I liked it, but based upon the reviews I had skimmed, I thought I’d love it. I really enjoy good foreign films and I’m increasingly intrigued by India, so I guess my expectations were too high. Not in my Top 20. I liked Monsoon Wedding more.
Here’s a note I wrote my 16 year old about the following Slumdog review.
Even though you haven’t seen the film, read this review as an example of good writing. I agree with some, but not all of his analysis. What I really like though is his contrarian bent. He has the confidence to go against the grain and say something distinctive. Good writing is a lot like excellent musicianship in that first you have to be technically sound, but then you have to develop a distinctive style which is typically referred to as voice.
Pressing Pause 
Hello Ron.
The festival of praise over “Slumdog” for the most part ignored the gaping holes in the movie—so I agree with the critic here, but would like to add too that great variance in the aesthetic appreciation of artistic enterprises while natural only highlights what is becoming increasingly obvious to me at least: take none of it personally, rollicking praise or fist-in-your-face criticism.
On writing: roaming in still-life I find I have to return to fundamentals again to resurrect the flame which not only branded but powered my own creative process. Right now I’m slouching despite my still habitual repairing to the page (which I don’t do often enough, ) and I’ve alluded in the past to you that I have “lost my voice.” Think plaintive here—the wailing of crickets perhaps at dawn. Okay. What else am I saying? So I’m reading Julia Cameron’s books again. She’s still one of my favorites because I think she does damaged storm wrecked writers well. Standing on her backbone now I will say: I don’t think voice should be a bag of tricks—you know? And I’ve been there, trust me. Also, voice shouldn’t exist with the exclusion of something to say. To paraphrase her: we hit the bone closest when we write about the things we care most about. Voice follows naturally thereafter.
I was surprised by Slumdog Millionaire — I also expected it to be far better than it was, based on the reviews. I enjoyed “Frost and Nixon” much more. I think for many people the look at India and conditions of poverty there made the film. But best movie of the year? I don’t think it’s at that level. Enjoyable, visually interesting, but lacking something.