MOVIE REVIEW-- 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Amelia Gutierrez
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Reviews
What does it take to find a lost love? This is the question that appears on a theatrical poster advertising for the unexpected hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire." The movie takes place in Mumbai, India, where a poor boy named Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, goes on the hit show "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire," not to win the money, but to reconnect with his lost love instead.
After Jamal surpasses the average amount of $16,000 that is usually won on the show, Prem Kumar, the host of the show, played by Anil Kapoor, becomes suspicious. Jamal is one question away from becoming a millionaire, but the show has reached its last minutes which leaves that million dollar question left for Jamal to answer for the next night.
Astounded with the idea of a street kid actually knowing every single answer that was asked, Prem decided to bring in the police to interrogate Jamal. The police tortured Jamal to see if he would give in and explain how he cheated, but Jamal did not surrender.
After no success, the police decided to review every question that was asked on the show and Jamal had to explain how he arrived to that answer. For every question that Jamal was asked, he had to re-tell his childhood memories growing up as a slumdog.
The police begin to realize that Jamal did not go on the show for money, but rather to seek the attention of a female named Latika, played by Freida Pinto. Latika is the girl he fell in love with since he was in his youth.
Jamal's character in the movie is a good-hearted Indian boy from Mumbai, and throughout the movie there is only one main focus in his life and that is to find Latika. The movie captures moments in Jamal's life that are humorous, tragic, romantic, and sad. The betrayal of his older brother Salim, played by Madur Mittal, is horrible.
From the beginning, Salim is very outspoken, tough, and courageous. He also appears to be slightly envious of Jamal and it isn't until their adolescent years when Salim betrays Jamal by taking the love of his life away from him. Salim let's money and the idea of power get in the way of brotherly love.
After Jamal surpasses the average amount of $16,000 that is usually won on the show, Prem Kumar, the host of the show, played by Anil Kapoor, becomes suspicious. Jamal is one question away from becoming a millionaire, but the show has reached its last minutes which leaves that million dollar question left for Jamal to answer for the next night.
Astounded with the idea of a street kid actually knowing every single answer that was asked, Prem decided to bring in the police to interrogate Jamal. The police tortured Jamal to see if he would give in and explain how he cheated, but Jamal did not surrender.
After no success, the police decided to review every question that was asked on the show and Jamal had to explain how he arrived to that answer. For every question that Jamal was asked, he had to re-tell his childhood memories growing up as a slumdog.
The police begin to realize that Jamal did not go on the show for money, but rather to seek the attention of a female named Latika, played by Freida Pinto. Latika is the girl he fell in love with since he was in his youth.
Jamal's character in the movie is a good-hearted Indian boy from Mumbai, and throughout the movie there is only one main focus in his life and that is to find Latika. The movie captures moments in Jamal's life that are humorous, tragic, romantic, and sad. The betrayal of his older brother Salim, played by Madur Mittal, is horrible.
From the beginning, Salim is very outspoken, tough, and courageous. He also appears to be slightly envious of Jamal and it isn't until their adolescent years when Salim betrays Jamal by taking the love of his life away from him. Salim let's money and the idea of power get in the way of brotherly love.
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