2. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q This is the big one, the film that put Danny Boyle on the map truly, the 2008 drama about a young Indian man on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? who ends up using his life experience to win the main prize, while dealing with troubles involving his brother and childhood friend. Boyle's gorgeously shot film riffs on notions like fate and destiny without shoving them down the viewer's throat, leaving things pleasantly open to interpretation as we follow Jamal (Dev Patel) on his journey, Easily the most crowd-pleasing film Boyle has ever made, Slumdog deals with some grim issues but is ultimately a jubilant celebration of triumph in the face of adversity accompanied by a breathless romance. Winning 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, Slumdog is one of the big sleeper hits of the 21st century so far, grossing $377m against a $15m budget. Fantastic.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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