The best movie of 2008.

Slumdog Millionaire is not the cure for all the world's ills, but it comes close. It solves, for instance, such endemic global problems as: a) sadness, b) lovelessness, c) cynicism, and d) the waning cultural relevance of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

From an early footchase in which the careening camera gives us a tour of the maze-like slums, to the ridiculously uplifting Bollywood dance number that plays over the end credits, Slumdog Millionaire makes for kinetic, exhilarating entertainment.

[A] taut, tense and witty tale of human tragedy and triumphant humanity set against the sweep of modern India.

Watching Slumdog Millionaire, it's easy to believe director Danny Boyle has been working toward this brilliantly woven masterwork with each entertaining and diverse tale he's delivered.

I'll keep this simple: Cancel whatever you're doing tonight and go see Slumdog Millionaire instead.

Don't let the exotic setting put you off; this is a massively cool cross-cultural crowd-pleaser.