striking narrative; but a
     voyeuristic, genuine way of life that is rarely captured on film.
     Unlike most films, "Slumdog Millionaire" doesn't allow it's audience to
     remain passive; instead, it's energetic power grabs a hold of you and
     doesn't let go. It's breathtaking.With their first full length under their belt, Dev Patel and Freida
     Pinto bring soaring vitality to the roles of Jamal and Latika. Because
     the story is structured as a thriller with tiny hints of a Shakespeare
     love story, Patel and Pinto add a fiercely energetic boost to the
     picture through their charm. Established Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor
     fills the role of the conniving game show host Prem Kumar, who
     unleashes a threatening bag of tricks toward Jamal.Because "Slumdog Millionaire" features pitch perfect direction and
     noteworthy performances, the film leaves audiences sucker punched by
     its astonishing amazement. It's a dazzling, pulse pounding film that'll
     have you cheering with joy. Boyle, throughout the years, has delivered
     a versatile amount of work; all of which pertains to people that are
     trying to survive. To date, Danny Boyle has crafted a film of epic
     proportions, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a masterpiece that is sure to be
     talked about in years to come.

221. Polaris_DiB from United States Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Uncanny acumen

     Danny Boyle world: a place that's achingly gorgeous, seriously tragic,
     terrifyingly dangerous, and that I love to visit but have nightmares
     about living in. While zombies on steroids are attacking people in a
     poeticly empty London, while astronauts hide from sun-deranged madman,
     and while kids are trying to do the right thing with money they've
     stumbled across, down in India an 18 year old kid destroys the caste
     system while only attempting to get the attention of someone he loves.
     Sure, Boyle has nothing like a View Askewniverse or anything like that,
     but all of his movies seem to exist in a space where characters'
     struggles for survival get second-place for their need to fit in,
     belong, and justify having hearts. His genre-jumping techniques belie
     an inimitable style that really makes everything he does worth
     watching.Slumdog Millionaire is almost like to City of God what 28 Days Later…
     was to Dawn of the Dead–there are some major parallels both in story
     and structure, but Boyle's monster eventually takes sway over any
     comparisons and turns the movie into its own unique journey. Both
     Slumdog and City of God could have been really shot down critically due
     to seemingly excessive styles for such non-digital worlds they
     represent, except that they were so superbly done that you cannot help
     but fall in love with them. Boyle's acumen is such, though, that he's
     able to lead you through fear, longing, shock, and grief before taking
     you to probably the purest of happy endings deftly and articulately,
     whereas Moreille's City sometimes lost track of the emotional
     background while playing with its techniques.Everything is in high form here. The script is amazing, creating
     believable characters and painful dialog while deftly juggling three
     different points in time until they all arrive in their poignant
     destination (from the most rote meaning of the word, sharing its roots
     with Destiny). The acting is superb and it's nearly impossible to see
     the actors through it, especially when three different kids play the
     same characters and it's hard not to believe that they weren't really
     the same person. Danny Boyle gets into Mumbai and other locations in
     India and shows it from many different perspectives that don't just
     show what he see's it's like, but represents the characters' vastly
     chaotic integration into a varied and uncertain world. He also picks
     out a superb soundtrack capable of both blowing out the speakers with
     awesomeness and also deftly increasing the drama in the
     scene–something he does often, but this time is even more worth
     mentioning because he mixes Indian rhythms with the well-known dramatic
     digital sounds of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with an original score,
     and the mix is seamless.However, technical specifics aside, quite frankly its nearly impossible
     not to like this movie. Jamal's romantic view of life mixed with
     already well-ingrained drama of the show, thematic plays with destiny
     and true-love, an alertness to the troubles of the world without the
     need to turn the movie into its own sentimental essay, all are powerful
     ingredients in this concoction. For all the intensely visual play with
     style and hand-held cameras, Boyle has remarkable reserve in alluding
     to the passions that drive him but making sure that the story drives
     the audience. It's actually really uncanny. One of the things that
     impressed me a lot about 28 Days Later… when I first saw it so many
     years ago is how even as a good horror movie it managed to both have
     the ability to make a point without slamming it into people's faces,
     and to coexist with the perception that there is more to the world than
     just what's happening to the characters. This approach comes out
     stronger than ever in Slumdog Millionaire, and as long as Boyle keeps
     up with it, I will continue to be an avid viewer of his works.–PolarisDiB

222. Alex da Silva from United Kingdom Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire is a triumph

     Review: A brilliant up-beat film that resounds colour and depth in all areas.
     Danny Boyle has created a multicultural phenomenon that will surely
     grab a few Oscars in February. The direction throughout the film is
     timelessly enjoyable and shows a real master at work. To add to this
     greatness comes the acting and story, which both are brilliantly
     rendered and manufactured.The pulse of the film is up-beat, which carries the film along a secure
     and thrilling journey in which everybody can enjoy. Okay it is
     emotional but in a an area that say's in a good way.Verdict: A stylish and compulsive film that delivers the good's and one that
     will certainly leave you smiling when the credit's roll.

223. rsa5387 from United States Says:
     January 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Boyle Triumphs

     The power of education, money, and technology pales in comparison to
     the strength that an individual can attain through the force of love.
     An eye-opening, heart-wrenching, pulse-pounding film on so many levels,
     Danny Boyles Slumdog Millionaire is a brave and novel attempt that both
     entertains and informs. The film is very novel in the fact that its
     main story centers around a poverty-stricken boy who ends up on the
     Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. As he escalates closer
     and closer to the top prize of Rs. 20,000,000, the producers think hes
     a cheat and he cant believe whats happening either as every question
     somehow relates to an incident in his life. Though the plot initially
     sounded far-fetched, it unraveled in such a fast-paced and carefully
     crafted manner that by the end I was on the edge of my seat rooting for
     Jamal to win that prize, and realize his dreams. Presented in a series
     of flashbacks, most of the narrative is spend chasing our protagonist
     throughout India, from the slums of Mumbai to the steps of the Taj
     Mahal, as he struggles to live in a world that is seemingly against him
     at every turn. The only shimmering light in this boys life, and the
     reason he is on the show, is to find the love of his life, a girl named
     Latika. Though how he manages to find and lose her throughout his life
     was absolutely heartbreaking, it also helped shape the subsequent
     events that help him answer the questions on the show. Therefore the
     film informs through the exploration of three subjects: Depicting the
     harsh reality of poverty in modern-day India, the ethereal force of
     love that rings with total purity and absolute selflessness, and the
     role destiny plays in ones life. Its a very harsh, realistic film while
     also having elements of a fairytale, ala having an underdog rise to the
     top. Its very well acted, with the child actors who play the young
     versions of Jamal, Salim, and Latika leaving the largest impression.
     Even their adult counterparts and the supporting players including
     Bollywood stars Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan lend natural, engaging
     performances. Moreover, its gorgeously shot, edited with aplomb, and
     has a score thats both haunting and irresistibly catchy. In summary,
     walking out of this one, I felt absolutely floored at the power and
     beauty of Slumdog Millionaire. This is definitely one that cannot be
     missed.

224. billo1409 from United States Says:
     January 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     best picture of the year

     I found this movie to be highly interesting and probably the best movie
     I've seen all year.While the outcome was somewhat predictable, the
     intensity of the flashbacks, the cinematography and the acting skills
     displayed by the three main characters left me feeling like this could
     be the Oscar winner for best picture.The story is told in an ingenious
     manner and many scenes contain both humor and violence in equal
     parts.The great mass of people currently living in Munbai is obvious as
     is the horrid conditions of the slum dwellers who inhabited Bombay in
     the recent past.Of course the setting is more than a bit ironic
     considering recent events in Mumbai.All in all this was an excellent
     movie that deserves showing in many more theaters.

225. Ricardo B. from Portugal Says:
     January 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Beautiful movie

     I have a mental top 20 list that has changed many times throughout the
     years, but I think Slumdog will forever have a spot in that list and in
     my heart.So little romantic movies with a serious intention are made this days,
     that when something like this hits, it's hard not to fall in love.Danny Boyle is said to have directed masterpieces, but only now will I
     accept to recognize him as one of the best directors working today.
     This movie is a wonder to look at, painful to watch at times and in the
     end of the most rewarding experiences I have ever experienced with
     film.10/10 and best film of the year without any competition.

226. naseem-akhtar13 from Mumbai India Says:
     January 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     ***history in the making*** just go and watch it without any doubt

     I was really dying to watch this movie, because I heard a lot about
     Slumdog millionaire.After watching, it feels like I was on a million dollar ride. No wonder
     this is an excellent example of brilliant direction and dazzling acting
     of all the actors.It describes true color of Mumbai, India with the past and with the
     ongoing changes. Yes India is changing…… n we are at the center of the
     center…………………………………………………..
     ………………………………………………………..
     ………………………………………………………..
     ………………………………………………………..

227. juliathemuse from United Kingdom Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     superb

     go see it now! does everything a great movie should do. i sat through
     the awful Australia three nights ago and almost lost the will to live
     and the desire to ever go the movies again - so a huge hurrah for
     slumdog millionaire, it's restored my faith in bothering to go to the
     cinema when tickets are extortionate and there are heavy snows outside.
     poor old baz luh… i do hope he gets to see what boyle has done so he
     can watch and learn : this probably had half the budget of Australia,
     non of the hubris and it's a million times better! i had no
     expectations on going to see this film, and it was an absolute joy from
     start to finish. yes i can find fault here and there, but i'm a very
     harsh critic and on the whole this film is better than anything else
     i've seen in years. the child performances are stunning, (ps the one
     good fact in Australia was the child actor - where are these prodigies
     all coming from?) the cinematography is great and the storyline is
     clever. a great piece of film-making

228. Mark Shipskie from United States Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     True love in the slums of India

     Slumdog Millionaire tells the unforgettable story of Jamal Malik. An
     unlikely contestant on India's version of "Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire". The film opens with Jamal being "interrogated" by police
     for his ability to answer questions on the show that he couldn't
     possibly know, therefore he must have cheated. He doesn't deny
     anything. He simply refuses to answer their questions or defend
     himself. Is he protecting someone? When he finally opens his mouth it
     is to simply say "I knew the answers". How he knew the answers is where
     the story unfolds, one game show question at a time in flashbacks
     beginning with his early childhood. As the police listen to and the
     audience witnesses his explanations to how he knew each question we
     begin to realize that each answer is associated with heartbreaking,
     horrific and sometimes humorous memories of his life.Slumdog is a movie that should not be missed. It should be required
     viewing for all teenagers in this country and industrialized nations
     around the world. It is commentary on a society that would prefer to
     brush aside the problems it creates instead of taking responsibility
     for its actions or inaction. It is a lesson on what can be accomplished
     in this life no matter what kind of cards life has dealt you, if you
     persevere and try to do the right thing. The movie though is above all
     a story of true love. The belief in the destiny for that true love and
     that it can conquer all.

229. youngman44 from United States Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best Bollywood Film Ever

     Slumdog Millionaire was arguably as good an ensemble cast drama as any
     in years … going back to LA Confidential. It does have a Tale of Two Cities feel to it. But, most haven't read
     Dickens so that's fine. It really captures the poverty of India but
     also has humor, excitement, sadness, terror and genuine sacrificial
     love. The screenplay is lucid and articulate in a way few movies in modern
     times have achieved. The acting is captivating. This film takes one on
     a long and winding narrative. I realized after it was over that I had
     lost myself in this movie - a sign of a great screenplay and great
     acting. With literally hundreds of superficial, mediocre films in 2008, this
     film was fresh air. If there is one movie to see - see this one! You
     will not be disappointed.

230. TheVillageCharlatan from Losa Angelosa Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Dis Movie Iz Da Bomb

     This is the best movie so far that I have seen, or hope to see in my
     lifetime.This movie reflects truth as it is. For example, it portrays how in a
     city, as populous as Bombay, the police goes relentlessly after one
     guy, who they suspect of cheating in a game show. This is very
     important, because usually one would expect Indian police to be corrupt
     and extract some money from the kid and not do anything more (Bollywood
     taught us that), but police going relentlessly after a "Slumdog" to
     investigate the possibility of corruption. Now that is what would one
     call a News!This movie also portrays India as it is: Filthy, poor, hungry and
     violent. This is something that seems to be very popular theme among
     the (majority of) Westerners and it exactly fits into their mental
     picture of India. For example, Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy was quite
     popular (and highly regarded) in the West (at least, among the
     Intelligentsia), while his Charulata, where people wore clean shirt and
     discussed literature, is not very well known. This movie also touches
     upon another very important and popular issue of the present-day India,
     as seen by Western eyes: The indiscriminate and ruthless victimization
     of the Indian minorities (such as Muslims) in the hand of the majority
     Hindu (most of whom are fanatics anyway!). This movie also, for the
     sake of reality, adds a nefarious, vapid and insulting game show host
     to the plot (it feels good to see the big-mouthing Anil Kapoor, who
     said that "stars" like him could not just accept a supporting role in a
     Hollywood movie, even if offered, now acting in an insignificant role
     in a Western/American/"Hollywood" production. O, how the mighty have
     fallen!) This movie could, however, have added a few improvements. For example,
     the game show could have been shown to be held in the West, and the kid
     being insulted for being non-white. (This would have sold the movie
     even better in India, going by the Big Boss/Shilpa Shetty affair.)
     Also, the title of the movie could have been "Jamal M. In Da House".If you have not yet got what I am trying to say, this movie is for you.
     Go watch it today.

231. (ilpintl) Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A celluloid love letter to Bombay…

     Two years ago, I bought Vikas Swarup's innocuously named novel "Q&A",
     but must confess I have not yet made the time to read it. This novel
     forms the basis for "Slumdog Millionaire", a title that is oxymoronic
     but more apt for the audacious story of Jamal and Latika. Few would be
     able to resist the disarmingly honest, gritty, but ultimately uplifting
     and optimistic tale. It is certainly on my personal list of the best
     films of 2008. The release, in early December, of this cinematic love
     letter to Bombay/Mumbai could not have been better timed, as it arrived
     when we needed it most, right on the heels of the 170 horrific murders
     that took place there on 11/26/08. The film celebrates the
     resourcefulness and resilience of Bombayites and the live-and-let-live
     ethos of the city (which survives despite the sporadic outbreaks of
     sectarian violence and communal riots always instigated by unsavory
     politicians and sleazy "holy" men). Indeed, Bombayites are so consumed
     with the business of survival, that there is no time to waste dwelling
     on banal differences of caste and creed."Slumdog Millionaire" opens with Jamal (the titular slum dog) as the
     unlikeliest contestant on the Indian version of the TV quiz show "Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire?". Equally incredibly, he is just one answer
     away from the contest's top prize of 20 million rupees. To ensure that
     Jamal is not a wily cheat, or perhaps to prove him one, the cops are
     called in and they attempt to beat a confession out of him. What
     ensues, however, is a series of flashbacks about three interlinked
     lives, stranger than any fiction, which settles without doubt how the
     unlettered Jamal could know the correct responses to questions designed
     to flummox university graduates.While I am a complete cynic in real life, I fell hook, line, and sinker
     for the film's central romance between the Muslim protagonist Jamal and
     his exquisite Hindu ladylove Latika. The tribulations of the underdog
     are a staple of movie plot lines, but this particular story is so much
     more poignant because it is set in Bombay/Mumbai. We root for Jamal to
     succeed on all fronts because we're privy to his extraordinary life
     story.Director Danny Boyle has a playful spirit that was most apparent in his
     film "A Life Less Ordinary". It was about a bungled kidnapping, but his
     leads took time out to break into song and elaborately choreographed
     dance routines. Now in "Slumdog Millionaire", he gets to indulge this
     appetite for fun, because his characters though poor, orphaned, and
     abandoned, are still children, and they unfailingly spot the
     opportunities for joy and mischief in their bleak lives. There is a
     wonderful touch of magical realism, where the two rascals Jamal and
     Salim are mesmerized by an opera performed at night in the environs of
     the Taj Mahal. But even as they marvel, they remain busy with the job
     at hand: pilfering the purses of the enraptured oblivious audience.The soul-destroying poverty found in the big city, sinister predators,
     rapacious goons, underage whores, orphans maimed to better their
     earnings as beggars, the gleeful scams of street urchins, and
     get-rich-quick schemes that invariably turn criminal are all depicted
     without sugar coating, and so might make unpalatable viewing for some.
     For those who can stomach reality, the payoff is magnificent, for
     although this is a work of fiction, it closely mirrors the lives of
     millions. In the human spirit, as embodied by Jamal and Latika, we see
     that even the most dire, dehumanizing circumstances do not succeed in
     stamping out decency, loyalty, kindness, and love, and this is what the
     film celebrates.I'd like to point out that while director Danny Boyle is reaping kudos
     for his amazing film in the West, the contribution of Boyle's
     co-director Loveleen Tandan remains unacknowledged. I am certain that
     Boyle's enormous success in capturing the Dickensian essence and
     authenticity of Bombay, the nuances of its bracingly blunt vernacular,
     and the spot-on casting, especially of the child actors, is largely due
     to Ms. Tandan's efforts. She is listed in the film's credits as
     co-director, dialogue writer/translator, and casting director-India:
     proof of her huge portfolio of responsibilities on the film, but not a
     single critic has mentioned her. Anthony Dod Mantle's spectacular
     cinematography is another reason not to miss this film: his camera
     leaps and vaults with the exactly the same euphoria and joie-de-vivre
     of its child actors,and its restless eye never stops as it sweeps over
     a city constantly in motion. I am told that he used Canon EO5 still
     cameras to film in normally crowded locations so as to capture as
     natural a mood as possible. This works brilliantly in the scenes at the
     Taj Mahal, and at venues that would otherwise not be filmable.

232. shafquat_15 from Dhaka, Bangladesh Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A worthy benchmark in it's field!

     Watching Hindi come English movies always came with a mixed feeling
     tag. But this movie has successfully tore itself from that tag and
     attached a magnificent tag to it. The direction done by non other than
     Danny Boyle of 28 days later, is fantastic so is the screenplay. The
     story is absolutely original not to mention gripping. One of the best
     original soundtracks ever created by A.R Rahman also adds an awesome
     feel to this title. Finally the acting is never overdone neither
     underdone it hits the mark where it should, to describe in one word
     "excellent".Dev Patel could easily be the next big thing out of Britain.I would happily state any negative points I could think of, fortunately
     I cant. Go watch it you will not be disappointed!!

233. dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     I liked it I didn't love it

     Probable Oscar nominee didn't float my boat. Its a good film but I
     don't know whether too many people have told me how great it is or is
     it not that great and people are simply reacting to the exotic nature
     of the film, either way it didn't blow my skirt up.This is the story of Jamal who is on the verge of winning 20 million
     rupees in India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Certain this lower
     class kid must be cheating he's in the police station where some
     extreme methods are being employed to find out how he's cheating.
     Insisting that he is not cheating Jamal recounts his life's story with
     appropriate pauses to explain how he knows the answers.Far from what I expected, I didn't expect the level of violence, this
     is a good little film. Its the sort of thing where luck, or is it fate,
     allows you enough information to get ahead. Its the sort of thing
     designed to make you feel good.As I said I'm not in love with the film. I like it but I'm not in love
     with it. Perhaps its a little too cute at times (The kid in the poop)
     and it didn't help that the romance vital to much of the later part of
     the film didn't feel right to me.As an exercise in film-making its a masterful achievement blending a
     variety of styles into something uniquely its own. Danny Boyle is quite
     simply one of the best filmmakers working today one need only look at
     the last four films he's directed to see the range he has. Its a
     dizzying, great looking, great sounding film that makes even the
     squalor of India seem magical. I wish more directors had Boyle's
     abilities.That said the film didn't click with me. I respect the people who've
     fallen in love with the film enough to give the film a second go down
     the line., but for now Its a good film that I don't think is one of the
     best of the year.(For those, like me who didn't realize this was as violent as it it be
     warned- There are shootings, clubbings, torture, people set on fire,
     and nastiness to children. Its not a film for kids, though reviews I've
     seen made it seem so)

234. thirumurugan-k from United States Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Lacking in Nativity!!!

     The language in which the characters speak is the soul of a movie.
     Cidade de Deus, Shichinin no samurai, Ladri di biciclette were made in
     native language and so the originality of the movie was intact even
     though I watched those movies with English subtitles. Slumdog
     millionaire is totally lacking on this aspect and it is definitely not
     a film to be rated in the top 250.I understand that the movie is made for western audience. But, It would
     have been better if the movie was made in Hindi and was released with
     subtitles to the western audience (similar to Lagaan).I prefer watching movies in native language with subtitles than
     watching a dubbed movie. So, it was hard for me to digest the
     characters communicating in English instead of in Hindi. This is
     definitely a major flaw and so the movie falls flat on its face.It is not surprising to look at rave comments from western audience,
     but this movie is not for me and also for those if at all there is
     anyone who feels that language is the soul of a movie.

235. sagar mukherjee from India Says:
     January 6th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     good but not great

     This is a good film…but not great.Many people find this film
     great,because 90% people are so emotional.The writing and editing is
     great along side it's unique idea.But I think if in the end Jamal lost
     every bit of money it will be a better finish and make this film a all
     time great.The things I dis-like most is …1)After wining 2 million Jamal waited in the station but no one around
     him(no media..no journalist…no passenger).Previously(after winning 1
     million) it shows he is so popular that every person in the road
     recognize him.2)After wining 1 million he is captured by the police because host of
     this show wants it.But after winning 2 million host don't call police.3)Actual cause of his(Jamal) coming to this show is he wants to be
     noticed by Latika.So, before the last question he succeed to his
     mission.So I think it will be more appropriate to show he win
     nothing(money)..but everything(meet Latika again) like a Millionaire.4)Most of all half of dialog of this film is in Hindi and other half in
     English…WHY?It should be completely Hindi or completely English.Last
     year's film "Môme, La" is completely in french and that makes it so
     good.5)Most of all if you think slightly you will realize that …Jamal came
     from slum where nobody care about him and later part of his life same
     thing continue..suddenly because he win 1 million people cares about
     him…so if he lost money…then the station portion(sitting all alone
     and waiting for Latika) will be a master stroke.6)Jamal got entry in "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" from the call
     center.But it does not allow him to be in the hot seat.Because after
     somebody got the chance in phone he has to attend a question(which has
     all 4 write answer and you have to arrange it in Ascending Order and
     Descending Order)to be in the hot seat.But it should be shown in the
     film because about this the film is made.so it should be complete from
     beginning to end . 7)Most of all "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" never
     shown live..not in India and not in America too. My point is for only
     enjoyment it's a wonderful film..but it not gonna get Oscar.Because it
     has magic..but lack of logic.

236. Lawrence Wood from United Kingdom Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An excellent film

     Have just returned from an advanced showing of this film and cannot
     praise it enough. The quality of the plot, the acting and the direction
     were first class and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it.How on earth some of the previous negative comments have been made
     about this film is beyond us - although everyone is entitled to their
     opinion.We will be recommending everyone we know to go and see this moving,
     exciting and uplifting film.We cried, we laughed, we were on the edge of our seats and we had real
     entertainment.Well done to all concerned.

237. rchanderetc from United States Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The movie plays to Indian stereotypes

     I am a Indian who watched the movie. I find this movie highly
     offensive. It plays into the "Indian stereotype" by
     Americans/Britishers. It shows India as a very very poor country, with
     the only job to riches being as customer service representative to
     Americans. In one scene it shows child beating and declaring it as
     "Real India" and an American on the scene giving the beaten child $100
     note and declaring it as "Real America". Well, if Boyle made a movie on
     the filth of America exposed by hurricane Katrina and declare it as
     "Real America", do you think Americans would have accepted this movie
     and nominated the movie for Golden Globe and possibly Oscars?

238. ThanksForMutton from United States Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Eye opening but a bit cliché

     I saw this film in the theater. By now you may know the gist of the
     story, but if not, here it is in a nutshell: a slum kid in India gets a
     chance to win on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
     We get to see this young man's incredibly difficult childhood and the
     hardships he had to overcome through flashbacks. We also gain some
     insight about his brother and a love interest. The movie is incredibly well made. It's entertaining and I as a viewer
     was able to emotionally connect with all the lead characters. The
     acting is fine - neither amazing nor terrible. The child actors are
     outstanding. Visually it's a great experience. My biggest complaint about this movie is that it is really cliché. No
     movie like this could be made by standard Hollywood conventions because
     such a formulaic film likely could not get an approving audience. Only
     an Indian themed independent film could get away with this. Also, be
     prepared to deal with heart wrenching cruelty to children. So while it's well made and keeps you engaged you, like me, may get
     annoyed with how cliché it is. I'd recommend seeing it once and perhaps
     for you, like me, that will be plenty.

239. jzappa from United States Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A Flashy Crowd-Pleaser Founded on the Marble Floors of Dreamy Ideologies and Sated with a Pleasant, Immediately Gratifying Style

     Like 2007's Juno, Slumdog Millionaire is essentially a feel-good film
     by a good director that is given much more credit than is due. Juno was
     cute like an emasculated Wes Anderson film. Slumdog is like modern
     live-action Disney film in spite of its violence, which hardly rivals
     what Disney films have been doing recently. This fictional biography is
     based entirely upon deus ex machina. It is concerned with building a
     harmonious world founded on the marble floors of dreamy ideologies and
     sated with a pleasant, immediately gratifying style.Danny Boyle's $15 million Hindi fairy tale radiates with the feeling of
     a call to action. This is a breathlessly paced film, moving all around
     the emotional map, about a Mumbai orphan who emerges from the slums on
     the might of his sparkling ability to retain minutiae. The story's shy,
     pure and heroic protagonist reaches remarkable, vindicating heights
     merely with the mental and social experience of being a slumdog. He is
     a beacon of idealism for the hopeful masses. What I admire objectively
     is that this hyperkinetic melodrama's general allure will acquaint
     millions of moviegoers with the real India for the first time.We react to the tragedy of the India of social classes that appear as
     if to be estranged by dimensions. A woman crawls from a cardboard box.
     Men bathe at a fire hydrant. People excrete waste on the sidewalk. On
     the other hand, the world's largest middle class, mostly lower-middle,
     but all the more highly regarded. Millionaires. Mercedes-Benzes and
     Audis. Luxury condos. Education is bursting at the seams. A thriving
     computer section. A cascade of doctors and neurosurgeons.Complete with a musical sequence at the end, but also an early scene of
     electric shock torture, Boyle's rags-to-riches tale balances these two
     Indias by cutting between a hell of destitution and predation and the
     Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It tells the story of
     an orphan from the slums of Mumbai who is born into a brutal existence.
     A petty thief, impostor and survivor, mired in dire poverty, he
     improvises his way up through the world and remembers everything he has
     learned. He finds a small place in the Mumbai gangland, and even falls
     in idealized love with a girl who keeps eluding him.Sort of an Indian City of God, the film's flashback storytelling
     follows his life until his appearance as the show contestant. At the
     point in his life where he is a contestant on the show, the film takes
     on a Bollywood-laced magical prestige. Proposed as a "slumdog," he
     gives the correct answer to question after question and becomes a
     nationalized idol to audiences who are watching the show live. The
     flashbacks show the experiences through which he happened to pick up
     the observations that are now winning him millions of dollars. He
     doesn't volunteer this astonishing information. The film opens as it's
     beaten out of him by the show's sweaty, violent security staff. They
     are convinced he must have stolen the answers.This crowd-pleaser, scripted with a brisk pace by Simon Beaufoy, uses
     attention-grabbing cinematography by Boyle's regular DP Anthony Dod
     Mantle, Chris Dickens's machine-gun- speed editing, and Boyle's
     trademark energized, driving, uber-modern soundtrack. One could expect
     from that description a gimmicky film directed by an insecure show-off.
     But Danny Boyle is one director whose films are made in that style and
     yet, like a more diplomatic Spike Lee, our abstract familiarity with
     delight and social ecstasy are stimulated by his work, even by his
     lesser films such as The Beach and A Life Less Ordinary. Slumdog
     Millionaire has no underpinnings beneath the marble floors of dreamy
     ideologies and immediately gratifying style, but I can't deny that it
     does have that Danny Boyle touch.

240. dwm51 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Biggest Product Placement since Cast Away

     Remember Cast Away, with the product placement for FedEx which so
     swamped the film as to make it seem ludicrous? Well, this film comes
     close to matching it with its "hommage" to Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire? In the novel upon which the film is based, the spine of
     the story is provided by the struggle between the boy from the slums
     who threatens to win the big prize on a local TV quiz show and the
     presenter of the show and its producers who cannot afford to pay out
     the top prize and so set the police upon the boy to extract a
     confession of cheating. In the film, the presenter denounces the boy to
     the police although his motive is not clear. It is certainly not
     because the producers cannot afford the prize. On the contrary, the
     brand image of "Millionaire" as a show that loves its contestants to
     win is strongly reinforced. The production team is shown applauding his
     success and "Millionaire" is shown in a very positive light as being
     the focus of all India's leisure interest. Shouldn't we be a bit uneasy
     about otherwise decent films succumbing to product placement on this
     scale?

241. kjewitt from United Kingdom Says:
     January 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Not terrible but don't believe the hype

     This isn't a long film by modern standards but I spent the last quarter
     waiting for it to end. There are lots of good things in it - the images
     of Indian slums are dazzlingly put together and there is some nice
     humour in the face of adversity. Best of all is the music, which should
     definitely bag an Oscar. But there is a lot wrong with it. Here are my
     main niggles: 1. The device of linking Jamal's answers on "Millionaire"
     to stories of his past life works at first but rapidly gets repetitive.
     Here the film suffers from its relationship with the novel. This sort
     of device works better on the page than on film. 2. The central love
     story, which is imposed on the film in order to give it some narrative
     drive, doesn't really convince. Frankly when he kissed her at the end I
     didn't care one way or the other. It was impossible to care, because we
     had never been given enough insight into the characters' feelings for
     each other. 3. The author of the book is by his own admission is a
     highly privileged man who has never been to a slum. He is no nearer to
     the realities of Indian poverty than I am (in England). Many of the
     incidents are the sort of things which regularly crop up in outsiders'
     views of India. For instance, the mutilation of children to increase
     their income from begging has been described in the memoirs of dozens
     of English sahibs. I found many of the episodes stereotypical.Overall this is a good film and much better than the usual Hollywood
     nonsense, but it's too clunky and contrived to be classic as some have
     claimed.

242. thebackofmyhouse from Malaysia Says:
     January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     They are right, it actually is a masterpiece

     Slumdog Millionaire not one of those movies that gets critical acclaim
     for it's great acting, or eyeball exploding special effects, or any of
     those award show categories. It is great because it does what movies
     do, and does it in an almost perfect way. It takes the everyday Joe's
     fantasy, put it in film form, and make anybody who watches it live the
     fantasy, even if just for 2 hours.Right from the get go the movie pulls you in. It's not one of those
     slow burning movies. The movie tells about this kid from the slums of
     India, who goes on the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire gameshow and
     reaches the final question. They ran out of time before the final
     question is asked so they have to continue the next day. The police
     find it hard to believe a slum kid can answer all those questions so
     they interrogate him and he tells how he got to know the answers. In
     telling it, he practically tells his life story. And he has been
     through a lot. So it shows how he knows the answer to the first
     question from events from he was a kid, up to the answer to the
     penultimate question from events just moments before being asked the
     question itself. However, it is rather convenient that in the movie,
     the events that lead to him knowing the answers to each question in the
     gameshow is in the same chronological order to the chronology of the
     questions that are asked on the gameshow. But hey, it's a movie and I'm
     not complaining. One of the things that sets this movie apart is how it shows India.
     This ain't your Bollywood India. It's the slums and how people go about
     their lives living there. Some scenes are harsh but at the same time,
     this is not one of those dark and gritty movies either. It actually is
     a feel good movie. Sure there are some hard reality shown in the movie
     but overall the movie is overwhelmingly feel good. It's so feel good
     that you can consider it to be Bollywood in a way. And that's why this
     movie is almost perfect. Everything was going perfectly in the movie,
     but how they wrapped it all up in the end seemed too Bollywood for me.
     Sure it's feel good, and I admit I did feel good, but I prefer my feel
     good endings have a bit more believability.But why am I arguing about believability when I'm an everyday Joe and I
     had an excellent 2 hours. Plus, the music is great too.

243. (coolfloboy) Says:
     January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     It should have a better rating

     This film impressed me. and i guess it will impress more people from
     now on. I've heard of it an went to see the movie, but first i thought
     it will be a classic Indian movie, until it started.The film has a great idea, and it really presents a hard way of life,
     but the movie has only the 42nd place in the rating above. In my my opinion it should be above The Godfather I and II, and also in
     my opinion this movie it's greater than TDK, although, TDK, deserves
     it's rank.OK, short story long, you will be amazed by this movie, you will leave
     the cinema with a great feeling.

244. slumdogcrapo from United Kingdom Says:
     January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     False feel good film with weak premise

     This film was terrible, am a Indian who watched the movie. I find this
     movie rubbish. It plays into the "Indian stereotype" It shows India as
     a very very poor country, with the only job to riches being as customer
     service representative to Americans. This movie and nominated the movie
     for Golden Globe and possibly Oscars? Is there a rule within the Oscars
     where as no Asian film director is allowed to win an Oscar for a South
     Asian Movie? Because it seems to me that only White Directors are
     allowed to win? Bollywood is one of the Biggest Film Industries within
     the world with fantastic creative film directors who would not even get
     a look through the door at the Oscars, yet here comes a white film
     director, who has no Idea about Indian Culture, Indian films and now he
     and his moron writer are getting credited in making a Bollywood film?
     It just seems ironic that a foreign film director is getting accolade
     for a Bollywood film? It seems rather racist to me. What about great
     film directors like Mani Rattman, Ram Gopal Varma, Satyajit Ray, Raj
     Kapoor, the list is endless….. They have all made fantastic Movies.
     Yet never credited? Amir Khans Lagaan, and Devdas? Its not even a
     matter of the film director being White is just seems fake! Oscar
     accolade is fake! He should be ashamed of even excepting the award.Selling of world stupid ideas of poverty, that the Western view of any
     "third world countries".Danny Boyle doesn't even do justice to the Bollywod tradition of film
     making.If this film was made by am South Asian filmmaker, then western media
     would simply reject it straightaway calling it Bollywood and rubbish.
     But this is not the case here.Its made by a white filmmaker, and this is why it gets me so angry.
     Only a few months ago this film was destined to straight to Video but
     now its getting press for no reason at all! I also know that the
     Bollywood directors in India are really unhappy crying in their sleep
     by this director receiving all these international accolades.Non-white film directors cant win Oscars.You cannot ever win an Oscar because you are not a white. As simple as
     that. Only white directors are allowed to make films in South Asia,
     Africa etc etc.A nonsense film and it just goes to show how Racist the Oscars really
     are.Its just sad and i hope the industry starts to realise that there are
     good film directors in the world that are not white you know. 1-10

245. norahgeorge from United States Says:
     January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     "Slumdog Millionaire" is awful…awful…awful…

     What is wrong with everyone? I see absolutely nothing of value in a
     movie that shows non-stop violence and horrific abuse. 99% of the abuse
     shown is toward children; which is incredibly disturbing. AND it is
     constant. The slums are horrifying. The camera pans the slums while
     showing adults and children being constantly abused. Children always
     running in fear. Throughout the whole movie you will see every kind of
     abuse that evil thinking can imagine.The accolades that Danny Boyle is receiving are totally beyond my logic
     and understanding. I would not recommend this movie to anyone, ever. I
     so wish I wasn't talked into seeing it. If I were in that situation
     again, I would definitely walk out. It was a horror to sit through. The
     movie definitely would turn one off to ever visiting India.

246. rohit sinha from India Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     a story with realistic emotions, simply superb …… movie from India………

     A movie that would touch your heart, and get you involved in the
     story.Superb work by actors,and great performance by Anil Kapoor. If
     you have ever been in love you will really like it. A realistic
     representation of the conditions of Indian slums. It is really a
     masterpiece from India.The movie was not much predictable ,except the
     end.The movie is about the life of a slum boy,who fights his way to
     find her childhood love.You will see some new faces of Indian cinema
     .The movie also shows the reality of reality shows.A must watch movie.
     You won't find any reason to dislike it.So go for it,its a really great
     performance by some young actors…..

247. Obscure One from India Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Just an amazing movie

     An excellent movie to start with, right from the direction to the
     acting. More than half the movies that get released from India, or
     should I rather say Bollywood are crap, though the directors can't be
     blamed for it as it's the public that demands for commercial(albeit
     unrealistic) movies. One of the things that wowed me is the
     editing/screenplay. The initial sequences where the scene flips from
     the cop slapping dev, and dev entering the game show was brilliant.The only flaw I believe is that the movie isn't entirely filmed in
     Hindi. You don't see underworld gangsters conversing in English in
     India, and neither can one expect two brothers who have conversed
     previously with each other in Hindi, to meet some fine day and start
     conversing in English. This was unrealistic. The director could have
     filmed in Hindi and resorted to English subtitles. Anyways the
     strengths of this movie encompasses all its weaknesses. This movie
     reminded me of Blood Diamond, which was the other recent movie where I
     felt as if I was a part of the plot. Any bit of praise would not
     commensurate for the brilliance shown by this movie. I would be
     terribly disappointed it it misses the Oscars. The entire plot, the
     acting has been outright natural. Credit to the director for portraying
     the scene back at the slums in Mumbai, in its original unaltered self.A movie that I would recommend to all.

248. Monotreme02 Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Unique and beautiful; more dark and gritty than "feel-good"

     Boyle's previous films are all fast-paced and energetic, and Slumdog
     Millionaire is an incredibly, frantically energetic film. From its
     opening interrogation scene, the film grabs a hold and never lets go.
     The exceptionally potent screenplay by Simon Beaufoy creates profuse
     quantities of tension and excitement, combining three parallel story
     lines – the interrogation following the game show, all of the events in
     the protagonist's life leading up to the game show, and the game show
     itself – and bounding between them frequently, constructing a
     fragmented chronology that only steps up the tension. Combine that with
     the natural tension of a trivia game show such as "Who Wants to Be A
     Millionaire?", and we end up with an irresistible brisk, energetic
     film.Boyle goes all-out with his cinematography; Anthony Dod Mantle combines
     a wondrous, exciting amalgamation of angles, focal lengths, camera
     movements (mainly hand-held), wide lenses and lighting set-ups to
     showcase and emphasize the natural energy and liveliness of the Mumbai
     slums where the film takes place. In fact, all of the technical
     elements of the film come together to create an astonishing palette of
     life and atmosphere, from the naturalistic costume and set design to
     the delightfully eclectic musical score by A.R. Rahman featuring a
     modernistic combination of pop songs, electronica and traditional
     Indian music. Getting all of these elements to come together and
     complement one another is a difficult enough task; but with the
     on-location shoot in the slums of Mumbai and other Indian shooting
     locations, Boyle's task is made even more difficult. It is an
     incredible directorial feat to undertake, and that's before counting in
     the local, non-actor, child cast members who deliver their lines in
     Hindu, when Boyle himself is English and doesn't speak English. The
     language barrier is broken and Boyle coaxes out of his cast members,
     both local and internationally known, wonderful and subtle performances
     that further reinforces his directorial achievement.Many people have been hailing it as "this year's Little Miss Sunshine
     and Juno", the "little, feel-good indie film that could", but Slumdog
     Millionaire reminded me mostly of the 2002 Fernando Meirelles-directed
     Brazilian film, City of God. Both films are substantially darker and
     grittier than any American feel-good indie comedic-drama, and both
     create a gloomy, coarse portrait of the hardships of local life in the
     slums, City of God portraying the slums of Rio de Janiero, and Slumdog
     Millionaire focusing on the slums of Mumbai. It's a daily struggle to
     survive, and people live in the harshest of conditions; but while the
     exoticness and apparent difficulty of these lifestyles may throw the
     average viewer off, the incredible thing is that the people who live in
     these places aren't only used to them, but seem to embrace them and
     find the good in situations that seem to the average viewer impossible
     to live in. Going further, both City of God and Slumdog Millionaire
     feature two characters whose maturity develops in parallel, with one
     going down the straight path while the other gets desperately involved
     in a life of crime, the only outlet for many in the slums. In the
     former film, these are two childhood friends; in the latter, brothers.That said, there is one significant point in which the films differ:
     While Slumdog Millionaire frames its story and characters with a
     melodramatic plot of hopelessly epic romantic love that transcends the
     ages, City of God portrays its characters and story with a far more
     realistic approach. The love story on display in Slumdog Millionaire is
     romantic and feel-good, but it lacks that realistic, naturalistic punch
     that City of God carries with it, and ends up preventing the film from
     reaching the true greatness of its Brazilian counterpart.Many have been hailing Slumdog Millionaire as the "feel-good film of
     the year". But in fact, it is far from it: While its final message may
     be heartwarming and uplifting, most of the film shows us a dark, gritty
     portrayal of people in our modern world living in the most difficult of
     circumstances. The exotic depiction of the "real India" as it is
     referred to in the film is unique and beautiful; frightening and
     magical; energetic and lively while at the same time shocking and
     mesmerizing. Boyle gives this depiction an unprecedentedly skillful
     portrayal, featuring energetic cinematography and featuring wonderful
     performances from a very diverse cast, many of whom are local
     non-actors delivering lines in Hindu. And screenwriter Simon Beaufoy
     has framed this depiction with a wonderful story of a young slumdog
     winning the grand prize while playing on the "Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire?" television game show program, his knowledge of the
     answers to the questions deriving from his various, colourful
     experiences as a young man growing up in the harshest circumstances
     Mumbai has to offer.

249. Jack Blackburn (blackburnj-1) from England Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     "The truth alone triumphs": Danny Boyle's latest is a joy to behold

     Danny Boyle's latest film, "Slumdog Millionaire", is hardly an obvious
     candidate for mainstream success. It is set in the slums of Mumbai, has
     scenes of torture and violence and is in Hindi for a third of the film.
     However, it has been nominated for a mountain of awards, is riding high
     in internet rankings and is doing well at the box office. When one
     takes a closer look, it isn't surprising that this film is doing as
     well as it is. It is a gripping, entertaining and ultimately wonderful
     piece of cinema.The story, which is about a young man who goes on "Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire?", is utterly simple. He has, unbelievably, reached the
     final question. He is arrested between broadcasts on suspicion of
     cheating his way to the top. However, the fact of the matter is that he
     just happens to know every answer. As he explains why, his tough and
     unforgiving past opens up, raising questions about why he's on the show
     in the first place.This film works because of the flashbacks which tell the story of a
     boy, his brother and a girl. It is not always an easy watch but moments
     of nastiness are rare, necessary and short-lived. As the story
     develops, Boyle's brilliance as a filmmaker pours off the screen. The
     raw, kinetic energy that he used to the maximum effect in
     "Trainspotting" is always apparent. The numerous sequences set in the
     slums are mesmerising to watch, accompanied by a magnificent score by
     A.R. Rahman, and vibrant photography from Anthony Dod Mantle.Boyle also makes sure that this film is more than a "nuts-and-bolts"
     feel good story. The central romance is beautifully done and all of his
     characters are brilliantly sketched and excellently well performed. Dev
     Patel (in the lead) is a magnificent screen presence and really
     impresses in his film debut, whilst the supporting performances of Anil
     Kapoor as the host of the show and Irrfan Khan as the sceptical police
     inspector are superb. Boyle has also managed to find some brilliant
     child actors who inject the film with yet more energy.Boyle also has a lot going on underneath. Like many great films, the
     location lives and breathes in the film. Mumbai, mirroring our
     characters, transforms through the film (for the better and for the
     worse). There is also a great deal about truth and integrity, neatly
     summed up in one of the answers. What is India's national motto? The
     truth alone triumphs.Although there is a slight drop in pace in the film about an hour in,
     this is really gripping, really entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable
     cinema. Despite the darker moments, this is a feel good movie which, in
     the present climate, will be taken to people's hearts. The real joy is
     that this good natured and excellent film deserves every piece of
     success it receives.5 Stars out of 5

250. Lalit Rao (cpowerccc@yahoo.com) from Paris,France Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Burden of a white man's false vision about India

     It is rather bizarre that this inane flick is currently at spot 46 in
     the IMDb top 250 list.It may be because these days it has become a
     fashion to trash the strong homogeneous cultures of developing
     economies.This is the reason why so many films are being made which try
     to belittle booming economies of Brazil,Russia,China and India.Slumdog
     Millionaire is one such film which is a half baked attempt to mix
     realism with social message.It fails on both the counts.The biggest
     fault one can find with Danny Boyle's film is that it looks at
     poverty,poor kids only from an exploitation angle.This is the reason
     why so many negative scenes about poverty have been put in order to
     create a sensationalist approach.This can work wonders for those
     foreigners who have always looked upon India with their myopic eyes
     full of contempt.One can be sure that things would have been different
     if a solution angle had been applied to the film's narrative.The vision
     of Danny Boyle is so conceited that he feels that "Slumdog Millionaire"
     is his prerogative to suggest that India is nothing but a land of poor
     people where snake charmers rub shoulders with hungry elephants and
     crime is the only thing which pays.Slumdog Millionaire is a trashy film
     which will please only those who choose to ignore the real beauty of
     India.It is a sad fact that Danny Boyle has been able to fool people in
     the west.His real test will take place when his film is shown in Indian
     cinema halls where it would surely be trashed as a stupid white man's
     discriminatory vision of India's misery.It would meet the same fate as
     that of Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay" when it bombed miserably at Indian
     box office after being shown for commercial distribution.

251. skyeakle from United States Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The Best Picture of the Year!

     Slumdog Millionair is a definite lock for Best Picture and is the best
     film I saw all year, or even the last five. Brilliant directing and
     storytelling brings such a simple story to life. I thought that The
     Dark Knight would not be topped this year, I was wrong. I was very
     unimpressed with The Curious Case of BB compared to Slumdog.On another note, Slumdog uses a no-name cast which shows how good of
     directing Danny Boyle does. He does not need a strong character actor
     in order to get the message across. The film keeps you interested from
     beginning to end and takes no short cuts or overdrawn pointless scenes.
     By the end of the film, you will shed tears of joy and reflect on one
     of film's greatest marvels.

252. Salvador_Sunset from Canada Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     It is Written…(possible spoilers)

     Slumdog Millionaire is a film that overwhelms you with its energy,
     vivacity, joy, hope and love of life. It shows the extremes of Indian
     society; the poverty of the slums with the exuberant joy of Bollywood
     films. Yes, there is brutality and violence, but like in real life, the
     scenes of pain are balanced by the sheer vivaciousness of the story.Danny Boyle shows modern India as a constantly moving and evolving
     place, and that is reflected in the changing destiny of its main
     character who will do anything to reach his goal. There's a scene
     involving a toilet that basically sums up the character of Jamal, that
     he will literally go through sh*t to get what his heart desires.The performances by the actors are amazing, especially from the child
     actors, the cinematography is eye-popping, zooming you right into the
     experience of Mumbai, and the pure strength of the story of a
     persistent underdog, makes this film without a question the best of the
     year. There is not one boring moment, and you will be moved to tears by
     the end of it.

253. Keveration973 from Canada Says:
     January 9th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The Toronto Film Festival has got another big hit

     The Toronto Film Festival every year receives some of the best pictures
     and Slumdog Millionaire was no exception. Slumdog Millionaire was
     produced on a $15 million budget which speaks a lot for the quality of
     the film compared to others with bigger costs. What made this film so
     good was how the story connected. Every question has something to do
     with his life and the ending which I won't spoil was just perfect. Some
     would call this movie a chick flick but regardless of whatever genre
     you consider this it's easily the best movie from 2008. Quite possibly
     one of the greatest movies ever and if this movie doesn't win best
     picture at the Oscars then I have lost all faith and that's coming from
     a big dark knight fan.

254. dream-isx Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A Strong Inspiring Movie…

     After watching 28 Days Later,Trainspotting, I became a big fan of Danny
     Boyle. I was just waiting for his next. As I'm not much into romance
     movies, I wasn't sure if wanted to watch Slumdog Millionaire. But then
     thought i would give it a shot.After the movie was over, I was simply astonished.Danny Boyle's direction is brilliant. The screenplay by Simon Beaufoy
     is also top class. The performance delivered by the actors are amazing.This movie can be watched over and over again and you'll love it every
     time you see it.9/10

255. chromedreamer from Bangladesh Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Danny will get it this time for sure!

     Anwar Kharral (Dev Patel), the 'Dull Muslim' from the famous Brit
     series SKINS, now he's a Slumdog of Mumbai who wants to be a
     Millionaire! Dev Patel plays Jamal Malik, a 18 year old boy who's in
     the most famous quiz show Who Wants To Ba A Millionaire. He isn't on
     the show for money, he's just there to get back his childhood love,
     hopin' she's watchin' the show. Cause he don't have any clue how to get
     her nor he has no idea what kinda questions he'll be asked on the show!
     Eventually he did answer all the questions with the help of his
     "growin' up experiences in the slum". Pretty neat! The story is written
     by Vikas Swarup. The book is called "Q and A". His debut novel, Q and
     A, tells the story of how a penniless waiter in Mumbai becomes the
     biggest quiz show winner in history. Critically acclaimed in India and
     abroad, this international bestseller has been translated into 36
     languages. Vikas Swarup is an Indian diplomat who has served in Turkey,
     the United States, Ethiopia and Great Britain. He is presently posted
     in Pretoria as India's Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa. I
     always look forward to see a Danny Boyle movie & he never let me down.
     From his 1995 Shallow Grave, or my all time favourite 1996
     Trainspotting, even 1997 A Life Less Ordinary, 2000's The Beach, his
     2002's 28 Days Later was a hugh hit, 2004's Millions gave me goosebumps
     or even 2007's SiFi Sunshine, I wait for a Danny Boyle movie. But Danny
     never won an Oscar, Golden Globe or BAFTA and I don't get 'why'?! Well
     the Slumdog Millionaire has some 'obvious twist' but Danny make it look
     so smart… I hope he win all the goddamn awards this year & I think A
     R Rahman will surely win this years Film or Score Music Awards & he did
     that fine & dandy in Slumdog Millionaire!

256. rock_u70000 from India Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

     As someone who has seen Mumbai turn from 'The City of Gold' to 'The
     City of Muck,' this movie encapsulated the despair and desperation of
     Dharavi in a manner so gritty it was scary. It cut terrifyingly close
     to the bone as it took us straight into the innards of this brutal
     world, where wide-eyed kids lose their innocence (and their eyes) at
     the hands of ruthless gangsters who mutilate, maim, kidnap and kill at
     will. And the first thought that came to mind is that it has taken an
     'outsider' (Danny Boyle), to go fearlessly into 'No Man's Land' and
     hold up a mirror to our sordid society — the same one that looks the
     other way… and flinches when confronted. It also makes one wonder why
     some of our entirely overrated, desi directors (homegrown products, at
     that), have failed so spectacularly in spelling out the ugly truth
     about Mumbai's dark world as transparently and convincingly? Whether or
     not Boyle's film wins an Oscar or two is immaterial. It should be made
     compulsory viewing for anybody who wants to understand the shocking,
     ghastly subtext that deals with the 'other' Mumbai — the one that feeds
     on abject poverty and paradoxically enough, also on the soaring hope
     that this same poverty breeds success. But Slumdog… is Boyle's gift
     to Mumbai. He has unblinkingly shown us the rather hideous face of this
     devastated metropolis that still remains the magnet for the rest of
     India, despite its faultlines.

257. ritabaasch from South Carolina, USA Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Very clever and entertaining

     I'm just starting to review what I see. I generally like independent
     movies, primarily because I got tired of paying high prices at the
     movie theaters and then getting burned (because of the heavy amount the
     studios apparently spend on promoting a movie)I did however, see three movies just recently. One of them was Slumdog
     Millionaire.I really liked this movie. I thought the concept was clever and the
     direction was superb. I'm a little confused on who directed what,
     because IMDb has two directors listed. If that is so, then both Danny
     Boyle and Loveleen Tandan have done a marvelous job.All of the actors were believable and did a great job.The music and editing kept it going at a fast pace. And all of the
     visuals were an eye opener for meI do recommend.

258. John Michael Deblois from Philippines Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     THAT was entertainment with the art

     It's been a long time since someone from the movie industry created
     this kind of movie. Such beautiful eye-candy, a marvelous collage of
     events that transpired and occurred with seamless movement. Slumdog
     millionaire delivers the entertainment that no one had seen for a long
     time in the mainstream movie industry, the artful entertainment.The critics were right, this film employs the beauty of every possible
     thing that may be done with a camera. The richness of colors gave the
     horrible slums of India a life that projects the joy of living for
     those who live life as simple citizens living below the poverty line. A
     story that pulls you deeply with every passing moment until the
     climactic ending where every event, every moment of the extraordinary
     story, culminates to the ultimate joy and success that the film
     deserves. The beauty of art merged with a flawless narrative and
     light-hearted humor creates, at last, a film that deserves more than
     any award for being a joyful depiction of life and a positive force to
     its viewers. Quite unlike last year's award sweepers, No Country For
     Old Men, and There will be Blood, and together with 2006's The Departed
     that delivered a powerful story and cinematic photography but
     nonetheless dark and depressing in nature. Slumdog Millionaire is a
     thrilling and joy- provoking success and a non-cheesy romantic story to
     boot.Watch and experience the beauty of film-making and story-telling at
     it's finest.

259. Galina from Virginia, USA Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Three Musketeers from the slums of Mumbai

     Slumdog Millionaire (2008) is a very good movie with the astounding
     cinematography, virtuoso directing, and the heartbreaking yet
     optimistic story. The acting by three main characters especially by a
     newcomer, Dev Patel, is compelling. Patel plays a street kid Jamal
     Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who made
     it to the Indian version of the TV show Who wants to be a millionaire?"
     and keeps answering correctly every question. The secret is that every
     question represents a chapter of his own life, his growing up and
     surviving on the streets, his adventures and experiences often dramatic
     and even tragic. When he is just one question away from winning 20
     million rupees (around $450,000), the time is up, and millions of
     TV-viewers who root for Jamal would have to wait for the following
     night to see him go for the big prize. Jamal is arrested by the police
     right after the game and he will spend the next day been rather
     brutally interrogated by police officers who want to find out how the
     street boy with no education can answer the difficult questions
     correctly. Fifteen years from the lives of Jamal, his older brother
     Salem and another orphan from the slums of Mumbai, "the third
     musketeer", the girl named Latika (Frieda Pinto), Jamal's true love
     since their childhood will reveal in flashbacks, and by the end of
     Jamal's story, it won't surprise us why he knows all answers. IMO, the
     only weak point in the story was the big 20 million rupees question. I
     won't reveal it but trust me, the whole reading or movie watching world
     knows the answer, and the question was too easy for such high stake BUT
     it fits the story very well, so I tend to be lenient.The best part of the movie is IMO the look at India from within, the
     glorious views of India's beauty and horrifying captures of its
     unspeakable poverty, from the slums of Mumbai and the dizzyingly
     crowded streets of Bombay to the heavenly magnificent Taj Mahal.Boyle's directing very much reminds Fernando Meirelles inspiring
     movie-making in Cidade de Deus aka City of God by its dynamism, fast
     and furious camera movements, and amazingly deep and compassionate
     understanding of the material. I won't be surprised if Doyle receives
     the Oscar nod for directing. He very well deserved it along with his
     camera-man, editor, writer, and the young actors.

260. LoneWolfAndCub from Australia Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     One of the year's best!! Danny Boyle delivers another masterpiece of film

     Slumdog Millionaire is a true cinematic achievement; a fast-paced,
     exhilarating and gritty drama with an amazing cast and interesting
     story. I will not be surprised if this is rewarded at all the upcoming
     award ceremonies. Danny Boyle has taken what is a seemingly basic story
     about a young man on India's version of "Who Wants to Be a
     Millionaire?" and transformed it into a realistic, powerful and, at
     times, gut-wrenching Dickensian picture. It is a journey through the
     slums of India, and what a journey it is, at times funny, at times
     incredibly sad and disturbing, but always captivating from start to
     finish. This is another masterpiece in the vein of Trainspotting - a
     stunningly original piece of film-making.This is one of those independent films that grabs audiences by
     surprise. This is not the summer blockbuster, this is more like Little
     Miss Sunshine, a piece of art that will not be seen by everyone, but
     will be treasured by those who see it. It is interesting to note that
     not all of the film is in English, but some Hindi, and the subtitles
     are placed rather uniquely, but suit the eccentric tone of the film. Do
     not let this prevent you from seeing it, in fact, it should encourage
     people to see it, as this should be viewed by everyone (especially
     younger audiences who take what they have for granted). Funnily enough
     Simon Beaufoy's script was originally entirely in English, but Boyle's
     decision to have the Indian kids speak in Hindi is the right. Having
     the children speaking in their native tongue makes perfect sense,
     especially because Boyle and Beaufoy depict the realism of the
     children's situation very well.Boyle and Beaufoy (bravely) do not shy away from showing the squalor of
     Bombay. These kids live in deplorable conditions amid the sewers and
     trash dumps of the slums. And, yet, thanks to Boyle's true ingenuity,
     he creates many humorous moments in the slums. Slumdog Millionaire is a
     dramatic comedy at heart; a film about friendship, gratitude, love,
     betrayal, poverty and hope. It will make you laugh, weep and cheer as
     you can't help but marvel at Boyle's talent as a director. Everything
     Boyle does, including the Bollywood touches, makes sense. There's so
     much kinetic energy in this film that it is impossible not to be
     enthralled by it."Slumdog Millionaire" is not to be missed. It is the best movie of the
     year. And it is one of the ten best films of the decade.5/5

261. phatpinoy38 from United States Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Came out surprised

     This movie has been receiving great reviews. It's really one of those
     must see films of 2008/2009. Slumdog Millionaire revolves around a "Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire?" contestant making his way to becoming rich.
     Jamal answers all the questions leading up to the final million dollar
     one. Not only has he gained the attention from his nation, but also
     from authorities. Jamal gets accused of cheating on the show. The cops
     take Jamal into custody and interrogate him. While being interrogated,
     Jamal makes references to past experiences that have direct correlation
     with the question being asked on the show. The movie was filmed really
     well. There were two time lines: the current "Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire?" line and the past experiences he had encountered while
     growing up. The pieces all come together as the story progresses. The
     end sticks true to the title of Slumdog Millionaire. The title also
     rings true in the eyes of Jamal's brother, Salim. The movie ends well
     and right before the credits rolled, there was a little caption on the
     screen. If you had paid attention to the intro, that little caption
     puts the nail on the coffin. Coming into this, I had thought it was
     going to be all in Indian, but the vast majority of it is spoken in
     English. I was reminded of City of God while watching Slumdog. There
     were quite a few similarities. If there's one movie you should see for
     the Oscars, it's definitely this one. I strongly recommend you see it.

262. plagden-1 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A great feel good movie!

     What a great movie! Danny Boyle has once again produced a film that is
     heart wrenching, powerful, and ultimately a film that leaves you with a
     big smile on your face. Great acting throughout, from actors most of us
     won't have heard much about before. Based around "Who wants to be a
     millionaire", Slumdog Millionaire takes us on the journey of a young
     Indian boy, who seem to know all the right answers to the money
     questions. One question before he can win, he is dragged off and
     questioned, as they believe he must be a cheat, due to his poor
     upbringing. Through flash backs, we learn why he knows all the answers,
     and indeed why he is on the show - and its not for the money. This is a
     fantastic movie, and very much award deserving.If there are only 1 or 2
     movies to get you to the cinema this year, this has to be one of them!

263. Nobi from Beijing Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An emotional Journey

     When I told my friend D. about this movie, he was a bit skeptic, but i
     insisted, telling him it was #42 on IMDb top250, so we watched it
     together… What I did not say was how skeptical I was myself, for
     apart from the media frenzy, there was nothing in this movie I was
     immediately attracted to, the poster didn't really help, and to be
     honest, it's not exactly my kinda movie.That being said, i have no regret for the 2 hours spent watching it. It
     kept all my attention from beginning to end, even the credits were a
     delight to watch. It's refreshing to see a movie that takes you through
     such a journey of joy, pain, love and much more.. to end in such a
     touching way that you have a big smile on your face, that you're not
     even aware of. It is truly a journey of feelings.The actors were great, even the children, the cinematography was
     incredible, the slums heartbreaking and the love credible. I felt for
     the main characters right from the beginning. The universality of this
     movie is perhaps what will make it popular all over the world. I could
     imagine similar situations back home in Africa, or even here in China. The director was incredible, the music on point, the lighting, and all
     the visuals were just perfect. It was a delight for the eyes, ears and
     emotions, I recommend it for anyone.

264. mehtaj from United States Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Great movie! One of the best!

     Excellent movie! It shows the real India. Beware, if you have never
     traveled to India before! Fabulous actors & a terrific story line. It
     is one of the most interesting stories portrayed on the big screen that
     I have ever seen before. The interweaving of all the different plots is
     outstanding. This is a true love story & rag to riches story. I can't
     wait to read the book. It is exciting, heart-warming, and
     heart-wrenching, all in one. It keeps you on the edge and wanting to
     see more. Not to mention how involved one can become in cheering for
     the characters. It is a "must see!" It is made by a westerner,
     therefore, it is not a typical "bollywood movie" at all. It has just
     enough "bollywood" in it to provide an excellent ending. Go see it!

265. Felix Yaroshevsky from Canada Says:
     January 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Tastefully melodramatic hymn to human dignity, love and devotion.

     If you mix couscous with prunes, yogurt and nuts - try it sometime -
     you ought to add some cyan peppers. Lushly entertaining romantic,
     cliché and yet so outstanding hymn to a human spirit,
     devotion,endurance love and adherence to Destiny. It squeezes out of
     you all the emotions and tears you are able to produce. In owe of the
     dignity and simplicity of a character forged in the squalor of
     physical, moral and emotional ordeal of a life – the viewer is
     enveloped in compulsion of compassion and respectful admiration of
     integrity and humanity of Jamal's nature. I was somewhat worried about
     the Bollywood factor, but it was minimal and necessary. An entertaining
     masterpiece.

266. spudmoran from kent, england Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Great direction plus great performances, equals great film

     Great performances from the children (simiarly to Angela's Ashes)and
     from Dev Patel, whose quiet, unshowy performance holds the film
     together. Boyle coaxes golden performances from everyone, and its not
     all black and white, he gets the shades, for example from the older
     Salim and the wonderful Anil Kapoor as the quiz show host. But the star
     is Mumbai, which supplies the colour, the drama, tension and pace
     (helped by a brilliant soundtrack). Thankfully Hollywood didn't get
     hold of this, although Boyle added the love story (missing in the
     novel)to make this more palatable to the multiplex audience. This
     project recognises shifting cultural boundaries and influences, for
     example that Bollywood is 'the' pre-eminent film industry, 'the'
     contemporary purveyor of dreams and 'the' supplier of pleasures. Boyles
     direction is such that the film has you in its grip within two minutes
     and doesn't give up, even the end credits deliver. Wonderful.

267. trymybiscottis from United Kingdom Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Fantastic Journey

     I am as yet to write a film review for this site, but this film has
     compelled me to do so. In one word, this is brilliant. From the very
     believable performances by a well-balanced cast to the amazing
     direction and cinematography, I was absolutely captivated by this film
     from start to finish.This film masterfully tells a story using flashbacks so perfectly put
     together that one is never lost or confused as to what is going on. The
     scenery is magnificent and at some points it seems as though you can
     see colours so rich you never thought possible.This is the best film I have seen for years and I urge anyone reading
     this to go and see it if they haven't already. If this is your only
     chance to see it on the big screen, you would be a fool to pass it up.

268. raffe90-1 from Venezuela Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     This one took me by surprise.

     I really wasn't expecting this movie, I just started watching and then
     kept watching and watching. This is a great movie, I'm a fan of the
     show "who wants to be a millionaire?" so I wanted to see what this
     movie was about and I can tell you, it won't disappoint. Danny Boyle
     uses flashbacks to tell the story of this boy, his memories, life
     experiences; but does so in a way that just flows and you don't get
     confused or feel cheated by what's happening, instead you sympathize
     and want to know more. That's the thing about this film, it's human. No
     smokes and mirrors here, just pure human emotion and a heart felt
     story. I think this is a perfect movie, or at least very close to be,
     it doesn't make the mistakes that many films seem to make these days. I
     think it's sad that this masterpiece doesn't get as much publicity as
     other movies which aren't so good do. 10/10

269. Tracey Steel from United Kingdom London Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog has a similar story to a short film titled Boot Polish made last year

     I went to watch Slumdog Millionaire and it was a very good film. The
     film is kinda similar to a short film titled Boot Polish made by a new
     British film director Aneel Ahmad in 2007. Both stories covering the same premise. Kid from poverty and saving a
     girl at the end with great music and cinematography. The perfect
     cocktail for a Bollywood MovieBoot Polish has no real dialogue and it was more tailored for the
     cinema of Satyajit Ray. Visual style rather than storyline which needed
     to be stronger. But its very Bollywood as well and has a cross over
     genre feel to it. It's a wonderful start by a novice filmmaker and it
     is unquestionably a real accomplishment.Slumdog Millionaire as a film was crafted for western audience. It was
     more of a roller-coaster ride shot at a high speed rate. I think the
     only thing that let Slumdog down was the English dialogue, it just made
     it seem unreal.Both films Boot Polish and Slumdog Millionaire are both pioneering
     cross genre Bollywood films and they are very difficult to create
     because you are trying to grab two very different audiences.Many Asian film-goers usually feel that British directors tend to be
     insensitive when shooting abroad, but i feel that Ahmad & Boyle had
     researched and perhaps adopted the idea of shooting Boot Polish &
     Slumdog Millionaire in a more Bollywood Style - Hence Romeo & Juliet.
     So it would appeal to the masses.I highly recommend Boot Polish if anyone can get hold of it! There are
     some great new film directors emerging within the British scene. So
     it's exciting times. Ahmad has had great critical success with his
     shorts by audiences across the world and his films have been endorsed
     by so many established film directors - Ridley Scott, Quentin
     Tarantino, Mike Leigh, Alan Parker and Peter Carlton who is an
     executive at Film 4 (co financed Slumdog Millionaire), the list is
     endless.Danny Boyle should give Aneel Ahmad some mentoring advice because he is
     sure to be one of the next best film directors we have in England.

270. prima-angkasa from Indonesia Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     great movie from Danny Boyle

     This comment may contain spoilers i love this movie. very original and
     romantic. The way its told very good. Danny Boyle is one of my favorite
     director. The movie describe India very well. The road, the culture,
     the people, the way of life. All are very natural. Slum in India is not
     quite different in the other Asian country. And what makes this movie
     best. The color the setting the cinematography and the honesty of the
     main character, Jamal Malik. Why would Jamal Malik so desperately joins
     this show, called "want to be a millionaire" the answer is about to
     find at the end of the movie. The music is very good too. AR Rahman did
     the great job on this movie. I hope this movie will win the best
     picture at the academy award this year

271. (anjru@aol.com) from New York Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Top Movie of the Year by Andrew Malekoff

     This is the best movie of the year. And, there were a number of movies
     that I really loved this year. Slumdog was a clear and unambiguous cut
     above everything else in what I consider to be a good year for movies.
     How do I determine that it was a good year? I saw more movies that I
     loved or really liked than in a long time.At first I was put off by the pacing that I thought was a bit slow with
     the movie shifting from present to past. But patience paid off as I
     gradually got in sync with the pacing and structure of the film. And,
     it was a big payoff that provided me with an intimate view of an
     orphaned child's harrowing journey to meet his destiny. The nine actors
     that played the three key characters during childhood, preadolescence
     and young adulthood were excellent and believable. The were perfectly
     cast and played their parts wonderfully.Interestingly, when I saw the trailer weeks before, I thought that
     Slumdog was an Indian comedy about a poor kid who wins the game show I
     Want to Be a Millionaire. I immediately had an association to My Big
     Fat Greek Wedding. And, although I loved that movie, Slumdog is a
     sprawling epic compared to the hilarious sit-com-Greek-Wedding. Slumdog
     is much more than I expected. A young man, played flawlessly by Dev
     Patel, is trying his hand at the Indian version of the game show I Want
     to be a Millionaire. His motives are fuzzy at first. He is not a
     typical contestant. We learn that it was his destiny that brought him
     to compete.We discover how he came to know the answers to the questions (did he
     cheat?, is he a genius? or, did fate have a hand in his knowledge?). We
     learn about how close bonds and loyalty among three childhood friends
     are stretched to painful extremes over time despite dramatically
     different means that each must use to adapt to the cruel circumstances
     that they must overcome to survive. Slumdog is a hopeful movie, that
     underscores the value of resilience, and highlights the many faces and
     means of loyalty, against the overwhelming odds of poverty and evil;
     this movie deserves to be honored for its achievement.

272. Sourish Karmakar (sourish123@yahoo.com) from India Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An overrated movie….

     Though the movie was commendable in portraying the real India, but the
     script was all too dreamy to cast any effect on the viewers. It was
     clearly evident that it is made by foreign guys who only knew one thing
     about India that it is poor and poor people abuse. Direction was good
     and so was the camera work. The kids who portrayed the younger version
     were so brilliant that you won't believe that they are kids. Though the
     main character was well chosen but I guess the casting people were too
     busy on the lead that they forgot to take interest on other
     characters.The script had too many loopholes but I guess the slum-boy
     turning to millionaire sympathy saved the movie. Overall it is a nice
     entertainment with some excellent music score by A.R. Rehman, but don't
     go expecting too much while watching the movie. Overall I will give
     only 6/10 to this movie with credits to the lead actor, direction,
     music and excellent camera work and the producers should blame the
     script writers and poor casting for loosing the magic figure of 10/10

273. cinemafiendee from New Zealand Says:
     January 11th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     'Slumdog Millionaire' is not Exactly Revolutionary.

     I don't know what about this feel-good flick is so much better than a
     film like 'Bend it Like Beckham' or 'Along Came Polly'. This
     award-winning film from Danny Boyle is trash even down to the
     dance/musical number during closing credits so tacky i will never
     forget. Every individual adaptation of an idea in the novel that Danny
     Boyle attempts falls through his fingers with the same distracting
     tilt-angles that 'Doubt' was so heavily criticized for. Believe it or
     not, somebody thought it a good idea to cast one of the actors from
     'Skins', the British, teenage soap opera that recently finished its
     second season as the lead actor. There are some cute performances from
     the kids who play the main actor as a child growing up, but not
     anything like the child-actor performances in 'Babel', a film which
     most certainly didn't win best picture at the Oscars. 'Slumdog
     Millionaire' is a British film which focuses not on empathy with
     another culture but on trying to make India seem 'ethnic' or
     'different'. His unnecessary speed, disorientating shots, ridiculous
     filters and lenses and random subtitles and characters that weave in
     and out of languages make white people think they're tasteful. Woody
     Allen did the same think in 'Vicky Christina Barcelona' by simply
     turning everything yellow (or 'Spanish' in
     Sundance-Film-Festival-lovers' terms if you know what i mean). There
     are several plot-holes in this, the "40th best film in the World of all
     time", but that's understandable as it is with any Hollywood flick.
     Danny Boyle seems to love taking other people's ideas and turning their
     own art into his own money as well as claiming as many awards he can
     for his supposed 'creativity'. The fact that 'Slumdog Millionaire' was
     already a cheesy, emotional and trashy novel with a readable hook,
     (Jamal is an Indian thinking back on his experiences as a 'Slumdog'
     which mean he knows the answers to the questions for 'Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire, winning him 20,000,000 Rupees) only means that Danny
     Boyle's job as a director was easier, and trust me, he fails. Perhaps
     'Slumdog Millionaire' could have been a TV series with an episode for
     each question, and this film's weak acting, outrageous end-kiss and
     blatant symbolism may have been more in place. Well, Dev Patel (Jamal
     Malik) would have been anyway. This is not THAT bad a film. People just
     need to look farer and widen their minds. five out of ten. enjoy.

274. Bhargav Saikia from United Kingdom Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Vibrant and fresh!

     Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is full of surprises. It's like a
     fable. This rags to riches tale about a boy called Jamal is so vibrant,
     fresh and high on emotions that you can't help but fall in love with
     it. And there are many reasons to celebrate this film, AR Rahman, the
     Indian cast and crew and Mumbai to name just a few. The film depicts
     how Jamal, a slum dweller in Mumbai, goes on to win 20 million Rupees
     on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in order to win back his childhood
     love, Latika. There are simultaneuos flasbacks of Jamal's past life and
     each question in the show somehow relates to one or two incidents from
     his past. Jamal is essayed by three different actors depicting his
     youngest (Ayush Khedekar), young (Tanay Chheda) and teenage (Dev Patel)
     years. Ayush Khedekar is flawless as the youngest Jamal; he absolutely
     lights up the screen with his strong presence. Taare Zameen Par's Tanay
     Chheda is a real surprise and what a brilliant follow up to his highly
     acclaimed performance in TZP. This young boy will probably grow up to
     become one hell of an actor. Slumdog is also about Salim (Jamal's elder
     brother) as much as it is about Jamal. Salim is the opposite of Jamal,
     who is a cynic and can almost go to any extent to earn money and power.
     Jamal on the other hand is humble, a dreamer, fighter and very high
     spirited even in the worst of times. Writer Simon Beaufoy of Full Monty
     fame brings out the contrast between these two characters effortlessly.
     Coming to the screenplay, Beaufoy seems to have researched well and he
     exploits the 'real' India with near perfection. Mumbai dazzles on
     screen and we get to see things which even Indian filmmakers haven't
     focused on before. The screenplay is loosely based on Vikas Swarup's
     Q&A and rumour has it that Danny Boyle had second thoughts about
     adapting the novel for the screen. But thank God he did. Small things
     make the screenplay very special. Take for example, when Jamal and
     Salim are thrown off the train in Agra, the two kids on seeing the Taj
     Mahal believe it to be some big hotel. They then pretend to be guides
     to earn some good cash from foreign tourists and cook false stories
     about the monument. For example, Shah Jahan had built the Taj Mahal as
     a hotel for his guests! Another noteworthy scene is where Jamal escapes
     from the wooden latrine covered in faeces to get an autograph from his
     favourite filmstar, Amitabh Bachchan and how he is devastated when
     Salim sells off that autograph for some meagre cash. The child actor,
     Ayush Khedekar, is excellent in these scenes. I also thoroughly enjoyed
     the arrogance and insecurity of Prem's character, played by Anil
     Kapoor. He does very well as the host but had there been Amitabh
     Bachchan or even Shahrukh Khan in his place, the effect on the film
     would have been something out of this world. But since the character
     had shades of grey it's difficult to imagine these two superstars
     agreeing to play the part. On that note Anil Kapoor must be lauded. The
     finale of the show is another high point of the script. The tension
     generated makes you feel as if you're watching the actual show and it
     totally pulls you into that moment of victory for Jamal. For director
     Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire is an incredible achievement. His
     confidence in handling this tough subject is worthy of appreciation.
     Earlier Madhur Bhandarkar had attempted to delve into a somewhat
     similar subject in Traffic Signal, but Danny Boyle scores over him by a
     large extent. Credit must also go to co-director Loveleen Tandon. I
     believe she has contributed enormously to the film's making and helped
     Boyle understand the 'real' India better. The soundtrack by AR Rahman
     is totally in sync with the narrative and helps it to move forward with
     break neck speed. Dreams on Fire, Latika's Theme and Jai Ho are
     signature Rahman compositions. Dreams on Fire is beautiful and
     haunting. I'm writing this after Rahman was awarded the Golden Globe
     for Best Composer and it's a very deserving achievement. Hopefully the
     Academy will recognise his work when the Oscar nominations will be
     announced on 22nd January. The Bollywoodish end with the Jai Ho dance
     number is pretty sweet. Cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle is top
     notch. I don't think India has looked this good on screen for a very
     long time. Editing by Chris Dickens helps the film move at a breathless
     speed and I feel he deserves that Oscar nomination, so does Mantle.
     Slumdog Millionaire is breathtaking no doubt, but I do have some
     complaints. The language should have been uniform throughout, using
     Hindi all through the film (except maybe for the show) would have made
     it more solid in terms of its overall effect. I understand the film is
     for the world audience, but if The Kite Runner could do it, where it
     used Dari mostly, then why not Slumdog? Also Dev Patel speaks with an
     accent as the teenage Jamal which is a little difficult to digest. The
     rawness required is missing there. Other than that the film is a
     triumph. I must have missed out on describing many good things about
     the film; Irrfan Khan, Saurabh Shukla, Frieda Pinto etc. But with all
     due respect, I loved every bit of Slumdog Millionaire (the flaws were
     quite minimal to be honest). And I don't see any reason why you
     wouldn't do the same. It is already at #40 in the IMDb Top 250 films
     list and a hot favourite at both the Golden Globes and the Academy
     Awards. I can only hope it wins that respectable Oscar statuette for
     Best Picture. Last but not the least, three cheers to all the child
     actors who make this film work big time. Go to the cinemas and enjoy
     this joy ride.

275. myfavouritemovies (porsche.raj@gmail.com) from India Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     good , but not the best

     i definitely agree the movie is great.i mean
     screenplay,direction,music(not rehman's best though) and direction are
     surely commendable.but i do think the movie is overrated (mainly
     because of the fact that it won golden globe today).i am Indian and i
     watch Tamil,Hindi and English movies(a lot of them).anyone will agree
     that the movie is not as good as 'saving private Ryan' or what i
     consider one of the bollywood's best-aamir khan's taare zameen
     par.slumdog may have been a great movie for others but for Indians it
     is surely not the best film about their country or better than taare
     zameen par or rang de basanti.i am not blaming anyone for this but i am
     sure slumdog will surely drop from the 8.7 it has now

276. jmarko10 from United States Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     simply amazing….

     I started watching this movie with no expectations. I had never heard
     of it at all. This movie, along with The Dark Knight, was probably the
     greatest movie that I've seen in the last 5 years. Simply amazing. You
     can't help but fall in love with the main characters. Most love story
     films do not do much for me, but this movie stands out among the best.This movie also gives you a greater appreciation for what we have and
     for what we take for granted every day of our lives. I had always heard
     about the slums of India, and how many parts of the country are poor,
     but this film opened my eyes to what it is really like.Outstanding film.

277. kewos from Spain Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A nice fairytale movie.

     I went yesterday to watch this movie. I had read some critics and I
     decided to give it a try and after 2 hours I left the theatre with a
     mix of feelings. First of all I have to admit that If the movie had
     been 100% American. Meaning that actors, and scenes had been shot at
     any place in Europe or America the movie would have been completely
     forgettable. Liked or not, and in my point of view (being European) see
     some Indian stuff everywhere made this movie enjoyable and I'm not
     going to judge now if it's or not realistic.Saying that I liked the movie. Don't watch it as a masterpiece or under
     any big spectations cause in that case it will failed. Watch it as a
     fairytale based in India. With bad guys, good ones, love and almost
     impossible endings. The movie doesn't pretend to show us India in deep
     but it gives you brushes of it and that Boyle makes a really good work
     with the camera.The movie is predictable, indeed it is. That is not realistic, probably
     it is not. But it touches you. Makes you feel different feelings along
     the movie. It reminds me a bit to the first story in "Amores Perros"
     ("Love's a bitch" in the English market) with a happy ending. And in
     India of course!!Worth to watch it. 7/10.

278. tom36052 from United States Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Wonderful!

     It is a wonderful film on so many levels: a rags to riches tale, a
     story of India's class and religious conflicts and its growth as a
     society, an adventure, a love story…It's a modern Dickens novel par
     excellence.My only beef is the lack of recognition of the main actors by the
     producer and director at last night's Golden Globe awards. One guy did
     not even mention their names in his acceptance speech; the other guy
     mentioned only their first names in passing. Was it racism, guys? Next
     time, mention Dev Patel and Freida Pinto and the others by their full
     names. You have another chance at the Oscar's.

279. prit joshi (prit30) from India Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     India is not Brazil.

     Shocked! This movie has won 4 Golden Globes. It is crowned high up in
     Top 250(!) What the hell is wrong with everyone? Who are these critics?From the very beginning this film "smelled" City of God. It seems clear
     that the writer/director had that masterpiece in mind(as many people
     here have noticed) while making this mere entertainer.I'm Indian and I know this country to the core. This film not only
     lacks the native flavor it also gives way to some unpardonable medley.
     It just sounds ridiculous when slum people are speaking English(Slangs
     in Hindi!)- that makes not a single character in this film something
     that an intellectual may approve.Evenif you look at it as a great piece of story-telling, there are
     better ones. Everybody knows. Ask David Fincher!Storyline is not great, flawed actually. Music is good, but A.R.Rahman
     has given hundreds of better scores. Cinematography is superb. 6/10. No
     less. Never more.If this flick happens to win the best film Oscar, I would very much
     like to say "Something is wrong." Seriously.

280. jemps918 from Philippines Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     funny and heartwarming, modern without being cold…

     Slumdog Millionaire deserves its Golden Globe sweep (Best Motion
     Picture - Drama, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay).
     The surprise hit will jolt you out of your ennui from all sides. Simon Beaufoy based the screenplay on Vikas Swarup's bestselling novel
     'Q and A', about Jamal Malik, a poor orphan from the slums who wins the
     US$410,000 jackpot on "Who Wants to be A Millionaire?" to attract the
     attention of the woman he loves. He is accused of cheating, however,
     and to explain how he managed to answer each question, he recounts the
     fascinating tale that is his life.Director Danny Boyle (Sunshine, 28 Days Later, The Beach) and director
     for India Loveleen Tandan produced a frenetic film that still manages
     to be riveting enough to focus on equal parts colorful Indian landscape
     and gritty human reality, allowing you to experience a wide range of
     emotions. The original score by A.R. Rahman complements the visual
     assault with a fluid infusion of Indian-flavored electronic beats.The film is brilliantly cast, with Dev Patel as the older Jamal, Madhur
     Mittal as Jamal's older brother Salim, and Freida Pinto as the older
     Latika, Jamal's childhood friend and ultimate love interest. The three
     main characters' stories unravel from their past lives, and the actors
     who play them in their early teens and childhood all contributed
     marvelously (Boyle was reportedly crushed to learn of some of child
     actors' real poverty-stricken lives, and ensured them of their
     education and trust funds).Slumdog Millionaire is a socially-relevant drama that's also funny and
     heartwarming, modern without being cold. Consistent with Boyle's style,
     despite tackling dark themes, it still has room for positive vibes,
     daring you to see the beauty in despair. It may not be a Bollywood
     flick but it ends in traditional Bollywood style: a grand production
     number!

281. Lover-UD from India Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Good effort to draw story of luck driven Slum-boy

     Slumdog millionaire is a movie, I find over-hyped for everything.
     Number of movies on the similar line had already hit the floor and not
     noticed before they perished from memories. The movie is an endeavor to
     draw the life of a boy, born at Mumbai slum, rolled by his fortune to
     face all the worst happenings, that can come to a kid's life,
     controlled by some gangsters, also having a jealous brother, his
     profound love for a girl, that actually drive the life for boy.Boy
     Jamaal has portrayed as an extra intelligent human, who learns thing
     while running, is more knowledgeable than MBA's. The story speeds up in
     the background of a TV show " Who wants to be a millionaire". The way
     Jamaal's answers being mapped to incidents in his life was sometime
     indigestible. Pluses are those parts of movie having childhood of kids
     and story of the 2nd Saleem. Some portions of movie seemed very
     unpractical. Show host behavior was also unanswered in the movie.
     Overall this was an good effort to sketch the life of slum guy, driven
     by his luck and finally landed into the money. Missing practicality of
     some scenes, pulled movie to ordinary row sometimes.

282. Neil Katz from United States Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best movie I have seen in a while

     Slumdog Millionaire is the story of a boy from the lowest level on
     India's caste system who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to
     be a Millionaire. This film shows the main characters life through cut
     scenes that show why he was able to answer all the questions on the
     show. movie is absolutely incredible. You cannot possibly miss the
     opportunity to see this one. It is 100% worth the price of admission.
     If anybody has seen City of God, this movie moves very similar to that
     one. Slumdog Millionaire may even be better than City of God. If you
     want to be wholly entertained by an engaging story that will inspire
     you, this is a movie you must see.

283. Ross Wilson from United Kingdom Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Rough jewel

     There are a lot of posts and comments about the Indian caste system and
     the way the movie depicts slum reality. Many feel it glosses over these
     subjects in order to fulfill its entertainment directive. Not true.A movie about a slum that's positive and uplifting isn't necessarily
     feel good gloss, the reality about Hinduism, is that the whole point in
     the drama of life is to see through it to the beauty in life no matter
     where it may be. Hope then is a wonderful contrast to this environment,
     the sun, the colours, the people the adventure.. if these things can't
     give us a reason to go on what can.That's the first part of the movie.The second part, when the kids are older unfortunately finds itself
     drawn back to the mainstream motorway after the first half took an
     exciting adventurous turn off. The plot here becomes usual, cliché
     even, the drama is fairly superficial and you can't help thinking that
     there could have been a whole lot more depth.That said it's probably this half of the movie that brought in more
     regular movie goers. I can't help that think if the movie had continued
     to explore and probe the boundaries of adventure in India, the masses
     would have given it a wider birth.A tale of two halfs then; but as a whole, and even with the predictable
     soap opera like ending, it's a real achievement, the energy and
     euphoria Boyle creates is unique. It engages you start to finish and is
     very definitely an exciting worth while ride.. deserved of all the
     Oscars it has won in my humble opinion.

284. arnieiam from India Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Another "good" film that shows "bad" India

     Yes lets make another movie that shows the country with one of the
     world's largest GDPs as poverty stricken, full of gang violence, crime,
     police brutality and communal riots because Steven Spielberg couldn't
     do a fine enough job in the Temple of Doom. Yes India has these kind of
     problems but what what developed nation doesn't? The States has the
     same thing going on in many of their big cities. The thing about
     something like Boys in The Hood is that it was made John Singleton, a
     guy from South Central who has actually seen things happen in his
     community. This film was made by some British guy who might know
     something about India but I doubt he grew up there his whole life.
     Gandhi may have shown India in its turbulent times but it was a true
     story. This is a work of fiction so I don't get how its so "inspiring".
     I have no clue how this thing won so many awards. If you want to show a
     movie about a kid from the slums making it big then don't put him on
     Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. Show him getting an education or being a
     child genius or something. Isn't there an actual kid from India who is
     like 14 or 15 and is researching the cure for cancer? Make a film on
     him thats inspiring. Or make a film on any great Indian like Akbar the
     Great, or Lord Bethune or Rudyard Kipling or Swami Vivekananda or Abdul
     Kalam Azad or Indira Gandhi or those brave commandos who fought in
     Mumbai. This is a purely fictitious work that just keeps showing the
     decaying India.

285. wynkerts from Boston, MA Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A shameless over-hyped movie; insulting to an entire nation.

     Yet another example of hype obscuring reality. Why, why is this movie
     acclaimed so? It's dishonest, it's disgusting, it's not believable, and
     it panders to the needs of a western audience. They see what they want
     to see and believe.And there are so many people celebrating, and in India? An
     Indian/Indian origin cast, staff, viewers in India, Indian show hosts,
     news anchors …. do they know what just happened? A horrible
     stereotype was reinforced - again. That with a shoddy story, and
     nonsensical situations - many of which have been mentioned by other
     viewers.Dump this by the other piece of garbage by Danny Boyle -
     'Trainspotting'.

286. Drifteral99 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 12th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     This is not a 'feelgood' film

     You have to go and see this film if…a) you care a fig about people, no matter their skin tone. b)you like
     Indian music c) Don't believe the stories about this being a 'feelgood'
     movie because it isn't. I'd not have gone to the trouble of going to
     the cinema to see a 'feelgood' film…I'm happily grumpy much of the
     time. Anyone who thinks this is 'feelgood' lacks a social conscience or
     a brain in which to house one. d)You enjoy quizzes e)like most people
     with an ounce of human decency you enjoy the triumph of good over evil.This is no 'Mamma-Mia' it won't plaster a silly grin over your face nor
     will it give you good dreams. The scenes of the aforementioned slums
     are an affront to decency. Acre upon acre of corrugated tin roofs which
     shelter millions of the helpless and the truly hopeless. For hope must
     be in short supply in such a terrible place. The high buildings which
     are rising alongside the shanty might offer some of course…a job in a
     call centre as a 'phone-basher' perhaps.From such a hive of overcrowded industry comes our hero. In unlikely
     guise. The film is a series of flashbacks detailing Jamal's life so
     far. And what a life it had been. I'll not spoil it for you but he
     somehow survived childhood with only mental scars and many of his
     contemporaries were not so lucky. His big brother Salem had a hand in
     said survival and the love of his like Latika drove him on. The evil
     that men do is well depicted. It doesn't stop the lad arriving on the
     telly facing a 20,000,000 million Rupee question before a 90,000,000
     audience. Any fantasy can engineer the outcome. This one was unlikely , but apt.
     Two hours plus flew by… …We exited in darkness talking about what
     we'd just seen - always a good sign. My Wife's instant reaction on
     leaving the theatre was to gush 'that was excellent' . I was slightly
     taken aback by this down to earth woman's enthusiasm but had to admit
     we'd just enjoyed a film extravaganza.A decidedly human story in a place where humanity teems, and the
     currency of survival is a little less of a lottery now that prosperity
     -for some at least is knocking at the door but they have a long, long
     way to go. This was an eye opener and puts the credit crunch in
     perspective.If you DO go then DO NOT LEAVE before the end credits have rolled.

287. meeza (themeezaman@hotmail.com) from Miami, Fl Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Millions will love "Slumdog Millionaire"

     "Slumdog Millionaire" is rich with so many magnificent qualities: It is
     a vibrant, inspiring, and audacious film. And it just might be the apex
     of cinematic releases for the film year 2008. "Slumdog Millionaire" is
     the story of impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik's Dickens-like life
     adventure during his childhood and juvenile years; from his turbulent
     childhood in India's slums to his destined juvenile experience of being
     a game show contestant of India's version of "Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire?" Director Danny Boyle does a divine job of orchestrating
     on how Jamal is able to answer Millionaire questions correctly by
     Jamal's adventurous "lifeline" childhood & youthful slum experiences;
     the two interrelated juxtaposed narrative structures is the
     storytelling nature of "Slumdog Millionaire". Jamal and his older
     brother Salim together go through many childhood slum trials &
     tribulations and evade seizure & mortality in the most unique ways.
     Salim as he grows older eventually ventures into the bad seed of living
     a thug life, while genuine Jamal turns the other cheek and is just
     focused on living a love life. You see Jamal's foremost drive is to
     reunite with the love of his life Lakita, which he befriended as a
     child but were separated in a slum escape from some horrific
     opportunistic criminals. Jamal as a young man does eventually find the
     beautiful Lakita and is aware that she is an avid fan of "Who Wants to
     be a Millionaire?" Therefore, that is what leads our main slumdog Jamal
     to the game show experience. India's law enforcement is dubious on how
     a slumdog like Jamal can answers questions correctly on the game show,
     so they shake up Jamal a bit. Jamal then has no other choice but to
     tell his life story to them and fortunately for our cinematic delight
     to us viewers also. Dev Patel as Jamal was no slum in his motion
     picture acting debut with his brilliant performance. Anil Kapoor was
     captivating as Millionaire host Prem Kumar; and the steady veteran
     Indian actor Irrfan Khan did contribute yet another admirable
     performance to his underrated acting resume. The drop dead gorgeous
     Freida Pinto not only paints a pretty picture as an Indian sex symbol
     but she was also ready as Freddy, I mean Freida, with her thespian
     contribution to Slumdog. Simon Beaufoy's electric screenplay was one of
     the year's elite and Simon says "you best believe that it is a lock for
     a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination." The wondrous
     cinematography, production design, and editing of "Slumdog Millionaire"
     should also bark up more Oscar nominations on the Slumdoghouse. The
     celebratory theme song of Slumdog is entitled "Jai Ho" which means
     "Victory" in Indian. The rousing "Jai Ho" is also worthy of an Oscar
     jai ho as Best Song. The true hero of "Slumdog Millionaire" is Director
     Danny Boyle for his precise composition of this gem of a film; thank
     you Danny Boy! How do you say "Best Director Oscar" in Indian? Will
     there be many Jai Ho's for "Slumdog Millionaire" come Oscar night? I
     believe so and that is my final answer! ***** Excellent

288. KnightKrawler from India Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Jai Ho !!!

     Heard a lot about this movie before watching it finally. All the
     accolades, the golden globes and every praise the movie got was heard
     before i saw the movie. So the excitement and expectation to watch the
     Indian 'City of God' was tremendous. And…the movie delivered. It
     presented an entirely new face of Mumbai which is rarely seen in any of
     the movies rolled out by Bollywood, based in Mumbai (quite
     ironic……). The direction, the acting, the music everything was
     superb but the aspect which won it for me was the camera-work. Each
     shot, each angle shouted Perfection(with a capital P…) The movie
     started off brilliantly with the small kids running from the cops and
     the parallel story of the older Jamal in the police station getting
     tortured. The movie grew darker and a bit comic simultaneously showing
     the ugly face of what actually happens to slum kids on the streets of
     big cities. The movie slowed down a bit in the middle and i personally
     didn't like the end. Not that i didn't wanted the slumdog to win
     millions but the way it was shown was a bit over the top. May be it was
     a rags to riches story and the writer wanted it to be like that. An
     Oscar favorite for the Best Movie but don't think that it can win.
     Maybe a nomination might do it justice. Bottomline : Don't miss it for
     anything. Not even for 20 Million rupees(watch the movie and you will
     get the joke)!!!

289. Framescourer from London, UK Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Exuberant if rather straightforward

     I got rather excited by this film at the first shot of the slum of the
     title. Danny Boyle conjures up a fiesta of colour and childish
     exuberance as a horde of youngsters charge between cricket and class.
     All the trademark verve and élan is on show and things look promising.In as much as this was my first impression of the film I left (an
     excessive 2 hours later) rather disappointed. Slumdog Millionaire is
     essentially a romantic melodrama stitched into an edition of Who Want
     To Be A Millionaire: a Primark suit with a turmeric-bright lining.
     There is a suggestion of the answers to questions being,
     serendipitously, key events in the life of the principal, Jawal, but I
     found this dubiously handled (I blame editor Chris Dickens for this
     idea-muddling). There's also an attempt to incorporate a sense of
     latter-day India which comes across as much as a state-supported advert
     as wit or simply backdrop.Still, it's a well-rendered story due in no little part to the super
     cast. Three generations of Dev and Salim Patel and Litika have a
     substantial commitment in the film and fulfil it admirably. The big
     winner of the project though is Anthony Dod Mantle's photography which
     looks wonderful whatever eventually befalls it. 6/10

290. bohemian11 Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Borrowed ideas and bollywood rehash

     Its an average movie. Its based on stereotypes, little bit realism,
     offensive, typical for ignorant idle Indian ESCAPIST mind like running
     away from classic divisions in India like skin color, religion, caste,
     over-hyped wishful thinking and bollywood rehash… I mean that book itself is a classic case of plagiarism or borrowed
     ideas.Technicalities (direction, cinematography, editing, music etc.) are
     good, but come on, technology is cheap now and all over the world
     movies are technically sound now.I will give it 6 out of 10.What is this hoopla about?

291. simon-prometheus from Canada Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     If this film had a flaw, it was that it had to end.

     Slumdog Millionaire is a remarkable film for a number of reasons. Not
     only is it simply sublime overall (which I will get into later) but it
     overcomes so many hurdles with such grace and ease, it is worthy of
     even more admiration. Mirroring director Danny Boyle's genre hopping
     career is Slumdog's story which seamlessly blends romance, comedy,
     drama, elements of mystery, action and a devastating portrait of the
     Mumbai slums. Along with this achievement, it is simultaneously rousing
     and uplifting, while being intimate and true starring unknown actors,
     yet has achieved mainstream success in spite of itself. And where so
     many films this year have failed, the ending, Slumdog only becomes more
     rewarding. Movies like this come along only once in a blue moon, and
     are something to be cherished, shared and loved.Following his successful excursion into Sci-Fi with Sunshine, Danny
     Boyle has teamed up with Bollywood director Loveleen Tandan and the duo
     have crafted a film that echoes Boyle's character intimacy and artistic
     style while being richly textured with Tandan's complex love and
     acceptance of her homeland's tragic dogmata. Framing the narrative is
     some of the best camera work and art direction of the year, impeccably
     placed original music and a buoyant score. Taking full advantage of
     their collective skill, the director's have used hand-held cameras to
     impeccable results, boasting kinetic energy along with a polish and
     steadiness that only masters could pull off. From this, the shots open
     up into breathtaking panoramas of the slums; rich, gritty and beautiful
     but never in a condescending or exploitative way. Who wants to be a millionaire? Want to or not, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel)
     is one question away from winning ten million rupees on the Indian
     version of the widely popular American gameshow. In between episodes,
     Jamal is whisked away into a police van and interrogated on a suspicion
     that he is cheating. For how could an uneducated 'slumdog' brought up
     from poverty make it so far? In custody, Jamal tells the story of how
     his life's journey along with his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) and
     friend and secret love Latika (The stunning Freida Pinto) through
     tragedy, betrayal and danger had led him to know the answers and how,
     and truth behind why, he is on the show.The performances of all those involved are nothing short of flawless.
     From the child stars playing the three leads, to the matured versions,
     Patel, Mittal and Pinto all should have glowing careers ahead. If this
     film had a failing, it is that it had to end. For Slumdog Millionaire
     is such a roar and vibrant celebration of the true nature of the human
     spirit, and the true cost and meaning of love, it is a film that is
     both alright to, and effortless to love. Read all my reviews at: http://www.simonsaysmovies.blogspot.com

292. Topher-Liam Froehlich from United States Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An Eclectic Blend of Gritty Truth, Outlandish Fairy Tale and Unfathomable Energy that Works About 90% of the Time

     Slumdog MillionaireIf you can imagine a movie that plays like the madcap wonder child of
     "City of God", "Oliver Twist", and the oeuvre of Frank Capra, directed
     by, well–I suppose his style is pretty much his own–Danny Boyle, then
     you have a pretty close vision to that of 'Slumdog Millionaire'. As
     directed by the underrated Mr. Boyle (he of '28 Days Later' and
     'Trainspotting' fame), Slumdog is a full frontal assault on the eyes
     and the heart. It moves to a beat of unstoppable energy; the film is
     fast, frenetic and engaging. It's visual style is more of a visual
     attack; the cinematography leers beautifully with vibrant colors and
     effective, off center angles. There is a special magic rhythm to
     Boyle's direction and editing (of course one must thank the film's
     editor there as well), that simply whisks you away with its energy.Of this movie I thought the direction was its strongest aspect. In
     particular I believe the early life of its three heroes (hero Jamal,
     brother Salim, object of love Lakita), when they are children, are the
     best scenes. The young actors who portrayed these children are
     wonderful in their roles, and appear gifted. As teens, these 3
     characters still resonated with me and sparkled in their performances.
     As adults, those who did the parts of Lakita and Salim were
     underwhelming. But the film's oft mentioned breakout Dev Patel as the
     oldest version of Jamal, has his own special laid back charisma that
     holds the film's hopelessly (maybe too overly romanticized for lack of
     a better word) romantic core tale together.The film as I wrote in my caption is a blend of very different
     inspirations, and at times, it doesn't work. The film is at its
     best–its most vibrant, emotional and effective–when it shows the
     slumdog life; that is when we witness the impoverished life of its
     protagonists. Towards the end, it becomes a little too much about a
     somewhat forced romance**. But what bothered me most, was that it was
     Jamal's hard lifestyle (and indeed some scenes really do give a notion
     of the brutality of living under such conditions) that gave him answers
     to questions. Why would it have been so unrealistic for him just to
     know such pieces of trivia by being pop culture wise? Did they all have
     to tie back down to his life in the slums?**Actually, forget somewhat forced. Slumdog's one absolute fail is the
     super strained relationship of Jamal/Latika. The elder versions of
     these characters share zero chemistry. I did not for one moment believe
     them lovers. The only indication they were "in love" was that the movie
     said so.**Anyway, I digress. This is a movie of energy, as I keep saying. It is
     worthwhile for its optimism, its music, its feeling, its almost
     successful blend of genres, its young stars performance's, its brash
     embrace of all things optimistic, and for shedding some light unto a
     culture and a lifestyle we don't often glimpse at the movies.
     Imperfect, but recommended. 8/10

293. HIREN DAVE (hbdave_77@yahoo.co.in) from India Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     film of the year 2008

     The movie has already bagged 4 golden globe trophies & expectations are
     high to repeat the same history in coming Oscars. More than anyone else
     I'm happy to see the smiling face of British Director Danny Boyle.He is
     in his mid 60's & he always remains an underdog low budget filmmaker in
     Hollywood for years & this is his moment. It's his belief in the script
     (a novel named 'Q & A' written by Vikas Swarup, which even a few
     Indians have read so far) & his execution as a director which made the
     film a history. His best decision as a director is casting an assistant
     Indian co-director Loveleen Tondon & gave her full liberty of casting.
     And Loveleen has done brilliant casting to cater the world audience.
     Especially those slum children including child Jamaal. Apart of sound
     direction, the movie also scores points in screenplay & gripping
     editing. Not for a single minute I felt bore in the film.The movie is a moving confession story of a Mumbai slum dweller boy
     named Jamaal who in the verge of winning a reality quiz show
     interrogated by the suspicious cops. How Jamaal knows the answers of
     all questions, how he won 20 million bucks & more importantly his lost
     love with a platform like this is thing to watch & cherish. The movie
     is totally Indian in look & partly in Hindi but it's the treatment of
     balancing fantasy of winning money with stark reality of slum life made
     it uplifting tale to admire. And it's this balance of film which has
     touched the right chords of abroad audience.Our 'Madras Mozart' A R Rahman got world recognition on central stage
     winning golden globe trophy representing 1st ever Indian who won it &
     it's definitely moment of him too. But the score he gave in the film
     isn't his best one. All the Indian Rahman fans who have listened his
     music for years may feel the background score of the film a very normal
     score compared to his gr8 compositions & themes of last 18 years. Talking about the performances its- Dev Patel & Freida Pinto steals the
     show with their promising debut performances. Rest of the Bollywood
     cast- Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar or Shaurabh Shukla
     maintained the nuanced performances assigned to them. But Anil has done
     exceptionally well with his cheer up anchor of the show with his
     trademark style. Anil is going to do a thrilling 2nd film with Danny
     Boyle in lead role. Hope Boyle can exploit well this genius screen
     legend of Bollywood.Ratings- 8.5/10

294. Whisper Wit Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Well, what a movie this is!

     Well, what a movie this is! I have been a regular visitor to the IMDb
     site and especially to the comments section. It never occurred to me
     till now, that i might want to post my views here. But this movie has
     made me do it.Each and every aspect of this movie has fascinated me. Be it the
     direction, music, screenplay or the casting. No wonder why this movie
     has already grabbed four of the prestigious Golden Globe award. And i
     feel its gonna be a sure shot winner in the Oscars too.My first appreciations to the Indian Novelist, Vikas Swaroop and to his
     debut novel "Q and A" on which this movie is based. Though i haven't
     yet read the book, i am sure it would be as good as the movie. I will
     be looking forward for his works in future too.Danny Boyle (Director) and Loveleen Tandan (Co-Director) together with
     Simon Beaufoy (Screenplay) have beautifully brought this novel alive.
     The way the uncertainties in the lifestyle of a pure Mumbaikar is
     portrayed, is fantastic. The whole movie is a mixture of bits from past
     and present and i couldn't stop noticing the way the two time-frames
     blend together.The music by the Indian legend AR Rahman is quite lively and melodious.
     I especially liked the score when the protagonist (Jamaal) waits for
     his lover (Latika) in the VT railway station and to the point when his
     brother (Salim) kidnaps her outside the station. It is a lively mixture
     of Indian music with the western.The cast have to be appreciated too. All the actors, actresses who
     played the lead characters Jamaal, Latika and Salim did a great job.
     Anil Kapoor (Host of the show) and Irfan Khan (Inspector) though they
     were in mediocre roles, did quite well keeping up to their usual
     standards.Last but not the least, thanks a lot to the producers who pinned their
     efforts in bringing this novel to the silver screen, when most of the
     Indian production houses had backed away.I rate this movie 9/10 without any second thoughts. Great Movie.

295. shundy5 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     One of the best movie for years

     It was one of the best film I have seen for a very long time. It is in
     my top all time 10 list. It is a great story of an Indian boy from the
     slump, who enters in the Indian version of who wants to be a
     millionaire, and one question away from the top prize, when they run
     out of time for the day. He is taken away by the police for an
     overnight interrogation, because they can't believe that he knew all
     the answers so far.So he starts telling his own life story question by
     question and all the answers are the part of his life. Everybody should
     see this great feel-good movie which is also full of with energy, and a
     lot different from all the other Hollywood movies. It will make you
     want to travel to India.

296. cstreather from United Kingdom Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     excellent film but a tragic story

     This is an excellent film but a tragic story depicting the exploitation
     of children, poverty, racism towards Muslims, police brutality,
     corruption and crime. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a street kid (or
     "slumdog") who appears on India's WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Jamal
     exceeds expectations on the show so the games host alerts the police
     after he becomes suspicious of his methods. Boyle ties together Jamal's
     life experiences with his answers on the show brilliantly as we see him
     growing up. Boyle's cast are all excellent and are mostly unknown
     outside of India. Patel, in particular, gives a performance that
     audiences are unlikely to forget long after the credits role on this
     affecting feature.

297. calkid203 from Hollywood Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     This movie was nothing but a cliché. It was terrible.

     This movie was a super duper cliché, predictable and obvious. It seemed
     to be going by the typical cinematic formula. A young kid suffers, and
     is the underdog that we (as the audience) all root for–he is an honest
     kid with a heart of gold who must go through tragedy after
     tragedy—and at the end of the movie–he finds love and millions of
     dollars. How can we even "feel" for these characters when we never even
     get to know them (besides the fact that they've been through so much).
     So at the end it doesn't matter one way or another whether he lives or
     dies. WHy? because I didn't really care for any of them. Why? because
     we never go to know them. There was no depth to these people , and to
     this movie. It didn't touch my heart, it didn't move me. It seemed to
     be more about the way it looked (cinematography, editing, etc).
     Therefore, it was more flash than anything profound. And too many
     scenes were trying too hard—they were trying to be "cutesy", for
     example, the toilet scene with the little kid when he's covered in
     feces—sorry, but I did not find it funny or cute. Actually, didn't
     evoke anything for me–but I could tell the movie desperately wanted
     the audiences to laugh out loud. Also, the chili pepper scene (when the
     little kid get's it thrown in his privates) again, not funny or cute,
     just kinda like "whatever"-an if anything, it annoyed me because I
     could tell the movie was trying too hard. Plus, the whole "black an
     white" thing where there's the "bad evil" characters–an the "good"
     characters is just nonsense–life is gray, not black an white. The
     whole "WHo wants to be a millionaire" thing is just a gimmick Danny
     Boyle used to catch the attention of people–and use it an fairytale
     way. The premise is very far fetched. The whole movie is contrived.
     It's very 'on the surface'. If u want to see a real movie–with a third
     world topic–check out, "City of God". Believe me you will see the
     difference between a good movie and a bad one.

298. Ron Plasma from Broadbottom, UK Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The Colour Of Money

     We have long known that the worst toilet in the world is in Scotland;
     Trainspotting's Edinburgh for Danny Boyle, but the Glen Affric bothy
     for us adventurers. So the early "humour" of a small child jumping into
     a sea of (word censored by authoritarian IMDb)somehow boded well for
     what was billed as a feel-good movie. Even when you are, literally, in
     it deep, you can still crawl your way out.But I'm afraid I saw in Slumdog Millionaire too much that could not be
     soaped off: Torture; child abuse; mutilation. Come on? Not nice.I'll probably change my mind over time, but such horrors burnt my own
     retina to such an extent that the – once again literal – riot of
     movement and colour didn't compensate. A good film, but as far as I was
     concerned the "feel-good" was limited to the 'Millionaire' scenes that
     Celador present us with every week.Two final points at opposite ends of my muddled mind: I've seen Freida
     Pinto described as the great beauty of 2009 – but wasn't she Candice in
     Corrie a few years ago? Four days before watching "Slumdog" I learnt
     the word "crore" from Raju's resignation letter. I don't have
     "dedication" rights, but I wish all Satyam innocents well in these
     astonishing times.One more. One more. I heard DB say on the radio the other day that if
     he had the money he might spend more time at Gigg Lane. More than happy
     to discuss my criticisms on the MRE at any FC home match Danny. (I know
     he reads ALL these reviews!)RonViewed 11Jan09)

299. Robin Hicks from Australia Says:
     January 13th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Disappointing

     While this film tries to make a point about the effects of slum
     dwelling and the criminality of slum-dog life for orphans, the
     stitching of the theme into the "Who wants to be a millionaire"
     background breaks sense of credibility. There seems so much
     stereotyping of the Indian culture for a western audience that it makes
     one wonder how credible much of the scenes are. To me it was a
     disappointing film as one could predict the final outcome well in
     advance. I was left wondering if the film was intended as a comical
     satire or as a dramatic portrayal of an orphaned survival in the slums
     of Mumbai. Too many of the characters played roles that were too
     unrealistic to make a meaningful sense of drama stick.

300. Vivek Thomas from India Says:
     January 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Unadulterated India

     I've watched the movie a few times and loved every bit of it.
     Unadulterated India, which Indian directors are scared to showcase.
     Bollywood only likes to show glamorous India, because the other side of
     India is what 95% of us lives in, and hence would not like to see a
     movie with the same backdrop. Whats different about this is that it
     starts of grabbing you in the Gut with almost nauseating imagery and
     gradually turns it into a ravishing delicacy and leaves you mouth
     watering for more. A true masterpiece captured with stunning visuals
     and exhilarating music to match. Definitely one of the 100 films you
     must see before you die.

301. Aman Saxena from United States Says:
     January 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     silly nationalists

     Its absolutely appalling that being an Indian myself I find that the
     people who are giving the movie negative ratings here and as well as on
     most other public forums are Indians.For once, let prejudice and nationalism (not patriotism) take a
     backseat and let people enjoy the movie for what it is.I always chuckle at my fellowmen cringing over the slums shown in a
     foreign film as if the directors intention was to portray the whole
     country as one which is in fact not the case. reflect any negative
     aspect of the country and we have our nationalists screaming foul and
     ruining ratings on a forum.Its amusing how at one end they would refuse to acknowledge the slum
     life as being an integral part of the dynamic country while at the same
     time would spend money watching pure B grade bollywood flicks running
     and singing around trees.So Amitabh Bacchan who in India is something like John Travolta + Brad
     pitt + Leonardo Caprio + Tom cruise put together x 10 blasted the movie
     for showing the country in a negative light. Mind you, this is the same
     ageing superstar who when goes to a routine checkup at the hospital,
     people line up in the thousands to offer their prayers.So I have one question for Sir Amitabh, had his blockbuster movie
     "Black" in which he portrayed a older teacher taking care of a young
     blind girl who eventually kissed her been made by a western director
     would he have blasted it for portraying all Indian men as pedophiles as
     well !?!? Or more recently his other work "Bhagban" where kids refuse
     to take care of their elderly parents portray the plight of an entire
     nation or a certain few Mr bacchan !? Obviously you can relate to what
     Im saying that movies are meant to pick on a theme and build around it
     they cannot cover each and every broad aspect or else you wouldn't have
     a movie.Or for that matter the hundreds of scores he has done running around
     trees singing proposing the actress realistic in any sense !? I can
     assure Sir Bacchan that not more than a 100 out of a population of
     billion would have echoed that sort of melodrama while finding their
     lady love.Danny Boyle has done a beautiful job elegantly touching the lives of
     people in the millions who live below the poverty line and their day to
     day struggles, something that the bollywood fraternity that is based in
     Mumbai itself rarely touches. I find it ridiculously hilarious that people would argue about India's
     growing economy and middle class base etc etc etc to somehow prove to
     the western audience the country is better than what is portrayed.
     Guess what ?! the western world doesn't really care a 2 hoots, they
     just appreciate a good movie. The strive for international recognition
     messes up with dumbfound nationalsim.Ignore them and watch this movie.I salute you Sir Danny Boyle !

302. alvaromano from Indonesia Says:
     January 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     WOW is not enough

     when i saw this film, i thought i'll see old Indian dance movie as
     bollywood do as usual …but Danny boyle is totally brilliant he can
     makes this film to be great to see.He can pic the camera angle that totally was artistic, and the story
     goes and my eyes just cannot even to blink …the composer is great too..the traditional tool that used for the score
     is so touch-full…the love between latika n jamal was so touching and i SHOCKED with the
     acting of all the KIDS it was totally GOOD!! this film already won
     GG…cannot wait to see this film in Oscar and hopefully get the best

303. jono-73 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Between heaven and hell, love conquers all

     There may be nothing new under the sun, but every now and again a movie
     comes along that feels like a true original, even if it is at heart a
     Dickensian rags to riches tale, complete with a romance in which
     childhood sweethearts find love in a world which seems destined to keep
     them apart. Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" is such a film. Despite
     the sometimes brutal realism deployed in the telling, "Slumdog" will
     probably disappoint anyone wishing for a penetrating critique of the
     various socio-political currents that combine to make modern Mumbai
     such a dynamic metropolis for the upwardly mobile of suitable caste,
     yet such a desperate and dangerous place for everyone else. Those
     averse to wish-fulfillment fantasy or simply good old-fashioned movie
     romance, whether of the Hollywood or Bollywood variety, are likewise
     advised to give this one a miss. Everyone else is in for an absolute
     treat.Based on Vikas Swarup's novel "Q&A", with a screenplay by "Full Monty"
     writer Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog" is told in an unfolding flashback style
     not dissimilar to the format of "The Usual Suspects". Eighteen year-old
     Jamal (Dev Patel), has reached the final question on the Indian version
     of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and when we first encounter him he's
     in police custody, undergoing torture intended to obtain a confession
     of cheating from him. Under interrogation it gradually emerges that
     Jamal, an orphan of the Mumbai slums, has very good reason for having
     known the answers to his Millionaire questions, each having been seared
     on his consciousness by vivid events from his life. These episodes
     depict the often harrowing back-story of Jamal, brother Salim and
     sweetheart Latika, fighting for survival in a merciless world that
     seems to have condemned them to a life of slavery, violence, crime,
     murder and prostitution. That this isn't all too depressing for words
     is down to the amazingly bright performances Boyle draws from his young
     cast (Jamal, Salim and Latika are played from early childhood to late
     teens by three generations of young actors), and from the essentially
     optimistic temperament of Beaufoy's writing and Boyle's vision. Both
     unerringly find spirit and hope in the darkest of cracks into which the
     youngsters repeatedly stumble. Blind faith that love will conquer all
     is what sustains Jamal, even when Salim is seduced by the promise of
     power and wealth that Mumbai's criminal underworld seems to offer, and
     Latika is enslaved by it. Ironically, it is not money that motivates
     Jamal's participation and persistence on the "Millionaire" show, but
     simply the hope that somewhere in the teeming 'Maximum City' of Mumbai,
     Latika will be watching, and maybe, just maybe, he will be able to
     provide her with their ticket to freedom.The sheer exuberance of the production - which is a triumph for all
     involved on the technical side, not least cinematographer Anthony Dod
     Mantle - and an underlying philosophy that the reach of anyone's
     earthly life can extend from hell to heaven, even simultaneously,
     ensures that audiences are simply swept away on a wave of inspiration,
     rather than merely prodded for the desired emotional response to an
     admittedly unlikely tale. Boyle perhaps owes a debt to Fernando
     Meirelles' "City of God", a film that "Slumdog" clearly recalls in the
     riot of colour, energy and horror that it finds in the margins of urban
     life in the developing world. Yet Boyle's movie is far from imitative
     or derivative. His own skittering, kaleidoscopic style has long been
     established, and besides, he's peerless when it comes to combining
     realism with romanticism. Here he's found a great match in the
     material. "Slumdog Millionaire" tells a tale that in its basic essence
     is as old as the hills, but in its amazing breadth of detail, and in
     its glorious lust for life, it also feels bang up to the minute, with
     an instinctive finger on the pulse of our crazy, frightening, and
     magical postmodern global village.

304. tanky92 from United States Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     One of the very best and poignant films you are ever going to see this year.

     Director Danny Boyle's new film "Slumdog Millionaire" is just about the
     best film of the year. Its an engaging story about a poor orphan
     slumdog from the streets of India who lands a spot on the "hot seat" on
     an Indian's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." His name is
     Jamal played with an eager determination by Dav Patel in his first
     debut film in a astounding performance. He gets arrested after a huge
     misunderstanding with the police when its brought out that he's nothing
     but a cheat who knew all of the answers because it is written. But it
     turns out to be a bigger picture to the story than what it seems to be.
     How Jamal knows the correct answer to each and every question is an
     answer that I'll let the audience and readers of this review find out
     for themselves.Other than the film itself, and the other top notch performances, what
     I loved more about this film was its simple little screenplay that will
     wow anybody and everybody who sees it. The brilliant cinematography
     really captures the elegant moments of a life of the slumdogs. The
     quick and stylish editing shots and the original score by Malik Salima
     are a must for this type of film. And I wouldn't be surprised if it
     garnered some Oscar nominations for these categories. But the show
     stopper here is Danny Boyle himself, who if you recall directed, the
     Brit cult-classic, about the lives of drug users in "Trainsspotting,"
     the dark, deep, and gruesome "28 Days Later," and the
     family-comedy/drama popular British film "Millions." Here he takes the
     peak of his game to a whole new level with "Slumdog," challenging
     himself once again as a filmmaker and an innovator at best who has is
     finally getting the recognition he deserves as one of the best
     directors ever. I really hope he gets more of the attention for this
     film as needed.I don't really think it'd be fair of me to go on and on about the plot,
     because, I myself, as an ordinary film lover wants those who also love
     films about lost love, destiny, and all that jazz, to see this movie
     with an open mind and see just what it is that has people cheering a
     slumdog in Moubai. Its a really great film. Although "The Dark Knight"
     is personally my favorite film of the year, I wouldn't mind nor would I
     be surprised if this was to win Best Picture at this year's Academy
     Awards ceremony. If anything it totally deserves it, its a special
     movie. Special from where we see Jamal as child surviving alone with he
     and his brother on the cold streets of India, from the very beginning
     when he meets Latika, departs from her and then reunites again only to
     find that life has been different for the both of them, and special to
     the very end while watching the closing credits. By then you cannot
     help but leave this film with a great big smile on your face.While viewing Slumdog Millionaire, I found myself watching what could
     have been your average ordinary coming of a age family film. But make
     no mistake, it is so much more than that. Nothing like it, if that. But
     walking out of that movie theater for a second time I knew that I had
     just experienced a remarkable tale, something I hadn't seen all year. I
     was living an experience. Now that was special.

305. Bharath Karthikeyan from India Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An Hilarious shortcut to 20 million….!!!

     I got to watch this movie after the 4 golden globes,and much more
     acclaims the movie had received and i would say the factors which got
     the movie this far would be the seamless screenplay,the actors,and an
     excellent portrayal of young slum children getting hardened in their
     way up the ladder called life. As the movie title reveals,a slum bred
     youth takes to become richer by 20 million on a game show.The movie's
     story is very simple but it is the refreshing and dynamic portrayal of
     twist in fates of our hero which makes it stand out,but under no
     circumstances does he do anything wrong and all he does is take life as
     it comes,as the director explains its all pre-WRITTEN. Music score by
     A.R.Rehman energizes the movie and sets the pulse up. I recommend this
     movie for anyone who prefer an equal dose of
     comedy,romance,adventure,action n suspense,all in a simple manner. And
     also here is AMCHI(local) mumbai for you people,its as close as it
     gets. This movie has set a landmark for many more untapped talents in
     India to try and deliver quality content to the global audience. Slum
     Dog millionaire is the movie of this season,go for it!

306. adityann from United States Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Terrbily over-hyped , here's the reason : Good in parts, pathetic in others -

     Saw this movie because 1) I am an Indian 2) The then IMDb ranking was a
     #42 in the Top 250 films ever ! I was like wow… I should catch this..
     only to be utterly disappointed at the end. The reasons are very
     simple.If you're an international audience, i.e anyone not Indian, you would
     love this movie for it has so much of India in it , the poverty part of
     Mumbai/India especially and a novel way of explaining a related story
     of a TV show (Millionaire) so widely popular in the world. The premise is brimming with potential. A slum kid rises above fate to
     win Kaun Banega Crorepati (Indian version of Millionaire) — the sets
     are ditto, as is the background music for the show — and the love of
     his life. He is helped by destiny, as each of the questions on the quiz
     show is linked to an event in his life. Wow.On the other hand, if you're an Indian, 9 out of 10 chances that you
     would agree with the following : The execution falls very flat because of two basic flaws: The language
     barrier, and a wishy washy Bollywood story line. Read on.We flashback to the slum kid as a child diving into potty — isn't once
     enough, given that Boyle's gritty and edgy Trainspotting featured such
     a nauseating scene too? — to get Amitabh Bachchan's autograph. For all
     the Amitabh-crazed fans, maybe the mega-star does oblige children caked
     in excreta; be sure to try it the next time .And then, the kids (who deliver heart-warming performances, faring way
     better than those who play their adult avatars) and his brother speak
     in Hindi, and suddenly when they turn adolescent they start talking in
     flawless English. Huh? Well that's because the film is meant for a
     world audience, and you can't have an entire film in subtitles, you
     might say. Fine, but then why do the police officers have to speak
     'Indian' English and why does the 'slumdog' have an accent? And no, a
     semi-literate office help in a call center does not develop an accent.In fact, a lot of the 'how he knows the answers' flashbacks are too
     contrived. Sample this, Jamal knows Samuel Colt invented the revolver
     because Salim got a gun — it is never explained how — and shot dead
     the vile man who heads the beggars' racket. In my hometown, the pistol
     goes by monikers like 'machine' in the netherworld; I doubt the average
     under-aged Mumbai underworld operative knows a Colt 45, or Samuel Colt.
     The first gun is usually what is called a 'country' revolver.And then there is the stereotyped, half-baked, black and white
     characterization, almost bar none. For example, Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor
     ), the KBC host, is the typical villain who taunts the chai-wallah on
     his show; and the audience joins in with jeering laughter. Agreed, slum
     children get life's rawest deal, but not on live television. What is
     the director thinking ? No REALLY ! It is also not explained just why
     Prem goes after Jamal with such malice, beyond a muttered 'It's my
     show'. I can go on and on — like point out that call centers serving
     customers in Scotland don't keep telephone directories of Indian cities
     accessible at the click of a button, and that mobile phones are not
     listed in telephone directories yet (that's how Jamal finds his brother
     again) — but the point is that Slumdog Millionaire is miles short of
     what I had expected it to be.The really key events, the struggles of survival, are glossed over, and
     instead we get montage (albeit beautiful) shots hurrying towards a
     climax that leaves you untouched. A R Rahman's music is good, but not
     the master's best. But then, maybe on second hearing it will grow on
     you.I have no problems with the 'West' taking up themes of poverty and
     highlighting the real India. I can completely understand a foreigner
     being obsessed with the filth and the poverty — I too was stunned by
     the plight of the homeless in New York — of India. I thought Slumdog
     is brilliantly shot, and I am willing to forgive Ram dressed as a mix
     between Shiva and Krishna in a foreign film.But I do have a problem with a story that pretends to be real when in
     reality it is just a mas-ala film — the kind we churn out by the
     dozens in Bollywood.Yes, Slumdog Millionaire is just superficial fluff, mainly because of
     its gaping plot holes. It should have been much better researched, and
     they really should have stuck to one language.Maybe the makers — and half the world, apparently — believe they have
     married Bollywood escapism with Western sensibilities, but it is not a
     match made in cinema heaven. It is more along the lines of 1970s
     Bollywood tear-jerker, the kind where the hero transforms from street
     urchin to gang lord in one running shot and where long-lost brothers
     are reunited by tattoos.Blame it on the hype.

307. johnnyboyz (j_l_h_m@yahoo.co.uk) from Hampshire, England Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Wonderful and engaging film about an apparent no-hoper breaking through the breach told amidst a canvas of the funny, touching and of the eerie.

     Slumdog Millionaire is a journey; a trip down an individual's memory
     lane as he recounts the struggles in his life that has, ultimately,
     given him his opportunity to win big amidst struggles to do with the
     fact he is suspected of cheating. The film is of the humbling variety,
     the uplifting and of the downbeat for good measure – chances are you'll
     laugh; chances are you'll cry and the chances are you'll feel most
     everything else in-between. English director Danny Boyle has created
     something that throws just about everything into the mix, but arises as
     something far, far more than a disposable gimmick. The film's visual
     approach is one that teeters between the chaotic and the calm, pausing
     for those tense and dramatic moments of thought and recollection whilst
     nicely integrating the urgent scenes of chase and memory recollection.
     The film's pacing and approach is one of a careful nature, one that
     criss-crosses numerous genres yet remains focused on its study.Boyle identifies the route the film is going to go down in the opening
     few shots. After an establishment that we are in India, 2006; Boyle
     presents us with two extremes immediately announcing the overall tone
     of the film. Jamal Malik (Patel) sits in a chair in an interrogation
     room and is hit around the face as he is questioned in urgent, close up
     format. Running parallel with this and in the past tense, he is sitting
     in another chair – the self-proclaimed 'hotseat' - attempting to win
     big on India's 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' quiz show. Still being
     grilled and still the central figure of ridicule from the host and the
     audience, he wades onward.The juxtaposition of being interrogated and electrocuted as a part of
     that, twinned with the fun; seemingly good natured; rather upbeat and
     familiar setting of the 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' television
     studio is an instant and sticking one. Boyle manages to get across the
     range of emotions he'll deliver in the film, often all within a short
     space of time, as well as establish the manipulation of time that he
     hopes to accomplish.Needless to say, he achieves it and how. Frequently, there will be
     passages during which the film will flicker from something quite light
     hearted to real potential danger and then back again to the television
     studio as the tension is racked up to do with being the focus of
     attention. Some incidences include, very early on, when Jamal and some
     other boys from the slums play cricket on a runway and happily play
     away despite the immediate danger from landing planes. This activity is
     then interrupted by hostile guards who pose a new danger but then the
     kids seem to have fun in escaping.The film is an account, an account of times past by someone who many
     deem to be in a position they do not feel is possible. The primary
     theme is underestimation, that a 'slumdog' as Jamal is called, cannot
     possibly know anything and thus, when he's on the brink of cracking the
     show's top prize he must've cheated. But the accusers do not know any
     better. All through Jamal's life, incidences and objects have forced
     him to pick up on tidbits of trivia that have stuck and on the quiz
     show, it has aided him in getting as far as he has. The delving into
     the past as a new question arises consistently offers a refreshing tale
     within an initially gripping premise. During the film, we learn of his
     brother and his predicaments as well as the scraps, jobs and potential
     love interests he finds himself in offering a range: from the humorous,
     to the touching, to the downright creepy.Jamal sits opposite Prem Kumar (Kapoor), the game's host. They aren't
     in direct competition despite the banter they share but the study is
     quite clear and that is to do with what's on the surface and what's
     below it. Nobody believes a 'slumdog' could get to where they are in
     the game but through Jamal's accounts, it is possible; whereas Prem
     comes across as a friendly and upbeat television personality who's game
     for a laugh although backstage, we see him for what he really is. This
     is the key distinction between the two and the chief study for these
     sequences: underestimation and what is on the surface vs. what is below
     the surface.Although essentially a love story and a film that strongly believes in
     its themes of fate, the film doesn't concentrate on any particular
     aspect too much or too little thus creating a mystical aura as all
     these emotions and events and so forth flash by, dragging you through
     each of them but always giving you a chance to absorb what's being
     presented. The liberties to do with the questions being presented to
     him in the chronological order of his life anyway did not bother me,
     nor did the fact they paused for a commercial break during a live
     question. Slumdog Millionaire is effective dramatically and touching at
     the other times it needs to be; tapping into hope and the errors of
     people's ways when labelling a certain 'type' of individual. It is
     certainly worth a look.

308. dava-roopchand from Luton, England. Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Danny boy pulls another gem outta his magic bag.

     Slumdog was ******* WICKED!!! A film so upbeat and colourful that, by
     the time you're relaying its infectious air of optimism to friends, you
     could forget that it features orphans, slaughter, organised crime,
     poverty, enslavement and police brutality. The soundtrack is a joy
     throughout the film, the music is just spot on, so right. Oscar
     nominations for best Soundtrack & Score is surely in the bag. If not,
     who cares? Simply wonderful, a visual feast. The colours are amazing!
     It's all about the kids. They steal the show without doubt. Little
     Ayush Mahesh Khedekar is a future Indian superstar surely? Watch out
     Amitabh Bachchan, someone is after your crown. He was fantastic. Ayush
     is actually from the slums in Mumbai, plucked from obscurity to dropped
     into stardom.Oh, as for Freida Pinto, she has to be THE most beautiful, stunningly
     drop dead gorgeous creature to grace the third rock from the Sun.Awesome film!

309. Greg Treadway (treadwaywrites) from United States Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Is A Great Ride

     The year 2008 and the great movies it brought us would not be complete
     talking about without Slumdog Millionaire. Arguably the best movie of
     the year and certainly the best indie movie of the year. It's hard to
     believe but friends are dragging friends to this movie in herds. It is
     amazing how people are put off and drawn to the movie's content at the
     same time.The story is about an 18-year-old boy, Jamal (Dev Patel), who works as
     a tea server, or chai wallah, for a telephone marketing company, has
     somehow become the last man standing on an Indian version of Who Wants
     to Be a Millionaire.Jamal is on his way to the ultimate prize of 20 million rupees. His
     improbable success captures the imagination of the entire country. The
     show's producer/host (Anil Kapoor) is convinced that the kid is
     cheating. On the night before the final question police arrest Jamal,
     string him up and begin to torture him into telling the truth. They are
     unable to get the answers they want. The film then moves back and forth
     from the interrogation room and the TV sound stage in a series of
     flashbacks where Jamal calmly explains how each incident in his
     eventful life made him uniquely prepared to answer the questions put to
     him.The film is very reminiscent of Danny Boye's cult film and
     high-adrenalin Trainspotting. There are some really great scenes in the
     slums of Mumbai. The cinematography is unique including slow motion,
     step motion and wild camera angles. Even with the direction and look of
     the film the real power of the film is still in the hands of Patel. All
     of these items lead to a wonderful film ride, and at times it does feel
     like a ride. This is hands down one of the best films of 2008 and
     certainly the best indie film of the year.The poster is also well designed. There are about 8 versions I have
     found so far and all of them delightful.

310. Rohith H S from India Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A movie which makes everyone thank God for what they have not gone through

     There are so many comments about the movie so in this review i will not
     concentrate on the story line. Let's focus about some outcomes of the
     movie. How would I rate the movie, I will give it a 10 out of 10.For a movie watcher who has not seen how India is, this movie will give
     a bad impression about Indian living standards. In general, if you are
     watching a movie you would like something unusual, totally bizarre from
     day to day life. That's how movies based on Aliens, Wars, Animals of
     lost age, mutations become popular. May it be Steven Spielberg or Danny
     Boyle, they know this. Slumdog millionaire shows the worst part of
     Indian slums. Though this may create a misleading impression about
     India, One should know that this movie is an extreme scenario .people
     who have visited India know how full of life India is. India is a
     melting pot of different cultures and offers rich tradition.Some reviewers have rated the movie down as they think the India
     portrayal is unjustified. I came across many angry comments from some
     NRI's in many forums. Some comments also say that India is been viewed
     as a place where there are just few bunch of call centers and slums.
     Well if people are so much concerned may be its time they share some
     profits and try improve things in these slums. Just 5 richest Indian
     businessmen contribute to a net worth of $200 billion dollar. If some
     of these Indian businessmen, politicians, Bollywood crew were kind
     enough things would have been better. Coming to the call centres issue
     India has many other industries including manufacturing, IT, R&D among
     others. Having said that I have a concern. In this movie most of the
     Indian characters are shown as selfish, corrupt and sadistic. Not just
     that in a scene an American tourist guy say "this the real America
     Son",and hands over a 100$ note, was this needed? I don't think Danny
     is capable enough to judge a country, the movie is customized for
     western audience.Frieda Pinto(Latika) and Dev Patel(Jamal) have done well but the credit
     should go to all child actors who did justice to their roles and
     captivated the audience. Recently the BAFTA announced best supporting
     actress for Freida, I am not the one to decide whose the best but those
     kids deserve more than her(no Crab syndrome here). Thanks to Director
     Danny Boyle who placed the money to be paid to the 3 lead child actors
     in a trust that is to be released to them upon their completion of
     grade school at 16 years of age. The production company has set up for
     an auto-rickshaw driver to take the kids to school everyday until they
     are 16 years old. Since this movie is a great success I hope the movie
     crew will do more for these kids and their slums. Coming to the background score as many have pointed out the movie is
     outstanding due to its music. AR Rehman as usual has given his best.
     For those who don't know much about ARR, he is a legend. From past 16
     years he has contributed so much to music that he deserves a Academy
     Honorary Award. Just listen to his scores from Roja,Dil se, Bombay,
     Lagaan, Yuva ….. the list goes on and on. I hope he gets an Oscar. 16
     years ago Rahman got an entry to Tamil/Hindi industry through Roja. His
     work in Slumdog millionaire will get him more projects and I am sure
     awards will just flow.Very soon he will top the list of all time best
     selling music artists.

311. fahim faruque from Bangladesh Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent Love Story Ever……………..

     This movie is very good. The child actors were awesome.When I first saw
     the movie, the first word came out of mouth was WOW!! In this movie
     JAMAL (Leading Actor) lost everything in his life, but at last he got
     is one and only true love. This movie is very inspiring. The movie
     tells you that if you are determined to do anything, there no one who
     can stop you. It got 4 golden globe. I think it will get academy award
     as well. In academy award it should get best director, best screenplay,
     best actor, best original score. Danny Boyel did a good job. I saw his
     sunshine, it was also a very good movie. This time he may get the
     Oscar.

312. chirag_shah775 from United States Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     good movie but Real India?

     this movie was good…Great direction, acting, music and
     cinematography…but let me ask something..Did it show real India? What is real India? This film was about the
     harsh life in the slums and about one kid who goes from rags to riches.
     When people see a film about the Indian slums they label it "Real
     India"…So is growing India, "second fastest growing economy" India
     the "Fake India"? That is also real isn't it? It's really happening
     Isn't it? So why is it that the dirty, smelly corrupt India is labeled
     the "real India"…Don't get me wrong… It was a well made film, but also a bit one-sided
     with the whole "Real India" aspect. Especially that one scene when the
     kid is beaten near the taj mahal by the cops and these Americans come
     up to the kid…The Kid says "This is real India"…Then the Great
     American says, "This is REAL America" so she gives his $100. So
     basically the director is saying that real America is positive,
     beautiful and cultured while real India is disgusting, violent and
     poor…Is that one-sided or not? What I am saying is that every country
     has it's positives and negatives. This film successfully showed the
     dark side of the country but there was no point in adding "Real India"
     because that indicated the fact that India is ONLY the way it is
     depicted in the film. India has Rich and Poor and BOTH are part of the
     "Real India".

313. Lekshman K G from India Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire is not the best but a great fairy tale movie worth-watching.

     I decided to write the review after I read some really contradictory
     reviews of the film. I found that most of the foreigners were giving
     the film more than just great ratings and some Indians were giving some
     really bad rating for the film claiming that it as an obscure depiction
     of India and what the western people loved and expected to see about
     India. But what i can say is that what has been picturised in the movie
     is like 30 to 40 % India, but its not everything India is about and may
     be the scenario would have been something as shown like ten to fifteen
     years ago .I t does not show the present changing situation that is
     happening here. I am not claiming that there aren't any slums or brutal
     child labour here any more but i tend to say that the director has just
     shown only wrong or the bad aspects of our society. The instance where
     the quiz master tries to cheat Jamal and gets him arrested by the
     police might have happened somewhere in the west but not in India.
     There has been better Indian films depicting the real India and whole
     lot of that, but might have gone unnoticed just because they lacked
     global stage and global audience to rate the movies. About the music of
     the film, for those who have not yet heard any of AR rahman's timeless
     classics might have found them highly inspirational and engaging. But
     for many of the Indians here it's just another rahman track .So for
     people wondering why the movie got really bad reviews from some, these
     might be the reasons. For me the movie is more of an English man's view
     of how India still is after they left us(but i go with him as far as
     the slums, red streets and the child labour part is concerned).Watch
     the movie for the love, direction and the plot which bollywood might
     not have accepted for they might have thought it to be less lucrative.
     I give a 7/10 for Boyle's courage and for the cast of the movie.

314. davulture from United States Says:
     January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant movie, a clear lock for best picture

     I recently saw Slumdog Millionaire and so far I've seen just about
     every other best picture nominee, and this movie is without a doubt the
     clear-cut favorite. The movie focuses on a young man named Jamal Malik
     who grows up in the slums, and plays Who Wants to be a Millionaire so
     that he can get in touch with his true love Latika. The movie traces
     his journey as a child with his brother Salim, and his relationship
     with Latika. We see haw these 3 individuals end up on very different
     paths. Some may argue that the movie seems very implausible, because
     this kid is from the slums and he's clearly getting all the questions
     right, but despite this the movie is just amazing. The actors all very
     good, including the children from the slums who steal the show. Dev
     Patel does a good job, Freida Pinto is good as well, and the supporting
     characters are also done nicely. The movie evokes a lot of humor but at
     the end of the picture your rooting for Jamal to win, and when he does
     your on the edge of your seat. Without a doubt the best movie of 2008,
     and AR Rahman creates a wonderful score for the movie as well.
     Definitely check it out. Ignore some of the IMDb users, they have
     nothing better do in their lives then complain about a movie they don't
     get.

315. sasha_ibz from United Kingdom Says:
     January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Just a bit more to add to praise already given.

     Hype often accompanies a movie, the press are often not to be believed
     in a lot of cases. This movie however far exceeds the hype. One critic
     said this film will be used for study in the future. It is indeed a
     classic and deserves to be part of any curriculum. Look at any of the
     reviews on here that are enthusiastic, yes, it is all true. I have to
     add though that the editing is absolutely superb, I hope to see awards
     for that too. Danny Boyle has spoke of the fact that lack of English
     skills with the youngsters forced them to use Hindi with subtitles. I
     agree with Danny that this in fact improves the movie no end, but not
     only that the way the English subtitles are positioned next to the
     person who spoke them on the screen means that no momentum is lost, the
     subtitles come across as an enhancement which does not spoil the movie
     in any way. I'm not saying too much about the movie as it's best to go
     into the theatre with a clean slate, sit back and enjoy folks it's well
     worth it.

316. Bobby Mais from United States Says:
     January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Offensive, Depressing movie

     I find the movie extremely offensive and racist. It shows Indian
     culture as bankrupt and evil. There isn't a single good Indian person
     in that movie. Every character in the movie is mean, ugly, corrupt,
     evil with no moral values. Is it only a coincidence that the only
     person nice to kid was a white American? I have had people ask me if
     India is like that? You can see comments in you-tube under India's
     version of Who wants to a millionaire that says "what corrupt country
     gets its own contestant beaten up by police"? Mission Accomplished for
     the British director and his cronies. Do you guys really believe India
     is such a morally bankrupt society? Did these guys ever see the Indian
     version of the show before they made the movie? The host is extremely
     warm and welcoming (not condescending as portrayed in the movie). And
     why would any audience laugh at those condescending remarks??? And what
     is so uplifting about this movie? It is extremely violent and
     depressing. How come the west likes to see only movies that show abject
     poverty and misery? This movie is made by a westerner for a western
     audience so that they can feel good about themselves. Pathetic!

317. Shreyansh Agrawal from Delhi, India Says:
     January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Undoubtedly the best movie of 2008

     Slumdog Millionaire is a story of a guy named Jamal Malik who is on a
     show called "Who wants to be Millionaire" hosted by Prem Kumar. It
     revolves around the show and the life of Jamal.The story is based on a novel "Q & A" by Vikas Swarup and Screenplay by
     Simon Beaufoy. The story is very original. The movie is shot in-and-
     around the streets in mumbai and other places in India. Dev Patel is awesome, simply brilliant. His expressions are so natural,
     you tend to feel and think like him. This combined with awesome
     screenplay and direction keeps the audience glued to their seats. I
     highly recommend this movie. I was seen this movie like 3 times now and
     every time I have the same excitement and interest in it. The movie contains some foul language and some violence so PG is
     recommended. ( See IMDb Parental advice for this movie for detail )

318. georgebush from Antarctica Says:
     January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     not bad

     Slumdog millionaire is an interesting film. Apparently the Millionaire
     show is shown in other countries with different hosts. The film begins
     in the slums of India and follows the growth of some kids. The center
     piece and structure of the film revolves around the game show. When the
     main actor becomes old enough to be on the game show he is not in the
     extreme poverty of his youth but he is still struggling. The show may
     be a ticket to a better life. This is a driving force of the film. The
     viewer gets to see flashbacks and real time scenes but it is not
     difficult to understand.So much of this film seems to be something i can relate to. Some
     viewers will find they have more in common with these people from India
     than they do with some of the middle class Americans portrayed in some
     comedies. It would be easy to identify with the characters in this film
     for some people. You will have to decide which character you like the
     most. There was another fine film made in this area of the world: City
     of Joy with Patrick Swayze.The characters in this Slumdog Millionaire think out of the box and
     some present situations to show honor, betrayal, or loyalty. The film
     is a drama and adventure. Yes the outhouse scene was revolting and the
     one short gross scene per movie convention is unfortunately in this one
     too so I will only watch the film once.. But ultimately, this is a very
     good film and worth seeing. It is appropriate for mature kids.

319. guillaumerouy from Ireland Says:
     January 16th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Great movie, but not for the Indian Tourism Office…

     This is a great film. Danny Boyle is quite of touching-every-kind of
     genre, from "drugs-comedy" with "Transpointing" to Horror movie, with
     "28 days later", and many more, "The Beach" and his sweet masterpiece
     "Millionaire". Funny enough, this is his second film with "millionaire"
     word in the main title. And for this one "millionaire" refers, of
     course, to the super-matching UK's game from Celador "Who wants to be a
     millionaire ?", the very first TV game in history in which the
     contestant can win (in the UK where it is originally from) 1 000 000
     pounds. The game itself is only a tool to tell a life story : the whole
     film focuses on the very struggling and tough life of two brothers from
     a miserable area of Mumbay, India. And actually it is what is all
     about. While I enjoyed the acting, cinematography, editing and even the music, the description of India, in this movie, is quite horrible. After
     watching this movie, there is no way you will visit this country. India
     is : Over crowed and populated, very poor, with Hindus People providing
     religious intolerance - even to kill the Muslims (which is
     unfortunately a fact, Hindus being violent with Catholics as well) -
     very young kids orphaned living in bins with no help but evil people
     who exploit them, blind them and ask them to beg for even more money,
     police who - while completely useless according to the situations
     described in the films - do not hesitate to torture suspicious people
     in order to them to speak, etc, etc, etc…This film gave me an idea of India who made me sick, and revealed even
     more how come Mother Theresa had struggled to do what she did. According to the vision of the Film, India is not a nice country. At
     all….

320. Andrew Marshall from United Kingdom Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Very enjoyable

     Danny Boyle has a bit of a hit and miss record directing films. This is
     very much Boyle on form.Slumdog follows the fortunes of Jamal who is a slum dweller from
     Mumbai. At it's heart it's a love story between Jamal and Latika told
     as we watch Jamal's appearance on "Who Want's to be a millionaire".
     Although it tells the story of a tough world it's a feel good movie
     that lifts the heart. Boyle obviously referenced some of his old movies
     and the films toilet scene brings back memories a similar scene from
     Trainspotting.It seems like this movie is going to pick up a number of awards and you
     can't really object to this as it's very nicely played and has a good
     script.

321. Wonderkind from United Kingdom Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Fantastic Insight

     I absolutely love this film. From the first minutes to the last
     seconds, it was breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking all at the
     same time. Danny Boyle manages to capture the hectic chaos, noise,
     dirt, colour, vibrancy, dark and light of a Mumbai slum alongside the
     scenic beauty of modern India. Jamal's story is shadowed by poverty and
     the grimy underbelly of gangsters and guns from a very early age yet
     positivity always comes out from the path of unspeakably terrible
     things and you are left uplifted just as our protagonist is. Throughout
     his life, his love for Latika, the slum girl we see huddled in a
     puddle, shivering in a thunderstorm, brings him through whatever
     happens to him, and drives him to seek her out and draw them back
     together. The Millionaire premise is what opens and closes the film,
     like a bookend, the film is open and shut with the same feelings and
     thoughts. Happiness and love can push you through any despair. In
     watching this, the day to day despair you feel is infinitely superseded
     by the misery that Jamal and his companions have to got through, yet it
     is their youthful outlook to never let anything get them upset, that
     makes them so amazing and reminds you that as a Western world, we are
     incredibly self-centred and over-concerned with what is trivial, greedy
     for more and more when people with nothing have the ability to live
     each day content with the small things. The young Jamal, Salim and
     Latika's acting is outstandingly believable and it feels like you are
     an outside observer dropping in on their lives, rather than viewing a
     script. I cannot recommend you this film enough. The soundtrack gives
     me goosebumps and the trailer brings tears to my eyes. If you enjoyed
     City of God, you will love Slumdog Millionaire. A secret venture into
     the lives of people that we don't hear about enough, and that are so
     much more real than any of the other Hollywood blockbusters around.
     Truly worthy of an Academy Award. My only regret is that I didn't
     audition for this…

322. PD from India Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     India, as it is.

     simply awesome simple astounding. I just don't know why Author: JABKool
     from United States stated "Some people I know have problems over the
     fact that this movie takes place in India". India is a country, which
     does exist on the map.If United States has the best, so does India.A
     part of New York could have the darkest Slums, so does India. A part of
     India is always Dark. Today it has been brought to light like
     Shakespeare would play on words and bring out the true hidden meaning.
     Hats of to the director for Portraying the country I live in, and
     displaying a lot of screens I personally would have,if I made a movie.
     Hats of To A.R.Rahman for another Master piece.All i have to do is Watch the movie again on theaters.

323. findingmills from China Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     We need this kind of picture!

     Slumdog Millionaire! With this picture's world-wide success, the
     director, the cast and maybe the whole crew have gained world-wide
     fame. They are the real slumdog millionaire now, maybe the slumdog
     multi-millionaire! It's a fabulous picture. It's a nebulous picture
     that I have not seen for years. I cannot remember clearly when the
     whole world's movies became darker and darker(even Harry Potter is
     becoming dark).There is no rules that only show the dark and bad side
     of human can make a movie outstanding. Sometimes, we human-beings need
     something to encourage ourselves. Yes, Slumdog Millionaire did it. Just
     insist on what you believe in and do the right thing, you will be the
     slumdog millionaire.

324. johnleemk from Malaysia Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A modern fairy tale…for the ages

     I had heard some grumbling about this movie being overrated, and until
     about halfway through the movie, despite enjoying myself, I was willing
     to give it maybe 9 stars out of 10. But then it became more than the
     story of a couple of kids from the slums - it became a great retelling
     of two ancient stories: the kid from humble beginnings who makes
     history, and the boy who gets the girl, loses the girl, and…well,
     let's not spoil it, shall we? The second half, as we see the
     protagonists mature, combined with the climactic finale of the game
     show, is easily one of the best pieces of film I have ever seen in my
     life.Yes, Slumdog Millionaire is incredibly unrealistic. Let's be frank,
     even giving generous leeway for coincidence, there is no way this could
     have happened. The women featured in the movie are nearly always
     perfectly pretty; the prominent usage of perfect English is extremely
     unrealistic; there is just no way Jamal's life could have worked out in
     such a way that he would know the right answers.But if you think this is a criticism of the film, all I can say is that
     I'm really quite sorry for how seriously you take yourself. Great
     stories are not about the real world; great stories tell us about a
     world that could be, and make it seem almost as real to us as the world
     we live in. Slumdog Millionaire is a fairy tale for the ages, and for
     all its unrealism, is an uplifting and inspiring story of
     determination, love, and destiny. While I would say that I am often too
     eager to cut films some slack and give them 10 out of 10 just because I
     enjoyed myself thoroughly watching them, I have no qualms about giving
     Slumdog Millionaire a perfect 10. I would give it 11 if I could. This
     is a movie that deserves it.A side-note on issues of realism: although I have never lived in India,
     I visited Kolkata for a week and the slums and way of life I saw were
     very similar to that depicted in the movie. I come from a multi-ethnic
     country with many Indians and huge income disparities; I have
     socialised with both the wealthy elite and the squatters living nearly
     hand to mouth. I can easily tell you that Slumdog Millionaire is off in
     many ways. But every timeless tale is not quite accurate, and I don't
     hear anyone ragging on Snow White or George Washington's cherry tree
     for their realist faux pas. Slumdog Millionaire is a beautiful story,
     and while I'm not sure it stands in that class, it is one of the most
     amazing things to have ever been filmed. Watch it.

325. paudie from Ireland Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Feelgood movie But still packs a few tough punches

     I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It's premise, that the various events
     in the tough life of a kid from the slums of Mumbai enable him to know
     all the answers on "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" is brilliant and
     Danny Boyle translates this idea to the screen very well.Although overrall this is unashamedly a feelgood movie and the ending
     is fairly predictable this doesn't mean that it doesn't pack a few
     tough punches as it depicts life of the poor in India. Boyle has said
     that once he arrived in India he went the flow and surrendered to the
     hectic pace of life in Mumbai. This is shown in a number of excellent
     scenes in the shanty towns of the city.The performances are all excellent particularly from the child actors
     in the first half of the film and from Amil Kapoor as the quiz show
     host. I'd definitely recommend this film to anyone.

326. choc from Philippines Says:
     January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     visual equivalent of a mouth-watering dessert

     Slumdog Millionaire lacks something, depth maybe, so i cannot really
     call it a masterpiece, but that doesn't take away the glaring fact that
     this is easily, DEFINITELY, one of the most enjoyable movies (IMO) in
     recent memory! And whatever it is that it falls short of, it's more
     than compensated for by its overflowing vitality and panache.This movie simply was mesmerizing,. slumdog millionaire is the visual
     equivalent of a mouth-watering dessert. An inundation of flavors,
     arresting and enslaving like an incipient addiction. The cinematography
     is so good you forget that what is being shown are images of squalor,
     poverty, harassment and violence. The kinetic editing, the music, the
     MTV-style vignettes, (even the bollywood sequence at the end!) It's
     funny, it's heartbreaking and it has a message that we all could use in
     desperate times. Everything just fits together nicely and effortlessly
     in this one.Jamal Malik is an 18 year old Call Center agent in Mumbai, orphaned by
     a bloody riot in their destitute neighborhood, –(where the police is
     more interested in gambling than in peace and order)– joins the
     popular game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." Jamal Malik,
     minimally educated and a slumdog (from the slums), was able to answer
     each and every question in the game and by the end of the show managed
     to get to the very last question for a whopping 20,000,000 rupees. The
     show's host is outraged and becomes suspicious of Jamal, he calls the
     police to detain Jamal and interrogate and torture him for his
     "presumed" methods of cheating…. only, Jamal didn't cheat, and he
     isn't a genius either,. from the interrogation in the police station
     Jamal narrates to his captors how he knew of the answers–Each and every question in the game represents an episode in his life,
     these were not book-knowledge, or school lectures, but life experiences
     that had a rather unusual connection to the game's questions…So by the end of the game, we will have known Jamal's life, family,
     love and his real motivation for joining the show.

327. Annoying-Customer from United States Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A brilliant piece of film-making by Danny Boyle

     An orphaned 18-year old Indian teen named Jamal is within one question
     of winning the grand prize on the Hindi version of "Who Wants To Be A
     Millionaire." When the show breaks for the night, he is arrested and
     questioned by local police, who can't believe a "slumdog" would have
     such vast knowledge. I really don't want to give too much of the plot
     away, but this is a brilliant film. The way the story is told is quite
     unique, especially the stories behind how Jamal knows the answers to
     some of the questions. Find a theatre that is playing this film and go
     see it. Hopefully in over a month, it will be announced as "Best
     Picture" at the Academy Awards and it will be well deserving.

328. rayesh_g from Australia Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A breathtaking and visually stunning movie.

     I must admit that I was a little skeptical in viewing this movie due to
     the mass hype generated throughout the internet of "Slumdog" as a feel
     good movie. To my knowledge there are lot of filmmakers who use
     emotions as a gimmick to make audiences embrace a movie despite of
     major flaws in other aspects of the movie. However it was not the case
     with Danny Boyle's brilliantly made film. From the very start to the end, I knew I was witnessing a phenomenon of
     a movie. Based on an acclaimed novel, this movie engages with the
     audience and keeps them guessing at every moment. Lively and energetic
     performances ranging from the much younger actors to Dev Patel and
     Freida Pinto keep this movie running without dying down. The
     cinematography mixed with great locations and music (composed by A.R
     Rahman) makes this an unforgettable screen gem of our time. WATCH this
     movie, in fact watch it TWICE, for you won't be disappointed. BEWARE of
     naysayers.

329. Herag Halli from Heraganahalli, India Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Scumdog Exploitaires

     I think the Producer/director should have done the scene that shows a
     kid covered with excreta getting an autograph from the likeness of
     Amitab Bachchan. Singularly, this must be the most disgusting scene
     ever filmed in the history of Motion Picture. Why would an Icon like
     Amitab Bachchan (if he has any self respect or dignity left after this
     movie,) give permission for his likeness to be used in this scene? I
     never seen a human being so libeled or shown in bad-light as in this
     movie. The Script should never have been passed(eg."the lazy Indian who
     wrote the history of Taj Mahal") Has anyone with any decency or any
     shame pass a script with dialog like this? Then there is this scum
     Screenwriter (and lazy bum)Screenwriter, whose dialogs are in the same
     caliber as the "excreta scene". The kids have acted well (rather been
     exploited well-the only money they probably got was the money and coca
     cola given them to them in the movie-where were these children at the
     Globe awards?) the teenagers are the worst set of actors I have seen.
     If you want to see a good Indian movie that truly depicts the slums,
     poverty and still brings out the positives in them is Madhur
     Bhandarkar's "Traffic Signal" Director of this movie should wash
     Bhandarkar's feet-may be, he will get some talent by osmosis. The main
     lead is OK actor-he is not Oscar material. The actress (it is apparent
     that the second biggest Cinema industry has derth of actresses-so she
     had to be imported) has no skills. As far A.R. Rahman this is not his
     best work-listen to the music of "Swades" and :Jodha Akbar". This is
     what happens when when you let two scums who are given a free ride in a
     place where there are no child labor laws.This is not a movie but more
     like a collection of clips haphazrdly put together with no sense of
     story-telling or continuity.It is obvious that the movie is made for
     the sake of making quick bucks by exploiting the children and the
     poor.I am in total disbelief this has been passed by the Censors. Since
     the Director likes the human excreta so much he and the Screenwriter
     should dip themselves in excreta and run to accept the Oscar's (which
     seems to be enevitable-judging by the hype.) The Oscar Committee and
     the audience will be pinching their nose from the "Stench of
     Film-making" these two have generated.The word "Unjust Enrichment" applies to the Producers of this Film. If
     they have any remorse, any conscious,instead of rationalising and
     finding an excuse to keep the money,they should give the profits back
     to the Children of this world who have been victims of exploitation
     (Child Prostitution,Child labor,Scams,Denied Opportunities
     etc,etc)since it only takes "A Dollar a Day" to feed a child in
     India,Africa and the rest of the impoverished World. These children are
     dying at the same rate as this movie is raking the money at the Box
     office.All the money generated by this movie (it could be easily 200 million
     plus, when all said and done, minus the expense of making the movie
     (which I reckon is less than a Millon dollars) should be given to feed
     the hungry children.This will set an example for other Film Makers.
     This could be One Small Step for a Man-a Giant Leap for the Mankind.

330. harpisteva from United States Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Doesn't live up to the hype

     I watched the film and the theater was packed with mostly Caucasians. I
     loved the little children and the music is superb. AR Rahman did a very
     good job in creating music that just jump starts the movie with "O
     Saya" and the children running down the alleys of the slums. But, the
     major problem in the movie is the list of negative events happening to
     the main characters. Their is NOTHING positive that comes across these
     children and no helping hand witch I feel shows Indian people to be
     non-charitable and not helping. I feel that yes it shows the dark sides
     of India but what about the positive things in India. The movie is very
     cliché and you know what is going to happen next. The grown actors
     don't have much dialogue compared to the children. Freida had barely 10
     minutes in the film and her character was not well developed. I just
     feel that it did not show the helping side or heart of India.

331. Gajendra Bisht from USA Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Darshan do ghanshyam - India at the centre stage

     This movie is the best film of 2008 and is destined to sweep many
     awards , deservingly a couple of Oscars as well. It was a true
     cinematic treat from Danny Boyle (from Trainspotting), who has been
     able to bring out wide array of human emotions draped in Indian style
     but with a taste for universal audience. Firstly the script is every bit as interesting as a murder mystery and
     keeps one on his toes, a true genius from Vikas Swarup (debut novelist
     from India- novel "Q&A"). Boyle doesn't go wrong anywhere from start
     till the end, be it the choice of the cast, the locations, the music
     (A.R. Rahman). The cast with small kids (espically Shyam) is truly
     exceptional, and so is the main lead(Dev Patel) and Irfan Khan. The
     movies reaches to every nook and corner of Dharavi (biggest slum in
     Mumbai) and tells the story of all the thousands orphans, and the
     tormenting life they go through.Story of a kid from slum, survives and
     fights his way to the top with nothing but hope. Being an Indian, i am rather sad to admit that most of it is not far
     from reality but i do hope that movies such as this one can help bring
     the wider attention to such problems and help the cause. I would
     certainly say that movies such as this one are rare and should be
     treasured.

332. Jack Knee (kneejack@bellsouth.net) from St. Augustine Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Great Movie

     This recently released flick all set in current day India is very good.
     I believe the Director/Producer? is British but the entire cast is
     Indian and in parts of it there are English Subtitles to accompany the
     Indian dialects but it is not really distracting. The enormous poverty
     of urban areas is a distraction in the sense of being sad and sadistic
     but is a necessary part of the story and the child actors are superb.
     The two young, orphaned brothers pick up a young girl along the way and
     part and re-group off and on as the story unfolds. It reminds me in a
     way of that Montana fly-fishing movie several years ago of good brother
     - bad brother as they matured. The flashbacks deal with the well-know
     TV quiz show "How To Be A Millionaire" whose questions are shown
     intermittently with the plot dealing with how the young man born in the
     lowest Caste answers them and whether or not he will go for or win the
     twenty million rubles which I suppose exchanges to one million U.S. The
     question also comes up with police interrogation thinking the show is
     rigged. "Millionnaire," by the way, originated in England just like
     Idol did and is shown in local versions in many places including what
     we once called Bombay. The story is very well done even with a few
     grim, but realistic child beggar scenes. After the movie during the
     Credits there is a lively group dance scene with all the cast which is
     really great. /Enjoy./Jack.

333. gary-444 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A Colourful, Visceral Triumph

     Very occasionally a film comes along which has the potential to change
     the face of Commercial Cinema, Slumdog Millionaire is one of them.
     Hollywood represents the bulk of cinematic history and is still the
     driving force behind it. But we live in a changing world. Politically
     we are seeing a resurgent Russia, and the emergence of China and India
     as economic super powers. Cinema is only now starting to pick up those
     shifts.The American Film Industry, like its Motor Car Industry, has grown fat
     and lazy. Tired plots, formulaic scripts, predictable locations and a
     wearisome reliance on big budgets, CGI and big explosions to "deliver"
     have made it increasingly less interesting, and relevant, to World
     audiences, and I suspect to home ones too.So here we have a film shot totally in India, mainly in Mumbai, with no
     Western actors, no "names", and a substantial amount of dialogue in
     Hindi, sub titled into English. (You can almost hear the LA Exec
     writing the reject slip for the pitch, can't you?). At first glance
     English Director, Danny Boyle, is not the obvious choice. But on closer
     inspection you consider the visual big budget feasts which were
     "Sunshine" and "The Beach", the pacey drama of "A Life Less Ordinary",
     the visceral grittiness of "28 Days Later" and "Trainspotting", and the
     low budget/ gallows humour of "Shallow Grave" and you have the
     ingredients which make "Slumdog's " success.Cinematically it is a joy, rich colours, beautifully shot, blaze across
     the screen. The locations enthral. OK the Taj Mahal is predictable, but
     nonetheless breathtaking, the slums a vibrant cesspit. The acting is
     convincing and compelling, wonderfully led by Dev Patel as Jamal Malik
     the eponymous hero. Heaving with brilliant cameos, watch out for the
     Police Inspector, his fat side kick, and the evil Orphanage "Fagin".It is true that Hollywood cliché may have been swapped for Bollywood
     cliché . But as a "cross-over trailblazer for a largely unsuspecting
     audience, that is forgivable ,it works. Beware that although the story
     does have the advertised feel-good ending, the content has the
     trademark Danny Boyle rawness which is frequently uncomfortable, and in
     one case unwatchable. But that rawness also delivers the funniest, "
     shittyest" scene of the picture!A classic "rages to riches" premise, told with style and innovation, a
     landmark film.

334. isabelle1955 from Brit living in California Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     We Have a Winner!

     Director Danny Boyle's Trainspotting is one of my all time favourite
     movies, and Mr Wroe's Virgins was a stunning piece of television, so
     I'm possibly a little biased, but this is one of the better films I've
     seen in the last twelve months.I've seen this movie criticized by American reviewers as being a
     sanitized version of Indian poverty, then seen it criticized online as
     portraying India as a 'third world dirty underbelly', it's been
     criticized for being patronizing and insulting to an entire nation
     (India) and for showing too much dire poverty - and too little. In fact
     on one page of comments on IMDb I've seen it described as horrifying
     for the poverty and abuse it portrays and horrifying for its pandering
     to stereotypes, as simplistic, clichéd, racist, graphically violent,
     cynically exploitative and naive! In other words it appears to have
     upset both ends of the spectrum of opinion - so it has to be doing
     something right.Personally, I really enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire. There is absolutely
     nothing wrong with an occasional feel good, happy ending to a movie,
     especially a movie which is fairly well written, has a good story arc
     with a beginning, a middle and an end, and satisfying performances.
     This one just happens to be a feel good movie set in India, and it's
     not directed by an Indian film maker (although the book it's based on
     was written by an Indian national). But since when has it been such a
     big deal for people to make films outside their own countries? It
     happens all the time. Having said that, as with any feel good, happy
     ending, it pays to bear in mind that life is rarely like that. Still -
     nothing wrong with a bit of dreaming every once in a while. This is one of the few movies I've seen recently where I didn't slump
     into my seat with a disappointed sigh and the feeling that I've seen it
     all before. Slumdog Millionaire offered this particular jaundiced movie
     fan a new story and a fresh set of actors, far removed from the usual
     line up of Hollywood 'stars' and over paid, over exposed media
     darlings. I'd give it a pretty high score just for presenting some
     fresh new talent to the world. It's not a complex story; Jamal and his brother Salim have grown up
     poverty stricken in Mumbai. Somewhere along the line Jamal met and lost
     the love of his life. Many years later he gets an opportunity to appear
     on the wildly popular TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He
     succeeds despite being an uneducated "Slumdog" and Char Wallah because
     every question refers him back to a situation in his past life. By
     appearing on TV and transfixing the whole nation, Jamal connects once
     more with his lost love, and everyone lives happily ever after, the
     movie ending with a Bollywood production number. I appreciate that on
     the whole Indians don't spring into song and dance routines at major
     railway termini. Dev Patel gives a lovely performance as Jamal. Dev can be seen in
     "Skins" on BBC America if anyone is interested. Also quite fabulous is
     Anil Kapoor as the condescending game show host. I thoroughly enjoyed
     Slumdog for the straightforward, uncomplicated piece of entertainment
     that it is. Good luck at the Oscars guys!

335. Frederick Malouf from Sydney, Australia Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Really good, and tragic

     Hi,I have been reading the good and bad reviews of this. I hope this might
     appease the people, especially Indians, who found it insulting to your
     culture.I want you to know that I, and I am sure many others, will not assume
     that the 'slums' could sway people to assume that this is the general
     picture of India, and not be different to many other countries with
     poverty issues. All countries, however varying, have their slums and
     wealth, have stupid people bent on power trips, be it with money or
     with religion. Please, do not think that one commercial film can depict
     a country in a lesser state than others. I read someone here write that
     the Chinese would never allow such a film to be released about their
     country. I lived in China for almost 3 years, and I believe me, in
     general, the power trippers there have a lot to learn, no less from
     India. I have never seen so many people live in poverty, and still do
     their best to be strong in a culture that treats its people so badly.
     Anyway, this is my opinion, but I have seen it first hand. I did not
     live in a hotel and avoid it while I was there. I will not go back to
     China because of it, regardless of what financial advantages I could
     achieve to live there.I can tell you that, to me, this movie really brought the Bollywood
     style palatable to the Western viewer. It made my initial aversion of
     going to India become one of fascination. I have man friends who love
     India (I can't remember none who disliked it), where reviews of visits
     to China are mixed. I love the colour, love the determination of these
     children, and that Jamal overcomes whatever befalls him to be a
     confident man who gets the girl. I found his and Latika's energy really
     strong, particularly in the end, and the dance sequences. Above all the
     tragedies (please do not say they do not exist, as they do in all
     countries), there is this amazing joy. I see that in the India depicted
     in the film, above all else.I can't watch again the scenes of horrible people exploiting children
     (appalling in any culture) , but do enjoy Jamal's tête-à-tête and his
     not being intimidated by the WWTBAM host. Some people are born with
     such traits; Jamal could be one. Anyway, I love the film. Very cool. And, like the genius Chinese women
     I have met, the Indians show just as much distinction.Really, do not be offended. It's really good.

336. kevin-1750 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A great film, much better than everything else around

     I should declare an interest from the start. I like British Cinema and
     most of what it offers. That said, Danny Boyle (who I loved from
     TRAINSPOTTING) wasn't in my good books after "SUNSHINE", which I
     consider to be one of the worst films of recent years.Maybe it's because I was expecting nothing much, expecting an upbeat
     comedy, a sort of "East is East" type film that I found this film so
     good, or maybe it was the stunning performances by ALL the main cast,
     especially the younger children.Some reviews have focused on the inconsistencies, especially towards
     the end of the film, but I felt this was mainly the Bollywood elements
     and it was nice to have such a strong Bollywood influence in a
     mainstream film. I'm not someone who likes happy endings, fluffy
     romance or feel good moments, but the many of these in this film were
     expertly balanced with the harsh, disturbing and sometimes look-away
     moments to turn the film into a masterclass of how to get a point
     across without needing to be too preachy.Many have also slated the image of India this film portrays. Having
     never been to India, it would be foolish of me to say what does or did
     go on there, however I feel that this movie explores some of the dark
     places that exist in every culture. The lack of good Indian people is
     true, however there are no people who come out of this film clean - it
     is a film about people, places, stories, realities and dreams. All
     these have flaws, and it's a relief to find characters who don't fit in
     a simple black and white, good or evil, category.At a time when almost every movie in the theatre weighs heavy with deep
     messages or wastes two hours with "harmless" mind-numbing "fun", it's a
     relief to find a film that could have you shouting with anger, crying
     with pain and laughing with joy all in the same short space of time.

337. neenee_c_chester from United Kingdom Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent movie - my final answer

     If someone told me in January 2008 that a film about some street kid
     winning Who Wants to be a Millionaire, based on the novel Q&A, would be
     a front runner for all the major awards I would have laughed in their
     face, but here we are in January 2009 and that is exactly what has
     happened.With Danny Boyle directing, we follow the story of Jamal, a teenager
     from the streets of Mumbai who has just won the Indian version of Who
     Wants to be a Millionaire. With the authorities not able to comprehend
     how Jamal could win the show and not scholars and doctors he is
     arrested and told to explain how he did it. The answer is simple - he
     just knows the answers.We are then treated to a series of flashbacks starting from his early
     youth and working their way up to the present day, with each flashback
     intertwining and showing us how he came to know about the answer to the
     questions.It is a beautifully shot film (right up there with Sunshine), with all
     the vibrant colours of India contrasting starkly with the brutal life
     of children trying to survive the streets.Danny Boyle has always been skilled when it comes to soundtracks - who
     can forget the iconic "perfect day" scene in Trainspotting and here it
     is no different as Slumdog Millionaire is accompanied by a loud,
     banging, Bhangra soundtrack which fits in so well, especially tracks
     such as Paper Plane, Millionaire and O…Saya (I have downloaded the
     soundtrack already!) The three main characters, Jamal, his brother
     Saleem and love Latika are all played by three separate actors, and you
     cannot fault any of them, especially the child actors who are just so
     absorbing to watch.It is just a fantastic movie that more than lives up to its hype - it
     will be impossible not to leave the movie not feeling uplifted. 10/10
     in every way and yes that is my final answer (no apologies for the
     pun).It is also worth staying through the end credits were we are treated to
     an all singing all dancing Bollywood ending performed by the cast.

338. Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A cinematic plum, is Slumdog M….you will be overwhelmed by the power and beauty of this tale

     Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is being beaten, and more, by the Indian
     police. This is because he has been winning on the Indian game show,
     Who wants to be a millionaire, and they suspect he is cheating. But,
     when the chief really begins to listen to Jamal's life story, he starts
     to realize that the young man has not cheated. From an early age, Jamal
     has risen out of absolute misery to make it to the final questions on
     the show. As children, he and his slightly older brother, Salim, had to
     run and hide from the police, if they were caught playing in the wrong
     city place. Their mutual love for a minor film star provided Jamal with
     the ability to correctly identify one of M's beginning questions. Then,
     they lost their mother, brutally, to an ethnic cleansing but the
     apparel of the attackers aided Jamal in answering another of the show's
     queries. And, so it continued, throughout the brothers survival in
     life, from their time as members of a beggars group, run by
     unbelievably cruel Hindi-Fagins, to their pickup jobs near the Taj
     Mahal, etc. The brothers were joined by a beautiful girl orphan,
     Latika, for a time but Salim took her away from Jamal, for a spell.
     But, Jamal's life journey has, miraculously, provided him with the
     responses he needs to "win" a million. Will he, ultimately, succeed, or
     will he go away with nothing? This is a brief, sketchy report on a plum
     of a film. Slumdog is ingenious and brilliant and touching, in the
     extreme. To see this unbelievable tale of the triumph of the human
     spirit, under extremely challenging circumstances, is the ultimate in
     the "feeling great" category of cinematic experience. As Jamal, Patel
     excels in his role as the most under of "underdogs" who, nevertheless,
     rises to amazing heights. All of the other cast members are likewise
     terrific, from the woman playing Latika, to the television host, and,
     especially, to the gentleman taking on the very difficult role of
     Salim. Needless to say, the scenery is a mixture of the sights of
     India's great beauty and its abject, abysmal poverty. Production values
     for the film are also great, while the story and direction are
     flawlessly well-conceived and executed. In summary, do not delay in
     making time for Slumdog M. It is a perfect plum of a film and everyone
     will feel like a "million bucks" when it reaches its triumphant
     conclusion.

339. wildsecks from United States Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Extremely Disjointed

     Slumdog Millionaire was one of the WORST movies I have ever seen.Talk about disjointed.How did this kid learn to speak English so well when he lived in the
     slums of India and never learned to read? What happened to all of the questions between 16000 and 1000000? Since
     when is Millionaire a live show? How did they all go from dark ugly kids to light studs at such a late
     age? How did they all learn English? How did the girl learn how to drive with an abusive husband? Why did the brother want to die in a bathtub of money rather than
     escaping himself? How did the main character even find the chick in the mansion (why was
     he even following his brother?)? The second time he came banging on the mansion doors, what was his
     actual plan if someone had answered the door? I'm supposed to believe
     this is a smart kid?Did I mention how did they learn English? How were they able to give
     tours of the Taj Mahal? How many shoes could they possibly have sold? Since when do people tip with $100 bills, and this AFTER the people
     themselves have been robbed? Why did Amitabh Bachan play himself, but Anil Kapoor didn't? Why was
     the host such an ass to begin with? Why are all of the questions laid out in the same exact chronological
     order as his life?All of the other things wrong with this movie that I won't even bother
     pointing out.This movie was awful.If I could give a 0, I would. I want my 2 hours back.

340. Alex Cameron from United Kingdom Says:
     January 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Wonderful in every way

     Wow. Rarely am i so blown away by a movie. You can't go anywhere at the
     moment without someone telling you to watch this film and the industry
     yaddering on consistently about how its the much amazing thing thing to
     arrive years. Hype aside, this is one hell of a film. Every part of it
     is just wonderful. I want to watch it again but i don't want to ruin
     it. I was so much more moved than i ever thought i could be -
     disturbingly and unexpectedly so.The very first thing is the incredibly beautiful photography. The
     colour grading, depth of field, use of lighting and overall feel is
     just aesthetically perfect. Every single shot has been thought out for
     the purest stunning film-making beauty. You absolutely cannot fault the
     camera-work, editing or cinematography. Every director, DoP and
     production team aspires to make a movie that looks this stunning on
     screen.It's a fairytale of course, but brutally underpinned by the savage
     brutality of corruption, exploitation and abuse. It woke me up to the
     work done by children's aid agencies and the sheer darkness of Homo
     Sapiens, but also to the steadfast driving power of romantic love and
     hope itself.The story revolves around a boy from the slums (a "slumdog") who is
     appearing on a game show and has answered all the questions correctly
     despite his lack of education because each one answer is provided by a
     memory in his past. The message is that destiny has led him to be
     there, and he has gone through each situation so he can gradually
     answer each question at that moment and get to the prize that he was
     always going to get to, and give everyone hope simultaneously. The
     reason for the tragedies was so he could get the prize. Suffering has a
     purpose and is all part of a grander plan - it is written.All the pieces are there - the helpless girl, the corrupted brother who
     redeems himself, the evil barons exploiting the vulnerable, the
     romanticism of poverty (as much as there can be one), all in a unique
     cultural setting. A lot of people will have been cynical of Bollywood
     (me included) but for me the truly wonderful thing about this film is
     the real-life pride and hope it has generated in India.The young lady who screamed at me down the phone to watch it as soon as
     i could is getting a big kiss!

341. srini d from Dallas, United States Says:
     January 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A movie bollywood is INCAPABLE of making

     I am disappointed with all the Indian nationalistic thumping that is
     going on here and rating this movie low.Danny Boyle is an excellent director and he showed his skills and
     sincerity to the job making this movie. I like the way he touches so
     many subjects neither glorifying them nor ignoring them."poverty" "communal riots" "hero idolism" "child abuse" "child
     exploitation"the only disappointment comes where it is shown that the India is
     progressing away from such abject poverty and abuse/exploitation which
     is "FALSE".As an Indian, I would say "Hats Off" Danny and Simon. Now all the chest
     thumpers, "Get Off" and just go see your doses of hysterical sequences
     where self anointed "Kings and Queens of Bollywood" satisfy your
     appetites.

342. vijay shankar singh from India Says:
     January 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     a thing u never forget

     if u don't seen this movie…..so please hurry up…that kind of
     millionaire comes one time after very long time ….its awe-full movie
     and very nice thought …could you believe what i have seen..g8
     cinema..D O N' TM I S SI T…..!!hey dude if u don't seen this movie…..so please hurry up…that kind
     of millionaire comes one time after very long time ….its awe-full
     movie and very nice thought …could you believe what i have seen..g8
     cinema..

343. rajnugent from Ireland Says:
     January 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Easy the best Movie of the decade!.

     Its hard to find a really good movie, but this is easily one of the
     best movies I have see this decade. Laymen critic here, but I like what
     I see, and I liked the movie. The actors were really great, the script
     was excellent, and most of all, the movie was believable!. There is a
     great mixture of emotions in the movie. The movie has a good view of
     India, I am not sure how what India thinks of the movie, but as an
     outside it seemed believable. The main actor Dev Patel was an excellent
     choice and hope to see him in more movies. Anyway, 10/10 for this
     movie, it was excellent. I hope this movie gets and Oscar as it really
     deserves it!. Also its great to see how a "low budget" movie (15m) can
     give such stunning results.

344. leonardo-3 from usa Says:
     January 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     a powerful idea turned in to a cliché

     this is not a 'feel good' movie. or it shouldn't be. Boyle showed us the anti-American dream. The idea that you should
     accept your cruel destiny without questioning and that a lower caste
     person could not possibly become successful, and I'm not talking only
     about the protagonist, but about all the people in the slums and the
     others surrounding them. How could it be that they simply don't
     conceive the possibility that a low caste guy could become successful.
     he has to be prevented of doing so, and punished.Instead of exploring this sad and terrible aspect of Indian culture,
     and produce a deeper reflection about it, Boyle turned the movie into a
     cliché love history. what a waste.

345. aluthil from Netherlands Says:
     January 19th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     English?

     "Beautiful" scenery in the beginning of the movie, and as the main
     character tells his story, however i can't help but being bothered by
     that they speak English, and that Dev Patel still looks no older than
     15, and is actually British. I agree with previous comments that the
     kids in this movie are doing the best acting. There is no chemistry
     between Latika and Jamal either. Patel plays this part no different
     from his part in Skins. And i have to say i don't know enough about
     India to actually embrace the feeling this movie gives. It's too easy
     and a bit disappointing. IMDb user rating 8.7???????? As usual it feels like a bunch of
     Americans rated this movie, people who tend to be suckers for money and
     happy endings.

346. Paul-spooky from Germany Says:
     January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Poverty-porn sells good

     Its not surprising to win awards by selling poverty from developing
     nations, rather it is a cheap trick. This has been done from various
     others such as Satyajit Roy, Mrinal Sen from India and now Danny from
     Britain. I am not saying they were/are not good directors, but only
     when they make films on poverty their piece of art gets an award.An award is much dependent upon the jury members and their background.
     If the jury members were from developing nations it may not have been
     even noticed.It is perhaps not incorrect to say that some countries are poor because
     some others are rich. Giving awards for depicting so called reality
     would not serve any good to the real cause. It will only make someone
     richer by selling the poverty of someone else."The whole build-up of hype around the movie reminds one of the
     new-found appreciation of Miss World and Miss Universe organisers
     towards Indian beauty after India's economy was liberalized to allow
     international cosmetic giants to sell their wares in India,"

347. DonFishies from Canada Says:
     January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An amazing film you won't easily forget

     Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is an uneducated young adult, one question away
     from winning India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But not
     many people believe an orphan from the slums of Mumbai could ever get
     that far without cheating. He is arrested, tortured and interrogated
     under these increasing suspicions. To prove his innocence, Malik tells
     the police the story of his life, and how he managed to know every
     answer.Slumdog Millionaire is quite simply, one of the best films of 2008. It
     tells a timeless and endearing story, and is one of the most unique
     films of the decade. Danny Boyle, a unique and enigmatic director in
     his own right, has crafted one hell of an adventure piece that deserves
     every ounce of praise it has gotten. It starts up, and it is almost a
     crime to look away.Rather effectively, the film covers Jamal's life with his brother Salim
     as orphan children of the slums, before moving onto their lives as
     teenagers scraping together cash and their eventual very different
     adult selves. The editing is fast-paced for the most part, and the
     transitions between life cycles are just fabulous. It also manages to
     capture the relationship between Jamal and Salim quite magnificently
     through the use of various actors. Whether it is Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
     and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, or Tanay Hemant Chheda and Ashutosh
     Lobo Gajiwala, or Patel and Madhur Mittal, each actor makes their
     relationship have a deep seated amount of genuine emotion injected into
     them. And for a group mainly consisting of actors with little to no
     experience, they do better than anyone could have expected. It is
     particularly amazing seeing Khedekar and Ismail working together, being
     so young on the screen but ensuring no one would question the
     believability of their plight or their relationship as brothers.While fantastical, the film depicts a very dystopic and gritty life of
     a kid in the slums. But while the film does not all take place in the
     slums, it still manages to be very vivid in its colour scheme.
     Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle and Editor Chris Dickens at once
     command the screen with beautiful colours in one instance, and then
     drab, darkened colours in another. Even the jumpy timelines work like I
     could never have imagined. Anyone who thinks they may end up confusing
     one time for another will be pleasantly surprised. You would have never
     expected this was a film primarily made by a group of British
     filmmakers.But the success of the film mainly hinges on Patel. Without question,
     he is the absolute best thing about the film. He may not have much
     experience, but he makes it look like he has acting for years. The
     emotion he conveys with his face is enough to make any American actor
     jealous. It is not quite method acting, but he says a lot without even
     uttering a word. Just watching his expression inside the train station
     late in the film is enough to make anyone want to weep. He gives just
     enough emphasis in the areas needed, and stands back and watches
     everyone else do the same in other instances. This is someone who has a
     lot of promise, and I would be surprised if he does not walk off with a
     nomination later this week. He has a lot of promise, and I can only
     hope he continues after such an amazing performance.The rest of the supporting cast, experienced or not, do a great job
     with their characters. I would have liked to see a bit more from
     Mittal, but sadly, his character is already beyond developed by the
     time he gets to him. Irrfan Khan gives the right amount of menace as
     the Police Inspector questioning Jamal, and Anil Kapoor does a great
     job as the skeptical and shady game show host.While the acclaim comes easy, the film does have a few faults. The
     character of Latika is way too underwritten. We understand early on the
     bond Jamal has with his fellow orphan, but we never understand any of
     her motivations or development. She is simply the girl who was there,
     and who he continued to pine after years later. The themes of fantasy
     and love are inherent at the very core of Slumdog Millionaire, but with
     how much we learn about Jamal and Salim, it seems like a bit of a cheat
     to not really learn much outside of the one-dimensional traits of
     Latika. Hell, there was more description and volume to the bad guys
     they encounter than there was for her. I will admit however, that
     Freida Pinto does an excellent job as the adult Latika, portraying her
     with plenty of finesse.It is also easy to come down on how much seems to be left to the
     imagination, or is merely explained in a sentence (how he even managed
     to get on the show stays a mystery), but the film compacts down so much
     that it becomes easy to forget what is not mentioned, and even easier
     to forget what was. Its two hour running time is by no means breezy
     (nor is it as agonizingly boring as The Curious Case of Benjamin
     Button), but it lacks the ability to feel cohesive at the end. Not
     everything gels together. Fantasy or not, it leaves a little too much
     out. As much as I enjoyed it, it feels incomplete in certain areas,
     like it wanted to accomplish even more if it had the money or the
     resources.Slumdog Millionaire is an excellently well done film, worthy of all the
     recognition it is getting. It may not be perfect, but this
     fantasy-adventure will draw you in like no other. The film excels where
     very few did in 2008, and is truly one of the best films of the year.
     This is not a film that will easily be forgotten.9/10.

348. samit_d from Canada Says:
     January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Is there a level higher than perfection?

     Lets see, first let me start off by saying that this movie will bring
     tears to your eyes when you see it and I am not saying this that it
     will only apply to Indians. This movie has been made to perfection. The
     acting is first class the directing is first class. The cast could not
     have been better and whereas a movie like Fight Club is holding this
     movie back? This movie will win every Oscar for being one of the most
     perfectly made movies since Pulp Fiction. Anyone who says that this
     movie is bad is probably saying that Disaster Movie deserves an Oscar
     or deserved a GG. Don't listen to anyone who says this movie is good or
     not. Just go watch and then decide what your heart tells you.

349. love_platipus from United States Says:
     January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Beautiful.

     This is a is stunning film. Forget everything you have heard about its
     critical acclaim and awards chances… and just go see it for what it
     is… Absolutely beautiful, and easily one of the most romantic movies
     of the decade.The screenplay is good and the idea driving the story is even better.
     All the acting is top notch (more later) and the soundtrack is
     perfection. But the standout of the film though is the cinematography,
     which is just breathtaking. The camera takes us deep inside Jamal's
     world from the first shot of the film on.I wished Jamal's love interest had been developed a bit more, but I
     didn't wish it enough to take a star off. The actor playing Jamal at
     18 is really superb, especially considering its his first movie
     ever(!).But the standout performances, in my opinion were those given by the
     two young actors playing Jamal and Salim in the beginning. When they
     are probably about 6 and 8 or 9. I mean, these kids are REALLY GOOD!
     You have to believe every word they say, they aren't cutsy or fake for
     a second, they are beautiful in that way of of real children.And now having read so many opinions on whether this film deserved an
     R-rating or not, I must put in my two cents. I say yes it does. There
     are some moments in this film that are very violent, although you could
     really just come in 10 minutes after the start of the film an skip the
     torture scenes at the beginning. The thing thats haunting me about
     those scenes, truth be told, is not the brutality of them. Its Jamal's
     eyes; dark baby eyes that neither understand nor truly expect anything
     better. In a way, its more disturbing that any amount of simulated
     blood-and-guts they could put on the screen. Its that an 18 year old
     boy could have seen so much cruelty in such a short time. That a
     someone so intrinsically idealistic would already have it so firmly
     through his head that there is no justic in the world. Its the idea of
     so many children scraping out a life for themselves on the streets of
     the slums of Mumbai. Its the real beggars of India and of the world who
     can never get their limbs, or their families, or their innocence back.And yet there is an overwhelming Joie de Vivre about the film. Not to
     put it in the " touching and uplifting" box, but this film really is.The plot is generally not quite so unbelievable as people say. Living
     on the streets all your life the way Jamal did I think you would
     probably pick up quite abit of knowledge. Perhaps the last question is
     stretching it abit, but Jamal's reaction reminds us that those moments
     happen in real life to.Anyway, don't expect it to be a documentary. Its a modern fairy tale
     and a story of life and love. Its a celebration of humanity, in all its
     strength and fragility.

350. hellfire_30 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 20th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Danny Boyle's Modern Day Fable.

     Where to begin when describing something as unique as Slumdog
     Millionnaire? Generally, the critics have been lavish in their praise
     for Danny Boyle's latest piece of work. Others have not been as
     captivated; the main gripe that the cynics both in the professional
     field and those making up the membership of various internet
     discussions is that of shortcomings plot-wise. Let me begin by first
     acknowledging the relevance of the cynics, there are indeed problems of
     continuity and realism with the plot. That being said; Slumdog
     Millionnaire is hands down one of the most captivating pieces of cinema
     released in the last few years - and as of this time of writing, it was
     the run away winner at the BAFTA's and looks set to pick up several
     other accolades in the not so distant future. It seems to me that the
     nay-sayers pointing to the small plot holes are not taking the whole
     picture into account - much akin to taking out a DIY home forensics kit
     whilst trying to work out the 'who done it' of a murder mystery novel.
     I mean, of course we can isolate parts for individual scrutiny, but
     this fails to take into account the beauty of the unified whole - and
     my is it beautiful. A whimsical musical score, intelligently fast
     pacing, great cinematography and endless charm all blend seamlessly to
     create something truly delightful to the senses. These all surround a
     highly compelling story, which it has to be said at times trades off
     the shackles and stiffness of reality for the more malleable and
     imaginative artistic vision. A 'compromise' that works to great effect.
     The Story which consists of child-hood love entwined with tragic
     circumstances reads at times like a fairytale Which explains why this
     movie has been described as a modern day fable. This makes for a
     refreshing change; but to some, brought up on cinema's tendency for the
     melancholic may appear trite. Definitely a case of the whole is greater
     that the sum of it's parts; and the whole is by far a magnificent
     spectacle to behold.

351. Onderhond from http://www.onderhond.com/archive/onderhond/category/movies Says:
     January 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Boyle reinventing the Bollywood industry

     Boyle is one of the few directors that manage to work within the solid
     confines of commercial film but still manage to keep a very modern and
     unique look. He also knows how to make genre films his own and with
     Slumdog Millionaire he goes one step further, taking on the whole
     Bollywood industry. And again, he miraculously succeeds.It's always refreshing to see a new Boyle film. He does things with
     existing genres. Adds to them, mixes them with others, updates them. It
     makes his films a little harder to a sell to a hardened genre-loving
     audience, but for those looking for new things to enjoy Boyle is a most
     welcome certainty. With Slumdog Millionaire he simple reaffirms that
     status. While his newest film emits a definite Bollywood vibe it is
     equal amounts not Bollywood, making sure those who have little
     affection with that side of the movie industry are not immediately put
     off by the film.Most notable about Boyle's style is his ever sprawling cinematography.
     Boyle's use of color is impeccable and what's even better, he is able
     to keep this up for a whole film. He combines it with strong and vivid
     camera work and some awesome editing tricks. It gives his films an
     extra flair mostly nonexistent in commercial film (Tony Scott is the
     only name that comes to mind, though Boyle is better at restraining
     himself). Slumdog Millionaire looks lush from start to finish and
     succeeds in being more than a visual one-trick pony.Equally strong is the soundtrack and more importantly, the way it is
     applied throughout the film. Though a little too poppy for my liking it
     flows perfectly together with the visuals and the both of them create a
     very solid and tight atmosphere. The inclusion of M.I.A. in particular
     was a pretty welcome surprise and added a lot to the fresh and hip feel
     of the film, somehow still a very rare thing in the world of film.The film itself is neatly constructed around Who Wants To Be A
     Multimillionaire, one of the most popular game shows to date. Our local
     hero is able to participate by chance and through some miraculous leaps
     of faith sees himself in the final round of the show in no time. Him
     being from the slums arouses suspicion among the program makers but
     also gives him a local hero status among the people from his hometown.
     Our hero is taken to the police station in order to clear his name and
     through a series of flashbacks we see how he was able to solve every
     question up until that moment, which are all somehow related to a
     particular period in his life.A pretty interesting concept which gives the film that little extra and
     allows Boyle to lean a little more on the drama and feel-good than
     other movies could've. While the outcome of the film is easy to predict
     and the whole ending is quite sentimental, no other ending would've
     done justice to the film. As for the game show part, its function is
     clear and its screen time limited, so chances are scarce that the film
     will feel outdated soon simply because the game show goes out of
     fashion. Boyle really did a good job with that.It's been a long time since I've seen an audience in theaters been this
     involved with a film. The climax reminded me of young kids watching a
     puppet theater. Especially when they jump up and shout at the puppets
     to give them directions (often to point them where the bad guys are). I
     think more than a few people at the theater were relying on adult
     conditioning to restrain themselves from doing exactly that during the
     build-up of the final question.Slumdog Millionaire works on all levels. While it starts off as a light
     drama it ends as a pure feel-good film and has no trouble making it
     work. It's a pleasure to behold, the soundtrack is right on the spot
     and the film never dips. It's good to see Boyle is still developing as
     a director and even though he might look like a worn out rocker on
     image, he is one of the hippest and coolest directors working in
     commercial film today. Slumdog Millionaire is not his masterpiece, but
     more than an excellent film altogether. 4.5*/5.0*

352. shariq_forever from India Says:
     January 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent

     Excellent, excellent, and excellent. I can't explain how realistic this
     film looked like. The Indian film makers should learn a lesson here who
     are producing hundreds of movies each year but all mindless and bad
     taste for entertainment. Danny Boyle has done excellent work. Thanks
     Danny for giving us this level of cinema. The story is whatever but the
     final product which comes in front of the audience does matters only.
     The whole movie was like a joy ride and so indulging that it was
     looking like such a reality that we are experiencing it really. However
     one should know that India is not full of slums but they exist in our
     society and these children of slums will never get out of their plight
     until and unless a major step can be taken for their betterment.

353. brian-teles from United Kingdom Says:
     January 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     excellent!

     Uniquely original fable with charm to spare. The tale of a young Muslim
     man from the slums of Mumbai who wins 20m rupees on the Indian version
     of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - and the story of how and why he knew
     the answers. Told mostly in flashback we are shown the young Jamal and
     his elder brother Salim, and how they seek to escape their
     poverty-stricken existence after the brutal killing of their mother at
     the hands of religious extremists. At the beginning of the film as
     Jamal is being tortured by the police ,who believe he cheated on the
     show, we are asked how does a "slumdog" from Mumbai know all the
     answers? Slowly we are shown. For all those people who believe that
     India is a charming, mystical place full of awe and wonder, need to
     watch a film like this. Mumbai is shown to be the polluted, disgusting,
     corrupt-ridden sinkhole it is and the treatment of the street children
     is heartbreaking, even to a cynical sod like me. Many of the films best
     scenes are in the flashback sequences as Jamal, Salim and their young
     female companion, Latika, struggle to survive on the streets. The
     performances from the young actors who portray the main characters
     younger selves is astonishing and one forgets that we are watching
     actors (as its supposed to be in movies but often isn't). If Charles
     Dickens were alive today he would probably be writing something like
     this as many of the issues that were close to Dickens' heart (poverty,
     street crime, family, honour) are to be found here - there is even a
     Fagin character as well as the gang from Oliver Twist. It also has a
     Bollywood-style mass dance number as the icing on the cake. A must-see
     film. Note to Hollywood - please don't remake this.

354. cogleone from London, England Says:
     January 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Rubbish and Clichéd

     Danny Boyle does it again. Wows the critics with stylised nonsense then
     goes home to gel his hair like Morrissey's.Went to see Slumdog Billionaire after reading rave reviews. Big
     mistake, what I got was "cool camera angles", hip bhangra soundtrack to
     tiresome montages, characters that live in dire poverty but somehow
     manage to "dig deep" so as to act playfully out of character when the
     next collection of critic-duping-cool-shots requires it (see 28 Days
     Later/Trainspotting for further examples of this, who's the director of
     those again?).I give this film 2 stars, one star because I bought into the overly
     manipulated positive end, basically the kid wins big and the nation is
     uplifted, and the other star for the authentic location, Bombay. I also
     liked the cheesy game show host but he's not worth a star.The contrivances in this film belong in an Eastenders Christmas
     Special, they were so bad. Do they not pre-record Millionaire in India?
     The fact that he used his "phone a friend" lifeline to call his
     "gansta" brother, only for his brother to have donated his phone to his
     long lost childhood sweetheart (who happens to be a drop-dead gorgeous
     super-babe brought up in the slums) who just so happens to be caught in
     gridlock traffic on her way to the studio to see Jamal. So when the
     game-show calls the brother to ask a question about the 3 Musketeers,
     her phone rings, she answers, he recognises her voice, there is a
     silence, like two yearning soul-mates reconnecting after years of
     painful separation. (even though you only have 30 seconds to ask the
     question and give the four possible answers).And the very end, sprint for the sick bag please, and what was with
     that stupid end credits dance sequence? I know you're meant to give
     dramatic licence to a film and suspend some semblance of reality but
     come on! Danny Boyle should stand trial for this disgrace.Jamal is the chief protagonist by the way.

355. neil-476 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 21st, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent

     Slumdog Millionaire uses the deceptively simple device of telling young
     Jamal's life story from being a small child in the slums of Bombay in
     order to explain how come he knows the answers to the questions on Who
     Wants To Be A Millionaire, leaving him one question short of the top
     prize. The answers/his story involve (among other things) the death of
     his mother, a short career as a beggar, the interaction with his less
     scrupulous brother over the years and, beyond everything, his ongoing
     search for Latika, the girl he befriended when they were small
     children.It is not a pretty story, but it is always gripping, always visually
     fascinating (and sometimes appalling) to these western eyes at any
     rate, sometimes very humorous, and very often sufficient to make you
     despair at the sheer unfairness at how life - and some very unpleasant
     people - treat Jamal and Latika.I've heard it described as a feelgood movie, and it's certainly not
     that but, if I can liken it to anything, I would liken it to The
     Shawshank Redemption in that it is a story about the ability of the
     individual to strive for something positive in the face of every
     obstacle life can throw in your path, and the soaring joy to the spirit
     when that elusive goal is finally achieved.The cast, most of whom are unknown to western viewers (Dev Patel, who
     plays Jamal, has had some TV exposure in the UK) are uniformly
     excellent, and the youngsters who play the 3 principals at two
     different stages of childhood deserve special mention.And India plays a huge part - the film is so immersive that, much of
     the time, it is like being there. The only things missing are the smell
     and the heat.This is an entertaining, enjoyable movie which has real substance to
     it. Highly recommended.

356. minukumar from United States Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Not as great as it is being made out to be

     All the folks that I talk to rave about this movie. Criticizing this
     movie has become like criticizing Obama. No one wants to hear it. I
     feel that the movie tries to package the more than well trodden Hindi
     movie masala themes into a more western friendly style. The good part
     about the movie is that it does this well. Also it does the story
     telling in a somewhat novel way. I also feel that it tries to provide
     realism in a very superficial way. Exhibit 1: The protagonist speaks
     Hindi all through the childhood (this part was realistic) but starts to
     speak middle class/upper middle class stylish English when he grows up
     (stylish in the Indian context). How did he learn the language so well?
     I think the casting could have been better. Also Rehman's music is
     highly overrated in this movie. This certainly is not the best music
     Rehman has given (I know the GG award was comparing this music with
     nominees in this category). I have loved many of Rehmans compositions
     and follow his work carefully. Glad that someone has given more
     technical thought and insightful comments than the usual "shows in
     India in bad light" argument. If this movie wins an Oscar apart from
     the GG, I certainly would see merit in the disappointment of a whole
     group of Bollywood directors whose movies were much better than this
     one. Sorry just a mediocre movie.

357. shukarb from United Kingdom Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     review

     Danny Boyle returns to fine form in one of the most inspiring films of
     the year. Fantastic cinematography combined with excellent acting from
     Dev Patel playing Jamal Malick a young man facing challenges which lead
     him to one place in the hot seat on ''who wants to be a millionaire' .Supported by an excellent supporting class [ the children playing the
     younger Jamal are truly exceptional] Slumdog Millionaire is a film
     which subverts the Hollywood narrative and looks at another side of
     life which is not seen by many it shows how courage above adversity
     triumphs and how it is destiny which leads you to a place which will
     change your life.

358. malachifour from United States Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     wonderful

     i saw this film before it went into limited release at a special
     screening with director Danny Boyle. my initial reaction to the film
     was that it was good, but not that great.then, over the next couple of weeks, the memory of the film stayed with
     me and it continued to grow on me until i felt strongly compelled to go
     see it again (something i don't do often). i found myself catching so
     many beautiful moments the 2nd time around, and was moved to tears in
     several different scenes.this is a powerful film, and don't let the more fable-like qualities of
     it distract you from the amazing sounds and visuals. Mr. Boyle
     describes this as a "love song for Mumbai," and that is exactly what it
     is: a love song. this film, from Mr. Boyle's delightful direction, the
     amazing cinematography & editing, the incredible score by R.A. Rahman,
     and some compelling performances by delightful unknowns Dev Patel and
     Frieda Pinto, is one of the best films i have ever had the pleasure of
     viewing.this is, in my opinion, the best film of 2008. with drama, romance,
     humor, action, and lots of heart, it has something for everyone.
     wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. don't miss it on the big screen.

359. Robert_Sole from United States Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Lightweight and corny

     I'm truly bewildered by the lavish praise that this movie is
     attracting. I just thought it corny and mildly irritating.My first problem was the half-movie/half-TV show format. A question is
     asked on the TV show. Cue flashback to the slums that shows how the
     lead character knows the answer. Each flashback involves frenetic
     running through narrow alleyways pursued by various evildoers. Back to
     the TV show. Another question followed by another flashback involving
     more running through the slums. By the 16,000 rupee question this was
     already wearing thin on me.I also didn't like the gross overuse of jerky slow motion and tilted
     camera angles. It just added to the repetitiveness of the
     question—>run through the slums—->question—- >run through the
     slums narrative. I'm baffled that so may critics have praised the movie because of its
     depiction of reality. In what universe do two brothers witness the
     murder of their mother at the hand of religious bigots, yet still grow
     up seemingly unaffected to become a couple of happy-go-lucky scamps in
     search of adventure? How real is the depiction of Lakita who gets sent
     to a brothel but the audience are assured that she was never violated
     and is rescued as a virgin? How many child prostitutes do you think
     there are in the slums of Mumbai and how many of those do you reckon
     are virgins? Please ponder that for a moment.This is pure Disneyfication of poverty - a world filled with
     mischievous and lovable little rascals who live on garbage dumps, where
     the baddies always get their comeuppance, where the good guys always
     win and where the child prostitutes are always virgins who will
     ultimately be whisked away by newly minted millionaires. The story is a pure fantasy, like Lady and the Tramp. A cheesy love
     story and a piece of cinematic bubble gum. Take it at face value and
     you might find the fast pace entertaining enough to pass a few hours. This is not a movie to learn about India or to gain any great insight
     about what life is like in the slums. It is far too lightweight for
     that.

360. proroge115 from India Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     India…..we love u

     India,incredible India………yes this tourism commercial can
     summarize this little gem,well not little anymore…….its huge!
     Awards ,accolades it deserves all, one of the FINEST FILMS OF ALL
     TIMES.The film is about Jamal, the lead protagonist portrayed by the gifted
     Dev Patel, a slum kid from India's dream city Mumbai, its about his
     journey from being a ''slumdog'' from slums to a ''millionaire'' in the
     hit television show, the Indian version of ''Who wants to be a
     millionaire''.A true rags to riches story-one of the best of its kinds, the movie
     captures the audiences in a pulsating drama filled with love,action and
     various emotions,anger,fear,nervousness,songs and dance too!…….in a
     true blue Bollywood fashion.True depiction of modern India, the film set in India's maximum city
     Mumbai, the dream city, It shows the optimism Indians feel in todays
     hard times.Danny Boyle is more Indian than Indians! He captures modern India like
     never before,at least in recent times. The film excels in all fields
     camera,acting,background,music……all blend to makes this beautiful
     film.Don't MISS IT!

361. Phu Dong from Viet Nam Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Danny Boyle has insulted the noble art of film making by making a piece of non sense

     My vote for this piece of junk is 0 out of 10.It is a politically
     incorrect film as its title is an insult to poor people who live in
     slums.Simon Beaufoy has done a bad job by mocking poor people.It is my
     guess that he did all this to influence audiences as the title of the
     original book written by Vikas Swarup is Q & A There is nothing worth
     seeing as Danny Boyle has copied Bollywood style of making films.His
     film is also a stupid flick as he has put famous Indian monument to win
     praises from White people who go to India only to see that monument.The
     entire flick is fit only to be a television soap opera.This film will
     not benefit Hindi cinema of India as Hollywood will always typecast
     Indian actors as they have been doing with actors from Hong Kong.This
     is a film whose success in the west will surely assure that not many
     tourists go to India as no one would want to go there to see
     poverty,crime and discrimination.This film is a kind of artistic
     terrorism.Stay away from it as you have been warned about its dangers.

362. omarramonmuniz from United States Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog is wildly overrated

     Slumdog Millionaire presents a refreshingly original concept, but it
     fails when it plays like a typical action romance. The main problem is
     that the screenplay follows the same formula that so many other
     big-budget action romances follow with two major exceptions. One, we
     have Indian characters, not American (it gives the film a special
     allure). Secondly, the story is told in non-linear fashion. But the
     formula is the same. One of the biggest problems in the writing is that everybody except for
     the two main characters is a villain. Key characters are
     one-dimensional and that's far too easy to write. For example,
     everybody with the exception of three key characters are pure evil and
     even then, one is mostly evil. It's lazy and a way to spoon-feed the
     audience. It's easier for audiences to identify some one as wholly good
     and another as wholly evil. Writing complex characters causes more
     ambiguity and it might make audiences think!Secondly, Slumdog suffers from what I'll call "Inverse Deus Ex
     Machina." Instead of characters always being saved by the bell, these
     characters are always being harmed by the bell. Just when you think
     something good will happen, something bad happens to increase drama.
     This is a problem when it happens at every single opportunity it gets
     except one. Another problem is a philosophical one. Jamal searches for his true
     love, a girl that he barely spent any time with making it hard to
     legitimize this destined love. Now, this can work by giving the main
     character a reason to love a girl he barely knew. Maybe she reminds him
     of innocence or maybe she was the only purely good person he ever knew.
     But the movie does not justify this distant and unknown love, they
     simply expect us to believe that the overly passionate Jamal would be
     so unbelievably attached to a stranger and vice versa. Boyle also applies some annoying gimmicks to this film. Almost every
     other shot is canted dutch (camera tilted at an angle). Critics seem to
     confuse this as art but it's simply aggravating. The Third Man is the
     only film that can use canted dutch shots nearly as much as Slumdog
     did, although it still does it less. Also, every time it happens in 3rd
     Man, there's an obvious reason for it. Here, there's no reason other
     than to create never-ending chaos, even during the calm scenes. Also, Boyle doesn't something extremely elementary. He changes the
     positions and colors of the subtitles, especially throughout the
     earlier scenes. This is a way of telling the audience, WE KNOW YOUR
     ATTENTION SPAN IS TOO SHORT TO READ BLACK AND WHITE SUBTITLES AT THE
     BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, SO WE'LL APPLY COLORS AND MAKE THEM MORE VISIBLE
     BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THE American AUDIENCE WILL WATCH THIS. Man
     on Fire and El Cantante also did this, I believe for the same reasons,
     and it's unnecessary. Trust the audience. They're only dumb if you
     treat them as such. And I won't even get into the end credits. I'll
     just say this isn't 40 year old virgin, this movie can't pull that off. Also, Boyle has a nasty habit of playing popular, modern songs
     non-diagetically against scenes that take place well before the song
     was made. I may be nit-picky here, but this too is unnecessary, sloppy
     film-making. More importantly, Boyle exhibits a petty reliance on
     music, making most of the movie feel like a really expensive music
     video. Slumdog fails to capitalize on the most interesting character in the
     film. THE SLUMS. There's a brief moment in the film where the camera is
     sitting on a tri-pod, there isn't any wacky editing, and a serene song
     plays. We watch Jamal re-enter the slums. Here, the slums are treated
     with tenderness and a little nostalgia. The film needs more of this. Ultimately, the great reviews stem from the appreciation of an unusual
     concept made in a fast-paced, City of God-like environment using
     incredibly epic scenery of Mumbai slums. Unfortunately, the content,
     editing and cinematography is treated like a Michael Bay film and the
     theme (and ending) is one to satisfy an audience of teeny-boppers.
     Slumdog may very well win best picture this year while a simpler, more
     thought-provoking and more mature film in The Wrestler isn't even
     nominated for the award.

363. sajupj from england Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     mixed emotions

     This is a curious example of outsider gaze into a part of India
     bollywood would rather close its eye.However the outsider gaze is not a
     neutral or objective gaze.It gets drawn into absurdities and
     perversities of Indian life with an exaggerated interest.The best bits
     of the movie reminded me of 'City of God', the bad bits of the movie
     reminded me of countless bollywood films. The characters are all
     caricatures, the lead character ( Dev Patel) emotes like a British
     Asian, not like a real Indian.The actress playing Latika despite being
     an Indian, is unindian in presence.Actors speaking in English reminds
     us constantly that this is not India and these guys are not real
     Indians.The hero's brother is the only character who rise above
     caricature status.But despite my negative impression, I enjoyed the
     film, just like I enjoy a well made masala bollywood film. This is not
     an art film, it is a clever film that sells some exotic wares.It should
     sell well in the west.I hope Rahman gets an Oscar for the musical
     score.

364. drbeanlee from Canada Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Good but not surprising

     This story is certainly nothing new and exciting. By using the game
     show, we were being told an East Indian boy life story. The tragic
     experience he had is quite familiar. If you don't, you just have no
     idea what had happened and is still happening in China and India.
     Perhaps the materials are so familiar to me that I don't find the movie
     surprising or consider it the best. No doubt, it is a good movie that
     you should not miss. The director keep the movie in good pace. I did
     not find it boring, even though the story is similar to some Chinese TV
     series with a shorten version. I also consider some scene is too
     disturbing for young audience. Watch it without your kids.

365. deniropacino89 from Boston,USA Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Certainly not the best movie of the year

     Well to put it as simple as possible the only positives about this
     movie are the score and direction.This movie has created a lot of buzz
     for the past couple of months and hey it has even managed to win some
     prestigious awards thus far but I cannot understand why the critics and
     fans have praised this movie so much.Going as far as to rate it above
     Danny Boyle's masterpieces like Trainspotting,Shallow Grave and 28 Days
     Later.There are some good points of this movie like the Score and
     certainly Danny Boyle's direction saves it from being a senseless
     flick. Danny surely knows that he is quite lucky with the awards this
     time around as Trainspotting which is a masterpiece in every aspect got
     no such acclaim.The acting is cheesy but you cant expect anything more from a bunch of
     real amateurs.I have seen many low profile movies with better
     acting.For instance: "Boy A" which also has many child and relatively
     young actors was way better than this one in terms of acting,it is
     really a shame that movies like that get less acclaim and no wonder why
     we do not see movies like that often.Many fans across the world would
     love to watch a Danny Boyle flick as he tries to offer something
     different every time.This movie has created so much hype and even
     though it has a high profile director,it fails miserably in terms of
     acting.The other point I wanted to highlight was I found some comparing this
     to City Of God.I am quite unfamiliar with most of the actors in that
     movie too and it had a similar setting i.e kids growing up in a violent
     and unsafe environment of a slum.The actors in City Of God were not
     great and will most likely be remembered only for their performances in
     that movie but at least they were watchable and some of them were even
     good at playing their roles.Slumdog ain't as violent as COG nor it is
     as interesting.I should not even be comparing it to COG because COG is
     better in every aspect.I cannot understand why the casting director
     could not hire a bunch of kids who knew a thing or two about movies and
     acting.Acting is an important part of story telling as powerful or the
     right actors can make the characters memorable.Without a shadow of a doubt this is one of those "feel good"
     movies.Such movies do not last the test of time and in the future many
     of us would wonder "How on Earth did this manage to gain so many awards
     and honors ?".The plot itself was cheesy,unrealistic and nothing more
     than a "crowd pleaser"…I know many would watch movies solely for the
     sake of entertainment and this movie might give you just that for the
     first time but this does not offer rewatch value which is an important
     factor in terms of movies made to entertain fans.I feel many movies made this year were much better than this overrated
     flick.Milk,Doubt,Frost/Nixon,Curious Case of Benjamin Button,In
     Bruges,The Dark Knight,The Wrestler and many more are clearly way
     better.As time goes by this movie would look more ordinary and less
     appealing.Rating:6.5/10

366. guardianJB from United States Says:
     January 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A love story that will be remembered, forever.

     When i first heard of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, i didn't know what was
     about. Then when i saw the trailer, I thought that it might be
     interesting. Then I went to see it, and the movie was incredible. The
     story was well written and directed very good by DANNY BOYLE. The love
     that this movie has was truly told well. And an ending that you will
     never forget. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is a love story unlike anything you
     will ever see. It's definite Oscar worthy movie. I have to say, that
     THE DARK KNIGHT, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, and SLUMDOG
     MILLIONAIRE are 2008s best movies of the year. Go see it, you will be
     amazed.

367. Danny Blankenship from Petersburg, Virginia Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A film that proves no matter how harsh one's life has been thru those experiences can help one master knowledge and win big in the end!

     Director Danny Boyle's film "Slumdog Millionaire" clearly has hit the
     jackpot with this picture an uplifting tale for anyone that sees it
     especially those that are poor and unlucky. Because those viewers can
     relate to the central character of Jamal so well. And Boyle's direction
     is life and storybook like as his direction of the film tells most of
     this troubled young man's life as the whole film is told from a
     flashback point of view. It's just so touching to see how each life
     experience of Jamal's past relates to his present as it was able to
     provide him with unlimited knowledge of the world that he gained from
     life experiences.Set in the slums of Mumbai, India we as viewers see a journey of harsh
     living that is experienced by one young man named Jamal Malik(Dev
     Patel)who along with his older brother from a young age have to deal
     with many problems from losing their mother, and being abandoned during
     war time. Along the way the streets are a way of life and survival for
     them as they drift from location to location only Jamal gradually
     learns the culture of how to break from the thug world. As without much
     money Jamal had to survive on his wits to make money this knowledge
     would benefit him greatly later. Aside from a journey of dealing with
     the harsh world of cynical thugs and learning the streets Jamal is in
     part involved up in a love story. When meeting the beautiful
     Latika(Freida Pinto). Her beauty and love provides some escape for
     Jamal.It is then when upon Jamal working after leaving his brother and the
     beauty behind decides to go for the gold so to speak. Jamal becomes a
     contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants to be A Millionaire" as
     he feels this is the only way to the path of a good life and a way to
     escape poverty. Ironically as we see from question to question as the
     film is done in flashback Jamal reflects on his harsh upbringing and
     dangerous street days of dealing with thugs as it's many of these
     experiences that helped him obtain powerful culture knowledge. And
     oddly enough many of these questions can be answered by his knowledge
     he picked up from the past.As in life the film proves many simply have a destiny often expected or
     unexpected as in the end Jamal knows his destiny and the only way that
     he will establish love with Latika is thru this game show! This may
     seem like a fairy tale ending to some still it shows destiny is often
     meant even though it takes many strange paths for some it's those like
     Jamal that struggle thru a harsh upbringing and that living in slum
     conditions makes a man stronger especially mentally. And in the end
     this makes him a master because he's found his destiny. Super work from
     Danny Boyle proving no matter how tough and harsh life can be for some
     it can end striking the jackpot.

368. westreal (rbarbulescu@yahoo.com) from Romania Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     No matter the costs:Ultimate love story

     Even though the movie itself isn't as serious as the final pieces of
     the puzzle,it is incontestably the best movie of the year,the best
     depicted story and the best acted movie in a decade.Slumdoge
     Millionaire hits every corner of a viewer's heart.It really makes you
     tick.It is the national anthem of all movies :Jai Ho ! Whether you are
     at home,at cinema,at a friend's DVD-home-cinema party…you will enjoy
     this half-musical drama.The characters development into the story are
     so deep that you can't possibly mistake one with the other…the
     director made from the audience…a part of the story.Probably it is
     and will remain for a long time one of the greatest achievements in
     cinematography and directing. "What a night"

369. Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The Three Musketeers

     In Mumbai, the eighteen year-old orphan from the slums Jamal Malik (Dev
     Patel) is tortured by the policemen in a precinct accused of cheating a
     game show. Jamal, who has no education and works in a call center
     serving tea, is close to win twenty million rupees in the show "Who
     Wants to Be a Millionaire?" hosted by Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor), giving
     precise answers to the questions and raising suspicion of fraud. The
     police inspector shows the videotape and after each question, Jamal
     tells parts of his childhood with his brother Salim, his crush for
     Latika and their fight to survive on the streets to justify each
     correct answer, guided by his common sense and past experience, and
     prove his innocence.The awesome" Slumdog Millionaire" is one of the best movies I have
     recently seen. The story is an original and simple tale of love,
     serendipity and fortune, in the environment of poverty and criminality
     in the slums and streets of India; but the screenplay is fantastic,
     using flashbacks to disclose the life of the lead character, his
     brother and his passionate and pure love for another orphan in a
     perfect development of the characters and the plot. The acting is
     top-notch, and the boys and girls that perform the lead roles (young
     Jamal, Salim and Latika) have also amazing performances. In the
     credits, there is a great surprise with the cast singing and dancing
     like in most Bollywood productions. My vote is ten.Title (Brazil): Not AvailableNote: On 22 February 2009, this movie was awarded with eight Oscar,
     including Best Picture and Best Director.

370. Mudit Sood from India Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Awesome!

     Slumdog Millionaire opens the rotten face of India, does it? Does it
     show the so called "dirty underbelly" of India? Slumdog word is racist
     as alleged by a chap from Bihar. But really?? If I had one word to
     describe these comments it would have been a *beep*!!By no means this movie is aimed at showing the chronic poverty of our
     nation. Many reviewers have criticized this movie for showing only the
     dirty reality of the country instead of displaying all those swanky
     buildings, glittering malls etc.Slumdog Millionaire narrates a story of 2 siblings & a girl, who rise
     from the dirty slum life and move into different directions of life.
     The older brother ("Salim"-played by Madhur Mittal) ends up working for
     a gangster, the girl ("Latika"-played by Frieda Pinto) ends up as a
     show girl with the same gangsters and the hero of the movie the younger
     brother ("Jamal"-played by Dev Patel) ends up living a rather straight
     life as a tea server in a call center. Jamal reaches the "hot seat" of
     Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by an arrogant quiz master Prem Kumar
     (Anil Kapoor) who don't want him to win the game. He calls the police
     to get Jamal Malik arrested on the charges of fraud at the end of day 1
     of the show. At the police station Jamal is tortured first by the sound
     thrashing from Constable Srinivas (Saurabh Shukla) and then he is
     subjected to electric shock, all to make him speak about how a tea
     serving slum dweller can give the correct answers.The movie revolves around the dingy slums of Dharavi. The heaps and
     heaps of garbage, dogs with flees, young Jamal jumping in a pit full of
     *beep* (*sic*), Hindu-Muslim riots, pimps, gangsters, rough language is
     some of the few characteristics of the film which together with the
     superb cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle makes it an ultra realistic
     movie. Kudos to the director Danny Boyle and co-director Loveleen
     Tandon for the impressive direction and superb camera takes which shows
     the minutest of the details of the dirty slum life. The screenplay was
     outstanding.Acting:If I had to rate the performance of the characters I would
     surely give a high five to the children artists of the movie. Almost
     half of the movie shows them and their acting was very natural and
     realistic. Dev Patel was fine too. Frieda Pinto didn't had too much of
     the screen time but delivered good performance. Anil Kapoor was cool.
     Irrfan Khan as the deadly cop together with Saurabh Shukla gave the top
     performances together with the child artists. Mahesh Manjrekar was
     looking a real gangster. He was rough, bad and whatever you may call a
     gangster. Madhur Mittal as the older brother Salim was quite good.Sound/Music: Well the music has so many nominations for the Oscars what
     more can I write!!??!! The sound effects were superb. The background
     score was creepy good. "Jai Ho" track comes at the end of the movie.
     The song is classic but I doubt whether it would take away the Oscar.
     Let's hope for the best. A.R Rahman proves that he is the best in this
     field!The movie has been given an "A" certificate and rightly so. It has some
     good amount of strong language, violence in the form of riots, torture,
     a child being blinded with hot syrup (something), murder and other such
     things happening in the slums. These violent scenes are quite chilling
     and tense.Overall I would recommend this movie to every person who has a tag
     "Indian" attached to him/her. A detailed insight into the murky life of
     slum dwellers. Slumdog Millionaire is one of those movies which has a
     happy ending. And out of the 10 Oscar nominations it would bag at least
     three i.e in "cinematography", "editing" & for the song "Jai Ho". It is
     a perfect edge of the seat thriller wrapped in the ghostly realities of
     slums. Hightly recommended.

371. imspellbound7 from India Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Sure to be an Oscar winner

     This is the movie which is made with heart. Beautiful performances by
     the actors especially by the kids playing the role of Jamal and Salim.
     The movie showed the real life of the slum dwellers, through a kid. A must watch movie especially for the acting from young Jamal and Salim
     to the elder ones. The direction is undoubtedly a master piece, showing
     the real slum and the people living in.The story show the life of a boy
     who faces difficult challenges thorough out; and a desire to get his
     love back. The performance is good, the direction is great, language is real, the
     story is nice and the greatest part music by A.R.Rahman is the
     greatest.All and all the movie is worth to be a Oscar winner especially
     for "Best Picture,Director,Adapted Screenplay,Music………………."……………….MUST WATCH………………….."

372. bobsgrock from United States Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best. Film. of. 2008. Period.

     Without a doubt, no other film of 2008 will be able to title itself as
     the very best of the calendar year. Certainly, this is a subjective
     question, but after experiencing this wondrous achievement, I can't
     imagine anyone picking another film but this as best picture of 2008.
     British director Danny Boyle perfectly crafted this picture and it is
     more than just a great story but also a great movie. It is entirely
     entertaining and will certainly lift your spirits as well. All the
     actors, whether Dev Patel as Jamal, Freida Pinto as Latika, or any of
     the rest of the cast, young and old, are perfectly cast and completely
     bring us into this world of poverty, dirtiness, sadness, and hope.So, I say you must see Slumdog Millionaire before the Oscars are
     announced. I can say with confidence it will win Best Picture, but you
     owe it to yourself to experience the expert storytelling, acting,
     directing, visual style, and music that wraps you up and transports you
     to a feeling of exhilaration and joy. For all that it is worth, this is
     the best film of 2008 and one of the best I have ever seen. It is
     written.

373. Daniel Robins from United Kingdom Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Poor Very Poor (NOTHING LIKE CITY OF GOD)

     The problem i had with the film Slumdog Millionaire was i figured out
     the plot within 5 minutes of entering the cinema , also i am not a fan
     of who wants to be millionaire matter of fact i hate it and the acting
     was good but i felt this film has been over hyped.The film was no gem , Latika acting was shocking and some scenes were
     not necessary . Also this film is nothing like city of god that was a
     masterpiece and this was a waste of time. The real thing which annoyed
     me was the credits where everyone began dancing which just made me feel
     as i had watched a comedy which was not funny.Overall i felt Dev Pantel was the star of the show but the film well
     just was my sort of film more of an action person then feel good films
     as this one made me feel bad .

374. tambe from India Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Journey of a Slumdog

     This movie is one of the best movies I have seen. It's a story about
     the slumlife in Mumbai. The important thing is that Jamal (Dev Patel)
     dint loose hope in spite that his mother died and he was deceived by
     his own brother. I felt Salim had a good nature when he was small.Jamal earned a living as a 'chai wala' where as Salim got money doing
     bad things. Latika was a descent and noble girl, but because of Salim
     she got into the wrong company. This story is an eye-opener. All the
     actors acted very well especially Dev Patel (Jamal Mullik) and Frieda
     Pinto (Latika) Dev Patel should get the award for the best actor.I was really shocked at the treatment meted to the slums. Jamal used
     his own mind instead of following the answer which Anil Kapoor gave
     him. Even though Anil Kapoor kept teasing him he dint mind.Even when he
     phoned Latika, he was more bothered about her than the money.This story tells us that if one is focused in life one can achieve
     one's goal no matter how many obstacales one faces.It's a beautiful movie

375. villanwilson87 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Simply Brilliant Film-Making!

     Who would have thought that Danny Boyle would create one of the finest
     films this year already, and probably one of the best I have watched.
     Over the years we have seen the different types of brilliant genre
     picture's that Boyle has directed, e.g. Shallow Grave (Thriller),
     Trainspotting (Drug-Taking Drama), 28 Days Later (Horror), and Sunshine
     (Sci-Fi). But then Boyle went out and decided to look for something
     completely different, and found (bizzarely) a British/Indian Romantic
     Gameshow picture. As always, it is another 'rags to riches' story of a young boy named
     Jamal who lives and survives on the streets of Mumbai, and somehow
     manages to become a contestant on the Indian's 'Who Wants To Be A
     Millionaire' game-show. Jamal (played brilliantly by Skins-Dev Patel),
     a young child who grows into his teens along with his elder brother
     Samil, and which depicts the main part of the story towards the love of
     his life, as Jamal says in the film, "The most beautiful girl in the
     world." Freida Pinto, stars as Letika, and all three (Jamal, Samil,
     Letika) encounter difficult stages of their life's, and some that
     change drastically.The film whilst showing the love story unfold between Jamal and Letika,
     the other part is obviously focused on the game show that Jamal is one
     question away from becoming a multi-millionaire, until being arrested
     and accused by the game-show host Prem Kumar (played sneeringly by Anil
     Kapoor) of cheating. Therefore, Jamal is then put through torture to
     explain his actions (beware, this film although shares discomfort as
     well as joy) and admit his wrong-doing, but instead confesses to the
     Police, how he simply knew the answers to the questions with vivid
     flashbacks from his childhood past, which is a brilliant piece of film
     making by Boyle.The films last's just under 2 hours, but it was so riveting and
     exhilarating, I could never take my eyes of it, as I thoroughly enjoyed
     every second of it. The score as well by A. R. Rahman is also one of
     the best I've heard and was perfectly set in tone for the film
     throughout, which also gives you a great insight into India's culture
     and lifestyle, with some of the most gorgeous camera scenes you'll see
     this year.All of the characters in the film are brilliant, and with a bit more
     depth (e.g. where was Letika's family before meeting Jamal and Samil?),
     but that shouldn't bother you as the film goes through humour, despair,
     and to simply the feel good factor, because at the end of the film I
     can guarantee you will have the biggest smile on your face you wont be
     able to get rid of.Credit to Boyle though, he has chosen a difficult and different
     challenge in film-making but has pulled out his finest film to date,
     and since the film has already won Golden Globe's for Best Film and
     Best Director, it is a firm favourite (in my and everyone's else
     opinion) for the Oscar's as it has already been Oscar nominated in 10
     categories.A thrillingly upbeat film which you can never get bored off and watch
     in admiration again and again, simply brilliant.

376. mlzzz from United States Says:
     January 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am

     An Excellent Movie…A Sure Fire Oscar Nominee

     {This review contains no plot spoilers but there is a structural
     technique spoiler of sorts (which is revealed in the first minutes of
     the film and does not really give that much away as I have seen similar
     references in mainstream reviews) and perhaps some theme spoilers due
     to the mature content of the movie that I reference.}———————————————————-This movie was unlike any of my expectations and I like that everything
     about it was unexpected. It had great characters, dialog, story and
     structure.The story is cleverly revealed through a series of flashback sequences
     prompted through the game questions on the Indian version of the "Who
     Wants To Be A Millionaire?" TV show. The movie shows a very raw and
     gritty version of the real India (good and bad) and is not for the
     faint of heart (I spent 3 weeks in India living on $15 a day so I know
     what is real and what most $100 a day tourists never see). The film
     deals with heavy, mature themes such as torture, child prostitution,
     poor sanitation, squalor living conditions, crime, begging, child
     exploitation and homelessness though these are mainly supporting
     elements to the very interesting journey of the main character leading
     up to the present and his appearance on the show. This film was successful in bringing up a range of emotions for the
     viewers that hit home and left a lasting impression; I found the story
     both shocking and moving and was left very satisfied in the end and
     happy I took a viewing risk on a film I had so little understanding
     about. The three main characters were very deep and interesting because
     the story led each through their own character arc of development.
     There were also some elements of the film that were humorous but
     nothing so outrageously funny as in Gran Torino (where I found the mix
     of comedy, drama and characters to be even more appealing and
     unexpected). All in all an excellent movie that I expect to have multiple Oscar
     nominations if not actual wins (Oscars are always harder for
     independent movies like this to achieve).

377. Anth-M from Toronto Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A crowd-pleaser for the less discriminating.

     A young man from an Indian slum wins millions from a trivia game show
     but is tortured and detained by police on suspicion of fraud. In order
     to prove his innocence, he recounts his life story and how its
     incidental details informed each correct answer.Director Danny Boyle complements this fresh narrative structure with an
     effusive energy, creating mystery and exciting melodrama. But as the
     mystery dissolves with exposition, the structure turns predictable and
     soon collapses in its redundancy. What remains is a long yarn of
     melodramatic tales—some exciting, some heavy-handed but when tallied
     up, it's fatiguing. Still, the film manages a sweet, uplifting
     resolution; it's a crowd-pleaser for the less discriminating.

378. João Pedro Tomás (joaoped@msn.com) from Faro, Portugal Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     City of God: 2009 edition

     After finishing Slumdog Millionaire the first idea that went through my
     head about the movie was that it should have been based on City Of God,
     Brazilian movie from 2002. No, it isn't City of God but it has many
     similarities. The slums, the poverty, the crime in the streets, the
     multiple kids telling the story in its beginning, the chicken
     running… many aspects contribute to my thesis that Slumdog is barely
     based on City of God.And that's not a bad thing. A story that unites two different cultures:
     finally a different movie reaches the academy awards. Finally a movie
     without a formula surprise the judges: 10 Oscar nominations speak for
     themselves. Danny Boyle, British director, creator of Sunshine and
     Trainspotting, producer of 28 Weeks Later– he starts a different path
     in his career. He pursues the drama and how powerful a film can be, if
     done properly; with a amazing background story, with trustworthy
     wannabe actors and cheesy yet emotional dialog.Slumdog Millionaire doesn't have a formula. It may be barely based on
     City of God but it was taken from a novel. An Indian novel, adapted for
     the screen by an English scriptwriter. Danny Boyle and co. did the
     rest.Like Apocalypto, these actors didn't have any experience. Recurring to
     three young boys to tell the story from the beginning to the climax;
     using others without any experience either… It's a challenge. What if
     it would wrong?! Apparently it didn't. The amateurish actors appealed
     to a more realistic portrayal of their characters. You can't act? Act
     yourself! Of course they had some experience, and if they hadn't then
     the casting department did teach them something.In technical details, the movie isn't comparable to Benjamin Button.
     The other is done with proper ways of doing a picture. And judges like
     classic stuff. Me too. But there are times when we need a change, don't
     you think? There are times where we just need a break from cheesy and
     classic formula type of films! I like that kind of films. I like them
     as much as I like Slumdog Millionaire. I enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire.
     Will you?Time for a change.

379. composition from United States Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Beware - torture and child abuse.

     An opposite perspective. The graphic scenes of torture and beating' of
     young people are exploitation and should not fuel a story which
     receives acclaim. Repeated and repeated and repeated scenes of India's
     widespread and grinding poverty may be appropriate for a documentary of
     social ills and class warfare but not for entertainment.It is dishonest story telling to use torture, child abuse and the
     innocent despair of young children as the basis for an ending that
     exploits "Western Liberal Guilt" and is lauded in the process. If
     scenes of torture and child abuse are not your fare then beware of this
     movie.The direction and editing were first-rate: crisp, dynamic and
     emotional.

380. SusurrusKarma from United Kingdom Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     There just isn't enough to invest in.

     For films such as Slumdog Millionaire, it can oft be hard to
     distinguish just what the director behind the project was intending to
     provoke from their audience. On the one hand, Slumdog tells a
     compelling and mostly interesting rags-to-riches story topped off with
     a sugar coated ending with extra sprinkles that- while notably hammy-
     doesn't cross over into absurdity. Yet it also tries to tell another
     tale alongside it, this time revolving around a romance that never
     quite takes off in the way that director Danny Boyle wishes it to.
     Boyle, who up to this point is known for his sensually driven works,
     surprisingly hasn't touched upon romance at least in the quantity and
     focus as to which Slumdog Millionaire implies; unfortunately, this lack
     of experience on his part shows throughout. So although the majority of
     the feature remains as a somewhat uplifting and compelling drama on
     base level, a distinct lack of focus in characterisation and chemistry
     stops the movie from ever going beyond its ostensible ideas and generic
     façade. In the end I found myself moved more by what Slumdog wanted to
     say rather than what it did say.Taking place largely in flashback mode, Slumdog Millionaire tells the
     story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Tanay Chheda),
     a- well- "slumdog". Born in the slums and raised for the most part as
     an orphan, Jamal is a quiet, well-intentioned boy with a big heart and
     even bigger eyes for opportunity and beauty. It isn't long before he
     spots Latika (Freida Pinto, Rubiana Ali, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar) and from
     here on in it would seem the story writes itself. From here the script
     moves in and out of telling a mystery thriller seeped in slow paced
     drama, and diverging upon a romance which feels forced and laboured.A much more compelling element within Slumdog's narrative however lies
     in the way in which the story is framed within a retelling of the
     protagonist's chance of lifetime on game show Who Wants to be a
     Millionaire?. This otherwise gauche framing device serves as a
     surprisingly effective way in which to chop up Jamal's childhood and
     teenage life into its most digestible pieces without seeming too
     contrived, whilst also paving way for the movie's big finale which
     makes the most out of the slow building momentum of the first two acts.
     The result of this clashing between engaging drama and forgettable
     romance is jarring however; there are times when Slumdog soars and
     times when it gets downright irksome.One thing that usually remains as something to look forward to within a
     Danny Boyle feature however lies within its aesthetics. Taking place
     entirely within the impoverished areas of India, the movie establishes
     strong images and motifs throughout which in turn further the film's
     emotional and psychological connections with the viewer. From the
     patched, duct-taped, second-hand nature of everything, the world of
     Slumdog Millionaire entices ideas of existentialism not just through
     its protagonist's story but through the environment in which he exists.
     This, coupled with a magnificent score and soundtrack which more often
     than not gives the movie its biggest and most memorable sequences,
     provide a sensual experience that one now comes to expect when greeted
     by the name Danny Boyle.I couldn't help but wish that such ideas and care were taken with the
     remainder of the feature however; especially concerning the romance
     played out by the lead performers. Boyle, who is inexperienced to some
     degree in handling such dynamics, doesn't do much to provide any
     interest in the protagonist's love interest- it's clear that youthful,
     whimsical love is certainly implied within the constructs of this
     average romance and yet it is never truly shown. This generic approach
     to storytelling inevitably hurts Slumdog to the point that many of its
     sequences which draw heavily upon this much needed chemistry fall on
     their face. The actors themselves are fine and able- and provide
     excellent performances in all other respects- but as a pair, there just
     isn't enough to invest in.This in turn brings me to my final conclusion on what is essentially a
     mixed bag of engaging drama and tepid fairytale; Slumdog Millionaire is
     a fine picture- it provides a heart-warming story with all its
     intentions in the right places, and yet it doesn't ever convince in its
     ability to connect with the viewer. What results is a lukewarm,
     temporal pleaser, but certainly not one to be cherished for years to
     come.- A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)

381. ewansp-2 from Hereford, UK Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A sheer delight from beginning to end!

     I just want to say very briefly that Slumdog Millionaire is a very
     beautiful film, I absolutely loved it. If you have not yet seen this
     film in the cinema and you are thinking about it then I urge you to
     stop thinking and go see it! You will not be disappointed. This film
     has everything - epic romance at its heart, emotion in bucket-loads,
     action, drama, tension and tragedy. Having been bitterly disappointed
     by my last two film outings at the cinema..i won't mention their names
     as they are not worthy of it..i'll just say that one of them was about
     a guy in a silly bat suit with a silly voice and the other was about a
     guy who works for the British Secret Service. Both of these films were
     total rubbish, boring and a total waste of my time and money and
     sitting through them had dulled my enthusiasm big-time for seeing
     anything else on the big screen. Seeing Slumdog Millionaire though has
     totally blown these 'dulled' feeling away and so at last I am back,
     revelling in the after glow of seeing such a brilliant, beautifully
     made film. Slumdogs director - Danny Boyle and his team of film makers
     deserve every award they receive.It was so refreshing to watch a film where it was all up there on the
     big screen, a film where you absolutely get your money's worth, a film
     after which when you walk from the theatre you have this wonderful,
     satisfying feeling flowing through you. All credit to the excellent
     cast, they are all truly great actors some of which were only as young
     as seven years old. The photography, the direction, the acting, the
     storyline..all of it was simply fantastic. I have read that Slumdog
     Millionaire is the feel good film of the decade and, having just seen
     it, I totally agree. Please take my advice and go see it!

382. nayak1989 from India Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Celebration Of Bollywood at its Best!

     Jus saw it, got released here today! After the long wait and pushing
     the temptations of downloading the screener for weeks i saw the movie
     today.This movie has to be seen as it is because Danny Boyle isn't a complete
     retard to make this movie in this style if he had wanted to make it
     look serious, but all he wanted to show was the way "Bollywood" is at
     the moment and this movie is a celebration of Indian Commercial Cinema
     which was made just for the sake of entertainment and i dint see a
     single frame where he wanted appreciation for art.All those people who
     are saying that the film is no where to be real or interesting are
     refusing to enjoy something that is new to them and for those who are
     familiar with Bollywood, it may be to show off that they like only
     artistic and realistic movies or may be they are embarrassed that DB
     has exposed their guilty pleasure genre to rest of the world.Please understand this,Indian commercial cinema is similar to this
     movie but nowhere close to its style and elegance(Yes i did say that
     and it is much more worse) and our lives are filled with cinema music
     i.e OSTs.We don't have artists who just make albums,we don't get music
     from them,our music is through cinema and those who make albums don't
     even make 2% of what a movie soundtrack would make.If you are an Indian
     you will understand what i am saying and i double dare the others to
     come to an Indian Multiplex and show me 2 movies that get released
     without a Dance number in a whole freaking month.And this is the reason
     for the last masala filled "Jai Ho!".I was born and brought up in a city very similar to that of Mumbai(the
     one where the movie is filmed) but not as bad,so i know what really
     happens in these slums and we do have people working for us who face
     and experience those things that are showcased in the movie and believe
     it or not things much worse happen everyday in these slums.I don't give a rat's ass about a movie's plot so it dint bother me at
     all and i totally got entertained and about the dialogs, in the very
     few scenes where slummies talked in English then itself i knew i
     shouldn't concentrate on the dialogs if i wanted to enjoy the movie.And
     the performances of leads was the biggest disaster,the kids who come in
     the beginning are simply superb actually bloody brilliant but the leads
     kill the play in the last one hour or so.Actors such as Irfan Khan,
     Anil Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla who are well known in "Bollywood" have
     done their jobs well but the leads have completely spoiled
     it.A.R.rahman's Background score is simply superb and as i have been
     listening to the album since its release i could recognize and name
     each and every soundtrack in the cinema which made heads turn and i
     read lips saying "Show Off" wink but its all worth it as i got to
     praise the legendary A.R.Rahman(i am not exaggerating but he has been a
     real trend-setter since 1992).So now i have told you that the plot isn't that good,performances are
     bad,dialogs are dull,but at the end of the day i watched a completely
     entertaining movie and you know what, this is how a true Bollywood
     Blockbuster is made of and now if only this movie had been a bit more
     lamer it could have broken all box office records here.This movie is not for those movie goers who want to watch intense
     emotions and mind tweaking scripts but for those who accept a movie as
     it is and enjoy anything which has something in it,this movie is surely
     not a dumb movie but just lacks a soul and depth and these two could be
     kept aside for 120mins for you to enjoy some Spicy Desi Cuisine for a
     change.Recommended.8 upon 10

383. manxkp from New Delhi, India Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     It's a roller coaster ride! Best film of the year. Watch it now!

     Slumdog Millionaire deftly portrays stark poverty and the stark
     contrast conspicuous in the Indian society wherein the millionaires
     live within a stone's throw of a million slum-dwellers. The movie never
     fails to highlight the spirit of these people who embrace the extremes
     and are relentlessly desperate in fulfilling their dreams.Those who criticize the film calling it a westerner's portrayal of
     Indian society had better realize that our own Bollywood directors have
     still not got off the 'India Shining' bandwagon. Their NRI cinema is
     far from the bigger reality. Movies are meant to hold a mirror to the
     society and Slumdog Millionaire does exactly that(of course in a
     dramatic way). It's realistic, contemporary, lucid and has a deep
     message. The movie revolves around three characters-Jamal Malik, Salim
     Malik(Jamal's brother) and Latika(Jamal's love interest) who live in
     abject poverty in Dharavi(world's largest slum) in Mumbai. Despite his
     horrific, unimaginable experiences like riots and even a
     near-mutilation, the protagonist Jamal is essentially scrupulous. He
     manages to get on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'- India's version of
     'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' only to establish contact with his lady
     love, an ardent fan of the show, who is a gangster's keep. The host and
     the entire nation is spellbound as to how a 'chaiwalla', who has no
     formal education, answers every question thrown at him. But his real
     motive is not big bucks but love. Herein lies the beauty of the movie
     which manifests that true love transcends everything else. Danny Boyle takes out the best from his actors(esp. the child actors).
     Simon Beaufoy's screenplay is breathtaking. Rahman's music elevates the
     film. At the end of the day, Slumdog Millionaire lives up to the hype
     surrounding it. It deserves all the accolades its getting worldwide. It
     certainly is one of the best India-centric movies ever made. Watch it!
     Such a movie come once in a decade. Here's hoping the Oscar night turns out to be Slumdog's night…India's
     night. Jai Ho!

384. Serkan Okar (the_divine_spirit@yahoo.com) from Wilmington, Delaware Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     the most overrated movie of the year

     Slumdog Millionaire's premise is so cliché that I cannot believe the
     hype; it's the story of a poor boy in love with a girl and some bad
     guys in between them. I don't know how many movies I have seen with
     this exact same premise. There must be literally thousands of Asian,
     Mid-Eastern movies with exact same story. Many people here complain
     about insult to India as a country. How about insult to all the other
     great movies that have not been recognized by the Academy? How about
     the great Afghan, Iranian movies that are actually much smarter and
     original than Slumdog Millionaire but somehow never get to be seen by
     the American Audience? What about the insult to them? Slumdog
     Millionaire's commercial success solely depends upon the producers, and
     nothing more (and maybe due to the fact that most Americans are not
     familiar with this kind of story or maybe hungry for unrealistic,
     almost fairy-tale like love story, innocence kept through hard-times).
     There is not one original idea in the entire movie. I easily predicted
     everything before it happened, including the ending. No surprises, no
     clever screenplay, no great acting…. I guess the only cinematic
     achievement in the movie was the excellent photography. The sceneries
     from India's ghettos were just amazing in the sense of photographic
     quality. Lastly, Academy should be ashamed of nominating this movie as
     the best picture not to mention in many other categories. The Kite
     Runner, a far superior picture didn't get single nomination. What an
     insult to the artists who worked in that movie.

385. lamaanhamid from India Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Too much hype, not enough matter.

     The only reason I can think of due to which Slumdog Millionaire has won
     various awards is that the competition is seriously lacking. I enjoyed
     the movie, but not all of it.I must give full credit to the children who have performed in the
     movie, they are the ones who deserve a nomination/award. Bombay is shot
     beautifully, exposing the harsh reality of slum life. It is realistic
     and gripping. Then the children grow up, this for me was the turning
     point in the film. Patel, in the lead role was expressionless and
     irritating. I still cannot understand the Hindi (with subtitles) to
     English transition in the dialogue, and where for the love of god did
     the accents come from? (particularly those of Anil Kapoor & Freida
     Pinto, who hail from the Indian subcontinent).The entire story after the first half was unimpressive. There was no
     chemistry between the lead characters, probably due to lack of acting
     experience.I do not understand the ideology of the casting director for
     casting an NRI as the 'slumdog millionaire'. He does not suit the role
     at all. Irrfan Khan/Mahesh Manjrekar have not been used well. A R
     Rahman probably deserves every bit of the acclaim that he is receiving,
     but this movie is definitely not his best. For anyone planning to watch
     'Slumdog', my advice is not to go with high expectations.

386. Hoffmanpmj from United States Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Wouldn't this movie be better with Seth Rogen and James Franco?

     Think about it: How much cooler would Slumdog Millionaire be if James
     Franco was in the millionaire hot seat while high as a kite? And
     wouldn't the train scenes be ten times funnier with the two 30-year-old
     potheads? This movie pretty much is Pineapple Express in India. Just
     look at the similarities: big-time mob bosses, two young boys on the
     run, a hot chick, and there's a scene when they're smoking hookah! The
     movie could definitely use Seth Rogen's comic relief. Slumdog
     Millionaire seems to take itself a little too seriously; maybe it
     should smoke some weed and just chill! And it would help the film
     develop a broader fan base too. Look at me! Do I care about poverty in
     India? Of course not. But I love smoking weed!

387. smallbob from China Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Beautiful Made but a script a teenager could make.

     This movie is beautifully made with an amazing look at the slums of
     India and I'll be going out tomorrow to see if I can't find the
     soundtrack somewhere. That said i found the script had the feeling that
     it was written by a love sick teenager with some absolutely cheesy
     lines and a cast of characters that feels so clichéd it's just
     annoying. Every Indian is either rich/powerful and a complete asshole
     or poor and trying to screw everyone over, including the host of Who
     Wants to Be A Millionaire who is played with the evil malice of a man
     looking to crush Jamal beneath his heel. That is except, of course for
     our two lovers, who it seems are the only honest, kind and decent
     people people left around.I can understand that the movie is trying to show the dark side of
     growing up poor but adding a couple of different styles of characters
     would make the whole thing more realistic I would think. I am quite
     disappointed as I had only recently heard of the movie (I live in China
     so I don't get to see many trailers) and everything I heard had been
     good. I would have enjoyed the movie more if they had just left out the
     talking as as I said, visually it's stunning and the music was absolute
     wonderful.

388. martin-ortiz from Mexico Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     get schooled!!

     Times have changed, love stories are not what they used to be and
     princes are not either. Once upon a time we would talk about Men with
     money and a tender heart, nowadays in this globalist world money is
     more than ever out there (even in this time of crisis). So power and
     wealth stopped being a Noble feature.Intelligence was once considered the new Nobility, possessing knowledge
     was considered a virtue, knowledge which can be acquired by anyone at
     any time. Now things are different, values, pure heart, self respect
     are virtues that not everyone has access to, and Jamal the star of this
     tale has them. As Jamal said… it was written, things had to work out
     at the end, he deserved nothing less.This marvelous movie was made to touch your deepest emotions, to show
     us how love should be. Sit down and get ready to get schooled in life
     by a youngster. Lets just hope you paid attention.

389. tastyhotdogs from Australia Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Brilliant

     Took wifey last night to "La Premiere" (the Hoyts version of Gold
     Class) to see "Slumdog Millionaire". It's pretty similar to "Gold
     Class" except you get complimentary soft drink and popcorn, which is a
     pretty sweet deal, but you don't get a reclining chair (which sucks)
     and you sit with others along a balcony which is overseeing where the
     poor people sit. One of the highlights of the night was watching the
     poor people work out how they got upto our seats. I wanted to shout
     something insulting to them, but I'm pretty humble.The movie was excellent. It's about a boy named Jamal who gets to the
     last question of India's version of "Who wants to be a millionaire".
     The movie starts with him being interrogated the day before he gets to
     the last question as the host of the show is suspicious he's cheating,
     especially because of the fact he's a "slumdog". We then retrace Jamal
     watching the video of the show with the police and him telling stories
     about how he knew the answers.It's a brilliant idea for a movie (based upon the book "Q&A") and
     played out well as the story was so good. The cast is really solid,
     especially when it follows Jamal, his brother Salim and friend Latika
     as little children. The cast is really good, the cinematography
     excellent and the story is a masterpiece. Don't just take my word for
     it though- it won the Golden Globe for best picture and is No. 34 on
     the IMDb.com Top 250, 3 spots ahead of "Wall-E".2 amusing side notes.1/ About half way through mum rang me (she was babysitting) asking how
     to get the sound back on as Isaac had fiddled with the TV set-up. Isaac
     then turned the power off 3 more times, meaning it took me 10mins to
     explain o mum how to put the TV on, the stereo on, foxtel on and the
     dvr set-up.2/ During the week, Andy Maher was on SEN saying how brilliant it was
     and even the more remarkable was that it was a true story. One caller
     phoned in and told him it wasn't and that he thought it was based on a
     book but Andy countered that the book must have been based on a true
     story. Then another guy phoned in and reviewed the book as he'd
     recently read it, then Andy started to back down from his stance and
     seemed rather crestfallen.

390. Man Fiztek from India Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Decent enough flick!!

     When I found this movie to be overwhelming in Indian media…day in and
     day out every news channel was talking about it.I decided to watch it
     and it was just another fiction movie to me. I live in India and this
     movie doesn't hit me on my face.Im not gonna whine around saying that
     it depicted India's poverty and all.Well it didn't.Its far more worse
     than this, everyday when I go to play football or Cricket in the beach
     I find lots of little boys begging for money who live in the slums.This
     movie is far from reality.A guy winning a millionaire show on pure luck
     was completely a fairy tale ending.There was no sense of realism.If you
     are not an Indian, this movie would certainly appeal to you, as you
     would have never seen little kids in slums from India but if you are an
     Indian then you would just like to hype it, the same thing Indian media
     is trying to do.This movie is based on a book and was written by an
     Indian who spent most of his life in Turkey, Ethiopia, U.K and U.S.The
     book titled 'Q and A' won the best fiction prize.So its not freakin
     real, for reals.As most of the people(Non-Indians) here claim this
     movie to be a complete package of realism are some dumbheads who
     certainly lack severe general knowledge and If movies are your way to
     reality in the third world then, you are a 'noob o legends' from the
     western part of the world.If you want reality watch Mira Nair's 'Salaam
     Bombay' thats some true shite.If I had to pick a movie from this year as the best one,as I haven't
     yet watched MILK, I will certainly go for "The wrestler" - cos that
     movie was so hard hitting on my face, pure sense of realism, the true
     survival of an epic legend. I never liked WWF or wwe but the wrestler
     made me feel bad for the character.Mickey Rourkey deserves an Oscar, he
     definitely did everything more than anyone else who has been nominated
     for Oscars this year.

391. Leilani Holmes from United Kingdom Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A feelgood film about the wealth of life and the riches of love

     Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful feelgood film about
     the wealth of life experience and the riches of love. At times it feels
     very unrealistic but we happily suspend disbelief for the pleasure and
     joy of this fast paced ride.What struck me most is that, though bursting with all the colour and
     vitality that Mumbai has to offer, the film has a very British feel to
     it with a cool modern soundtrack, a mischievous outlook and a winning
     energetic spirit. (And of course plenty cups of chah!) Everything about
     the film exudes cheeky fun, the music, the title sequence, the
     colourful offset subtitles and finally the Zatoichi style Bollywood
     closing number.The cinematography is stunning. It's rich dense colours and the unique
     vantage points of the shots give an energetic upbeat feel to the
     footage. Expert cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle used a mixture of
     35mm and hand-held digital (shot on the P+S Technik 2K). The digital
     was introduced as a way to include the fast paced movement through the
     narrow, densely populated slum streets without getting stuck in them
     with bulky Indian film cameras or attracting too much unwanted
     attention from bystanders. About 60% of the film ended up being shot on
     digital and a small amount was shot on a CanonCam stills camera on
     continuous burst.The beauty, energy and uplifting qualities of Slumdog enable the film
     to deal with more sinister elements of the story in an engaging way.
     Far from being harrowing the films violent points are given to us with
     hope for overcoming life's dangers, and these punches of the dark side
     of India are what keeps the film from being dismissed as pure
     fairytale. Beautifully acted by an endearing cast it is instead a
     fantastic triumph of meaning and relevance in a growing city that is
     set to become the largest in the world within the next decade or so.

392. benibarks-1 from United States Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Very disappointing

     I was SO excited to finally see this Oscar-nominated movie, and
     actually enjoyed it until about 30 before its ending. Then it shot
     downhill so badly my heart sunk with disappointment. I like Danny Boyle
     movies and have never been disappointed in his work until "Slumdog."
     The movie started out deliciously compelling and dark. The movie ended
     like silly, fluffy,contrived Hollywood (Bollywood?) schlock with the
     "perfect" ending, completely ruining the rough edginess of its
     beginning. Could the ending when Lativa met Jamal at the train station
     have been any more corny or clichéd? And how realistic that they were
     the ONLY two people on the platform. What was the deal with the stupid
     dancing scene during the ending credits? Was I watching a suspenseful
     drama or a Judd Apatow comedy? What happened to the Danny Boyle that
     did the masterful Trainspotting? I'd like him back, please.

393. marymorrissey from United States Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     this film may be the single gravest insult to the intelligence of the audience ever suffered at the movies

     moronic, predictable, disgusting, with every moment drawn out teased
     out ad naseum, with possibly the all time worst performance by a lead
     actor in a feature film, utter drivel, crap, I just sat through a
     packed house screening of this film in LA after which the audience
     applauded and could only ask myself "how stupid can people be?!" I have
     to admit there have been a dozen or so movies that have left me feeling
     "this might be the worst film I have ever seen" but I honestly think
     this one absolutely takes the cake… TOTAL GARBAGE!!My review doesn't contain enough lines… but I can't think of anything
     to add. . . of course it's doing great at the awards ceremonies. . .
     it's like… such is the state of the world. . . Obama help us!

394. dinesh vasudevan from India Says:
     January 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent and engaging Movie

     Words cannot describe the beauty of this movie. It starts with a curse
     and ends with a dance/song. The journey that a boy makes from being a
     Slumdog to a millionaire is the plot as the title suggests. But it is
     not only that. It shows the conditions of the slums in Bombay, what
     children have to suffer being a part of that and how they are exploited
     by people. There are moments in the movie which just stick in your
     mind. Like the scene when young Jamal falls into a pit full of poop and
     arises to see Amitabh Bachan. The scene when a young boy is made to
     learn and sing 'Oh Lord Ghanashyama' written by the famous poet Surdas
     and then getting his eyes amputated was one of the most gripping scenes
     of the movie. Salim pulling a revolver to kill a mob king was another
     excellent scene.Several factors of the Mumbai slums, like the Hindu- Muslim riots,
     child labor and prostitution were shown in the movie with great art. I
     also thought that Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan did great justice to the
     roles given to them. The ending was some what that of a typical Indian
     movie. A R Rehman was at his best with the background scores and he
     clearly deserves an Oscar.A movie I feel has to show exactness and must be entertaining when
     showing it. It must have a moral/study and must teach the audience a
     thing or two. This movie has it. It shows that destiny is something
     that is made by an individual and not the society that he lives in. His
     fate is chosen by him, by the way he chooses to live his life. This
     movie is a must see.

395. Isab from United Kingdom Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Simply an inspiring movie

     After watching Bakwaas movies such as Ghajini, Welcome, Sing is King
     (absolutely Bakwaas), Golmaal Returns and Chandni Chowk To China this
     is truly an outstanding and inspiring movie to watch. Beautifully
     directed and well written. To those people who are saying this move does not represent real India
     I suggest they should visit India and one of those slum areas. This
     movie portrays real life and not Disneyland, but doses it in way which
     makes us understand the social divide we have in India. Where minority
     controls the wealth & power and majority live below poverty line, and
     let's not forget about child labour.Is this movie depressing? NO. It show's us a part of India which I am
     certain no body is proud of, and tries to explain it by bringing this
     controversial issue to public which we all like to ignore/oversee.At list this movie is trying to portray less privileged humans who
     don't have daddy's express account or mummy's chicken biryani to eat
     everyday. Name me one good Bollywood movie which tried to bring the
     class/wealth division to the screen without implanting the concept of
     Romeo and Juliet.I am sorry to disappoint people but this movie doesn't have random song
     every five minutes nor does it have sexed up vulgar women's with tits
     out. What it does have it tells the story of two brothers struggling to
     survive through any means possible. How society exploits them and in
     the end what it makes each of them. This movie is essentially about how people try to survive through
     hardship and struggle and still have hope in the end, and how you
     should never give up. You will not be disappointed when the movie ends.Regardless of what it portrays I have found this movie to be extremely
     well made inspiring and one of the best I have seen. It has defiantly
     moved me and also has inspired me enough to believe in hope again. It
     is ultimately for us (Indian) to change our country for its betterment.
     It is easy to criticise something from the warmth of your bedroom, but
     it is another to actually help someone in need. P.S. And when was the time you actually helped one of those slum kids
     with descent food or clothes? Ask yourself that question before making
     any kind of criticism.Caution/Warning: This movie requires some USE of something between YOUR
     two ears called BRAIN. "The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may
     deride it, but in the end; there it is." - Winston Churchill

396. Parry-3 Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Cultures Clash and Bond

     Furiously alive, very brutal at times and unabashedly romantic,
     "Slumdog Millionaire" proves that a fairy tale can be very close to
     reality without losing all the elements that make it enchanting.How real the India in this movie truly is lies in the eye of the
     beholder, but it certainly looks and feels like very few other movies
     about it and shows a country and a people on the move. The most amazing thing about "Slumdog Millionaire" though seems to be,
     that a group of British filmmakers have penetrated the country with a
     Dickensian story and thus show that India and the former colonial
     superpower share one very crucial thing in common: The class and cast
     systems. Two civilizations who are so far apart have an age old social
     structure that still influences their lives today and even if East is
     East and West is West, "Slumdog Millionaire" unveils the connective
     tissue beneath.

397. maxliv2003 from home Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Wow, I hated it.

     I don't say that this is a bad movie.. it's a good movie, but just
     that.. just a good movie, so I agree with the bad comments, it's
     overrated.City of God is one of the best movies I ever saw, and this movie
     resembles to it, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing. I don't know, but seeing this movie just got me the feeling I was
     watching a soap-opera…and come on.. the questions/answers to the show
     were coming in the exact chronologically way that happened in Jamal's
     life - I hated this thing.It's a good movie for this year, but definitely not a great movie. It
     needs a lower rating!

398. taniaalexandra from Portugal Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     no words - superb!!!

     I have to be true! After Trainspotting, I thought that Danny Boyle
     would never surprise me again. I heard the title… Slumdog
     Millionaire… Never thought I would felt this way after such
     disappointments like the awful THE BEACH. But it happened! With the
     most beautiful and powerful story of the last years! You just can't
     take your eyes off the screen! You need to know Jamal's story because
     you are shocked, impressed and delighted with everything that he went
     and is going trough!!! And the way Boyle directed the movie! The
     magnificent camera and the beautiful photography!I truly believe he
     really reinvented himself and movie History! Please everybody! Go watch
     this movie! Fantastic! I don't believe that you could watch a more
     superb film in the last years!

399. Steven Long from United States Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The Best Movie of the Year and Beyond

     I think that Slumdog Millionaire knocks The Curious Case of Benjamin
     Button out of the ballpark for the title of "Best Movie of the Year." I
     was slightly disappointed by TCCOBB and saw this one in the hopes that
     it would be less of a letdown.Wow was I blown away. I felt sad every time that the boys progressed in
     age, thinking nothing could top the chapter of their lives that we had
     just witnessed. Every time we saw them, it got better and better. The
     entire film is just a belter that everybody needs to witness.The only minor flaw that's holding me back from giving this an absolute
     perfect rating is the way the two main characters Jamal and Salim
     behave as children growing up in Mumbai. As they run from police,
     nearly starve, and fall into large pits of human excrement, they seem
     happy and cheery, like it's a kind of game. But this is only a small
     part, and definitely not a reason to avoid this complete masterpiece of
     cinema.

400. snehum143 from United States Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Deserves all the praise it's receiving!!!

     I was hesitant to watch this movie but I am really glad I did! Being
     Indian, I have watched several Hindi movies and figured all the praise
     this movie was receiving was because it was different from any
     Hollywood movie. I thought the experience would not be as memorable for
     me and that it would be similar to some Bollywood movie I have watched
     in the past. I was dead wrong. This movie is in a league of its own…
     a truth people want to ignore. There are moments you want cry and
     moments you want to laugh. You really feel for the main protagonist,
     Jamal. His story is unbelievable.What makes your heart stir is the fact that his story of pain is not so
     fictional to several in Mumbai. This is not merely a story about Jamal
     on India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire… it's a story about a child
     who survived the worst obstacles of poverty. On a lighter note, the
     credits had a refreshing Indian dance typical to many Bollywood movies.
     It was moving how no one in the theater left. Everyone watched the
     dance while the credits were displayed.Overall, to say this movie is a must see is an understatement!!!

401. Mr_Brady from United Kingdom Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Good, but not great

     I was immediately biased when viewing "Slumdog Millionaire" because I
     totally fell in love with Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A" on which it is
     (relatively loosely) based. Where "Q & A" was insightful and clever,
     "Slumdog Millionaire" is far less so. I can partially understand why
     switching the focus of the novel was necessary - and in the process
     creating a film that wants to have a faux-Bollywood narrative, but
     ultimately it left me feeling a little bit cheated.It's a good film on its own merits, the performances from the junior
     cast are outstanding, and the cinematography is up there with the best.
     But reading quotes like "the ultimate feel-good movie" don't really gel
     with what's presented if I'm honest. Yes, it has an uplifting feel, but
     it's hardly punch-the-air euphoria after what you've seen leading up to
     the finale.Good, but not great by any means.

402. valleyjohn (j.taylor147@gmx.com) from Biggleswade Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Good but not Danny Boyle's best

     If the title "Slumdog Millionaire" was mentioned six months ago when
     discussing Oscar Nomination most people would not have heard of it. Yet
     Danny Boyle seems to have come from nowhere and won the hearts and
     minds of many movie goers with this visually stunning movie but do i
     think it is worthy of it's ten nominations or of winning the best
     picture Oscar?……….. Today is the biggest day in Jamal Malik's life.A penniless, eighteen year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, he's
     one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on
     India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for
     the night, suddenly, he is arrested on suspicion of cheating. After
     all, how could an uneducated street kid possibly know so much?
     Determined to get to the bottom of Jamal's story, the jaded Police
     Inspector spends the night probing Jamal's incredible past, from his
     riveting tales of the slums where he and his brother Salim survived by
     their wits to his hair-raising encounters with local gangs to his
     heartbreak over Latika, the unforgettable girl he loved and lost.Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he
     learned the answers to the shows seemingly impossible quizzes. But one
     question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent
     desire for riches really doing on the game show?When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question,
     the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out…I am a bid fan of Danny Boyle . He is an unassuming , humble man that
     makes great movies with the minimal of fuss and sometimes with very
     little publicity.Slumdog Millionaire didn't need much publicity because critics loved it
     and word of mouth has made this film the success it has become.I have to admit , although i really enjoyed this movie i was ever so
     slightly disappointed with it too.I felt an hour in that it was dragging slightly and that the film lost
     it's focus and direction a little. I also felt the "Who wants to be a
     millionaire " presenter ,played by Anil Kapoor was way over the top. A
     little too bollywoodish ( i just made that word up!) for me. Thankfully it came together in the the last half hour and i must admit
     i had a tear in my eye at the end. There are some great scenes in the
     film. One where Jamal goes to extremes to get the autograph of his
     favourite movie star by jumping through the hole in the outside toilet
     into what lay beneath and then running through a crowd of people
     covered from head to toe in muck to confront his hero.The other , altogether far more sinister , when Salim watches as the
     gang blinds his friend just so he can double his begging income. That
     scene really made me wince.Strangely enough , despite ten Oscar nominations none are for the
     acting and i think that is because they characters are played by
     several different people because of the ageing process.Dev Patel does deserve a mention for his performance as does the
     beautiful Freida Pinto and i really enjoyed the scenes at the railway
     station in the final credits but they were not quite at the standard to
     get a best actor or actress Oscar nomination . So we go back to the question " Is this worthy of winning the best
     picture Oscar" ?. In my eyes no. But because of past greats such as
     "Trainspotting" , "Shallow Grave" and "Twenty Eight Weeks Later" ,
     Danny Boyle might just be due one .8 out of 10

403. anushyam1 from United States Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Made for a Western audience

     Imagine a movie made in America, by an Indian, that only has gang
     violence, teenage pregnancies, rabid racism, gun toting semi literate
     youth from the ghettos, young girls in bikinis with multiple partners,
     fornicating all the time without protection. But, you would argue,
     America isn't just all about the above, there is so much more to
     America and Americans than that! Exactly! Welcome to "Slumdog
     millionaire" a movie that looks at everything that is worst about
     India, and nicely packages it for a gullible American audience.For every slum in India, there is also an educational institution that
     offers some of the best education in the world. For every slum lord
     that makes money off little children, there is also a sympathetic lower
     middle class housewife who despite her daily struggles, finds time to
     teach her maid 's son or daughter, some basics of education that the
     child may have a better life than the parents.That this movie, has been nominated for all those Oscars comes as no
     surprise to me. American society does not want to hear about how high
     educational standards are in India, the respect shown to elders,
     abstinence and moderation of the Indian middle class. Which is why
     movies like "Born into brothels" and "Slumdog millionaire", are the
     only ones that make it to mainstream American audience (Perhaps a
     secret gratification in seeing the misery of others, and feeling better
     about oneself?). You want to see some really good movies made for an
     Indian audience? Go watch "Jodha Akbar", or "Rang de basanti" or Water.The real irony is that Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), is a Hindu in real
     life, but is portrayed as a Muslim, tortured by a Hindu police
     inspector(Irfaan Khan) who is a Muslim in real life. Put that in your
     Hookah and smoke it!

404. holamson2000 from United States Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Hip teenage story, morally weak

     On the upside, the directing and editing for this movie is quite good,
     totally deserving of the nominations. The "hip" titled camera angle is
     rather gratuitous, but overall the cinematography is a plus point. The
     music is interesting, but not outstanding. Now for the downside, this
     is meant to be an entertaining, feel good movie. Yet it contains one
     particularly violent scene that can be mood-snuffer. (Those who watched
     it know which one I'm talking about). None of the "good" characters in
     the movie are morally strong enough to the challenge the violence that
     they face. (Alert the police or something for Pete's sake!) I can't say
     more on this point without making this comment a spoiler. On the other
     hand, the children violence portrayed is worse than child-slavery, and
     I doubt it can exist in this day and age. Yet the film shows it for the
     sake of thrilling the audience. In my humble opinion, I highly
     disapprove of this. All in all, this movie is an achievement in the
     artistic point of view, but the morally weak story will not make the
     hype last long enough to be a classic. If Rocky (one of my favorites)
     gets 8.0 rating, I think number 7 is a generous rating for this film.

405. rishi_is_here-1 from Belgium Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Excellent but perhaps not for weak hearts

     Slumdog is not a movie for all and specially not for those Indians who
     love to watch Bollywood romantic movies with all are beautiful and nice
     things around. It is a film depicting hard realities of slum side of
     India. These genre of movies even made by Indian directors were never
     popular amongst general Indian audience as poverty and hard realities
     of life don't attract people who live inside or around it. So they like
     to hide in their own world and get entertained by with masala bollywood
     movies. It is no wonder why it has created so much controversies in
     India and Indian audience has been splitted up into two groups, one
     group doesn't like to portray India with its poverty to the outside
     world, another group is not ambivalent of accepting harder side of poor
     India. The difference in opinions will continue to be there and even if
     this movie gets Oscars(till this writing it has got 10 Oscar
     nominations) many will sniff on this movie saying this is westerners
     way of defaming India's prosperity. Well, my opinion is accept this
     great movie as one of the masterpieces and take movie in movie's
     spirit. There are few of my western friends who also couldn't like the
     movie. For all of them, take the spirit out of movie and be wondered
     how an ordinary kid can touch the sky with favour of destiny, also I
     must add it is nice to be surrounded by wealth and comforts but please
     do remember you are one of those very tiny lucky percent of population
     in this earth who can dream of be well-off. If you think this movie is
     disgusting then thank god that you are lucky and not born like Jamal
     Malik of this movie. Living in a glasshouse amongst nice paintings on
     the wall may make you happy but perhaps it is wiser to look through the
     glass also sometimes to make yourself with a stronger heart. Coming
     back to the movie, Danny Boyle's best compilation so far added to the
     flavour excellent tight script , good acting and cinematography and
     what a Rehman's spell in the musical section. Like I said above if you
     have a strong heart to see poverty and reality of developing countries
     then go and watch and be part of the league of real movie lovers.

406. cultfilmfan from Canada Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire

     Slumdog Millionaire is based upon the novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup. The
     film takes place in India and is centered around a young man named
     Jamal Malik who has just made it onto the Indian version of the popular
     television game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. As the show goes
     along we are told in flashback scenes of Jamal growing up in the slums
     of India and eventually falling in love with a girl named Latika.
     Jamal's past experiences whether they were good, or bad, have helped
     shape his life and provide the answers to many of the questions in the
     television game show that he is now on. Jamal has had a lot of
     difficult times in his life, but through personal growth and
     determination he wants to take the top prize and get in touch with
     Latika who he has not seen for years. Early last fall I remember
     reading on several different movie websites that Slumdog was definitely
     going to be nominated for several Oscars and become a huge crowd
     pleasing hit. Back at that time I knew very little about the film, but
     those early predictions were right as the film is now nominated for ten
     Oscars, has won tons of other awards and is on many critics' top ten
     lists as one of the best films of last year. I wanted to see the film
     quite badly, so I repeatedly e-mailed my local theatre to see if they
     would get the film. They replied back with an article from The New York
     Times entitled Films Reach Theaters a Drib Here, Drab There by Michael
     Cieply. The theatre closest to my home did not get Slumdog, but another
     one not so far away did and that is where I saw it. Overall, I quite
     liked it. I would not go as far as saying it is one of my favourite
     films of the year, or the best of the nominated films, but I did like
     it. The script having been based on a novel is very original and I
     liked how we saw Jamal grow up in a very harsh and disturbing way, but
     to grow out of it and become what could be a huge star. The film shows
     the greed, corruption and danger he has to go through along the way and
     I found it all quite interesting and it almost played out like a modern
     day fable with a good lead character, many villains and untrustworthy
     people along the way as well as a big prize at stake. Not too mention
     the love story aspect of the script as well. All of this worked for me
     and did a fairly good job of keeping my interest and involving me with
     the characters and the story. Visually this film was quite spectacular
     as well. It had a gritty tone in some scenes and is bright and
     illuminated in others. The cinematography, visuals and fast paced
     editing gave the film a certain style and I for one really liked it and
     found it appropriate to the story and overall movie. A lot of the
     actors in the film did quite a good job and I think the location
     shooting in India shooting the scenes showing Jamal's upbringing was
     quite well done and needs to be acknowledged as well. Sometimes, I felt
     Slumdog had a little more style than it did an involving story, but
     there were still times where I was quite fascinated by what was going
     on in front of me and there was so much to admire here that I found it
     hard not to give this film a favourable review. While not my favourite
     film of the year I still found lots to like about Slumdog Millionaire
     and for the more curious of filmgoers it is definitely worth seeing
     once, or perhaps twice to truly appreciate it.

407. turk_rooster Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Thanks for All the Fuss

     Slumdog Millionaire, for all the great cinematography, does not really
     capture the essence of Mumbai. Plenty of Indian movies capture the true
     stigma of poverty, or the true horror of the underworld, far better.
     Let us for a moment give Danny Boyle the artistic license, and run
     through the vignettes here. The depiction of poverty is a sham. The
     rioting is unconvincing. The beggary racket is trite and equally
     unconvincing. The fact that each answer coincidentially relates to each
     (painful) vignette in the life of the protagonist is a cruel joke? Is
     this even a movie worth making a fuss about? There is great
     cinematography, but in the end I feel sorry for the legions of Indian
     directors, unwept unhonoured and unsung, whose far better portrayals of
     Mumbai go unnoticed simply because they lack the "brand" of a Danny
     Boyle. If this movie is worth four Golden Globes, some of India's
     movies of 2008 are worth at least as many Oscars

408. nithish_victor from India Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A true Fairy tale

     The riveting start, the charming middle and the fairytale ending really
     does the trick. You will feel really good leaving the cinema hall.There are not many flaws in this movie. The only major flaw would be
     character development and the emotional factor in the love scenes.
     Other than that, nothing. Really, nothing !People are saying that this film shows a very negative side of India.
     But I say that about 28% of India live in this way and we just ignore
     it. Only the middle class and the ultra rich enjoy India's development
     fruits and I think the film shows a few hints of it here and there.The plot is not the usual rags to riches story, but if you are an
     Indian, you would think I have seen many films like this…but this is
     not one of "those" many films. This a fairy tale movie with a realistic touch to it. This is a film
     you should not miss. Danny Boyle has succeeded in making a very good
     movie.

409. long-ford from India Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Vibrant and energetic film, well directed by Danny Boyle

     This is a vibrant and energetic film directed with great passion by
     Danny Boyle. It's the proverbial tale of rise from rags to riches of a
     slum kid (Jamal) in Mumbai. The film moves at a breakneck pace
     initially with some stylish camera-work and rapid-fire editing. Our
     three young protagonists quickly win us over as they go through some
     harrowing times. The film slows down later as the pace becomes less
     frenetic and (MINOR SPOILERS) a touching love story emerges. The older
     Jamal (Dev Patel) has a Brit accent which occasionally draws the
     viewers out of the picture. Anil Kapoor is the pick of the adult
     actors. Recommended.Overall 8/10

410. markgorman from edinburgh, scotland Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Flawed but great in parts

     Well, the critics are getting awfully excited about this film, so I'd
     like to join the debate with a strong note of caution.This is a pretty good movie but I think the imperfection that lies at
     its heart is what stops it being a great movie. namely, the acting. Of
     it's 10 Oscar nominations not a single one is for the performances of
     its leading players and that is, in my view, totally appropriate.This movie is too much of a pick n mix affair to truly satisfy. The
     central cinematic device at its core, telling a life story (in three
     sub-generations; infant, child and teen means that its too stop-start
     to really fully engage.) What you find is that the two younger sections
     of the film are both more believable and more engaging than the latter
     stage which starts to unravel in credibility the more it develops.The performances of the two younger Jamals are light of touch,
     frequently hilarious - particularly in the movie's highlight where the
     youngest Jamal exits the latrines in true Trainspotting style - and
     quite moving. Poor old, rather wooden and not especially engaging, Dev
     Patel has to deal with a plot that is becoming more ridiculous by the
     moment as his pursuit of the beautiful Latika verges, at times, on the
     preposterous. How Salim can continually cross paths with the object of
     his affection so often in a city with a population twice that of the
     whole of the UK was beyond me.OK, that's all the bad stuff out of the way, now let's turn to the
     positives. The cinematography (an Oscar nod for Anthony Dod Mantle) and
     sound design in this movie combine to stunning effect at times. It's
     like a Discover documentary at its best and you simply cannot get
     enough of Mumbai, which is given added oomph by the music of A.R.
     Rahman who picks up no less than three Oscar nominations. Nice use of
     MIA's music in places too.It's actually all the technical disciplines that this movie excels in
     and has been recognised for (sound, sound editing, music,
     cinematography and editing). so that neatly brings us to its direction.Danny Boyle.What to make of him? Well, a director's job is to realise all aspects
     of a production from performance to technical. I think the script blew
     his chances of the former but he has excelled at the latter and to many
     it is seen as the highlight of his career. I beg to differ. His track
     record is patchy to say the least. Trainspotting is by far the most
     overrated film of its generation (not a patch on his brilliant Shallow
     Grave), The Beach and A Life Less Ordinary are best glossed over. But
     28 Days Later is as good a horror movie as has been made since The
     Shining, and Sunshine is as good as it gets in Sci fi. Both are, in my
     humble opinion at least, better movies than Slumdog.But you lot don't seem to agree. A quick look at Boyle's IMDb ratings
     shows that the public consider Slumdog his masterpiece with a rating of
     8.7 (astonishingly, that places it 34th in IMDb's all time list). How
     is this possible in a seemingly foolproof ratings mechanism? Early
     enthusiasm? Maybe as the ratings mature he will come back to the field.
     I'd think that will indeed be the case as old moaners like me get our
     way.Here are all his cinematic releases and how IMDb rate them; and my own
     views. Please feel free to scoff or agree as you see fit.Slumdog IMDb 8.7 Me 7 Sunshine IMDb 7.3 Me 9 28 Days later IMDb 7.5 Me
     9 Shallow Grave IMDb 7.4 Me 9 Trainspotting IMDb 8.2 Me 5 (this is
     ranked 182 of all time on IMDb - Holy cow!) The Beach IMDb 6.2 Me 5 For the record, A life Less ordinary picks up 6.4 and Millions gets a
     7.2 on IMDb. I haven't seen either, but the bit of ALLO that I saw
     looked poor.I like Slumdog a lot I have to say, but its imperfections were too
     significant to overlook. Much as I hoped it would indeed be the
     feelgood movie of all time (or whatever the marketing blurb claims) it
     wasn't, but it was a great visual and aural spectacle that merits a
     trip to your local cinema. 7 out of 10.

411. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU from Olliergues, France Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The future is coming

     America, I mean the United States of America are changing sides, from
     Hollywood to Bollywood. They have to answer that unfair competition
     from the deprived Indians and go directly on their turf, since we can't
     really speak of a lawn, and bring the biblical truth to those pagans.
     That's what I found most fascinating at first: the image of the USA
     seen through the filter of Mumbai. First, make some simple questions
     fuzzy and difficult to capture. Moslems and Hindus are sure there but
     we don't know who is who. They speak the same language. No more
     difference really between Urdu and Hindi. Only the names of the main
     characters sound Moslem, that's all and the anti-Moslem pogrom or riot
     is just an unclear detail, especially since the dregs of this society
     are them, the Moslems. First serious blurred issue. The second is of
     course the problem of the Untouchables, the Dalits. They cannot be
     Moslems since they are a Hindu caste. And sure enough our characters
     who are living in the "slums" or shantytown, on the pile of garbage,
     are not Hindus, hence are not Untouchables. Then we are surprised
     because taking care of toilets is one of the tasks of these
     untouchables, or doing the washing for the fortunate who can afford
     that kind of service. So where are they? Invisible of course, but not
     in a city like Mumbai where there must be several millions of them. The
     episode of the little kid jumping into the toilet hole is just
     unthinkable for a Moslem child. If we go on with that fuzziness, we
     find out that the orphanage must be on the side of evil, since
     exploiting the Moslem orphans, hence Hindu. And the gangster who
     recuperates one of the boys when they are running away from the
     orphanage people after saving the girl and killing the main organizer
     of that begging and whoring ring, since he defines himself as the
     friend of the enemy of his enemies, must be Moslem. All that is unclear
     and that is done on purpose and it keeps some ambiguity about the
     Moslems in India without giving the slightest real knowledge about the
     real situation in India. But then of course we can speak of India
     itself and of its emergence from the mud-pit of the world. The picture
     that is given there is this time a reflection of and on what the West
     was fifty years ago, and some will say still are. Anything is good for
     these super poor people to do something to improve their lot,
     essentially by using any kind of opportunity that comes along that is
     half honest and half dishonest, like borrowing something that has been
     left somewhere like shoes at the entrance of a temple, but with the
     firm intention of not bringing them back and of making them circulate
     further for a little profit. This great poverty is not at all nurturing
     resignation but all the opposite, determination and the will to gamble
     everything to get up at least one step if not two. The film is entirely
     centered on a TV game, Questions and Answers that can lead the winner
     to 20 million Rupees. A game of punctual knowledge for a lot of money
     and nothing else. And yet out of that game popular fame is produced,
     the conviction that you can never keep people down longer than they
     will decide, that the survival instinct is nothing because it leads to
     killing, but the instinct to improve one's lot is a lot more stronger
     because it is supposed to lead to improving your lot in society itself.
     Then the story is of course a comedy because of the love affair that is
     intertwined and entangled in that story and the rewriting of Stephen
     King's "Running Man" (with Schwarzenegger) has become pleasant and even
     funny and not the gruesome drama of the model. The final scene is a
     typical Bollywood scene with hundreds of actors and actresses dancing
     in Mumbai's Victoria Station and it is some kind of cherry to top off
     the ice cream. This film will entertain you deeply if you try to use
     your brain to see the social discourse that is hiding behind the flashy
     and colorful surface.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1
     Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

412. freemantle_uk from United Kingdom Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Boyle for the Oscar!

     Before I start, I personally think that Christopher Nolan and the Dark
     Knight should win the awards for Best Director and Best Film, but since
     its are not nominated my vote for Best Director is for Danny Boyle, the
     brilliant director of Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Sunshine.Slumdog Millionaire has a bit of everything, it has moments of comedy,
     gangsters, religious tensions and violence and the themes and hope.The basic plot of the film is Jamel (Dev Patel/Ayush Mahesh
     Khedekar/Tanay Chheda), an 18-year-old call-centre workers from Mumbai
     and is one question away from winning 20 Million Rupees on India's
     version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. He is arrested and tortured
     by the police and the film is told in flash backs about how he knew all
     the answers. It tells how Jamel grew up in Dharavi, the slums of Mumbai
     where he lives with bullying older brother Salim (Madhur
     Mittal/Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail/Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala). Their mother
     is killed during a attack by Hindu extremists because she was Muslim.
     It tells how they went to an orphanage with Lakita (Freida
     Pinto/Rubiana Ali/Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar), an orphan girl, which was run
     by a gangster who used the children to make money. It then shows Jamel
     and Salim ran away to Dephi and worked at the Taj Mahal in an
     unofficial capacity. After living as street children Jamel and Salim go
     back to Mumbai to free Lakita who is trapped with the gangsters. Salim
     himself ends up as a gangster whilst tries to live a normal life
     working in the Call Centre.It is the direction which is best element of the film. You get to feel
     the violence, the tension and the streets. They are great moments
     within this film, such as during the attack in the slums someone throws
     a rock at the camera and breaks the lens. I also personally enjoyed
     Jamel's tour of the Taj Mahal. The acting is good and it is a well
     written film: Simon Beaufoy has a good shot at best Adapted Screenplay.
     However, the marketing for Slumdog Millionaire as 'the feel good film
     of the year' is misleading. It is grim, it is bloody, but it makes the
     film work. I personally never really like Bollywood film; I find them
     too cheery and I don't like the singing and dancing in the films. What
     Boyle did was bring in British Social Realism which I think was needed.
     I hope more films from India take this approach.Good luck to this film in the BAFTAs and Oscars.

413. Andy-307 from Los Angeles Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A "formula film"

     Honestly, I don't understand what the fuss is about. This story about a
     boy from a slum who competes in the Indian version of "Who Wants to be
     a Millionaire" is a basic rags to riches story with nothing creative or
     novel about it. The acting is average, and the story-telling is nothing
     you would not find in several Bollywood melodramas. (Thankfully,
     however, what it does not have is the story line interrupted by the
     random fantasy sequences in a Bollywood film. Otherwise it is a story
     that has been told by countless Bollywood directors.) It is striking
     some chord in Western audiences that I don't get. Perhaps it is the
     realistic portrayal of the slums and Mumbai's underbelly, perhaps it is
     the feel good emotion that provided much-needed emotional uplift in
     hard times. At the core it is just a formulaic potboiler.

414. tigersubu Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     watch it - unforgettable experience!!

     its simply amazing. heart touching. don't miss this one. deserves
     Oscars.- The slums and everything else shown are reality, but that's slowly
     changing for the better. - The train rides shown are fun. - The kid jumping into dirt for getting an autograph from a movie star
     is yuck in a funny way. - There are millions of such kids in India - But none of these slum people ever get entry into shows like 'who
     wants to be a millionaire' .. so that is not reality, though it is good
     fiction. - Cops beating up people for information/investigation is reality. But
     given the lack of infrastructure, that is the only way they can get
     information. This happens all over the world, though the beating up
     techniques are a bit more sophisticated in richer countries. - Overall, this movie is great fun + an eye opener + cannot stop
     thinking about it after leaving the theater. Watch it!!

415. shrinivas_venkatesh from India Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Average Stuff!!

     The other day i was to see SM and honestly seeing the critic's reviews,
     I thought I will be in for a treat. But trust me, I walked out of the
     theater quite disappointed. Considering the fact that the film was
     raved so much that it got 5 on 5 stars by one critic, I really coudn't
     agree that it was justified. I must say, that some aspects of the film
     are quite perplexing. Well, how does a bloke, speaking in Hindi for
     most of the time suddenly speak in English. another bad part is that
     the script doesn't throw light on things like how Latika reaches the
     brothel etc. What irritated me the most about this film is that the
     writer plays with the intelligence of the audience. I say this because
     most of what you see, simply defies logic. What saddens me is that
     Danny Boyle paints a very grim picture of India. I would like to prove
     that with the following examples. 1. The director portrays police as
     inhuman. But sir, in that case making a film on Guatenamo Bay would
     yield you better results. 2. The director focuses on how kids are made
     into beggars. I know places in USA where kids are trained to smuggle
     drugs. 3. The director shows how little girls are forced into
     prostitution. In that case, you should make a film on Holland, where
     prostitutes solicit customers from railway stations and airports. On
     the whole Danny is quite chauvinistic and doesn't focus on positive
     things about India. The silver lining is a tremendous performance by
     Dev Patel. This guy is one for the future. He simply blows you away
     with his cheeky, yet confident form of acting. The other actors too
     perform marvelously. Great screenplay and great cinematography are
     highlights of this film. On the whole, i would say SM is okay for
     watching once, yet you can't help but feel that this is a glorified
     masala movie and not one fit for the Oscars of Golden Globe.

416. jonathan-577 from Canada Says:
     January 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     a class-conscious fairy tale

     What looks at first like a joyous allegory is in fact a class-conscious
     fairy tale - a kinetic, color-drenched, sublimely symmetrical
     rags-to-riches number. Its scope and detail more than justify its
     tourist's-eye view of the complexities of Indian shanty life: the
     enormity and unspeakable beauty that pervade the thing match our
     uninformed preconceptions, while filling in key details helpfully and
     gratifyingly. And it's all there in the service of the story, which
     aims to literalize the 'education' that one gets trying to survive on
     the bottom rungs of the social ladder. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, I
     loved it. And thank God for the happy ending, although they better be
     getting the hell out of Dodge given the vendettas left dangling.

417. michael-turner13 from United Kingdom Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Absolutely brilliant

     Apart from brilliant I cannot think of anything to say about Slumdog
     Millionaire.The way all aspects of the story come seamlessly together is superb.
     Also how it flowed well into the end.For me the music was whilst not superb was good and helped create a
     good atmosphere.The level of acting was great. Also the actors seem motivated and
     willing.Overall an excellent film and well worth watching. It deserves all the
     awards that it has been nominated for.

418. krish_bugsy from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Not a best one for Oscars.

     For the past few weeks there has been a lot of talking about this movie
     and finally I got a chance to see this movie.With a great and a lot of
     expectations I went to watch this movie!!!!!Didn't impress me a lot.It
     has got a lot of negative traits about India and mumbai.Each and every
     scene disgraces India and mumbai.I accept the movie speaks about the
     reality but the million dollar question is????whether It stands up for
     Oscars.On my opinion,There are lot of other films better than this one (From
     the point of film making) and this should not qualify for Oscars….
     firstly,The screen play was good Secondly,Rahman' music.Apart from
     which a story is created But Here i didn't like the way they have
     projected India there are lot of other good things about India.If we
     are to make a film about America's corruptions and conspiracies how
     will it look like.Already lot of our national films are being made
     about problems faced in our countries depicted or projected in their
     individual manner.But nothing has changed or nothing will change.In One particular scene… Two foreigners come to visit India rural
     area..where dev Patel guides them and in the mean time local people
     steal all the parts of their cars..and here dev patel tells them that
     this is India!!!!!!and in turn foreigners give money and tells that
     this is America.this particular scene has projected India as a beggar.But I would like to congratulate the director as he has taken a lot of
     pain in researching about India's current scenario and bringing out a
     story in a form of a film.Great job done,Hats of the director and to the whole crew members.. All
     the actors have done a great job.Finally I conclude to say that this is a movie to be watched by every
     India who is looking forward for building a developed nation from the
     current situation.Jai Hind

419. Anup Viswanathan Thampi from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Awe

     I have seen this movie.Its an amazing movie that depicts life of the
     Metro city Mumbai,the slums,the people,the life and India.This films
     writer has done the best.But if this film was not directed by Danny
     Boyle it would never have reached to Oscar nominations for 10
     categories.It might just become like Lagaan going after 1 Oscar
     nomination for Best Foreign Film.It was an awesome challenge by a
     foreign director to make a film based on Indian Slum.The story is
     remarkable and i sincerely thank all the people involved in this Great
     film from The Director,Producer,Music Composer,Writer etc to the light
     boys(i mean the whole crew) for bringing a joy of some sort to the
     Indians by canvasing this film into the world market.

420. keerthivas123 from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A very good movie, but apparently over-rated.

     I must admit that Slumdog Millionaire(SM) is indeed a good movie,
     complete with enough cinematic liberties taken by the director, Danny
     Boyle. But this is what also turns out to be the Achilles' heel for the
     movie. And the fact that the movie drags, ever so slightly though,
     towards the credits, does not seem to be helping it much either. But
     nevertheless, the performances by the young kids in the beginning is
     compelling enough to make you sit throughout the two hours. And not to
     mention the music by A R Rahman is indeed of very high quality, though
     I wonder whether its deserving of an Oscar, considering that this is
     certainly not the best of Rahman. Nevertheless, this is one slightly
     over-rated movie which should be watched, if your willing to accept a
     bit of "violence", though I, for one, never felt it was violent even
     for a moment. Go ahead, give it a try.

421. Eland15 from England Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Beautiful, Compelling, Inspiring

     I saw the trailer to Slumdog Millionaire and wasn't expecting much from
     it. But seeing that it had been nominated for so many awards I thought
     I'd give it a chance.So glad I did. It has got to be one of the best films I've ever seen. I
     can not fault anything about this movie, it is as close to perfect as a
     motion picture can get. All the cast are brilliant and draw you in to
     their story, and you don't want to miss anything. It shows India as a
     beautiful place that has a dark side, I couldn't tear my eyes from the
     screen, even during the dark moments I was mesmerised.The movie tells Jamal's story. Jamal is a young contestant on "Who
     Wants To Be A Millionaire". He does well, a little to well however, and
     is suspected of foul play. After brutal interrogation he explains how
     he came to know the answers; in doing so he tells the compelling story
     of his life up to that point. If I told anymore of the story I might
     take something away from the experience of watching this stunning and
     inspiring journey that Danny Boyle has brought to life with exquisite
     beauty and shattering excellence.A film has never made me feel the way that Slumdog Millionaire made me
     feel and I would urge anyone and everyone to see it. This is a truly
     magical journey…must see!!!!!!!

422. ambush_xx from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Over the top, unrealistic and unneeded

     I think this movies is doing well just because of the shock value; the
     revelation of violence/poverty in India to the western world. Now, i
     would have overlooked this fact(in fact i did, for movies such as city
     of joy) if the plot of the movie hadn't been so unrealistic and bland.Seeing this movie reminded me of another movie The Color Purple. There
     is lot of talk in the forum about the movie portraying all African
     American men as sexists, abusive and mean(not surprisingly most of it
     comes form African Americans). SM portrays a similar picture of India
     only way worse. Now, I like hardcore realism as much as anyone and an
     not denying these things happening in India.The plot of the movie is universal and could have worked in any country
     or culture. Imagine this movie is directed by a french or Canadian guy
     and is set in America and the protagonist is an African American woman.
     Her parents get killed in a race riot in Alabama. She hitches a ride
     and ends up in the streets of new york where she works as a hooker
     being beat up by pimps and cops( And all this has to be shown
     repeatedly in the most gory fashion) She then goes on to the TV show to
     find her long lost boyfriend. This may very well have worked but It
     wont be as exotic or have won as many Oscar nominations as seeing it
     happen to an Indian, Chineese or Thai.Like i said earlier i would have overlooked the Gross "exploitation of
     poverty" if it scored well on other aspect. Now, the plot is very
     interesting and i was really looking forward to seeing it. But the
     scenes and the stories behind each of the answers(which should have
     been the charm of the movie) are exceedingly unrealistic. I cant
     suspend disbelief and imagine that a blind beggar child in Bombay would
     know Benjamin Franklin is on a $100 bill, or Salim would know that he
     was holding a colt revolver, or Jamal would be able to pick up good
     enough English to pass as a tour guide.Overall i found this movie to be a disappointment except for the music.

423. 3xHCCH from Quezon City, Philippines Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Shades of "City of God", But Still Very Good

     Jamal Malik is poor young man from the slums of Mumbai joins the TV
     game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" From that simple yet
     ingenious plot and setting, this most memorable film unfolds, detailing
     the events in this boy's miserable life which (very) coincidentally
     enables him to answer the trivia questions in the quiz show.I like that the movie delved on the relationship of two brothers, Jamal
     and his elder brother Salim. While Salim goes the gangster/hit-man
     route, Jamal strove to make a more decent life for himself as a call
     center gofer. While there is violence in their relationship, brotherly
     love still comes through in repeated occasions.In addition, there is also a love story here. A slum girl named Latika
     had her life intertwined with the brothers during an ethnic massacre
     when they were kids. Jamal and Latika naturally become fond of other,
     but are separated two traumatic times, but can they find each other
     again at the end? The story was told as flashbacks from their
     childhood, teenage years and their young adulthood. The child actors
     were most affecting in their portrayal, especially the boys. The child
     Jamal had that wide-eyed innocence, while the child Salim had that
     worldly-wise jadedness. Very effective! I do not know why the adult
     Jamal (Dev Patel) was acting in such a flat manner in several parts,
     but he is most effective in his scenes with Latika (Frieda Pinto).Honestly, I really felt that 'Slumdog" had a big similarity with the
     Brazilian classic "City of God" when it came to the brutal and
     unforgiving depiction of the squalor and violence in the slums. The
     unmitigated violence in the treatment of the poor slum kids is most
     disturbing. The big difference of course is that "Slumdog" is more
     neatly tied up and positive in its final message when compared to
     "City".This movie already won the Best Picture Drama in the Golden Globes.
     Yesterday, it won the Best Picture in the Producers Guild of America.
     And just this morning, it won Best Cast in the Screen Actors Guild
     Awards. It certainly bodes very well that this movie is the film to
     beat come Oscar time for Best Picture.The treatment of Director Danny Boyle (of "Trainspotting") is very
     exciting and dramatic. Though story elements can be quite contrived
     (like that final 20M rupee question could not have been that easy,
     could it?), it will still hold you at the edge of your seats until the
     last scene.

424. gebyjacob from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Simply Brilliant !

     Rarely does a film come out to enthrall you in every scene and frame.
     Slumdog Millionaire is a massive accomplishment that cannot be
     contained in words. The first time I saw it, I realized the efforts
     that had gone into the production of this film were prodigious. Every
     moment captures the hopes and dreams and the will to fight in order to
     survive, embodying a raw human spirit. Being an Indian, I can affirm
     that very few movies have been made where the wicked side of my nation
     was expressed so masterfully on celluloid. Be it sexual exploitation,
     political corruption or communal riots, every incident keeps you
     involved, which is the film's greatest achievement. The narration,
     direction and acting is bound seamlessly that you almost feel you're
     present in the film. Special mention on others behind the film
     especially Rehman who has captured the perfect mood on sound. As I
     swayed to Jai ho at the end, I couldn't help but feel like a
     millionaire and I'm certain that other viewers will agree. Slumdog is a
     winner. All the way !!

425. legutsa from Acapulco, Mexico Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     This movie stands among good company: Los olvidados & Cidade de Deus

     Slumdog Millionaire is a good movie, but not unique. However, it stands
     among very good company: Luis Buñuel's classic "Los olvidados", and
     Cidade de Deus. Having said that, Slumdog Millionaire introduces some
     original elements, specially the way the story is told. The main
     character is Jamal, a young Muslim boy from the slums. He enters a very
     popular game show: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". Jamal is an
     unlikely contestant, coming from the slums and without proper
     schooling. He does not fit the typical demographic profile of the
     show's contestants. However, as he is asked the questions, Jamal
     remembers his various growing up experiences, having flashbacks of his
     past, putting together a challenging and tragic life story. The Show
     Host, thinks he is cheating and calls the police on him. He is tortured
     and while explaining how he came to the answers, he recounts his brutal
     life. The story is about two brothers (Jamal and Prem) and a female
     friend (Latika). They share cruel tragedies that mark them from a very
     early age, becoming orphans and having to survive in the ruthless urban
     slums. Jamal and his brother take different routes in life. While Jamal
     works, Prem becomes an enforcer for a mobster. But before the brothers
     separation, in typical Cain treachery, Prem takes away Jamal's female
     friend and only love, Latika. Throughout the movie, Jamal is obsessed
     with her and his attempts of trying to find Latika become an
     fundamental part of the story. There is some fine acting, specially by
     the kids. I am sure movie lovers will want to buy the DVD as soon as it
     comes out.

426. jimmy_iago from United Kingdom Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A Modern Classic… A Fable for Our Times

     Slumdog Millionaire is one of the true rarities in cinema (and
     especially in recent times)… a film that transcends the boundaries of
     genre, language and emotion to create a superlative modern fable. Its
     messages of hope and undying love will touch the hardest of hearts,
     while the visual and audio style will have every movie fan leaping for
     joy.For me personally, this is as close to a "perfect" film that you could
     have. Every element in the production process is note-perfect, from the
     outstanding cast in front of the cameras, to the incredible talent
     behind them. the film contains every emotion imaginable, from loss,
     sadness and despair, through to comedy, romance and elation.This film will shock you, break your heart, make you laugh, make you
     cry… but most of all, it will provide you with one of the most unique
     and sensational cinematic experiences you could ever wish for.

427. manishabnrj from United States Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     an extremely shoddy movie..

     This movie is extremely shoddy..i have seen better movies with the same
     slum backdrop which are much more realistic and this one. The sole
     purpose of this movie was to create a negative image of India and there
     was nothing else. The story was not believable. It seemed as if the
     only purpose was to show dirt, grime and human waste and the story was
     just thrown in. There are many bollywood movie flicks which have the
     same elements as this movie had, only they are directed much better,
     with tighter scripting, editing and cinematography. Its a surprise that
     this movie was even nominated let alone get awards. Incredible. Just
     wondering if world tastes are coming down or it is something else.

428. kalyan006 from India Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     A Honest Attempt Though Flawed!!!

     To begin with, I watched the movie without an iota of prior knowledge.
     Not about the story, not about the cast, not about the director. It
     didn't do anything for me. Nothing. Then came all the kerfuffle and
     hoo-haa after the Golden Globe Awards. But how did anyone in their
     right senses rate this movie so high? It is honest in its attempt to
     portray the various pains and hassles a kid from the foetid alleyways
     of the notorious Mumbai slums may have to overcome in life. It also
     fairly well showcases the methodology the begging-syndicates employ by
     using kids (eyes gouged too) and babies to make money for them. And so
     too the various ways a tourist to India could be fleeced by. Thats
     about it really. Thats it!!!The script is so festooned with potholes, you could drive through them
     in a wagon train. On second viewing I tried to like the movie but was
     only successful in finding even more pitfalls. To even start listing
     them all would take up the best part this evening.As far as acting goes, the youngest versions of Jamal, Salim and Latika
     were good. Anil Kapoor did himself no favours playing the host of the
     show. He makes fun of Jamal at every given opportunity. Makes you
     wonder why he was so prejudiced. Mahesh Manjrekar was wasted
     considering the kind of talent he has. Taking nothing away from the
     renowned A. R. Rahman, the music in the movie was good but surely we
     have loads of better songs in Bollywood every year. Mostly from Rahman,
     the man himself, among others. The script should've been better
     written.The movie is good in a few aspects but its definitely not a masterpiece
     and most certainly it doesn't deserve all the rave reviews and most of
     the Oscar nominations. Critics being so enthusiastic to praise it
     leaves me with a big question mark as to what their perception of the
     movie was.I can only give it a humble 4/10 for its direction and screenplay.
     Camera work was good too though it could've been better. Rest of it
     just falls flat. Good movie worth a watch is what i want to say but
     sorry Boyle. I just cant.

429. akkoziol from United States Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Great all around and no contrived pap of a plot line…

     While my wife was pregnant, someone told us not to watch this movie
     because there was all of this "child abuse" going on. Say what? There's
     no child abuse in this movie. At all. Poor street and slum kids doing
     what street and slum kids do. It's amazing that Americans' perceive
     this as abuse. Sorry to shatter your tiny world but the rest of the
     world lives differently than the US. OK, my rant is over. From what I
     gather this is based on the book Q&A. Never did read the book but this
     story plays out great and reminds me a Lot of City of God (which was
     stellar as well). In a nutshell the movie starts out introducing you to
     our main hero and his brother who are slum kids that go about grifting
     for basic survival and kicks. A mysterious and creepy guy named Maman
     takes in orphans and has sinister intentions. He takes the boys in as
     well as their new friend Latika but they escape. However, Latika is
     left behind. Without getting into the plot too much or spoiling the
     movie, we see our hero and his brother grow older and change all the
     while we see Jamal hoping to find Latika. Overlaid on this back story
     we find Jamal in the present and on an episode of Who Wants To Be A
     Millionaire.Danny Boyle directer a winner and all the accolades and awards this
     movie will get are well deserved. There are great comedy moments,
     tension, high drama, and action in this movie. The acting is not forced
     and comes off very natural and the cinematography is five stars. I find
     it impossible to believe that someone would not like this movie if only
     out of spite.

430. mjlevine from London, England Says:
     January 26th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Best film in a very long time.

     You can tell that a film was really good. The time passes really
     quickly and you don't want it to end.The film is told in real time and in flashbacks. It is basically an
     episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire in India. The top prize is 20
     million Rupees, or just short of £300,000. In a country where the
     average wage is around £1500 per year this is a fortune. It centers on the life of Jamal and his brother Salim. The fact that
     both made it to adulthood given their start in life is a miracle.
     Growing up in the slums of Mumbai the boys face obstacles and life
     threatening situations from birth. Orphaned and left to fend for
     themselves these street kids live from day to day. Eventually they link
     up with Latika, herself an orphan.We switch between present day and the past as Jamal recounts how he
     came to appear on WWTBAM and how he knew the answers to the questions.
     He's recounting them to a senior policeman after being tortured because
     the show's presenter thinks he is cheating. No one has ever got as far
     as Jamal on the program.This is a truly brilliant film. It really has earned the accolades and
     awards it has won or has been nominated for.This is not a bollywood film where every one breaks into song every
     five minutes. If your wife or gf wants you to see it then do so.

431. rouzeland from Tierra Del Fuego Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Sir Richard Attenborough, a British man made a good film in 1982

     I am writing this comment as a Russian person who regularly travels to
     India,Eurupe and USA.So I know the tastes of people from all these
     regions.My vote for this film is a big zero out of ten.The reason why I
     am giving it a zero is simple.This piece of madness is an attempt to
     denigrate the dignity of India and Indian people especially slums.
     Indian people are very tolerant and they are known for their artistic
     tastes.No one in India protested when Sir Richard Attenborough made a
     classic film called "Gandhi" in 1982.That was a film made by a British
     film.Many people in the world still admire that film for the vivid and
     honest description of India.Danny Boyle is also an Englishman and even
     this film's writer Simon Beaufoy is an English but it is a shame they
     way they have twisted facts to show India in a very bad light.They have
     completely mutilated the original material which is present in Indian
     diplomat Vikas Swarup's book Q and A.Since a score of zero is not
     available,I am giving it a one our of ten as it is a really awful
     movie.Let me also state why this film is being liked by people in US,UK
     and elsewhere.Slumdog has come out at a time when Hollywood has almost
     run out of ideas and India is a big market for American and British
     products.So this movie is just a tool for Americans and Britishers to
     put India in a bad light to impose their ideas on Indian audience.

432. rogerdarlington from United Kingdom Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     The feel-good movie of the year (even if it is only January)

     I live in a part of north-west London with a large Asian population
     that was home to Dev Patel, who plays the eponymous Jamal Malik, an 18
     year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai who demonstrates utterly
     remarkable knowledge or amazing luck when he appears on the Indian
     version of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire". So, if the rave reviews,
     the enthusiastic word of mouth and no less than 10 Academy Award
     nominations were not enough, the movie was a total sell-out. Nobody was
     disappointed; on the contrary, everyone left with a smile of their face
     after viewing this wonderful feel-good movie.Although containing both humour and romance, this is categorically no
     standard rom-com. It opens with a torture scene and, along the way way,
     we see slums, poverty, crime and violence - but ultimately this is a
     tale of redemption and hope. Who would have thought that British
     director Danny Boyle - who first came to our attention with
     hard-hitting films like "Shallow Grave and "Trainspotting" - could give
     us such a tale of India? But, together with cast and crew, he has
     produced a triumph. Jamal, his brother Salim and fellow orphan Latika
     are represented at three stages of their young lives by different
     actors who bring immense charm to the movie and Freida Pinto as the
     oldest Latika is simply gorgeous. In a succession of convincing
     performances, Anil Kapoor is especially good as the show's presenter.Of course, colourful, chaotic, charming India itself is a star of the
     film - notably the vibrancy of Mumbai (the former Bombay) with an
     appearance by the Taj Mahal in Agra - and, if you've never visited (I
     have), you'll leave the cinema wanting to do so. The shooting of the
     film used a prototype digital camera which underlines the kinetic
     energy of the narrative and puts the viewer right in the action,
     especially in the crowd and chase sequences. Another key ingredient is
     the atmospheric music. Finally, don't leave as soon as the end credits
     start to roll or you'll miss an exuberant dance sequence. In short,
     this is a movie that has all you could want for an uplifting of the
     human spirit.

433. uncertain from Poland Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     It's an OK movie, sure - but it's not THAT good.

     I only voted this movie a 1 star just to try and offset all the 10-star
     fanboy votes.Here's the lowdown: This is a pretty good movie. It's a good story, and
     all the elements that make a good story are there. Unless you're some
     racist, mouth-breathing, tobacco-chewing hick from the hills of
     wherever, you should be able to sit down and watch this movie without
     feeling like 2 hours of your life was robbed. (These days, that alone
     is worth the price of a rental.) All in all, on an absolute scale of
     one to ten - with 10 being the greatest piece of cinematic art ever put
     to film in the history of all humankind, and a one being a piece of
     mindless garbage like Death Race or something similar - this movie
     probably rates a solid six.It's good, sure. But it's definitely not one of the greatest movies of
     all time.

434. zohlder from Guam Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     After this film there is only "Punch and Judy" for Danny Boyle. He is not fit to be a director

     If the lowest vote were 0 then I would have given it to this stupid
     flick which has been giving innocent viewers strange ideas about poor
     people and India.I am really wondering why this stupid movie is
     compared to a classic of Brazilian cinema "City of God".To my mind it
     is a very false and incorrect notion.City of God was an absolute
     Brazilian production with Brazilian setting,Brazilian cast,Brazilian
     crew.Everything about it was Brazilian in nature.This film is an UK/US
     co production.It is made by an English man.Its producer Christian
     Colson is a Briton.The only thing that is Indian is its cast of poor
     children who must have given a couple of chocolates and a glass of cola
     to act.Danny Boyle has made a film which does no justice neither to
     Hollywood nor to Indian cinema.This is the reason why a lot of Indian
     people are finding his film to be an insult to their country. Danny
     Boyle has made enough number of bad films in his short career.After
     this flop film,he should retire and do "Punch and Judy" show.

435. Indranil Chakravarty from Mumbai, India Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Very disappointing, after all the hype!

     Many people are being subconsciously bullied by the media hype to
     actually like the film, fuelled further by the silly Oscar orgy of ten
     nominations. Why don't we - Indians- have the guts to speak out about
     what we actually think or feel about the film, now that the
     disappointment over the film is growing? It is an absolutely average
     film. Apart from being obviously shallow, there is nothing of much
     worth in the film. It needs an idiot to believe that a slum child in
     Bombay talks with the British body language of Dev Patel. All the
     actors are so mediocre, I don't even understand what the hype is about
     the 'great acting'. This must be one of A. R. Rehman's most
     unimpressive musical scores and it is a sad irony of fate that he would
     be nominated for the Oscar for this one! By now he should have received
     20 of them if this is the benchmark for Oscars! The screenplay is so
     full of loopholes and the dance at the end of the film is so badly
     choreographed that it would have been lambasted if it was made by an
     Indian director. Actually the dance at the end sticks out of the film
     like a sore thumb. It does not ever grow out of any context. If western
     audiences can appreciate and actually patronise something so illogical
     and outrageous, their general contempt for 'Bollywood' cinema now seems
     a case of moral hypocrisy because the film is made totally in the
     Bollywood style with every possible form of illogical excess. There is
     not a second in the film that touches me emotionally or can even be
     considered as quality cinema. It is indeed a heady mix of the worst
     variety of third world poverty, an internationally successful TV show,
     a rags-to-riches story and vintage Indian exotica. Even the geography
     is all wrong! It is interesting that when the kid falls off the train
     and the dust settles around him, he finds that he has landed right in
     front of the Taj Mahal. Any one who has been to the Taj would know that
     there is no railway line in its vicinity to give that cinematic view of
     India's most well-know icon seen through a sea of trash. I am not even
     talking about the display of poverty in the film which is a bit more
     complicated issue. We know that contention - we must not wash our dirty
     linen in public - has come from the most conservative quarters in the
     entire history of cinema, whether it was Italian neorealism or Bunuel's
     'Los Olvidados', Ray's 'Pather Panchali' or even the more recent
     'Salaam Bombay' and 'City of God'. A filmmaker has every right to
     explore whatever he wants. The real contentious and political issue is
     the reception to image-making of realities that are not lived through
     personal experience. Amitabh Bachchan's response can be perfectly
     understood in the light of the fact that he has been particularly made
     into the villain of the film, which was unnecessary in any case. (There
     is absolutely no ambiguity in the film whether Anil Kapur is playing
     AB.) So his reactions and critique may have grown out of a personal
     sense of hurt but then we need to ask ourselves, why do we like 'City
     of God' so much? Are we getting some perverse joy out of consuming the
     poverty of the Brazilian favelas or are we just captivated by its
     palpable characters and plot situations? It needs a depraved mind to
     even believe that anyone would spend their money to enjoy seeing
     poverty. So, ultimately the question is whether 'Slumdog Millionaire'
     qualifies as a film of high quality. I seriously doubt that. At best,
     it is a well-made Hindi film. What needs to be understood is the myth
     around it and the mind-boggling hype about hype itself. How did that
     happen? That would be more revealing about the world around us than the
     film's laughable claim to authenticity, that too legitimised by
     gullible Indians themselves.

436. sandeepsingh-2 from India Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     WOW! Watch It.

     Rarely does a Movie live up to its hype. This one does. But I must say
     that the negative sentiment against this film for showing poverty is
     illogical and a low IQ sentiment. When the same director made
     Trainspotting(based in Edinburgh) it did not mean that everyone in
     Edinburgh is a drug addict.Similarly this film SM does not mean that
     India is full of JAMALS or LATIKAS(READ POOR PEOPLE). Please all
     Indians should realize that it is just a fiction film based slum life
     as its by ground.Watch it and don't listen to any Indian criticizing this film.I am an
     Indian and I loved it because Iam not stupid!

437. Ajith J S from India Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Amazing Movie

     Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik, a slum dweller from
     Mumbai and his travails that culminates in him landing as the winner of
     20 million rupees in a game show and eventually joining is true love.As such, the movie is not a masterpiece or a piece of gem that has been
     conjured out of thin air. It is a Bollywood movie told Hollywood style.What makes 'Slumdog Millionaire' stand apart is that it is not the run
     of the mill story that we have been used to over the years. Even in
     projection of the poverty and the way of life in slums, there is a
     celebration of the manner in which their conditions are portrayed
     rather than merely making an attempt to provoke and elicit sympathy of
     the viewers.The big plus of the movie is its style of narration. Its racy, its
     engaging and it shifts from one frame to another so fast that your
     emotional curve will also keep hopping very quickly. Before you start
     to think of crying, you will be laughing, before you soak in the
     anguish of the pain or suffering of the characters, you will be
     intensely absorbed in what is about to unfold next.The movie, as it is originally derived from Vikas Swarup's novel, is a
     kind of page turner. The editing, screenplay has been woven so well to
     suit the medium of cinema and keep the interest level of the audience
     very high without letting them droop even for one moment.For all these reasons, Slumdog Millionaire is notable, yet it is these
     very reasons that don't make it a hardcore attempt at unraveling the
     layers of life of the Indian poor.And for the argument of those who say it is a commercial potboiler that
     exploits the story of the slums to make moolah, they cannot be more
     wrong. Nowhere has there been an attempt made to glorify the life of
     its characters in a manner such that it would be deemed as
     exploitative.Rahman's music is different and vibrant, but it is loud and glaring for
     the most part. Those who have been mesmerized by the dream music of
     Rahman will certainly feel it is not his best but who cares? Do the
     best works always fetch you awards? The awards are more of a
     recognition of Rahman's talent and it is high time the world took
     notice of the Mozart of Madras .Cinematography is painstakingly beautiful and suits that vacillating
     pattern in which the story unfolds. There is one factor that has sat
     pretty well for the movie though no one will ever want to fathom that
     connection. Mumbai has been in the news after the 26/11 attacks and so
     a film with Mumbai as its soul is bound to grab everyone's attention
     and surely it has grabbed the eyeballs of the Oscar jury by its retina
     can I say? Everybody in the film has done their role neatly but the
     pick of the lot was the boy who played the youngest of Jamal, the
     protagonist of the movie. With his natural performance, abundance of
     energy and mischievous smile, he steals the show.Go watch it, for it is path breaking in the sense that it will tell
     Bollywood film makers the way to tell enchanting stories minus the
     usual formula. Leave all your pretensions and see the film with an open
     mind and you are bound to enjoy it. After all who will not like to see
     the rise of an underdog?

438. Paulo Dias from Sintra - Portugal Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Amazing, never expected it to be this good

     Well, the first time I saw this movie's trailer I never expected it to
     be what it turned up. In fact, I even thought they were announcing the
     program itself on the first posters I've saw about the movie.Despites this, the movie caught my attention when I learned that it was
     nominated for the Oscars. Well, since Oscars aren't won by TV programs,
     I understood that this wasn't the case.Right after the movie session started, and the first musics started to
     play. I felt in love for the soundtrack. The last time I felt this
     attracted by a movie's soundtrack was in "Juno"s movie.Then, I really got involved with all history and, the movie's capacity
     of showing both sides of India. The most touristic, the most regular
     ones (the croudness of the streets and public transportation) and,
     above all, the underground world. Like, I still doubt it but, is it
     really true they cripple kids so that they look more believable when
     they go ask for money?? It shocked me.In overall, I loved the movie. Even the capability of the writers to
     keep the movie interesting from the beginning to the end. Like you
     can't get off it until it's finished.Amazing movie I tell you. I already have a space in my DVD shell for
     when it comes out.

439. SlumdogMillionaire_Oscar from United States Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Slumdog Millionaire.

     As we head into Oscar Season, Slumdog seems to be the front runner. I
     first saw The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. I thought it was the
     best film of the year. I was bashing Slumdog because it was wining. Now
     when i saw it. I loved every minute of it. Slumdog takes you to a world
     that you want to live in. Well, without the awful stuff the kids go
     though. But like how it looks. Well when the Jamal goes on Who Wants To
     be A Millionaire he gets to the final question. But he dose not know
     it. He calls his brother, who gives his cell to Jamal's love interest
     Latika. Latika answers. Well his brother ends up dieing which you can
     guess. But the film is wonderful and everyone should see it. A A+ which
     i hardly give. SEE THIS MOVIE!

440. sambitprem from India Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     unrealistic & over-rated

     Scenes of poverty and squalour may appear romantic to Westerners and to
     our snooty elite but for ordinary Indians they are nothing new. They
     are an everyday reality. However, one wonders what sort of mind can
     find such images aesthetically pleasing. Party-hopping socialites (for
     example, Shobhaa De after all her bombast of "enough is enough" after
     the Mumbai attack, went and watched a pirated copy!) who are distanced
     from such reality may find this film an "eye-opener" but for us it IS
     just poverty-porn. Leaving that aside, I have eight other objections to
     the film. 1) The director seems to RELISH showing violence. Some of it
     (like the police-torture) is quite needless. And why was the boy
     arrested in the first place? On what charge? Was it realistic? 2) How
     can a boy growing up in slums speak such accented English? Even if one
     assumes that the language he actually uses to communicate with the
     game-show host and the police officer is Hindi (granting the director
     the creative license to use a language better suited for international
     audiences), there are 2 instances where it is stretched too far: (a)
     when the boy becomes a 'guide' for foreign tourists at the Taj Mahal &
     (b) when he becomes a substitute-operator at the call-centre. 3) When
     the boy uses his 'lifeline' during the game-show, his friend discovers
     that she has forgotten her mobile and has to run back for it. This is
     plain Bollywood masala! Did the director HAVE to make it so
     melodramatic? 4) How did the boy know who invented the revolver just by
     watching his brother use it? How does his friend know about Benjamin
     Franklin? 5) "Darshan Do Ghanshyam" is NOT written by Surdas. It is
     written by Gopal Singh Nepali for the movie Narsi Bhagat (1957). This
     song is also credited as traditional and originally written by 15th
     century poet Narsi Mehta, whose life that film is based on. 6) After
     winning the game-show, the boy sits on the railway platform and nobody
     recognizes him! Considering the popularity of the show, is that
     realistic? 7) Two glaring omissions: To qualify for the show one has to
     answer several GK questions over phone or Internet. Even after making
     it to the show, a contestant can reach the hot-seat, only after
     "fastest finger first". All this is conveniently forgotten in the film. And of course the greatest flaw in the storyline: programmes like
     'Kaun Banega Crorepati' and 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' are NOT
     telecast live. As a result the entire structure of the film becomes
     unrealistic. For a film that boasts of being realistic such a flaw
     cannot be overlooked.Anyone else wants to say this is a g-r-e-a-t film despite all these
     flaws?

441. creative_chaos from india Says:
     January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     who am i to say anything…

     to those non-Indians and the conformist Indians here's a little bit of
     perspective…when i write what i have to say some of you may think that I've been
     hurt by the negative depiction of Mumbai… well, not at all, actually
     i was hoping for a more gritty, realistic, up-close depiction rather
     than a 'long-shot' impersonal superficial one…slum-dog millionaire is not a great film, slum-dog millionaire is not a
     good film. it's an OK film.first the good things… cinematography is edgy and mind-blowing…
     editing is razor sharp… sound design is amazing…but,it is very hard to digest slum kids talking in English, harder still to
     digest is their (kind of) fake UK accent. also the cops speaking in
     English, the local mafia speaking in English…the acting (in Hindi) of Salim and Jamaal though over-the-top, is
     passable. but once they grow up and start speaking in English, it's
     pathetic.the story which is basically a love story between Jamaal and Latika is
     lost in the gimmicky impersonal screenplay and you don't connect…
     actually you don't connect with any character and not because the
     characters are dark but because neither the lines nor the acting are
     good. and Danny Boyle knows this and that's why the long-shots and the
     silhouettes and the characters-in-dark treatment to the film. Dev Patel
     has only one expression on his face when he is on the 'chair'. Anil
     Kapoor is irritatingly snobbish, Mahesh Manjrekar is irritating, Freida
     pinto is irritating… Irrfan Khan and Saurabh Shukla are passable…Rehman's music is a mix of few average tunes from the great A. R.
     Rehman library. he's given great music, absolutely great music in
     infinite Hindi, Tamil films… so if he gets the Oscar, it'll be for
     his great compositions over the years and not for the average
     'slum-dog..' album. ditto for the lyrics of Gulzar…the main problem in the film is the lack of emotional attachment one
     feels with the film… i mean when Salim suddenly changes his heart or
     when he dies in the bath-tub filled with currency, we don't feel
     anything… when Jamaal finally gets Latika, we don't feel anything…
     when Salim kills Maman, we don't feel anything… when the film ends we
     don't feel anything (except irritation)…the film is an amazingly shot and stylishly edited set of gimmicks
     which have been forcibly interwoven in to a very convenient story…but when the world says that it's brilliant cinema, who am i to say
     anything… and if the world enjoys the irritating yet laughable ( a
     bad wannabe Bollywood) song and dance sequence in the end, who am i to
     say anything…

442. b.bauer from Cardiff, Wales Says:
     January 28th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     get a grip people!

     As I watched this cliché-ridden, manipulative and wholly-predictable
     film unfold (quite slowly) on the screen, I kept thinking - if this
     film was set on a Glasgow housing estate, it would have sunk without a
     trace.I'm gobsmacked that filmgoers have apparently been so dazzled by the
     fact that it is set in Mumbai that they are blinded to the corny
     seen-it-all-before nature of the plot and characterisation. I felt
     throughout that my emotional strings were being pulled by a clumsy
     child. I didn't believe one single emotion in the whole movie. The
     brothers Jamal and Salim stuck together when it suited the plot and
     fell out when it suited the plot. Jamal's love for Latika was poorly
     drawn and ultimately cardboard. The device of the gameshow was a
     tenuous link for a series of vignettes which built not to an emotional
     peak, but a fiscal one. The climax of the show was so predictable that
     I guessed it in the second scene of the movie. Even so, Danny Boyle
     found it necessary to beat us over the head with the set-up at least
     twice more before the end, even using a flashback just in case we might
     not appreciate the punchline when it was finally delivered with all the
     comic timing of Stephen Hawking.Nothing in this movie exceeded my expectations, which is a terrible
     indictment when the film is about a place and circumstance you know
     very little about. I felt as if I'd guessed every scene in the film
     before I watched it. The story and characters are so familiar to
     watchers of small British melodramas that they seem disconnected from
     their landscape, and I couldn't help feeling that Boyle had failed to
     exploit the city in the way that would have given depth to the story.
     Apart from the opening scene on the airstrip, I was never surprised or
     delighted by the strangeness or odd juxtapositions of the setting.Simon Beaufoy will forever hold a place in the hearts of movie fans for
     his excellent script for The Full Monty. Slumdog Millionaire doesn't
     have a tenth of the heart or originality of that film and doesn't
     deserve the rave reviews it is getting.Stories of young friends or siblings facing hardship and danger are
     common and I can think of a few excellent films straight off the top of
     my head that handle the theme so much better (Small Faces, City of God
     and A Room For Romeo Brass).Simply setting a film in an exotic city cannot - and should not - mask
     the shortcomings of plot and character.

443. jack1992 from United States Says:
     January 28th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Life-Affirming

     Danny Boyle has proved time after time that he is one of the best
     directors alive today. He has dominated nearly every genre, and has
     done it again with his romantic drama "Slumdog Millionaire". This movie
     is perfect in every way it sets out to be, and then some. The acting is very well done, with newcomer Dev Patel displaying his
     skills. The child actors for youngest, and middle Jamal, Salim, and
     Latika are superb. The cinematography is unlike anything is recent
     cinema. It adds the perfect touch to the films high octane pace. The
     setting of India is heartbreaking, yet full of hope as a nation
     climbing it's way into the ranks of world powers. Surely, I believe that this will be a major winner this year at the
     Oscars, and rightly so. The film proudly displays that life is a gift,
     and every moment in life is meant to be cherished. A must-see for any
     human being.

444. Gary Diamond from United Kingdom Says:
     January 28th, 2009 at 12:00 am

     Intriguing Bollywood-inflected picture, but not the "stellar, life-affirming picture of the decade" it has been lauded as.

     I was expecting to be blown away by this picture. It's been endlessly
     talked up by critics and regular people alike. It's been lauded as one
     of the most groundbreaking pieces of film for years. I love rooting for
     the underdog in any form of media, so is this really one of the Top 50
     films of all-time?No. Actually it isn't. It's a good story - end of story. There's
     nothing new here, and nothing old done so well that it seems new.
     Crucially, there are also some flaws that snapped my suspension of
     disbelief throughout - I think it averaged about one every fifteen
     minutes.WHAT WORKED: Interesting use of the flashback twist to allow skipping
     around the time-line; worked well despite increasing implausibility of
     said flashbacks even for a motion picture. Excellent performances
     throughout, especially Devi Patel. I hope he signs on for more films
     because I'd definitely like to see him expand his range. Music is
     average - nothing grating and nothing particularly memorable.There were some excellent wide angle shots. In fact, much of the camera
     work and cinematography, though not particularly varied, was very
     tasteful and enjoyable from a purely technical standpoint. There is a
     long pan outwards on many slum houses that was simply breathtaking in
     scale, and it is probably my favourite shot of the entire movie. There
     are other epic scale shots I admired nearly as much, too. From a
     limited budget much has been achieved that is notable.I did enjoy the ride immensely, flaws not withstanding.WHAT FAILED: Some of the posturing and social critique was blatantly
     heavy-handed. Without wanting to spoil the plot too much, the literal
     interpretation of a "blood money" death almost single-handedly
     destroyed the picture. Especially since it came towards the end. Okay,
     we get it - a life of crime is bad, live by the sword and die by it,
     people get whats coming to them in the end etc.There are other less jarring examples. They all seem to create a sense
     of emotional blackmail that didn't convince this viewer for one minute.
     The film would have gone up one whole rating point in my eyes had it
     cut about five minutes: just little things here and there that made the
     meaning too clear and obvious, the moral too anvilicious and
     detrimental to repeated viewings. I really really appreciate subtlety
     and restraint even though it sometimes makes the initial viewing
     frustrating (Blade Runner for instance). The potential was undoubtedly
     there, but Danny Boyle didn't take that option much of the time.The portrayal of poverty and a harsh upbringing aren't particularly
     revelatory or shocking (that's a popular buzzword these days!) and I
     fail to see why anyone would think so. Watching a standard news report
     you might expect to see these kinds of things at least once per
     broadcast, albeit in less gratuitous ways and with the focus on the
     general issue. There were some examples of monstrous humanity but
     nothing I hadn't seen or been aware of before.People who have only this picture as their impression of India are
     forgiven for thinking it's a complete slum throughout, with only the
     odd landmark providing any variety. India is actually filled with areas
     of both natural and man-made structural beauty, rich towns and poor
     ones, so seeing such a one-dimensional distillation of the country was
     mildly offensive, something I considered about a week after watching.
     There's certainly more than shanty towns, crime lords and the Taj
     Mahal. (It should be noted that I'm caucasian and don't have any roots
     in India therefore I'm not biased in that sense.)In conclusion this is a very strong film, something a little (not a lot
     as has been harped on by critics) off-kilter and unusual. At times it
     felt like the successful Westernisation of the traditional Bollywood
     ideas and themes - I don't know, perhaps Boyle wanted to plug into the
     stronger elements of that style of film-making to produce a compelling
     picture on the cheap. Regardless, he shows enormous potential as a
     feature film maker and I honestly believe that if he keeps producing
     movies this will be seen as "an interesting debut" - not his best work.When the hype has died down, this film will take the place it deserves
     in the Top 250. This wasn't as big a disappointment for me as The Dark
     Knight or Burn After Reading, but it was yet another moment where 2008
     failed to impress.

445. Alexander Penn from United Kingdom