This clip is from the BFI London Film Festival ’08 teaser for “Slumdog Millionaire” features music by A.R. Rahman. He wrote a song with M.I.A. for the film as well, but we never wrote the name of it down when we saw Danny Boyle’s remarkably electric film at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this year. ‘Slumdog’ is one of our year’s favorite films and man, the children in this film are so incredible and so endearing. The movie is a vibrant slice of kinetic energy and and the closer it gets to release (November 12 in limited release) the more exposure it receives and the stronger bid it has for the Oscars. Boyle and the film itself are certainly worthy of a Best Director and Best Picture nomination (head and shoulders above say, “Wall-E” and “The Dark Knight” – two films campaigning for Best Picture as well), but we’re afraid the lack of stars and the non-North American setting might be difficult for older Oscar voters to hang with. But it’s a wonderful film and people should bang the drum in support. Writer Simon Beaufoy (“The Full Monty”) probably has a strong shot at Best Adapted Screenplay as well (and if it gets shut-out of the real categories, Best Adapted might be the only bone they throw ‘Slumdog’).
BTW, we confirmed via Fox Searchlight. “Slumdog Millionaire” is stuck with it’s R-rating. They didn’t say it, but it seems pretty clear that since this film is being rushed into theaters that there’s no time for cuts and or an MPAA appeal.