This was shown on Film4 earlier tonight where the voice over stated " From maverick director Danny Boyle ... " which probably caused a few film critics to fall out of their seats gasping " Maverick ? Maybe there's two Danny Boyle's directing movies ? " . I was speaking to a professional film critic a few weeks ago where I mentioned Danny Boyle as Britain's best director to which the critic replied " Oh is that the same Danny Boyle who frames and shoots every single scene in the same way every film he makes ? " . Boyle you see is a director who stirs up strong feelings . There's no in between with him . He either love his movies or you have a strong dislike for them . I recognise his efforts can be very hit or miss but he's a director who makes films over a wide range of genres . I'll state that we've yet to see the best of him . He might have won a well deserved best director Oscar for SLUMDOG MILLONIARE but his masterwork is just beyond the horizon . Mark my words
SHALLOW GRAVE was released in a wave of hype and critical acclaim . With hindsight it's possibly little deserved . British films in the those days seemed to begin and end with FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL and this movie is the perfect antidote since it's bleak , dark and cost next to nothing t produce . Not quite grunge , not quite Brit pop but certainly a counter attack against the commercial muzak film making of FOUR WEDDINGS and for that we should be thankful
The problem with the screenplay is that the main characters are painfully unlikable . It's summed up in the opening sequence where they humiliate prospective flat mates . Who'd want to share a flat with these arrogant , middle class tossers ? In other words why should an audience want to share 90 minutes of our lives with them either ? There's also an aspect of existentialism from Hodge's screenplay which begins with a voice over from David but it's not very well developed and becomes a straight forward thriller by the end with a not very clever twist
Exitentilism is a favourite theme with Boyle and that's what made 28 DAYS LATER so much more than just a zombie movie . It's easy to see some of Boyle's trademarks in SHALLOW GRAVE . The strange camera angles , the sharp cross cut editing , and the use of music . Fittingly the main benefactor of SHALLOW GRAVE has been Boyle himself . The cast didn't really reach their potential though possibly underservedly McGregor came closest to film stardom whilst neither did screenwriter John Hodge which is something of a shame
SHALLOW GRAVE was released in a wave of hype and critical acclaim . With hindsight it's possibly little deserved . British films in the those days seemed to begin and end with FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL and this movie is the perfect antidote since it's bleak , dark and cost next to nothing t produce . Not quite grunge , not quite Brit pop but certainly a counter attack against the commercial muzak film making of FOUR WEDDINGS and for that we should be thankful
The problem with the screenplay is that the main characters are painfully unlikable . It's summed up in the opening sequence where they humiliate prospective flat mates . Who'd want to share a flat with these arrogant , middle class tossers ? In other words why should an audience want to share 90 minutes of our lives with them either ? There's also an aspect of existentialism from Hodge's screenplay which begins with a voice over from David but it's not very well developed and becomes a straight forward thriller by the end with a not very clever twist
Exitentilism is a favourite theme with Boyle and that's what made 28 DAYS LATER so much more than just a zombie movie . It's easy to see some of Boyle's trademarks in SHALLOW GRAVE . The strange camera angles , the sharp cross cut editing , and the use of music . Fittingly the main benefactor of SHALLOW GRAVE has been Boyle himself . The cast didn't really reach their potential though possibly underservedly McGregor came closest to film stardom whilst neither did screenwriter John Hodge which is something of a shame