THE CRITIC-AL LIST
5 STAR FAB - 1 STAR RUBBISH

The Crazies
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The Wolfman
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The Descent: Part 2
Amer
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
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2012
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A Perfect Getaway
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And The Half-Blood Prince
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Not Quite Hollywood
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Punisher:War Zone
The Uninvited
Amusement
The Good The Bad And
The Weird
Hush
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The RIse OF The Lycans
My Bloody Valentine
Bolt
Slumdog Millionaire

Directed by Danny Boyle. Staring Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Ittal and Freida Pinto. Drama, UK, 121 min. Web site

Easily Danny Boyle’s finest and mature masterpiece since his ground breaking TRAINSPOTTING, the rich emotional texture and life-affirming splendour of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE epitomizes the description crowd-pleaser. Coupled with Simon (THE FULL MONTY) Beaufoy’s pitch perfect and audaciously clever scripting, bravura storytelling technique and superlative filmmaking expertise elevates this dazzling delight to extraordinarily resonant and entertaining heights. Infused with the shimmering sights and sounds of modern India for a stunning sensory overload that further motors its propulsive power, Boyle’s romantic thriller is justly getting the award recognition it deserves.

Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from Mumbai’s slums, is just one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India’s version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ Arrested on suspicion of cheating, local police thugs try forcing him to confess having an accomplice in the TV studio audience. But as they listen to his colourful life story it becomes clear his survival experiences have taught him everything needed to legitimately know the answers. Each question signals a flashback to Jamal’s earlier traumatic life where he gained that key knowledge. Like falling prey to criminals maiming orphans to make more money street begging, pretending to be Taj Mahal tourist guides, or the schism caused by his brother turning gangster. But it’s not those tragic hardships that made him want to be a winning contestant; it’s his desire to find Latika (Frieda Pinto), the girl he loved and lost in arranged marriage to a violent husband. A vivid visual sensibility, scorching soundtrack (by genius A R Rahman) and superb all-round performances - Patel and Pinto together are heart-breaking - keep suspense high and the flights of romance higher. Plus the inspired Bollywood finale will have you exiting dancing on air.

As much an incisive social commentary on contemporary India as a delicious feel-good fairytale, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE makes you laugh out loud, wince in horror, feel the pain of rejection and cry buckets while always remaining a solidly grounded moving testimony to the human spirit. Ask the audience, phone a friend, even go 50/50, but don’t miss it!

Alan Jones

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