Telluride Line-Up
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Mister Tee
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This seems more exciting than most of the stuff at Venice. Danny Boyle's always been a talent; maybe this'll be a breakthrough.
Slumdog Millionaire
(U.S.-U.K.)
By TODD MCCARTHY
A Fox Searchlight (in U.S.) release of a Fox Searchlight, Warner Bros. (U.S.)/Celador Films, Film 4 (U.K.) presentation. (International sales: Pathe Intl., London.) Produced by Christian Colson. Executive producers, Paul Smith, Tessa Ross. Co-producer, Paul Ritchie. Co-executive producers, Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken. Directed by Danny Boyle. Co-director (India), Loveleen Tandan. Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup.
Jamal Malik (older) - Dev Patel
Latika (older) - Freida Pinto
Salim Malik (older) - Madhur Mittal
Prem - Anil Kapoor
Inspector - Irrfan Khan
Jamal (middle) - Tanay Hemant Chheda
Latika (middle) - Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar
Salim (middle) - Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala
Jamal (youngest) - Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
Latika (youngest) - Rubina Ali
Salim (youngest) - Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail
(English, Hindi dialogue)
Driven by fantastic energy and a torrent of vivid images of India old and new, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a blast. Danny Boyle's film uses the dilemma of a poor teenager suspected of cheating on the local version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' to tell a story of social mobility that is positively Dickensian in its attention to detail and the extremes of poverty and wealth within a culture. Originally a Warner Independent title, the picture has just been acquired by Fox Searchlight for release in the U.S., where it will open at Thanksgiving, although Warner Bros. retains an interest. Tasty item looks to catch on in a big way with young, adventurous and merely curious viewers in wide specialized release.
Surging with colors, music, the ever-present swarming multitudes and the vitality of its youthful characters, pic begins disturbingly with the sight of police torturing a young man to make him confess how he's been able to make a run up to the ultimate prize of 20 million rupees on the nation's most popular quiz show. "I knew the answers," the sullen fellow insists, and Simon Beaufoy's intricate and cleverly structured script illustrates how that came to be.
Spurred by intermittent interludes devoted to 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) correctly answering the multiple-choice questions posed by "Millionaire" host Prem (Indian superstar Anil Kapoor) in front of a boisterous live studio audience, flashbacks slashingly present the devastatingly difficult but opportunistic childhoods of Jamal and his brother, Salim. Living in Mumbai's most squalid slum, they lose their mother in a mob attack on Muslims. Forced to forage and live by their wits as they commit petty crimes, the boys make their lives more interesting when they accept a new partner, the adorable Latika, who smites 7-year-old Jamal to the quick.
The street kids learn more smarts from a Fagin-like operator who runs a sort of criminal orphanage in a remote area, sending his charges into the city for dishonest days' work. When it seems Jamal is about to have his eyes gouged out to make him a higher-earning beggar, the three make a desperate run for it. The boys manage to jump on a speeding train, but not Latika.
As these and many other stories of tragedy and exhilaration play out, it becomes clear that each one happens to have taught Jamal something that directly informs his success on "Millionaire." Device could have seemed contrived, but Boyle and Beaufoy, working from a novel by Vikas Swarup, uninsistently make the case that the most useful intelligence, in all its forms, comes from life experience.
Granted, the two brothers, once into their teens, don't end up on the same road. In the film's lightest and most amusing passage, they become self-appointed tour guides at the Taj Mahal, giving visitors funny misinformation and pulling little scams in sequences that effectively present touristic India from the p.o.v. of mischievous local youth. Shortly, however, their criminal enterprises become more serious, forcing them to scram back to Mumbai, where they find Latika in dubious circumstances.
Jamal takes on small-time jobs and forlornly carries the torch for Latika while Salim rises in the criminal ranks, and pic's final stretch provides stunning views of enormous bad-taste skyscrapers rising from the very ground where the boys so insignificantly began their lives. The build-up to Jamal's climactic appearances on "Millionaire" are milked for all they're worth, as the entire country hangs on his every answer.
The tough look at poverty and crime at all levels of society shoves the occasional coincidences and questionable plot developments firmly to the side, and the rush Boyle manifestly got from shooting such an intense story on these locations is fully felt in the film itself. The logistic considerations alone must have been mind-boggling, as a majority of scenes include what seem like hundreds of bystanders. Lenser Anthony Dod Mantle's camera is often on the prowl or the run, and it sometimes dashes through jammed streets and shantytown alleys at the speed of the sprinting kids themselves. Images are stunning sans arty posturing, and Chris Dickens' editing is breathless without being exhausting.
Mostly non-pro kids in the main roles are entirely credible and segue without confusion as three thesps assume each of them at different ages. Kapoor is perfect as the preening, melodramatic and devious gameshow host, and vet Irrfan Khan invests the interrogating officer with varied shades as matters proceed.
As drama and as a look at a country increasingly entering the world spotlight, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a vital piece of work by an outsider who's clearly connected with the place. Musical elements provide a major kick, as does a rousing and unexpected end-credits dance number at a train station.
Slumdog Millionaire
(U.S.-U.K.)
By TODD MCCARTHY
A Fox Searchlight (in U.S.) release of a Fox Searchlight, Warner Bros. (U.S.)/Celador Films, Film 4 (U.K.) presentation. (International sales: Pathe Intl., London.) Produced by Christian Colson. Executive producers, Paul Smith, Tessa Ross. Co-producer, Paul Ritchie. Co-executive producers, Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken. Directed by Danny Boyle. Co-director (India), Loveleen Tandan. Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup.
Jamal Malik (older) - Dev Patel
Latika (older) - Freida Pinto
Salim Malik (older) - Madhur Mittal
Prem - Anil Kapoor
Inspector - Irrfan Khan
Jamal (middle) - Tanay Hemant Chheda
Latika (middle) - Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar
Salim (middle) - Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala
Jamal (youngest) - Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
Latika (youngest) - Rubina Ali
Salim (youngest) - Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail
(English, Hindi dialogue)
Driven by fantastic energy and a torrent of vivid images of India old and new, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a blast. Danny Boyle's film uses the dilemma of a poor teenager suspected of cheating on the local version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' to tell a story of social mobility that is positively Dickensian in its attention to detail and the extremes of poverty and wealth within a culture. Originally a Warner Independent title, the picture has just been acquired by Fox Searchlight for release in the U.S., where it will open at Thanksgiving, although Warner Bros. retains an interest. Tasty item looks to catch on in a big way with young, adventurous and merely curious viewers in wide specialized release.
Surging with colors, music, the ever-present swarming multitudes and the vitality of its youthful characters, pic begins disturbingly with the sight of police torturing a young man to make him confess how he's been able to make a run up to the ultimate prize of 20 million rupees on the nation's most popular quiz show. "I knew the answers," the sullen fellow insists, and Simon Beaufoy's intricate and cleverly structured script illustrates how that came to be.
Spurred by intermittent interludes devoted to 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) correctly answering the multiple-choice questions posed by "Millionaire" host Prem (Indian superstar Anil Kapoor) in front of a boisterous live studio audience, flashbacks slashingly present the devastatingly difficult but opportunistic childhoods of Jamal and his brother, Salim. Living in Mumbai's most squalid slum, they lose their mother in a mob attack on Muslims. Forced to forage and live by their wits as they commit petty crimes, the boys make their lives more interesting when they accept a new partner, the adorable Latika, who smites 7-year-old Jamal to the quick.
The street kids learn more smarts from a Fagin-like operator who runs a sort of criminal orphanage in a remote area, sending his charges into the city for dishonest days' work. When it seems Jamal is about to have his eyes gouged out to make him a higher-earning beggar, the three make a desperate run for it. The boys manage to jump on a speeding train, but not Latika.
As these and many other stories of tragedy and exhilaration play out, it becomes clear that each one happens to have taught Jamal something that directly informs his success on "Millionaire." Device could have seemed contrived, but Boyle and Beaufoy, working from a novel by Vikas Swarup, uninsistently make the case that the most useful intelligence, in all its forms, comes from life experience.
Granted, the two brothers, once into their teens, don't end up on the same road. In the film's lightest and most amusing passage, they become self-appointed tour guides at the Taj Mahal, giving visitors funny misinformation and pulling little scams in sequences that effectively present touristic India from the p.o.v. of mischievous local youth. Shortly, however, their criminal enterprises become more serious, forcing them to scram back to Mumbai, where they find Latika in dubious circumstances.
Jamal takes on small-time jobs and forlornly carries the torch for Latika while Salim rises in the criminal ranks, and pic's final stretch provides stunning views of enormous bad-taste skyscrapers rising from the very ground where the boys so insignificantly began their lives. The build-up to Jamal's climactic appearances on "Millionaire" are milked for all they're worth, as the entire country hangs on his every answer.
The tough look at poverty and crime at all levels of society shoves the occasional coincidences and questionable plot developments firmly to the side, and the rush Boyle manifestly got from shooting such an intense story on these locations is fully felt in the film itself. The logistic considerations alone must have been mind-boggling, as a majority of scenes include what seem like hundreds of bystanders. Lenser Anthony Dod Mantle's camera is often on the prowl or the run, and it sometimes dashes through jammed streets and shantytown alleys at the speed of the sprinting kids themselves. Images are stunning sans arty posturing, and Chris Dickens' editing is breathless without being exhausting.
Mostly non-pro kids in the main roles are entirely credible and segue without confusion as three thesps assume each of them at different ages. Kapoor is perfect as the preening, melodramatic and devious gameshow host, and vet Irrfan Khan invests the interrogating officer with varied shades as matters proceed.
As drama and as a look at a country increasingly entering the world spotlight, "Slumdog Millionaire" is a vital piece of work by an outsider who's clearly connected with the place. Musical elements provide a major kick, as does a rousing and unexpected end-credits dance number at a train station.
-
Mister Tee
- Tenured Laureate
- Posts: 8648
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 2:57 pm
- Location: NYC
- Contact:
Sometimes an Oscar preview...this year, not so much.
Telluride Film Festival unveils lineup
U.S. filmmakers are missing in action from fest
By MICHAEL JONES
The 35th Telluride Film Festival has announced their lineup, and American helmers are tellingly absent.
David Fincher will be on hand to accept the fest’s Silver Medallion and to screen his cut of “Zodiac.” Considering that 20 minutes of “There Will Be Blood” unspooled during Daniel Day Lewis’ medal tribute last year, it is possible Fincher could bring a portion of his unfinished “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which re-teams "Babel" stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in a love story of a man who ages backward.
This year, the schedule sees only two U.S. filmmakers so far. (As usual, several late announcements are expected.) Paul Schrader will preem his drama “Adam Resurrected,” starring Jeff Goldblum, and Tim Disney will debut “American Violet,” with Alfre Woodard.
Several of last year’s Telluride class of U.S. pics ended up as award season faves. Sneak screenings of “Juno” and “The Savages” added wattage to other indies “I’m Not There,” “Into the Wild,” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.”
This year, scheduling conflicts kept some U.S. films out of the mountain town.
With limited slots over four days, the fest didn’t invite Jonathan Demme’s “Rachel Getting Married” or Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling.” Focus wasn’t willing to spend cash on three back-to-back fests for “Burn After Reading,” so will concentrate efforts on Toronto and Venice. Toronto title “The Wrestler,” from Darren Aronofsky, wasn’t submitted. Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt,” Gus Van Sant’s “Milk,” and Oliver Stone’s “W” weren’t finished.
“Last year was one of the strongest for American film,” said co-director Tom Luddy. “But this year I didn’t get any calls from Warner Independent, Picturehouse, Vantage. They’re gone.” Luddy also thinks the writers strike could have played a role in delaying projects.
The dearth of American product has instead made way for a vibrant international selection. Pics making the voyage are Mike Leigh’s comedy “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Nandita Das’ “Firaaq.” A hefty slice of Cannes imports include Bent Hamer’s “O’Horten,” Matteo Garrone’s “Gomorrah,” Ari Folman’s animated docu “Waltz With Bashir,” Kim Ji-Woon’s Asian spaghetti western “The Good, The Bad and The Weird,” and Steve McQueen’s Camera d’Or winner “Hunger.”
“Ireland surprised us this year,” said Luddy, singling out Lance Daly’s Dublin tale “Kisses,” Cathal Black’s docu of a poet-undertaker in “Learning Gravity,” and Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor’s missing child drama “Helen.” Luddy is also high on the fest’s unspooling of Max Ophuls restored masterwork, “Lola Montes,” which debuted at Cannes.
Though tight-lipped on this year’s sneaks, Luddy characterizes them as “medium to high profile.” Rumored pics include Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and Marc Abraham’s “Flash of Genius,” featuring Greg Kinnear as an inventor taking on the auto industry.
Other Telluride events have guest director Slavoj Zizek screening three “neglected noirs”: “Nightmare Alley,” “On Dangerous Ground” and “Seconds.” Thesp Jean Simmons and Scandinavian filmmaker Jan Troell will receive Silver Medallions while author and filmmaker Richard Schickel will unspool his Warner Bros. doc “You Must Remember This” and accept a Special Medallion.
Telluride runs Friday-Monday. For full lineup and daily coverage go to variety.com/telluride.
Anne Thompson contributed to this report.
35th Telluride Film Festival lineup:
"Adam Resurrected"
Directed by Paul Schrader, Germany-Israel l, 2008
"American Violet"
Directed by Tim Disney, U.S., 2008
"Everlasting Moments"
Directed by Jan Troell, Sweden, 2008
"Firaaq"
Directed by Nandita Das, India, 2008
"Flame & Citron"
Directed by Ole Christian Madsen, Denmark, 2008
"Gomorrah"
Directed by Matteo Garrone, Italy, 2008
"Happy-Go-Luky"
Directed by Mike Leigh, U.K., 2008
"Helen"
Directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, U.K., 2008
"Hunger"
Directed by Steve McQueen, U.K., 2008
"I've Loved You So Long"
Directed by Philippe Claudel, France, 2008
"Kisses"
Directed by Lance Daly, Ireland, 2008
"Learning Gravity"
Directed by Cathal Black, U.S., 2008
"O'horten"
Directed by Bent Hamer, Norway, 2008
"Pirate For The Sea"
Directed by Ron Colby, U.K., 2007
"Private Century"
Directed by Jan Sikl, Czech Republic, 2007
"Revanche"
Directed by Gotz Spielman, Austria, 2008
"The Good, The Bad And The Weird"
Directed by Kim Ji-Woon, South Korea, 2008
"The Rest Is Silence"
Directed by Nae Caranfil, Romania, 2007
"Tulpan"
Directed by Sergei Dvortsevoy, Kazakhstan, 2008
"Waltz With BashiR=r"
Directed by Ari Folman, Israel, 2008
"With A Little Help From Myself"
Directed by Francois Duperon, France, 2008
"Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love"
Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Senegal-France, 2008
Telluride Film Festival unveils lineup
U.S. filmmakers are missing in action from fest
By MICHAEL JONES
The 35th Telluride Film Festival has announced their lineup, and American helmers are tellingly absent.
David Fincher will be on hand to accept the fest’s Silver Medallion and to screen his cut of “Zodiac.” Considering that 20 minutes of “There Will Be Blood” unspooled during Daniel Day Lewis’ medal tribute last year, it is possible Fincher could bring a portion of his unfinished “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which re-teams "Babel" stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in a love story of a man who ages backward.
This year, the schedule sees only two U.S. filmmakers so far. (As usual, several late announcements are expected.) Paul Schrader will preem his drama “Adam Resurrected,” starring Jeff Goldblum, and Tim Disney will debut “American Violet,” with Alfre Woodard.
Several of last year’s Telluride class of U.S. pics ended up as award season faves. Sneak screenings of “Juno” and “The Savages” added wattage to other indies “I’m Not There,” “Into the Wild,” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.”
This year, scheduling conflicts kept some U.S. films out of the mountain town.
With limited slots over four days, the fest didn’t invite Jonathan Demme’s “Rachel Getting Married” or Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling.” Focus wasn’t willing to spend cash on three back-to-back fests for “Burn After Reading,” so will concentrate efforts on Toronto and Venice. Toronto title “The Wrestler,” from Darren Aronofsky, wasn’t submitted. Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt,” Gus Van Sant’s “Milk,” and Oliver Stone’s “W” weren’t finished.
“Last year was one of the strongest for American film,” said co-director Tom Luddy. “But this year I didn’t get any calls from Warner Independent, Picturehouse, Vantage. They’re gone.” Luddy also thinks the writers strike could have played a role in delaying projects.
The dearth of American product has instead made way for a vibrant international selection. Pics making the voyage are Mike Leigh’s comedy “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Nandita Das’ “Firaaq.” A hefty slice of Cannes imports include Bent Hamer’s “O’Horten,” Matteo Garrone’s “Gomorrah,” Ari Folman’s animated docu “Waltz With Bashir,” Kim Ji-Woon’s Asian spaghetti western “The Good, The Bad and The Weird,” and Steve McQueen’s Camera d’Or winner “Hunger.”
“Ireland surprised us this year,” said Luddy, singling out Lance Daly’s Dublin tale “Kisses,” Cathal Black’s docu of a poet-undertaker in “Learning Gravity,” and Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor’s missing child drama “Helen.” Luddy is also high on the fest’s unspooling of Max Ophuls restored masterwork, “Lola Montes,” which debuted at Cannes.
Though tight-lipped on this year’s sneaks, Luddy characterizes them as “medium to high profile.” Rumored pics include Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and Marc Abraham’s “Flash of Genius,” featuring Greg Kinnear as an inventor taking on the auto industry.
Other Telluride events have guest director Slavoj Zizek screening three “neglected noirs”: “Nightmare Alley,” “On Dangerous Ground” and “Seconds.” Thesp Jean Simmons and Scandinavian filmmaker Jan Troell will receive Silver Medallions while author and filmmaker Richard Schickel will unspool his Warner Bros. doc “You Must Remember This” and accept a Special Medallion.
Telluride runs Friday-Monday. For full lineup and daily coverage go to variety.com/telluride.
Anne Thompson contributed to this report.
35th Telluride Film Festival lineup:
"Adam Resurrected"
Directed by Paul Schrader, Germany-Israel l, 2008
"American Violet"
Directed by Tim Disney, U.S., 2008
"Everlasting Moments"
Directed by Jan Troell, Sweden, 2008
"Firaaq"
Directed by Nandita Das, India, 2008
"Flame & Citron"
Directed by Ole Christian Madsen, Denmark, 2008
"Gomorrah"
Directed by Matteo Garrone, Italy, 2008
"Happy-Go-Luky"
Directed by Mike Leigh, U.K., 2008
"Helen"
Directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, U.K., 2008
"Hunger"
Directed by Steve McQueen, U.K., 2008
"I've Loved You So Long"
Directed by Philippe Claudel, France, 2008
"Kisses"
Directed by Lance Daly, Ireland, 2008
"Learning Gravity"
Directed by Cathal Black, U.S., 2008
"O'horten"
Directed by Bent Hamer, Norway, 2008
"Pirate For The Sea"
Directed by Ron Colby, U.K., 2007
"Private Century"
Directed by Jan Sikl, Czech Republic, 2007
"Revanche"
Directed by Gotz Spielman, Austria, 2008
"The Good, The Bad And The Weird"
Directed by Kim Ji-Woon, South Korea, 2008
"The Rest Is Silence"
Directed by Nae Caranfil, Romania, 2007
"Tulpan"
Directed by Sergei Dvortsevoy, Kazakhstan, 2008
"Waltz With BashiR=r"
Directed by Ari Folman, Israel, 2008
"With A Little Help From Myself"
Directed by Francois Duperon, France, 2008
"Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love"
Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Senegal-France, 2008