Year Released: 2008
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, Freida Pinto as Latika, Madhur Mittal as Salim, Anil Kapoor as Prem Kumar amongst many others.
Awards: 2009 Academy Awards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing; 2009 Golden Globe Awards – Best Motion Picture(Drama), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score; amongst many others
“I thought we’d be together only in death”
- Latika
A movie that has garnered tons of praises and accolades left me wondering. How come a film about Indian boys would get so much accolades? I soon was shocked on this movie. This movie really made me adhere to the principlewhich says “Do not judge a book by its cover.”
The movie starts with Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, being shown as a participant of the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, hosted by Prem Kumar, played by Anil Kapoor.
After Jamal succesfully answered the 10 Million Rupee question, the show ends with Jamal having a chance to continue for the 20 Million Rupee question the next day.
Jamal is then tortured by the cops for this amazing thing he did on the show. He was asked if he cheated. Jamal tells he did not through his experiences starting from childhood. He knew the answers to the questions merely because his instances in life provided him the necessary information for him to answer the questions.
We then get glimpses of Jamal’s past before he got to be a contestant in the game show. We suddenly see how Jamal and his brother Malik become streetsmarts. Well, this was how they were raised. We then see how the events in their childhood unfold. The brothers met an orphaned girl named Latika. The brothers also got separated at some point.
The setting is very Philippine-esque from the sqautter theme up to the poverty scene.
The movie is good. You can feel that the story is continuous. Editing was nice. The sounds used in the film are very stellar. Dev Patel’s performance was good.
The story had its twist and turns. The climax was particularly outstanding. KI won’t elaborate on it but it made me feel happy for Jamal. It was well-written and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Keeping me on the edge of my seat is where the film excelled. The sound effects and musical backgrounds used helped a lot in creating that mood which would create suspense.
Dev Patel’s performance as Jamal Malik was outstanding. Freide Pinto’s acting debut with Latika was good. This girl will havea brighter acting future, I might add. Anil Kapoor’s performance as the sadistic host of the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is also tops.
The movie created tons of hype and I was not surprised. After all, winning lots of awards is something to be worth all those hype. However, I advise the future watcher to watch this film without any expectations at all. That way, one can really enjoy the film to the highest level possible.
