A failure to fit in Jordan Peele's latest, Us, is the biggest anomaly, so apologies to all fans of that movie. I'm still really looking forward to it.
As usual this is a personal look back at this year's releases, so this is not necessarily a list of the greatest movies of the past twelve months, but a collection of my recommendations. As usual any feedback and discussion is welcome.
Disclaimer! - Many other films of the year lists will contain films yet to be released in the UK. I don't include these in mine, even if I've seen them at preview screenings. We usually get these films in January and February, so there's lots to look forward to early in the year. This year those films include Jo Jo Rabbit (3rd January), Waves (17th January), Uncut Gems (10th January), Parasite (7th February) and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (28th February). Jo Jo Rabbit, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Waves were at Brighton's Cinecity Film Festival, so I've already seen them and highly recommend them all. It's highly likely they'll make it into next year's list. .
10. Border
Available for streaming rental.
9. Eighth Grade
A troubling, but ultimately touching, look at the life of a thirteen year old girl as she gets ready to leave eighth grade and move to high school. The highs and lows of school life are further warped by the pressures of social media and the difficulty of not just figuring out who you are, but who you want to present yourself as outwardly to the world. If you're over thirty like I am, it'll make you glad you didn't grow up worrying about the likes on your Youtube channel.
Available for streaming rental.
8. The Farewell
A stylish but warm-hearted film that sheds light on the cultural differences (and similarities) between West and East. For a film about loss, it’s surprisingly light and funny. Awkwafina heads a brilliant cast that admirably balance these contrasting elements as you are drawn into the intense family dilemma at the heart of the film.
Currently in cinemas in London (just about)
7. Avengers Endgame
As Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has shown, it's very hard to forge a satisfying end to a long running film series. To round out the current era of Marvel movies, Avengers Endgame offers up a fan pleasing (but not pandering) finale, that is surprisingly warm, funny and unlike Rise of Skywalker, takes the time for smaller character moments.
Currently available to stream on NowTV.
6. Ad Astra
If you’re into slow, beautiful, thoughtful sci-fi of the more spiritual kind, then this is a gem. Brad Pitt's astronaut ventures into space on a covert operation to find and neutralise his long lost rogue father, Tommy Lee Jones. Imagine Terence Malick remaking Apocalypse Now in space and you won’t be far off. It won’t appeal to everyone, but I loved it.
Available for streaming rental.
5. Marriage Story
Available to stream on Netflix.
4. Booksmart
Available for streaming rental.
3. Little Women
It turns out I didn’t really know the story of Little Women... I was taken by surprise and ended up getting quite tearful! Greta Gerwig has crafted a faithful but exuberant adaptation that manages to feel true to the era whilst adding something fresh. Her use of fractured time and her excellent casting create a compelling family drama with lots of heart.
Currently in cinemas.
2. The Favourite
It's a delightful black comedy, with excellent performances throughout. Unlike director Lanthimos’ previous movies, like the stilted conversations of The Lobster, the dialogue is darting and witty, with the actors relishing the obscurity of the royal household. It's a refreshing take on the period drama, blowing away any stuffiness with incongruous modern idiosyncrasies like modern dance moves.
Available for streaming rental.
1. Knives Out
Rian Johnson's Knives Out is a cinematic delight, a brilliant ensemble murder mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, but modern and thought provoking. Even more impressive is that underneath the highly entertaining and imaginative mystery is an excellent commentary on modern America, its contradictions, and its hypocrisies.
Currently in cinemas.
Worthy Mentions
Not quite on the main list...
Can you Ever Forgive Me - The closest to making the list, it had a compelling story and a couple of very fun performances from Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant.
If Beale Street Could Talk - A beautiful tragic film from Barry Jenkins.
Spider-Man: Far from Home - Another great adventure for Marvel's Spider-Man, this time with a great turn by Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio and a great end credits cameo.
Toy Story 4 - Another film in the series seemed like a bad idea, but once again Toy Story continues to defy expectations and continue its tale in a thoughtful and fulfilling way.
Vice - Preachy it may be, this film still chronicles an incredibly important but oft forgotten figure in Christian Bale's Dick Cheney. Bale is excellent in the role, disappearing into the Cheney's mumbles and tight lipped smiles.
The Irishman - A bit long for my taste and I don't quite buy the de-aging (see disappointments), but Scorcese still brings the magic. I especially love Joe Pesci's subdued performance.
The Souvenir - A sombre actorly piece on addiction from Joanna Hogg.
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood - A film I mostly enjoyed, but I felt uncomfortable with Tarantino's use of real people (see disappointments).
Midsommar - Another tense gruesome horror film from Ari Aster, but doesn't quite nail the landing.
The Sisters Brothers - A beautiful adaptation of a book I love with a great cast, especially Joaquin Phoenix and John C Reilly as the titular brotherly duo.
Rocketman - A big surprise. I had no interest in this film, refused to see it at the cinema, but then really enjoyed this biopic musical at home. Far better than last year's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Films worth a watch - Always be My Maybe, Fighting with my Family, Stan and Ollie, Apollo 11, Captain Marvel, Wild Rose, Shazam!, Hobbs and Shaw, John Wick 3, Support the Girls, Lego Movie 2, Joker, High Life, The Day Shall Come, The Hustle (just about)
Disappointments
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - In revising all the progress of The Last Jedi, we end the Skywalker saga on a muddled, silly and disappointing note. It felt more like fan-fiction than a true continuation of the story.
Joker - I liked a lot of elements, but it couldn't hit the heights of the films its style aped, coming across as a muddled combination of The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver. Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal in the lead role however.
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood - Another frustrating experience with Quentin Tarantino, once again a victim of his own bravado. Every scene is expertly crafted and, despite its length, doesn’t feel like a chore. The dialogue zips and tension is built and then dissipated in classic Tarantino fashion. However, his treatment of the extremely tragic events and the real people involved, wasn’t for me. In the end I think your enjoyment of the film lies with your perception of the finale. I found it morally objectionable, denting an otherwise enjoyable experience, but I’m sure I’m in the minority.
The Irishman - There's so much to enjoy, but once you get to this length of film, it becomes hard to focus, especially when you can only watch it at home on Netflix. I felt like the story may have been better served as four one hour episodes rather than one huge movie.
High Life - As I've shown with my love of Ad Astra, I love a philosophical space drama, but there didn't feel like there was enough substance to this tale.
The Day Shall Come - Not a bad film per se, but a disappointment considering the talent involved. Not funny enough to be a black comedy, not dramatic enough to be truly compelling, Chris Morris hasn’t bought his usual bite to this one.
Awful...
A Beautiful boy, Lucy in the Sky, Vox Lux
The ones that got away...
The big misses of this year, I regret I didn't get to see...
Us, Monos, Burning, Bait, Under the Silver Lake, The Mule, Pain and Glory, I Lost my Body (I've seen part of it, ironically), In Fabric, Ash is Purest White, Transit, Zombieland: Double Tap, Hustlers, The Nightingale, Doctor Sleep, Terminator: Dark fate, The Dead Don't Die, Climax
In an ideal world, I would have seen these too...
Glass, Boy Erased, On the Basis of Sex, Everybody Knows, Benjamin, At Eternity’s Gate, Missing Link, Hellboy, Late Night, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Jumanji: The Next Level
Hope you enjoyed reading my breakdown, Happy New Year!
2018 Update
The ones I caught up with that I missed last year...
I liked...
The Old Man and the Gun, Bad Times at the El Royale, Blindspotting, Green Book, Overlord, Pacific Rim: Uprising, Tully, Aquaman, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Incredibles 2
I wasn't so keen on...
Bohemian Rhapsody
The ones I didn't catch up on...
A Fantastic Woman, 120bpm, Faces Places, The Rider, Burning, Darkest Hour, Free Solo, Wildlife, They Shall Not Grow Old, "Love, Simon", Halloween, Peterloo, Bumblebee
Last Years Top Ten
10. Spider-Man- Into the Spiderverse
09. First Reformed
08. Shoplifters
07. First Man
06. Isle of Dogs
05. Phantom Thread
04. BlacKKKlansman
03. Lady Bird
02. Sorry to Bother You
01. Mandy
