Despite the extreme suspension of disbelief required, Slumdog Millionaire is an excellent picture of Indian slum life and a fun movie

Rating: 7/10 (9 December 2018)

I'm quite split between a 7 and an 8 - was it a great movie? I don't think I'm quite willing to go that far for this simple rags to riches story. Its merits, excellent and brutal depiction of life in the slums of Mumbai, as well as an optimistic and exciting tone, are undeniable. I love Dev Patel, and his honesty and genuine nature shine through wonderfully here. Despite being told that he won at the very start, I was still on the edge of my seat and nervous for the entire climax. The way Boyle connects each question to the street smarts Jamal needed to survive the cutthroat streets of Mumbai was brilliant, and underscored the immense challenges faced growing up there. Where it falls short is in its overly simplistic plot and the incredible coincidences that were just impossible for me to ignore. Jamal manages to know just the right things and has exceptional luck in repeatedly finding Lakita. The romance plot was the most disappointing part for me, as he basically just had a connection to her from early childhood and remained obsessed with her ever since. I also didn't think the relationship and events relating to Salim, especially later in the movie, were cleanly shown. I love its early slice of life style and the connections between street smarts Jamal needed to survive and the show were truly wonderful, and the third act was still exciting. But when I look back on it and think about my relationship with the characters at the end, I'm left distant from the forced romance and the unbelievable run in the show. But as good movies do, just for a moment there, Boyle has you marveling at the way everything just works.