Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire is a coming of age story about two brothers who grow up in the slums of Mubai, India. The movie starts with the 18-year-old Jamal competing on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, India version. Cut to Jamal being tortured by the governement who are trying to get him to fess up to cheating on the show. The sadistic torturer finally listen to Jamal tell the story of his life. The movie is then structured around how Jamal learned the answers to the questions through mostly harrowing life or death experiences. The movie has a Oliver Twist-like feel to it as the two young brothers run through the slums from the police or when, they are brought to a Dickens like hovel where young thieves are bred. It is tense and a tad melodramatic. But even with all its Bollywoodesque cheesiness and unsubtle villians, it is very enjoyable movie, and it is definately not boring. Dev Patel who plays the 18-year-old Jamal is sweet and charming and his life long love, Latika played by Frieda Pinto is lovely.