Slumdog Millionaire



Fan-made video presenting the song "Jai Ho".


I went this afternoon to see "Slumdog Millionaire" at the Varsity Theater in Davis.

Wonderful film, starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto! Romantic and exciting!

Even though it's simpler than my favorite TV game show, "Jeopardy!", I've always been very fond of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?": maybe precisely because it's simpler than "Jeopardy!" After all, once when they were at the million-dollar level, Regis Philbin asked the contestant "What country is completely landlocked within another country?" That's a remarkably easy question for that level: every geography whiz knows that it's Lesotho - and so it's easy to picture yourself actually winning the thing. Thus, this exploration of the game show starts on very familiar, well-loved turf, and each new revelation uncovers deeper meaning at every turn.

There are some loose ends in the film, but like loose ends in musicals, it's pointless to dwell on them.

I think it's fascinating that "Slumdog Millionaire" is winning so many awards, and is now up for the Oscars. There is a vast talent pool involved in Indian film, and that pool is just a few critical steps away from unleashing all that talent on all the world's song, dance, and cinema. It's just a matter of time, and fortune. A critical and popular success like "Slumdog Millionaire" can only help build that coming tsunami.