[The_Return]

Slumdog Millionaire

So, I finally got around to seeing it. Didn't really live up to all the hype, but I really did think it was a damn good movie.

Wasn't too fussy about some of the flashbacks near the first, but from the point they were teenagers on I was very impressed. Despite the ADD style storytelling, it still created some great characters and had me really absorbed in the plot once it got going.

Spoilers: I especially liked the whole bit with Kumar feeding him the fake answer. Such a tense moment - absolutely brilliant.

It had it's flaws to be sure: the editing was headache inducing, for starters, and some of the child actors were painful to watch. Still, I very much enjoyed it and by the end I walked out of the theatre with a smile on my face from ear to ear.


Frozen River

Catching up on my Oscar watching today, if you couldn't tell :cool:

I liked this one...it told a very bleak story, and was the perfect way to follow the almost sickeningly happy ending of Slumdog.

Melissa Leo was very good in her role, but I wasn't overly impressed with Misty Upham. The real standout performance for me was Charlie McDermott in a wonderful supporting role as Leo's son, trying to keep the family from completely falling apart. It could have been a pretty basic part, but he brought such an honesty to the role that I found him one of the best parts of the piece.

First time writer/director Courtney Hunt also did a great job: the script told an engrossing story, and her direction served to emphasize the darkness and hopelessness of the situation.

Not a movie for everyone, and certainly not very uplifting...but I thought it was very well made.