I'm not sure if I could have chosen a worse time to review the film I'm choosing for today,
Slumdog Millionaire. I mean, I'm writing this post-
BAFTA and post-Oscar celebrations, where the film has been both lauded and applauded, winning 7 and 8 awards respectively. Well, this
review's going to be slightly different to all those one might previously have come across. I'm going to be explosive in my decision to say 'what's all the fuss about?'. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the film, but what I am saying is that I wasn't overly enamored by it - just as everyone else seems to be.
We join Jamal (Dev Patel, the lanky Asian kid from teen-romp Skins), after an appearance on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?', which has just seen him reach the second highest amount available to him as a contestant, i.e. he's one question away from being a millionaire. Trouble is, as he's an orphan, raised in the slums of
Mumbai (a '
slumdog') and now works in a call-centre for a British telephone company (how terribly
clichéd), they don't believe he could know the answers without a little bit of assistance.
So, some faction of the Indian police force are called in to deal with the matter, which translates into an opening sequence of various torture methods inflicted on our main protagonist who denies his involvement in any such cough-scam. It's okay though, because the boys in,
erm, beige soon realise their bad-cop routine is failing them, and so quickly resort to sympathetic listeners, lending their ears to Jamal's recounting of his life, and how (mostly) unhappy events aided him in his answers to the infamous quiz show. And so begins a series of flashbacks allowing the audience to be transported from the barely air-conditioned interrogation room to the somewhat picturesque view of the slums - it's almost as if Danny Boyle (its director) asked for their roofs to be painted a variety of 'pretty' colours.
It is here too that we are first introduced to both Jamal's elder brother, Salim (later played by
Madhur Mittal), and more pertinently
Latika (later played by Freida Pinto) - after all it is their story too, particularly the latter of the two. Indeed,
Slumdog is unabashed in its telling of a developing love affair between Jamal and
Latika - believe me, it lays it on thick - and their constant interruptions to be together, mainly through the thwarting of a corrupted Salim. Inevitably their love proves enduring despite its delay, but the question remains will they finally be together? Is it written, as the opening sequence begs us to question?
Though their tale of romance is at the heart (no pun intended) of
Slumdog, nevertheless its description by one critic as "the feel-good movie of the decade" leaves me more than a little uncomfortable - as, notably, it is said to have done for Boyle.
When did a story that encompasses death, the exploitation of young orphans to make money by horrifically blinding them or leading them into prostitution, a
ganglord and his
vicious cohort, murder, and not forgetting torture, come to be defined as "feel-good"? Especially when, for some, this tale of devastation and despair heavily glossed in a vat of love, is a reality. (It's worth mentioning here that
the child actors (Azharuddin Mohamed Ismail, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubiana Ali), who lets face it stole the show, were paid a measly $3,000 for their roles; whilst there are reports of Boyle's support of their future education,one can only wonder at the amounts given to the older cast members, when its grossed $140, 000, 000 worldwide).
Admittedly
Slumdog is not a documentary, nor does it pertain to be so, but shrouding the realities for those living in the slums, the desperation of their situations, in a thin veil of romance and a spot of
Bollywood-
esque dancing at the end (wait for the credits to roll), whilst pertaining to tired stereotypes of India and its people, hardly seems satisfactory.
Is it truly deserving of all those statues? Or is it overpraised? For me, it's a case of the British industry attempting to rescue its home-reared underdog (it had problems financially and almost didn't make it to cinemas), carving itself some global respect, whilst for the Hollywood big-wigs its proved an opportunity to award something that might appear as exotic and something fresh, which in actual fact is a rehashing of their own narratives and ideologies.
Another review for your delectation... The Edukators is a smashing viewing! Go watch (but read my review first)!
Sunday 17th May, 10am, was my second experience at a Leicester Square venue. This time it was held at the rather spectacular (and somewhat ginormous) Empire cinema, and for once I was (a) allowed a plus one (well, three actually...) and (b) someone actually came with me. Hurrah!
This one sure is an advert for anti-bullying, if ever I saw one...
Sure, there are perks to my new 'job' as reviewer for The Spinning Image... I mean I get to see a few free films a week, do a spot of schmoozing (or mostly sitting alone, like the rest of these seemingly shy/rude critics) and then write up MY opinion. Great. Not so, when it's a none too great film that wings its way to my inbox.
I've just posted another review on The Spinning Image. Decided that it would be best from now on to post my reviews on the website alone, leaving the blog as the place for general musings. It also means that it encourages any of my followers to look at who I'm working for, whilst giving them a little publicity too. Fair's fair. 
I am seeing myself getting increasingly busier with my role at thespinningimage.co.uk. I started with my first assignment the other day (for Let The Right One In) and then, just a few days later, I was winging my way back to Soho for another screening (and three more in the next two weeks - I'm exhausted already!). This time, however, I recognised a few of the key players, including the director - the fabulous Stephen Frears. He's probably one of those names you can't quite place, the director of such films as My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) and more recently Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) and The Queen (2006). Anyway, his latest outing Cheri (2009) stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates and Rupert Friend (who most will recognise, for the time being, as Keira Knightley's beau), and that's the film I saw. I will post the review HERE as soon as the press office allows it...
Last night I had the extreme privilege of taking part in my first official assignment for thespinningimage.co.uk. I attended a private screening in Soho of a new Swedish vampire film, making its way to UK shores April 10th. When I first got the invite asking if I wanted to attend, I was somewhat reluctant - vampire films just ain't my bag (baby), plus I'm a bonafide wuss. However, I went along and can honestly say that I rather enjoyed the experience; it's unlike any kind of horror film I've seen before, albeit with a few blood and guts... As this was 'official business' I've decided not to post the review on here, but please go take a look at it and maybe in April you'll see what you think for yourself...
Woody Allen. Now there's a man that divides opinion. Like a certain brand of yeast-based bread-spread, people either love him or they hate him.
Another blast from the past... Remember that weird film about a rock band your brother made you watch when you, like, 5? This Is Spinal Tap (1984) ring any bells?
Bypassing 'I Am Legend' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'... Last night me and the mister sat down to a viewing of 'The Darjeeling Limited'.
