Hello all, its that time of year again as we get closer and closer to the beginning of a new year that we look back at this receding one and what we can remember of it. Luckily, i can recall most of what i have seen. And it is tinged with certain regrets over the films I have not seen but grateful for the ones I have. So in no particular order the films of the year from me, the populist cinemagoer are:
INCEPTION (Christopher Nolan, US, 2010)
TOY STORY 3 (Lee Unkrich, US, 2010)
THE TOWN (Ben Affleck, US, 2010)
MADEO (Mother) (Joon-ho Bong, South Korea, 2009)
EASIER WITH PRACTICE (Kyle Patrick Alvarez, US, 2009)
KICK-ASS (Matthew Vaughn, UK/US, 2010
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, US, 2010)
FORBIDDEN (Frank Capra, US, 1932)
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (John Sturges, US, 1960)
SALT (Philip Noyce, US, 2010)
The films may not all be new, but nevertheless in the last calender year these are the films that have thrilled me and entertained me and will grace you a brief description of them all.
INCEPTION - Christopher Nolan follows up 'The Dark Knight' with another bohemoth of a film that is large in scale and subject matter, dreamscapes abstract onto landscapes as dreams become reality and vice versa. Matched by astounding central performances none more so than DiCaprio as the man who may or may not be locked in his dream world. Vast in its idea, and brilliant in its execution; Nolan returned with another summer blockbuster that entertained and treated the audience with respect rather than popcorn fed dunces.
TOY STORY 3 - The trilogy is complete, with the film that could mark it down as the greatest third film of any trilogy (sorry Mighty Ducks 3). Woody, Buzz, Jessie Rex, Hamm all returned in a film that was as much about acceptance of your lot in life, so careful in its depiction of ageing and mortality. Yes, it made me cry and anyone who did not was a person of stone. Full of memorable moments; the Great Escape parody, the talking phone as informant, the Spanish talking Buzz and the greatest reach out and touch someone moment in cinema history.
THE TOWN - When you have so many films to see, you miss out on some. I still have not seen 'Gone Baby Gone' which was Affleck's directorial debut, it might have given me some briefing on his style, but if his sophmore effort or difficult second album is anything to go by, Affleck conducts himself as a director of great competence and assurance handling a very generic cops and robber film with great purpose and vigour, even throwing in one of his best smouldering performances to boot.
MOTHER - First seen at the LFF in 2009, and seen again on release this year, the film is mesmerising in its depiction of a women who would go to great lengths to protect her beloved son. Featuring a great performance from TV star Hye-ja Kim as the synoymous mother, another example of South Korea slowly becoming a powerhouse in world cinema and producing distinct cinematic works.
EASIER WITH PRACTICE - I always have a soft spot for small independent American cinema that can connect with people universally, and this picture starring the brilliant Brian Geraghty ('The Hurt Locker') as Davy who answers his motel phone one night and changes his life when he connects with the voice on the other end. A road movie, with no clear end but one that is helped by a great lead role that is witty instead of relying on gross out American humour . I hope this film finds a wider audience to appreciate it.
KICK ASS - Matthew Vaughn's eventual stab at Hollywood comic book cinema (after his removal from X-Men 3) was a film that took you by surprise as you did not thing it would be that good. Visceral in its violence, laugh out loud funny in its knowledge of the genre and endorsed by Nic Cage doing his best Adam West impression along with help from Aaron Johnson, Mark Strong, Chris Mintz-Plaase and the scene stealing Chloe Moretz as 'Hit Girl' the cussing true kick ass star of the film.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - Odd I know to have two animated pictures in a year end poll, but this Dreamworks effort from the directors of 'Lilo and Stitch' gave us a film that was a little grower on you, in that it took itself on directions you did not expect. Taking a hero who has flaws but finds respect in his peer group through his use of initiative; a role model for the youth of today who is not afraid to wear his battle scars in public, a nice nod to the serving military in Afghanistan of the allied forces.
FORBIDDEN - The BFI ran a complete career retrospective of Frank Capra's oeuvre from his work with Mack Sennett and the Keystone cops to George Bailey via Barbara Stanwyck. Offering a rare opportunity to see his films on the silver screen in all their glory. I afforded myself the pleasure of a matinee showing of this forgotten gem from 1932 in which Barbara Stanwyck fights for the love of the married Adolph Menjou versus the advances of the whimsical Ralph Bellamy. A political storyline with her as the other woman in a marriage is quite perscient at the time due to the expenses scandal and other political shenanigans of this current climate. The shooting, editing and acting went hand in hand with the Columbia trend of the early 1930s, but it is astonishing to see how he developed from this to the eventual triumph of 'It Happened One Night' and the other Oscar winners. Just as astonishing is the neglible influence this film must have had on 'Citizen Kane' that many are either unwilling to testify for or just will not believe in terms of plot points, camera shots and general feel. A gem that I will always remember, as much for the experience than the film.
THE MAGNIFICIENT SEVEN - A treat for my father who is a big Western genre nut, and can recite passages of this film off by heart. Seen countless times huddled round a small television in my youth, a pleasure to see on the big screen by the Southbank. All sat there quietly, the curtains draws back and Elmer Bernstein's unforgettable score roars off the screen and my Dad sat by the aisle (the original aisle seater) is greeted by the other six people in his group all looking at him to see a big smile grow upon his face. Fascinating screenplay in its economy of words, acting of the highest order, McQueen duelling with Brynner for screen time but losing; adapted from Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' and itself influencing countless generations of filmmakers and audiences are still encountering due to the general power of its filmmaking. A highpoint for so many involved in it, a highpoint for this year.
SALT - An admirable effort by Philip Noyce to sex up spy films with Anglina Jolie as the is she/isn't she a Russian spy. To think this was originally intended for Tom Cruise (who lifted motorcycle stunts for 'Knight and Day'), Jolie creates the role of Evelyn Salt for herself, becoming her and in so doing, creating the necessary franchise that every Hollywood starlet should have. One of the better action films of this year, and to think it was written by the same pen that gave us this year 'Law Abiding Citizen' one of the lesser action films of the year, that embraced violence as a form of retribution.
Disappointments
The Other Guys - a let down in that I found many of the punchlines flat and unoriginal, Will Ferrell to be at his annoying shouting worse, Mark Wahlberg criminally miscast and a shame that Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson are underused in their all to brief cameo.
Date Night - again another American comedian shouting a lot, this time Steve Carell who along with Tina Fey seems lost, it tells you something when the best punchline was in the post-credit gag reel. A bit of a mess that makes 'Dude, Where's My Car?' look like Dickens and after the previous years success with 'The Hangover' coupled with the above title, 2010 was a step back for American comedy cinema.
The Wolfman - was going so well until the reveal of the truth, and then the poor CGI which delayed the original release date and so should have been an improvement, meant this film that had a decent turn by Benecio Del Toro soon descended into an unnecessary monster mash up that does not give you nightmares.
Gentleman Broncos - an unfortunate mess considering it was written and directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) and the talent he had at his disposal, you expected something akin to Galaxy Quest and instead you get sub-par sci-fi mumbo jumbo.
I hope you like my thoughts and thank you for taking the time to read them. Regards
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