Slumdog Millionaire

There is nothing like a week off of work to get back into the swing of cinema. This week begins with a nice little film from India. Actually, while it is filmed on location in India, it is not really from India. Instead, it sets up as a pretty mainstream Danny Boyle (Sunshine and Millions) piece. But Slumdog Millionaire is a very enjoyable film (in spite of the occasional disturbing murder which definitely warrants the R-rating) that I would categorize as a romantic drama. The film centers on a Indian boy (Jamal) who grew up in poverty with his brother. He has somehow gotten on to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire", and each question he is given is connected to some experience he has had in his past. With each question comes a flashback and a deepening understanding of Jamal, his brother and his motivations. Brilliant colors juxtaposed with drab urban India make for a visually stimulating (and appealing) experience. The protagonists are likable while the antagonists fill their role nicely. Overall, this plays out like a classic fairy tale based on class stereotypes and struggles, with love and family to pull everything together. And while that may not sound like a ringing endorsement, in this case it all works.
4-stars