Slumdog Millionaire

2008

Drama

McKay's Review

I have heard some buzz about this movie here and there but didn't really know what it was about and just kept putting off this movie for awhile. Boy, that was a big mistake. This movie was incredible. Everything about it is making me feel that this was probably the best movie of 2008. The concept of the story, the acting, the location, the cinematography, the music, everything was perfect.

This movie has a main story and then smaller stories throughout the movie that are memories of the main character's life.

This movie is about a young man from Mumbai, India named Jamal who goes on the Indian version of "Who wants to be a millionaire?". He ends up answering many of the questions with ease but unfortunately many of the answers have come to him from tragedies and hard times from his childhood, which shows him and his brother Salim as little boys seeing their mother murdered and becoming orphans and living on the street and in harsh conditions. It also shows the struggles and life decisions each other takes that becomes their paths in life. While Jamal and Salim are still young they meet a young girl named Latika who they become friends with and Jamal ends up liking but again life tears them apart from each other and Jamal spends a lot of his youth searching for her. FYI Freida Pinto, who plays the older version of Latika is incredibly gorgeous. You could call this movie a simple love story but I feel it is a lot more.

I highly recommend seeing this film.

-McKay R.

A-



Ron's Review

I'm sorry to say I was not as blown away by this film as McKay was. Yes, I'm aware most consider it the best movie of the year. Yes, it will probably win a whole lot of Oscars, and most likely take home best picture. Yes, the cinematography, acting, art direction - all excellent. Where this movie sort of faltered for me was in the story itself. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a decent film, it had some pretty nifty moments, and I'm a big fan of Danny Boyles' work for the most part - (see Sunshine, Trainspotting, or 28 Days Later) yet this movie didn't resonate with me as much as I expected it too. I will venture to say I didn't detest this film as I did Juno - against the popularity it had with the masses. I don't know what it is. Perhaps the hype just built it up to unreasonable expectations. Perhaps as a man being happily married for close to two years, the story of love lost then love found then love lost again then love found again doesn't quite tug at my heart strings. Of all things I found the story sort of trite and predictable. Of course you know from the get go the main character wins crap loads of money, so I didn't feel there was a whole lot of tension in the game show scenes. The title itself slaps you upside the head - "Poor guy from India gets insanely rich". I'm aware that the meat of the movie is in the story of how he gets to that point, but even so - I'm sorry to say I got kind of bored with Jamal's story. I really wanted to love the movie too. REALLY! But you can't force yourself to enjoy something. Perhaps the older I get the less I appreciate film art with character stories and look forward more to explosions and gun fights. Perhaps it's because I hate the game show "Who Want's to Be a Millionaire". Those who know me know I've really been at odds with what the academy has deemed Oscar worthy in the past. Titanic? Bleccchhhh. Return of the King? Good popcorn fun and fantastically epic but give me a frigging break. And when was the last time anyone watched Annie Hall? The Departed was pretty good though..... I will say that Slumdog does hold up really well within Danny Boyle's film resume, and has successfully portrayed harshness in poverty stricken India. And he's probably made stars out of two very young and talented actors. But I will say that unfortunately, I have enjoyed other films a lot more this year.

-Ron J.

B

Gran Torino

2008

Drama

Clint Eastwood

This movie isn't out yet and won't be until early 2009 but of course if you ever want to find something bad enough turn to the internet. (don't judge me.) This movie stars Clint Eastwood as a bitter, old Korean War vet whose wife recently died and his kids and grand kids don't like talking to him or being around him, but I guess that feeling is mutual with him as well. All Clint Eastwood's character wants to do is be left alone with the few things that he's familiar with, his dog and his Gran Torino. But with his neighborhood and way of life degenerating around him it makes it hard, especially when someone tries to steal his car right out of his garage.

This movie has a bit of the Million dollar baby vibe to it since he ends up making "friends" with a Vietnamese family next door that are in need of help with different things in there lives. There are parts in the movie that surprised me when I heard some of the racial language and things that Clint Eastwood's character called people but it definitely helped to make his character believable.

The entire movie was perfect until the closing credit song, which is a song called Gran Torino and it is sung by...Clint Eastwood. Now Clint is an amazing actor and director but not a singer. He might want to keep his day job.

_McKay R.

A-

In Bruges

2008

Comedy/Action

Collin Farrell; Brendon Gleeson

This movie was recommended to me by my brother where he and I occasionally see eye to eye and agree on movies. But this time he was right on the money. This movie stars Colin Farrell, remember him? Just kidding. And Brendan Gleeson as two contract killers who are advised by their boss to hide out in the small old historic village of Bruge, Belgium until he calls them. Brendan Gleeson's character being a more relaxed older man enjoys this time to take in some of the sites while Colin Farrell's character is a young, smart-ass Irish man (big stretch) who is going crazy with boredom and needing to find anything good and enjoyable in this town.

The acting, storyline, humor, and final gun battle/ chase scene is what makes this such a great movie to me.I already knew that Brendan Gleeson was a great actor but this gave me more respect for Colin Farrell as a serious actor and not a "hollywood bad boy". I think Colin Farrell is taking a play out of the Brad Pitt's playbook by choosing this movie.

In this movie try to see if you can recognize the three people that play characters in the Harry Potter movies.

P.S. When you watch this movie make sure you go into the DVD special features and watch the segment entitled F*cking Bruge, it's hilarious.

-McKay R.

A-