Spring Break
Boyles crosses cultural lines with Slumdog Millionaire
Issue date: 11/20/08
The film cuts between Jamal's present-day incarceration and his childhood, providing answers to how an illiterate and uneducated young boy could climb so high in a game that tests knowledge. As the film demonstrates, sometimes life is a better teacher than books.
Boyle's frenetic pace keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat through every twist and turn of Jamal's harrowing life story. The cinematography is somewhat reminiscent of Boyle's 1996 cult success, Trainspotting, and succeeds in enhancing the drama, leaving the viewer with some well-shot iconic moments.
Some of the opening scenes take the viewer on a whirlwind tour of Mumbai's slums as police chase a young Salim and Jamal. With a bouncing camera, sharp cutaways, as well as his famous wide shots (28 Days Later) Boyle is able to reflect artistically the surrounding chaos of the slum.
Most viewers and filmmakers see any depictions of India's extreme poverty and become overwhelmed by thoughts of poor suffering children. Consciences duly pricked, they may open their hearts and wallets in an attempt to remedy it. However, this understanding of poverty does not leave any room for its brighter side. Yes, it is terrible for a child to have to grow up in such extremely meager circumstances, but at this point, where most viewers and filmmakers would stop thinking, Slumdog Millionaire powers onward and refocuses on the fierce human will to live and love through the misery.
Poverty does not overpower the story of the impoverished. This allows the audience to see past the hardship and violence that surround Jamal, Salim and Latika, to laugh with them and to cheer them on, all the while falling in love with their plucky heroism. Slumdog Millionaire has done a service to the genre and can't be missed.
Boyle's frenetic pace keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat through every twist and turn of Jamal's harrowing life story. The cinematography is somewhat reminiscent of Boyle's 1996 cult success, Trainspotting, and succeeds in enhancing the drama, leaving the viewer with some well-shot iconic moments.
Some of the opening scenes take the viewer on a whirlwind tour of Mumbai's slums as police chase a young Salim and Jamal. With a bouncing camera, sharp cutaways, as well as his famous wide shots (28 Days Later) Boyle is able to reflect artistically the surrounding chaos of the slum.
Most viewers and filmmakers see any depictions of India's extreme poverty and become overwhelmed by thoughts of poor suffering children. Consciences duly pricked, they may open their hearts and wallets in an attempt to remedy it. However, this understanding of poverty does not leave any room for its brighter side. Yes, it is terrible for a child to have to grow up in such extremely meager circumstances, but at this point, where most viewers and filmmakers would stop thinking, Slumdog Millionaire powers onward and refocuses on the fierce human will to live and love through the misery.
Poverty does not overpower the story of the impoverished. This allows the audience to see past the hardship and violence that surround Jamal, Salim and Latika, to laugh with them and to cheer them on, all the while falling in love with their plucky heroism. Slumdog Millionaire has done a service to the genre and can't be missed.
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