Of all movie recommendations for 2008, the first I downloaded was Slumdog Millionaire.

From Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting …, comes 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?”

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Actually, I don’t think the trailer does the film justice.

The movie does remind me of Trainspotting, Boyle using “edgy, upfront” music.

The cinematography is mostly fantastic capturing the chaos, horror, laughter and vibrancy of modern Bombay effectively. In many ways it reminds me of my favourite book, Shantaram. (The film adaptation starring Johnny Depp has been delayed, by the way.)

Bottom line, you should rent Slumdog Millionaire.

It’s an entertaining and heartwarming love story on one level. And a complex film aficionado’s triumph on another.