home

"Slumdog Kids" Travel to Hollywood for Oscars

The two child actors in Slum Dog Millionaire are en route to Hollywood where they will appear at the Oscars and on the Red Carpet Sunday.

Check out this BBC video interview with them today and watch the squalor that exists in the Mumbai slums.

Slumdog is a shoe-in for Best Picture. Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com has put his political skills to the Oscars and comes up with these predictions.

< U.S. Army Medic Found Guilty of Murdering 4 Iraqis | Reasonable Disagreements On Afghanistan Policy >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    A dream come true for the children (none / 0) (#1)
    by rachel06 on Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 11:58:46 PM EST
    A dream come true for these poor innocent children to just fly to Hollywood at a free cost and to be at the Oscars.

    But coming to LA and seeing the wealth (none / 0) (#2)
    by shoephone on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 12:09:09 AM EST
    everywhere will make it even worse for them when they have to return home to the Mumbai slums.

    Where is the little boy who played the main character? Isn't he going to LA?

    Saw the movie recently with my 79-year old father. We both loved it.

    the kids (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 12:17:33 AM EST
    got a trust fund set up from the movie, they are in school now and their parents got homes. At least some of the profits are going their way. The sad thing is the millions of other kids who will continue to live in such squalor. (See the video I linked to.)

    Parent
    I read recently (probably NYT or LAT) (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 01:04:32 AM EST
    Slumdog's chances of winning best picture diminished when the economy here tanked.  Need to honor an American picture/story.

    And after Prop 8 (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Amiss on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 01:37:09 AM EST
    I think many Hollywood types figure it is time for Harvey Milk to get his due.

    Parent
    "Slumdog" certainly isn't the best film (none / 0) (#6)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 09:38:24 AM EST
    I've ever seen, but it just might be the best of the year.  The craftsmanship of the photography and the editing and the music were exceptional.  The story was hackneyed but given a fresh look by situating it in India.

    If I were going to vote, however, I'd pick Penn and "Milk."  This is a film that I can't get out of my mind.

    Thanks for the video link, Jeralyn.  I'm hoping that the publicity from "Slumdog" will draw some attention to those unfortunate children who live under such terrible conditions.

    A better film about poor Indian childred (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Sat Feb 21, 2009 at 03:39:59 PM EST
    It's a documentary called Born into Brothels, and it is unforgettable.  Won the Academy Award for best documentary a few years ago.  More than worth checking out.

    Did I say skip it? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 12:15:33 PM EST
    No, I didn't.  I simply said there was a better film.  Slumdog was weak to me, sorry, it just was.  Drama exists in both documentaries and fiction, neither has a corner on being better or worse.  I simply said it was a better film, both about kids and the entire evironment.  The 20+ year old film Salaam Bombay is also far superior.    

    Parent
    I saw Slumdog before going to (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 22, 2009 at 12:32:08 AM EST
    India and before Mumbai "incident."  I saw it again today post-India and post Mumbai "incident."  Quite interesting to see a second time.  Good flick.