Just one of the many film concepts Danny Boyle considered and rejected. Others include Slumdog Catchphrase, Slumdog 321 and the ill-fated Slumdog Bob's Full House, which was a month into filming before the Indian Bob Monkhouse was killed in a cattle stampede.
Slumdog is a good flm, and I would recommend the opportunity to goo and experience it if you can. It works on many levels - love story, thriller, social comment on the urbanisation of the slums, the rise of gangster and drug culture, commentry on the abuse of orphans, and quiz show. And t's got a nice approach to subtitles that makes you forget around 20% of it is in foreign.
One of the things that engages me in a film, far more than plot or tension, is character. I have found that if I want to spend time with the people in a film, I'll enjoy the film. I'm a social person, and I think I just engage on this level more than others. That doesn't mean that the people in films like have to be 'nice' - but they have to be three dimensional beliveable, fun, quirky, fascinating, intriguing or just plain interesting.
I think that's part of the reason I fail to engage with some fantasy films, like Lord of the Rings. I find the characters too dramatic and actorly - I can't believe in these people or feel bothered about them or their fates.
Other films I've seen recently and liked include Burn After Reading (I love Frances Mcdormand) and I Am Legend. I also thought Hancock was great, and it was Jason Bateman's performance in that and also the exquisite Junebug that got me into Arrested Development. I'm currently addicted to AD and it's largely due to it's characters - and it's off the wall, fast paced comedy. Great stuff, and unlike most other sitcoms, with a regular cast of 10.
I've got a pile of films that I still have to watch, including Roma by Fellini, Munich, 28 Days Later, several Hitchcocks, and a handful of Black and Whites starring Bette Davis.
Can anyone suggest a great character led film to add to the list of stuff I'll never get round to seeing anytime soon?
Old man and the Sea character-led enough? or dress as a woman for the weekend and watch Room with a View, Moonstruck, 84 Charing Cross Road or Crossing Delancey!
Posted by: caroline | February 21, 2009 at 04:15 PM
Thank you for not revealing too much, as hoping to see it soon.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 21, 2009 at 05:16 PM
The Curious Case of Bejamin Button is a must see. In my opinion, its far better than Slumdog.
Posted by: Lisa Dorman | February 22, 2009 at 10:14 AM
The Last Seduction springs to mind, great character -total bitch but awesome!
Posted by: suzy | February 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I like your taste in film and TV shows.
Posted by: Sandy | February 25, 2009 at 07:19 AM
Can't think of anything that would interest you -
I thought Arrested Development was a band???????
Posted by: christine | March 02, 2009 at 10:39 PM