T2 Trainspotting

The original Trainspotting may have been the absolute last movie you would have expected--or even desired--to see get a sequel. So on the surface, this film's existence makes no sense. But director Danny Boyle and company are smarter than that, and that superficial judgement disappears almost immediately once this new venture gets going. Indeed, the viewer soon realizes that he's watching not only a legitimate story in its own right, but one that serves as a logical continuation and conclusion to the first movie's tale. In fact, the original is all over this sequel, with inter-cut scenes from twenty years ago informing the story as it unfolds today. In less skilled hands, that might have been distracting, if not a painfully obvious safety net--but here it works, in a big way, and the technique helps make this piece an interesting meditation on the passage of time, on who and what we are, and if there is such a thing as destiny. That's enough of a portfolio to make this flick worth the ride.

127 Hours

Director Danny Boyle pulls every trick out of the filmmaker's bag in order to give movement and energy to a mostly static tale. In a few places, the holes in that cinematic curtain show through, but for the most part the effort is successful, resulting in an entertaining, impactful, almost riveting movie. Not to be missed.

Shallow Grave

My new bumper sticker: "Friends don't let friends bury a dead body in order to keep a suitcase full of cash." You see, this is what happens when people aren't as clever as they think they are. The story is predictable, but the movie stays engaging nonetheless. The tension between the mismatched-but-bound-by-a-secret flatmates (including a very young Ewan McGregor) helps keep the film worthy of your attention. It's not to die for, but it's still entertaining.

28 Days Later

Strangely unengaging for an apocalypse movie. Not to say it doesn't hold the interest, but I really didn't find anything particularly special in this. Plus there's enough seeming inconsistency to make suspension of disbelief that much harder. (I say "seeming" inconsistency, because let's face it, how would you know what such a calamity would really be like?) If you really dig this sort of movie, then go ahead and enjoy. But otherwise, you can skip it.

A Life Less Ordinary

Almost awful, and unnecessary.