"Porthos, Athos, and Aramis."
Starring: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto
Directed by: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
I wanted to enjoy this film so much more than I actually did. Maybe it was because I wanted to enjoy it, that I couldn't really bring myself to. I mean, I did enjoy it, just not as much as I was expecting with all the hype surrounding it. Maybe the hype kind of ruined it as well.
None of that is to say I didn't enjoy the film because I did, it just wasn't in the way that I was hoping for.
I'm not really sure how to categorize this film. Was it a love story? A story of brothers? A tale of truth and lies? A take on the poverty in India? Or maybe it was all of the above, much like Captain Corelli's Mandolin where it had no idea what kind of film it was. That was the problem with this problem although it covered it up pretty well. For the most part, the film went smoothly but there were several disjointed parts when I had to do a double take and wish I could watch the scene over again.
The film is the story of Jamal, an Indian boy plagued by poverty who wins the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and in the midst of the game, he relates the story of his childhood to his captors/torturers and how he met the love of his life, Latika, and desperately searched for her. Just from the plot the movie seems rather jumbled together. He knows the answer to every question because of a past life experience, all save for the last one, which we're introduced to in the very beginning of the film. (I have to admit that I did act like a fangirl with references to The Three Musketeers. :D)
The acting was superb, however. Dev Patel just makes me happy inside and it was such a stark contrast from Anwar from Skins (which, speaking of, I need to go watch the first episode of the third series). His performance was so much more than what I had been expecting. But I guess that happens when you're used to seeing someone act like an idiotic teenager instead of a love-driven young man. Freida Pinto is so, so BEAUTIFUL. I LOVED HER. And I could feel the chemistry between her and Patel which was nice.
I would not be opposed at all if this film wins for score or visual effects/cinematography because those aspects of the film really blew me away.
Overall? I don't know. Something didn't sit right with me but I can't seem to pinpoint what it was. I just don't feel right about this film. ARGH. It's really rather annoying. And so yes, I will be disappointed if it beats out Frost/Nixon again. D:
Short review is short.
BY THE WAY, the credits = Bollywood meets Dirty Dancing. FOR SRS.
Recommend this movie to other people?: I do. I really do. I hope you all enjoy it more than I did because it has potential to be great, I just couldn't see it for some reason.
Buy the DVD: Probably not.
Grade: B-
Trailer: Here
♥The Reader (January 9 2009)
♥Last Chance Harvey (January 16 2009)
♥Defiance (January 16 2009)
♥The Rebound (January 23 2009)
♥He's Just Not That Into You (February 6 2009)
♥Two Lovers (February 13 2009)
♥The Edge of Love (March 2009) (Limited)
♥Watchmen (March 6 2009)
♥The Soloist (March 13 2009)
♥Star Trek XI (May 8 2009)
♥Angels & Demons (May 15 2009)
♥Up (May 29 2009)
♥Public Enemies (July 1 2009)
♥Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17 2009)
♥Where the Wild Things Are (October 16 2009)
♥Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (November 13 2009)
♥Sherlock Holmes (2010)
♥Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (November 19 2010)
♥Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (May 2011)
♥The Last Station (Unknown Release Date)
♥Shoe At Your Foot (Unknown Release Date)
I. James McAvoy is a hard act at the West End - Wonderful article about my Scotsman. Guh, I wish I could see it. Cue the jealousy, artic_fox, even though I do wish you have the best time ever.
II. The Many Faces of Michael Sheen - D'AWWWW. ILU. Especially when he's stalking David Frost.
III. Michael Sheen: My Advice for Obama - PLAY OBAMA. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. XD
I love that interview. HE IS SO FREAKING ADORABLE.
V. SAG AWARDS TONIGHT! - FINGERS CROSSED FOR FROST/NIXON, GUYS! :D
VI. And last, but certainly not least, I GOT THE JOB AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY. 8D
Catch you later, calculators.