The crowd-pleasing, award-sweeping, feel-good-movie of the year is getting an extended run at the State. "Slumdog Millionaire" - which took home Golden Globes last Sunday for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Screenplay - will play through January 29, thanks to popular demand. If you haven't had an opportunity to see this movie, or if you've only seen it once, don't miss your chance to experience it (again) on the big screen.

I heard good buzz when I first walked into "Slumdog" over Christmas break, but even glowing reviews could not prepare me for the sheer joy and life force of this movie. It's not a movie that sugercoats its subject matter - indeed, there are several dark and disturbing scenes involving children - but it beautifully celebrates the triumph of individuals who overcome incredibly difficult circumstances to forge a better life for themselves. Critics - and they are few and far between - who criticize the "realism" of the plot miss the point entirely. This is a fable, a fantasy of swooning fairy tale love - but it's grounded in the heartbreaking and all-too-real backdrop of abject poverty in India. From the stunning cinematography to the terrific acting (the three main characters are depicted by nine different actors at various ages - all of whom seamlessly transition the characters' storylines) to the infectious soundtrack, which you'll want to immediately run out and purchase after the movie, "Slumdog" is a visual and emotional feast; the perfect introduction for American audiences to the burgeoning influence of Indian cinema.

Dev Patel and Freida Pinto reunite in "Slumdog Millionaire"

After its stunning success at the Globes, this film is a sure bet for a Best Picture nod - and possible win - at next month's Oscars (the nominees will be announced next Thursday). You have two weeks left to catch "Slumdog Millionaire" in its full glory at the State - I recommend grabbing a friend or family member and making a night out of it. You'll be glad you did.

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