14 January 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

We went to the cinema last night for the first time in ages, and I was very impressed by Slumdog Millionnaire. Usually I read the reviews before choosing a film, but this time I went in more or less blind. The film is fast-paced from the beginning, and the switching timeframes make for an intense introduction. Once you get into the style and start to anticipate the plot, the viewing becomes compelling.

One health warning - you do have to be prepared for some fairly graphic violence, though this is limited to a few scenes, and it's instrumental to the plot.

I was particularly impressed with the casting, which accommodates three different actors for each of the principal characters. The transitions between each period in the film was very believable, and this was largely down to the quality of the acting, particularly by the young actors used.

The main plot device (no spoilers here) is clever, and echoes the often-implausible nature of films from the Bollywood genre, from which the film borrows many ideas.

All in all, this is a great film with good actors and a fantastic soundtrack. The whole thing is rounded off by the best closing credits I've seen in a long time.

If you're going to go to see it, I'd recommend curbing your instinct to read about the film beforehand, as this will probably diminish the experience.

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