 The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray] This diabolical thriller was the first film from director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter John Hodge (the smashing team behind Trainspotting). In Shallow Grave, three self-involved Edinburgh roommates-played by Kerry Fox (An Angel at My Table), Christopher Eccleston (Elizabeth), and Ewan McGregor (Beginners), in his first starring role-take in a brooding boarder. When he dies of an overdose, leaving a suitcase full of money, the trio embark on a series of very bad decisions, with extraordinarily grim consequences for all. Macabre but with a streak of offbeat humor, this stylistically influential tale of guilt and derangement is a full-throttle bit of Hitchcockian nastiness. Storyline: To avoid spoiling the movie this plot summary is very brief. It starts when three people living together in a four bedroom flat are looking for a house mate. The interviews they conduct are very unorthodox and very funny. Eventually the three agree on one prospective tenant. He moves in, locks his door, and is not seen again. After a couple of days the three become curious and break in to his room. What follows is an amazing piece of cinema and to say more would ruin it. Written by djm@sinope.kbs.citri.edu.au Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov on May 20, 2012 -- Winner of Silver Seashell Award for Best Director at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Danny Boyle's "Shallow Grave" (1994) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailer for the film; documentary film about the making of "Shallow Grave" directed by Kevin Macdonald; exclusive new video interviews with actors Kerry Fox, Ewan McGregor, and Christopher Eccleston; audio commentary with director Danny Boyle; exclusive new audio commentary with screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew Macdonald; and more. The disc also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked". Three roommates – Juliet (Kerry Fox, Intimacy), David (Christopher Eccleston, Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen) and Alex (Ewan McGregor, Young Adam) – decide that they need one more person to take the last available room in the large house they rent. They post an ad in a local newspaper and begin screening prospective renters. While doing so, the trio manages to have plenty of fun. The lucky one is Hugo (Keith Allen, The Others), a mid-age man who tells Juliet, David and Alex that he is working on finishing his book. Juliet is particularly impressed with Hugo and makes sure that David and Alex are well aware of it. Shortly after, Hugo moves in. But a few days later Hugo is found dead in his room. Under his bed, Juliet, David and Alex discover a large suitcase full of money. They fight over what to do with it, but eventually decide to keep it. Then, they dismember Hugo's body and get rid of it. Kerry and Alex begin celebrating. They go on a shopping spree and treat themselves well. David warns them that now is not the time to be careless, but they ignore him. They do agree, however, to hide the money in the attic. After they do, David becomes paranoid. Two gangsters begin looking for Hugo and the money. They leave a few bodies behind and eventually get to Juliet, David and Alex. Things get complicated when each of the three friends realizes that none of the other two are to be trusted. Shallow Grave was British director Danny Boyle's first feature film. It was first screened internationally at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 where many felt that the film should have been included in the official program. Director Boyle's unique style and notably edgy sense of humor impressed critics and casual fans. Shallow Grave also kick-started Scottish actor Ewan McGregor's career. His performance was praised by the press and director Boyle made sure that the he would return for his future smash hit Trainspotting (1996). Seven years after the release of Shallow Grave, McGregor was recognized with a Golden Globe award for his performance in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge (2001). Today, Shallow Grave looks rather dated. Its characters are thin, plot transparent and dark humor not dark enough to entice a new generation of viewers who feel strongly about films such as Guy Richie's quirky Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Mike Hodges' moody I'll Sleep When I'm Dead and Shane Meadows' Dead Man's Shoes (2004). Still, there are certain aspects from Shallow Grave that are as effective as they were when the film was first screened. For example, the dialog, courtesy of John Hodge, has some terrific lines that have not lost their edge. Cinematographer Brian Tufano's (Billy Elliot) lensing remains one of the film's strongest assets as well. Note: In 1994, Shallow Grave won Silver Seashell Award for Best Director at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Perhaps the only major problem with Danny Boyle's Shallow Grave is the fact that it will always exist in the shadow of Trainspotting. It is a fine, entertaining and well acted film, but impossible not to compare to Trainspotting. The two clearly changed the image of contemporary British cinema abroad, but the latter is simply a much more complete film. As expected, Criterion's Blu-ray release of Shallow Grave comes with a strong selection of supplemental features. There is a particularly good new audio commentary with screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew Macdonald. RECOMMENDED. Cast Notes: Kerry Fox (Juliet Miller), Christopher Eccleston (David Stephens), Ewan McGregor (Alex Law), Ken Stott (Detective Inspector McCall), Keith Allen (Hugo), Colin McCredie (Cameron), Victoria Nairn (Visitor), Gary Lewis (Visitor), Jean Marie Coffey (Goth), Peter Mullan (Andy), Leonard O'Malley (Tim), David Scoular (Cash Machine Victim), Grant Glendinning (Bath Victim), Victor Eadie (Freezer victim), Robert David MacDonald (Lumsden). User Comment: (urbanstruggle) from Montreal, Canada, 23 November 2000 • Danny Boyle seemed like he was destined for directorial greatness before the surprise success of "Trainspotting" got to his head. His first two pictures, however, are wonderful. "Shallow Grave" is one of the best modern thrillers I have seen in a long time. The story centers around three British roommates who are trying to rent the empty room in their flat out to another person. When they finally do find a man to rent the flat out to, he dies in his sleep, leaving behind a briefcase full of a whole lot of money. What to do? Much like "Trainspotting" of a few years later, "Shallow Grave" has very dark comical undertones to it. Unlike "Trainspotting" however, it is a much more serious film. Like Sam Raimi's "A Simple Plan" of four years later, it explores a moral dilemma between three friends on what to in a situation when you find a lot of money that does not belong to you. Do you compromise your morals for the money or do you do the right thing? One is never quite sure how the story will turn out and as you approach the ending of the film, you are never quite sure which one of the three friends is more sinister than the next, which makes the twists in the last part of the film such a darkly hilarious and chilling delight. Films like "Shallow Grave" are exactly what independent filmmaking is all about. It's a smart, sleek and stylish film made on a small budget, driven by a cleaver story and interesting characters. Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston both give great performances in this film. `Shallow Grave' is miles better than any thriller Hollywood has come up with in the last 10-15 years (if not longer). I give it an 8 out of 10. Summary: A great film. User Comment: Samuli Launonen from Finland, 9 July 2005 • A great modern thriller containing all the necessary ingredients of a decent suspense story: constantly growing tension, sly humor, and genuinely surprising plot twists. It's kind of like a 90s version of a Hitchcock flick (think "Rope"), and like somebody here wrote, once you start watching it you can't stop. The plot is deliciously wicked. Just how far are you going to go for money? Will you kill for it? Are you willing to share it? Will you give up your best friends for it? How insane will a large amount of cash drive you? And in the end, and this is the most important question "Shallow Grave" rises, will it make you happy? If there was any more violence in this movie it would turn disgusting, but Danny Boyle knows how to measure it just right. Though he doesn't quite reach the virtuosity of "Trainspotting" here, his trademarks are all present: the fast pace, the urban background beats, the enthralling camera angles and so forth. The three leads are all great, but there's no question about who the movie belongs to: Ewan McGregor is energetic, powerful and photogenic in his portrayal of a young journalist. No wonder he became such a star. Summary: Vibrant and suspenseful. Trivia:
[CSW] -4.6- Truly a cleaver story with interesting characters. I love this type of twisty-windy black humor. It is a brilliantly made, tightly plotted, very sick and twisted, edge of the seat thriller with unexpected comedy by the genius who later did Trainspotting. Except this is better than Trainspotting. It is delightful in its perversity. Very little violence, blood, or nudity and no sex or gore, but still this will really get under your skin. The acting is extraordinary. If you like understated British humor, a creative story line with unexpected plot twists and a tight and likeable cast, you will really enjoy this film - I did. [V4.5-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box. IMDb Rating (07/25/14): 8.2/10 from 452,529 users Top 250: #166 IMDb Rating (05/11/10): 8.3/10 from 188,515 users Top 250: #113
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