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"Slumdog Kids" Travel to Hollywood for Oscars

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 08:11:28 PM EST
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The two child actors in Slum Dog Millionaire are en route to Hollywood where they will appear at the Oscars and on the Red Carpet Sunday.

Check out this BBC video interview with them today and watch the squalor that exists in the Mumbai slums.

Slumdog is a shoe-in for Best Picture. Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com has put his political skills to the Oscars and comes up with these predictions.

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    "Slumdog Kids" Travel to Hollywood for Oscars | 12 comments (12 topical)

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    A dream come true for the children (none / 0) (#1)
    by rachel06 on Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 11:58:46 PM EST
    A dream come true for these poor innocent children to just fly to Hollywood at a free cost and to be at the Oscars.

    But coming to LA and seeing the wealth (none / 0) (#2)
    by shoephone on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 12:09:09 AM EST
    everywhere will make it even worse for them when they have to return home to the Mumbai slums.

    Where is the little boy who played the main character? Isn't he going to LA?

    Saw the movie recently with my 79-year old father. We both loved it.

    the kids (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 12:17:33 AM EST
    got a trust fund set up from the movie, they are in school now and their parents got homes. At least some of the profits are going their way. The sad thing is the millions of other kids who will continue to live in such squalor. (See the video I linked to.)

    [ Parent ]
    I read recently (probably NYT or LAT) (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 01:04:32 AM EST
    Slumdog's chances of winning best picture diminished when the economy here tanked.  Need to honor an American picture/story.

    And after Prop 8 (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Amiss on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 01:37:09 AM EST
    I think many Hollywood types figure it is time for Harvey Milk to get his due.

    [ Parent ]
    "Slumdog" certainly isn't the best film (none / 0) (#6)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 09:38:24 AM EST
    I've ever seen, but it just might be the best of the year.  The craftsmanship of the photography and the editing and the music were exceptional.  The story was hackneyed but given a fresh look by situating it in India.

    If I were going to vote, however, I'd pick Penn and "Milk."  This is a film that I can't get out of my mind.

    Thanks for the video link, Jeralyn.  I'm hoping that the publicity from "Slumdog" will draw some attention to those unfortunate children who live under such terrible conditions.

    A better film about poor Indian childred (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 03:39:59 PM EST
    It's a documentary called Born into Brothels, and it is unforgettable.  Won the Academy Award for best documentary a few years ago.  More than worth checking out.

    You're comparing apples and oranges. (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 02:46:53 AM EST
    The crippling poverty depicted in Slumdog Millionaire served as the backdrop to the film's plot, and was never meant to be a prevailing social commentary on the economic plight of Mumbai's lower classes.

    You should no more tell us to pass over that film in favor of Born into Brothels, than I could tell you to skip Rocky and / or Raging Bull and watch When We Were Kings instead.

    [ Parent ]

    Did I say skip it? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 12:15:33 PM EST
    No, I didn't.  I simply said there was a better film.  Slumdog was weak to me, sorry, it just was.  Drama exists in both documentaries and fiction, neither has a corner on being better or worse.  I simply said it was a better film, both about kids and the entire evironment.  The 20+ year old film Salaam Bombay is also far superior.    

    [ Parent ]
    Let me clarify again. (none / 0) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 06:30:08 PM EST
    If you're looking for an enlightened discussion of the extent of relentless poverty in India, then Brothels is your film. But for those of us who go to the movies to be entertained, your advice about which is the better film to see is grievously misplaced.

    I never disparaged Brothels, because I never compared it to Slumdog - you did.  I'll say it again. What you offer is an inappropriate comparison between two entirely different genres of cinema.

    [ Parent ]

    I saw Slumdog before going to (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 12:32:08 AM EST
    India and before Mumbai "incident."  I saw it again today post-India and post Mumbai "incident."  Quite interesting to see a second time.  Good flick.

    Huh? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 02:26:07 AM EST
    Jeralyn: "Slumdog is a shoe-in for Best Picture."

    So was Brokeback Mountain two years ago, Saving Private Ryan in 1998, Apollo 13 in 1995, Reds in 1981, The Exorcist in 1974, and Citizen Kane in 1941.

    And Julie Christie and Cate Blanchett are still waiting in the wings from last year to accept their shoe-in Oscars for Best Actress in Away From Her and Best Supporting Actress in I'm Not There, respectively.

    All those misplaced golden statuettes are probably stashed in the same closet as the undefeated New England Patriots' Super Bowl XLII trophy ...

    "Slumdog Kids" Travel to Hollywood for Oscars | 12 comments (12 topical)

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