![\"blog-slumdog\"](\"https:\/\/chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/blogslumdog.jpg\" "\\"blog-slumdog\\"")
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Two very different dramas this time, and starting off first with…<\/p>\n
Slumdog Millionaire<\/a> (2008)<\/em>. It\u2019s not everyday when a Bollywood-esque movie is award Best Motion Picture at this year\u2019s Academy Awards<\/a>. And not just that even: it picked up 8 of 10 nominated awards.<\/p>\n Interestingly, it didn\u2019t pick up any of the acting awards. And after watching it over the weekend \u2013 I\u2019d watched bits of it in the air during the San Francisco trip \u2013 I don\u2019t think the movie is for everyone, even though I enjoyed it myself. While the relatively unknown cast all looked the part and did appropriate jobs within their roles, I didn\u2019t find any measure of the acting especially memorable.<\/p>\n Ok, apart from maybe Anil Kapoor<\/a> who plays the Game Show\u2019s host. Now, that\u2019s a fellow who dominated every scene he\u2019s in with his sneers and numerous attempts to run down the titular hero of the movie.<\/p>\n For me, it was the story. What\u2019s the gist of it? Well, it\u2019s about a young Indian lad, Jamal, who finds himself in the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?<\/a>, and when he does better than what everyone\u2019s expectations, is suspected to have cheated. The story itself is a refreshing premise, as is the narrative: Jamal really did know the answers through various experiences of his life. The story is told through numerous flashbacks from Jamal\u2019s poverty-strike childhood, and there\u2019s a clear resemblance to the David Copperfield character from Charles Dickens\u2019 story.<\/p>\n The production and cinematography is unforgettable too. This is an India you wouldn\u2019t have seen before: the slums of Mumbai are on the screen and there is no effort to hide the dirt, chaos and violence that occurs in the story. The much talked-about scene at the Indian call-centre was a hoot: just a pity it was a rather short scene.<\/p>\n Just goes to show that even if ordinary acting, you can get a great movie with the right story.<\/p>\n Two very different dramas this time, and starting off first with… Slumdog Millionaire (2008). It\u2019s not everyday when a Bollywood-esque movie is award Best Motion Picture at this year\u2019s Academy Awards. And not just that even: it picked up 8<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/06\/star.gif\")
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