Taking Time-Out from Digiscrapping

Because it was Holy Week and most television channels were on holiday, I was able to watch three movies… Slumdog Millionaire (DVD courtesy of a very special person), Dying Young at Star Movies and Cast Away at Studio 23.

As you all know by now, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE  won eight awards at the Oscar’s last February including the best picture… director, film editing, cinematography, sound mixing, music song and score and writing (adapted screenplay).  It is a 2008 British Film directed by Danny Boyle and it stars Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, Madhur Mittal as Salim (Jamal’s Brother) and Freida Pinto (as Latika) .

FILM SYNOPSIS (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life.

With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much?

Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost.

Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes.

But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.

At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

 

 

FILM SYNOPSIS:

A simple romance that nonetheless carries a great deal of emotional impact, DYING YOUNG tells the story of Hilary O'Neil, an attractive young woman who, upon discovering her live-in boyfriend in bed with another woman, must move out and find a new job. She accepts a position as the in-house caretaker of Victor Geddes (Campbell Scott), a wealthy young man who is suffering from blood cancer.

Hilary's first experiences of the after effects of chemotherapy leave her in doubt as to whether she can handle the job, but Victor convinces her to stay, as he is beginning to see in her a reason to live. When Victor informs her that his chemo has been successfully completed, they move to a secluded home to start a life together, until cancer once again intrudes.

The film is rich in its portrayal of the hardships inflicted by cancer patients and their loved ones, as well as the power of love to lend strength to endure.

The film’s musical score is life-affirming, romantic, and touching.  Standout tracks include the opening theme, King Curtis’ jazzy take on "All the Way," and the closing "I'll Never Leave You (Love Theme)."

 

FILM SYNOPSIS:

CAST AWAY  is a 2000 film directed by Robert Zemeckis , Hanks stars as Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems engineer whose personal and professional life are ruled by the clock.  His fast-paced career takes him, often at a moment's notice, to far-flung locales -- and away from his girlfriend Kelly, played by Helen Hunt.

Chuck's manic existence abruptly ends when, after a plane crash, he becomes isolated on a remote island -- cast away into the most desolate environment imaginable. Stripped of the conveniences of everyday life, he first must meet the basic needs of survival, including water, food and shelter. Chuck, the consummate problem solver, eventually figures out how to sustain himself physically. But then what? Chuck begins his true personal journey.

After four years, fate gives Chuck a chance to fight his way back to civilization, only to find an unexpected emotional challenge greater than all the earlier physical ones. His ability to persevere and to hope are a product of his life-changing experience. Though the conclusion of Chuck's story may not be a conventional Hollywood ending, it is, like life, full of truth, pain and promise. -- © 2000 20th Century Fox