MD - Gangster Squad

The cracking cast all did their job, Sean Penn hammed and mugged splendidly and the look and feel was authentic. But this just seemed so formulaic and has been done before and better…big boss, gang of mismatched characters subversively below the radar, innocent collateral damage...blah blah blah. It all got a bit tedious after a while.  

5/10

MD - Pitch Perfect

I haven’t laughed so consistently at a film that I was supposed to laugh at for ages. Subverting the regular college stereotypes without reverting to cruelty, and with a genuine pack of interesting characters, it hit the spot. The a cappella and wordplay were inventive and had some lovely geeky movie references which we would all no doubt appreciate. Acca-awkward.

8/10

MD - The Impossible

Laudable, visceral and with some cracking child acting I however struggled with this film. It’s has no pretentions of being an easy or enjoyable watch but having been in Cambodia at the time of the tsunami and back in Thailand soon afterwards I found it a difficult watch, with jolts of some of the residual suffering I saw returning to me for the first time in years. And yes its based on a true story and the facts are undeniable however the contrivances of the finale were a step too far and I didn’t understand the need to take such dramatic license.

6/10

PG Films of 2012

Ok, I'm in to Blogger... finally...

I would also like to Caveat that I haven't yet seen Rust & Bone, The Master or Hunger Games, some of which may otherwise have made my top ten. 

As always my top ten promises to be conventional and controversial (at the same time) and (hopefully) skew the list of lists...

p.s. just watched Tyrannosaur which is an enormously powerful and brilliantly made film with superb acting. I was literally hiding behind my jumper the suspense was so great! Not sure any of these in the top ten are as good as that, actually!

Worst Movies, or I prefer to say, most disappointing

1. Prometheus. Formulaic and predictable. I don't like it when archaeology is taken in vain

2. Total Recall (remake). I saw this just after I saw the original and it was therefore a disappointment. Liked the concept of travelling through the centre of the earth to travel from place to place and Colin Farrell is gorgeous in the opening sequence...

3. Skyfall. I felt really bad for not liking it but I thought the plot didn't hang together - it was a series of random amazingly filmed scenes but without proper links. Interesting it didn't make it any higher than number ten...

Best

10. Detachment. UK release in 2012, I found the lead character, a substitute teacher, compelling. Fascinating how his relationships with three women could tell us so much (and yet so little) about him

9. The Imposter. An intriguing tale that generating plenty of discussion and afterthought. 

8. Coriolanus. I love the great Shakespearean language and the epic-ness of this film.

7. John Carter. I know this was a Holywood flop, but I thought the money was well spent in creating a beautiful and imaginative fantasy world. I really enjoyed the adventure!

6. Moonrise Kingdom. This film made me laugh and smile a lot. Cute story told in a fun and vibrant way

5. War Horse. Not usually interested in films about animals, but I love the historical drama of this WWI classic

4. Looper. Clever film with plenty of twists and turns. My favourite dystopian film of the year!

3. Shame. Beautifully told story. The rendition of New York, New York by Carey Mulligan is breathtaking and sums up the whole film

2. Silver Linings Playbook. This film had such a wonderful happy ending with impassioned performances throughout.

1. The Hobbit, an unexpected journey. I just love adventures, and I can't fault this film (even though it was very long). I love the characters, the mammoth task of the journey, the creation of other worlds and an epic history. As you can imagine, can't wait for the next two installments!

DM's Films of 2012

Overall, not a outstanding year for film I felt (perhaps I saw the wrong films). But nonetheless I did see films I very much enjoyed and those less so. I was waiting until I saw Life of Pi to complete my top 10 list...I needn't have waited.

Obligatory caveats...I did not see Amour or Sightseers, which I feel that would be exactly my type of humour...Sightseers that is and not old people being ill.

So here we go...

 

Worst movies of the year

The Iron Lady: Concur with previous comments. I thought Meryl was good but didn't want to see her put clothes in bin bags for 2 hours at the sake of having the 80s being summarised in a 2 minute montage.
The Raven: Not sure why I went to see this in the first place...it stank!
Michael: Offensively dull.
Carnage: Who would have thought such a great cast could be in such a bad film? 
A Dangerous Method: Yawn.

 

Best...

Actor: Joaquin Phoenix/Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master) 
Actress: Charlize Theron (Young Adult) 
Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender (Prometheus...he has to be in my list somewhere)
Supporting Actress: Carey Mulligan (Shame)

 

Just outside the Top 10

Rust and Bone
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Marvel Avengers Assemble

 

Top 10

10     Skyfall
How a blockbuster should be...fun, exciting and high quality through and through. Restores my faith in cinema by showing that megabudgets can be spent wisely. Javier Bardem = Best Bond villain ever.

9       Jeff Who Lives At Home
A little cracker of a comedy. One of those films I wasn't expecting much from but delivered plenty.

8      The Imposter
Adding proof to the hackneyed cliche that "truth is stranger than fiction". A brilliantly constructed documentary.

7      The Master
I'm always wary of the critic's choice (I've been burnt by Melancholia, Tree of Life in recent years) but this in my top 10. It is a little wanky and "Cinema"-like with a capital c, but the strength of the performances by the 2 male leads, direction and cinematography make this a gem of a film. A great love story.

6      Moonrise Kingdom
I'm a fan of Wes Anderson and this did not disappoint...unapologetically quirky, this delighted me and planted a smile on my face.

5      Silver Linings Playbook
A lovely little romcom about mental illness. Jennifer Lawrence is one to watch (a good couple of years for her) and is cracking in this film. Bradley Cooper is also surprisingly good.

4      Dark Knight Rises
Actually, sorry Skyfall, this is how blockbusters should be made. Epic cinema. Great plot and pacing. The effects had me staring open mouthed at the screen. It contained a very contemporary theme...no, not Savile but bankers (the other evil people). Breathtaking.

3      The Descendants
A masterclass in understated acting/writing. Full of restraint and tenderness, this film had me in tears. 

2      Young Adult
Funny, fucked-up and dark, dark, dark....exactly my kind of comedy. Charlize turns in such a memorable comic performance. Also a great comment on modern society where Kardashian-esque reality shows are flooding the airwaves. I thoroughly enjoyed the non-judgmental ending and how this film concluded.

1      Shame
This has been the one to beat for me all year and no-one has managed it. A beautifully uncomfortable movie. I reread my blog on this from January and it still stands true. Confrontational and challenging, this got into my head and deeply affected me for a good few days after the movie. Beautifully shot, acted and crafted this still disturbs/thrills me (I might watch it later actually!)

Ian's Top Films of 2012

OK, here's my list. I also didn't get round to seeing The Master although I meant to, and in fact have only seen 4 in Mark's Top 10 and 7 of the 18 he mentioned. But I did see over 30 films, so it feels like a good enough selection. It probably means the field is pretty open for the list of lists, so you others better get your contributions in...

 

Worst movies of the year

The Iron Lady: An almighty clunker of a script. So bad it resembled an extended French & Saunders parody of itself. Meryl Streep playing Jennifer Saunders playing Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher anyone?
To Rome With Love: Oh, Woody, no, no! Absolute tripe from start to finish.
Avengers Assemble: Probably not that bad, I'm not just the target audience. I watched it because of Joss Whedon, bit it felt like being slapped in the face continuously for two hours. Exhausting.

 

Best...

Actor: Michael Fassbender (Shame)
Actress: Charlize Theron (Young Adult)
Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender (Prometheus...for just about making a silly movie watchable)
Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt (Looper)

 

Just outside the Top 10

The Cabin In The Woods
A Dangerous Method
Ted (because a teddy bear with coke round his nose will always be funny)

 

Top 10

10     Skyfall
Who knew a Bond film would ever make my Top 10. Accidentally catching some of the silly, campy Die Another Day over Xmas just highlighted how far the franchise has come. Nice job Mr Mendes.

9       Keep The Lights On
I found this unflinching portrait of 10 years of a gay relationship more honest and more involving than last year's overpraised Nottingham-based fairy tale Weekend.

8      The Angel's Share
I'm not normally a Ken Loach fan, but this Scotch tale (in two senses) made me smile from ear to ear by the end.

7      Looper
A sci-fi movie which was clever, and did make sense! Terrific third act set around the farmhouse.

6      Lawrence Of Belgravia
OK, you probably have to be a fan of Felt/Denim/Go-Kart Mozart for this film to mean anything to you, but Saint Etienne collaborator Paul Kelly's documentary managed to paint a hugely charming portrait of a bit of a loser without an ounce of cruelty, and actually showed Lawrence to be a great dry wit of our times. Considerably enhanced by seeing a fab Q&A with director and subject at The Ritzy.

5      Young Adult
How did Charlize Theron get overlooked at awards season? She managed to get you to root for a dreadful person in a really funny but truthful film. Maybe I just relate to people who haven't grown up properly...

4      The Imposter
Two documentaries in the Top 10? Such an extraordinary story it couldn't be made up and had my mouth gaping open throughout. Told with pace of a thriller, and with a dark and unresolved twist in the final third. Terrific.

3      Sightseers
"They're not people, Tina, they're Daily Mail readers." This totally had my name on it. Best dog death in a film ever. And a really good ending. I want to see it again already.

2      Shame
Brilliant direction and acting, this has stayed with me all year and nearly held on to the top spot. But not quite...

1      Holy Motors
I could understand someone hating this film's weird surreality, but I was absolutely entranced. The most original film of the year, you never knew what was going to happen next, and it was full of extraordinary set-pieces and arresting images. A total one-off and the antithesis of aimless cartoony blockbusters. Its images just won't leave my head. And it even had Kylie (who was great)!


Look forward to seeing others' lists. See you soon, Ian x

     

 

MD - FIlms of 2012

Hi all. So 2013 – will be the year of reviews, yes? Short, pithy and frequent may be the order of the day….

To kick off here’s my top ten. Caveat – I didn’t catch The Master or Rust & Bone as I was in India. And whilst some of these were acknowledged in last year’s award rounds I’m judging on basis of UK release in 2012. Forgotten what you’ve seen? Check out http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule

Worst movies of the Year
The Iron Lady
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Carnage

Best....

Actor

Micheal Fassbender (Shame)

Actress

Michelle Williams (Take This Waltz)

Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin (Argo)

Supporting Actress

Carey Mulligan (Shame)

Just outside the top ten…

Looper

Skyfall

Chronicle

Take this Waltz

The Muppets

Top Ten

10       Margin Call

Appropriately just in my top ten mainly for the quality of the ensemble acing and the pertinence of the tale.

9          Frankenweenie

When Tim Burton really tries he can do it. Forget the dreadful Alice and Dark Shadows. This is a reverential and pleasing tale splendidly crafted and delivered.

8          A Royal Affair

A grand, sweeping and classy affair. Superbly acted and engaging and an extraordinary insight.

7          Marvel Avengers Assemble

Tight storytelling for such a cast of characters, includes some snappy interplay and ‘marvelous’ set pieces.

6          The Dark Knight Rises

Big, bold and visceral. A satisfying conclusion to, arguably, the best movie-trilogy of all time.

5          Argo

A class bit of 70’s thriller inspired and paced filmmaking. Tight and gripping with some deft touches.

4          Sightseers

Funny, dark and thankfully, after Kill List, a proper ending.

3          Shame

Back to week 1 of 2012…at the time I called it “powerful and vital”  and “Woody Allen on Benzos”.  Tough and essential – a companion piece to….

2          Michael

Six months with a peadophile. A challenging and extraordinary bit of filmmaking that left me chilled, anxious and astounded. And so prescient for what was to pan out in 2012.

1          Life of Pi

In 3D! A magical, entrancing interpretation and movie experience which brightens the image and uses the technology to its ultimate potential whilst still having the heart and daring of independent cinema. Wonderful.

See you all soon.