Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

An 18 year old Indian Muslim (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai is a contestant on the Indian version of the quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? When he is accused of cheating he relates his life story and how his experience enabled him to know the answers. Based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup and directed by Danny Boyle (STEVE JOBS). Everybody loves a good underdog story and this is one of the best underdog movies made. Throw in childhood sweethearts separated as children trying to find each other when they grow up and you've got the Oscar winning sleeper hit of 2008. If in retrospect, its critical acclaim seems a bit overboard, it remains a hugely enjoyable and intelligent "feel good" movie and young Patel gives a pleasing performance unencumbered by excessive acting. The film has been criticized (mostly in the Indian press) about its lack of realism as regards India but the film is a fantasy, not a Dickensian probe. With the lovely Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal and Anil Kapoor.