Inside SLUMDOG: Meet Danny Boyle!
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SLUMDOG director Danny Boyle on everything from his favorite scene in the film to his best movie-going memory.

This is what I look for a long time information, are very grateful.micro sized security cameras

Unfortunately, you do not realize that movies are meant to entertain! This was not a documentary. Your comments about real life and language and realism are worthless. The question is did it entertain. And the answer is A) Yes

As far as the boy getting arrested in the first place, you do not know India. There does not have to be a reason/charge.

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Benny Andhika
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How is it that your movie "Slum Dog Millionaire" made so much money but left the children who starred in the movie in devastating poverty?
How is it possible for you to even breathe without making sure the children who were in the film have proper homes?

I believe there is an obligation on your part to help those whose lives you have touched.

Sophie Smolinski
USA

Awesome, there aren't many movies i want to watch more than once but this is definately one of them. The best movie I have seen in year and years and the music is brilliant.

Regard,
Cara Belajar Bisnis Online lewat Blog Bisnis google

Hello, Yes! This is a nice website, I love film, so I build a website related to film, Welcome to my website:
http://www.audiocdripper.net

I am so distraught over the current plight of the youngest children in this movie. It's hard for me to reconcile that this movie made over 100 million dollars and yet both children are presently homeless. I've scoured the Intranet trying to prove that Danny Boyle and 20th Century Fox is taking care of these children's immediate needs. However, I've found nothing. I've read that Danny Boyle has set up trust funds for Education. Yet, how can he, or anyone is a position to help, sit back and watch these kids struggle for food and shelter in the interim? It's despicable, loathsome & cruel for anyone who made money from this film to ignore this situation. Danny Boyle, you've brought these young children into the spotlight and now we all get to watch their painful lives while you bask in the glory of your riches. It's disgusting.

Hi Mr Danny Boyle

I am really devastated to learn that the children you used in your film are still in living in dire poverty.Why cant you buy those children proper houses and give them proper education as they are highly gifted.Dont be so mean.

I agree with you. With a movie that earned him Millions of $, the cild actors are ignored. The cild actors need to cared and hope they will appear in an other great movie.

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with reported $326 million "is there no heart for the producers and the ultimate winners of the movie'

yey you guys exploited the theme etc but you guys have left the little ones form the slums high and dry or rather low and wet;

look at the pathetic situation with the little kids;

give them a change from the abundance that you have enriched yourselves with;

............ read the real lives the actor child(ren) are living:
news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_re_as/as_india_slumdog

No happily ever after yet for 'Slumdog' kid stars
MUMBAI, India – Rubina Ali's house is flooded with sewer water, and her feet itch. She's discovered a world of creepy-crawlies in the opaque gray water: scorpions, rats and slithery creatures with lots of legs.

Two months ago, the child star of the hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire" was worrying about what to wear to the Oscars. Now she has come home to a very different problem: How to get the fetid water out of her family's one-room shack.

The 9-year-old picked up a plastic bucket Monday and began to scoop, but it was hopeless. "There are a lot of rats," she told the Associated Press with a shudder, standing in water above her ankles. "In the night also."

Eight Oscars and $326 million in box office receipts have so far done little to improve the lives of the film's two impoverished child stars.

I agree with you. It's just awful. Danny Boyle, and every person who made a dime on this movie is culpable. I'm completely enraged over this.

Will never see any of your films again!!! The abuse and exploitation of these children is inhumane. Doesn't your greed let you see how you hurt these children? One of them is living in the streets HOMELESS and the other in a flooded house with sewer water while you live in the lap of luxury after exploiting them!!!!

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.reuters.com/quotslumdogquot-child-star39s-mumbai-shanty-home-torn-down-reuters

A totally realistic creation which left everyone open eyed. The day i went to watch this movie in the theater was the best experience i had until now and the most astonishing one too. What was funny was that i saw this movie in America and after the movie was over me and my friend sat there for a little bit longer to see the dance sequence. when we got up to go in the middle of the song, we noticed that no one had moved from their seat. It was like everyone was hypnotized!

That itself showed how much it moved everyone's hearts.

thank you for making the movie Mr Boyle

I usually watch " high budgeted" movies... the ones usually advertised a lot. The reason thereof, is that, at least, in my head.... there is greater chance that the movie 'will be worth the time and the money' to be spent.

Same as many reviewees, i didnt hear about the movie until it won. But still i wasnt that interested to watch ( cant remember the reason, maybe i got busy).

But on my friend's birthday, he rented it. The rest is history, here i am writing you.....

congratulations.... your movie will be remembered by me till i grow old. Its unique..... though most of the themes ( undying love, tragedy, goons and guns, etc) are not original.... but i dont know, they way everything was re-arranged and re-configured, MADE IT ABSOLUTELY GREAT!.

Joy, RN

i wish you made more previews of the movie because i didnt even hear of the movie until it won the academy awards!!! this movie is worth spending money on a movie ticket for. like i said in many of my other comments, this movie is specail and for you to capture these scens, you have great talent. by the way...my favorite/disturbing scene was when the people attacked jamal's village. um...was it the hindu's? i have to look that up. anyway, when you showed the god rama figure(im sorry, i dont know much about the religion) or the boy painted blue,it shocked me because its so different. it seemed that these people were drilling into that toddler's head that this is right. burning people alive is right. its weird to think in their point of view, its weird to think in the villians point of view...thank you for broadening my horizen.

okay...hi mr. boyle i am a high school student but not from kingsville tx but tampa florida. i enjoyed your movie with a passion. im obsessed. people think im so weird because of my taste but oh well, i say, different is quality. i love your work and you should come with all your crew to tampa florida to sign autographs and take me out for coffee!!! that sounds a bit creepy doesnt it? i didnt mean it in a rapist way haha

There are many parts of this world where WOMEN have the upper hand.. Id love to work at HOOTERS but I cant well I can toil away in the kitchen I guess..Men Appear topless , as do women in movies, most strip clubs differentiate between NUDE and topless... Your Chest is not a reproductive organ.. Theres a big difference..I love women , sexy lingerie and respect them.. But t those that think its a mans world ( not saying you ) take a longer look around.

i hope you read these things but i can imagine that these get boring after awhile. i think that you captured the slums great. i have a geography teacher and she's educated and would tell us these stories that were horrible but the movie, i guess since im visual, it had more impact. and also thanks for showing the upside of india because my sterotype of india was only slums. because that's all we talk about in america and that's all we see is the slums. i never knew there was better. we only see commercials about these poor hungry children and to give alms and when we hear of india and other countries besides english speaking countries are alwys in war and bombings. to anyone who reads this, is there really bombings all the time?

Dear Mr Boyle. I don't imagine you will read this, but anyway.... Kudos, kudos, and yet more kudos. I'm not a movie buff by any stretch, however, I recognise fine art when i see it. You have raised the bar quite significantly, blown the rest clean out of the water. Your film is right up there, and I mean right up there with the very best. Hats off to all involved. Fantastic achievement. Please shake Mr Beaufoy's hand for me when you next see him. He has created a tale of almost dickensian magnitude. AWESOME

Dear Mr. Boyle
I'm a highschool student and I would like to tell you that your film "Slumdog Millionaire" is a really good movie that I enjoyed watching since it was funny and showed courage and hope through out the film. I am looking forward to watch other films you have made.
Respectfully
Sara Gonzalez
sara_sariux@hotmail.com

Mr. Boyle
My name is Jonathan Hau, I am a high school student in Kingsville, TX. My writing class watched your film Slumdog Millionaire. The movie is very interesting and funny. I can tell you that really like me, it have a lot of information about daily life in India. I appreciate your job and how you work with those kids, it was a very nice thing for them. The best part of the movie was when Jamal jumped to the human excrement, it was much exited.
Respectfully
Jonathan Hau

Mr. Boyle:

My name is Paola Hernandez and I am a high school student in Kingsville, Tx.
At my point of view, it is an excellent movie were I learn different things about life and that you have to fight for what you want and your dreams. I hope to see more of you productions.

Mr. Boyle.

I’m glad to be able to write you a letter, not all film directors allow spectators to write them. My name is Juan Chavez; I’m attending high school at Kingsville, TX in south-east
US.

Mr. Boyle “Slumdog Millionaire” film was definitely amazing, I really like it. The way you combined the love story between Jamal Malik and Latika among with the lack of civil rights and humiliation the country of India is has had or is having, was really good.

I liked every scene on the movie, you play with our feelings and that made us (spectators) felt more touch. This movie made me feel more concern about the humiliation sometimes we all as humanity have within each other. Thanks for making us reflect on our acts making use of the “big-screen” and at the same time letting us have a great time of fun.

Thank you for your time.

Mr. Boyle, I’m a High school student in Kingsville, Texas and recently in my Literary Class we made a trip to the movie theatre to watch your 8 academy award winner film “Slumdog Millionaire”.
Sir let me point out that your film has been one of the best movies I have ever seen and let me commiserate with you about your favorite scene in the movie about the old woman tapping on the car’s window and wishing Jamal good luck.
To finish a want to congratulate you for your big success with this movie and I look forward to watch another film of yours.

Respectfully
Javier Villegas.

Mr. Boyle:
Last saturday i saw your film and, as you may inagine, i loved it i appreciate what you made for this kids it is such a nice thing. i'm sure they are also grateful. i loved the camera management you used and the flashback style. i just loved the movie
ismael sandoval

Mr. Boyle
I have recently seen one of your newest films called "Slumdog Millionaire" which I am sure you are satisfied with the success it had. I have to say I truly feel in love with this film, you depict India like I have never seen before, and the story line is truly amazing. The way you play with the different moods in the film is very entertaining you had me laughing but at the same time you keep me on the edge of my seat with the suspense. I am looking forward to seeing more of your films soon.

Hi Mr.Boyle
My name is Paola Escamilla and I am a student attending high school in Kingsville, Texas. The reason I am writing you this comment is to congratulate you for the Academy Awards the movie won. I recently saw your new film Slumdog Millionaire, and I sincerely think it is awesome. I absolutely liked the way you put together many aspects of Indian life and culture, such as music, dances and the famous Taj Mahal. I really enjoyed your film and I look forward to seeing your next movie project.

Dear Mr. Boyle
My name is Cesar Gomez and I am a student from Texas. I got the opportunity to watch your movie, Slumdog Millionaire, and I really want to have the chance to tell you how much I enjoyed, it really make me have a good time. One of the parts that I really enjoyed is when they arrived to the Taj Mahal and they use their survivor skills to find a way to make money.
I want to congratulate you for the big piece of art that you had directed.
Respectfully
Cesar Gomez

Mr. Boyle
My name is Paola, and first of all I want to congratulate you because of the Academy Awards you won. I recently saw your new film Slumdog Millionaire, and I sincerely think it is awesome. I like the way it evolves many aspects of India culture; music, dances and the famous Taj Mahal. I really enjoyed your film and I am hopping to watch another of your movies soon.

Mr. BOYLE

Hello Mr, Boyle. My name is Soowon Yoo, and I am high school student in Kingsville, Texas. Our whole class went to see your movie when it came out to the teather. Your new film Slumdog Millionaire impressed me, and made me think. I liked when Jamal won the TV show. It was good story, and I am looking forward to see your new film in the teather soon.

I saw the movie last weekend and i have to admit that i was really curious about the reasons why it had been highly praised in the Academy Awards. Once I watched i wanted to see it again instantly. I did saw it one more time and discovered several different aspects of it. The music is just superb A R Rahman is a musical genious, but its the story itself what really brought my attention to it. The idea of destiny has always sound confusing to me. Do we really need to try? or are we meant to, because 'it is written'?
Overall the movie was to me like a sip of freshness and renewal showing the real Mumbai entwined in Jamal's story, even if that reality is alterated by the director to explain his vision. I enjoyed every scene of the movie.
Ana Melendez

I appreciate Danny Boyle's effort on making movie in and on Mumbai.

The one thing that bothers me the most is that the real slum kids were only paid a mere 800 dollars to do the movie and even after the movie and all the monetary success the powers at be decided to pay for their schooling at 50 dollars a month. Meanwhile, one the of the boys is now living under a tarp and Rubina lives next to open sewage. This is capitalism at its worst and the Director, Colson and esp. Fox Searchlight are no better than gangsters they protray in the film. You cannot take these kids to Hollywood and then drop them off in the slums a few days later. What are you doing to help these families get out of the slums NOW?!! Maybe I should call Boyle, Colson and Fox SearchLight the real dogs! Even if they gave the kids the money it would have cost to fly them to the Oscars it would change their lives forever, but no they had to exploit them some more!

Do the right thing and let us know what you elitist snobs are doing to help these families??? Do the right thing!

I dont think it's that bad, I watched the Indian father who praised for this film after the Oscar Night. He said the result shows how someone from slums can do something valuable in life by participating in this film, I think this flame among the slum players is even important to start something and I believe this film has done more than that among the audience by increasing the public awereness about the poor and slums, thanks to director, producer and all the crew to come out with such a project. And also thanks to academy for awarding this film beside other Hollywood projects. This may be a sign of change in American way of thinking towards the 3rd world countries. Of course, this film can not be the only power to save the families from slums and it's ridiculuos to expect this. Instead, public conscience, fair share and birth control on this planet seems like the solution. I appreciate what the film has done in this way.

by Onur Y.(onuryd@gmail.com)

I liked the movie a lot. I almost walked out becuase of the torture and violence. I did not like the name Slum Dog and I think that is very rude. I wish they did not think that was a good idea. The actors were so true to life. The ending was fun and I am glad truth,honor and stick to it attitude rules! I just wish I knew how powerful and heavy the film was before I made a commitment to sit there and absorb the loud music and the crazy violent stuff. What if the poor kid did not know the correct answer and he had lost! He still would have won, because he did not give in to lies and he got his love of life back. I am still thinking about all those poor children and adults with the clash of religion and the problems. We have this here only behind closed doors.

I watched this movie with my 15 year old son, who used to be terrified of the beggars at car windows in Delhi. we both left the cinema so happy but also sad for the children with such lives. Ijust want to help them now. Well done for making a film that was entertaining story but also opening up peoples hearts to poverty stricken people. We know India has so many facets, the rich, history, but it is Ok to see our down side. Our problems is not that we don't have kind good people even amongst this poverty trying to help but it is the sheer numbers of people.

This movie deserves every Oscar it is nominated for. What a brillaint movie.

I did not understand the D: It is written
at the end. I did come in late to see the film. Did I miss something at the beginning?

It is written means it is God's will that the the boy know the answers because it was his destiny not only to overcome poverty but to be with the live of his life.

At the very beginning of the film it says

"Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it?

A. He Cheated

B. He's Lucky

C. He's a genius

D. He's lucky

D should be "D. It is written." not repeat B

The D at the beginning of the film, as can be seen on the trailer, available as choice d on the opening screen of this web page, is :It is destiny. By the end of the film, at the bottom left of the screen can be seen : D. It is written. This of course is the reference to Salim's final words, God is Great, and both a fundamental Islamic tenets of faith, repeated endlessly. Jamal and Salim suffer when their mother is killed in a Hindu attack, where he learns Rama hold a bow and arrow in his right hand.

The story is fantasy, but the humanity is real. I grew up in poverty, surrounded by depravity, enduring physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I don't care where they say this story happened, this is what happens to millions of children and young people everyday all over the world. (At least until the part about winning a million dollars and reuniting with your true love.) I loved it and hope it opens peoples eyes to how low a person can start in life, yet still attain happiness and fullfillment. God is truly good.

AMEN! Poverty is every where! Hopefully people do not turn their eyes away from this film but open their hearts and look for what they can do to help those in need rigth in their own community!

Scenes of poverty and squalour may appear romantic to Westerners and to our snooty elite but for ordinary Indians they are nothing new. They are an everyday reality. However, one wonders what sort of mind can find such images aesthetically pleasing. Party-hopping socialites (for example, Shobhaa De after all her bombast of "enough is enough" after the Mumbai attack, went and watched a pirated copy!) who are distanced from such reality may find this film an "eye-opener" but for us it IS just poverty-porn. It IS just slum- voyeurism. The music/soundtrack and the technical quality is excellent but I think, overall, the film is unrealistic and over-rated because:
1) The director seems to RELISH showing violence. Some of it (like the police-torture) is quite needless. And why was the boy arrested in the first place? On what charge? Was it realistic?
2) How can a boy growing up in slums speak such accented English? Even if one assumes that the language he actually uses to communicate with the game-show host and the police officer is Hindi (granting the director the creative license to use a language better suited for international audiences), there are 2 instances where it is stretched too far: (a) when the boy becomes a ‘guide’ for foreign tourists at the Taj Mahal & (b) when he becomes a substitute-operator at the call-centre.
3) When the boy uses his ‘lifeline’ during the game-show, his friend discovers that she has forgotten her mobile and has to run back for it. This is plain Bollywood masala! Did the director HAVE to make it so melodramatic?
4) How did the boy know who invented the revolver just by watching his brother use it?
How does his friend know about Benjamin Franklin?
5) “Darshan Do Ghanshyam” is NOT written by Surdas. It is written by Gopal Singh Nepali for the movie Narsi Bhagat (1957). This song is also credited as traditional and originally written by 15th century poet Narsi Mehta, whose life that film is based on.
6) After winning the game-show, the boy sits on the railway platform and nobody recognizes him! Considering the popularity of the show, is that realistic?
7) Two glaring omissions: To get invited to the show one has to answer several GK questions over phone or Internet. Even after making it to the show, a contestant can reach the hot-seat, only after qualifying through “fastest finger first”. All this is conveniently forgotten in the film.
8) And of course the greatest flaw in the storyline: programmes like 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' and 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' are NOT telecast live. As a result the entire structure of the film becomes unrealistic. For a film that boasts of being realistic such a flaw cannot be overlooked.
Due to all these flaws, “Slumdog Millionaire” is no better or worse than an average Bollywood masala film and the Academy will lose its credibility if it gives this film the Best Picture & Best Director awards.

1) the actor spoke english (good accent or not), to bare us from reading subtitles throughout the film, not to show us how well indians can speak english

2) listen properly when watching a film...the indian is arrested because the owner of the show "who wants to be a millionaire" thinks he is cheating because a) nobody ever won on the show b) because the owner is not ready to pay the indian a million for winning and even till the end he tries to make him lose.

3) the violence in the film is very realistic. in india, people cut their children's arms or legs off to send them begging on the streets so this is no big deal. ie the violence is no exageration.

4) as stated by others previously, the film has to be realistic, giving a message and be appealing to viewers. why? obviously because the film was also made to be sussessful and to make money.

so, before you start trying to be a director yourself, it's best you try to be a little more reasonable. all films have slight mistakes or allowances, and that is something you have to live with.

Relax..its a movie..not reality!!!Awards are given for the heartrending realistic messages that the film conveys ..not the attention to details like is the show telecast live or not.

Thats the reason why you are not a filmmaker. My answers to your questions:

1. There is hardly any violence. There is more blood and gore shown today even on TV. Why was he arrested? Didn't you watch him being handed over to the police. Well this is India my dear...money and influence speak most of the time.
2.What do you mean by accented English. What accent are you talking about? Well the way the boy speaks is pretty neutral, the way an Indian would speak. And when he becomes a guide ...there is a jump in time...a technique often used in films...he could have picked up english along the way...maybe he worked as a servant for an Englishman...its open to imagination...but it is not important.
3.Sir we need that time to build up the tension and go toward climax.
4. This has been answered.
5. Whether it is written by Surdas or Kalidas does it change anything. Does it make the film better or worse. NO.
6.It could have been middle of the night. Or perhaps people really didn't recognize him. He has a common face.
7.This point is really foolish. We see that the boy is already in the show and being brought to the hot seat by Anil Kapoor which mean he has already been through the question round. If he is THERE he has cleared the preliminary rounds. basta.
8.Is it important that the show is not live. for movie sake it shown as if it were live. So it was LIVE atleast in the film. Reality always neccassarily does not have to match film.

Final question to ask did I enjoy the film. my answer is yes. I am not sure about you. If you enjoy a meal you are satisfied. you do not ask the cook how he made such a nice meal or what kind of spices or ingredients he used...unless you wanna cook that same meal yourself.

Take care and don't watch movies from now on.

Great criticism. I learned a lot about the artistic license used by the director and writer. Imperfections in reality make for great movies but they are just romantic stories. The Academy has nominated this film because it has touched so many Americans. It's good to be exposed to other cultures and there have always been injustices in mankind because that is the nature of man. Your snooty elite is no different than any wealthy class anywhere in the world which does not value human dignity as much as their money.

A lot of your criticism has to do with the broader appeal to audiences, which helps market the film. The melodrama and westernized accent help sell it everywhere. That's a good thing.

All films have mistakes in factual trivia. But the boy knew who invented the revolver by his brother saying "Colt 45." The blind boy probably learned who was on the bill from before he was blind and remembered.

As humans achieve real personal and emotional growth, economics as a social science may become more social and we may start caring about each other a bit more.

This analysis of course can be applied to any film referring to actualities, histories, factualities, procedures and processes, but the willing suspension of disbelief is required for catharsis. Too much cute front brain correspondences to use Pynchon's phrase, certainly impairs aesthetic effect. From my perspective, in Europe, this film achieves outstanding cinematic power, using various techniques derived from several traditions, and provides the means for a mass audience, unfamiliar with the detail of Indian politics, literature, music, film, or urban culture, to be completely blown away into another world, but really only a more extreme version of their own. This is world cinema, and the Academy will fail to recognise this phenomenonal film, if it is not awarded best film. Make no doubt, as the world watched the Presidential election, so will it also anticipate the Academy award for this film. Do not disappoint us.

It is not about reality. It is about hope.