Every year, I try to make sure I see every movie nominated for Best Picture. I'm starting a little early this year, as the nominations haven't been released yet. Yesterday, C and I went to see "Slumdog Millionaire". I had heard about this movie months ago and due to all of our travels around the holidays, this past weekend was the first chance we've had to go to the movies. The premise of this movie is pretty cool - a young boy from the slums (and an American vision of slum doesn't do justice to what a slum in India is) of Mumbai is a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be A Millionaire". The movie cuts back and forth between present time as he is asked questions and the past as he uses his life experiences in order to answer the questions. The authorities (and host of the program) believe he is cheating and he has to explain how he knew the answers. I found his explanations very plausible, except for one concerning a Hindu God. And his reason for being on the program isn't for the money, but to find the girl he loves, who he believes will be watching the program. The movie was filmed in India and the poverty and daily life struggle of the people who live in the slums is mind-boggling. There are some very uncomfortable scenes from his childhood, one in particular that was difficult to watch.
And perhaps it's because I'm a movie buff, but I knew how the last question would work itself out and in fact, what the last question would be.
The acting was great (each of the 3 main characters had 3 different aged people playing them), the photography captured present day India as well as I thought "Ghandi" captured India of that time and as a big fan of the music of Bollywood (India's Hollywood that produces vastly more movies per year as Hollywood does), the score was fantastic. This is a feel-good movie that most of the time doesn't have a feel-good vibe to it.
UPDATE: "Slumdog Millionaire" won 3 Golden Globes last night for Best Score, Best Screenplay and Best Drama. It is the odds-on favorite now to win the Best Picture Oscar.
Next on my list is "The Wrestler", which I plan to see on Wednesday. It stars Mickey Rourke, who from all I've read and heard is brilliant in this. Also stars Marisa Tomei who is also supposed to be excellent. Again, not a feel-good movie, but the buzz for this film is off-the-charts.
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We saw Slumdog a few weeks ago. I don't pay much attention to movie buzz anymore, so when we went, I wasn't aware there was award buzz for it. Liked it alot and particularly loved seeing a movie that was so clearly not filmed on a Hollywood sound stage. I thought there was a better ending to be had, but can't elaborate here without ruining it for others. Thought Frieda Pinto was the most beautiful woman on the planet. And the kids were amazing.
And we saw The Reader on Saturday. Winslet is really really good. Had no idea she had it in her and have been avoiding her movies since Titanic. She was so good, we weren't sure it was her. Had read the book for book club which makes it hard to be objective about the movie (can't stop comparing), but I liked it. Found the topic of the moral authority that the next generation had over their parents in post WWII Germany really interesting.
I love Kate, even before Titanic which I will admit that I like and have seen more times than I can count. She should have won an Oscar before now, and she will win at least one this time around. The Reader is on our list of must-sees, as well as Revolutionary Road.
The previews for The Wrestler look amazing. Or more precisely, Rourke/Tomei look amazing. It'd be fabulous if the story is worthy of those performances, but I'm afraid it might be standard-issue hasbeen-comeback story.
LJ: what did you think of Heath Ledger's Joker?
I stopped watching Batman movies when Clooney was the star. Haven't seen it - not planning to either.
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