Boyle. Boyle’s trademark kinetic style makes him an easy-to-spot auteur. He’s often been accused throughout the years (decades) over over-directing. I don’t believe in such a thing—or if I did—it would meant as a compliment that is shared by Kubrick, Hitchcock, Fincher, Wes Anderson, and many others—even if Boyle isn’t quite in their class (I believe they’d say those other four have more control and balance). Trainspotting is a big beacon, a shining light and clear top 500 of all-time film (and there are fewer and fewer directors with a top 500 film left and a definite aesthetic as we near in on 200 directors now). His weakness is that there’s a decent drop off between Trainspotting and everything else he’s directed, and he’s still around, and popular, but hasn’t had a “oh yes that’s for sure in the top 10 of the year” film since 1996.
Best film: Trainspotting. From the justifiably famous opening with Ewan McGregor sprinting to Iggy Pop—Boyle’s Trainspotting, his second film, explodes with ambitious and creative filmmaking. There is still frame wall-art-in-a-museum photography, narrative dexterity, am active camera—like an auteur exploding with a passion for cinema—and it all lands.
total archiveable films: 6
top 100 films: 0
top 500 films: 1 (Trainspotting)
top 100 films of the decade: 1 (Trainspotting)
most overrated: Boyle doesn’t have one actually. He only has one film in the TSPDT consensus top 1000 and that’s Trainspotting at a very respectable (for a 1996 film) #567. I’m higher on it- at #399 (and even that feels low at the time I’m writing this). Slumdog is the only other film that registers on the top 2000 and that’s at #1269- a good spot for it.
most underrated : Steve Jobs. So 28 Days Later, 127 Hours, Slumdog all have a spot on the TSPDT top 1000 of the 21st century but somehow Boyle’s 2015 Steve Jobs is left off. So that means the consensus thinks there are at least 43 films that are superior. Rubbish. Boyle’s three part structure biopic refuses to be conventional (you can accuse Boyle of many thinks but flat or boring isn’t one of them).
gem I want to spotlight : Slumdog Millionaire
- The entire film is filled with genuine energy- vibrant colors, energetic editing
- It’s certainly a unique narrative flashback structure with the flashbacks, each vignettes and yarns of seemingly embellished memories, triggered by the millionaire questions—all of this is a within a flashback where the Patel character is being questioned and tortured
- From a formal standpoint there is a very nice shot distance choice repetition with long shots, overhead shots, and close ups… Boyle often throws in askew angles as well
stylistic innovations/traits:
- Kinetic (the camera paces as do his characters)- he should have worked with Tom Cruise or Dustin Hoffman as his actors are often sprinting through the streets — if it weren’t in German I’d expect many would attribute Tykwer’s Run Lola Run to Boyle
- stream of consciousness editing (think the HIV test jumping to bingo in Trainspotting)
- oblique/dutch angles
- freeze frames
- Boyle will throw the kitchen sink at you from a stylistic standpoint—jump cuts, infused surrealism, a roving camera—dutch/canted angles, low ASL (average shot length)
- Pulsating, dynamic—often infuses pop/rock music needle drops
- Bold colors– expressionistic
top 10
- Trainspotting
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Steve Jobs
- 28 Days Later
- 127 Hours
- Shallow Grave
By year and grades
| 1994- Shallow Grave | R |
| 1996- Trainspotting | MS |
| 2002- 28 Days Later | R |
| 2008- Slumdog Millionaire | R/HR |
| 2010- 127 Hours | R |
| 2015- Steve Jobs | R/HR |
*MP is Masterpiece- top 1-3 quality of the year film
MS is Must-see- top 5-6 quality of the year film
HR is Highly Recommend- top 10 quality of the year film
R is Recommend- outside the top 10 of the year quality film but still in the archives
Just saw 28 Years later not that long ago with my parents, my expectations was in the middle and woah. That movie surprised me with how good it is, i need to double check if it’s on my top 10 for 2025 cause i know i got it up there somewhere.
@dom – awesome, I’m hoping the 2020s is a better decade for Boyle. He will direct the third film and has “Ink” with Guy Pearce and Jack O’Connel coming out this year
Sounds promising, gotta say Jack O’Connell is on a streak right now with Sinners and Bone Temple (haven’t seen it yet but hopefully i can see it) and I hope his streak continues
Notes on 28 Years Later
Third viewing – in anticipation of The Bone Temple releasing tomorrow.
As with the other films in the franchise have a very eerie opening, not holding back too much in the horror department. A shot of the priest with the shadow of an upside down cross is effective foreshadowing too for the final scene of the film.
Boyle 101: after the title/time drop (28 Years Later) have an energetic waking up montage of Alfie William’s Spike in the safe haven of Holy Island. The location here was also used effectively by Polanski in the 1960’s (you can see the castle from Cul-De-Sac in the distance in some shots). The montage effectively setups the safe zone, how the survivors manage day to day without any dialogue.
Leaving the island for the first time the style shifts radically, Boyle cuts to both archival footage and clips from older medieval epics – building up the connection of heading out to war. Very out there move and I think it pays off wonderfully. The causeway crossing and beach landing itself is also beautiful location scouting, between one line of dialogue Boyle will cut the characters moving across the landscape which builds heaps of momentum – something Nolan did well in the exposition scenes of Tenet.
After John Wick Chapter Four, this is another film that feels video-gamey at times (a descriptor, not a critique). The first enemy encounter feels like a less dangerous tutorial monster and the suite of I-Phones used to shoot this film lead way to these gory kill cams that feel straight out of a shooter.
The themes of lost-fatherhood leading into finding the father in yourself are very consistent with the themes of 28 Days Later where Murphy’s Jim goes through a similar journey. Love seeing this connection between the two films.
Long-shots galore here, beautiful work from Dod Mantle. There’s one in particular with the alpha infected next to a tree, we get a version during the day, during sunset and another in a bluey night – great form. Another great long shot is with the sycamore gap location (unfortunately destroyed by vandals in real life by the time this film released).
Boyle’s background in kinetic filmmaking is perfect for the genre, solid form with whenever the infected are brought into action the film goes into closeup, low average shot length, shakier camera mode to marry the chaotic and visceral content to the style.
The chase scene back to the island is incredible cinema. The vivid night sky combined with the Vorspiel song is a powerful combination.
Another one of the best things the film has going for it is the bone temple set-piece, unique and leads to many interesting compositions.
I adore Ralph Fiennes here. He has a mystical feeling around his character, lots of intrigue and hearing about him well before we see him, like Harry Lime. Despite the intimidating appearance and abode, Fiennes dispels all the fear and brings such a comforting warmth here.
The Young Fathers original score is a miss. I don’t want to hear any of these songs again which is really disappointing. Thankfully the film ditches them when it needs to, either using the Vorspiel song or bringing back the excellent East Hastings track from the first film.
The ending is controversial and feels like it comes out of nowhere on a first watch, but improves on repeat viewings as you begin to notice details in the production design hinting towards it (carvings, graffiti and of course the opening takes on new meaning).
Must-see film.
@Harry- Really quality work here- I’m with you on Fiennes’ work
Hey Drake what about A Life Less Ordinary?
@Jey Neo- somehow I’ve never seen it I don’t think
@Jay – @Drake – if I can chime in, I’ve see of Boyles films and this was one of the ones not good enough for the archives.
I was just wondering, I’ve only seen it once and while I personally liked it very much maybe you are right about it
28 Years Later is my favourite film of 2025 so far tied with Sinners. Boyle and Dod Mantle make such a good use of longshots, editing (parallel editing, cutaways and low average-shot lengths, as well as cutting on movement to movement like Kurosawa would do), seas of green in the mise-en scene, magic hour photography…
It’s going to be the first of a trilogy but stands pretty well on its own. I was very impressed with all the cast too, a good role for Aaron Taylor Johnson but Alfie Williams and Ralph Fienes did best.
@Drake – have you caught this yet?
@Harry- I have- and I was very impressed
Have you ever seen his 2013 film Trance? I feel that’s a hugely underseen gem with great photography and that quick kinetic energy that makes Boyle special. Not an intellegient film but really feels like Boyle is firing on all cylinders with it.
@Harry- I have- but only once (and it has been a decade). I’ll keep an eye out for it the next time it is streaming.
@Drake – I’m really happy to hear that 🙂 . It has just been announced the third film with Boyle at the helm is going ahead too.
Sorry meant to reply to above comments on 28YL
I think 28 Days Later closely rivals Trainspotting. The shots of deserted London are contenders for his best images (the one with Big Ben in the background is iconic at this point and deserves to be included on this page) and the really gritty feel of 28DL is perfect for it (also a nice contrast with the ending being shot on a much higher quality camera). Not sure how much you take impact and influence into account but this is definitely his most influential too for the fresh take on a zombie movie (infection, non-slow Romero style zombies). You also have a stellar performance from Cillian Murphy who goes through meaningful changes during the film. Eccelstone is also chilling as the human antagonist here. The score is also brilliant, particularly the intense build of “In The House – In a Heartbeat” during the crescendo of the third act. His kinetic editing style also works well here in the action scenes and adds a mysteriousness to the dream sequence.
I love his highly kinetic style. I do think slumdog millionaire should be in the top 1000 though.
What do you think about Sunshine?
@George- I saw it when it first came out and didn’t think much of it but have been meaning to revisit. How about you?
@Azman– Yeah saw it in 2017. Not amazing- didn’t archive it upon first viewing.
What do you think of t2 trainspotting. I think it’s quite bad – not archiveable.
Definitely not as good at trainspotting 1996
What do you think?