Slumdog Millionaire

I had pretty much made up my mind that The Dark Knight should sweep the Oscars and that I would sit in my armchair and sling curses at the obviously corrupt forces behind the Academy who vote on these things if they failed to give Mr. Nolan’s masterpiece the recognition it deserves.

Now I am not so sure, and the reason is the wonderful experience that is Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Mr. Boyle has previously given us the classic Trainspotting, the excellently scary 28 Days After; and we will let him off for The Beach and Sunshine.

Slumdog Millionaire is an unlikely candidate for a life-affirming story. A boy from the slums of Mumbai who ends up on a game show with a chance to win 20 million rupees. As he progresses through the show, his life is told in flashbacks, and it is a tough, sometimes brutal life, laced with humour and continual vivacity.

It’s a beautiful, charming film, apart from the bits involving car batteries attached to body parts and orphans being blinded to increase their earning power; but that’s just part of life in Mumbai (apparently).

One could argue that it does not contain enough Batmobiles and car chases, but these are minor quibbles, and I now have two movies I will be rooting for come Oscar night. Unlikely to be showing in Pattaya, but there are ways of seeing it coughtorrentscough

Comments 🔗

2009-01-20 | todd says

Yeah i watched it the other night, pretty good movie, brad pitt’s new movie is ok too (benjamin button) but it’s exactly the same as forest gump. exactly the same story, by the exact same writer.

but its worth a watch.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/1d76506803/the-curious-case-of-forrest-gump-from-fgump44

2009-01-20 | todd says

seven pounds is a decent movie too that’s new…

2009-01-20 | Spike says

I loved Brad Pitt in Burn Before Reading. Will watch out for your recommendations; in fact Seven Pounds is downloading right now!

2009-01-20 | todd says

if you like to torrent, download all 3 seasons of Arrested Development, you wont be disappointed :)

2009-01-20 | Spike says

I have Season 1 downloaded somewhere, have yet to watch it. So much illegally downloaded content, so little time.

2009-01-22 | Tic says

Spike, Just saw a very entertaining movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” directed by Woody Allen. I think it is so true in life…the moral of the story I mean. Need your review on the movie and feedback if men really need that kind of….situation to be in..in life.

T.

2009-01-22 | Spike says

I think the moral of the movie is more directed at the women involved than the man. The man just seemed to be a playboy who enjoyed every woman he could get his hands on, and relished the confrontational relationship with his ex-wife; an adrenalin relationship junkie. Not at all a cool, calm sophisticated gent like you and I!

2009-01-25 | Jock says

Hey I resemble that last remark …. but that’s not the reason for my post …

Having been in the UK for the last 9 days I’m just catching up … and guess what … I biught a book …. Slumdog Millionaire … great read .. apparenty it’s been around for years under it’s original title Q & A. Can’t wait to see the film.

Slumbag Millionairess will most likely be the sequel …. but first I need to write the book !!

2009-01-25 | Spike says

Hope you enjoy the film as much as you enjoyed the book. I plan to read the book.

If you are in the mood for Indian flavoured stories, Shantaram is a great read, and substantially based on truth (allegedly). About someone who has had an even more colourful life than you, hard as that may be to imagine.

2009-01-26 | Jock says

Thanks for the tip … getting through about two books a week … if life began at 40 it’s come to a grinding halt at 50 …

2009-01-26 | Billy says

Wow Jock …. 2 books a week … doesn’t all that colouring-in must take too big a bite out of your “social time”??

2009-01-28 | Billy says

try again … Wow Jock …. 2 books a week … doesn’t all that colouring-in take too big a bite out of your “social time”??

2009-01-28 | Spike says

Clearly he is too busy reading to respond to your jibes; and no doubt developing better grammar than you can manage without having two attempts.

Jock, I recommend “Kill your friends.” Rude, disgusting even, and very funny.