Best (And Worst) of Danny Boyle

Danny Boyle’s made seven feature films in 13 years and I’d argue no two are remotely alike. Here’s how they stack up in my books (ranked best to worst):

Shallow Grave (1994) – Some might argue Trainspotting is Boyle’s masterpiece, and I’ll admit it’s a tough call. I give the edge to Shallow Grave though because it was just so perfectly cast, written, and executed. The British director’s nod to Hitchcock is at points funny, gripping, and brutally violent. Did you ever imagine an accountant (Christopher Eccleston) could scare you so? Genius.

Trainspotting (1996) – The film that propelled Boyle to international stardom, and deservedly so. Besides having one of the most memorable intros in modern movies (A street chase set to Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life), the film, about a group of disenchanted, heroin-addicted youths in Edinburgh, had a phenomenal cast (Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Kelly Macdonald), a pitch-perfect script and  a kick-ass soundtrack.

28 Days Later (2002) – With 28 Days Later Boyle gave us two amazing things: a) Cillian Murphy, one of the most talented young actors to emerge in the last five years; and b) zombies that were actually frightening. Not to slag George A. Romero, but you have to admit that those slow-as-mud Night of the Living Dead dudes have nothing on Boyle’s jacked up monstrosities. Makes me wonder what he might have done with the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake.

Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later

Sunshine (2007) – I think Boyle and sci-fi are a good fit, and I’d like to see him do more films in this genre. Sunshine was an entertaining trip (read full review here) and I really liked some of the concepts he came up with. It’s also nice to see an original concept emerge once in awhile, when so much of what gets made is either a remake or a sequel.

Millions (2004) – Easily the director’s most light-hearted film, and with a really cool message about what it means to be truly good. In the days leading up to Britain’s changeover from Pounds to Euros, a botched robbery sees bags full of Pounds end up in the hands of five-year-old Damian, who spends his days talking to saints. What the sage-beyond-his-years youngster decides to do with the cash, and how his lucky find changes the world and people around him, is the core of the story. Worth seeking out.

The Beach (2000) – Just saw this recently and thought it’s not one of Boyle’s better flicks it also wasn’t as bad as the critics made it out to be. Leo DiCaprio stars as an adventure-hungry American tourist in Thailand who’s given a map to a beach on an all-but-deserted island that’s nothing short of paradise. Of course paradise isn’t nearly what it’s cracked up to be and things turn ugly fast.

Leo going crazy in The Beach

A Life Less Ordinary (1997) – Ewan McGregor plays a cleaning man made redundant by a robot who decides to kidnap his boss’s daughter (Cameron Diaz) as revenge.  Received an MTV Movie Award nomination for “Best Dance Sequence” – really, need we say more?

Posted by Cate Jones

But that’s only my view. Agree? Disagree? Drop me a note with your thoughts on Boyle’s work to criticizecate@gmail.com.

Comments

[Destiny]

hey, what do you think of slumdog millionaire?

[Worst Movie On This Universe]

If some one has a movie which shows uncleanliness(ungodliness, hatredness,feeling of filth) about our country, It is an act of terrorism\hatredness\and unacceptability of a certain section of poor people by a section of western people. In another words by awarding golden globe to this filthy/ungodliness movie the world has axed on its own legs. If anyone has any other opinion then get into your imagination of dipped into the toilet waste similar to a kid in the movie and feel the smell till you like, why do you undervalue a kid for your enjoyment. The right answer by bollywood : Bollywood sponsor a movie to portraight the cause of "HIV pampering due to the western stray culture": "Stray Dog Beggars" (the cause of HIV) then the world should no about the high value of "Indian culture", I see a direct link between what happened with Shilpa shetty to the sponsorship of this movie by a lond people.
Infact These believe in Divide and conquer, if you see every western culture is based on divide and conquer, starting for medicinal discoveries to computer age, every thing is based on opportunistic, no spirituality, killing and eating.