Retrospective Film Review

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) • 15 Years Later — Danny Boyle’s vision of India doesn’t get everything right

A young man from the slums of Mumbai is accused of cheating after he wins a fortune on a game show.

At the mention of Danny Boyle, many conjure up images of an exuberant, attention-grabbing filmmaking style that utilises the entire cinematic arsenal to its fullest, perhaps even excessively. But while this perception holds some truth, it paints an incomplete picture. Indeed, one of Boyle’s most impactful films, Steve Jobs (2015), defies the notion of an overly directed “Danny Boyle film” by seamlessly concealing its intricate and artful construction. His best works — Shallow Grave (1994), 28 Days Later (2002), 127 Hours (2010), Trainspotting (1996), and its poignant sequel two decades later — stand out not for their relentless stylistic flourishes but for their compelling premises and sheer narrative drive.

The same can be said of Slumdog Millionaire, but only to a certain extent. The film is built on an ingenious and captivating premise: an…