Monday, January 12, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

Saturday evening I saw one of those movies that will stay with me for a very, very long time. Slumdog Millionaire deserves all the accolades and buzz it has generated (including Flower Child's Music Monday last week). What I wasn't prepared for was the violence, particularly at children. I barely slept that night thinking about how human beings could so horribly treat each other. I've also struggled with how to talk about the movie with my kids since they have asked me about it.

What I was also not prepared for was a completely "straight" movie, not a typical Bollywood production with random big singing and dancing numbers interspersed throughout the story. Last year I watched one film about a haunted castle and while the big dance number during a wedding made some sense, the buddies singing and dancing their way through a travel scene made no sense what so-ever.

But the closing credits for Slumdog Millionaire had this sweetly awkward dance number on a train station that has several pivotal scenes. If you've seen a true Bollywood music scene these dancer-actors rival any move Beyonce has. Just watch the lead actors. They barely know what they are doing. That makes it all the more enjoyable.



The soundtrack is just terrific. If you have any interest in Indian pop music fused with other styles, this is for you. Sunday I managed to run a full 5K while listening to the soundtrack. It is that fun.

A fun soundtrack for a movie about, in part, the brutal treatment of poor children. But in the end it is a movie about living with hope. The hope of love and a better life.

Music Monday at Soccer Mom in Denial



Any music inspired you lately? Please join in Music Monday. Just remember if you plan to use little Mr. Linky below, write a post about music and link back to me. Music always makes Monday a bit more fun.



But if you plan on posting an advertisement, I will delete your link as well as your comment. Just don't bother.

6 comments:

UUbuntu said...

I liked the movie, I didn't love it. I thought the first third was terrific, and carried the entire movie, which seemed to descend into dramatic ordinariness by the end. I did like the narrative structure too.

But that closing credits number was fantastic, and seemed (to me anyway) to show much more romantic connection between the leads than the movie itself.

Right now, it's the leading contender for winning the best picture academy award, which should be nice, even if it's not my first choice.

BTW, if you're not familiar with the "full Bollywood treatment", see Lagaan (ideally on a big screen with an audience, but that'll be difficult). Be prepared for a 4-hour movie going experience.

Flower Child said...

Great movie! And very violent as you say - which I also wasn't prepared for. I also loved the soundtrack and have yet to download it - just slow I guess. Will do that right now!

Goofball said...

I am a bit of a Bollywood sucker....some random dancing and overly romantic scenes now and then can be quite the ingredients for a cosy evening.

Is this the movie about the guy from the slumbs about to win a quiz, but being questionned for his knowledge or something? Jan talked about it to me. Sounds quite interesting? So is it that violent?

I'll have to check when it's playing in Belgium, once I can sit down again ;)

Heather said...

I had never heard of it before, but that's not saying much since I don't get time for TV, let alone movies, these days.

Kate said...

I heard about this movie and have been wanting to see ever since it starting getting some buzz several weeks ago. I think it was at sundance? or some other big festival like that. Thanks for the review. Confirms it's an awesome movie that I need to see. They have a page on facebook to become a "fan" if you are so inclined. :)

1 Picture a Day said...

I this movie based on a book called "Q & A" or something? It sounds familiar. The book is really good. I haven't seen the movie, but clearly should.