Late to the game: ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
I went to see Slumdog Millionaire in the theater for the first time and, while it’s true that I enjoyed it, I was surprised that it wasn’t better.
The fact is, it reminded me of the Brazilian movie City of God. Both movies follow brothers/friends from childhood as they and their poverty stricken surroundings grow into something new. In both movies, one boy follows the gangster path, while the other somehow finds his way to a life that is destined to move beyond the slums. And both films make manic-good use of music.
The difference between the two is that Slumdog was entertaining, although it tried to be more than that, and City of God was moving, amazing. It was superior art.
Apparently, this isn’t an original thought. But it is what hit me in the wake of watching Slumdog.
I was talking about this with a friend and we chalked it up to Slumdog being made by an outsider and City being made by Brazilians.
Everyone else I talked to said they enjoyed Slumdog more because, as they saw it, it involved less violence. I think they might see it differently if they watched the films in succession. But, then, maybe so would I!