As far as movies go it's a great escapist affair. Like Juno (to which the movie is being inevitably compared), it's a flat out treat that aims to please by appealing to what the audience wants to happen. It's not a difficult movie - not at first glance anyway, and most audiences will easily digest the cinematic experience without any indigestion whatsoever.
The movie also reminded me a lot of the Princess Bride, but that's another story.
When I reflected on the movie and considered its impact in terms of development, however, I came away conflicted. I am not an expert on India and so a lot of the political and religious subtext was lost on me, as I bet it will be for American audiences in general. In a biting op-ed piece a freelance writer in India questions the anti-Hindu sentiment expressed in the film. In the wake of the recent Mumbai bombings the issue of religion is incendiary and the film pokes me in a way that leaves me feeling uncomfortable. Someone who is more familiar with this debate would be better able to address this.
Another reviewer with the Guardian argues that while this is an overtly Western take on India, these sorts of critical movies are only possible outside of Bollywood:
The bitter truth is, Slumdog Millionaire could only have been made by westerners. The talent exists in India for such movies: much of it, like the brilliant actor Irrfan Khan, contributed to this film. But Bollywood producers, fixated with making flimsy films about the lives of the middle class, will never throw their weight behind such projects.
Responding to criticisms raised by Amitabh Bachchan, the blogger goes on to say:
Bachchan's blinkered comments prove how hopelessly blind he and most of Bollywood are to the reality of India and how wholly incapable they are of making films that can address it. Instead, they produce worthless trash like Jaane Tu, Rock On!! and Love Story 2050, full of affluent young Indians desperately, and mostly idiotically, trying to look cool and modern.
Another issue that makes me uncomfortable is the whole millionaire issue. Yes Jamal feels awkward in his position and says right at the beginning that money is the farthest thing from his mind (and his behaviour on the show indicates this)... but the equation of success with destiny is hard to swallow. All throughout the movie Jamal makes his own luck, finding opportunity and exploiting it to the fullest. He's an entrepreneur, and a relatively successful one at that. But the thing that raises him out of poverty is the tv show. As someone who studies development I find this perplexing.
Considering that Slumdog Millionaire is now poised to do very well at the upcoming Oscars, critical debate will likely increase and many of these issues will be dragged out time and again.
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