Danny Boyle
127 Hours – Hours to live, Boyle pulls us in by the minutes
by Parker Mott on Sep.13, 2010, under Danny Boyle, Drama, Great Directors, Movie Reviews, Surreal
3.5 Stars out of 4
(93 minutes)
James Franco as Aron Ralston.
There are movies that simply shouldn’t be made (Van Sant’s remake of Psycho) and some, for their importance, demand to be (Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11). The finicky element of Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours is that it draws a line between two of these categories. A story of one man’s survival while in such a painful and impossible scenario demands to not go unnoticed. But how does a director make the most out of a man, Aron Ralston, wedged between a rock for 127 hours (cinematic length: 90 minutes)? Well, as Boyle stated to a vast student audience at the TIFF screening: “you make an action movie out of the [apparently] inert.” He pulls it off, – to the extent any great director could do with this project – barely. (continue reading…)
Slumdog Millionaire – Amazement is the final answer
by Parker Mott on Apr.20, 2010, under Danny Boyle, Great Directors, Movie Reviews
4 Stars out of 4
(120 minutes)
"Ladies and gentlemen, what a player!"
Slumdog Millionaire is a rare gem. This film is like a buried treasure chest: inside, it is full of rich material and delivers great reward, but, unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find. Boyle has such a simple storyline, but shapes it into an innovative picture that does not just glorify the game show we all love (or used to love), but also identifies with India’s culture. (continue reading…)
