by Gary Sacco

Created on: February 06, 2009

It was "The Wrestler" I wanted to see, on a recent Friday night. My friend, anticipating a huge crowd, advocated skipping Mickey Rourke's latest film. The super- hyped "Wrestler" had only been out one week. His suggested alternative was "Slumdog Millionaire" directed by Danny Boyle. He stated that the movie was about 3 orphans who struggle to exist in the slums of Bombay/Mumbai. One wins big on India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and is detained, by brutal policemen, suspected of cheating. "Sounds contrived" was my first inner thought. He also mentioned that the movie has received soaring reviews. With measured expectations, I accepted.

"Slumdog Millionaire" was intense, vibrant, colorful and complex. My friend informed me that Boyle also directed "Trainspotting." Boyle's graphically raw approach was, again, overwhelming. There is nowhere for the viewer to hide. I can still remember experiencing every twitch, pain and sensation of the heroin addicts in "Trainspotting." The viewer feels drunk, and bloodied, during scenes depicting Scottish pub violence. In this film, the viewer can nearly smell the filth and squalor of the endless slums. You're running, too, at a dizzying speed, along with the main protagonist Jamal and his older brother, away from pursuing policemen. Viewers pity the pariah children, abused and manipulated by ruthless profiteers. At film's end, I saw triumph and accomplishment. Jamal had made it. Beating the odds, growing up in merciless Bombay/Mumbai, he'd become a confident young man. During that final question, on the "Millionaire" set, as it became clear that his life's love was finally free, answering the 20 million rupee question became less urgent.

Boyle moved the story at a lightning pace. Viewers, looking for a comfortable movie night out, may have been a little uneasy. 3 orphans, existing in one of the planet's largest, most crowded cities, cannot be portrayed in a languid, relaxing way. Boyle offers no apologies, nor should he! I personally found his style, here, exhilarating. Boyle combined fast panning cameras, varying angles and, a ubiquitous, powerful sound track to maintain the unbelievable tempo. He creates a nomadic existence, for the brothers and adds a handful of chase themes. Yet, the music really drove the cinematic action. Many movies leave viewers flummoxed about the soundtrack, wondering if the Director just picked a bunch of popular tunes. Here it has a mission. These songs combined hip-hop styles with

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