It's that time of year again where I cast an eye over the 25 films I enjoyed most in the past twelve months and give you a couple of reasons why for each one.
The Act of Killing
Dir: Joshua Oppenheimer
Documentary making at its most disturbing and thought-provoking, Oppenheimer's film sees former members of an Indonesian Death Squad re-enact their crimes in the best way they see fit. The scenes they create are somewhat absurd but ultimately shocking and you really can't watch this film without being taken aback by the way the director gets one of the men to realise what he did was wrong.
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa
Dir: Declan Lowney
Translating a sitcom to the big screen is a hard task and many British comedies in particular have failed to make an impact at the cinema. But Alan Partridge didn't have this problem mainly thanks to the top notch gags, slimmed down running time and most importantly of all, Steve Coogan's performance as one of the best comedy characters this nation has ever produced.
All is Lost
Dir: JC Chandor
This was definitely the year for the survival movie and director JC Chandor's film was definitely the most stark depiction of man against the elements. All is Lost features one of the best performances of the year as Robert Redford delivers an almost silent portrayal as the man lost at sea. Despite knowing barely anything about the character Redford and Chandor make you care about his survival and that's a testament to the film-making itself.
Before Midnight
Dir: Richard Linklater
Having been a massive fan of the first two Before films I had high hopes for Linklater's concluding part of the trilogy in which Jessie and Celine are married and the parents of twins. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy still share an undeniable chemistry while the script they co-wrote with Linklater is once again completely believable. The Athens backdrop adds an extra air of class to proceedings as we get the impression that, despite the fact they go together, things aren't so rosy for our continental couple.
Behind the Candelabra
Dir: Steven Soderbergh
Stunningly acted and incredibly powerfully scripted; Steven Soderbergh's Liberace biopic ended up on TV in the USA after film distributors decided the film was 'too gay.' Luckily the British got to experience Michael Douglas giving a career-best performance as the closeted piano player. Although the film focused on the well-worn topic of the dark side of fame it did in a way that didn't feel clichéd. Ultimately this was an interesting final swansong for Soderbergh's directorial career and one that really demonstrated his diversity as a director.
Beyond the Hills
Dir: Cristian Mungiu
Romanian director Mungiu followed up his bleak abortion film four months, three weeks and two days with an equally difficult tale about a group of rural nuns. Initially portrayed as a love story, this soon descends into something very dark and ends with a shocking event. Starkly filmed and brilliantly acted by its two leads this film has really stuck with me since I saw it earlier in the year.
Blackfish
Dir: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Though the message at the heart of Blackfish, don't keep killer whales in captivity because eventually they'll attack is an obvious one, the film was powerful nonetheless. The documentary focused in on three specific deaths all caused by killer whale Tilikum during his stay at different Sea World amusement parks. I found Blackfish to be a fascinating study of the way in which big companies attempt to distort the truth and how public relations often come before the welfare of the company's employees.
Blue is the Warmest Colour
Dir: Adbellatif Kechiche
Though on the surface, Blue is the Warmest Colour seems like a film about young lesbians, I found it to be one of the most captivating screen romances of all time. Both Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux were absolutely brilliant as the young school girl and the art student that she falls in love with. Including some great visual flair I found Kechiche's film to be a universal tale of how love can start and how two people can grow apart with times. Most shockingly I found myself completely captivated by a film that was almost three hours long, as extended running times are often my biggest pet peeve when it comes to films.
Blue Jasmine
Dir: Woody Allen
Woody Allen's attempt to remake A Streetcar Named Desire provided mixed results but I personally found it to be an incredibly funny and enjoyable cinematic experience. To me, the film was really enhanced by its performers namely Cate Blanchett who gives an Oscar-worthy performance as the social climbing housewife who has fallen on hard times. Blanchett was ably supported by Sally Hawkins as her down-to-Earth sister and Alec Baldwin as her sleazy ex-husband. Whilst this wasn't classic Woody Allen it was one of his best recent offerings and contained one of the best performances of the year.
Captain Philips
Dir: Paul Greengrass
Former documentary maker Greengrass is well-versed in employing a real-life feel to his films and Captain Phillips was no different. The furious cinematography was brilliantly combined with one of Tom Hanks' best turns in years and from newcomer Barkhad Abdi as the titular Captain and the Somali pirate who boards his vessel respectively. The final half an hour of the film especially was particularly gripping and I do feel that Greengrass' film had a lot to say about why a lot of Somali men turn to piracy in the first place.
Gravity
Dir: Alfonso Cuaron
Sometimes simplicity is best and this was more than evident in Cuaron's space odyssey which saw Sandra Bullock's space rookie fight to stay alive after becoming detached from her space ship. The cinematography and visual effects were just breathtaking and Bullock's performance was equally great. By the end of the film I was actually biting my nails and that just tells you how much I was invested in the central character.
The Great Beauty
Dir: Paolo Sorrentino
A lot of critics have been raving about The Great Beauty for ages but I have to say I found it a little episodic at times. Despite this, there's no denying that Sorrentino's film is beautifully shot and captures a modern-day Rome that is both drowning in culture and at the same time full of vacuous people who are completely self-involved. Toni Servillo delivered a great performance as weary writer Jep and as the film went on I began to feel fairly sorry for him. Though not the film of the year by a long shot I felt The Great Beauty still deserved a mention mainly due to its visual flair.
A Hijacking
Dir: Tobias Lindholm
Another film about Somalian pirates, this Danish offering was vastly different from Captain Phillips in that it dealt a lot more with the negotiations than it did with the actually hijacking itself. Søren Malling and Johan Philip Asbæk both gave stunning performances as the shipping company boss in charge of negotiations and the lowly chef trapped on board. The films main theme was of two normal men embroiled in a tense situation and, as the hijacking reached its climax, I really started to feel for both of them.
In The House
Dir: Francois Ozon
A simple story about a teacher encouraging a bright pupil to write about his experiences turned into a dark thriller about identity. The narrative structure of In the House made me fall for it initially while the way it played with the plot and the moods of the characters was outstanding. Fabrice Luchini's performance as the put-upon teacher was fantastic as was the turn from Kristen Scott Thomas as his art gallery directing wife. Ultimately I was completely drawn in by In the House and felt it had a lot to say about the state of the education system as well as being one of the best psychological dramas I've watched in a long while.
Much Ado About Nothing
Dir: Joss Whedon
Whedon's pallet cleanser following the massive Avengers Assemble was this bright and breezy Shakespeare adaptation set entirely in the director's own house. It's clear that Whedon has a great love of the play and I personally feel that he makes the plot of the play understandable to a wide audiences. The ensemble cast are absolutely fantastic at giving the story the playful feel it needs while the decision to shoot in black and white gives the film a classy feel.
Mud
Dir: Jeff Nichols
This was definitely the year of the brilliant coming of age film with both The Way Way Back and The Kings of Summer almost making the list. But I found Nichols' film about two boys discovering a drifter on a small island to be the best of them all. Young Tye Sheridan more than anchored the film as Ellis a boy who learnt about love and loss over the course of one summer. Matthew McConaughey was equally compelling as the titular fugitive while the Mississippi backdrop was beautifully shot. Nichols really made me care about all the characters and I was ultimately rooting for Mud's survival in the final scenes of the film.
No
Dir: Pablo Larrain
This Chilean film was one of my favourites of the year purely because it told a story I wasn't aware of and used some great visual resources to do so. The film centred on Gael Garcia Bernal's Rene, an advertising man brought in to work on the political campaign to overthrow Pinochet. The methods he used were scrutinised by some but the jingles throughout the film were so infectious that they're stuck in my head to this day. I personally found this to be a feelgood film despite there being some tough moments along the way, while Bernal delivered a thoughtful turn as the flippant advertising man thrust into the dangerous political landscape.
Philomena
Dir: Stephen Frears
A lot of films on this list are visually spectacular, but Philomena isn't one of those films. Instead what Frears' film has going for it is a great story concerning Judi Dench's eponymous Irish OAP who gets help from journalist Martin Sixsmith to track down the son she gave up as a teenager. Steve Coogan provides great support as Sixsmith while the script, which Coogan co-wrote, doesn't let the film ever get too sentimental and is packed full of humour along the way. With a lot to say about religion and politics, Philomena never gets too deep and by the end of the film I felt I had a little something in my eye.
Rush
Dir: Ron Howard
Those who know me, know I'm not a massive sports fan but Ron Howard's movie about rival Formula One drivers Nicky Lauda and James Hunt was more than just a sports movie. Instead it was a story about two very different men who took against each other's treatment of the sport they were both in. The race scenes were truly spectacular while Daniel Bruhl's performance as the serious Lauda was brilliant. This was a film that surprised me as I wasn't expecting much from it but ended up thoroughly enjoying it.
The Selfish Giant
Dir: Clio Barnard
I am a massive fan of the British realism genre and Clio Barnard's debut fictional film definitely fit into that category of films. Featuring on two boys who enter the scrap metal trade; Barnard's film has touches of Of Mice and Men about it as well as the Oscar Wilde play from which it takes its title. The stark cinematography painted a bleak landscape of the British work classes while the performances from the two young actors were absolutely superb. A heartbreaking final act made The Selfish Giant a tough watch but nevertheless there was tons to like about a film that owes a great debt to the films of Ken Loach and Shane Meadows.
Side Effects
Dir: Steven Soderbergh
The second Soderbergh film to make the list is his last movie to be shown in cinemas in the USA. Though not exactly artistic in tone, Side Effects' plot and Hitchockian tone more than made up for its lack of subtlety. All of the twists in the film actually make sense while the performances from both Jude Law and Rooney Mara were intriguing to say the least. The fact that Soderbergh made this and a Liberace biopic in the same year demonstrates how much of a prolific director he is and why he probably shouldn't give up the directing lark just yet.
Star Trek Into Darkness
Dir: JJ Abrams
I personally felt that 2013 was a disappointing year for blockbusters, with the exception of Abrams' second entry into his Star Trek franchise. The themes of betrayal, friendship and doing things for the 'greater good' were coupled with stunning effects and a brilliant turn from Benedict Cumberbatch as the central antagonist. It's often the second film in an action franchise that is the hardest to make, but Abrams made it look effortless and provoked hope in those who were worried what he'd do to the Star Wars films.
Stoker
Dir: Park Chan Wook
Incredibly unsettling throughout, Chan Wook's film about a family curse employed spooky visuals and a haunting tone throughout. Mia Wasikowska was great as the teenage outcast who learnt more about her family's past following the death of her father. Equally great was Matthew Goode as her creepy uncle who inserted himself into the family following his brother's death. Completely compelling throughout, Stoker was incredibly different from any other film I saw this year and for that reason it deserves a place on the list.
Wadjda
Dir: Haifaa al-Mansou
A film about a girl who wants a bike doesn't sound particularly exciting, but there was a lot more to al-Mansou's film than just that. Wadjda was the first movie to completely filmed in Saudi Arabia and the first film from that country to be directed by a woman. Indeed, the film focuses on a woman's place in Saudi culture and the changing views on the sexes in an ever-changing country. Young Waad Mohammed was great in the titular role as the girl who just wanted to race the boys and the film gave me a look at a culture that I previously knew little about.
Zero Dark Thirty
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow
Bigelow's film courted a lot of controversy at the time due to its dealing with the murder of Osama Bin Laden. But instead of being a fairly macho action film this was a movie that looked at the struggle to hunt down Bin Laden and the political implications of his eventual murder. Thrilling at times, compelling at others the film was held together by a great performance from the then-ubiquitous Jessica Chastain. The final thirty minutes in particular showed how a real-life event can be truly thrilling even if you already know what's going to happen.
One thing that is going to happen is much more film-watching in 2014 and I will be providing a similar sort of list in a year's time.
