Monday
24Nov2008
For Your Consideration: 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Monday, November 24, 2008 at 3:10PM
I am amazed by the inner workings of an industry that
nearly cost
Slumdog Millionaire its theatrical release. We
talked to director
Danny Boyle about a week ago, and one of the
more alarming things he said was that his latest film nearly got shoved to only
being released on DVD, thanks to a big conglomerate (Time-Warner) shutting the
doors on some of its smaller parts (Warner Independent in this case, but also
Picturehouse). 
In short: Fox recognized the appeal and quality of the film, and Slumdog Millionaire went from a company with a decidedly spotty record of distribution to arguably the best "independent" company on the planet. Fox Searchlight has assumed the role that Miramax once held in the film industry, but has probably improved on it, by acquiring a bunch of great films and actually driving people to see them.
There are a host of technical awards for our consideration, also, such as the editing, cinematography, sound mixing, and sound editing. I mention those specifically because I believe the film belongs at or near the top of the list in those fields, as well.
Of the 160 movies or so I've seen this year, there are only five or so that are even in that group below Slumdog, so the rest of the year's films have a lot of catching up to do.
Reader Comments (6)
what do you do with your unwanted screeners? Feel like throwing those out to loyal followers?
No can do. Gotta destroy 'em...but I'll probably keep this one around for a little while longer.
Other than presumably, the Dark Knight, what are the other 5 or so movies that are below Slumdog?
Can't say, because at least one of them isn't out yet, and you presume too much with The Dark Knight. As enormous as it was, lots of details about that movie drove me crazy.
Knew the minute i saw this film that Dev Patel should receive an Oscar Nom for Best Supporting Actor and a long-shot Nom for Best Picture. After the screening, Danny Boyle was much too humble. He mentioned Best Adapted Screenplay and Music as Oscar categories for Slumdog. I hope Dev receives the nomination, at the very least.
Did you see Mr. Patel and Miss Pinto on the Today Show? They were so cute, they broke into a little Bollywood dance routine.
When the credits are done rolling on your screeners, is there are message from the studio chief saying "this screener will destroy itself in five seconds"?
I bet a lot of DVD players get destroyed that way...