Jai Ho

If you haven't seen the little movie that could, Slumdog Millionaire, I suggest you run out and rent it right about ... five minutes ago.

Still not convinced?

This movie combines Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (the Indian version), love and brotherhood in one movie and gripes your heart tight while it pulls on the strings. Of course, it starts out with Jamal Malik (Dev Patel, British TV show Skins) being tortured for possibly cheating on the show. After all, how could a "slumdog" - a person who grew up in India's slums - possibly have gotten farther in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? than professors and scientists?


This is where the movie's magic enters. Jamal, who will be back on the show the next day to answer the final few questions, recounts parts of his life to explain why he knows some of the answers. The audience follows young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail). We are shown what life is like in the slums for these two fun-loving trouble makers, who are best known as Athos and Porthos, from the Three Musketeers, a book they were reading in class. However, when their mother dies, the two find Latika (Rubiana Ali). Jamal calls her the third musketeer, even though he never knew the third one's name. The three live on their own for a while before Jamal and Salim are separated from Latika. Despite having left Latika, Jamal never stops thinking about her or hoping to find her.


The film gives us an amazing glimpse into what hardships Jamal and Salim survive and overcome. The entire country of India also becomes engrossed in the young slumdog who has a shot at winning the 20,000,000 rupees.

The casting is excellent because the actors and actresses all slightly resemble their younger and older counterparts. All of the characters have been cast three times for separate times in the characters' lives. The young actors and actresses were actually picked from the slums by director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later and Millions).

One character, who was probably overlooked as a result of Jamal and Latika's romance, is Salim, who is possibly the most layered of the three. As a typical older brother, Salim picks on and teases Jamal, sometimes cruelly. However, he is also a typical older brother in the way that he worries about, takes care over and looks out for Jamal. He makes difficult decisions to protect his younger brother, and while Jamal always worries about finding Latika again, all Salim wants is for it to be the two of them. His character is troubled, but when Jamal needs help, his older brother is usually there.

The host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and the police are curious as to how Jamal could possibly know the answers to such difficult questions, aren't you?

Slumdog Millionaire was released on DVD today, March 31. The movie's special features are typical: deleted scenes, making of the movie and commentary by director Danny Boyle and Dev Patel.

A DVD for diehard fans

On March 24 a Watchmen DVD was released. Those who are fans of the comic know that a large part was missing from the movie: that comic book the guy was reading. Well, don't fear, a special DVD was made with the Tales of the Black Freighter. The tale is interesting and I love the ending of it, but I was glad it wasn't included in the movie. It would have made a long movie even longer and it would break up the action too much. I applaud whoever thought to make this into a separate DVD.

Plus, the DVD also has Under the Hood. I thought this was an important part of the comic book, because it gave us a lot of insight into who the Watchmen were when they first formed. Under the Hood was a tell-all autobiography written by Hollis Mason, the first Nite Owl.

I am Shiva the destroyer, your harbinger of doom this evening

I am biased toward Anne Hathaway, probably because people tell me I look like her (it's flattering, though I don't see it), but she makes things easier for me because she's a really talented actress. The girl who was a high-school-student-turned-princess at the beginning of her career made an amazing transformation into the troubled Kym in Rachel Getting Married.

Not all is well in Kym's family, which is made immediately made apparent. Kym is sitting on a bench next with a pyromaniac and a nurse, waiting for her father to pick her up. The pyro, twitchy as he is, gives us some important information: Kym has killed someone with a car. We won't find out until much later in the film about what happened exactly, and the circumstances surrounding Kym's rehab lurks in the background while she is home.

Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, Becoming Jane) plays a much different role than I've ever seen of her. She isn't America's sweetheart. Instead, she is a snarky, bitter young woman who purposely makes things difficult. For instance, when she says she's thirsty, her step-mom offers her a diet Coke. Kym's response: "I prefer Pepsi, from a fountain."

Her character quickly cycles through emotions. When Kym first sees her sister Rachel the two are giddy, giggling and finishing each other's sentences; however, a few hours later have the two sniping at each other when Kym takes offense at something. She's constantly on the outside, sitting away from people, being told not to do something and being kept in the dark about things. Kym also isolates herself, unable to step aside and let the spotlight shine on her sister. Instead, everything has to be about her recovery and return, which causes fighting.

It isn't until Kym predictably hits rock bottom that she and her sister come together again and make amends for the fighting of the past few days. Kym isn't just going to rehab anymore, it's really working at this point in the movie.

The movie feels less like a movie and more like we are watching a few days in their lives. This is mostly because of how the movie is shot - the shaky, moving camera and minimal soundtrack make it seem like a documentary - and because the actors are so natural in the way they interact with one another.

The fun thing about this movie is that even though it is so realistic in the way it's shot and acted, it still seems like looking at another world. The dad acts more like a mom, fussing and worrying over Kym, doing the dishes and making food; Kym is self-destructive and can't just let things be nice; there are musicians constantly playing music around the house because they're there for the wedding; and the wedding itself is more a traditional Indian wedding, which makes you feel as if you're not watching a white woman and a black man getting married in Connecticut.

The movie is touching but slow moving. There are long periods of quiet and the plot moves forward an inch at a time. Also, try not to be confused by thinking Hathaway is Rachel. I had to keep reminding myself that Rachel was the sister and Hathaway was Kym. This is probably because Hathaway is the main character, but it isn't her name in the title. For some, this is a movie to skip, but I thought it was worth a rental, just to see it once. But probably one time only.

Rachel Getting Married was released on DVD on March 10. The DVD has the usual extras - deleted scenes, cast and crew commentary, and behind the scenes - but it also has a piece on the wedding band, which was nice because the band was present throughout most of the movie.

No model for children

My first DVD purchase of 2009 was Role Models, and it was the easiest decision I'd ever made. This movie took a ludicrous storyline and made it believable, funny and just a little heartwarming.

There's something in this movie for everyone: geeks have Augie Farks (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Superbad), who is involved with live action role playing and joins large battles where the people dress up; troublemakers have Wheeler (Seann William Scott, American Pie) and his smaller version, Ronnie Shields (Bobb'e J. Thompson, The Tracy Morgan Show), with their potty mouths and obsession with the female form; and the bored and disappointed with life have Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd, Knocked Up), with his deadpan delivery and comical facial expressions.

It sounds ridiculous, but the entire plot is based on the premise that Wheeler and Danny got in trouble with the law, but instead of getting jail time, Danny's lawyer girlfriend works a deal so they just have to complete 150 hours of community service at Sturdy Wings, a Big Brother-type program. It's silly, but it works.

Predictably, the adults learn something from the children and the kids grow a little thanks to the men. However, it's the journey there and the characters themselves who make the movie watchable and enjoyable.

The movie would be a dud for me if not for Rudd. His doubletakes, droll humor and facial expressions make Danny the most interesting character. He is the most adult, although he is having trouble being happy and his girlfriend left him as a result.

Role Models was released on DVD on March 10. Some of its special features include alternate and deleted scenes and on the set. Also included are bloopers which show the actors stumbling over lines and improving when they forget or can't say the lines. Once again Paul Rudd shines with his quick wit and self-deprecation.

Milk will recruit you

Even though Sean Penn was the only actor to win for his role in Milk, the entire cast was what made the movie. The expert handling of the supporting actors turned Dustin Lance Black's screenplay into a touching and inspirational story for the big screen.

The story is straightforward. Harvey Milk is a middle-aged homosexual who is still in the closet when he meets Scott Smith (James Franco, Spider-man). The two leave New York and travel to San Francisco. Dismayed by how homosexuals are being treated (bullied and beaten by police and unable to meet in public), Harvey runs for city supervisor three times before winning in 1977.

Black's screenplay unravels the story in a unique way. The film uses real footage from San Francisco at the time Harvey was running for office. These clips show gay men being corralled and piled into the back of police vans. Also, the movie is mostly told in flashbacks. At the beginning Harvey is speaking into a tape recorder, recounting his journey from New York and his election to office as the first openly gay elected official. However, he is foreshadowing his own death: the purpose of the tape is in the event he is assassinated.

The movie would not be the Oscar-worthy film it is if not for the cast. Penn, a usually dark and brooding actor, takes a turn as the smiling and flamboyant Harvey. However, he isn't the only shining star. All of the people involved in the campaign are fully fleshed characters brought to life by the ministrations of the cast.















Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild) is initially lost to the cause, but eventually joins the campaign as one of the most outspoken supporters. He becomes Harvey's righthand man and is there through thick and thin when the losses and continuing campaigns take a toll on Harvey's relationship with Scott. After Scott, Harvey meets Jack Lira (Diego Luna, The Terminal), a clingy, dependent, disturbed individual who often causes trouble for Harvey. However, Luna encompasses the characters flaws and makes the audience invest in him as Harvey is invested in Jack.

Amidst the stellar cast is one other standout: Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men). As city superviser Dan White, Brolin plays opposite Penn as the upstanding, family man. The chemistry between the two actors is undeniable. Harvey finds himself gravitating toward Dan because he believes Dan is a closet homosexual, as Harvey once was. Dan also tries to keep a working relationship with Harvey, but it falls apart. One of the best scenes is when Dan, drunk and confused, shows up at Harvey's birthday party. It is a revealing look at the characters and the relationship between the two city supervisors who, despite trying, just can't seem to work together.

I recommend seeing Milk. It is an enlightening look at the struggles and triumphs the gay community has gone through. The characters' stories will touch anyone's heart and the actors' talent makes it possible.

Milk was released on DVD on March 10, 2009. It includes features that look further into the movement. Harvey Milk's closest friends speak about him in one feature, key figures from Harvey's life reflect the many marches that took place in search for equality, and cast and crew share their stories from making the movie.