With all the hype for Hollywood’s most recent golden child, Slumdog Millionaire, I began to wonder if this film could be as great as everyone claimed it was. After it cleaned up at the Oscars this year I decided I should march like a lemming to the movie theater and check it out for myself.
Now, in a fashion true to, well myself, after having seen this piece of cinema history I feel it is only fair that I compare it to another great, if less well-known film, 1988’s Bloodsport starring Jean Claude Van Damme (JCVD).
Below I compare each film based on the Oscars Slumdog was awarded. Who will win? Let’s find out!
#1 Sound Mixing
Using an endless supply of different sounds and songs, Slumdog sound mixers Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, and Resul Pookutty (among others) wove together a soundscape that immersed our ears in the tragedy and triumph of the plight of the slumdog. Who knew combining the sounds of an eyeball being scorched with a boy vomiting could be so heart wrenching?
Unfortunately, in this category, Bloodsport’s George Weiss had little to work with. As much credit as I give him for the ability to successfully layer numerous punches and kicks, Bolo Yueng’s “You are next” line placed in a vacuum of sound made me realize just how much coaching this guy needed to say 3 words in English.
Verdict: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#2 and #3 Score and Song
Since both of these films have songs that are very closely related to their scores, I have combined these two awards.
While Slumdog’s mixing is superb, there is no way they can cover up the Europopesque garbage that is A.R. Rahman’s “Jai Ho.” After seeing an uplifting story such as Slumdog, the last thing I want to be reminded of is a sweaty Indian man wearing too many gold chains and reeking of Old Spice grinding up against some slut with only a thin layer of polyester and spandex separating them.
Bloodsport’s music combo Paul Hertzog (lyrics and music) and long time JCVD collaborator, Stan Bush (singer), do well to capture the essence of Frank Dux’s mind. Unfortunately, while less painful on my ears, I am instead pained by the realization that, like every song in the movie, Frank Dux’s mind is kind of singularly focused.
Verdict: TIE
#4 Cinematography
Anthony Dod Martin does well in capturing the sights and colors of India’s slumdog wasteland. His blending of light and image highlights the paradoxes between India’s visual beauty and it’s harsh living realities.
Bloodsport’s David Worth manages to do a similarly good job with the rugged streets of Hong Kong though with much less variety or technical inspiration.
Verdict: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
#5 Editing
Both films’ editors can be accused of chop-socky cuts to highlight the ever evolving, fast-paced nature of their film’s respective worlds. However, it is clear that Slumdog’s Chris Dickens chooses this technique in order to make things seem a little “cooler” than they might be. This candy coats the dark realities of the film and makes it seem like a really fun amusement park, which I think is in direct conflict with the goals of the film.
Bloodsport’s Carl Kress (with help from JCVD himself) on the other hand uses this style for a much richer and apropos purpose- to expertly chronicle ass kicking. Also, Kress should be commended for his excellent cutting of the “Alone in Hong Kong/Chong Li is Watching” scene.
Verdict: BLOODSPORT
#6 Writing
Now you can definitely accuse both of these films writers of suffering from an inability to create any sort of suspense or surprise whatsoever. Both films clearly have a protagonist who will win the game and get the girl. Slumdog says at the end “It is written” but perhaps a more appropriate phrase would have been “It has been written before.” That being said, the premise, sans outcome, of each of these films is where the winner of this match-up lies. Slumdog revolves around a game of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” run by a megalomaniacal, Regis Philbin-esque, announcer played by Anil Kapoor. But let’s be honest, that show was annoying when it was an actual show and it’s nature as a foil for its protagonist basically creates a slightly grittier version of Forest Gump. Bloodsport on the other hand has a sublime villain in Bolo Yueng’s Chong Li and the Kumite is an exciting and much more serious arena in terms of a compelling backdrop.
Verdict: BLOODSPORT
#7 Directing
The best way to start to measure these film’s directors is by looking at their past work. For Slumdog’s Danny Boyle you’ve got favorites like Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, and 28 Days Later. Bloodsport’s Newt Arnold is a little less impressive with Bloodthirst and Hands of A Stranger. Seemingly, you would think Boyle would win this category hands down. However, if you look at the additional films Arnold has collaborated on, he becomes a much worthier contender with films like The Jerk, 16 Candles, DC Cab, Bladerunner, TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze, and The Goonies. With a resume like this it is easy to see why, in fact, Arnold trumps Boyle. Both directors chose to make a movie that combines comedy, action, and drama into one heartfelt piece. Boyle’s resume quite obviously shows his work is good with somber, grey comedy and drama, but is completely void of strong ties to action or light comedy. This grey cloud is present in Slumdog and does unnecessarily weigh down it’s lighter moments. Bloodsport, in contrast, easily navigates between comedy, drama, and action, sometimes blending all three together in perfect harmony (see Frank Dux’s Chase through Hong Kong for a perfect example).
Verdict: BLOODSPORT
#8 Picture
The only thing left to talk about is the movie on a whole, since I have already focused on most of the other things necessary to make a successful movie (since Slumdog managed to win Oscars for all of them), is the films’ actors. Examining this final piece of the puzzle will allow me to declare a winner in this too-close-to-call match up.
Looking at the lead actors it is clear we will not find our winner there. Slumdog’s Dev Patel and Bloodsport’s JCVD, while both contributing an award winning amount of heart and passion to their roles, both suffer from the same blank, vacant expression throughout both films that makes you wonder if they were hit in the head with a mallet before filming (to be fair to JCVD, he probably was hit in the head a lot during Bloodsport).
So, the winner clearly lies in the supporting cast. And, not surprisingly, this is where Bloodsport shines brightest. While Slumdog has amassed a number of precocious youths, Bloodsport boasts countless world warriors, each with his own distinct fighting style and personality. From the fearsome Muay Thai kickboxer, Paco, to the lovable Monkeyman, you watch in anticipation wondering where each fighter’s destiny lies. Aside from great fighters, Bloodsport enlisted the highly talented, Oscar winning, Forest Whitaker as the green, hot-under-the-collar, Detective Rawlins. Finally, when looking at the female counterparts of each movie it is clear that while newly crowned Hollywood hottie, Frieda Pinto, soundly trounces Bloodsport’s Leah Ayers in the looks department, Pinto’s Latika has as much gusto as a wet noodle. Ayre’s Janice Kent in contrast is vivacious, spunky and, with a-wink-and-a- nod, is willing to do anything to get her story.
Verdict: BLOODSPORT
WINNER: BLOODSPORT
In the end, it’s easy to see why Bloodsport is a far superior film. What it lacks in post-production pizzazz it more than makes up for with a gripping story, memorable characters, and an unforgettable climactic battle. Bravo JCVD and the cast and crew of Bloodsport!
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