Slum Dog Millionaire

Where do I start with this wonderful, wonderful film.

I know where, DON'T BELIEVE THE POSTER - it is a not a feel good movie until the very end. It is a very tough film, along the lines of Trainspotting (I personally could not sit through Trainspotting).





The film is about 18 year old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel from Skins- don't know it as I've never seen it. Tried to watch it once and thought if this is the way some teenagers behave, I'd rather not know right now). It opens on him getting ready to answer the last question on the Indian "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire".

The movie then goes into flashback mode, and it is stunningly beautifully shot, catching the mood and if possible the smells of the slums of Mumbai. Jamal is arrested, and subjected to incredible brutality/torture by the police who are trying to find out how he as a teaboy in a call centre could possibly know all answers to the questions.

What follows is Jamal's traumatic (that's putting it mildly) life with his brother and Latika (who he is on "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" because he thinks she will see it). Danny Boyle doesn't shy away from any tough content in this film. I don't want to give it away.

The three boys who play Jamal as a small boy, teen and then Dev Patel are excellent, as are the actors who play Salim (Jamal's borther) and Latika (Freida Pinto). There is a special mention for Anil Kapoor as the WWTBAM host who is jealous (he is the most famous slum dog in India and wants to keep it that way) and not very gracious to Jamal.

There is so much tension in this movie and it is ratcheted up to the nth degree. I was literally crying and on the edge of my seat for most of the film.

I was emotionally exhausted at the end of the film.

I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. GO AND SEE IT NOW!

Make sure you stay and watch the closing credits with the Bollywood dance to "Jai Ho", that put a huge smile on my face.