An Unexpected Success

Rating: 9/10 (2 March 2009)

Slumdog Millionaire! Even its name is impressive, isn't it? At least I think so. It is one of the most wonderful movies that I have watched in recent years. Maybe it is the best. I guess many people think so. It totally deserves eight Oskar.
The movie is set in India. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) who is the leading man of it lives in a slum with his mother and brother Salim (Madhur Mittal). The movie begins with the query scene. Jamal is questioned by the police because he participates in " Who wants to be a millionaire?" and he answers all questions correctly up to the last question for big prize so the announcer supposes that Jamal cheats. He begins how he answers all questions correctly. The questions are relevant to his childhood. When each question is asked Jamal remembers his childhood and the movie consists of these memories.
Jamal's character looks like ordinary case but he is unusual. Actually Money is not important for him. He participates in that contest to find his first and only love Latika. He is not self-centered and he just does not feel himself. Also he is brave and believes in destiny. His innocence is distant from the world's evil. Briefly, I think he is a different person.
Another important character is Jamal's brother Salim Malik. He is older than Jamal. His personality is different from Jamal. This difference is vague in their childhood but as Salim grows up, he becomes self-centered. He takes away Latika from Jamal. Money is important for Salim, even just before he dies. That scene shows how money is important for him.
Latika (Freida Pinto), Jamal's first and only love, has an important role in the movie. The love between Latika and Jamal makes the movie meaningful. Latika is a beautiful girl. Although she is well-intentioned, she is not as brave as Jamal. She is afraid of taking risk and she meets her fate calmly. But she ventures everything thanks to her love to Jamal. She deserves this love.
I think this movie is wonderful in all aspects. Especially, it is same as real life because there is a real contest in it. this is an undeniable feature. Briefly, I admired this movie very much and while I was watching some scenes, I cried. It is a masterpiece.