Danny Boyle has established himself as one of the most well-known and dependable filmmakers of his generation since commencing his career as a director in the early 1990s. His work has been remarkably diversified, despite the fact that some of his most successful films have an obvious emotional streak, plucking the audience’s heartstrings like a well-tuned guitar. And when you look at Boyle’s filmography, you’ll notice that there’s not a lot of difference between his worst and best pictures.
When it comes to Boyle’s films, the question isn’t so much whether they’re good or bad, but rather whether they were able to find an audience that could connect with their distinctive charms. While not everyone will enjoy his directorial style, Boyle has dabbled in so many various genres that there should be something for everyone in his filmography – he’s one of the few directors who doesn’t have many duds. Below are some of his best films.
1. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Cast- Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor
Jamal and his brother Salim grew up in Mumbai’s slums. They, like their childhood buddy Latika, were orphaned at a young age but managed to live. Jamal enters India’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire as a participant. In his first appearance, he manages to earn ten million rupees. But is apprehended by police, who are curious as to how an illiterate’slumdog’. As youngsters reared in slums are known – could possibly know all of those answers without cheating. He recounts how certain experiences in his life taught him the answers. All he can say is that being asked questions about which he already knows the answers is just fate. He is hoping for at least one more favourable turn from fate. As he had a specific reason for appearing on the show in the first place.
2. Trainspotting (1996)
Cast- Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Kelly Mcdonald, Ewen Bremmer
Mark Renton, a Sean Connery want tobe, dimbulb Spud, psycho Begbie, 14-year-old girlfriend Diane, and clean-cut athlete Tommy, who’s never touched drugs but can’t help but be curious about them, star in this wild, freeform, Rabelaisian journey through the darkest recesses of Edinburgh low-life, focusing on Mark Renton and his attempt to give up his heroin habit, and how the latter affects his relationship with family and friends.
3. 28 Days Later… (2002)
Cast- Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Naomie Harris
When a group of animal rights activists releases a chimp infected with a deadly, genetically created illness from a Cambridge research facility, the infection spreads throughout the population. It simply takes seconds for the uncontrollable infection to lock those afflicted into a perpetual state of murderous wrath. It’s devastating and highly transmittable. As a result, the dreadful virus has conquered the entire country in just 28 days, and a few of survivors, cut off from all sources of knowledge, begin their attempts to salvage a future, unaware that the lethal virus isn’t the only thing threatening them.
4. 127 Hours (2010)
Cast- James Franco, Aron Ralston, Kate Mara
Aron Ralston, an engineer, climber, and canyoneer, drives to Blue John Canyon in April 2003 without telling anyone, intending to spend the weekend doing what he enjoys: climbing the remote canyon. He meets two lost teenagers, Kristi and Megan, and they spend a few hours together bathing in a cave lake. He bids them farewell, and as he descends a canyon crevice, a chockstone comes loose and lands on his arm. Aron understands he’s stranded and sets out to find a solution to free himself from the stone. Aron goes delusional and recalls his family and friends after being without water and food for five days. He resolves to sever his forearm to survive after the fifth day.
5. Sunshine (2007)
Cast- Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Bryne
The spaceship Icarus I was unable to reactivate Earth’s dying sun and vanished. On a mission to try again, Icarus II carries the final available nuclear super-bomb. The ship is severely damaged as a result of the navigator’s error, but returning is no longer a possibility, and the mission is uncertain. They decide to pick up Icarus I’s bomb after receiving an emergency transmission from Mercury. That detour has a hefty price tag. But there’s an even worse surprise waiting for you on board.
6. Steve Jobs (2015)
Cast- Michael Fassbender, Seth Rogen, Kate Winslet
From 1984 until 1998, a full-length portrait of Steve Jobs was taken, capturing three major product introductions. The product receptivity was mixed at all three events, which were all SRO. The film is fast-paced and gives insight into the life of the legendary Job. A plethora of flashbacks provide more context. While Steve Jobs’ numerous achievements will never be matched, his manner was as formidable. His relationships are scrutinised, and you must assess their impact on him and others close to him.
7. T2 Trainspotting (2017)
Cast- Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Own Bremmer
Mark Renton has returned to Edinburgh 20 years after betraying his buddies and fleeing with (nearly) all of the money from a swindle. It’s his first return since the circumstances that separated him from Spud and Simon. When he looks up Spud and Simon, he finds that their lives haven’t changed much since he last saw them. Spud has seen his life fall apart after putting his life together, to the point where he is suicidal. In between acts of blackmail, Simon is operating his father’s loss-making bar. Meanwhile, the psychotically intense Begbie, the fourth person involved in this 20-year-old scam, is in prison. He has no intention of remaining in prison, and vengeance is on his mind.
8. Millions (2004)
Cast- Alex Etel, Daisy Donovan, Lewis McGibbon
The United Kingdom is preparing to transfer its currency from Pounds to Euros, providing an opportunity for a gang to rob a train loaded with cash on its route to incineration. During the theft, however, one of the large sacks lands on Damian’s playhouse, a 7-year-old who enjoys chatting to saints. The youngster then begins to perceive the world and the people around him for what they are. In this film, ethics, humanity, and the soul all take centre stage.
9. Yesterday (2019)
Cast- Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran
Instead of making a reputation for himself as a singer/songwriter, forlorn Jack Malik is stuck in the UK’s coastal village of Lowestoft for the rest of his life. Jack is going nowhere fast, despite the unwavering backing of his manager and childhood best friend, Ellie Appleton, until a cosmic freak event disrupts the space/time continuum. Now that Jack has discovered he is the only person on Earth who can recall the hits of the legendary English rock band The Beatles, he decides to start playing their songs and passing them off as his own, catching the attention of Ed Sheeran, an English singer, and Debra Hammer, an American music agent. Finally, a dream comes true; nevertheless, as Jack becomes an overnight phenomenon, catapulting himself to international fame, he realises that love is a delicate thing.
10. Shallow Grave (1994)
Cast- Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston, Kerry Fox
In Edinburgh, Scotland, three friends interview and choose a new flatmate. He hasn’t even moved in yet when they find him dead in his room. When they realise he has a big sum of money, they face an ethical issue. Things worsen when the men whose money it was go on the lookout for it, and the three buddies turn on each other.
