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For something that was meant to be a fable, Danny Boyle’s
“Slumdog Millionaire” takes itself far too seriously. It’s
not a bad movie, but it’s not a great one either, and it
certainly isn’t worthy of an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
It’s a story of both the Rags to Riches and Love Conquers
All persuasions, about an eighteen-year-old Indian boy who
becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants
to Be a Millionaire?” ***
All throughout, his draws on life experience to select
the answers. And what a life he has led; he came from nothing,
a penniless orphan from the streets of Mumbai (formerly
known as Bombay), and he grew up surrounded by poverty,
violence, and abuse at the hand of unscrupulous people.
I find it odd that Boyle, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, and
author Vikas Swarup (who wrote “Q and A,” the book on which
this movie is based) were able to evoke so much hope, especially
since it’s unlikely the main characters would have survived
past the age of ten. ***
When I original saw this film in December, I made mental
comparisons to 2007’s brilliant “August Rush,” which is
thematically similar. The thing is, “August Rush” had the
good sense to be totally unrealistic, which in turn allowed
me to engage the story at a more emotional level. If the
intention was for “Slumdog Millionaire” to be a heightened
version of reality, then it didn’t go far enough. When it
comes to fairy tales, modern-day or otherwise, you either
go all the way over the top, or you stay grounded--finding
a gray area doesn’t really get the job done. ***
“Slumdog Millionaire” tells the extraordinary story
of Jamal Malik, who was born in the slums and raised with
very little to his name. His life was anything but boring:
when he was just a young boy (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar), he
managed to get an autograph from Bollywood superstar Amitabh
Bachchan; he witnessed the death of his mother, who was
brutally beaten to death during an anti-Muslim raid; he
and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) befriended
an impoverished, parentless girl named Latika (Rubiana Ali).
***
All three are taken in by the villainous Maman (Ankur
Vikal), a gangster who forces destitute orphans to beg for
money by singing. Some of his children are blinded so as
to make them seem even more pathetic. Jamal and Salim are
able to escape, but poor Latika is left behind, forcing
her into a life of prostitution. ***
The story flashes forward some years, at which point
Jamal (Tanay Hemant Chheda) and Salim (Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala)
are teenagers barely getting by as souvenir sellers, pickpockets,
and phony tour guides at the Taj Mahal. Jamal insists that
they return to Mumbai to find Latika (Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar).
***
At this point, we see just how different Jamal and
Salim are: the former is hopeful and patient while the latter
is hotheaded and easily impressionable. Upon returning to
Mumbai, he seeks out a rival crime lord named Javed (Mahesh
Manjrekar) and vies to be a part of his gang. This coupled
with the discovery of Latika forces a divide between the
two brothers. ***
And this brings me to the present day, where Jamal
(Dev Patel) works as a tea-fetching assistant at an Indian
call center. In attempting to get back in touch with Latika
(Freida Pinto), he tries out for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
which is so popular that he knows she will be watching.
A physical reunion won’t be so easy; Latika is kept in line
by Salim (Madhur Mittal), who Javed has since promoted.
If Jamal wins the game show, he just might be able to take
Latika away from Mumbai and live happily ever after. ***
Interwoven throughout the entire film are police interrogation
scenes involving Jamal and a sergeant named Srinivas (Saurabh
Shukla). I won’t go into great detail here, but I will say
that it directly relates to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
I’ll also say that each of their scenes kick starts another
flashback sequence that explains how Jamal answered specific
questions on the show. ***
It’s an intriguing concept, and I’ll admit that some
of “Slumdog Millionaire” is satisfying. But a lot more of
it is disappointing. Partly, it has to do with Jamal’s sense
of optimism; while I’m well-aware that, culturally speaking,
Indians are known for exuding happiness even in the worst
of times, Jamal’s attitude still seems a little overplayed.
I never believed that someone so downtrodden could have
so much to live for. A very negative thing to say, I know,
but I really do feel that way. ***
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