Slumdog Millionaire Takes the Lead

With its win as best ensemble at the SAG awards and Best Picture at the Producers awards as well as many many other awards, Slumdog Millionaire is the odds on favourite to take the best picture Oscar. The fact that it is deserving of the award only adds to that possibility. Of course we all knew as far back as September of '08 when Slumdog Millionaire won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival that this would be happening now (nudge nudge wink wink).

Director Danny Boyle, who should also win the Best Director Oscar, along with co-director Loveleen Tandan, created a stunning visual feast for the eyes and an emotional story for the heart based on the award-winning novel, Q & A, by Vikas Swarup. Loveleen Tandan, who cast and co-directed Monsoon Wedding, must certainly get much credit for the look of the film and for the marvellous casting. The fact that three different actors play each of the three key characters and yet the picture flows seamlessly through the changes is a tribute to the casting director and the co-directors. Danny Boyle placed the money to be paid to the 3 lead child actors in a trust that is to be released to them upon their completion of grade school at 16 years of age. The production company has set up for an auto-rikshaw driver to take the kids to school everyday until they are 16 years old.

Danny Boyle's reputation grows with every film he's done. He thrives in not repeating genres as judged by his exceptional filmography which includes: Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Millions, and Sunshine. Slumdog Millionaire has garnered numerous awards worldwide along with 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director (Boyle), Best Screenplay (Simon Beaufoy), Best Cinematography (Anthony Dod Mantle), Best Editing (Chris Dickens) and three music nominations around A.R. Rahman's score and songs. Despite the fact that there were no oscar nominations for acting, the performances all-round are marvellous. The cinematography and editing capture both the grand scope and desolation of the poverty in India and frenetic pace of the stories that thread together to form the beautiful narrative.

Fox Searchlight is without a doubt one of the best marketers of independent films. They have taken a film that many would have and did bet against succeeding, and kept it in the theatres for 11 weeks to date. They have gradually allowed it to grow from its opening in 10 theatres to its current run in 1400 theatres and gross $60 million dollars domestically from its $15 million budget. It should easily pass $100 million before its run ends. Major distributors use the opposite logic with blockbusters opening in 3000+ theatres. Most blockbusters' revenue drops 50% - 60% after the first week and after five to six weeks in the theatres have in essence exhausted their run. Box Office Mojo is a good place to observe this phenomenon. As an example High School Musical Three opened in 3600 theatres grossing $44 million the first weekend. By the sixth week it was still in 1300 theatres but only grossed $1 million. The well was running dry as its cumulative gross was $89 million and though it remained in theatres for another dozen weeks or so it peaked in the $92 million dollar range.

We are fortunate that Fox Searchlight took the reins and helped to make Slumdog Millionaire the winner it deserves to be. Now all you need to do is go and see it. It demands to be seen on the big screen.

Interview with Danny Boyle

Julian D.