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Friday, February 06, 2009

Brendan Goh goes OSCAR 1: Slumdog Millionaire

This is my first Pre-Oscar movie review I will only review for best picture and best director nominees (cause the movies nominated are the same) because a. I don't enough time to watch every nominated movie (Oscars are on 22nd February) b. I don't have much cash to spend on buying tickets to watch everything.
If anyone of you people have downloaded the following films, Frost/Nixon, Milk, Rachel Getting Married (not nominated but wanna watch), The Wrestler (same as Rachel Getting Married) please be kind enough to leave a message on the shoutbox. Will be truly grateful, might even get you something from LONDON!

Slumdog Millionaire is nominated for:
  1. Best Picture
  2. Best Director
  3. Best Adapted Screenplay
  4. Best Cinematography
  5. Best Film Editing
  6. Best Original Score
  7. Best Original Song (2 nominations in this category)
  8. Best Sound Editing
  9. Best Sound Mixing
All in all, there are 10 nominations

In short, a small summary can be described as so:

Jamal Malik is a street boy who lived in the slums of India. He has joined the show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and is one question away to win 20 million rupees. The show made him and overnight superstar, an Indian Slum Miracle. However, he was suspected for cheating, therefore he was arrested and interrogated. The questions in the show revealed his past and every scene in it is a clue and answer to the question. Along side him is his brother, Salim and his lover, Latika.

Before you read on, I would like to warn you that some parts may contain hints of spoilers.

What did Slumdog Millionaire score on.

The direction of the movie is supreb, the scenes captured made me felt as if I was watching a book, unfolding all of its contents. Some scenes are flashy, some scenes are slow and hit pretty much all the perfect places. He depicted a sort of the true and harsh life of Indian slums. The movie also reminded me of Chinese gangster movies with the characters interaction with the gangsters. Also this movie sort of tells children, strangers maybe nice but they are only nice to you for their own profit. It also tells how unappreciated most slum children were. This movie is cruel, sick and mean in terms of how the story is going in general. But the cruel, sick and mean parts were actually the highlight of it, it makes you wanna pull an Angelina Jolie and adopt an Indian slum orphan. (Something that she actually haven't do... yet. I hope I get to do that when I get my celeb status.)

The story is definitely chilling and emotional at the same time. This is not your stupid action movie where everyone goes Sarah Palin and shoot people around and then camwhoring in the last scene. At least there are some gunfights that are simple, none of that missed suspense. It also depicts how harsh life is for some people, makes you sympathize for them and at the same time, glad that you are in your room getting a foot rub from an Asian illegal immigrant which acts as your personal foot rub and foot stool. It also shows you how greatful you are to not jump into a pile of poop, just to get Amitabh Bachan's autograph.

Its a story about love and action, only more emotional and stuff, really its heartbreaking. But not heartbreaking enough to drive me to tears. So far only Brokeback Mountain is the only Oscar animated movie that made me cry.

The story telling, the scenes are enticing and makes you feel real. Overall, a great movie to watch. 5 out of 5. I wish it the best of luck in the oscars.

Slumdog millionaire might carry away

  1. Best Director
  2. Best Picture
  3. Best Cinematography
  4. Best Film Editing

1 comment:

Josh.p.Leo.C.k said...

its that good! dang! I've got to watch this LOLz thanks for the recommendation!

skiped the spoilers part though cuz I'm plannin on watchin it liaw after the good comments at the top hehe