Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Academy Award Winner

It is not often that I find a movie absolutely visually intoxicating whilst also being intricately woven into an interesting narrative structure. This film resoundingly succeeds at both while also brutally imposing the realism of life onto to the viewer. And yet this is realism with hope as it's perpetrator, unlike most films that think happiness must be sacrificed for truth.

We are given a boy, Jamal Malik, from the slums who experiences seemingly endless loss and still is motivated to find his true love, Latika, at any cost.  This film sweeps the span of a lifetime effortlessly and reminds the viewer of the struggle to survive. The narration weaves the past with the the present allowing us to see the characters grow on an intimate level, making their emotions all the more real to us. Their frustrations, their losses, and their dreams become ours. This is seen in the style of the film in an unforgettable fashion.

The flashbacks are presented in a way that evokes a dream-like state. The saturation of color, the stilted motions and pacing, the canted angles that impose a certain "peering" angle. We see the memories as we would see one of our own, not clear and not perfect but with a certain vibrancy for the details we do remember. It is beautiful, and a strong tool of story telling.

I would also be in the wrong if I wrapped this post with mentioning the expertly composed and complied soundtrack. The music speaks directly with the narrative adding another level of film viewing to be submersed in.

If I have one problem with the film it is the fleeting moments of troublesome dialogue. some discussions of "destiny" feel a little too contrived and forced. However because of this films dedication to it's theme of hope I am able to forgive the film as a whole.

Overall: This film is a testament to the greatness of collaborative work. Bollywood and Hollywood have both put in their finest contributions, and it is phenomenal.  And I must say it's refreshing to have a happy ending, albeit it a bittersweet one. Jai Ho, and Happy Watching!