Tagline:
Love and money... You have mixed them both.Plot:
A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.
Viewed: 25/01/09Score: 4/6
A movie hailed as 'The feel-good film of the year' does not inspire enthusiasm in jaded cynics such as myself. Were it not for the fact that my date wanted to see it, I would have avoided doing so. That would have been my loss. Jamal, the main character played by Dev Patel has a very hard life. No 'poor but happy' nonsense here. Orphaned after their mother is murdered, he and his brother must survive by their wits. India is portrayed as a country of contrasts, civilisation beside abject poverty. Whilst Jamal stays true to his good nature and always seems to finish last, his brother gradually adopts a life of crime. All through the film, Jamal is obsessed with finding his childhood sweetheart Latika.
Viewers are transported between present day Jamal being interrogated by the Police (read tortured) and his childhood, showing how his life has lead him to knowing the answers to the questions on India's version of 'Who wants to be a Millionaire'.
Of course, in the end he gets set free, wins the prize money and gets the girl. But there is enough darkness and strife to keep those of us who hate a happy ending content.
Danny Boyle keeps the story rattling along at a good pace and carries the audience with him. Acting is not outstanding but more than adequate for the purposes of the plot. No punches are pulled depicting Jamal's interrogation or life in Mumbai slums. Oscars are rumoured but I'd say that would be going a bit too far.
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