 Tagline: In the opening scene, a title card is presented: Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it? (A) He cheated, (B) He's lucky, (C) He's a genius, (D) It is written. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is just one question away from winning a fortune on India's version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? But how has this uneducated young man from the slums succeeded in providing correct responses to questions that have stumped countless scholars before him? And will he ultimately win it all or lose everything, including his true love? Storyline: The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's Kaun Banega Crorepati? (2000) (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?) But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really ... Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Ben Williams on March 30, 2009 -- Is Slumdog Millionaire the little movie that could? As the recipient of the Best Picture Academy Award this year, most would be surprised to learn that the film almost didn't even find a release in the United States or many other parts of the world. Initially financed by Warner Independent Pictures, the film was kicked to the curb when the indy studio closed its doors and all of its films were transferred into the hands of Warner Brothers. Convinced that the film had limited commercial appeal, Warner slated Slumdog Millionaire for a direct to DVD release and eventually sold off the US rights to Fox Searchlight. Fox couldn't have made a better buy, as Slumdog Millionaire has gone on to earn just under $300 million at the box office worldwide, while running away with a whopping eight Oscars at the 81st Academy Awards. Not too shabby for a little movie about a bunch of impoverished orphans from the slums of Mumbai, India. Jamal Malik's (Dev Patel) life has been filled with challenges the likes of which most could not fathom. Orphaned and left to roam the streets of Mumbai, he's spent his life in a constant struggle to survive, aided only by his few close friends, his quick wits and a little bit of luck. Miraculously, Jamal ends up as a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," sweeping through every category while capturing the hearts of the show's television audience. Indian authorities, however, are skeptical of Jamal's lucky streak; they simply can't understand how a kid from the slums could know all the answers to the show's complex questions. Jamal is quickly arrested and charged with cheating on the show. As he faces torture and relentless questioning, Jamal defends his honor by recounting his life experiences in the slums of Mumbai; experiences that have supplied him with all the answers he will need to win big on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Slumdog Millionaire is, at its core, a romance. Jamal's struggles and eventual appearance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" serve as a backdrop to his longing for Latika (Freida Pinto), the local girl he's been in love with since childhood. Latika's own struggles parallel Jamal's; the two characters exist in different spheres of the same world, separated only by circumstance and past failings in their relationship. Like any good romance, they are meant to be together, but the struggle to find each other is the crux of the film. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement that Slumdog Millionaire dishes out in large doses, but viewers are quickly reminded that the film takes place in a world of severe poverty and suffering. The slums of Mumbai are as inhospitable a place as one could imagine for children; it's a frightening and desolate existence for Jamal and his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal). One of the many miraculous elements that the film presents lies in the detailed depiction of slum life for the children. It's a horrible existence that serves as fuel for the characters to break free of the oppression that they've experienced since birth. Slumdog Millionaire is a truly marvelous film that has become something of a phenomenon with audiences around the world. For fans of Director Danny Boyle, a true artist who has crafted many an outstanding film, his win for Best Director serves as vindication and commercial appreciation for his remarkable body of work. It's a rare thing to discover a film that can be insightful, touching and revealing to the world. It's even more of a rarity when the world actually takes notice. Slumdog Millionaire is highly recommended. Slumdog Millionaire surprised audiences around the world with its original and warm-hearted storytelling, especially considering the film's somewhat depressing subject matter. Director Danny Boyle has made a career out of crafting unique movies that, despite not having much in common with one another, manage to focus on the human experience regardless of the setting. Slumdog Millionaire succeeds because of its boundless optimism and sunny outlook; the film's characters find happiness and satisfaction because of their humble lives, not in spite of them. Fox has delivered the film to Blu-ray with a faithful transfer that perfectly realizes the film's heavily stylized look. Audio is also nicely presented in the form of a stellar 5.1 DTS HD-Master Audio track that delivers the film's Hindi and English dialogue with aplomb. The film's supplements, while limited in number, are highly enjoyable. Slumdog Millionaire is an inspiring and entertaining film that has found a welcome home on Blu- ray. Highly recommended! Cast Notes: Dev Patel (Jamal K. Malik), Anil Kapoor (Prem Kumar), Saurabh Shukla (Sergeant Srinivas), Rajendranath Zutshi (Director [as Raj Zutshi]), Jeneva Talwar (Vision Mixer), Freida Pinto (Latika), Irrfan Khan (Police Inspector), Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (Youngest Salim), Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (Youngest Jamal), Sunil Kumar Agrawal (Mr Chi [as Sunil Aggarwal]), Jira Banjara (Airport Security Guard #1), Sheikh Wali (Airport Security Guard #2), Mahesh Manjrekar (Javed), Sanchita Choudhary (Jamal's Mother), Himanshu Tyagi (Mr Nanda). IMDb Rating (02/11/17): 8.0/10 from 664,719 users
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