There has been so much of jubiliation surrounding Danny Boyle "Slumdog" sweeping performance at the Oscars. Accolades to Mozart of Madras A.R.Rahman, Gulzar and Resul for bringing home three Oscars. But the most importanat question to be asked is did really "Slumdog" deserve an Oscar in the category of Best Picture. Lets compare "Slumdog" with the other nominees of this years Oscar- The Reader, The Wrestler, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon and Milk.
First "The Reader" directed by Stephen Daldry of "Hours" fame is set in Post WWII Germany. The entire movie revolves around two characters namely Hanna Schmitz and Michael Berg making it much more more challenging for the director to shoot the movie. The movie forces to think about Holoucast and what happened in Aushwitz from a completely new perspective( different from Speilberg's Schindlers List.) Being forced to work as S.S. concentration camp guard Hanna is brought to trail along with five others in the postwwII Germany. Instead of expressing contempt we start liking Hanna even though she had been a part of such a inhuman regime. Michael a lawyer knows the truth but is torn between his differing views of justice. The movie is depressingly poignant. Ralph Finness and Kate Winslate put up a stunning performance.
Second, Darren Aronofsky "The Wrestler" is a simple tale of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s-era pro wrestler. Randy tries to build a new life after he has heart attack and warned by the doctor not to enter the ring as it may prove to be fatal. He tries move in with aging stripper and reconcile, re-establish a relationship with his daughter. He fails miserably and returns to his favourite arena which has given him all he has ever wanted. Wrestling is his life. Micky Rourke's performance is absolutely mind blowing and the movie depressingly realistic.
Third David Fincher's The Curious Case Benjamin Button is an adaptation of Scot Fitzgeralds short story. It is about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. Ultimately it ends up with the truth that "life is best cherished backwards and best lived forwards." Brad pitt and Kate Blanchet do justice to their roles. The movie stands out for its stunning visual effects by the team of Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Steve Preeg, Burt C. Dalton.
Fourth Ron Howard's ( The Beautiful Mind's fame) "Frost/Nixon" is a historical drama film based upon the play of the same name by Peter Morgan, writer of The Queen, which dramatises the 1977 televised Frost/Nixon interviews. It falls into the reign of Movie like Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman's "All Presidents Men." It is extremely difficult movie to because of its plot.
Lastly Gus Van Sant's "Milk" is as superb as his masterpiece "Good Will Hunting". It narrates the story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White. His constant struggle against national anti-gay Save the Children crusade, led and fronted by singer Anita Bryant and similar political battles constitutes the movie. Sean Penn is absolutely superb as he was in Clint Easthood's "Mystic River".
When we compare "Slumdog" with the above it becomes very evident that these movies were thematically superior, bold and revolutionary. Then how did "Slumdog" pick up an Oscar for Best Picture? These might be few of the reasons
To begin with, Slumdog is the only film which ends with a optimistic note. It is a movie about hope. Hope is something which the Americans are holding on to in this period of "Economic Depression." So "Slumdog" augurs well with Americans.
Secondly The Oscar jury have a strange reputation of choosing a least deserving movie from the nominee lot for the Best Picture category. Even Orson Wells "Citizen Kane" which has been voted by critics as the best movie ever made was not selected as Best picture. Same thing happened to movies like Forgo, Apocalypse Now, Chinatown, Saving Private Ryan, Philidelphia, Extra Terrastrial, Munich etc. Can you imagine Shakespeare in Love got the best picture award ahead of Saving Private Ryan! Gaints like Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock didnt win the oscars at all. So jury's selection defies logic.
Thirdly i feel that Slumdog was extremely well marketed at the Oscars than any other nominated movies.
Afterall these one shouldnt dismiss "Slumdog". It is a extremely well made movie with stunning camera work and cinematography. we Indians are extremely proud of Rahman winning the Oscars ( everyone will agree that Ji ho! and O Saaya! were no where near his best compositions) Gulzar and Resul for sound mixing. But my conscience hesitates to accept "Slumdog" as the Best Picture.
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After a long await, i finally saw the movie even before it hit theatres. It was a pretty disappointing feeling after watching the movie. I feel that slumdog and white tiger had a similarity, What i feel is that movies/books that have something crappy about India will be put in the limelight, hence after getting huge publicity the whole world wants to watch it. Hence its a pretty good way to defame India.
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the movie was beautifully made & what ever it showed it was the originality what we actually have it or we are facing it in our country..
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