I'm really excited to see this movie, not just because it's getting a lot of buzz but also I'm excited to see India being represented with a good move finally!
Being Indian, I've grown up on Bollywood movies. If you've seen them they're pure escapist, but a lot of them (most) aren't very good unfortunately. And even though this isn't an indian film per se, it's got my favorite bollywood actor in it: Anil Kapoor.
So I'm excited that maybe the Indian film industry can take a lesson from this movie and produce quality movies again like they did in the 50s.
I can't wait til November 28!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Teen Angst,
Posts: 462 | Location: Sugar Land | Registered: June 13, 2004
I'm right with you! I am very excited for this movie as well! With it's extremely rave reviews at Telluride and with even more in the coming week from Toronto, this will be one helluva movie! And I will continously bring it up on my new blog like I have this week already.
*And by the way, quick question. Let's say Slumdog can be that little indie film that gets the Best Picture nomination, will this be the first "Bollywood" film to get nominated, let alone being nominated for Best Picture?
2010 Oscars FYC:
Lead Actor - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer Lead Actress - Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire Original Screenplay - Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
Posts: 4923 | Location: Why Do You Want To Know? | Registered: November 21, 2006
*And by the way, quick question. Let's say Slumdog can be that little indie film that gets the Best Picture nomination, will this be the first "Bollywood" film to get nominated, let alone being nominated for Best Picture?
no. india has had 3 previous films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, 2 of them Bollywood movies: Mother India & Lagaan. The other: Mira Nair's amazing Salaam Bombay.
Posts: 462 | Location: Sugar Land | Registered: June 13, 2004
Good news to us Americans, at least. Fox Searchlight, the greatest indie distributor ever, has picked up the film, so it might actually make it into a few theaters... or at least come out here on DVD.
---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1924 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson: Good news to us Americans, at least. Fox Searchlight, the greatest indie distributor ever, has picked up the film, so it might actually make it into a few theaters... or at least come out here on DVD.
I don't want to burst your bubble, but we've known that since like the beginning of September.
2010 Oscars FYC:
Lead Actor - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer Lead Actress - Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire Original Screenplay - Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
Posts: 4923 | Location: Why Do You Want To Know? | Registered: November 21, 2006
This film looks interesting. Obviously this isn't the typical Indian (Bollywood) movie, but I hope it becomes a success. From what I've been hearing Dev Patel does really good in here, he might deserve an Oscar nomination, depending on his performance of course.
Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson: Good news to us Americans, at least. Fox Searchlight, the greatest indie distributor ever, has picked up the film, so it might actually make it into a few theaters... or at least come out here on DVD.
I don't want to burst your bubble, but we've known that since like the beginning of September.
Yeah, I know. Just a little reiteration.
---- OSCAR FYC: Best Picture - "Up" Best Actor - Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man" Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, "Lovely Bones" Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, "Basterds" Best Original Screenplay - "Up"
Posts: 1924 | Location: Right behind you. | Registered: December 07, 2007
Originally posted by Dr. McPhearson: Good news to us Americans, at least. Fox Searchlight, the greatest indie distributor ever, has picked up the film, so it might actually make it into a few theaters... or at least come out here on DVD.
I don't want to burst your bubble, but we've known that since like the beginning of September.
Yeah, I know. Just a little reiteration.
Ah, ok! I see!
2010 Oscars FYC:
Lead Actor - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer Lead Actress - Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire Original Screenplay - Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
Posts: 4923 | Location: Why Do You Want To Know? | Registered: November 21, 2006
I'm really excited to see this film! I'm a big fan of Dev Patel from his work on the British series SKINS (which everyone should check out!) and its nice to hear the film is garnering Oscar buzz.
For Your Grammy Consideration: Kanye West for "Heartless" and 808's & Heartbreak Adele for "Hometown Glory" Taylor Swift for "You Belong With Me" & Fearless Maxwell for "Pretty Wings" & BLACKsummer'snight Kings of Leon for "Use Somebody" The Cast of GLEE for "Don't Stop Believin' " Mariah Carey for "Obsessed"
Slumdog Millionaire is actually a British-American production, and just because it tells the story of an Indian teen doesn't make it a Bollywood film. Bravo on those deductive reasoning skills. And on that note, Bollywood really stank up the joint this year with their submission. Their Oscar submission is another triumph over adversity flick called "Taare Zameen Par", thematically very similar to their 2005 submission, Black. TZP has a fantastic soundtrack and that's where the praise ends. Jodhaa Akbar would've been a much better submission, and a popular one to rest with because the movie was the biggest hit of last year. They could've also gone with Johnny Gaddaar, but they hardly have the balls to make such a bold decision. Now, if ever a Bollywood movie should've made an appearance at the Oscars after Lagaan, it should have been Omkara, a brilliant adaptation of Othello that I'd recommend to all Derbyites who are into foreign cinema. As for this movie, I am pretty excited after watching the trailer. I love Danny Boyle so I am happy he is gonna get some sweet time in the limelight this year. I am also a fan of Dev and Dilshad so all the more reason to watch it.
"Deadwood was defiantly and noisily unlike anything else on television.", Tom Shales "It’s very rare to see a television show that revolves around three generations of strong, smart, opinionated women, let alone one that was so well written and acted...Gilmore Girls! TV is going to be a lot less witty without you", Roxanne Connolly
Originally posted by Hybrid87: Slumdog Millionaire is actually a British-American production, and just because it tells the story of an Indian teen doesn't make it a Bollywood film. Bravo on those deductive reasoning skills.
as i noted in my first post, i said it really wasnt an indian film.
quote:
Originally posted by Hybrid87:And on that note, Bollywood really stank up the joint this year with their submission. Their Oscar submission is another triumph over adversity flick called "Taare Zameen Par", thematically very similar to their 2005 submission, Black. TZP has a fantastic soundtrack and that's where the praise ends. Jodhaa Akbar would've been a much better submission, and a popular one to rest with because the movie was the biggest hit of last year.
do you really think Jodhaa Akbar stands a better chance than Taare Zameen Par? I beg to differ. A movie that India should of nominated a couple years back was Dor.
Posts: 462 | Location: Sugar Land | Registered: June 13, 2004
Slumdog Millionaire is actually a British-American production, and just because it tells the story of an Indian teen doesn't make it a Bollywood film. Bravo on those deductive reasoning skills. And on that note, Bollywood really stank up the joint this year with their submission. Their Oscar submission is another triumph over adversity flick called "Taare Zameen Par", thematically very similar to their 2005 submission, Black. TZP has a fantastic soundtrack and that's where the praise ends. Jodhaa Akbar would've been a much better submission, and a popular one to rest with because the movie was the biggest hit of last year.
I agree! Jodhaa Akbar would've been a smarter choice, since its very "Gladiator". Oh well. I also don't consider Slumdog Millionaire a Bollywood film, LOL. In my post I did say its not the typical Bollywood film, when I said that, I meant it as its really NOT a Bollywood film, but just a film about an Indian teen. My bad for not explaining that. That being said, I really hope Slumdog is as good as its being hailed.
Originally Posted by Teen Angst: as i noted in my first post, i said it really wasnt an indian film
That comment wasn't addressed to you but Bocaboy7's post that follows yours. And as for Dor, I would have loved to have seen that movie considered.
quote:
Originally Posted by Teen Angst: do you really think Jodhaa Akbar stands a better chance than Taare Zameen Par? I beg to differ. A movie that India should of nominated a couple years back was Dor.
Yeah! I think JA is an infinitely better choice than TZP. You have to understand that in India, people embrace such trite bull**** in a jiff, but when you are targeting a voting body like the AMPAS, which is dominated by Americans, you have to put something out there which looks sophisticated enough to not be confused for something that was targeted at the lowest common denominator, and the tagline, "Every Child is Special", only reinforces how much this movie wants to mallet your head with the dyslexia routine for the next 3 hours of your life without ever delving into any complexity that might distinguish this supposed movie from an infomercial, and also they want you to leave every bit of intelligence at home before you enter the theatres. The review of Variety pretty much sums up how American viewers would feel about this, "Actor-producer Aamir Khan ("Lagaan," "Rang de basanti") makes a bland helming debut with "Taare zameen par," whose handle, "Every Child Is Special" sums up its touchy-feely-ness. Pic about a special-needs kid's plight is so resolutely caring -- and devoid of real drama and interesting characters -- that it should have "approved by the Dyslexia Assn." stamped on the posters. Two-and-a-half-hour picture doesn't even recognize the tyke's obvious problem until after the intermission, and then fails to capitalize on it dramatically". The full Review Here And that is the only major publisher that bothered to review this film. Jodhaa Akbar on the contrary has a 69 on Metacritic and a 75 on Rotten Tomatoes, and its directed by someone who has already been endorsed by the AMPAS once with Lagaan.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hybrid87,
"Deadwood was defiantly and noisily unlike anything else on television.", Tom Shales "It’s very rare to see a television show that revolves around three generations of strong, smart, opinionated women, let alone one that was so well written and acted...Gilmore Girls! TV is going to be a lot less witty without you", Roxanne Connolly
Jodhaa Akbar was nothing more than a big budget melodrama. Something like Curse of the Golden Flower in a sense. What was the last foreign film with an extravagant budget that won the oscar?
Posts: 462 | Location: Sugar Land | Registered: June 13, 2004
PLOT: A penniless young man has taken India by storm as he is on his way to winning 20 million rupees on India’s popular version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”. But due to mistrust of the knowledge he shouldn’t possibly have, he is taken away by the police. It is there he explains to his captors how he could have all the answers. It all makes way for a tale of destiny yet unfulfilled in the guise of a young woman that he loves.
REVIEW:I’ve never been one to watch the television show “Do You Want To Be A Millionaire?”. It never appealed to me in any way. So when I went into SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE knowing that it was about an eighteen-year-old orphan from Mumbai, who is only one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India’s version of the show, I had my doubts. But I should have known that Danny Boyle would turn it into a magnificent accomplishment. A vivid portrait of love, pain, brutality and destiny that is beyond anything playing at the local Cineplex. Not only is it one of Boyle’s most incredible works of art, it may very well be the best film of the year.
It is a life changing moment for Jamel Malik (Dev Patel). He is on a stage about to answer a question that will make him rich beyond belief. But before he can make his million, he is taken in for cheating on the game. The Police Inspector (Irrfan Khan) attempts to find the truth, and how this young man has successfully cheated on the very popular game show. Finally, after suffering vicious abuse from the police department, Jamel tells his story. And oh what a story it is! How he knows each question is told in some of the most powerful and oftentimes heart wrenching tales. But beneath it all is a love story. A sweet and undying tale of never giving up on your destiny.
It is unnerving what Boyle accomplishes here. It sounds cliché, but this is truly one of those films where you may find yourself laughing out loud then crying the next. Both of the young actors who play brothers Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) are simply wonderful. When they lose their mother due to a violent attack, it is one of the most painful moments you could imagine. The imagery is filled with color and alive with sound. While there is one sequence early on that felt similar to TRAINSPOTTING, as the two young brothers are running from authorities, it is still nothing like he’s done before. In fact, so much of the film is overflowing with vitality and beauty. It is brimming with humor, horror and romance as destiny is possibly fulfilled.
The only downfall here is the name. Will audiences go see a movie entitled SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE? Yet it is incredibly apropos as it is about just that. A young man from the slums who is on his way to becoming a millionaire. But it is so much more complex than what you would expect. It is rich in style, and rich in character. While you may find that it is treading into melodrama for a bit, it is a very slight complaint. In fact, to tell this story, it would have to take on some melodramatic risks. Yet this young man’s journey is so engrossing, even when it feels a bit like a Shakespearean romance, that I can‘t imagine it told any other way. But boy does it help when the object of Jamal’s affection is the absolutely stunning Freida Pinto. Her performance as Latika is every bit as good as it should be. Every single character here helps brings this story to life.
Once again, Boyle has created a movie that is flowing with style. He shoots this story with such a profound skill and of course, adds some wonderfully chosen pieces of music. All the songs are poured into the film and truly become part of its beauty. I still remember the brilliantly chosen soundtrack from TRAINSPOTTING and this is just as inventive and exciting. While I wonder if the film will find the audience it deserves, I think something this beautifully orchestrated will find itself tossed around when the Oscar nominations are announced. And if that happens, it will be richly deserved. My rating 10/10
