Film review: Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire @ IMDB

Danny Boyle is a pretty eclectic film maker. He's gone from zombie apocalypse to space epic to a tale of a poverty stricken child in Mumbai.

Very eclectic.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding this film, despite the fact that a while go it nearly lost it's American distributor. One thing has helped it attract a larger audience that might otherwise be scared off by the subject matter is that it's got an accessible hook: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

The film begins with our main character, who is one question away from winning the main prize, being interrogated. Why? Because he's a slumdog, an uneducated orphan from the slums. How can someone with his background possibly get so many questions right? He must be cheating. Mustn't he?

The marketing to this film should be ignored because, as the opening sequence demonstrates, this film is not Mamma Mia. This is at times an unflinchingly brutal journey through poverty and hardship.

So how does this reconcile with the feel good tone implied by the poster? Basically, the film and the main characters earns it. He suffers through the film and has to earn any happiness.

The acting is top notch, no one lets the side down. The characters are interesting, despite a couple of clichéd moments with the older brother. And all through the film you have the thrust of the Millionaire show pulling you through. You wouldn't have thought that a quiz show would have worked so well on the big screen but the natural tension in the format is magnified. It is nail biting towards the end.

Let's be honest, the film is full of co-incidences and quirks of fate. But it doesn't feel forced, like in something like Signs. It's feels natural, it feels right. You can sit there and say "Oh, that wouldn't happen in real life" but that's not the point. In fact, if you do, it says more about you than the film.

Great looking film, great soundtrack, great story, great acting. It barely puts a foot wrong.

In a word? Great.