Round-up 17: Danny Boyle and the Safdie's Magnum Opus

Another long ass week. The adaptation to the new hours is a bit much. I’m pulling through, though. Having lots of fun and meeting tons of new people. As I’ve said before, the corporate office environment might really be for me. There’s something about the stability and consistent expectations that brings me a type of peace. I know what I’m getting into every day I go in. I get paid fairly. Shit, how hard is that? Turns out you just have to know where to look. Personal experience in this department, on my end, suggests time and hurdles to bring the right opportunities. But I digress, I made a point actually to watch some movies this week. New movies too. So, let’s get into it.

I started the week off with a rewatch of one of my favorite films of all time, the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems(2019). 2019 was a great year for the film industry, with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the final Star Wars entry in the new trilogy, and Avengers: Endgame, among many other huge blockbuster hits. This was, for me, however, the pinnacle of a filmgoing theater experience. Uncut Gems is, to me, a perfect piece of character-driven storytelling. I’m a sucker for films that take their time to get to know the protagonist(s) and build the world around them, and the Safdie’s do just this. Adam Sandler hands in his magnum opus dramatic performance as Howard Ratner, a down-on-his-luck degenerate gambler running a jewelry store in the Diamond District of Manhattan Island in New York City. We’re introduced to his chaotic life as he juggles his family life with his children and wife on the brink of divorce, angry debtors clamoring for their money, and his obsessed mistress on the side. The way the brothers at the helm masterfully balance the anxiety attacks with comedy is made to look easy, when in no doubt it’s a tightrope walk. This is a crime thriller for the ages, one that weaves character drama through its runtime to enhance the impact of the final act, which consistently has me on the edge of my seat every time I get around to it. I know this is a divisive film, but one I can’t stop recommending to anyone who will listen to my ranting.

On the next watch, I decided to jump into something new. I was having a conversation with my brother about the upcoming Danny Boyle/Alex Garland reunion to complete the 28 Days trilogy with 28 Years Later later this summer. We’re both pretty excited to see it, just from the trailers, but neither of us had seen the first two films. So, that’s what I decided to do. Beginning with 28 Days Later (2002), I was a bit let down. I think the issue was it being overhyped over the years. This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, I totally did, but the first half of the film feels like everything we’ve seen in the opening acts of every zombie horror film of the last two decades. And I understand this predates the majority, if not all, of the ones that are popping into my head as of writing this. It just couldn’t help but bring down the meandering through the newly destroyed world. This being said, once the film picks up towards the final act, the dramatic turns become heightened by some top-notch action sequences. A young Cillian Murphy carries the story with his naturally sad face and strange charisma.

Now, here’s where I was surprised. The sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), which was helmed by a different crew, I found to be far more engaging and thrilling, even as a standalone zombie film. A star-studded cast including Jeremy Renner, Idris Elba, Rose Byrne, and Robert Carlyle just to name a few lead a story that immediately kicks off with a tremendous gut-punch that I would be a major ass to spoil here. This develops quickly into an action-packed romp through a ravaged United Kingdom, where the United States military has taken base to quarantine the virus. The personal drama driving the story is what kicks off the majority of the zombie plot in the back half of the film, connecting the two seamlessly. This made for a more streamlined thriller experience that I was sucked into much easier than its predecessor. All this to say, I’m very excited for the third installment. Hoping the combination of Garland and Boyle cooks up something special.

Speaking of Danny Boyle, my final new film of the week was his legendary cult classic Trainspotting (1996). And oh, boy, was this one a heavy-hitter. With themes reminiscent of Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000), this film takes a comic approach to the horrors of drug abuse and addiction. It follows four friends united by opium addiction and a life of robbery and crime overall to sustain the habit. Ewan McGregor leads the cast as Renton, a soul grappling with the harsh realities of his present and (lack of) future as he fights to find a way out of the vicious cycle. The film wastes not a second of its barely 90-minute runtime getting into the most disgusting corners. The infamous toilet scene early on almost had me shutting down the operation completely, you know, me and my weak stomach. But I pushed through, and I’m glad that I did. The remainder of the film gets into the characters and their individual struggles as they move to perform a “big score,” selling some heroin in the big city. The quick-paced editing style and needle drops galore sing alongside the brilliantly written dialogue between said protagonists (anti-heroes, really). Despite being immensely hard to watch, I cannot deny the prowess at play with Boyle’s writing and directing. Both easy and hard to recommend at the same time; hard in that there are a number of scenes that really require hard eyes and stomach, easy in that it’s the kind of experience you don’t find with cinema that often.

All things considered, I’d call this a pretty successful week, having watched some new films and (somewhat) easing my way into the new job downtown. One day at a time, and things keep looking up. Might be the G-d sun, too, though. Either way, good times afoot. I have a good feeling about that. Have you seen the 28 Days films? Trainspotting? Or are you an anti-Uncut Gems fiend like my parents? Let me know below, I encourage you. Until next week.