DANNY BOYLE
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBBB.5.
United Kingdom, 2008. Warner Bros., Celador Films, Film4, Pathé Pictures International, Pathé. Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup. Cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle. Produced by Christian Colson. Music by A.R. Rahman. Production Design by Mark Digby. Costume Design by Suttirat Anne Larlarb. Film Editing by Chris Dickens. Academy Awards 2008. Boston Film Critics Awards 2008. Golden Globe Awards 2008. National Board of Review Awards 2008. National Society of Film Critics Awards 2008. New York Film Critics Awards 2008. Online Film Critics Awards 2008. Phoenix Film Critics Awards 2008. Toronto International Film Festival 2008. Washington Film Critics Awards 2008.
The fairy tale begins with success: Jamal, a young Mumbai boy, wins millions of rupees on the Indian version of Who’s Wants To Be A Millionaire but then is immediately suspected of cheating. After the police beat and torture him, they sit and listen as Jamal spins a yarn of chance and fate in which every question given to him on the program is directly linked to a past experience of his life. His destiny, it seems, was to win this game with divine intervention and some shrewd observations of human nature working on his side. This beautifully photographed, exquisite romance by Danny Boyle shows the director gathering the best aspects of his films into one cohesive whole: the gritty reality of Trainspotting, the technical genius of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, and the whimsical romance (though misused in that case) of A Life Less Ordinary combining for an experience that celebrates life and fiction without ignoring the horrors of human frailty. Everything about this movie shines bright, from the wonderfully energetic performances to the sparkling colours and catchy music.
