Movie Spotlight: Slumdog Millionaire

I would've missed this incredible movie had I not randomly slipped into this theater while awaiting the overly-hyped movie, "Twilight" (I'll save my review on that movie for another blog perhaps). The story follows Jamal Malik, a street kid (or "slumdog") who has landed an appearance on India's version of the hit TV game show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? The movie brilliantly answers key questions about the who and why of the character by flashing between Malik's past and present. Wrapped within the violence and illegal discretions that must accompany a youngster raised by the streets-- is a fantastic love story. The character's driving force is his love for Latika, a breathtakingly gorgeous young woman by any and all accounts. This love grabs him at an early age and refuses to let him go. It takes them through tumultuous experiences that deepen the stakes each time they are confronted with the possibility of a reunion. The viewer is on edge throughout the film captivated by desperate longings for a happy ending. Director Danny Boyle does an excellent job of switching between fast and slow- paced sequences at the right moment to intuitively pull the viewer further into the story. Even if we can't all relate to the experiencing the impassioned love that drives these characters to the extreme, we can certainly relate to the desire of wanting this experience. This story speaks to the part of us that will always have a reaction to Classic Disney fairytales. Grade: A