-New in Oscar buzz this week is a film that I initially wrote off because I thought the title was ridiculous. Slumdog Millionaire? But as it turns out, I was very wrong, and I could not be happier. In a season where I've yet to see a standout, potential Best Picture nominee film (excluding Wall-e of course) I am intrigued by and anxious to see the plot of the film unfold. In short, Slumdog is about an Indian slum resident that makes it onto India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire equivalent, cheats, wins big, and is caught. In the process of his interrogation, director Danny Boyle weaves the intricate story of the main character's life in the slums of crime ridden, corruption addled Mumbai. Not only are initial reviews for both the film and director stellar, but the plot and narrative devices evoke Fernando Mereilles's Cidade de Deus. Cidade recounts a very similar narrative of an aspiring photographer reflecting on his own upbringing in the slums of Rio De Janiero and was itself a highly praised film. Keep your eye out on this film, and I'll be trying to see it myself asap.
-In terms of laughs at least, Thursday's Office was relatively low key. For all that Jim/Pam tension, it all resolved very quickly, something is up with that. But...Michael confronting the CFO over Holly shows continued growth for his character AND Holly is still signed for one more episode. Let's hope she'll be back for at least that episode. Classic line of the night though was Ryan, now unhappily back with Kelly, laments, "I realized that for whatever reason, I just can't do better than Kelly," as Kelly beamed giddily next to him. Also, keep your eye out for this season's online exclusive webisode series, The Outburst.
-I am disappointed, though certainly not surprised, to be hearing from friends and reading reviews left and right about the failure of Quantum of Solace to live up to Casino Royale's reinvigoration of the Bond franchise. The problem actually seems to be stemming from what I thought the solution to the farcical nature of the latter Brosnan Bond flick's was, which is to say, make Bond more like Bourne. Without a doubt all three of the Matt Damon films trumped the three pre-Royale Bond films in action, cinematography, writing, and acting and they reminded us what a taught spy thriller was supposed to be like. Then Casino Royale came along, drew from the dark aspects of the Bourne franchise (not to mention Batman Begins) and sucked us all back into the world of 007. From these reviews, however, it seems they've taken to this tactic too far, depriving Bond of some of the kitsch and campiness it was known for. You know, asking for his martini, picking up chicks with funny names, all those double entendres. I've yet to see the film for myself (and I will see it) but I am hoping that this new Bond universe, complete with interconnected, plot driven story lines will more thoroughly endear itself to fans in the next installment.
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