This review is definitely spoiler-heavy. I couldn't critique this time without being more than oblique, y'all, sorry.
The above photo says it all.
Slumdog Millionaire is City of God + Serendipity. Now, if that sounds like an odd mix to you, well you're not alone because that was my problem with this film.
I just couldn't get with the abrupt switch in tone that went with that weird juxtaposition. It was survival in unflinching third-world poverty mixed with the bright shiny "everything's gonna be fine" outlook of a disney film. Still, it's not bad by any stretch.
In fact, it's quite good. The story pulled me in, completely. The cinematography was techni-color-trash gorgeous. It deserves to be seen by many people, on the big screen. But to be so good, so close to great, spoiled by the Spielburg-effect. ....*sigh* Let's just say, it bugs.
It was as if the "happy" was just tacked on to ease western audiences' guilt. To keep us happily basking in naive hope that folks like our starring characters might have a Disney-fate too; when we know, 3/4th's of the world really ain't.
And yet, I think the sunny-side could've even worked if the older leads had the talents of say, Amy Adams in Enchanted, but alas no... Unknowns, Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto did their best here, but ease in front of the camera only carries so far. It wasn't far enough to make me believe in them enough to forget the syrupiness.
Now, I must mention, there were quite a few wet faces and sniffly noses as I left the screening, tonight. And I heard quite a few people telling the poll-taker at the door, that they loved the film when they left. So, seriously, don't listen to me. I'm jaded.
See this movie. It ain't nowhere near City of God good in my book, but damn if a good chunk of it didn't give me the feeling it might be. It's the three-star surprise you happen to catch on cable, but wish you had seen in the theater.
PARENTS: Just because I mentioned there are a few light fluffy bits, (with a cameo by Justin Timberlake, I KID YOU NOT) that don't mean, 'bring the kids'.
Leave 'em home.
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10 comments:
don't worry about the spoilers. It just showed me why I shouldn't watch this movie (which I didn't plan to anyway). Thanks for the heads up!
City of God + Serendipity actually sounds pretty damn good to me. Plus it's Danny Boyle. The guy gets my money no matter what.
I didn't like the fairy-tale ending or the Bollywood act during the final credits. It nearly destroyed the power of the story up to the last few minutes. Actually it did destroy the power of the story. I'd redo the ending. Not that I want Jamal to get hit by a train, but it'd be a better ending.
Margot -- you rock!
~~Diane
It certainly is a compelling movie, I am always happy to see a Danny Boyle movie. The ending was just a little to pat for me, you knew exactly where it was going for about the last half hour. I would have preferred a bit of twist at the end.
The one problem I did have with the film was the motivation of the older brother. He is a bit of a foil for some of the movie, and a savior in other areas. I never got a clear motivation for his older brother making the switch. It is sort of the same problem I had with end of "3:10 to Yuma".
Another fact about the movie was the use of Digital Video cameras. It appears that Danny Boyle used a prototype video camera similar to the "Red Camera". Some shots were actually done on a Canon DSLR shooting at 11 frames per second. Take a look here. I am proto film maker, so I get a little geeky about what people are using.
One thing that disappointed me, there wasn't a Sigur Ros song on the Soundtrack. It was in the trailer, it really made the trailer. And speaking of music, while I really enjoyed the M.I.A. track "Paper Airplane", at least to me this track is tightly associated with "Pineapple Express", it kind of took me out the movie.
I am being a bit over critical here, I really enjoyed the movie, it just had a few flaws that kept it from being great movie.
I knew ahead of time about the still camera 11 fps scenes, but I forgot to look for them and nothing stood out to me in the film that made me recognize where this technique was used. I think it was supposed to be in the slums and, now that I think about it, maybe it was when the boys' mother was attacked while she was doing the laundry? I'd like to see it again just to see if I can recognize those scenes.
@jorn
PLEASE, see it. It's a must-see despite the flaws.
@trav,
You won't be disappointed.
@dwms,
Me and you are --->here<---.
Sick abuse and tortue is entertainment?
Justin Timberlake? Umm...definitely not!
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