Danny Boyle

Blu-Ray Review: Oscar Winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Wins Big on Blu-Ray

BrianTT — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:24:37 -0600

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – One of the most beloved films of the last several years, “Slumdog Millionaire,” hits DVD and Blu-Ray this week and Fox pulls out all the stops for this home release, polishing up the video and audio to a nearly flawless sheen and compiling a spectacular collection of special features for a movie that many collectors will want to own.

What more is there to say about “Slumdog Millionaire”? One of the most award-winning films of all time, the Danny Boyle-directed fairy tale took home eight Oscars, including prizes for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, Best Director, and Best Picture. It was not just one of the most acclaimed films of 2008, it is one of the most acclaimed films of the ’00s.

Slumdog Millionaire will be released on Blu-Ray on March 31st, 2009.
Photo credit: MPI

Films as massively successful as “Slumdog Millionaire” have a different standard on Blu-Ray. Most home releases are still geared toward the renter who may not care much about video/audio quality or commentaries and deleted scenes, but films that win multiple Oscars are usually the kind that viewers purchase, making the “extras” beyond the movie that much more important.

Slumdog Millionaire will be released on Blu-Ray on March 31st, 2009.
Photo credit: MPI

Fans of “Slumdog Millionaire” will be more than satisfied by what Twentieth Century Fox has put together for their favorite film. I wish the behind-the-scenes material was incorporated into the film with picture-in-picture like some studios do with their product (WB, Universal) and I wanted more information on the deleted scenes, but these are the only minor complaints that hold “Slumdog” back from being a perfect Blu-Ray release.

As for the film itself, if you haven’t seen it, you should. Like a lot of people, I think the movie got a little overrated in the wave of support at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 but it’s still an excellent movie that everyone should see at least once and arguably twice. The second time through “Slumdog” is an even richer experience, as the details of Simon Beaufoy’s incredible screenplay are easier to admire when you know what’s to come.

If you’re somehow completely unfamiliar with “Slumdog,” Boyle’s film is the Dickensian tale of a young man (played in the majority of the film by Dev Patel) who goes on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” not to win the money but to be reunited with the love of his life (Freida Pinto).

“Slumdog” has a beautiful message in that it illustrates that life experience can be just as valuable as typical standards of intelligence. This excellent film is a crowd-pleaser, a romance, a fantasy, a drama, a musical, a comedy, and a portrait of a part of the world rarely seen in English-language cinema. It is an incredibly easy film to love.

As for the video, remastered in 1080p with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, it looks incredible. Some Fox Blu-Ray releases have been a bit of a letdown when compared to other studio’s transfers but you will not be disappointed in “Slumdog Millionaire”. It’s been perfectly mixed and is the kind of film that you could use to show off your new HD TV. It’s a mesmerizing picture. The audio matches the video with a crystal clear English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track.

Slumdog Millionaire will be released on Blu-Ray on March 31st, 2009.
Photo credit: MPI

The special features on “Slumdog Millionaire” include:

Slumdog Millionaire will be released on Blu-Ray on March 31st, 2009.
Photo credit: MPI

Commentary by Director Danny Boyle and Actor Dev Patel (121 minutes)
Commentary by Producer Christian Colson and Writer Simon Beaufoy (121 minutes)

Two fantastic commentary tracks from different sides of the “Slumdog Millionaire” production are the highlight of the special features on this Blu-Ray release. The fantastically entertaining Boyle and the young man he made a star offer more of an on-the-ground perspective to the filmmaking while the Oscar-winning producer and writer give more of the background of the film. They’re great tracks, particularly Boyle’s. He’s a man I’ve been lucky enough to interview more than once and he’s SO well-spoken and interesting that one hopes he will do a commentary on every film he makes.

Deleted Scenes (33:51)

An amazing wealth of deleted scenes but none of it is introduced and it would have been nice for Boyle, Colson, Beaufoy or editor Chris Dickens to discuss why these scenes were cut out of the final film. It does indicate how perfect the editing was because while some directors and editors would have looked at a lot of this footage and wanted to keep the excellent performances and arguable depth these scenes added, Boyle and Dickens realized that the film worked better at a breakneck pace. Watch the deleted scenes and imagine them back in the film and you’ll see why both Dickens and Boyle are Oscar winners.

Slumdog Dreams: Danny Boyle & the Making of Slumdog Millionaire (22:58)

Every element of the production is examined in a slightly-too-brief look at the film. Less than half an hour of behind-the-scenes on a film that is this ambitious seems light, but the two commentary tracks fill in most of the gaps.

Slumdog Cutdown (5:36)

A mash-up, five-minute version of the film set to “Jai Ho”. Entertaining but the kind of thing you’ll never watch more than once.

From Script to Screen: Toilet Scene (5:25)

Self-explanatory examination of a controversial and pivotal scene.

Indian Short Film - “Manjha” (41:03)

Boyle himself chose this short film by Rahi Anil Barve to accompany his movie. I wish Boyle would have introduced the short film and explained its importance to him but it’s nice to see something creative like this as a special feature on a Blu-Ray that will clearly have a wide audience.

As Boyle said, according to Bollywood.com, “I’m delighted to include Manjha on the Blu-ray DVD release of Slumdog Millionaire throughout the world. Manjha is an extraordinary film. With little resources it is visually stunning and emotionally captivating. Surprising and gripping, it’s everything a short film should be, and I look forward with great anticipation to the director Rahi’s next project Tumbad.”

Theatrical Trailer & European Theatrical Trailer

Self-explanatory.

“Bombay Liquid Dance” Music Video (3:00)

This is kind of silly. It’s merely footage of Bombay with some music from the film for 3 minutes. It barely qualifies as a music video.

The Blu-Ray release for “Slumdog Millionaire” is likely to be one of the bestsellers of the early part of 2009. Even with an inferior technical transfer and no special features, fans would have picked this up because of how much they love Jamal, Latika, and Salim. We should be grateful to Fox that they didn’t take the easy way out and gave fans of one of the most Oscar-winning films of the last few decades what they and the film deserve.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is released by Twentieth Century Fox and stars Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, and Irrfan Khan. It was written by Simon Beaufoy and directed by Danny Boyle. It will be released on March 31st, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 20-Image Gallery From Back Stage at 81st Annual Academy Awards

BrianTT — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:12:59 -0700

CHICAGO – This 20-image slideshow contains a selection of the award-winners and presenters back backstage at “The 81st Annual Academy Awards,” which aired on ABC on Sunday, February 22nd, 2009.

Winners and presenters include Dustin Lance Black, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, A.R. Rahman, Danny Boyle, Christian Colson, Steven Spielberg, Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz, Anjelica Huston, Tilda Swinton, Goldie Hawn, Eva Marie Saint, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Steve Martin, Andrew Stanton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, Adrien Brody, and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Adam Larkey and courtesy of ABC. All Rights Reserved.

oscars2009_backstage_01: Dustin Lance Black
oscars2009_backstage_02: Kate Winslet
oscars2009_backstage_03: Kate Winslet
oscars2009_backstage_04: Sean Penn
oscars2009_backstage_05: Sean Penn
oscars2009_backstage_06: A.R. Rahman
oscars2009_backstage_07: Danny Boyle
oscars2009_backstage_08: Danny Boyle
oscars2009_backstage_09: Christian Colson and Steven Spielberg
oscars2009_backstage_10: Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, and Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_backstage_11: Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, and Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_backstage_12: Atmosphere
oscars2009_backstage_13: Anjelica Huston, Tilda Swinton, Goldie Hawn, Penelope Cruz, Eva Marie Saint, and Whoopi Goldberg
oscars2009_backstage_14: Tina Fey, Dustin Lance Black, and Steve Martin
oscars2009_backstage_15: Andrew Stanton
oscars2009_backstage_16: Sir Ben Kingsley, Sean Penn, Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas, Adrien Brody, and Sir Anthony Hopkins
oscars2009_backstage_17: Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_backstage_18: Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_backstage_19: Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_backstage_20: Dustin Lance Black

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Taking the Oscars Home: How to See the 2009 Academy Award Winners

BrianTT — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:57:43 -0700

CHICAGO – Believe it or not, a lot of people heard about some critically acclaimed 2009 films for the first time on Sunday night, when they won or were nominated for 2009 Academy Awards and are now wondering how they can see winning films like “Milk,” “The Reader,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” and shorts like “La Maison en Petits Cubes” and “Toyland”. Let us guide the way.

Milk
Photo credit: Universal

Of course, the big winner of the night was “Slumdog Millionaire,” which does not yet have a DVD/Blu-Ray release date, but you can expect one soon. The film will probably get another expansion in theaters to capitalize on its eight Oscars before a DVD release in probably May or June.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” winner of three awards, didn’t get enough major trophies to get a theatrical expansion, but also doesn’t have a release date yet. Expect it in late April or early May, although they could be putting together a more “special edition,” which would delay till closer to Summer.

In the final bit of sad, major winner news, “The Reader” is still playing in theaters, so you’ll have to pay to see Kate Winslet on the big screen or wait a while for the home release.

Now for the good news. Three out of the four acting winners are either on DVD/Blu-Ray now or coming soon.

Sean Penn won best actor and Dustin Lance Black won best original screenplay for “Milk” and Focus/Universal has timed that film’s home release perfectly, bringing Gus Van Sant’s masterful film home on March 10th, 2009. Universal also holds the DVD rights to the fifth best picture nominee “Frost/Nixon”. The Ron Howard film will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on April 21st, 2009.

Frost/Nixon
Photo credit: Universal

Both supporting award winners were already available at DVD stores. You can catch Penelope Cruz’s work in the great “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and Heath Ledger’s in the amazing “The Dark Knight” now. You’re not a movie fan if you haven’t seen them both.

The question I was asked the most on Sunday night was how to see the Oscar-nominated and winning short films. Most are all available on iTunes for $1.99 a piece. Sadly, the deserving and gorgeous animated winner, “La Maison en Petits Cubes,” is not available.

But there’s still a few shorts worth checking out. Start with the winning and touching “Toyland”. If you want to see more deserving nominees, the animated “This Way Up” is totally worth the time and live action “Auf Der Strecke (On the Line)” & “Manon on the Asphalt” are both better than the actual winner, in my opinion. And better than “The Reader”.

Of course, the most Oscar-nominated animated film of all time and the winner in its specialized category, “WALL-E” has been available on DVD and Blu-Ray for a while now. If you’re thinking about upgrading to Blu-Ray and HD, “WALL-E” may be reason enough. It’s beautiful.

The winner for best documentary, “Man on Wire” is also available on DVD and Blu-Ray, but the foreign language film winner, “Departures,” hasn’t even played in most domestic markets. Good luck tracking that one down, although its win should get it a wider theatrical release than it otherwise would have received.

Doubt
Photo credit: Miramax

Finally, the winner for best costume design, “The Duchess” has been available on DVD and Blu-Ray for a few months.

To recap the big winners - “WALL-E,” “The Dark Knight,” “Man on Wire,” “The Duchess,” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” are all at your local video store. “Milk” will be released on 3/10/09. We’re waiting on release dates for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Reader,” and “Slumdog Millionaire”.

As for nominees on DVD and Blu-Ray, you can also check out “The Visitor,” “Changeling,” “Frozen River,” “Tropic Thunder,” “In Bruges,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Encounters at the End of the World,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “Iron Man,” and “Wanted” today if you want.

As for upcoming nominees, “Australia” comes home on March 3rd, 2009, “Rachel Getting Married” and “Happy-Go-Lucky” will be released with “Milk” on March 10th, 2009 (call it “Oscar DVD Day”), “Bolt” will be in stores on March 22nd, 2009, “Doubt” will hit stores on April 7th, 2009, and “Frost/Nixon” comes out on April 21st, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger, Sean Penn Win 2009 Academy Awards

BrianTT — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:17:08 -0700

CHICAGO – Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” was the huge winner at The 81st Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 taking home an amazing eight Oscars, including the trophies for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also won Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Song, and Best Sound Mixing.

“Slumdog” was easily the big winner of the night, followed by “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with three trophies and “Milk” and “The Dark Knight” with two.

Penelope Cruz at the 2009 Oscars.
Photo credit: Michael Yada/AMPAS

Acting winners started with Penelope Cruz taking the Supporting Actress trophy for “Amy Adams & Viola Davis for “Doubt,” Taraji P. Henson for “Benjamin Button,” and Marisa Tomei for “The Wrestler”. Cruz joked about possibly fainting and thanked Woody Allen for giving her a great role.

The Supporting Actor trophy went to Heath Ledger for “The Dark Knight”. The deceased actor’s family accepted for him after a standing ovation from the audience. Ledger beat out Josh Brolin for “Milk,” Robert Downey Jr. for “Tropic Thunder,” Philip Seymour Hoffman for “Doubt,” and Michael Shannon for “Revolutionary Road”. The last posthumous winner was Peter Finch who won Best Actor for 1976’s “Network”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after Ledger’s win.

The Actress award went, predictably, to the great Kate Winslet for “The Reader,” her first win after five previous nominations. A teary-eyed Winslet beat out Meryl Streep for “Doubt,” Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Melissa Leo for “Frozen River,” and Angelina Jolie for “Changeling”.

The final acting award of the night was arguably the most nail-biting with Sean Penn taking the prize for “Milk” over Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler”. The two were in a dead heat from most Oscar watchers, leaving Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon,” Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor” and Brad Pitt for “Benjamin Button” to wait till next time.

Philippe Petit of “Man on Wire” at the 2009 Oscars.
Photo credit: Michael Yada/AMPAS

Danny Boyle jumped up and down after winning for “Slumdog Millionaire,” clearly the emotional favorite of the evening. The last film to win at least eight awards was “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” five years ago.

Best Animated Film went to “WALL-E,” Best Documentary to “Man on Wire,” and, in one of the few surprises of the evening, Best Foreign Language Film went to “Departures,” over the more popular “The Class” and “Waltz With Bashir”.

The style of the Academy Awards this year was very different. Previous winners gave speeches about each of the acting nominees including presenters like Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren, Anthony Hopkins, Sir Ben Kingsley, Tilda Swinton, Halle Berry, and Kevin Kline. Awards were also commonly given away in groups with both screenplays, sound and visual effects, and the music awards being given away at the same time.

Dustin Lance Black won Best Original Screenplay for his debut work on “Milk” and gave one of the most heartfelt and moving speeches of the night. Simon Beaufoy won Best Adapted Screenplay for “Slumdog Millionaire”.

On the technical ledger for awards that “Slumdog Millionaire” didn’t take home, “The Dark Knight” won Sound Editing, “Benjamin Button” won Visual Effects, Makeup, and Art Direction, and “The Duchess” won Costume Design.

The winning short films were “Smile Pinki,” “La Maison en Petits Cubes,” and “Toyland”. Hugh Jackman hosted the affair and while many will critique and praise him in the coming hours, he came off as likable and certainly gave it his all. Jerry Lewis won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

See our 30-image red-carpet slideshow of the 2009 Oscars.
Read our full list of the 2009 Oscar nominees.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 4 Passes to See All 5 Best-Picture Oscar Nominees in One Day

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:06:01 -0700

CHICAGO – We are pleased to announce what’s nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film opportunity: the chance for four lucky winners to see all five 2009 best-picture Oscar nominees (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Milk,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon” and “The Reader”) in one glorious Chicago day.

This AMC best-picture showcase with the 2009 Oscar nominees also coincides with an exciting social networking experiment where movie watchers will be using Twitter, live blogging and other social networking tools to document their thoughts in real time.

Read on to learn more about this experiment. “Slumdog Millionaire” stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto from “Trainspotting” director Danny Boyle. “Milk” stars Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco and Alison Pill from director Gus Van Sant. “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E” failed to earn a 2009 best-picture nomination from the academy.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson from director David Fincher. “Frost/Nixon” stars Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt from director Ron Howard. “The Reader” stars Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes and David Kross from director Stephen Daldry.

If you win this remarkable HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, you’ll earn the opportunity to see all five heavy-hitting 2008 films for free. This redefines the definition of a movie marathon. The festivities start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 in downtown Chicago at AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St. and run all the way through 11:59 p.m. on the same evening.

Want more? You’ll also be entitled to a complimentary large popcorn with unlimited refills all day as well as a collectible movie pass to immortalize the opportunity. The 81st-annual Academy Awards will air on Feb. 22, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET. Want even more?

As if you’re not already getting hooked up enough, this is also your opportunity to be the critic and write for HollywoodChicago.com! Winners will be invited to blog on our discussion boards using your iPhone or data-friendly cell phone or your Wi-Fi-enabled laptop computer at a nearby venue.

One nearby Starbucks with free Wi-Fi is in the Dominick’s grocery store at Illinois and Fairbanks. A second Starbucks is at McClurg Court and Ontario. A Panera Bread is nearby, too. If you win, just make sure you create a thread or threads illuminating your feelings about each film.

To win your unforgettable, Oscar-nominated five-pack pass courtesy exclusively of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is submit an entry of why you deserve a pass using our confidential, Web-based submission form. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.

Image credit: AMC Theatres

If you noticed the prices mentioned in the graphic above, as a valued HollywoodChicago.com reader we are pleased to inform you that they don’t apply to you. We have negotiated these rates to be entirely free for our four lucky winners.

To secure your free five-pack pass, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply submit why you deserve a pass. You must submit your entry using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you do so. Please only submit your entry using this submission form.

You must include your e-mail address and full name in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for us to contact you about your winning pass. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit you entry now describing why you deserve a pass!

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: Four people who submit an entry describing why they deserve a five-pack movie pass and commit to blogging on HollywoodChicago.com will win! A studio representative will be at AMC River East on the morning of Feb. 21, 2009 to hand passes to the lucky HollywoodChicago.com four. You will need to present your photo ID to the representative.

Winners will be chosen at our discretion based on how compelling your reason is and based on whether you agreed to the terms of this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Following your entry, winners can click this printer-friendly link to print out the information contained in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup for your jam-packed movie Saturday. Here is the schedule of 2009 Oscar-nominated best-picture viewings on Feb. 21, 2009 at AMC River East:

“Milk,” 10:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. (15-minute break)
“The Reader,” 1:05 p.m. to 3:19 p.m. (25-minute break)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” (30-minute break)
“Slumdog Millionaire,” 7:15 p.m. 9:27 to p.m. (15-minute break)
“Frost/Nixon,” 9:45 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Kate Winslet, Brad Pitt, Josh Brolin Respond to 2009 Oscar Nominations

BrianTT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:06:48 -0700

CHICAGO – The lucky nominees for The 81st Annual Academy Awards have been responding to their nominations all day. If you’ve ever wondered how Oscar nominees feel about hearing their name announced on one of Hollywood’s biggest mornings of the year, read on for the official responses from Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Brad Pitt, Taraji P. Henson, Danny Boyle, Gus Van Sant, and many more.

Kate Winslet on her best actress nomination for “The Reader”:

“I’m extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate. Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever been blessed with. I’m genuinely thrilled not just for myself but for the wonderful Stephen Daldry and David Hare. These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film. And I’m also very happy for all the people in Germany whose hard work on THE READER, has been rewarded by these nominations. Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today!”

Oscar nominee Kate Winslet in The Reader.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company.

Brad Pitt on his best actor nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“This is a great honor for the movie, and I’m especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button.”

Taraji P. Henson on her best supporting actress nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“I am very excited, deeply honored and grateful. I thank Laray Mayfield, David Fincher, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to bring Queenie to life.”

Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

Richard Jenkins on his best actor nomination for “The Visitor”:

“This nomination is such an unexpected honor and I am grateful to the Academy for the recognition. I’ve been awed by the work of my fellow nominees this year and am truly humbled to be in their company. Having been an actor for many years now, I am moved by the fact that something like this can happen at this point in my career, particularly for a film that has meant so much to me.”

David Fincher on his best actor nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“Benjamin Button was truly a labor of love and I am humbled by the nomination. On behalf of the producers, cast and crew, I’d like to thank the Academy, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros and most of all the city of New Orleans who gave birth to Benjamin.”

Christian Colson, Producer of “Slumdog Millionaire,” on his best picture nomination:

“It is wonderful to receive this amazing news here in Mumbai where we are premiering the movie tonight. All the film-makers are deeply proud of this recognition which we also hope will bring great joy to the people of this great city. A huge thank you to the Academy… and Jai Ho!”

Danny Boyle on his best director nomination for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“I’m ecstatic! Thank you to the Academy from the cast and crew here in Mumbai where the film was made and where it’s being premiered tonight. It feels like you’ve given us a billion nominations!”

Oscar nominee Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Photo credit: Ishika Mohan

Simon Beaufoy on his best adapted screenplay nomination for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“Secretly and sometimes not so secretly, this is the nomination that floats in every screenwriter’s dreams. I am fantastically happy and honored- not just for myself but for Vikas Swarup’s wonderful novel without which I would have never started my journey to the world’s Maximum City , Mumbai.”

A.R. Rahman on his best score and best song nominations for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“I am overjoyed by this nomination and deeply grateful that the Academy has embraced the music of this film. Slumdog Millionaire has paid magical dividends for so many people around the globe. I am deeply honored to be a part of a film that has inspired so many.”

Dev Patel of “Slumdog Millionaire” on the film’s nominations:

“It’s just amazing. For Slumdog Millionaire to be included in the nominations for the Oscars is a huge honor. When we first began working on the film I don’t think any of us ever imagined that we might end up attending the Oscars ceremony as a result. I’m just so proud to be a part of this project and I have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the film. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. I truly feel blessed.”

Freida Pinto of “Slumdog Millionaire” on the film’s nominations:

“The entire Slumdog Millionaire experience has exceeded my wildest expectations. I feel thrilled and so thankful that Danny had faith in me even though I had no past experience in films. Hailing from Mumbai, it means even more to me that a film about this unique city has been nominated for such a prestigious award. It’s been an absolute honor to have worked with such a passionate team and its wonderful to know that critics and audiences across the globe have loved what we have worked so hard to achieve.”

Anne Hathaway on her best actress nomination for “Rachel Getting Married”:

“It is such a thrill to be recognized in this category with these remarkably talented women. I was with my parents and my dog when I got the news and we were all overjoyed- although I’m not sure my dog knew what was going on. This is a great day to be an actress!”

Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Producers of “Milk,” on their best picture nomination:

“Today’s eight nominations are a huge tribute to everyone involved in the making of MILK. The goal of all of us was to bring Harvey Milk’s wonderfully inspiring story to audiences everywhere. The nominations will go a long way towards making that happen.”

Sean Penn stars as real-life gay rights icon Harvey Milk in director Gus Van Sant’s “Milk”.
Photo credit: Phil Bray

Gus Van Sant on his best director nomination for “Milk”:

“I am so thankful, so humbled, by The Academy for the nominations they have given our film - I’m so proud of our screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin and our incredible team, Danny Glicker, Danny Elfman, Elliot Graham, and our amazing producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. These nominations ensure that Harvey Milk’s legacy will live on.”

Dustin Lance Black on his best original screenplay nomination for “Milk”:

“I won’t lie, I was up at 4:30 AM Pacific Time this morning. I couldn’t sleep. I took a shower, I started washing dishes, I did a load of laundry… I was completely losing my mind waiting for that local ABC telecast.”

“My heart jumped when Josh Brolin got nominated, but the tears started flowing when Gus got his. I couldn’t have asked for a better director for this project, a fiercer protector of this little spec script that meant so much to me. And that script would have been nothing without the dedicated talent of nominee Sean Penn, who truly inhabited Harvey’s soul, and Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, Joseph Cross, and on and on. This film was a real team effort.”

“By the time the nominations got to Best Picture, I was a wreck. Tears… lots of tears. I couldn’t breathe. My big hope had been that the Academy would recognize our film enough that Harvey’s story could get a wider release, but I could never have predicted 8 nominations including Best Picture. I’m still pinching myself.”

“When I first heard Harvey’s story at 13, I was a closeted kid living in a conservative Mormon, military home. It was a rough time for me. Hearing Harvey’s story not only gave me the hope he talked so often about, it very likely saved my life. What happened this morning means this film WILL win a wider audience, and maybe, just maybe Harvey’s message will reach some of those kids out there today who have been told they are “less than,” that they are sick, that God does not love them, and perhaps, from the grave, 30 years later, Harvey might give those kids the hope and love he gave me so long ago. It might sound overblown to some, but I firmly believe these nominations are life-saving. I can’t thank the Academy enough.”

Josh Brolin on his best supporting actor nomination for “Milk”:

“It is very special because of this movie. I am happy ‘Milk’ received so many nominations and that people are paying attention. The subject matter is so timely and important right now because of what is happening in California with Prop 8. When I think about my life a few years ago, being happy just to feed my kids, never in a million years would I have imagined I would be up at 5 in the morning getting phone calls saying I was nominated for an Academy Award. There is no reality to it.”

Elliot Graham on his best editing nomination for “Milk”:

“I am very, very, very, very excited - and excited for the whole film. I’m just so proud of the film; it’s so significant that a story like this be recognized and be a part of this, it is absolutely extraordinary and we are all in awe of Gus and Sean and their talents.”

Danny Glicker on his best costume design nomination for “Milk”:

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the artistic team that told this story, and to be recognized by the Academy. I’m so proud of Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black’s vision and of the actors’ performances. And I’m forever grateful to have a small part of myself up there on the screen in MILK.”

Martin McDonagh on his best original screenplay nomination for “In Bruges”:

“My heartfelt thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, particularly the writers’ branch, for their support. I’m thrilled that a tale so peculiar and twisted, and that was released so long ago, has stayed in their minds for so long.”

Mike Leigh on his best original screenplay nomination for “Happy-Go-Lucky”:

“This is the fourth time I’ve been nominated for Best Original Screenplay, and once again I’m honored and delighted that the quality of writing I and my actors work so hard to achieve has been recognized and respected by my fellow Writers in the Academy.”

Viola Davis on her best supporting actress nomination for “Doubt”:

“I still feel like the little brown skinned girl from Central Falls, Rhode Island who dreamed the biggest dream. And how great that all of my fellow actors were recognized with this incredible honor.”

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup Quiz: Five ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Prize Packs

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:47:56 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have an extra-unique five VIP grand-prize packs up for grabs for the Oscar-buzzing film “Slumdog Millionaire” from director Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting,” “The Beach,” “28 Days Later”).

Each VIP prize pack includes the following items:

1) One “Slumdog Millionaire” single CD
2) One “Slumdog Millionaire” book
3) One “Slumdog Millionaire” miniature poster
4) Two “Slumdog Millionaire” T-shirts (various sizes)
5) Two M.I.A.“Paper Planes”
6) One M.I.A. vinyl

Note: Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam (better known by her M.I.A. stage name) is a Sri Lankan Grammy Award-nominated songwriter, record producer, vocalist and artist. The song “Paper Planes” was featured in the trailer for the films “Pineapple Express” and “Slumdog Millionaire”. The “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack can be found at iTunes here.

To win your free “Slumdog Millionaire” VIP prize pack courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first five people to answer our “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” question. That’s it! Eligibility and more information can be found beneath the graphic below.

“Slumdog Millionaire,” which is directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto.
Image credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Here is the “Slumdog Millionaire” plot description:

“Slumdog Millionaire” is the story of Jamal Malik: an 18-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, India who is about to experience the biggest day of his life.

With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating. How could a street kid know so much?

Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs and of Latika. She’s girl he loved and lost.

Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Intrigued by Jamal’s story, a jaded police inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show.

When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the inspector and 60 million viewers are about to find out.

To secure your free “Slumdog Millionaire” VIP grand-prize pack, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this Hookup.

Next, simply answer our “Slumdog Millionaire” quiz question correctly by submitting this Web-based submission form. You must include your e-mail address and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is for us to mail winning prize packs only. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit your “Slumdog Millionaire” quiz question now!

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first five people to answer our quiz question win! The five VIP prize packs will be mailed to the winners at our expense. “Slumdog Millionaire” opened in limited U.S. theaters on Nov. 12, 2008.

11:54 update on Dec. 12, 2008: Since the winners for this special HollywoodChicago.com Hookup need to submit to us their physical mailing address, we created a Web-based submission form to protect your private information and to keep it confidential.

After reading the directions stated within this Hookup, many people successfully submitted their answers using our confidential submission form.

Thereafter, though, some people started answering the incorrect question – one asked on the actual movie poster for this film rather than from us – and some publicly revealed their mailing addresses in user comments.

We kindly ask you not to post that information publicly. We have removed such public information from these comments. Thank you.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com