This decade's "Rocky"; undeniably appealing and masterfully done.

Rating: 6/10 (24 February 2009)

First off, I want to rant (sorry) - for the year 2008, there were three films I gave a 10/10 rating, this film, "WALL-E", and "The Dark Knight". The latter was snubbed of its Academy Awards Nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, all because that the Academy does not deem superhero summer blockbusters as art. I was mad as personally I think TDK is the film of the decade, and had it been nominated for the three, I'd think it win them.
Thankfully, this film and WALL-E, two romantic films, do the Oscars justice. WALL-E is a marvel. However, I'd give my hats off to Slumdog for giving me the biggest movie surprise of the year. The movie is energetic, has a kinetic pace, a touching story, and a main character that we all root for. Director Danny Boyle takes a story and crafts it into one of the most startlingly original films of the decade, and it stands tall over most films.
We have Jamal, a Mumbai "slumdog" who participates in a "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" TV game show in hopes that the love of his life will see him. He apparently knows all the answers to the questions and shows no sign of losing. This prompts investigators to interrogate him, and, clues to how he knows the answers are represented in flashbacks of his life leading him up to where he is.
The movie cannot be praised without the fine, innocent and heart-stealing characters that the young actors portray. They embody the innocence, curiosity, and enthusiasm of youth. Without them, the film would be nothing. They can all stand up and take a bow, for their performances mold the film to near-perfection.
The film's story, while uplifting and inspiring at times, is gut-wrenching, gritty, powerful, and, filled with realism. How the screenwriter makes the story believable is truly remarkable, as it takes talent and dedication to do it, and it shows on the silver screen. Having the kids speak Hindi for 1/3 of the film adds more realism to the film, as the young starlets are more comfortable speaking in their native tongue, as well as showing real life in the slums the way a Hindi kid would see it. There is not one scene where you do not cheer for the main character, Jamal. And the ending is truly marvelous, an ending that will be remembered for a long time.
The direction is superb. Fast paced, giving little time to breathe. Obvious Danny Boyle. But, he livens up the atmosphere of the movie, which is dark and gritty. This is Boyle's best film yet, he is truly a filmmaker for his time, and this film certainly proves it. Hell, even in the poor slums there are moments that we can laugh and reflect at! Now that's something that Boyle can be proud of, making the audience feel and care for the characters, to which he succeeds enormously. There is a scene involving an open toilet and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, for which I will not tell, that has become one of the most memorable movie scenes for the decade. Academy Award Winner Danny Boyle, you deserve it.
Technically speaking, the music by Bollywood regular A. R. Rahman is perfect for the film. It is uplifting, gritty, beautiful, thrilling and atmospheric at the same time. He deserves the Oscar win. The cinematography shows the ugly slums of Mumbai in full glory, capturing the essence of the film while making it beautiful at the same time. The editing is nicely done making it fast paced.
"Slumdog Millionaire" is an uplifting, near-flawless masterpiece. It drips with movie magic and reminds us why we fell in love with the movies in the first place. To be honest I wanted "The Dark Knight" to win, but since it was not nominated, Slumdog was my clear favorite to win the coveted Best Picture award. And hey, it did! Congrats to everyone on the film. Bravo! And finally, Bollywood has something to be proud of, and Hollywood should partner up with them again sometime soon.
Overall rating: 9/10