Ryan McNeil
As I sat in a coffee shop yesterday listening to people in my neighbourhood express their thoughts on SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, I realized that at this point in the film’s life the bar has been set a tich too high.
Of all the Oscar nominees for Best Picture, this was by far the one that benefitted the most. Audiences flocked to it to see what the fuss was about, and now that it’s taken the award it will be rewarded with at least another week or two of steady box office. Many will go expecting to be knocked on their ass…and they will go home disappointed.
Not that Slumdog is a bad movie – far from it. Just that it won’t rank as everyone’s “best picture”. Expectations are a funny thing, and they will play games with your eventual reaction to a movie.
Allow me to stay with Slumdog as an example. I first saw it at the TIFF North American premiere back in September. I bought my ticket pretty much blind (“Set in Mumbai, directed by Danny Boyle…yeah, sure, give me a ticket”). My reaction going in knowing nothing will be vastly different from someone else who goes in having seen ad after ad, heard praise upon praise, and knowing that a bunch of Hollywood know-nothings just lauded it best film of the year.
I went through a similar reaction when I saw THE READER this week. I tried to check my expectations at the door, but I kept thinking about flaws I’d already read about it, and comparing it to my thoughts of Winslet’s other film REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. Did all of this taint my reaction? Probably.
What I’m trying to encourage is for any film, to set aside what you’ve already heard – including the thoughts of this humble blogger. Shutting every bit of advance reaction is difficult at best these days, but when it comes to enjoying a movie, I suggest you take everything with a grain of salt.
Forget about the hype, just grab the snacks, take your seat, and let yourself be entertained.
I saw it in January over here in England, before the big Oscar buzz had really kicked off. Loved it, admired it, enjoyed it – and then saw The Wrestler a week later and found that to be a far more rewarding, emotional experience – and one (and this is being cynical about it) was more tailored to the Academy’s tastes.
I just think at the end of it all, Slumdog is a very basic story told with a bit of flair – it’s a feel good fairy tale with a bit of a dark edge, but it’s no more elborate than something like Rocky. The Wrestler, while obviously bearing similarities, has a much darker heart and a more resonating message.
Not to take away from Slumdog’s success (and of course, as a Brit, I’m pleased Danny Boyle finally gets the recognition he deserves), but I think The Wrestler was more deserving of best picture, and Rourke certainly more deserving of best actor.