So, finally this Saturday I got a chance to watch the much touted 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I think it was the Oscar win that whetted my appetite beyond any resistance.
After having heard so much about the movie and it's plot I already had an inkling or two on how it would roll. One reason for still watching it was to see how it has been done. How does a slum boy go about changing his fortune and how all the experiences of his life come together on one single day to help him do the unthinkable.
Now having watched it, I would say I am a little disappointed. Had it lacked the Oscar it would have lacked the disappointment.
Sure it's a film well made and a story well told. The eternal 'Rags to Riches' idea amalgamated with the boy's 'Never Say Die' spirit and his relentless efforts to find his love. I mean who doesn't love an underdog. Right ?!
But I think the 'Big Idea' that separates an exceptional movie from a good one is still missing. I simply think that it is not in the same bracket as some earlier winners of the 'Best Picture' trophy.
I can recount a few.
Look at something like Forrest Gump. A simpleton who is prone and invincible to the world. The story of an innately good guy who refuses to make the trade-offs that me and you make every day of our lives. Remember the lines, "Run Forrest Run" or "Life's like a box of chocolates..."? I'm sure you do. I wonder how many lines from Slumdog we'd remember 10-15 years down the line.
Another one that comes to mind is Titanic. A gorgeous tale of a romance that couldn't be. A story from the annals of history. A story that everyone knew for so long. Still the movie managed to shake every soul that watched it. And it still does. Over and over. There are so many scenes from the movie that have stayed with us. I still remember the one where Rose jumps back on to the ship even as her rescue boat is being lowered, to reunite with her lover in the face of certain death. I looked for such a scene in Slumdog. Couldn't find one.
LOTR-Return of the King. A movie that is simply incomparable in it's magnificence. A movie larger than life. So stupendously large that even the superlatives fail to describe it. Totally incredulous, still made so believable.
There is a long list worthy winners. But then there are some which IMHO bring the prestige of the 'Best Picture' trophy a tad down. 'The American Beauty' is one. Nice movie with some great acting by Spacey but Oscar worthy? Hmm..I'm not sure. Same is the case with 'The Departed'. I guess what happens in these cases is that they are really the best picture that particular year. The best among averages if I could say.
If I could, I would do away with giving out the 'Best Picture' trophy if no movie is worthy of it. But then again if I could do things off my wishlist, there are many other things higher up than this ;)
I would digress a little and comment on one more aspect. I have read that many people back in India have taken an exception to how the movie shows India in bad light. Plenty of acidulous remarks have come it's way.
But we need to ask ourselves. What does it depict about India that is untrue? Don't we have child trafficking? Don't we swindle our tourists and take them for a 'ride' (both figuratively and literally)? Sometimes we do even worse. Aren't we riddled with religion and caste based riots even 60 years after independence. Don't we have children in our slums that lead a life of want and privation? What is it that we are taking an exception to? If we do not like somebody holding up the mirror to us, then we should not roll out the red carpet when foreign directors come to our land in the first place.
I do have my own reservations about the movie. But it's got more to do with the way it depicts people from India than the situations in India. Not a single character in the movie who is Indian is shown to be good. Except for the main protagonist of the movie who by default has to be good. Is India all about goons and child traffickers? Even the quiz show host tips the boy to a wrong answer. No one is India is inherently good. Is that the message?
Well, this discussion could go on and on. Hence I'd stop coz my main intent was not to talk about this.
Last few words are reserved for Rahman and what a great talent he is. He is truly exceptional and deserves all the recognition that he is getting. He can stand shoulder to shoulder with any international music talent. Kudos to him!! Though I think some of his earlier work has been better but then, the Americans have never heard it.
In the end, I'd only say that SM is a good movie. Not an exceptional one. Not a spectacular one.
I am simply Stirred, not Shaken !!
2 comments:
1.Rightly said about the "had it lacked the oscar it would have lacked the dissapointment".
2.I personally dont think that its a "film well made and a story well told". I thought it had a pitiable script and really bad editing.Also the problem with Indian actors speaking in English is,that more often than not,they are not able to convince the viewer,they are not able to bring genuineness to their character.
3.Great movies,as you mentioned, have great scenes,dialogues, performances which we talk about for years.SM lacked in all those fronts.The only fame SM has is the song 'Jai ho' which seems to have taken the western world by storm. One of the worst creations by Rahman and Gulzar.
4.Every year,the best picture awardee finds a group of haters, which is absolutely natural.
5.Nobody denies poverty in India. But what SM shows is caricatures, not characters.It seems this movie was made just to feed the third world fantasy of most ignorant westerner.Moreover, with economic recession badly affecting US and Europe,this movie comes as a reassurance that things are much worse in the not-so-badly-hit-third-world-fastest-growing-economies.
6.Sadly for India, we still suck up to the goras.As we are now, ready to embrace this turd movie, ready to shower our respect to Danny boyle who used us to get the much coveted oscar.
Gracias por el comentario amigo ;)
Some very good points made. Especially I think that your take on the movie's overwhelming acceptance in the west is worth pondering on.
I'd still say that the movie was well made. I did not hate it but yes, I'd also not put it in the A+ category.
You are correct in saying that it is unnatural to see Indian actors speak in English. And that's a problem with this movie too. Still I think the main guy did a good job. His acting was convincing enough, at least for me.
Lastly I agree, this is not Rahman's greatest work. But we could take this Oscar as a recognition of his immense talent. An honor for all his prior work which has been nothing short of exceptional each and every time.
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