Danny Boyle has just won an Oscar for Best Director, and his movie, Slumdog Millionaire, was just named Best Picture. Missing the real significance of that statement? Okay, let me try this: Danny Boyle — the independent auteur who splashed across the international radar in 1996 with Trainspotting, a movie about heroin-addled Scottish junkies who dive into cruddy toilets to fish out opium suppositories…to the music of Bizet’s Carmen! — has just earned Hollywood’s highest honor.
I mean, wow, how cool is that?! What an endorsement of someone who, in my mind, is one of the most original filmmakers in the world today — someone who has never truly gotten the props he has long deserved. It’s hard to think of another current director whose work so seamlessly spans genres, from thriller (Shallow Grave, which he made before Trainspotting), to dramatic fantasy (Millions), to horror (28 Days Later), to sci-fi (Sunshine), to Bollywood (Slumdog Millionaire). Even though I’ve always been baffled by his weird, misguided big-studio followups to Trainspotting — A Life Less Ordinary and The Beach — I’ve always taken comfort in knowing that I’d go to a Danny Boyle film and get to watch something new and exciting. For him, the label "independent" has always been more than a mere state of finance.
Of course, until the smash success of Slumdog Millionaire, I wasn’t sure many folks necessarily agreed with me. Boyle’s movies have never been box-office magnets: Before Slumdog came along, the zombie saga 28 Days Later was his top domestic grosser, with just $45.1 mil, and my nominee for his best film to date, Millions, banked a paltry $6.6 mil in 2005. And we’ve heard plenty about how Slumdog Millionaire was sat on, passed around, and almost sent straight to video before Fox Searchlight picked it up.
So I wonder: Can Oscar success mean even better things for Boyle? Will this independent-minded director finally garner some mainstream respect, even after the Oscar glimmer has faded? And what should he do next? Maybe not a James Bond or Narnia film, but certainly there’s a lot of big-budget fare that could benefit from his creative juice. Oh, and what’s your favorite Danny Boyle movie? Let the love-in commence…er, continue!
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It is surprising that he hasn’t had more financial success, considering how well-known his work is (perhaps it’s not as well-known as I think it is?). I loved Sunshine, Millions, Trainspotting, and 28 Days Later…all great films in their own ways. I don’t know if I think Slumdog Millionaire is the best movie of 2008, but it was undeniably interesting.
Shallow Grave will always be my favorite Boyle film. Gritty, thrilling, dangerous, moving…that film is the reason I have trust issues. I have been a huge fan of his work since I was young (probably too young!) and am thrilled that he is finally getting recognition for his genius!
28 Days Later–refreshing to, for once, have a good, quality horror film.
“Millions” is that rare gem that works as both a family film and a first-rate film for adults. Absolutely charming performances all around, and a plot that you can never predict. If you wept tears of joy at the end of “Slumdog”, you’ll need a week to wipe the smile off your face at the end of “Millions”. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
“Sunshine” was a top-notch scifi adventure film with some of the most incredible special effects I’ve ever seen. If a friend hadn’t recommended it, we never would have bothered to rent it. Big thumbs up. Boyle is a terrific director.
I love his movies- Shallow Grave is easily one of my favorite films of the 90s ( I’m clearly a disturbed individual), and my children have watched Millions at least a dozen times ( my middle child says it’s her favorite non Pixar movie ever). I pray that he gets the respect and projects he deserves.
Gotta go with Millions. I love the way he makes everything look as if you’re watching through the eyes of a child. Just watch the opening as the two kids bike through a field of daffodils and then have their new home magically build around them and you’ll be sold too.
Millions! So glad to know somebody else saw and appreciated that marvelous, sweet, little film.
Man, Millions is one of my favorite movies of all time. It really is. Go seek it out, people – you’ll adore it.
I think he already is well respected. And it’s baffling that you’d equate respect with big-budget mainstream movies.
While I agree with the article, the headline is WILDLY misleading. It implies that Danny Boyle hasn’t gotten any respect for his terrific work all these years.
Maybe I run in a different circle from most people, but the people I know who love movies have always respected Danny Boyle’s talents, as have a lot of critics, judging by how his best movies have been received.
Now, if by “respect” you mean “recognition from the Academy that he didn’t really need because he’s already pretty great and has already been doing what he wants all this time”, then I agree that he’s gotten “respect.”
I am looking forward to him picking up to direct 28 Months later..
But Trainspotting was a great movie.
If you haven’t seen SUNSHINE (Boyle’s previous film) go rent it on DVD. It’s a vastly underrated film. I think it’s better than Slumdog (in my opinion).
Oddly, I love his movies just not Slumdog. Enjoyed Trainspotting, Millions, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Shallow Grave more.
Happy to see him getting some love though.
Our sun is dying. Mankind faces extinction. Seven years ago the Icarus project sent a mission to restart the sun but that mission was lost before it reached the star. Sixteen months ago, I, Robert Capa, and a crew of seven left earth frozen in a solar winter. Our payload a stellar bomb with a mass equivalent to Manhattan Island. Our purpose to create a star within a star.
Says it all right there!