Slumdog Millionaire

It would take a brave man to be negative about Slumdog Millionaire after it won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, last night. I am not that brave and, in any case, I loved Slumdog. It was tough going at times as it pulls no punches in its portrayal of the hardships and cruelty of life in the Mumbai slums. But in the end its vibrancy and optimism cannot be held down. It’s a frenetic thrill ride through the life of Jamel, contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. It tells his story in retrospect by showing how he comes to know the answers to the specific questions posed on the show. The cinematography, editing and driving Bollywood musical score (all of which won Oscars last night) add up to drive the story along at a reckless pace. A rage-to-riches story in the true sense, it will leave an indelible impression, much like a first trip to India.