Slumdog Millionaire is Danny Boyle’s winning new film about 18-year-old Jamal (Dev Patel), an orphan who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, who goes on India’s version of “Who Wants To be A Millionaire” and surprisingly answers all the right answers racking up $10 million. But he is accused of cheating, and arrested between shows and tortured and interrogated by police. The story of his hard-scrabble life emerges as do the reasons for his answering each question correctly. Director Boyle (Trainspotting) makes this harrowing journey incredibly cinematic (thank God), especially the romance between Jamal and fellow orphan Latika (Frieda Pinto) who he was separated from in his youth but tirelessly searched for, considering this his “destiny”. The movie works on every level -- it’s tender, funny and emotionally satisfying without being cloying. And whatever you do, stay for the final credits which are quite fabulous.
