TIFF ‘08 Preview: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Danny Boyle has made a career out of never making the same film twice. He’s done noir thrillers (Shallow Grave), blacker-than-black drug comedies (Trainspotting), zombie horror (28 Days Later), “family” comedy (Millions), and sci-fi (Sunshine). In other words, you never know what to expect from the man, other than a unique and visually stunning film.

Based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup, Boyle’s latest follows a young boy from the slums of Mumbai who has inexplicably become a contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire? However, when he’s arrested for cheating, he tells the police about his life on the streets—and the girl he lost, and whom he hopes to find again thanks to being on TV.

Admittedly, that’s not a whole lot to go on. But in the hands of someone like Boyle, I fully expect this film to be endlessly fascinating, by turns funny and moving, and packed with striking visuals.

One other point of interest: the film is written by Simon Beaufoy, who also wrote a little film called The Full Monty.

• 1
• Aug 23, 2008, 12:48pm