Slumdog Millionaire

Do you remember when Who Want’s to be a Millionaire was a national sensation? When it was on four times a week, when “Is that your final answer?” became a catch-phrase and Regis started a new fashion trend… of colored dress shirts? I certainly do. I remember watching the show after Thanksgiving dinner with my entire extended family, intrigued by the questions, the contestants, and yes, even Regis. But once that IRS guy easily won the first million dollars, followed by eight other millionaires, the show stopped being interesting, and started being a poor imitation of a more difficult British original. Soon, we were all sick of the show, and sick of Regis.

Thus, it amused me when I heard that Slumdog Millionaire centered around the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I thought that it would be played more for laughs, or used as a plot device. But, after watching the movie, I was reminded about just how suspenseful the game show could be. There were really two climaxes to the movie, and they both happened at the same time, centered on the same thing, the last question.

As Slumdog Millionaire has been the only Oscar contender I’ve seen this year (The exception, of course, was The Dark Knight, but I thought that that film was an extraordinary film that went an hour too long and became an ordinary film.), I can’t really say if it deserves the best picture prize. But I would like to see it win, simply because it is a really good movie that actually leaves you feeling good about life. I loved the characters, the cinematography, and the music (The soundtrack is full of M.I.A.). It’s a shame that most people will not give this movie a chance, because it really has all the ingredients of a classic Hollywood blockbuster. Memorable characters, epic story, a bit of sentimentality, and a feel good ending. Plus, there is a Bollywood dance number during the credits. Now how can anyone not like that?