Why did director Danny Boyle take a break from filmmaking?
Sometimes, it really does feel as though certain filmmakers completely lose their spark, making progressively worse movies over the course of their careers. With the release of Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola, people have been questioning how the man who made The Godfather and Apocalypse Now in the 1970s has managed to make such a bizarre and, according to the general consensus, terrible movie. But what about Danny Boyle?
The 1990s saw British cinema come into its own after years of instability. Finally, larger budgets were being given to filmmakers working outside of Hollywood, and Danny Boyle proved to be a leading figure. He made his debut feature in 1994 with Shallow Grave, a wickedly witty dark comedy.
He followed up the successful movie with another popular film, Trainspotting. It remains one of the most well-loved British movies of all time, taking a bleak yet humorous look at the lives of drug addicts experiencing poverty in Edinburgh. It received considerable praise for its balance of comedy and emotionally charged explorations of the effects of heroin addiction.
With a fantastic soundtrack that featured songs by the likes of Blur, Underworld, and Iggy Pop, the movie summed up the era perfectly. From there, Boyle went on to make various other successful films, like A Life Less Ordinary and The Beach. He started to work with Hollywood actors and branch out from his solely British roots, although 28 Days Later demonstrated that he was still able to make a groundbreaking movie without relying on a polished mainstream style. Much of it was filmed on fairly low-quality handheld cameras and featured mainly unknown actors.
He continued to find success with Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, and Steve Jobs, even getting the chance to direct the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. Yet, in 2017, he released the sequel to his beloved film, T2 Trainspotting, which held nothing on its predecessor. While it wasn’t a bad film, it felt simply unnecessary, like a cash grab for nostalgic lovers of the 1996 film rather than a movie filled with true passion.
So, what has happened to Danny Boyle’s career?
That’s far from the worst thing Boyle has ever made. In 2019, he made a film that could be classed as a cardinal sin. Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Lily James, was a true crime, a tarnish on Boyle’s legacy – and The Beatles. Written by rom-com giant Richard Curtis, the film explores a world where only one man, Jack, remembers the existence of The Beatles. Thus, the failing musician decides to sing the Fab Four’s songs and pass them off as his own, all while his manager/friend, Ellie, is haplessly in love with him.
The movie pushes Ellie to the sidelines, giving her little more to do than be a moral lesson for Jack, who, of course, comes to his senses and eventually falls for her, too. The movie is full of plot holes and inconsistencies, features Ed Sheeran and fails to give its female characters any real autonomy – there is a lot to dislike.
The mixed reviews that emerged from Yesterday seemed to lower Boyle’s credibility as an impressive director. How could the man who made Trainspotting make such a terrible film with absolutely nothing in it that felt the slightest bit believable?
It seems as though Boyle has now decided to play it safe and return to revisiting old movies, directing 28 Years Later, a sequel to his acclaimed horror movie 28 Days Later. Scheduled for release in 2025, the movie, shot on iPhones, features actors like Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as well as the film’s original star, Cillian Murphy.
Whether the movie will live up to the original will have to be decided once it is released, but this is a smart comeback for Boyle. After the longest hiatus of his career (six years), Boyle will have to prove that he hasn’t lost his talent, and what better way to do that than by casting a bunch of Hollywood stars and returning to one of your most acclaimed movies?
