An Excellent Movie...A Sure Fire Oscar Nominee

Rating: 8/10 (23 January 2009)

{This review contains no plot spoilers but there is a structural technique spoiler of sorts (which is revealed in the first minutes of the film and does not really give that much away as I have seen similar references in mainstream reviews) and perhaps some theme spoilers due to the mature content of the movie that I reference.}
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This movie was unlike any of my expectations and I like that everything about it was unexpected. It had great characters, dialog, story and structure.
The story is cleverly revealed through a series of flashback sequences prompted through the game questions on the Indian version of the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" TV show. The movie shows a very raw and gritty version of the real India (good and bad) and is not for the faint of heart (I spent 3 weeks in India living on $15 a day so I know what is real and what most $100 a day tourists never see). The film deals with heavy, mature themes such as torture, child prostitution, poor sanitation, squalor living conditions, crime, begging, child exploitation and homelessness though these are mainly supporting elements to the very interesting journey of the main character leading up to the present and his appearance on the show.
This film was successful in bringing up a range of emotions for the viewers that hit home and left a lasting impression; I found the story both shocking and moving and was left very satisfied in the end and happy I took a viewing risk on a film I had so little understanding about. The three main characters were very deep and interesting because the story led each through their own character arc of development. There were also some elements of the film that were humorous but nothing so outrageously funny as in Gran Torino (where I found the mix of comedy, drama and characters to be even more appealing and unexpected).
All in all an excellent movie that I expect to have multiple Oscar nominations if not actual wins (Oscars are always harder for independent movies like this to achieve).