Happy New Year again, one and all – it’s been a few weeks, I understand, and I thank all of you who have inquired about the lack of posts-a-plenty.  But, there’s a legitimate excuse – I’ve had the flu, missed almost a week of work, and still can’t shake this groggy, nasty head cold due to this arctic freeze we’ve been slogging through this week (at least here in NY).

Oh, woe is me, blah blah blah.  I’ll try to update as frequently as possible, but I can’t even promise myself I will.  Especially since I’ll soon be writing my American Idol Report Card on a weekly basis.

But, I’m meandering now.  Here is my first post of 2009 (also, see the post script below)~

If you haven’t seen “Slumdog Millionaire”, you’re missing a juxtaposition of wonderment, sadness, darkness, exhilaration, surprise, giddiness and unadulterated joy and finally, romance.  Because of its popularity and copious awards (it will be a sure-fire Oscar contender), there’s a backlash brewing already.

I say, fuck the naysayers who’ll hate it based solely on its mass appeal (don’t you hate people like that?!) ~ enthrall yourself in its magic.  Sit back, suspend some belief and relish in the amazing script by Simon Beaufoy (you’ll wonder why no one’s thought of some of these plot points before, so archetypal it is) and the natural, beautiful performances (most notably from the two leads, Dev Patel, the adorable actor who’s one of the stars in the great BBC show “Skins”, and the intoxicating, stunning Freida Pinto).

I said it before, I’ll say it again ~ it’s hard to fathom that the same man who made the disgustingly demented “Trainspotting” helmed such a tale.  But, Danny Boyle also made one of my favorite films of the past few years, “Millions”.

Here’s the last scene and closing credits of the film, where the cast dances, in grand ol’ Bollywood style, to “Jai Ho”~

Enjoy ~ because it’s only a matter of time before Fox Searchlight has it removed!