Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The critic hails it as Danny Boyle's finest since Trainspotting, celebrating its thrillingly upbeat picaresque energy, colourful Mumbai portrait and infectious vitality despite some familiar contrivances.

The review calls the film a triumph that recaptures the energy of Trainspotting, praising its Dickensian epic scope, vibrant visuals and ultimately uplifting story set against Mumbai's harsh realities.

The hyper-energetic rags-to-riches tale dazzles and delights, succeeding for the most part; the real star is the city of Mumbai brought to life by Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle.

Boyle’s bravura command elevates the melodramatic story into a dazzling crowd-pleaser teeming with the sights, sounds and sensations of modern India; it builds into a moving tale of hope and the inspirational power of love.

The critic praises Boyle's energetic, colorful direction that turns a tale of hardship into an upbeat, warm fairytale full of humanity, highlighting the vivid depiction of India by Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle.

Lane finds the film a formulaic but energetic crowd-pleaser whose unembarrassed energy brings the obvious to the boil, with no surprises but plenty of verve. He singles out the way the filmmakers get their lenses dirty on Mumbai's streets and the closing Bollywood dance number for note.

The critic praises the film's energetic direction, exuberance and vivid depiction of Mumbai but finds the mix of graphic poverty, violence and wish-fulfilment entertainment tonally jarring and queasy.

Ebert calls the film a breathless, exciting story that is heartbreaking and exhilarating, a personal triumph for Danny Boyle that combines game-show suspense with the energy of City of God. He singles out its dazzling cinematography, breathless editing, driving music and headlong momentum for praise.

The review calls the film an authentically affecting crowd-pleaser and a cynicism-free celebration of fate, love, and social camaraderie that is genuine and sweet. It praises the gripping aesthetic and emotional dynamism conveyed through bold colors, extreme angles, and Indian music.

The critic finds the film solidly entertaining and energizing but feels it does not warrant all the buzz, describing it as thin in conception and execution. The Indian angle and infusion of Bollywood spectacle into Boyle's pumped-up style are singled out as the best elements.

Dargis describes the film as a gaudy, gorgeous rush of color, sound and motion and an undeniably attractive package that mixes thrills, tears and armchair tourism. She singles out the seductive visual style and the cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle for praise while noting it makes for a better viewing experience than a reflective one.

Danny Boyle's film is the equivalent of Usain Bolt's performance at the Olympics: funny, shocking and turbo-charged. It is a wonderful tribute to Mumbai and its people.

The critic calls it a tense and engaging masterpiece that works on many levels as an epic love story, cat-and-mouse thriller, social meditation and quiz show. They single out the intricately structured screenplay adapted from the novel and Danny Boyle's energetic, multi-faceted direction for praise, noting its balance of tension, grit, humour and strong performances from the cast.

The critic hails it as his favorite film of the year, a exhilarating journey through Indian street life with stunning cinematography and music, ultimately a uplifting love story that makes cliches fresh.

The critic calls it an unabashed crowdpleaser that blends melodramatic romance with harsh realities of Indian underclass life, praising its vibrant energy while noting its grounding in social truths.

The film is not terribly deep but is exceedingly good at what it does, transcending its story concept into gripping magical realism. It singles out the virtuoso performances from child actors and the deliriously romantic final third for praise.

It mostly lives up to the hype as a stylistic triumph and important evolution in depictions of India, propelled by a taut script and frenetic energy. It singles out the wondrous vibrance of Mumbai captured on location and the film's layered exploration of its characters for praise.