Slumdog Millionaire Wins Big With Me (A Review)

Until one week ago, I hadn’t really paid attention to the chatter about Slumdog Millionaire.  I remember seeing the title around the internet, but it just didn’t stand out to me. That all changed during the Golden Globes ceremony last Sunday night.  Slumdog Millionaire seemed to sweep all of the categories for which it was nominated, including best picture. It was only then, that the film finally got my attention.

I did a little research first, namely checking out reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and blogs. I also utilized Twitter Search. It was apparent that Slumdog Millionaire had become wildly popular, and had received a tremendous amount of positive word-of-mouth. I suddenly decided that I just HAD to see this movie! Admittedly, my expectations were so high, that I was almost certain I would be disappointed. Alas, this was not the case.

The only theater showing Slumdog Millionaire in Springfield is the Moxie Cinema. The Moxie is the only theater in town that exclusively plays independent films. To my surprise, the movie was nearly sold out when I visited on a Sunday afternoon. Most of the prior viewings of Slumdog had been sell-outs, and new shows had to be added to the schedule.

Slumdog Millionaire centers around the character of Jamal, a streetwise, but tender-hearted orphan who grows up in the slums of Mumbai, India. Together with his older brother, Salim, Jamal faces considerable hardships, violence, disappointments, betrayals, and loss at a very young age. However, he also develops a strong capacity to love, as is shown in his relationship with Latika. Like Jamal and Salim, Latika is orphaned, and faces similar circumstances.

Amazingly, as a young adult, Jamal ends up on India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, where he basically sweeps the questions.  Prior to the final, million-dollar question, Jamal is arrested on suspicion of cheating.  To the police inspector, and others, it seems highly unlikely that an orphaned, uneducated, street-kid could answer all of the questions. As Jamal is cruelly interrogated, he begins to recount his life in the streets. For each question on the show, Jamal tells of a past experience which had prepared him for that particular question.  One question remains, however. How and why did Jamal end up on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, if money isn’t important to him?

Finally, Jamal is able to convince the police inspector of his innocence. He is then free to attempt the final, million-dollar question. Will he get it right? Does he really even care about the one million dollars? Or is there an entirely different motivation?

I loved Slumdog Millionaire on so many levels. The cinematography is breathtaking and visually stunning, and complimented by a fantastic soundtrack.  Though the character of Jamal is at the center of the story, the acting is really more of an ensemble effort.  Each character contributes equally to the story, and each actor rises to the occasion, without overshadowing the others.

Based on the best-selling novel, Q&A, by Vikas Swarup,  Slumdog Millionaire has something for everyone: action, drama, romance, suspense, some violence. Jamal, Salim, and Latika endure more than their fair share of heartbreak, disappointment, and betrayal. Yet, you can expect a tremendously satisfying ending.  Slumdog Millionaire is most definitely Oscar-worthy!

Check out this Wikipedia article for a list of the awards and nominations that Slumdog Millionaire has garnered so far.

Slumdog Millionaire Wins Big With Me (A Review)

Until one week ago, I hadn’t really paid attention to the chatter about Slumdog Millionaire.  I remember seeing the title around the internet, but it just didn’t stand out to me. That all changed during the Golden Globes ceremony last Sunday night.  Slumdog Millionaire seemed to sweep all of the categories for which it was nominated, including best picture. It was only then, that the film finally got my attention.

I did a little research first, namely checking out reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and blogs. I also utilized Twitter Search. It was apparent that Slumdog Millionaire had become wildly popular, and had received a tremendous amount of positive word-of-mouth. I suddenly decided that I just HAD to see this movie! Admittedly, my expectations were so high, that I was almost certain I would be disappointed. Alas, this was not the case.

The only theater showing Slumdog Millionaire in Springfield is the Moxie Cinema. The Moxie is the only theater in town that exclusively plays independent films. To my surprise, the movie was nearly sold out when I visited on a Sunday afternoon. Most of the prior viewings of Slumdog had been sell-outs, and new shows had to be added to the schedule.

Slumdog Millionaire centers around the character of Jamal, a streetwise, but tender-hearted orphan who grows up in the slums of Mumbai, India. Together with his older brother, Salim, Jamal faces considerable hardships, violence, disappointments, betrayals, and loss at a very young age. However, he also develops a strong capacity to love, as is shown in his relationship with Latika. Like Jamal and Salim, Latika is orphaned, and faces similar circumstances.

Amazingly, as a young adult, Jamal ends up on India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, where he basically sweeps the questions.  Prior to the final, million-dollar question, Jamal is arrested on suspicion of cheating.  To the police inspector, and others, it seems highly unlikely that an orphaned, uneducated, street-kid could answer all of the questions. As Jamal is cruelly interrogated, he begins to recount his life in the streets. For each question on the show, Jamal tells of a past experience which had prepared him for that particular question.  One question remains, however. How and why did Jamal end up on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, if money isn’t important to him?

Finally, Jamal is able to convince the police inspector of his innocence. He is then free to attempt the final, million-dollar question. Will he get it right? Does he really even care about the one million dollars? Or is there an entirely different motivation?

I loved Slumdog Millionaire on so many levels. The cinematography is breathtaking and visually stunning, and complimented by a fantastic soundtrack.  Though the character of Jamal is at the center of the story, the acting is really more of an ensemble effort.  Each character contributes equally to the story, and each actor rises to the occasion, without overshadowing the others.

Based on the best-selling novel, Q&A, by Vikas Swarup,  Slumdog Millionaire has something for everyone: action, drama, romance, suspense, some violence. Jamal, Salim, and Latika endure more than their fair share of heartbreak, disappointment, and betrayal. Yet, you can expect a tremendously satisfying ending.  Slumdog Millionaire is most definitely Oscar-worthy!

Check out this Wikipedia article for a list of the awards and nominations that Slumdog Millionaire has garnered so far.

Gran Torino: A Review

Last weekend, I was able to enjoy an afternoon showing of Gran Torino with my dad, who is a big Clint Eastwood fan. While I have enjoyed some of Eastwood’s movies over the years, I always pictured the actor as a shoot-em up type. It wasn’t until recently, that I realized that just how talented an actor he really is. His work in Million Dollar Baby, opposite Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, nearly blew me away. He was that good.

He is no different this time around. Gran Torino is Clint Eastwood’s latest film. Here he portrays Walt Kowalksi, a hardened Korean-war veteran, who has just lost his beloved wife. Walt is abrasive, strong-willed, and foul-mouthed. We soon discover that underneath his rough and gruff exterior, lies a big heart. However, he cannot seem to bond with his two grown sons or grandchildren. I really felt that his sons did care for him, in a misguided sort-of-way. His grandchildren, however, came across as terribly selfish & greedy, and totally uncaring. The only thing his nasty granddaughter wants, is Walt’s beloved 1970 Gran Torino.

While Walt is struggling in bonding with his family, his new neighbors enter the picture. They are a family of immigrants from Southeast Asia, who are having struggles of their own, namely, keeping their eldest son away from the local gangs. Thao, is a quiet kid, also with a big heart. Unfortunately, his older cousin is a member of a gang, and continually taunts Thao into joining as well. One night, Thao, under pressure from his cousin’s gang, attempts to steal Walt’s Gran Torino as an initiation. Ironically, it is at this point, that Walt and his neighbors begin to form a bond – the kind of bond that he never had with his own family.

The only thing that I really struggled with, was the seemingly, one-dimensional portrayal of Walt’s family. Are families really like that? My family has always been very close, so the distance in their relationship was hard for me to grasp and understand, especially the attitude of his granddaughter. Maybe, I was just more sheltered than many other families. I am sure there are families like that. The move did make me re-examine my own relationship with my father. I had to look and ask myself if I was, even remotely, treating my father that way. To be honest, seeing this movie with my dad was a good bonding experience.

As Walt overcomes many of his racial stereotypes and misconceptions, he and Thao actually grow very close. Walt vows to protect Thao from the gang, even if it means sacrificing his own life. The movie is very moving and poignant. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the subtle humor that is also expressed. There is some violence in the movie, as I expected. One major warning regards the use of rather rough and foul language. If you are easily offended by this, you may want to pass on Gran Torino. Though the language may be a bit over-the-top at times, I feel that it would have been unrealistic without it. Normally, I prefer to view movies that don’t use a lot of profane language. This movie was an exception, because of the strong storyline, the growth of the characters, and the focus on the relationships. You could skip the movie because of the language. However, you would be missing out on a riveting movie that shows how an unlikely relationship can forever transform a life. Because of Walt’s ultimate act of selflessness and love, Thao would go on to follow his dreams, leaving the gang behind.

Visit the Gran Torino website.

Girls’ Night Out: Envy, Tonic Ultralounge & James Bond

I have been wanting to check out the Tonic Ultralounge in downtown Springfield for a few months now. I jumped at the chance, when a friend suggested the somewhat upscale bar for a girls’ night out. We are not fuddy-duddies by any means, but we are not big party-goers either. Thus, we opted to meet for a 6:00 dinner, with a movie at the new Hollywood Theaters to follow. My friend had been to Tonic just a few nights earlier, and had high remarks about the food and service.

We both arrived at Tonic promptly at 6 o’clock on Friday night. However, I had actually arrived in the downtown area about a half an hour early. My friend had also suggested that I check out a new clothing store on Walnut Street, called Envy. She definitely knows my taste. The clothes looked trendy & fabulous! Thankfully, the prices are much more reasonable than some of the other trendy apparel stores in the downtown area. They are not Wal-Mart prices, but you won’t necessarily have to shell out $200 for a pair of jeans either. I bought a new, but vintage-looking red coat and scarf. I also found a very nice, large handbag that matched perfectly. I only paid about $80 for all three combined. Those were regular prices, not sale prices. I decided to wear the new coat and handbag on my girls’ night out.

I walked from Envy to the Tonic Ultralounge. The downtown area was surprisingly dark and desolate for a weekend. I had to remind myself that it was the day after Thanksgiving, and it was a little early in the evening. People were probably busy doing family stuff, or shopping and dining in the south area of town, near the mall. Also, most of the college students had gone home for the holiday.

When we arrived at Tonic, there was only one other customer. Another friend met us shortly after we arrived, but no one else came in the entire time we were there. I was told that it is usually swamped on weekends, with a wait of at least an hour to eat. This particular night, we had the place to ourselves, and it was somewhat hard to imagine the place being packed.

The menu doesn’t have an abundance of items, but I found a few that sounded quite good. They have your basic bar-food appetizers, hamburgers and sandwiches. What looked really good to me, were the main entrees, even though there were only a handful. This is where the problem started. I first ordered the seabass. A few minutes after taking our order, the waiter returned and announced that they were out of seabass. I then opted for the filet mignon, only to find out a few minutes later, that there were out of that too. In fact, they were out of all of the entrees. Apparently, they had been slammed the night before, but were unprepared for the crowd because it was Thanksgiving. I was told that they had all of the appetizers and hamburgers. However, I wasn’t in the mood for typical bar food. If I wanted a hamburger, I would have just gone to Burger King! I didn’t want to come across as a picky wench, and I didn’t want to embarrass by friends. Therefore, the three of us decided to order 2 appetizers and share them.

The nachos were very generous in size, but it was obvious that none of the ingredients were very fresh. In addition, the toppings were sparse. The guacamole and taco meat looked like they had been sitting around for a couple of days. All in all, this appetizer was quite unimpressive.

The sampler platter was just a tad better. It came with four types of appetizers: egg rolls, scallops, shrimp, and some kind of herb cream cheese wontons. They were (once again) out of the scallops, so we agreed to substitute more of the wontons. The platter was $15, which I thought was much too expensive for what we received. We received only four of each item. The shrimp were kind of small to warrant only getting 4 pieces. The only thing that I really liked were the egg rolls. They were actually quite good.

We were still a little hungry, so we decided to indulge in dessert. We were (once again) told that they were out of ALL of the desserts, except the chocolate fondue. Fortunately, that was the dessert we had been wanting. Again, it was just okay. There was nothing overly special about the chocolate. We received four items for dipping: apple pieces, pineapple, cinnamon-dusted sopapillas, and strawberries. The strawberries were surprisingly fresh, considering that nothing else seemed to be. The pineapples pieces were tough and chewy, and the apples were tough and dry. They were also kind of brown. The sopapillas were pretty good though.

Despite the snafu with the food (or lack of), I thought the service was actually great. The waiter was friendly and very apologetic about our experience. Additionally, he kept our beverages refilled at all times. Of course, we were about the only ones there, so I’m sure that made the task much easier.

My first experience at Tonic Ultralounge was not all I hoped for, but I WILL be going back. My friends swear by the place, so I am confident that this was just a really “off” night. After all, it was Thanksgiving weekend, and they had been unexpectedly slammed on the holiday itself. I look forward to trying it again – hopefully I will have the sea bass or the filet next time!

Since I wrote so much about Tonic, I will be brief with my review of the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. All I can really say, is that I loved it! I was disappointed when Pierce Brosnan was left out in the cold, and not rehired to play 007. As a result, I boycotted Casino Royale. I decided to give Daniel Craig a chance, when I heard from several friends say that he was much better than Brosnan. I have to say, it is true. While, I am a Pierce Brosnan fan, he was much too soft for the role of James Bond. Daniel Craig brings back that much needed edge, while still showing Bond’s compassionate side. If I must say, I think I have developed a little crush on Mr. Craig. I also loved the opening credits and the accompanying song, Another Way to Die. Jack White, of The White Stripes, teamed up with R&B songstress, Alicia Keys for the piece. I never would have envisioned the two of them performing a song together. Then again, I never would have paired Jack White with Loretta Lynn either. They were fabulous together! Here is a link to a Youtube video of the opening sequence of Quantum of Solace. Check it out for yourself!

The new Hollywood Theaters at College Station are quite nice as well. The seats are the most comfortable in town, and the lobby is very appealing. The prices are high – $9 for adults. However, I think they are about the same at the Campbell 16. People have been complaining about the high prices of movie tickets ever since I was a kid. This is nothing new, and I wasn’t surprised by the $9 price tag.

The girls’ night out was a nice little getaway that I needed, after spending Thanksgiving with family. It turned out to be a fun, fabulous night even when you factor in the experience at Tonic. Keep in mind that I will be returning to Tonic Ultralounge again, so watch for an updated review. I just have to give them a second chance!

Some Halloween Fun!

This week I decided to share some of my favorite Halloween links and videos. The first video is actually a movie trailer starring a young Johnny Cash. The movie is titled, “The Door-to-Door Maniac.” I have never seen the movie, but it looks like it could be pretty intense.

It was around this time last year that I discovered a whole new genre of movie trailers on Youtube. Some very creative and talented people like to take scenes and clips from beloved movies. They turn these clips into a movie trailer that has an entirely different look and feel from the original film. For example, one person edited clips from the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” and turned it into a story about an obsessed woman. They basically took a romantic comedy and turned it into a horror film that closely resembles the ’80s movie, Fatal Attraction. Trust me,  you will never see Meg Ryan’s sweet and lovable character quite the same way again.

Another favorite family, “Mary Poppins,” has been painstakingly recut in to a trailer that makes the film look like a horror movie, as well. Once again, you will never look at Mary Poppins, nor Julie Andrews, the same.

The last recut horror trailer I will share, is from another modern family classic, The Lion King. Once again, our lovable hero has been transformed into a psycho-lion!

The last link is for a new, independent movie which an aquantaince of mine produced. Shadowland has been screened at several film festivals, including the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase, the Piasa Film Festival, the Freakshow Horror Film Festival, and the Halloween Horror Film Festival. It has won recognition and awards at these festivals. Additionally, it is scheduled to be screened at the St. Louis International Film Festival in November.  For a synopsis and more information, check out the Shadowland official website.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Could Internet Movies be the Wave of the Future?

Over the last few days, I have heard talk about a new film. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is not your typical big-screen, feature film. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day, this movie was made strictly for the internet. The movie is presented by Mutant Enemy Productions, and directed by Joss Whedon.

The movie was released in three acts, making it a “serial movie.” I was able to watch all three acts today on the Dr. Horrible website, free of charge. Unfortunately, I learned that they will only be available on their website until midnight, July 20, Eastern time. That means tonight, folks. However, the good news is that they can be purchased and downloaded from itunes after July 20th. They are sold as 3 separate acts for $1.99 each, making them similar to buying individual tv show episodes.

What I loved about Dr. Horrible, is that this movie breaks the traditional super-villain / super-hero mold. Dr. Horrible, as played by Harris, comes across as passionate and sincere, though misguided. On the other hand, the super-hero, Captain Hammer, is portrayed as shallow, insincere, and without a heart. I also enjoyed the cheesiness of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. I miss the cheesy super-heroes of the ’70s and ’80s. I grew up on Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl, Christopher Reeve as Superman, The Last American Hero, and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It seems to me that the superhero movies today are rather dark and gloomy. While not all of them are this way, I just can’t get into the dramatic, dark superhero films. Super-heroes are meant to be fun!

Dr Horrible has proven to be an internet blockbuster. It has quickly become a fast-spreading viral video across the web. I have to wonder it this medium just might be the wave of the future. Let’s face it, ticket prices have risen considerably, as have prices on other items. Ticket sales have gone down, while prices of other necessities, such as food and gas, continue to skyrocket. Though I do not bill myself as an economic analyst, I see this as a sign that ticket sales will continue to go down.

Another factor is the high costs to filmmaker’s themselves. Surely it would cost less to make an internet movie. In addition, the internet and new social media offer the opportunity for viral marketing, much of it free or low-cost.

I am looking forward to see if other internet movies make such a dramatic splash across the world wide web. I am also curious to see just how this could eventually impact the movie industry.

In the meantime, check out Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. You just might be thoroughly entertained!

Visit the Dr. Horrible website.

Minnie Driver: She Can Act, But Can She Sing?

Over the years, many actors and actresses have tried to conquer the world of music in addition to acting. While they may be extremely talented and gifted in acting, they often prove to be lousy vocalists. Reversely, many talented musicians have attempted to take on the role of actor as well. Again, these performers often give credence to the old standard “don’t give up your day job.”

All you have to do is listen to the Hollywood Goes Wild cd to see what I mean. Though it is a noble attempt to raise money for a zoo, most of the actors on the cd prove that they cannot sing. Notable celebrities including Brad Pitt, Russel Crowe, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, and many more, lend their voices to this effort. Most likely, they will not be able to forgo acting in favor of a music career.

On a positive note, I recently discovered that actress, Minnie Driver had also released a couple of her own cds. She was in such films as Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon and Return to Me with David Duchovny. I decided to download her albums to my Zune and listen to them later.  I was pleasantly surprised to realize that she is actually quite good. I love her voice. I also like the fact the the songs are “just right.”  They are slow and mellow, but never boring.  If you look up Minnie Driver on Amazon.com, you will discover that listeners have rated her cds rather high.  Her two main releases include Seastories and Everything in My Pocket. My personal favorite selection is Beloved.  If you are in the mood to add something new and fresh to your music collection, give Minnie Driver the benefit of doubt. I am glad I did.

No Country for Old Men: I Can’t Get it Out of My Mind

About a month ago, I went with some girlfriends to see a movie. This would be only the second movie I would see in a theatre in 2007. On this day, the popular Campbell 16 Theatre was taking part in a canned good drive. Anyone who brought five canned goods was entitled to see any matinee free of charge. The other girls had already chosen the movie, No Country for Old Men. I didn’t know anything about this film except that it starred Tommy Lee Jones.

During the first five or ten minutes of the movie, I decided that it most definetly was NOT one that I would have chosen. It really seemed to be a “guy’s” movie, not the chick flick I was hoping to see. It was quite violent and somewhat depressing. I thought to myself, “this will be two hours that I will never be able to get back. Two hours totally wasted.”

Then something surprising happened. As the movie played on it started to grow on me. The suspense kept me on my toes and kept be interested. I became less disappointed that it wasn’t a chick flick, and more drawn into the storyline and the characters. I realized that this was top-notch acting, not just another violent, shoot-em-up action movie. The cast included the fabulous acting combination of Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and my new favorite, Javier Bardem. Bardem owned the role of the psychotic villain. In my opinion he deserves any and all awards for which he is nominated this year. Last night he won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a motion picture drama. He takes this role far beyond a that of a one-dimensional psychotic killer. What makes his performance even more remarkable, is that Javier Bardem is a popular actor from Spain, yet takes on the mannerisms and accent of midwestern American. He has the accent and the language down pat. I sincerely hope and believe that he will not only be nominated for the Academy Award, but will ultimately take the coveted trophy home.

Let’s not leave out the equally talented Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones. Brolin is excellent as the average joe torn between the love for money and doing what is right. He eventually chooses that latter, but it is a little too late. He has already gotten both himself and his wife in deep with Bardem’s disturbing character. Josh Brolin owns his role as well.

Tommy Lee Jones brings to this film, his usual knack of rising above a somewhat limited role. He provides both compelling drama and a much needed comic relief to this otherwise totally intense movie. Woody Harrelson also shares a bit of comic relief. Unfortunately his screen time is very short, but I don’t want to give away too much.

This movie was directed by the infamous Coen brothers who brought us the equally compelling Fargo and Raising Arizona, among others. It is based on the novel by Corman McCarthy. Quite frankly this movie was not one I would have initially chosen to see, but I would have missed out on a compelling and suspenseful story and killer acting talent. This movie stuck with me for weeks after I first saw it. I just can’t seem to get it out of my mind. Truthfully, I believe that has a lot to do with the ultimately convincing performance by Javier Bardem. Horror movies like Nightmare on Elm Street don’t really bother me once the movie is over. I know that they would never become reality. They could never really happen. This movie, however, COULD really happen.

If you haven’t seen No Country for Old Men, you really should consider watching it. While it may be a somewhat disturbing movie and at times, difficult to watch, the collaboration of all involved takes this film to a whole new level. It is well worth seeing.

Trailer for No Country for Old Men: