SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

ENGLISH - (N/A) - N/A - Drama

Distributor: Fox Searchlight, Warner Bros, Pathe

Running time: about 120 mins.

Director: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan

Producers: Christian Colson

Writers: Simon Beaufoy, Vikas Swarup (novel)

Casts: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Tanay Chheda

Plot: Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young uneducated man from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" (Kaun Banega Crorepati; though there is no explicit reference to KBC in the movie) and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.

THE VERDICT:

Green Tea says:

Slumdog Millionaire - the best film of the year (2008)? Well, almost close. The story is based on the adaptation of an Indian diplomat short story's Q&A which tells a slum's miraculous journey in winning a million cash in a quiz and been interoggated by police for believed to have been cheating his way for the top prize money.

Jamal, a slum from the city of Mumbai was appearing on the famous game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, in hope he will meet again with his childhood love, Latika. Jamal's story comprises of few segments which co-incides with the three segments featured on the game show. Each tells a different mood and settings. The first; the childhood era describes a happy-go-lucky, comedic and innocent. Jamal's memorable moments include getting an autograph from , the lost of his mother during anti-Islam sentiment, his time been in illegal orphanage. All these miraculously helped him to answered all throughoutly well.

The second part; been an adoloscent, he and his brother worked to disguise as a tour guide in Taj Mahal and doing odd jobs, again helped him to answer all questions. In this stage, the theme of discovery and soul-searching are portrayed. The last part, the step into adulthood - with more serious theme of intense, revenge and sacrifice are portrayed, with his continuous search of Latika brought him into the game show.

WARNING SPOILER! The finale from the last question Jamal need to answered until the moment he met with Latika was among the most exciting ending of any movie of the year!

The film will be celebrated for its well defined, smooth, well crafted, well timed and well written screenplay and story which champions the underdog. This simply the winner for the been among the best screenplay of the year - easily will beat others in the upcoming Oscar award for several categories.The only shades of grey was the uneasiness felt in the relationship between Jamal and his brother Salim.

However, the film just could not be spared from heavy criticism. Much of these critism revolved around the protrayal of a dirty India and all of its community problems. However uneasy the movie may portray the vision of India, there were many to be beautifully seen - Taj Mahal for example. Other than that, this is a sure one of top movie of the year.

JAMAL MALIK IS ONE QUESTION AWAY FROM WINNING 20 MILLION RUPEES. HOW DID HE DO IT?

A. He cheated

B. He's lucky

C. He's a genius

D. It is written

THE RATINGS.....

CAST - 4.5 stars

STORY - 5.0 stars

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 5.0 stars

EFFECTS - 4.0 stars

an overall >> 4.5 stars

GreenTea-O-Meter: 18.8