Shallow Grave

Rating:
Summary: A bit boring
Review: I looked forward to viewing "Shallow Grave" not only because my friends in England had raved about it but also to see Danny Boyle's effort before he shot the masterpiece that was "Trainspotting." That's why my expectations were too high for this film to attain and I was a little disappointed.

"Shallow Grave" is close to the dynamism of "Trainspotting,". The main heroes are three roommates looking for a fourth, but their requirements are that this person be as twisted and extraordinary as they are. They finally locate one man who seems to possess enough guts to face the three (one of whom is played by a long-haired Ewan McGregor), but he is found dead the next day. He has, however, left behind a suitcase full of money, which the three roommates decide to keep, while disposing of the body in a very gruesome yet practical way to eliminate any traces.

Naturally, a series of entanglements ensues, relationships among the roommates sour, and a certain eerie Kubrickian mood sets in. You will wonder which one of the three, or maybe the police, or maybe the "rightful" owners of the case (a pair of thugs), will end up with the cash.

Despite the fast pace, the music, the acting, and the writing which should provide the makings of a good "Trainspotting" predecessor, "Shallow Grave" lacked considerably in the originality, atmosphere, and overall feel. Maybe watching "Trainspotting" too many times had its effect....

Rating:
Summary: Ewan McGregor's first major role is a definite winner!
Review: I'm a major Ewan McGregor fan, and that's how I first came to see this movie. It's the first of three movie he would make with the now-famous Scottish film makers Danny Boyle, John Hodge, and Andrew MacDonald. This is the best out of the three in my point of view. It's about three flatmates who finally find a fourth. But when he ends up dead, and the three break into his room only to find a bag of money. First they must dispose of the body, second they must decide how to use the money. But the effects of money on three good friends comes to suspenseful and tragic ends. This is a phenomenal movie even if you don't like suspense (I don't). It's also great for anyone who wants to see Ewan McGregor with long hair that is dripping with sweat. This is a wonderful psychological thriller for even the very squeamish.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing film!
Review: I'm surprised this film didn't get more attention. Trainspotting got a lot of press and was good, but this is better. The momentum ranges from fast to slow, but there's so much eye candy, you stay glued to the screen wanting more. The plot twists are equally amazing. I saw this movie with 10 people and no one guessed the ending (at least not all of it)-and the ending was great, which is hard to pull off with a plot this bizarre. In general, I don't like violence, but it's so important to the story that it works well. This is a fascinating but spooky movie! Don't expect to feel reaffirmed that humans are wonderful, but if you like to think and want something different, expect to enjoy this movie entirely and want to see it again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Too funny
Review: If you liked Trainspotting and Run Lola Run this movie is definitely for you. It's got a really fast pace, good beat and an interesting and twisty plot. It also got Ewan McGregor (enough said). The ending is really good too.

Rating:
Summary: what can I say, just a great movie
Review: its British and its awesome. Ewen McGregor is the best in this and he offers a character that is fun to watch. Christopher Eccelston's nose is the gem also, and he has a slight resemblense to my friend Marcus, sorry MArcus but its true and Kerry Fox is hot, hot, hot.a great paranoia film with a lot of body cutting up and Danny Boyle( A Life Less Ordinary, 28 Days Later, The Beach adn Trainspotting) is a great director. the end where Eccelston gets the nife in the neck and McGRegor tricks Fox into thinking she has the money, just great

Rating:
Summary: A very good movie.
Review: Nice film here. Not for the main stream but... A well set up story thats fun to watch,it features great character development combined with a really good ending. Yes Ewan McGregor is quite fun in this part but so is the rest of the cast, Nice sound track as well.

Rating:
Summary: Lightweight but tons of fun to watch
Review: Scottish Yuppies? Ewan McGregor in lingerie and makeup? Like the attic of the gorgeous apartment inhabited by this crazy trio, the plot's full of holes, but it's illuminated by scattered rays of brilliance. More style than substance, this film is anchored by hilarious and spontaneous performances and you don't really mind that the suspense doesn't work and the ending is predictable. Director Boyle has given us a lovely piece of visual film art - something meant to be seen and enjoyed and not thought about too much

Rating:
Summary: Twists and Turns
Review: Shallow Grave is a deceptively simple Scottish dark comedy. A gruesome murder yarn about paranoia spinning out of control, it takes its cue from the host of similarly plotted vehicles that run nightly on late-night television, but in this case it's good writing and stylish performances that save the day.

With Shallow Grave it's hard to see what's coming next, which is just as it should be. The laughs we get are nervous, stiffled. Director Danny Boyle keeps us anticipating but never quite guessing his next move. It's an odd little export, perfectly controlled and charged with edgy, homicidal vibrations.

Rating:
Summary: Passafist Reviews Shallow Grave
Review: SHALLOW GRAVE is the kind of movie you really want to love. I think I would have if I had never seen FARGO. There is this sub-genre called the revenge film, some of them are really good, like the aforementioned FARGO, or bad, like the long an incredibly slow moving A SIMPLE PLAN. SHALLOW GRAVE is right in the middle of those two.

There are three friends. Alex (Ewan McGregor, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones) the loud funny one, David (Christopher Eccleston, The Others) the serious one, and Juliet (Kerry Fox, Welcome to Sarajevo) the sexy one. They share a flat, and as the film opens they a looking for a new roommate. Enter Hugo (Keith Allen, 24-Hour Party People) the charming yet rough guy who needs a room. They let him move in.

The movie then asks the question what if your new roommate died? What if you found a suitcase full of money? Would you call the police? Would you keep the money? Would it tear you up inside?

The films early moments are really good. Especially as they interview prospective roommates. But, when the film plunges into the dark stuff, you begin to doubt character motivations. You can suspend disbelief for a few moments, but there is a nagging feeling that something isn't quite working. I couldn't put my finger on why.

Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) paces the film just a little on the long side. I spent 90 minutes with these characters but I felt like I needed to know more about them. I wanted to see there descent into darkness a little clearer, unfortunately I didn't.

But for what it's worth Ewan steals the show. He has such a good time with his part. I felt bad for him especially since he's the only one who's continually being maimed throughout the film. He's smarter than the other characters, but he hides it so well you begin to doubt if he really is that smart.

Kerry Fox's Juliet is too subtle for my taste. You can see what she's doing. The screenplay knows what's she's going to do and I've seen enough movies to know what she's going to happen to her, still her character on a whole is to subdued, and little unbelievable.

Eccleston's character David seemed more flawed than the other two. His paranoia is drawn so big, that it fights with David's soft character from the beginning of the film. The screenplay motivates him to act this way. By not revealing enough of David character in the beginning, his motivations throughout the film feel like contrivances of the screenplay and not like true characterization.

Shallow Grave is not a bad movie. It's not a great movie. It's an okay movie with a nice twist ending. At least this one doesn't come from a mile away. If you have a few hours, you might just want to dig up a copy of A SHALLOW GRAVE.

Rating:
Summary: Freaky and disturbing...very good.
Review: Shallow Grave tells the story of three young adults who live together in a small apartment. They are looking for another person to live with them. And they find one...and one day, they find him dead...they are about to call the police when they discover their friend's little secret...a suitcase full of green bills...You know the rest; they hide the body and they keep the money without saying anything to anyone. Admit it, you would have done the same thing...and you'd probably be in the same grave...but a near ton of money isn't a gift from "God"...and two criminals are looking for the dead guy and the money, so they finally find the address of the apartment and attack our three friends...but they loose the fight...and there are two more corpses to hide...This film shows how far people can go for money. It's also a lesson about friendship. The atmosphere is freaky and will make you insane. This film is full of surprising twists too (especially at the end). The way people react is just disturbing, and the way the whole film is shot is just scary. Bravo to Danny Boyle...the actors are amazing too; they are all freaky, they all give excellent performances. Some scenes are intense and macabre instead of stupidly violent (like Scream). Is that my favorite Danny Boyle picture? Let me think.....well.....nn.....yes. It is. It's hard to choose between Trainspotting and Shallow Grave, but Shallow Grave is the happy winner. Very good.