‘Slumdog Millionaire’ exception to the rule

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto stars of the film "Slumdog Millionaire."

I am not a big fan of drama flicks they are just not my cup of Starbucks.

Many times there are  exceptions to rules we give ourselves, and oh boy, let me tell you, I am so glad I broke my “no-dramas-ever” rule.

My university’s Student Activities Council hosts Free Movie Night every month, allowing students to watch a free movie of their choosing. As is the case every month, my good “movie buddy”, Carmen, and I were presented with same dilemma. So many movies, only one choice.

We decided to watch the critically acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire” directed by Danny Boyle.  After all the “buzz” all I really wanted to see what all the excitement was about.

The plot was your typical dramatic film story. A poor boy named Jamal, played by Dev Patel, has an unfortunate and sad childhood.  His brother Salim and a girl from his slum in India, Latika, go through a series of tragic experiences during their childhood and teen years. Jamal falls in love with Latika but they are separated as the events unfold. As Jamal grows older, he decides to go on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” so Latika can see him.

As I sat in the packed movie theater, I finally understood why the film won so many awards and it is rapidly becoming a pop-culture favorite.

The use of camera angles, music, and flashbacks, all were executed very well and brilliantly translated into the big screen.

I rapidly became enamored with the film, as it kept getting better by the second.

For once I admit I was glad to have been wrong. Even though the movie is a drama, I absolutely love it.

After pondering about the film as I arrived to my dorm room at 2 a.m. I came to the realization that everything ending in “dog” is amazing.

Seriously, you can’t deny that Hot Dogs, Corndogs, Winnie Dogs, Snoop Dog, and now “Slumdog Millionaire” are as good as it gets.