Slumdog Millionaire

Before I watched Slumdog Millionaire I was a bit wary of it. A lot of people have seen it and really like it, and I was worried that it was going to be a case of a movie suffering from over-hype and I wouldn't enjoy it. However, this wasn't one of those movies, and it lived up to the quote on the front of the DVD box: “the feel-good film of the decade”.

The film basically revolves around the Indian version of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ and starts off with the contestant being questioned about how he has got so far into the game. It emerges that he knows all the answers to the questions because of the experiences he has had throughout his life. He then takes to the stage for the next day, but overnight several things have changed in his life and the girl he has loved since he was a young man comes back into his life. When faced with the final question he does not know the answer, and elects to phone his brother. However, his lost love answers, and she does not know the answer either. He doesn't care about the outcome now and takes a guess, knowing that it will work out for him no matter what happens.

It’s a fantastic film, and one of Danny Boyle’s best works without a doubt. The flashbacks to Jamal’s early life provide a roller coaster of emotions through uplifting, funny and tragic, and the feel-good factor when Lakita comes back into his life is as enjoyable as the moment that you first hear that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father (no apologies will be made for spoilers there, if you didn't know that you must live under a stone).

I remember Dev Patel from back when he was in Skins, and it’s always nice to see an actor from your youth do well. In this he excels though. He firmly cements himself as a serious film actor in Slumdog Millionaire and, though I’m sure he will pop up on television from time to time, he has a glittering film career ahead of him. The children who play young Jamal are also fantastic, and a particular highlight is when he tries to get the autograph of a Bollywood star. However, Dev Patel takes the limelight, deservedly, for his ability to reach out and touch the audience’s hearts in Slumdog Millionaire.

The girls who play Lakita are very good as well. To begin with I wasn't sure about where the story could go with Jamal, his brother and Lakita, but then found that as it provided the backbone to the whole film, it was most enjoyable. The three of them seem immensely close until one night everything changes and the two brothers take two very different paths. Jamal’s devastation at Lakita following his brother makes the finale even more uplifting. As with the other two characters, the children who play Jamal’s brother are fantastic, but I wasn't so sure about the actor who played him in his older years. By this point I didn't really care what happened to Salim because I was more focused on the emerging plot with Lakita and Jamal.

My absolute highlight of the film though comes right at the end. Once they are together and the game show is over, Jamal kisses the scar she has on her face. This provides the perfect demonstration that, despite everything they have been through, both individually and together, he loves every single part of her and is just happy to finally be with her.

Slumdog Millionaire is the kind of film that, once you've seen it, you will rave about it. It’s a fantastic feel-good film, and can be watched with both family and friends. IF you haven’t seen it by now then I would encourage you to because it’s a cultural must-see. For me, it marks the start of the emergence of Indian-based films made for the public, which continued with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Slumdog Millionaire is a deserving Academy Award winner, and that should be enough for most people if you needed a reason to watch it.