Simply Brilliant Film-Making!

Rating: 10/10 (23 January 2009)

Who would have thought that Danny Boyle would create one of the finest films this year already, and probably one of the best I have watched. Over the years we have seen the different types of brilliant genre picture's that Boyle has directed, e.g. Shallow Grave (Thriller), Trainspotting (Drug-Taking Drama), 28 Days Later (Horror), and Sunshine (Sci-Fi). But then Boyle went out and decided to look for something completely different, and found (bizzarely) a British/Indian Romantic Gameshow picture.
As always, it is another 'rags to riches' story of a young boy named Jamal who lives and survives on the streets of Mumbai, and somehow manages to become a contestant on the Indian's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' game-show. Jamal (played brilliantly by Skins-Dev Patel), a young child who grows into his teens along with his elder brother Samil, and which depicts the main part of the story towards the love of his life, as Jamal says in the film, "The most beautiful girl in the world." Freida Pinto, stars as Letika, and all three (Jamal, Samil, Letika) encounter difficult stages of their life's, and some that change drastically.
The film whilst showing the love story unfold between Jamal and Letika, the other part is obviously focused on the game show that Jamal is one question away from becoming a multi-millionaire, until being arrested and accused by the game-show host Prem Kumar (played sneeringly by Anil Kapoor) of cheating. Therefore, Jamal is then put through torture to explain his actions (beware, this film although shares discomfort as well as joy) and admit his wrong-doing, but instead confesses to the Police, how he simply knew the answers to the questions with vivid flashbacks from his childhood past, which is a brilliant piece of film making by Boyle.
The films last's just under 2 hours, but it was so riveting and exhilarating, I could never take my eyes of it, as I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. The score as well by A. R. Rahman is also one of the best I've heard and was perfectly set in tone for the film throughout, which also gives you a great insight into India's culture and lifestyle, with some of the most gorgeous camera scenes you'll see this year.
All of the characters in the film are brilliant, and with a bit more depth (e.g. where was Letika's family before meeting Jamal and Samil?), but that shouldn't bother you as the film goes through humour, despair, and to simply the feel good factor, because at the end of the film I can guarantee you will have the biggest smile on your face you wont be able to get rid of.
Credit to Boyle though, he has chosen a difficult and different challenge in film-making but has pulled out his finest film to date, and since the film has already won Golden Globe's for Best Film and Best Director, it is a firm favourite (in my and everyone's else opinion) for the Oscar's as it has already been Oscar nominated in 10 categories.
A thrillingly upbeat film which you can never get bored off and watch in admiration again and again, simply brilliant.