NOTE: I'm not going to pretend that I've seen every movie by a director, but keep in mind the directors I'll be analyzing I will make sure to have seen a fair number of movies out of their filmography.
I have to skip The Beach and Alien Love Triangle, I have not seen either. But next comes the movie everyone will recognize and not associate Boyle with. 28 Days Later revolutionized a genre. The film took the Zombie, and to a larger extent the horror genre, and turned it on its ear with the idea of "fast moving" zombies, or the infected. As we follow Jim (Cillian Murphy) in a barren wasteland of London in the first scenes of the movie, Boyle captured the feeling of alone-ness, something he's perfected since he used it in Trainspotting.
After the success of Slumdog it is thought that Boyle may return to film with the next instalment in the James Bond series. I find the idea completely interesting. Boyle can capture the isolation that this new Daniel Craig bond feels and I think that his direction would be welcomed warmly for the franchise.
Boyle is overall one of the best directors working in Hollywood. And I don't say that because of Slumdog Millionaire. I say that because his unique take on different genres of movie have led him to a prosperous career and is truly a "wild card" director.
Danny Boyle has finally received his due. When Boyle received his best Director Oscar in February I couldn't help but feel a bit sad for him. While Slumdog Millionaire is no doubt a very good movie I can't give it the props it clearly (at least according to every laymen I've ever encountered who've seen it) deserves and I think that Boyle's direction is clearly superior to some of his other work. But why Slumdog? Why does it have to be THAT movie. I think that overall Boyle has a filmography of absolutely no holes and a resume that he can do anything with and that while Slumdog may have put him into the mainstreams eye, his best work was done pre-2008.
Boyle was first known for his 1996 film Trainspotting which is a movie I adore. It's witty at moments but really, aside from Requiem for a Dream, is one of the best films about drugs you'll ever see. But in less broad terms Trainspotting will remain unique because it was a movie that showed you head on the use of Heroine. And good or bad, when the "walls are closing in" feeling began sinking in (literally, Boyle does a great job of expressing that feeling) you really understand and connect with the movie in a more real way.
I have to skip The Beach and Alien Love Triangle, I have not seen either. But next comes the movie everyone will recognize and not associate Boyle with. 28 Days Later revolutionized a genre. The film took the Zombie, and to a larger extent the horror genre, and turned it on its ear with the idea of "fast moving" zombies, or the infected. As we follow Jim (Cillian Murphy) in a barren wasteland of London in the first scenes of the movie, Boyle captured the feeling of alone-ness, something he's perfected since he used it in Trainspotting.
Then came Millions, a movie that I could get bashed for liking. Millions is a cutesy family fantasy that is yes, probably the weakest of Boyle's movie, but a film I still adore. The movie deals with 2 brothers survival after they find millions of Pounds days before the countries currency is being changed to Euros. Looking back this in many way's is the most similar to Slumdog Millionaire. Two brothers find lots of money vs two brothers try and find lots of money, both trying to survive. Sure one is in a suburban area of England and one is in Mumbai, India and the circumstances are extremely different, shots of this movie (Damian's urge to help the poor in Millions) seem very similar to those in Slumdog Millionaire (Jamal wanting to help Latika from the rain for the first time).
Enter in 2007, a year where we had Into The Wild, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. Boyle snuck in the sci-fi film Sunshine during the summer blockbusters and met with a weak US response of only 4 million. But Sunshine personally is Boyle's best movie. Maybe not his best direction but he certainly changed the formula for Science Fiction space exploration films. Even the premise of a group of scientists being sent to reignite the sun was revolutionary unique to say the least. Here for a third time Boyle is able to capture the stillness of space and feeling of being alone.
After the success of Slumdog it is thought that Boyle may return to film with the next instalment in the James Bond series. I find the idea completely interesting. Boyle can capture the isolation that this new Daniel Craig bond feels and I think that his direction would be welcomed warmly for the franchise.Boyle is overall one of the best directors working in Hollywood. And I don't say that because of Slumdog Millionaire. I say that because his unique take on different genres of movie have led him to a prosperous career and is truly a "wild card" director.
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