Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

In India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel of the first two seasons of UK’s “Skins”), an uneducated 18-year-old, goes as far as one question away from winning 20 million rupees. At the opening scene of the movie, we are poised with the question: How did he do it?

A. He cheated.
B. He’s lucky.
C. He’s a genius.
D. It is written.

By the end of the movie, the answer will be revealed.

Slumdog Millionaire is yet another brilliant directorial work by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, Trainspotting, The Beach). Based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup, the story starts with Jamal being questioned by the police regarding his easy climb towards becoming a multimillionaire. Jamal goes on to describe how every question is related to events in his life, which mostly involve his hard-hitting brother and the love of his life. The story effectively builds up to an intense climax where viewers all over India freeze in front of televisions everywhere (like a Manny Pacquiao boxing tournament for Filipinos), anticipating Jamal’s win, with the one last question which, albeit relevant to him when he was young, he does not know the answer of at all. His only resolution: Call a friend. And in another intense sequence, the person who answers the call gives him the best answer to the one life-long question that had been kept unanswered until that night—and only in a matter of 30 seconds (the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire rule).

I do not wish to give everything away, but the movie ends like a breath of fresh air. Sure, all the feel-good elements are there, but it still has the Danny Boyle touch. It has every chance at becoming a cliché, but it does not go there.

Slumdog Millionaire is probably the best movie I’ve seen this year (not counting of course that black-and-white classics that I’m getting myself acquainted with). This movie just makes you want hug the person you’re watching with and greet him/her a Happy New Year, regardless of what time of the year you watched it. Hell, I watched the movie days ago with my sister, and since I’m not the loving big brother type, I just smiled at her. Hence, I’m making up for it in this quasi-review.

Hugs, everyone! And Happy New Year!

Slumdog Millionaire. Directed by Danny Boyle. Co-director, India: Loveleen Tandan. Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Vikas Swarup. Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, et al.

Photo taken from IMDB.com

Lead Character Learns How to Cook

(Season One, Episode 08)

Before today, LEAD CHARACTER has never cooked anything real, unless you count scrambled eggs and instant noodles with egg real. (Hmmm... in a way, LEAD CHARACTER has a fascination with eggs.) LEAD CHARACTER has always wanted to learn how to cook something real, or something that takes more than 15 minutes to cook. He asked his MOTHER before if she could teach him her own treatment of Estufado, but they both never had the time.

But since it's a long Christmas vacation, LEAD CHARACTER figures that this might be the perfect time to learn how to cook. So he searches online for a recipe of your traditional, everyday pancakes, after which he goes to the grocery store to buy the ingredients.

Half-way through his cooking, LEAD CHARACTER starts to feel exhausted. But he pushes on. This has got to be a feat that anyone can manage.

Finally, he produces his very first pancake.


And soon enough, he finishes one complete with butter and maple syrup. Both his MOTHER and FATHER taste it. They smirk at LEAD CHARACTER then proceed to watching the evening news. Yes, LEAD CHARACTER cooked the pancakes at dusk. And whatever his parents' smirk meant, LEAD CHARACTER will never know.
Tomorrow, LEAD CHARACTER will try cooking Seared Ostrich Filet with Heirloom Tomato Risotto and Abalone Reduction. But if it turns out his company no longer has the ostriches in their cages, he will try instead cooking Sweet Black Chicken and Salty Geoduck nestled with Quinoa and Two Cucumber Ribbons.
Happy New Year everyone!