So I went to see Slumdog Millionaire yesterday (BTW, when you see a movie in original language here in Geneva, it is subtitled both in french and german).
I have mixed feelings about it. Mainly because I read the book first. And I think the book has much more substance. So I highly recommend it. First of all, in the book Jamal and Salim are not brothers, but friends and do lead rather separate lives. In the movie, Jamal is portrayed as a good guy that doesn't really know how to survive. In the book, Salim is the dreamer, the actor wanna be who is a big fan of the movie star. Jamal's character is so much more interesting in the book. He is the survivor.
To me, it seems that Danny Boyle has decided to go the "love story" avenue to satisfy a blockbuster audience. It is a little sad, knowing that Trainspotting and 28 Days are so unique. Don't get me wrong, I think the direction, the photography, the music are pretty good. I just wish that Danny Boyle had followed the Jamal's character a little closer to the one portrayed in the book.
My two cents! I do not know what the criterias are to be chosen as "Best Film" at the Oscars, and I have only seen two of the other contestants, but I do not think it deserved it. I would not have given it to Benjamin Button either. Milk could have been a good choice (how about giving Milk the best movie, and best actor to Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler?) . As for The Reader and Frost/Nixon, not sure if they were best movies material.
Anyway, the above just reinforce my idea that the Oscars have become a "politically correct" event.
Bottom line: read the book, see the movie, and make up your own mind!
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