The story of "Slumdog Millionaire," from its modest birth, to the brush with extinction when Warner Independent closed, then cheating death at the last minute to be re-born as a seemingly irresistible magnet at Award ceremonies is almost worthy of a movie by itself.
Here is a film that breaks every accepted Hollywood 'rule' - Unknown cast, modest budget, real-life locations, no flashy effects and no tedious, cliched car-chases.
If you taught it at film school they'd say you were mad! But this modest movie has now confounded its critics with four Golden Globes, ten Oscar noms, the PGA award and SAG's award for "Best Motion Picture Ensemble" - widely regarded as the Guild's 'Best Picture' award.
If it can add just one golden man on February 20th, this remarkable movie could dump the entire egocentric Hollywood 'biz' on its myopic, over-fed rear.
And not before time! As I see it, this splendidly iconoclastic creation proves two cogent things; 1- The entire foundation of Hollywood is a communal delusion, and 2- Talent does not sell a movie, a believable story people can care about and which engages their minds will do that.
There are 50,000 actors in thisState alone with a depth of talent that could pin any audience to their seats, just as 'Slumdog' so often does - But they can't get a break because 'Hollywood' still clings to the myth that you must have a 'name' to make any film a success.
And nothing, not even 'Slumdog' taking 'Best Picture' next month would probably change the anemic amoeba that serves as their collective mind.
They will continue to cling to the myth, and thousands of talented, passionate Actors will go on subsitsting on minimum wage.
If proof was even needed that my quest on behalf of new Actors is just and deserved, Slumdog is it.
This movie deserves Oscar success as richly as the Hollywood business deserves the blunt and overdue lesson that achievement will bring.
If a movie that has not one single 'name,' and cost less than a tenth of their typical budget wins the Best Picture, the pink slips this could induce in their lives would be the greatest award of the night.
Here is a film that breaks every accepted Hollywood 'rule' - Unknown cast, modest budget, real-life locations, no flashy effects and no tedious, cliched car-chases.
If you taught it at film school they'd say you were mad! But this modest movie has now confounded its critics with four Golden Globes, ten Oscar noms, the PGA award and SAG's award for "Best Motion Picture Ensemble" - widely regarded as the Guild's 'Best Picture' award.
If it can add just one golden man on February 20th, this remarkable movie could dump the entire egocentric Hollywood 'biz' on its myopic, over-fed rear.
And not before time! As I see it, this splendidly iconoclastic creation proves two cogent things; 1- The entire foundation of Hollywood is a communal delusion, and 2- Talent does not sell a movie, a believable story people can care about and which engages their minds will do that.
There are 50,000 actors in thisState alone with a depth of talent that could pin any audience to their seats, just as 'Slumdog' so often does - But they can't get a break because 'Hollywood' still clings to the myth that you must have a 'name' to make any film a success.
And nothing, not even 'Slumdog' taking 'Best Picture' next month would probably change the anemic amoeba that serves as their collective mind.
They will continue to cling to the myth, and thousands of talented, passionate Actors will go on subsitsting on minimum wage.
If proof was even needed that my quest on behalf of new Actors is just and deserved, Slumdog is it.
This movie deserves Oscar success as richly as the Hollywood business deserves the blunt and overdue lesson that achievement will bring.
If a movie that has not one single 'name,' and cost less than a tenth of their typical budget wins the Best Picture, the pink slips this could induce in their lives would be the greatest award of the night.
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