Pick the Correct Director Part Two Quiz

Answer: Danny Boyle

"Slumdog Millionaire" was released on 9 January 2009 in the UK. The film starred Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. The film was directed by Danny Boyle and produced by Christian Colson. The film was distributed by Pathé Distribution.

The story of "Slumdog Millionaire" centres on 18-year-old Mumbai slum orphan Jamal Malik, who suddenly makes an appearance on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Malik gets very close to winning the top prize. In the film, he uses a sequence of flashbacks that describe his life experiences and the circumstances that lead him to each right answer to defend his knowledge of the answers when he is accused of cheating because his chance to win the top prize is very low.

Boyle was born on 20 October 1956, in Radcliffe, Lancashire, England. Boyle is not just a director and producer but has also been involved in TV and theatre work. The first film by Boyle was called "Shallow Grave," released in 1984; it also won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.

In 2012 Boyle was the artistic director for the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. The ceremony was said to be the best there has ever been. For his exceptional work on the event, Boyle was offered a knighthood when the New Year Honours award would take place. Due to his personal beliefs, Boyle declined the offer.

Boyle announced plans for a £30 million film and media school in Manchester. The Manchester School of Digital Arts, which opened in 2022, is part of Manchester Metropolitan University.

The school aims to provide students with cutting-edge skills in digital media, helping creativity and innovation in various fields such as film, animation, and graphic design. With state-of-the-art facilities, it is poised to become a significant platform for aspiring artists and filmmakers in the region.

Answer: Danny Boyle

This film is based on a novel by Alex Garland, which shares the same title: "The Beach." It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet, and Robert Carlyle. The film was released on 11 February 2000 and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

The plot centres on Richard (DiCaprio), who receives a secret map leading to an island. He convinces two young individuals he met up with, Françoise (Virginie Ledoyen) and Étienne (Guillaume Canet), to join him on his journey to the island.

On their journey to Ko Samui, they encounter two individuals, Zeph and Sammie, who have heard rumours about the island. Richard shares a copy of the map with the couple. Once Richard and his two companions discover the island, they meet the leader of the community, Sal (Tilda Swinton). The storyline then explores the interactions and events that unfold on the island involving Richard, Sal, and other members of the community.

Overall, the film boasts beautiful scenery and a compelling plot. Well worth a look.

Answer: Danny Boyle

The film "Trainspotting" was released on 23 February 1996 and starred Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald. As with many other films, "Trainspotting" was based on a book with the same name written by Irvine Welsh.

The story is about heroin addicts in a deprived area of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. One of the main characters is Mark Renton, also known as Mark "Rent Boy" Renton, played by Ewan McGregor.

Mark takes drugs with his so-called "friends": Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson, Daniel "Spud" Murphy, and Swanney, known as "Mother Superior," who is their dealer. Mark tries to give up heroin but has a relapse and continues to use the drug. The story goes on about how he eventually goes to a drug rehabilitation program that works for a while, but soon he goes back to his old ways. At one time, Mark moves to London and carries on with the lifestyle that involves drugs and all the things associated with the drug trade, including theft and dealing.

Answer: Danny Boyle

This is one of my all-time favourite films. "28 Days Later" was released on 1 November 2002 (UK) and on 27 June 2003 (US). The main cast comprised Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, and Brendan Gleeson.


Cillian Murphy plays the part of Jim, who wakes up in the hospital after being in a coma. Still attached to tubes and wires, he soon realises that he is all alone in the hospital. Jim pulls out all the tubes and wires and goes walkabout in his hospital gown. He leaves the hospital and walks around the streets of London, where he finds a newspaper with the headlines of mass evacuations. Jim enters a church only to be chased by people who are dead. Any person who gets bitten or gets blood in their system is infected and eventually dies and becomes a zombie-type of creature.

Jim runs away and meets two more people who have survived, Selena and Mark. Unknown to Selena, Mark had gotten bitten and was infected; Selena killed Mark with her sword. The storyline continues with how they meet up with other survivors as they go looking for a safe place. At one time they find a manor house with a few army personnel guarding the house, but it's not as it seems. The story continues with how the survivors cope with a world of dead people.

Excellent film, well worth viewing.

Answer: Ridley Scott

"Black Hawk Down" was a war film released in 2001 in the UK and 2002 in the U.S. The film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Ridley Scott. The film is based on the book of the same name by American journalist and writer Mark Bowden. The film had a list of well-known actors, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, and Tom Sizemore.

In order to overthrow the government and provide food and humanitarian help to the starving population, the United States dispatched special troops to Somalia in 1993. The soldiers are lowered to the ground using Black Hawk helicopters, but two of the helicopters are instantly brought down by Somalian gunfire. The U.S. soldiers then have to endure intense gunfire while trying to regain their composure. Another batch of Black Hawk helicopters is sent in to try and pick up remaining soldiers; however, some are shot down and killed. The rest of the film is about how the soldiers stay alive and wait to be rescued, although the odds are against them.

Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. He was born on 30 November 1937, in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. Scott has been involved in a variety of genres, including crime, science fiction, and historical epics. The film that put Scott on the map was his second film, "Alien," which was released in 1979. His next film was in 1982 with the film "Blade Runner."

Scott's films have grossed around five billion worldwide in his career. Throughout his career, Scott has picked up several awards, including the BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Maybe the biggest award Scott has achieved in his lifetime was when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003.

Answer: Ridley Scott

This American action thriller, "Body of Lies," was released in the US on October 10, 2008. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, and Golshifteh Farahani all had major parts in the film.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Roger Ferris, a CIA agent assigned to find terrorist commander Al-Saleem in the Middle East. Ferris collaborates with Hani (Mark Strong) of the Jordanian Intelligence, but he also has to deal with the cunning tactics of his CIA boss, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), which creates a dangerous and dishonest environment to work in.

As Ferris makes his way through the world of counterterrorism, the film examines the difficulties of international espionage, the ethical concessions made in the name of national security, and the strain it takes on Ferris and how he deals with his work.

Answer: Ridley Scott

"G.I. Jane" was released on August 22, 1997, in the US. The film starred Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Anne Bancroft. Filming for the film primarily took place at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, which is a military reservation and training base for both the Florida Army and Air National Guard. It is located in Clay County, Florida.

The 1997 film "G.I. Jane" tells the story of the first female member of the U.S. Navy SEALs to receive special operations training. In the film, Demi Moore plays Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil, who must overcome formidable mental and physical obstacles while undergoing training. The film looks at the impact of political decisions on military life, gender equality, and tenacity; these are all topics covered in the film.

Demi Moore took the decision to have her head shaved in real life to play the part of Navy Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil. Demi Moore won the Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her performance in the film.

Answer: Ridley Scott

"Blade Runner" was released on June 25, 1982, in the US. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. (worldwide) and Shaw Brothers in Hong Kong. The film is based on Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" The film starred Harrison Ford (Rick Deckard), Rutger Hauer (Roy Batty), Sean Young (Rachael), and Edward James Olmos (Gaff).

Bearing in mind the film was made in 1982, the film is set in the future of 2019. The film tells a story of a world of suffering, oppression, and dehumanisation. Rick was a former police officer, known as a Blade Runner, who had retired from active duty. Rick is forced back into work by his ex-boss, Bryant. Rick's job is to find bioengineered humanoids known as replicants and destroy them. Rick is ordered to find and kill four Nexus-6 replicants: Leon and three others, Roy Batty, Zhora, and Pris.

One of the biggest problems with replicants is they are hard to distinguish from humans; they are stronger, fitter, and more agile than humans. The problem for the replicants, though, is they have a short lifespan. As the storyline continues, the replicants seek ways to extend their short lifespan, and Rick is trying to stop them.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

Another film based on a book was "American Sniper." Written by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, and Jim DeFelice. The film was released in 2014 in the US. The film starred Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle and Sienna Miller as Taya. Also appearing in the cast were Luke Grimes as Marc Lee, Jake McDorman as Biggles, and Cory Hardrict as ""D"/Dandridge.

The film is basically about Chris Kyle, who became the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. The storyline follows Chris as he has four tours in the Iraq War and how he protects his fellow soldiers with his marksmanship. The film also shows the emotional side of Chris when he is on leave with his wife and firstborn. The film also covers the impact on his life when he becomes a civilian.

After the war, Chris gets involved in helping severely wounded ex-soldiers in hospital. Chris gradually gets his life together and starts to fit in with family life. Many years later, Chris goes to visit Eddie Ray Routh, an ex-soldier who has PTSD. Chris and Eddie go to a shooting range, and at the end of the film credits, it's made known Eddie shoots Chris dead.


Clint Eastwood is an American actor and film director. Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930, in San Francisco, California, U.S. I think the older generation will always link Eastwood with his early cowboy films, "A Fistful of Dollars" (1967) (UK), "For a Few Dollars More" (1967) (UK), and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1968) (UK). They are great classic films and are still worth a look.

Another batch of films that Eastwood is also known for is the "Dirty Harry" films from the 1970s and 1980s. All these films, either as a director or just an actor, have given Eastwood many awards, including Academy Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and People's Choice Awards. It has to be said Clint Eastwood is a legend in films, both as an actor and director.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

"Space Cowboys" was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. The film made its debut on August 4, 2000, in the US. The film starred several well-known actors, including Tommy Lee Jones (Hawk), Donald Sutherland (Jerry), James Garner (Tank), and Clint Eastwood (Frank).

The film starts in the year 1958 when a group of USAF test pilots who were known as "Team Daedalus" were being specially trained to become the first American astronauts. However, the group are told that a new body had been formed called NASA, and they would be conducting space flight tests instead of the USAF. Several years later, the group are recalled to fix a rogue communication satellite, especially as Frank had developed the electronics.

The old team with younger astronauts from NASA work together so the younger ones can learn about the old technology without the aid of onboard computers. NASA had the intention at the last minute to replace the old team with just the younger astronauts. Lucky enough for the old team, the vice president rejected the idea, and so it was down to the new and old teams to sort out the problem. The team learns that the satellite is not for communication but is in fact a satellite that houses six nuclear missiles. The film continues with how the team brings the rogue satellite down to earth safely.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

"Million Dollar Baby" hit the screens on December 5, 2004, in New York City, and the rest of the United States on December 15, 2004. The film starred Clint Eastwood as Frankie Dunn, Hilary Swank as Maggie, and Morgan Freeman as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris.

The movie centres on Maggie, an amateur boxer who pursues her dream of becoming a professional boxer with the guidance of an underappreciated boxing trainer, Frankie Dunn. In the daytime, Maggie works as a waitress and joins a neglected boxing gym in Los Angeles run by Frankie. Maggie asks Frankie to teach her so she can move from being an amateur and go professional. Frankie is not interested, as she is a woman and maybe too old. Unbeknownst to Frankie, his handyman allows her to train at the gym.

Frankie loses one of his best fighters at the gym, who was head-hunted by another rival manager. So Frankie changes his mind and trains Maggie. Maggie begins to win several fights and eventually gets a title fight worth $1 million. The contest is with the WBA women's welterweight champion, Billie "The Blue Bear" Osterman. She is known for being a dirty fighter. Maggie gets knocked out after the bell is rung and falls on the stool in the corner. The fall breaks her neck, leaving her a quadriplegic.

The story's conclusion is sad. In case you haven't seen the film, I won't go into specifics. It's a fantastic movie that is highly recommended.

The film won four awards at the 77th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (Freeman), out of seven nominations.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

"Heartbreak Ridge" is an American war film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. The release date for the film in the US was on December 5, 1986. The film starred Clint Eastwood as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas "Tom" Highway, Marsha Mason as Aggie Highway, Everett McGill as Major Malcolm A. Powers, and Mario Van Peebles as Corporal "Stitch" Jones.

Tom is an old U.S. Marine and close to retirement. Just before retirement, Tom is given a platoon of Marines who he must knock into shape. Right from the start, Tom notices that the platoon are undisciplined and have no respect for anyone but themselves. Tom demands discipline and respect from his recruits. He challenges them physically while fostering a sense of pride and unity in them. However, at the beginning of their training, they initially resist his approach to the training. Because of Tom's age, he puts them through the training in the same way as he had been trained when he was a rookie.

The film then moves on to where the platoon have been fully trained and joins the U.S. invasion of Grenada. The U.S. invasion of Grenada served as a proving ground for Tom and his newly formed platoon. Their journey from the hard training to the chaos of battle highlighted the critical importance of being prepared and teamwork in the face of the enemy. As they engaged in the battle, it became clear that Tom's training played a major role in their success, equipping them with the skills necessary to respond effectively under pressure. Ultimately, this experience not only solidified their bond as a unit but also showed the transformative power of military training in shaping capable and resilient soldiers ready to face any challenge that comes their way.