| This Week's Highlights |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
|
@ DVDfever Youtube |
|
|
|
|
May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
|
Top film… top soundtrack. At last it’s in my collection! If you haven’t seen the brilliant Oscar nominated Brit-flick Slumdog Millionaire then, get to your local cinema soon. It’s been tagged as “The Feel-Good Film Of The Decade: you can’t argue with that. Just about everything about it is superb – acting, cinematography, and especially the soundtrack, which is up for a BAFTA and Oscar. It’s currently #1 on the iTunes soundtrack chart.
From the get-go, the music grabbed me, and unusually, unlike may films, works throughout all the scenes. Of course, its better that you’ve seen the film first, nevertheless, out of context, it’s still mightily impressive work. Many of the tracks are sure to be destined for the dance club scene : some might just get extra tweeking to order, like Riots, beat-heavy Aaj Ki Raat, Millionaire and Jai Ho, though original formats will probably suffice. This masterly OST captures the often frenetic pace (back street chases in Mumbai), and sublime lulls (river shots, Taj Mahal etc) in the plot which has brought such critical acclaim for the film. Masterminded by multi-million selling 43 year old Bollywood film composer-songwriter-producer A R Rahman (real name A.S. Dileep Kumar) he’s created a patchwork of passion and tenderness that dovetail the highs and lows of this remarkable achievement. Incredibly, Rahman managed to plan the score over two months and completed it in two weeks. His aim was to mix ‘new India’ with ‘old India’ and to that end he’s more than surpassed himself, but stressed it isn’t about India or Indian culture.
Director Danny Boyle (The Full Monty) insisted on a “pulsey “ score, so he set about creating the music to fit the images, in an audio ‘storyboard’, with barely 17 or 18 cues to be inspired from. Then there was multi-talented Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. to consider, who Rahman described as a “powerhouse”. Her Paper Planes, which also appeared in the trailer for Pineapple Express is one of the major highlights here. For me, Rahman’s jewels in the crown are the quieter moments – Dreams On Fire featuring the cultured tones of Suzanne, and again on Latika’s Theme, both divine respites. Cleverly, he’s fused westernized R&B with indigenous flavours such as Liquid Dance, whereas Ringa Ringa, and Alka’s sublime voice, adds some real class amongst the BPMs. The verdict: A Perfect 10!
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG wrexhamfm.com
Weblink: slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
|
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
