What do you get when the Brits (Irish) try and create a culturally, religious, real, and happy film? Slumdog Millionaire. I finally saw this film due to the enormous hype built up by my students and friends. Half of them loved it and see it as the second coming. The others saw it as a great feel good film. I expected something I didn’t get.
So I don’t like the idea of a Brit oops Irish trying to make a film to show the world India. I think that that is incredibly insulting. I was literally appalled at the idea if Boyle being the savior of Bollywood and bringing it credibility. There are so many things wrong with that politically and culturally I wont go into it here because I am sure if you are reading this you are smart enough to understand what I am talking about. Along with that though I was awfully surprised that people thought it was just like a Bollywood film. just because it had dancing in the credits does not make it Bollywood. There are elements of Bollywood in it but mostly it was inspired loosely by the fantastical nature of traditional Bollywood film.
My primary complaint was that this film tried to be too many things to too many people. Ultimately I think it failed at all of them. Between its City of God beginning to the religious undertones, and the happy ending the film bothered me. Now I am a firm believer that you need to show the depths of hell to show redemption but that is not what this film did. It showed the violence just to serve the story and it was overkill in order to compete with current films in theaters. Why would a director lower themselves like that? Danny Boyle is a better director than that. this film wasn’t about redemption either it was just about fate and getting what you want.
The slum part of the film was interesting to me that they seemed to want to make it look terrible and horrible but instead thy made it look like a playground and a place of hidden beauty and wonders. That disturbed me. I was almost expecting to see a video game to come out of the film. (3 playable characters! adventure modes unlock new talents! Control the three musketeers destiny. Built in trivia game challenge with clues hidden in the game! bonus games such as: build your own slum, sing for money, and hide from a thousand angry gods!) OK that might be a bit drastic, but it could happen.
Technically it was a nice film although I thought digital was a bad choice because the grain that digital filmmaking produces is ugly compared to film grain. That was distracting to me. the editing and color palette was impeccable but nothing new or innovative especially for Boyle. All in all it would say it was a good film. It was not however Americas introduction to Bollywood, nor was it a feelgood film. and it was absolutely NOT an Oscar worthy film.
Oh well…meh
