Director Showcase – Danny Boyle
In the latest instalment of our Director Showcase Tom takes a look at the diverse films of Danny Boyle.
One of England’s most reliable directors, Danny Boyle is held in such high esteem that he has been commissioned to direct the opening gala at the London Olympics 2012, and has recently dabbled in the world of theatre. I just hope he doesn’t spend too much time away from the camera as he has given us some incredible films over the past two decades.
I can’t for the life of me remember where I read it but I once saw someone describing Danny Boyle as a ‘genre-straddling monster’. He’s applied his skills as a Director to horrors, thrillers, sci-fis and romance to name but a few, switching between genres with ease whilst retaining a distinctive style that is consistent throughout his filmography, and whoever said the above phrase hit the nail firmly on the head as Boyle is a very gifted film-maker.
Essential Films:
Trainspotting
Based on Irvine Welsh’s gripping but demanding novel (tell me you didn’t struggle when reading Begbie’s sections) Trainspotting is one of the finest crime films of the nineties, it struck a chord with an entire generation and has deservedly garnered a cult following. Nothing has ever disturbed me as much in a non-horror film than the first time I witnessed the baby crawling on the ceiling; Trainspotting is a harrowing watch but is drenched with dark humour that demands repeated viewings. The blistering soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to the shenanigans of the drug-addled characters that we encounter and since Trainspotting, Boyle has had an excellent ear when choosing the music to accompany his films.
28 Days Later
One of the definitive horror films of the last decade, 28 Days Later may have infuriated purists for its depiction of its infected hosts that retain the ability to chase their victims which gave the middle finger to all the shuffling zombie films that came before it. Although not technically zombies, the hosts of the infection encountered by survivors of the plague are genuinely terrifying and the shots of a post-apocalpytic Britain are eerily creepy. One of Danny Boyle’s best and an absolute game changer for the horror community. Who would have thought that Ryan Gosling was offered the role of Jim but had to turn it down due to a scheduling conflict, this could have been a completely different beast with everyone’s favourite man crush at the helm. Having said that Cillian Murphy was exceptional as the main protagonist and there are little, if any, improvements that could be made to 28 days later.
Sunshine
Sunshine is not widely regarded as one of Danny Boyle’s best but as a huge sci-fi and horror fan I cannot recommend it enough. Sent to reignite their dying sun by unleashing a huge payload into its core, a team of astronauts face untold dangers as their ship moves ever closer to its destination. The set designs are reminiscent of Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001 and the haunting soundtrack adds a depth of emotion to the film that never fails to leave me both unsettled and moved by the plight facing the crew of the Icarus. Some of the science behind the story is questionable but I can forgive Danny for taking the occasional liberty if it allows him to create films of this calibre.
Slumdog Millionaire
Although it is not a personal favourite of mine, Slumdog created a huge resurgence in the popularity of Indian culture when it hit cinemas back in 2009 and went on to take home a staggering eight Oscars at the Academy Awards ceremony. Dev Patel is perfectly suited to the role of Jamal, who is believed to have cheated his way to winning twenty million rupees and his reasons for knowing the answers are explained in flashbacks whilst he is interrogated. Boyle did a commendable job of adapting the source material as the film was a vast improvement on the novel and I can see why audiences were swept away by the upbeat ending despite the darker tones of scenes near the beginning of the film. Deserving of eight oscars? Probably not, but Slumdog is a captivating watch nonetheless.
Recommended Films:
Shallow Grave – Boyle’s feature film debut is an exceptional crime thriller that marked him as a director to watch out for. When three friends discover their new flatmate is dead and has left behind a suitcase of money their loyalties are tested to the limit in this grippingly dark story.
The Beach – Although Boyle usually does an excellent job of adapating novels, he didn’t quite hit the mark with The Beach. It still remains a fascinating film though, and he captured moments of sheer beauty in the deadly tropical paradise that Leonardo Dicaprio adopts as his home.
127 Hours – Another adaptation, this time based on a true story, Boyle’s unflinching film leaves no stone unturned apart from a large rock that becomes the downfall of a thrill-seeking outdoors enthusiast. It doesn’t quite equal the epic scale of Into the Wild but is still an excellent film about the dangers of exploring isolated areas unaccompanied.
Millions – Small in scale and budget but large in entertainment value, Millions is almost the antithesis of Shallow Grave, with a young child discovering a lifechanging amount of English currency just days before we are switching to the Euro. A fantastic drama laced with comedy that deserves more attention.
Films to Avoid:
A Life Less Ordinary – Don’t get me wrong, A Life Less Ordinary is an okay film but if I were to introduce someone who had never seen a Danny Boyle film to his work, this would be the last one I would show. Worth a look for anyone who has enjoyed the majority of Boyle’s films but others may be advised to steer clear.
About The Author – Tom Bielby
Long time film fan and aspiring film writer, Tom is a horror fanatic who wasted far too much time at University sitting through every film in the IMDB Top 250. He is partial to foreign films and cult cinema and would love to rid the world of people who rustle their popcorn during important scenes. He can be found on Twitter under the alias @filmbantha
Which is your favourite Danny Boyle film? Do you agree with our choices? Let us know your thoughts below.
Tom Bielby
I’ve only seen Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours, the former being one of my favourite films. Which is probably because I love India. Anyway, it made me notice Danny Boyle and watch 127 Hours which I liked, but not loved. Thanks for recommending some of his films – I really like the structure of this feature. Have to look out for the next posts.
Definitely check out 28 Days Later, it’s a good one!
I concur!
Hi Mette, thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear you are getting into Danny Boyle’s films, and hopefully this feature will give you some idea of what to watch next.
If you love India you might also want to take a look at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel if you haven’t already. Dev Patel stars in this too so it should be right up your street,
Yep, I’ve been thinking of giving it a try.
One of my very favourite directors. LOVE Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and 127 Hours. was slightly disappointed by Slumdog and Sunshine but both have grown on me. Especially slumdog. His big budget work is the real problem. A Life Less Ordinary and The Beach are my least favourites despite the latter being based on my most loved book! This is a great list and he definitely is a genre straddler. And he gave the world the Infected and therefore basically running zombies. He doesn’t get enough credit for that.
I think I probably would consider Millions and Shallow Grave as more essential than Sunshine personally. They seem more Boyle-esque to me. But then again maybe that’s a good reason to leave them off the essential list. Nevertheless a great piece about a great director! Nice one!
Hey pete, good to hear from a fellow Boyle fan. I think there are valid reasons for millions or shallow grave being more essential than sunshine but personal preference won in this instance as I have a huge soft spot for sunshines.
I also love the novel of The Beach and it is a shame Boyle couldn’t quite recreate the incredible story on screen.
I’ve only seen about five of his films but I like all of them in varying degrees. I think the one I appreciate the most is 28 Days Later which is odd since I am not a horror fan, but it’s much more than a zombie movie, in fact, I wouldn’t even call it that. Oh I like Sunshine also, but I don’t think I can handle 127 Hours to be honest, I might pass out, ahah.
Hey Ruth, interesting that you enjoy 28 days later and sunshine, I think there’s a secret horror fan hiding inside you! I do agree that 28 days later is much more than a horror though as there is a real depth to the characters which enhances the drama. 127 hours is graphic though, I rarely wince during gruesome scenes but that was very close to the bone (bad pun intended) and it was uncomfortable to watch in parts.
I can handle *some* horror but from what I read on 127 Hours, I just know it’s not for me… plus I’m not that crazy about James Franco
He is actually quite good in 127 hours, its some feat to hold the audiences attention for that long when he is pretty much the only actor on the screen for the majority of the film.
Great post! I love Boyle’s movies ironically with the exception of “Sunshine” and “Slumdog” which got a lot of praise. Shallow Grave is wonderful and “Trainspotting” has been on my all time favorite list every since I saw it. I have to say I enjoy his old style, filled with gritty images and low budget production more than all of the vibrant colors and editing tricks in 127 Hours, Sunshine, Slumdog.
I too am not overly fond of slumdog but can see why there is so much love for the film. I can see why you would prefer his older films but I am glad that Boyle has made the transition from a low budget director to a household name.
I have only seen four of Boyle’s films, but I have really enjoyed each one (especially Trainspotting). Good post, Tom. I’ll have to look into more of the films you recommended.
Thanks for your comment Eric, hope you enjoy checking out more of his films.
I need to watch Transpotting and Sunshine. Also Shallow Grave sounds like it would appeal to my tastes
You are in for a treat if you haven’t seen these! Trainspotting especially is a cult classic that should not be missed.
Good post. Have to agree on Trainspotting – have seen it about a dozen times but not once since having children. *that* baby scene is just too disturbing for me now. Shame, because I have a soft spot for the barmy Begbie!
Begbie is hilarious, I thought Robert Carlyle was excellent in his very brief role in the beach also, for a small guy he is capable of some real aggression! You should fast forward the baby scene, trainspotting is too good to be avoided.
I have only seen 3 of his films, trainspotting is way too weird for me but I love 28 Days Later and Sunshine. Those two movies have amazing music score, and of course great story.
I have been meaning to see 127 hours, maybe soon.
The music in those films is very similar and really adds to the epic scale of both stories. It’s no surpise that other films have borrowed from both soundtracks. Hope you enjoy 127 hours.
I love Danny Boyle films but wasn’t too much of a fan of Sunshine. I’d class Trainspotting and 28 Days Later as some of my favourite films, just brilliant! Great list!
Hi Amy, glad you’re a fan of Danny Boyle. I can see why sunshine isn’t as widely regarded as his other films but I loved every minute of it.
I wasn’t a big fan of Trainspotting but enjoyed most of Danny Boyle’s other films. Certainly a solid filmmaker who manages to coax memorable performances from his leads.
You’re right Castor, he has worked with some very talented actors which has given us some great perormances.
I rented “127 Hours” a few months ago and looked forward to watching it after missing a screening of this movie when it was in town at the Philadelphia Film Festival two years ago. A that time, the film seemed quite popular and had rave reviews from critics, yet, I found 127 hours to be a bit disappointing when I finally did watch it. While the movie is great from a visual standpoint, I am not a fan of the long and drawn out scenes that got repetitive after a while. Overall, I think 127 Hours is quite boring and could have used a trim down in it’s running time.
“28 Days Later” is too creepy for my interests, lol but “Slumdog Millionaire” is on my Netflix queue and I may check out “Trainspotting” one of these days. I had no idea that Danny Boyle was behind “The Beach.” I tried to watch “The Beach” last summer but didn’t make it past maybe the first 20 or 30 minutes of this movie before turning it off. I look forward to watching “Slumdog Millonaire”…maybe this one will be among my Danny Boyle favorites! We shall find out.
Hi Nicole, thanks for your comment. I too was slightly disappointed with 127 hours being a fan of the book and Boyle’s work but I did still enjoy it, maybe my expectations were too high from all the praise it received.
You should definitely take a look at trainspotting, it deserves its status as a cult classic and is an essential watch for any film fan. Hope you enjoy slumdog millionaire.
Danny Boyle’s got such a varied CV and he’s got a distinct style which he brings to every one of his films.
I was hugely disappointed with Slumdog. Or, I just didn’t get the hype or critical acclaim it was getting everywhere. The acting was average, the story wasn’t all that original. Sure it looked great, but I couldn’t get behind it.
I love 127 Hours and Shallow Grave. They might be among my favourites. Yet to see 28 Days Later. Need to see it soon, considering I’m a bit of a horror/zombie film fan! I liked Sunshine… for the most part. Fell a bit flat at the end.
Got a soft spot for a Life Less Ordinary. Mostly to do with nostalgia!
Thanks for your comment Jaina. You do need to see 28 days later, it is one of Boyle’s best. I agree with your slumdog opinions although I did enjoy it, I think it was a victim of being over hyped.
Shallow Grave disturbed me greatly. It was a solid movie though.
127 was awesome.
I liked Slumdog, especially since I waited a while until all of the Oscar buzz died down to see it.
28 Days Later was a great watch as well.
Yet to see Trainspotting
YUP I like Boyle.
I think everyone loves Boyle, thanks to his diverse range of films there is one for everyones tastes. Hope you get around to watching trainspotting, from the films you have enjoyed I’m sure it will be a firm favourite of yours.
Definitely. His diversity in genre is absolutely brilliant and a bit hard to find in a filmmaker.
A very good director with a consistent resume that has touched greatness on a couple of occasions. My favorite has to be Trainspotting, although I must say I really enjoyed films like 127 Hours, 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire.
I haven’t seen Sunshine but it sounds really interesting and the image you chose is very appealing, reminds me of Melancholia.
I didn’t like The Beach at all even though the cinematography was gorgeous. I haven’t seen any of the rest of his films.
Great summary of a great career.
I hope you get a chance to watch Sunshine Niels, I was watching it again last night and the soundtrack completely immerses you into the film, it is easily one of Boyle’s best, if flawed in parts.