"The truth alone triumphs": Danny Boyle's latest is a joy to behold

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2009)

Danny Boyle's latest film, "Slumdog Millionaire", is hardly an obvious candidate for mainstream success. It is set in the slums of Mumbai, has scenes of torture and violence and is in Hindi for a third of the film. However, it has been nominated for a mountain of awards, is riding high in internet rankings and is doing well at the box office. When one takes a closer look, it isn't surprising that this film is doing as well as it is. It is a gripping, entertaining and ultimately wonderful piece of cinema.
The story, which is about a young man who goes on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", is utterly simple. He has, unbelievably, reached the final question. He is arrested between broadcasts on suspicion of cheating his way to the top. However, the fact of the matter is that he just happens to know every answer. As he explains why, his tough and unforgiving past opens up, raising questions about why he's on the show in the first place.
This film works because of the flashbacks which tell the story of a boy, his brother and a girl. It is not always an easy watch but moments of nastiness are rare, necessary and short-lived. As the story develops, Boyle's brilliance as a filmmaker pours off the screen. The raw, kinetic energy that he used to the maximum effect in "Trainspotting" is always apparent. The numerous sequences set in the slums are mesmerising to watch, accompanied by a magnificent score by A.R. Rahman, and vibrant photography from Anthony Dod Mantle.
Boyle also makes sure that this film is more than a "nuts-and-bolts" feel good story. The central romance is beautifully done and all of his characters are brilliantly sketched and excellently well performed. Dev Patel (in the lead) is a magnificent screen presence and really impresses in his film debut, whilst the supporting performances of Anil Kapoor as the host of the show and Irrfan Khan as the sceptical police inspector are superb. Boyle has also managed to find some brilliant child actors who inject the film with yet more energy.
Boyle also has a lot going on underneath. Like many great films, the location lives and breathes in the film. Mumbai, mirroring our characters, transforms through the film (for the better and for the worse). There is also a great deal about truth and integrity, neatly summed up in one of the answers. What is India's national motto? The truth alone triumphs.
Although there is a slight drop in pace in the film about an hour in, this is really gripping, really entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable cinema. Despite the darker moments, this is a feel good movie which, in the present climate, will be taken to people's hearts. The real joy is that this good natured and excellent film deserves every piece of success it receives.
5 Stars out of 5