Blog Archives
Frieda Pinto stars in “Miral”
Image via Wikipedia
Freida Pinto star of “Slumdog Millionaire” is leading actress in “Miral” a muddled movie attempt at portraying Palestinian struggle with Israel.
The problem is the movie. It is not very good from the reviews I have read.
Based on her interview with Charlie Rose Rula Jebreal (the author of the book Miral) is now sleeping with her director Julian Schnabel. Bad move.
Related Articles
- Miral: “Julian Schnabal’s sincere and thought-provoking film Miral is a film rich in compassion and drama..” (exploringtheheart.wordpress.com)
- Jonathan Kim: ReThink Interview: Julian Schnabel, Director of Miral (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
- Review: Julian Schnabel’s `Miral’ feels muddled (sfgate.com)
Best Picture — Slumdog Millionaire — My pick — my pick Won
I picked Slumdog as winner, but wanted to see Frost/Nixon.
The BIG FOUR Categories are left–Heloise’s picks in review: 2/4
Best picture–1
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire—Best Pic my pick. i’ve seen them all except Milk
Best director–I wanted Ron to win. Picked based on that instead of who will win:–0
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire–wins best director–not fair!
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon–My pick for best director
Gus Van Sant – Milk
Best actor–0
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor–good job
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon–My pick for best actor
Sean Penn – Milk — Won — don’t think so. He is on a big soap box–DID NOT SEE IT!
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button–very good job
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler–didn’t see it.
Best actress–1
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader–The winner, No doubt
I got 2 out of the big four WTF! These are tricky
Best Score–Slumdog–I’m 10 for 14–missed the sound!
Best original score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire–tight fit with CCBB, but it will win for music, thus my pick
Wall-E
Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire by Heloise
Mumbai, India is the setting for this brutal look at slum life in a southern Indian city. It follows the life of three slum dwellers, called slum dogs by the film’s writer, who said he “just made up slumdog.” Ouch!
Well, the natives are a bit restless about the dog part. However, here in America, dog can be a friendly word, but when you are poor, black and the underdog being reminded of it well, hurts. I’ve been to India and traveled by plane, and by taxi from the city of New Delhi to its northern Punjab region. This region is not nearly as bad as the south but just the same you see people living virtually EVERYWHERE in India.
And what distinguishes India even more than having to step over people sleeping in parking lots in the train station and living on the train tracks is the veritble smell of India. It is the smell of burning that distinguishes her.
The hero and heroine of Slumdog have lots of adventures that take them from the beauty of the Taj Mahal to an orphanage that uses and abuses the kids. Here’s where it got ugly. The violence and torture in the movie rate it a strong caution. It is not a kid’s movie even though kids are portrayed in the film.
Its star works his way up to an office job in an offshore calling center where he takes the chance to become a contestant on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” Indian style. It looks like the American version only the questions are very different and as the host says, even scholars have not made it up to the highest levels.
They are suspicious that he has cheated and the police are called in and carry him off for interrogation. The interrogator is the dad from “The Namesake.” He must question young slumdog to get to the bottom.
This is how the story is told in flashbacks that last for long stretches of the film. The end is fabulous. Don’t leave too early or you will miss one of the best music videos ever. It reminds me of the old days back in the 1970s when my ex husband first took me to screenings of Indian films on the north side of Chicago. I’ve always loved Indian films and this one is no exception.
Don’t miss Slumdog Millionaire. Will it win best picture of the year? I predict it will. I’ve seen its biggest competition “Curious Case…” and slumdog will win hands down.
The Trough 