I HEART MCR-Danny Boyle

With this issue I have decided to take a slightly different tact, with the column being entitled I heart MCR for one issue and one issue only it’s going to be I heart Greater MCR. This is all so I can talk about everyone’s favorite Manchurian director Danny Boyle. He may be from Radcliffe but that’s still in Manchester my friends.
Still buzzing from the viewing of 127 hours, I started to think about the man behind the film, so I decided to take a little retrospective view of Boyle’s career and tell you why he is definitely one of Manchester’s icons.
Boyle started his career whilst most of us were still in pampers; he soldiered through slowly gaining recognition for his work initially in the stage. Progressing onto television he worked for a while for the BBC in Ireland, then directed a couple of late 80’s mid 90’s shows including Inspector Morse (although this was only for a limited run.)
Boyle’s filmography reads like a who’s who of genre, having a wide variation of genre under his belt, there is everything from his first full feature Shallow Grave, which is entertaining in the most gruesome way to Trainspotting which let’s face it is just plain gruesome. To the tender stories such as Oscar winning Slumdog millionaire and other ever hilarious a life less ordinary with the very young Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz. Boyle likes to make movies which will stand out without the addition of his artistic merit, he stories engulf the audience. Although his first couple of films were not commercial successful, they have slowly grown to cult status for international audiences and let’s face it show up in most people in the western hemispheres lives at some point. However one thing which Boyle has managed to achieve which his pees have not is the balance between cult and commercial. The cult films initially flops have grown in popularity, and helped to shape the world of cinema.
His latest installment which is the dramatic retelling of Adventurer Aron Ralston’s experience, and subsequently the inspiration for this week’s column. The film depicts the 127 hours which changed Ralston’s life, after being caught literally between a rock and a hard place (The title of Ralston’s book.) He battles the elements and nature. Culminating in the final decision, dying in a giant crack in the earth or having to commit the unthinking able for a chance at survival. Now for those of you, who know the story, are probably right about now thinking what, why I would want to see a film about that. However the main focus of the film is not the graphic nature of the final act, it tells the entire story it does not trivialize the events which unfolded, it focuses on the man and the impact of such an ordeal.
Boyle is definitely one of Manchester’s most inspirational son’s he has one of the best back catalogue of films and a huge amount of hits under his belt. This is the reasoning behind my decision to make Danny Boyle the subject of I Heart MCR. He has an amazing view of how to create film, which make a really compelling story which grabs the audience.

127 Hours still available to see at AMC and The Odeon.