"Slumdog Millionaire" represents the best of cinema, a visceral work of high art.

A viewing of "Slumdog Millionaire," even if costs a hefty $12 ticket at Westwood's Landmark Theaters, is worth every penny. 

Set in the vibrant city of Mumbai, India, the film tells an impassioned rags-to-riches fairy tale about survival against all odds and uncompromising love. 

"Slumdog" is a wondrous accomplishment from director Danny Boyle, modern cinema's most versatile filmmaker   Look at his fine repertoire: drug-fueled comedy ("Trainspotting"), zombie thriller ("28 Days Later"), coming-of-age family film (the underappreciated "Millions"), and even Stanley Kubrick-style sci-fi ("Sunshine"). 

Adapted by screenwriter Simon Beaufoy from the novel Q & A, the film chronicles Jamal, a teenage orphan, set to answer the last question and win 20 million rupees on the Indian version of the game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."  But that would be too easy. Instead, police arrest Jamal and accuse him of cheating, seeing it impossible that a kid raised in the slums could answer difficult questions that have stumped doctors and lawyers.  This brilliant framing device allows the exploration of each answer to segue into vignettes from Jamal's rough childhood, spent with his older brother Salim.

The boys witness their mother murdered by anti-Muslim fanatics in and spend their days as young street rats, no more than 8 years old, scouring for food in trash dumps.  During a night of pouring rain, the boys huddle in a train car, while Latika, a soaked young girl, shivers in the background.  In an act of kindness, Jamal invites her to join them.  Boyle and long-time cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantel dazzle with visuals like the crisp image of the brothers as silhouettes in the foreground with a lonely, wet girl behind them, beautifully highlighting the poverty these children suffer. 

As the story unfolds, the trio is picked up by a dangerous gang run by adults who use children to beg for money.  In a harrowing escape, Salim flees with Jamal but leaves Latika behind.  The boys live aboard a train for a bit and even stumble across a strange building they find out is the Taj Mahal.  A few years pass as Salim becomes more cynical while experiencing the temptations and consequences of gang life and Jamal strives to reunite with his destined love, Latika.  

The film bursts with energy from Boyle's signature visual flair.  Using hand-held cameras he captures the crowded frenzy of India's slums in exciting chase sequences while cutting back at times to wide shots that showcase India's urban landscape.  Equally exciting is the movie's vigorous soundtrack, a compelling assortment of pop hits with ethnic panache like M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes."

The three characters are best realized by the actors who play their teen versions, especially Dev Patel as Jamal, an unwavering optimist who uses his wits to fight unspeakable obstacles in the name of love.  Salim, played by Madhur Mittal, becomes a self-serving force of evil with a hidden tenderness.  And Latika, played by Freida Pinto, is so strikingly beautiful with a dash of buried sadness that you could see why Jamal would crawl to the ends of the earth to be with her.

Their reunion carries the film to dramatic heights and even overshadows the game show's tense finale.

"Slumdog Millionaire" represents the best of cinema, a visceral work of high art that ends on a beautiful, unforgettable note.