Slumdog Millionaire

2008 / Danny Boyle > Boyle's really hit me from left field on this one: Boasting one of the most impressive and varied filmographies in cinema today, I imagined this to simply be a heart-warming tale of rags-to-riches and romance. Well, that it is, and so much more. Slumdog Millionaire is conscious of the modern-day India, crisscrossing from the slums to India's upper class while still approaching the shady underground gangsters and their counterparts (and every American's favorite) the call center operator. Stylistically, it borrows as much from Boyle's own Trainspotting as it does from City of God. The vibrant colors and sharp editing energize the film's pacing so that the viewer's journey is a non-stop feast of entertainment. And a soundtrack cutting M.I.A.'s beats and vocals only support that foundation. There are a couple of things to be understood, though: The story is fairly conventional, the "plot twist" happens in the beginning, so the viewer isn't being suckered on, and it's a bit predictable. But none of that keeps it from being arguably the most incredible, enjoyable film of the year. The whole experience is a crescendo that culminates with the kind of gritty satisfaction that no straight-edged family film can offer.

November 14, 2008 / 4.5 + Europe + South Asia / Comments (0)

The Namesake

2007 / Mira Nair > It's a rare thing that celluloid beats its paper foundation, but The Namesake does just that. Personally, I've found Jhumpa Lahiri's writing style to be better fitting for short stories, but maybe I'm biased: The first two-thirds of the novel deal with things I've personally experienced, while the third is fairly uncharted territory. For that, maybe Nair's pacing fit me better.

The film itself is graceful, respectful, ignoring the stereotypes that often plague cinema that crosses cultural boundaries (and for this, both Lahiri and Nair ought to be credited). It's not perfect, but it has enough universal identification that it should be able to appeal to most of who have a chance to view it. The only dubious factor with the film is Kal Penn being casted for the lead role: He does a suitable job, but it's just hard to forget that this is Kumar we're talking about. The rest is quite appropriate, with special note to Tabu's performance as the beautiful, maturing mother who can make or break the viewer's heart.

June 7, 2007 / 4.0 + South Asia + United States/Canada / Comments (0)