Wow, this film has enjoyed a great deal of hype. I'd been wanting to see if for weeks and finally screened it today. Perhaps all the fanfare and Oscar buzz played havoc with my expectations, because in the end, I was left with a rather average feeling about the film.

There's certainly some very good direction, editing and acting. I especially liked the performances by the kids. The main character enjoys three incarnations -- one as a 5 year old, one as an adolescent and finally as an adult. His is an incredible, harrowing story of life and death struggle at every turn, but the adult actor shows little of that struggle in his manner or soft skinned face. The same is true of the female lead. Both of these actors are endearing enough, but I just didn't feel that they carried the weight of the back story. This was likely one reason I found the climax underwhelming. That said, from a humanitarian point of view, I'm glad this film is getting a lot of attention. Perhaps a raised awareness will somehow lessen the struggles of those in poverty and make it more difficult for abusers to take advantage of youths.

I'm pleased Slumdog has been pleasing so many audiences, even though this Danny Boyle film didn't wow me. Actually, there's another Boyle film of similar title that did. I'd recommend instead the film Millions.

(Btw, didn't that game show host look just like Joe Pesci in "My Cousin Vinny"?)

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --