This weekend I finally got around to seeing 2008’s Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire. This was Valerie’s Netflix selection, and while I wasn’t against watching it, I wasn’t exactly giddy with anticipation either. I think I was wary of the movie’s near-universal plaudits, but I was none-the-less willing to give it a chance.

My conclusion? I thought it was entertaining but far undeserving of the Academy’s accolades. Many of the shots were effective at eliciting feelings of wonder, revulsion, or sympathy. I also found the main story-telling device – revealing character background and life history through each game show question – to be both clever and engaging. But all of ultimately served to deliver a predictable and far-fetched love story. I think the unbelievable nature of Slumdog amplifies the warm fuzzies I find inherent in rags-to-riches stories, but it doesn’t make for good cinema.

3/5