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Rating: Note on the title: the original title, "Slumdog Millionaire," was more appropriate for this film, as it translates to "Randagio Milionario." From the title we are given in Italy, "The Millionaire," the film seems to have Briatore as its subject.
You are seated in an armchair. What lies in front of you does not remotely resemble Gerry Scotti ("Doctor!"), but what surrounds you is the studio of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," easily recognizable even if you prefer cricket (movie quote...) to this show. What follows is the final question. Think carefully and don't be impulsive. You can still phone home.
What is the strength of "The Millionaire"?
A. The fairytale story. Jamal, an eighteen-year-old born in the slums of Mumbai, through a life journey that taught him about love, the value of family, and determination, manages to win 20 million rupees on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," with a bit of luck and even some insolence, so much so that he is accused of cheating. This story seems like the work of an old storyteller who manages to make Good triumph over Evil and marries the princess to the pauper. There is no shortage of "baddies," just think of the protagonist's brother, the host, the criminal. The simplistic view in the main story is, in my opinion, too idealistic, too easy, and too fast.
B. The photography. What is offered to us is simply excellent photography. The view is often tilted, and the feelings it conveys are easily associated with youth. One of the gems is certainly the view of the Maj Tahal for an entire day.
C. The division of the story into three layers. When I entered the cinema, I thought I was going to see a banal movie following this boy's life, but I was mistaken. The director, Danny Boyle, chose to unravel the story on three different levels: the first sees Jamal during his climb to the million, the second talks about his past life, from birth to sitting in the program's chair; the third is where the film starts, his interrogation by the police after being accused of cheating. During the interrogation, segments of the program are shown (1st level), and Jamal finds himself explaining to the inspector how he knew the answers to the questions, thus telling his life (2nd level). This structure gives sense and rhythm to the film, making it much more interesting.
D. The overview of India. What I found by the end of the film is a truly spectacular view of India. The director managed to incorporate many of the country's problems: religious intolerance, child exploitation, crime, slums, police torture, ... they are presented to us through the life of the young winner. India, from the perspective given by the film, appears full of contradictions (a people divided by religion and united by television, the police dealing with a poor soul suspected of cheating instead of criminals, gangsters,...). India is "The Center of the World," and the protagonists find themselves "at the center of the center of the world." In my opinion, this strays a bit from the idealistic view I talked about in point A because the camera's eye seems absolutely objective in showing India in its entirety, not a dreamland but not hell either.
You are undecided. You haven't seen this film. You take the plunge.
Is that your final answer? Shall we lock it in? Good, we've reached this point, but...
The answer, after the commercial break.
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