Category: Ranking

Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Oscars, Ranking

97th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees ranked

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

As the curtain comes down on another awards season, it is time for Hollywood to mark its biggest night. The damage caused by the LA wildfires in January has brought things into perspective and although it promises to be a night filled with usual celebrations, glamour and parties, there is undoubtedly a sombre backdrop to this year’s awards. My heart goes out to all those affected by these terrible tragedies.

Nevertheless, ten more films are looking to bag the top prize and walk away with the coveted prize of Best Picture and join an illustrious company of films which includes Parasite, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Silence of the Lambs. In a year which gave us the first half of an adaptation of a beloved musical, a tense thriller set in the Vatican, a gnarly body horror, a musical biopic of one of the most influential artists of all time, a hilarious take on a not-so-Disney fairytale, and a 215-minute long historical epic. Not as strong as last year’s crop, but some excellent films nonetheless, and one that really doesn’t belong in this company.

Without further ado, here is my ranking of these films from worst to best, starting with…

10. Emilia Pérez

I always say that for every awards season, there is always going to be one film that I, for whatever reason, just do not vibe with or cannot understand why it has been nominated. This year, the film that stands out by quite a long way is Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez. I give this film all the points in the world for its originality and for the big audacious swings it takes. Anyone who says there is no originality left in cinema these days needs to look no further than this, a musical about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender reassignment surgery. You can’t get more original than that, however, originality does not make a good film.

The performances of its central three characters played by Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez are all strong and it hits on some important themes. However, a key requirement for any musical is to have memorable musical numbers that will leave you singing them for days and weeks afterwards, and the musical numbers here just didn’t have that. Furthermore, given the film has attracted strong criticism from Mexico and the transgender community combined with the controversy of resurfaced tweets from Gascon cannot and should not be ignored. All these factors should severely damage its chances of winning any awards. The fact it is the most nominated film this year is truly head-scratching.

 

9. A Complete Unknown

 

Bob Dylan, a name instantly recognisable to countless people worldwide, is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. 40 studio albums and 21 live albums across a more than 60-year career is an extraordinary legacy, and it is no surprise that many filmmakers such as Todd Haynes and Martin Scorsese have made films centred on such a remarkable musician. Having directed 2005’s Walk The Line, a music biopic about Johnny Cash, James Mangold stage dives back into this world for another film about the man who has sold 125 million albums worldwide.

James Mangold could have easily taken the standard biopic approach and chronicled Bob Dylan’s life from his early years to the present. However, he focuses specifically on the early days of Dylan’s career in the 1960s, highlighting his encounters with his idol, Woody Guthrie, and his whirlwind romances with Elle Fanning’s Sylvie Russo, and Monica Barbaro’s Joan Baez. Throughout this period, Dylan grapples with the desire for artistic freedom while rising to mega-stardom. Timothée Chalamet delivers a strong, transformative performance as Dylan and Mangold’s direction hits the right notes. However, I just wasn’t invested in the story as much as I wanted to, and I feel this film is primarily aimed at passionate fans of Dylan, which is not me. That being said, ‘The Times They Are A-Changin'” is one hell of a banger.

 

 

8. I’m Still Here

In every awards show of the 2020s so far, at least one international film has competed for the top prize. Walter Salles’s film, representing Brazil, tells the harrowing true story of a woman’s struggle to uncover the truth about her husband’s disappearance during the 1970s, a time when the country was under military dictatorship. The film portrays a warm and sincere family dynamic set against the backdrop of sunny Rio de Janeiro, despite the ominous sounds of military aircraft flying overhead. It also highlights a historical period that many viewers may not be aware of, making it depressingly relevant given the alarming rise in dictators or aspiring dictators around the world today.

While the film could have conveyed more urgency, considering the family’s desperate situation, Fernanda Torres’s excellent and restrained performance in the face of authoritarian brutality makes it a worthwhile watch. Torres thoroughly deserves her nomination for Best Actress.

 

7. Nickel Boys

Throughout the years, many filmmakers have portrayed the harsh realities of racism in the United States, an insidious presence that unfortunately persists not only in the U.S. but around the world. However, these films have rarely explored this theme from a first-person perspective. This is what makes RaMell Ross’s film so visually striking, entirely unique, and profoundly unsettling to watch. Based on the 2019 novel by Colson Whitehead, the film centres on the friendship of two boys who are sent to an abusive reform school in Florida, where they must endure and survive the brutality they encounter.

The decision to tell this story from the first-person perspective is bold, powerful and innovative and captures the cruelty of this “school” unequivocally. However, it does get to a point where as ground-breaking as telling such a story from the perspective of these two the way the film is directed can work against it. Nevertheless,  it remains an important and necessary watch given the pervasive ugliness of racism that remains pervasive in the US right to the present day.

 

6. The Brutalist

review

In today’s world of smartphones and social media, any film which exceeds three hours is bound to spark debate over whether such a lengthy runtime is justified. Even for the most ardent cinephile, a runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes can feel like an endurance test. However, with the help of an intermission built into that runtime, Brady Corbet’s ambitious and pertinent drama of a Hungarian-Jewish architect striving to achieve the American Dream, filmed in glorious VistaVision, feels like a film that could have been made and released several decades ago. Unfortunately, the cacophonous bile spewed by supposed world leaders demonising immigrants and their legal bid to emigrate to a brand new country to make a new life for themselves, makes it all the more relevant in today’s political climate.

Its themes of striving to create something to leave a lasting legacy in your respective field, only to have numerous obstacles thrown in your way, are also very timely and topical. Despite that lengthy runtime, the clever use of a built-in intermission ensures the film seldom drags and I could have happily watched more, particularly as I felt the third act came to a sharp and abrupt halt which really took me out of the film and prevents it from becoming a true modern masterpiece.

 

5. The Substance

The sole film among this year’s nominees to be directed by a woman, and the first horror film to receive a best picture nomination since Get Out was nominated at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The Academy has not often embraced horror, particularly such gnarly body horror on display here. There has been an array of fantastic performances in horror films not getting the recognition they deserved (Toni Collette, Florence Pugh and Lupita Nyong’o in Hereditary, Midsommar and Us respectively to name but a few).

To see Demi Moore succeed where those aforementioned performances didn’t get the nomination they deserved is immensely satisfying. Coralie Fargeat’s fierce script is filled with biting social commentary about the ridiculous pressure society places on women, the absurd beauty standards women have to put up with compared to men and the pressures to maintain those standards in the face of getting old. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley both give tour-de-force performances, with an absolutely insane third act that you will not be forgetting in a hurry.

4. Anora

review

I was quite nervous about watching the follow-up film directed by Sean Baker, even knowing that it had won the coveted Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. This anxiety stemmed from my experience with his previous film, Red Rocket, which I found to be thoroughly repulsive and predatory. Thankfully, my worries about his latest film were quickly put to rest. Despite my many gripes with Red Rocket, Baker’s films give a voice to the marginalized in American society, and this theme is prominent in his hilarious and chaotic take on the classic Cinderella fairytale. The film follows a young New York sex worker who believes she has found her Prince Charming, only to discover that this particular prince has some rather unwelcoming parents and henchmen.

The entire film rests on her shoulders, and after delivering memorable supporting performances in recent years, Mikey Madison finally gets her well-deserved moment in the spotlight as the princess of this unconventional love story. Just don’t expect any ballgowns or happy-ever-afters.

 

3. Wicked

The first film of this year’s crop which was an undisputed box office juggernaut in 2024. It would be fair to say that given how popular (pun most definitely intended) the musical which inspired this film is, expectations were sky high as to whether the musical would translate to the big screen, which hasn’t always been an easy path. Fortunately, in the very capable hands of Jon M. Chu, the first part of this journey back to the land of Oz to explore the friendship of Shiz University students Galinda and Elphaba before their paths diverge into becoming the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good hit all the right notes. With those irresistibly catchy songs, and the incredible performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the film defied expectations (and gravity), and we’re only halfway through the story. Wicked: For Good cannot get here soon enough.

2. Conclave

review

On paper, a film about a group of religious men in fancy robes going through a lengthy process of choosing their next leader doesn’t sound like it would be ripe material for a tense thriller. Yet in the same vein as The Brutalist, in a year when countless people went to the polls across the world, the release couldn’t have been more apt in a tense political climate. We have seen all too often in recent years, political figures who shouldn’t be anywhere near the seats of world government, scramble to obtain and retain power by any means necessary.

This kind of vain and power-hungry behaviour is unexpected from those who have dedicated their lives to serving an institution like the Catholic Church. However, Peter Straughan’s gripping script keeps the audience engaged as agendas clash, long-hidden secrets emerge, and these men participate in a nearly Game of Thrones-style struggle for the right to become the next Pope. Meanwhile, others grapple with crises of faith, questioning the very institutions they have devoted themselves to. A pulsating papal drama, with magnificent work from its ensemble cast, led by the ever-reliable Ralph Fiennes.

1. Dune: Part Two

review

The second film in this year’s crop that was an absolute behemoth at the box office, with the spice flowing in plentiful supply, as it continued the journey of Paul Atriedes on the vast and inhospitable world of Arrakis in his quest for revenge against the Harkonnens. Denis Villeneuve picked up where he left off to deliver a sequel that built on the foundations of its predecessor to give audiences a much bigger, darker and yes better film than its predecessor. The first instalment garnered ten nominations -and won six – at the 94th Oscars in 2022.

The fact that the second half of this masterful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s book only garnered six nominations is a gargantuan sandworm-sized injustice. I can only hope that the Academy is waiting for Dune: Messiah to give this visionary director his well-deserved dues. It is only a matter of time before Villeneuve gets an Oscar given his incredible contributions to cinema since he gained wider recognition in Hollywood in 2013.

 

Could/should have been nominated…

So, there we have it, there is my ranking of the ten films competing for Best Picture. However, with this, I always like to imagine what could have been. It is safe to say that even with some great films in this year’s crop of nominees, one film really stands out like a sore thumb as being unworthy of its place as a Best Picture contender, while with another I can see why it has received a Best Picture nominee, it wouldn’t have been my choice.

So with that in mind, if I had a ballot, out would go Emilia Perez and A Complete Unknown, and in their place, I would choose to nominate two from the following three films:

Sing Sing – It really surprises me, for a film which is all about the arts and the restorative power they can have to transform our lives and offer any of us an outlet to express ourselves, Greg Kweda’s life-affirming and powerful prison drama, would be a sure bet to receive a nomination for Best Picture, particularly given this wasn’t the strongest year for cinema. Colman Domingo continues his remarkable trajectory with a phenomenal leading performance which should be putting him in the running for Best Actor. His time will come soon, I am absolutely sure of that.

We Live in Time – Okay, cards on the table, I am a huge fan of Florence Pugh. Therefore, any film she stars in automatically captures my attention. Adding Andrew Garfield into the equation, in a heartachingly beautiful and devastating film about two people who meet and fall in love while battling a heartbreaking medical diagnosis. It all seems like the perfect combination to merit awards attention, particularly given the devastating performances of Pugh and Garfield. Yet throughout this awards season, this film has been completely overlooked and I am genuinely flummoxed as to why.

Challengers – Like We Live in Time, Luca Guadagnino’s steamy tennis drama is another film to have completely overlooked in this awards season, and while it admittedly was a bit of a long shot particularly given how early in the year it was released, I firmly believe it was good enough to have received awards attention for the incredible performances of Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, its sharp screenplay, and the absolute serve that is the tubthumping score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

 

Posted in 2020-2029, Film Feature, Ranking

Best Films of 2024

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen
Another 12 months of cinema has come and gone, seemingly in a flash. While it was not marred by any strikes, the aftereffects of those strikes had a hangover effect on the year.  Despite that, it has certainly been an interesting year for films, with the box office seemingly dominated by sequels, but in and among those sequels, there were plenty of original and exciting films. So without further ado, let’s look at the films that stand out as the best in 2024. My main criteria for selecting films for this list is whether I have watched them in the past 12 months. I will aim to include films that were released in 2024, according to IMDb. However, some films may not be available in the UK until later in the year, which could affect their eligibility for this list. Additionally, I haven’t seen every film released in the last year, so if you believe there’s a film that should be included but isn’t, please let me know. Lastly, as usual, while I have not reviewed every film here, grades do not determine the rankings. This is my list to highlight and celebrate the films which resonated with me the most and defined the past 12 months of cinema, As usual, there are some honourable mentions, films which are excellent and well worth your time but just didn’t quite make my list this year: Twisters  [review]. Nearly 30 years after Twister caused a storm at the box office and led to a rise in the number of students looking to study meteorology, this standalone sequel came along and blew everyone’s expectations away with a riveting and timely story about the deadly impacts of Mother Nature and climate change, while providing further evidence that there is no stopping Glen Powell’s meteoric rise to superstardom. Civil War [review]. It was a brave decision by A24 to release this film in a bitterly divided United States of America in the run-up to a tense US Presidential election. However, by focusing on the horrors of conflict from the perspectives of photojournalists who risk their lives to document the hostilities from an objective lens, Alex Garland’s film captures the brutality of war in an unflinching and tense manner, with one scene, in particular, standing out as perhaps the most intense scene of the year, thanks to Jesse Plemons. Anora [review]. I think I was one of the very few people who utterly despised Sean Baker’s previous film, Red Rocket, due to its extremely unlikable lead character and the predatory nature of its central relationship. So I was delighted to see him redeem himself with this enthralling (fairy)tale of a New York sex worker who thinks she has the rest of her life set up when she meets a wealthy client, only to soon realise, she in fact does not. It’s an enthralling watch, with an absolutely phenomenal lead performance from Mikey Madison. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga [review]. George Miller might be approaching his 80th birthday. Nevertheless, this visionary and madman director is showing no signs of slowing down as he revved back to the world of Mad Max for an enthralling prequel that charts the origin story of Imperator Furiosa, and how she became the badass who utterly stole the show in Fury Road. A very different film to that action bonanza with much more emphasis on character, but still delivering some truly incredible action scenes, and Chris Hemsworth as you have never seen him before. It deserved to do much better at the box office. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Everyone’s favourite Northern inventor and his mute but very expressive dog return for their second feature film after 2005’s The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, for a thrilling adventure about the perils of modern technology, with the return of one of cinema’s most dastardly villains and criminal masterminds, Feathers McGraw. Nickel Boys. Plenty of films have often explored the ugly history of racism in the USA, but so rarely has it been captured in such a unique way by RaMell Ross in this harrowing adaptation of the novel by Colson Whitehead. The film focuses on the friendship of two boys as they must learn to survive the cruelty of a reform school in Florida. It’s not an easy watch by any means, but it’s a necessary one.  

Honourable mentions honoured. Now, here comes the top 10…

 

10. Wicked

Going into this, I had absolutely no knowledge of the story, having never seen the stage show in any format, I only knew that it served as a prequel to the events of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, and well its presence on this list, albeit at #10 indicates how much of a blast I had with this. After directing an adaptation of another musical with 2021’s In the Heights, Jon.M. Chu brings that magic touch to this adaptation of the insanely popular 2003 Broadway show that has taken the world by storm. Granted it is just the first half, having only adapted the first act of the musical, but Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo absolutely crush it with both their performances, and their singing, as Galinda and Elphaba, and I defy anyone to tell me that they didn’t get chills during the “Defying Gravity” sequence. Time cannot fly by fast enough to see Wicked: For Good cannot get here soon enough. Now if you don’t mind, I’m just off to listen to “Defying Gravity” again.  

9. Sing Sing

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you have a passion for one particular form of the arts, specifically, cinema. However, the arts as a whole, be it theatre, music, painting or literature, offer so much to any individual person to explore and develop talent and express yourself. This is particularly true for the men at the centre of this captivating and life-affirming prison drama, as participation in the Rehabilitating Through the Arts programme, offers them an escape from the harsh and unforgiving surroundings they find themselves in and gives them a newly found passion for life.  The film adds so much authenticity to its uplifting story by having former alumni of the programme play themselves, and at the centre of it all, is another magnificent performance from Colman Domingo, whose career is just going from strength to strength.

8. The Fall Guy

review

Stuntmen and women, these incredible people who risk their lives for our entertainment, yet somehow the industry has not found a way to honour their incredible feats of bravery into awards shows. While you’d hope that one day, these people will get their dues, this utterly delightful blast of pure popcorn fun offers a delightfully entertaining tribute. Filled to the brim with insane and committed stuntwork, director David Leitch and his incredible team of stuntmen deliver a glorious film which packs comedy, action and romance. If that was not enough, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt (in a further continuation of the Barbenheimer trend from 2023) share the most perfect, sizzling-hot chemistry.

7. Conclave

review

In the same vein, as Civil War was released during the year of a US election, it was fitting that a film featuring the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church was also released, as many people worldwide went to the polls to cast their ballots in elections. As is the case with the election of any world leader, it can be a fraught process with agendas and political power plays, all while engaging in backstabbing and squabbling in a vain and egotistical bid for power, because as one cardinal puts it: “No sane man would want the papacy”. Only this tension is compounded when some disturbing truths come to light. A very dialogue-heavy film, but when it is written this well and flawlessly acted by its cast, especially by the consistently brilliant Ralph Fiennes, it never fails to be utterly compelling to watch.  

6. Inside Out 2

review

Inside Out is still to this day one of my favourite Pixar films as it was such an inventive and clever concept exploring what goes on in those brains of ours as we navigate this world. Therefore, those little voices in my head were a bit anxious when it was revealed a sequel was being worked on, but I needn’t have worried, since those geniuses at Pixar usually do not disappoint. Taking Riley as she navigates the crazy and utterly emotionally chaotic time that is puberty, with new emotions running amok (particularly the scene-stealing Anxiety voiced by Maya Hawke). It might lack the devastating emotion of its predecessor, however, this sequel retains that wittiness and extremely clever visual metaphors of the inner workings of the madness that is the human brain.

5. The Wild Robot

review

“Animation is cinema, animation is not a genre”. These words that were spoken by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro at the Oscars have never rung as true as they have this year when Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and when you have studios producing arguably some of their finest ever work, such as this adaptation of the popular book series by Peter Brown. Parenthood is one of the most daunting yet rewarding journeys anyone could find themselves on. Even if you have never been through it yourself, you will find it hard not to be moved by this beautiful tribute to those who work tirelessly to bring us up from the moment we are born to the moment we leave the nest, especially if they are as dedicated to the job as Rozzum Unit 7134 (or Roz for short) is.

4. We Live in Time

review

Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, two of the UK’s popular actors, set the internet ablaze with their instant chemistry when presenting a couple of awards at the Oscars. That tiny glimpse of the rapport they had is fully on display here in this beautifully emotional story about one couple’s romance over the course of several years, while coming to terms with a devastating cancer diagnosis. A film, as the title suggests, reminds its audiences to cherish every moment they have. Pugh and Garfield are phenomenal in this film that will have you contemplating your life by the end, while also trying (unsuccessfully) to fight back tears. Those who know me will know Florence Pugh is one of my favourite actors working today. So, getting the opportunity to meet her and have a selfie with her, along with my wonderful friends Katie and Kelechi, after the screening was truly special and a moment I will be forever grateful for. For that reason, this film will forever hold a special place in my heart.  

3. Challengers

review

Luca Guadagino’s filmography doesn’t exactly shy away from sensuality, passion and seduction, and all three were on very prominent display in what is his best film to date. A film about the desire to be the best at what you do (in this case winning at tennis) combined with a complicated love triangle. A love triangle in which the passion and love they have for each other at the start, is replaced with a rivalry which only grows more complex, bitter, and increasingly nastier as the years progress. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist are scintillating to watch as former friends turned opponents, but the film’s aces are unquestionably Zendaya’s outstanding performance and the irresistibly catchy score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Game, set and match.  

2. The Iron Claw 

review

Growing up, I was really into wrestling in the late ’90s/early 2000s when the likes of The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H were big stars. Yet, despite this, I knew next to nothing of the tragic legacy of the Von Erich family and the legacy they left on the world of wrestling. A moving story of the power of brotherhood in the face of unrelenting physical demands to be the best in the business to ensure they leave a lasting legacy on the sport. Like all brilliant sports films, it doesn’t matter if you are a devout wrestling fan or have no interest in the sport, it pulls you in with its impactful family drama, entertains you with the brilliant recreation of the wrestling matches, and will leave you down and out for the count by the time the credits begin to roll. Incredible performances by all, with a career-best performance from Zac Efron.  

And so my favourite film of 2024 is..

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1. Dune: Part Two

review

I feel like I am beginning to run out of superlatives to describe what a master filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is.  Adapting the world of Frank Herbert’s Dune was said to be an impossible task, but Villeneuve showed the passion he has for the source material and through some incredible world-building brought Arrakis to life in spectacular fashion. However, Part One was a mere prelude to what Villeneuve had in store as he takes the foundations laid by the first film and turbocharges them to deliver an enthralling second film that features Paul Atriedes learning the ways of the native Fremen before striking back at the Harkonnens for orchestrating the death of his father. Filled with some of the most dazzling cinematography I have ever seen, every single member of the cast rises to the challenge, especially Chalamet and Austin Butler’s utterly psychotic villain Feyd-Rautha, and the maestro Hans Zimmer’s score is just perfection.  Desert power is a form of power that cinema has not yet seen, the ultimate power. Bring on Dune Messiah.

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And that brings the curtain down on my list of the best the big screen had to offer in 2024. Thank you for reading, especially if you read all the way through! What were your favourite films of 2023? Let me know in the comments below or you can find me on the following platforms: Bluesky, Facebook or Letterbox’d.
Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Oscars, Ranking

96th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees ranked

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Another awards season is poised to come to a close, in a year filled with terrific movies and one of the best years for cinema in several years. It was also a tumultuous year as Hollywood was ground to a halt for several long months due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. Though with both strikes now in the rearview mirror, it is time for Hollywood’s biggest night. Another ten films are competing for the top honour and these include a gripping courtroom drama, an extremely idiosyncratic black comedy, analyses of some dark and disturbing chapters in human history, a beautiful love story, a future festive classic, and a film centred on one of the most influential toys of all time.

One of the most impressive batch of Best Picture nominees we’ve had in a long time, perhaps since the 92nd Acadamy Awards in 2020, with no film sticking out like a sore thumb.

So, without further ado, I present my ranking of these films from worst to best. Starting with…

10. Maestro

Usually, I find that whenever awards season rolls around, there is always one film that I don’t understand the hype for. There were some films that this applied to, but in terms of the nominees, this is not applicable as all ten of these films, for my money, thoroughly deserve to be here. Therefore being at the bottom of a list of ten very strong films is not a slight on Bradley Cooper’s passion project exploring the life of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and his complicated marriage to his wife Felicia Montealegre Bernstein (Mulligan). While Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg were attached to the project, it eventually landed in Cooper’s capable hands. Cooper’s passion for Bernstein’s work and who Bernstein was as a person shines through, with Cooper and Carey Mulligan both dynamic in their performances which thoroughly merited Oscar nominations.

The film is absolutely beautiful to look at, with the incredible cinematography from Matthew Libatique and incredible work and from the hair and make-up teams that are so transformative to the point where you don’t see the actor, you see the maestro himself. It suffers a little bit in terms of pacing, and while accusations of the film being nothing more than Oscar bait are unfair, Cooper has composed a film that is a fascinating character study of one of the most legendary composers of the 20th century.

 

9. American Fiction

 

If you’re a writer, no matter your field, it can be a funny old business. Even if you are extremely successful, you can find yourself struggling to put the words on the page for any number of reasons, be it writer’s block, fatigue/exhaustion or frustration with the industry. The latter is most applicable for Monk (Wright), an author/professor who after being put on a leave of absence, writes a novel that leans to tired cliches/stereotypes, only for it to become a massive, runaway success, much to his immense annoyance.  Biting sharp and hilarious satire about the media we consume and the marginalisation of voices of colour, with moving and impactful family drama, and an arguable career-best performance from Jeffrey Wright. An impressive first foray into the realm of feature filmmaking from Cord Jefferson, and one which could well merit an Oscar at the first time of asking.

 

8. Anatomy of a Fall

In a historic first for Best Picture nominees, three of this year’s nominees were directed by women. That fact alone deserves to be celebrated, and all three films thoroughly deserve their status as Best Picture Nominees. The first of these is Justine Triet’s Palme D’Or winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, which does what all great courtroom dramas should do, in that it keeps the audience on its toes as to whether novelist Sandra (Sandra Hüller) is innocent or guilty after she is accused of murder after her husband fell to his death at their remote home in the French Alps.

Throughout two and a half gripping hours, the audience – like a jury in a courtroom – watches and listens with eagle eyes and ears to the evidence and witness testimony being presented to determine if Sandra is guilty of the crime or whether she is innocent, all while showing the crucial backstory of the relationship with her husband which led to the breakdown of their relationship and the fall which led to his death.  In an extraordinary year for Huller, who also appeared in another Best Picture contender this year (more on that very shortly), she carries the film on her shoulders with a captivating performance that makes you sympathise with the plight in her family life but also really makes you question if she committed the crime she is being accused of. Tremendously compelling.

 

7. The Zone of Interest

review

Cinema is so often designed to entertain, but every once in a while, a film comes along designed to chill us to our core and serve as a lesson for humanity, and Jonathan Glazer’s latest film is one such example.  The horrors of the Holocaust are well-documented in our history textbooks and in previous films which have captured the brutalities inflicted upon millions of Jews during the Second World War by the Nazis in concentration camps. By depicting these horrors from the perspective of a Nazi commandant and his family as they go about their daily lives while living right next door to the Auschwitz concentration camp, it serves as a reminder of how humanity can be complicit in the face of unspeakable evil.

The horrors of the camp are kept of sight but never out of mind due to the unmistakable and horrifying sounds of gunshots, orders being yelled, cries for mercy, and the sight of the Auschwitz chimney splurging out smoke, are used to chill the audience to their very core. It is horrifying to hear these, all the while the family, and in particular the matriarch (another impressive performance from Sandra Huller) show complete indifference to the suffering taking place mere yards away. It is easy to see why the film has been hailed as one of the most important films of the century, with a final few minutes that unmistakeably connects the horrors witnessed in the Holocaust to the present day. Definitely not an easy watch, and probably not one that will lend itself to many rewatches. But, in this messy and very hostile world, we live in, a necessary one.

6. The Holdovers

review

If someone told me that Alexander Payne is a time traveller, I’d be very tempted to believe them based on this film, because it genuinely feels as though it was made in the 1970s and has been preserved all these years later. From those retro opening titles to the cinematography which immediately transports us to the 1970s and to Boston USA, where three unlikely souls are made to spend the festive period at their boarding school, the last place on Earth they probably would want to be.

The most joyous time of the year in a place not usually known for its joy is a recipe for both witty and sometimes sombre dialogue, which is exactly what David Hemingson’s script delivers as these unlikely souls spend time together, learning what it means to be a family during Christmas. The trio of central performances are all wonderfully well-drawn, with Giamatti’s cantankerous teacher going toe-to-toe with newcomer Dominic Sessa, and the brilliant and soon to be with soon to be Academy Award winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph bringing warmth and heart to the group as she navigates a period in her life no one should have to go through alone. A film that evokes a warm fuzzy feeling whenever Christmas rolls around and one that is destined to become a future festive classic.

 

5. Poor Things

review

There is no director currently in the business who is making films quite like Yorgos Lanthimos, and honestly, all the better for it. Hollywood has been dominated by superheroes, reboots and sequels in recent years. Therefore you can always rely on Lanthimos, whether he’s adapting from existing source material or an entirely original concept, to make something wholly unique and thoroughly entertaining.

For his latest, it’s the former as he reteams with his The Favourite writer Tony McNamara to adapt the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray in which an eccentric scientist brings a dead woman back to life by replacing her brain with that of an infant. A premise on the base of it, sounds so bizarre and disturbing, in any other director’s hands it would probably be exactly that and not remotely entertaining. Yet, the Greek auteur delivers (like another film on this list) an unashamedly feminist tale of a woman on an emotional journey of self-discovery as she takes control of her destiny. Visually stunning, with some of the most outrageously humorous dialogue, and a career-best performance from Emma Stone. Lanthimos and Stone are clearly having a ball being each other’s muses, with another film set to come out later this year. Long may their collaborative partnership continue.

4. Barbie

review

Hi, Barbie! The undisputed queen of the box office in 2023,  one-half of a cinematic phenomenon unlike anything we have seen for quite a few years, and the second film on this list to be directed by a woman. Right from the moment the first trailer for Greta Gerwig’s take on the iconic Mattel doll which changed the world forever dropped, you knew that audiences were in for something special that would not merely be a toy commercial. With one of the most impressively stacked casts of the entire year, the journey Gerwig took audiences on to Barbie Land, the real world and back again, probably went harder than anyone could have possibly imagined as it packs stark social commentary on gender roles, feminism, patriarchy and its treatment of women, and much more. Funny, full of heart, with no shortage of emotional and hard-hitting moments, and an endless amount of Kenergy. Life in Plastic is truly fantastic, especially for Greta Gerwig as every one of her movies has now been nominated for Best Picture. An incredible achievement for this filmmaker Barbie.

 

 

3. Past Lives 

review

Completing the trio of best picture nominees directed by women, and the second directorial debut on this list, is Celine Song’s heart-achingly beautiful romantic semi-autobiographical drama of the meeting of two former childhood sweethearts who meet in person after nearly two decades apart. At its heart, it’s a simple story of three people, who are in a very complex and emotional love triangle, meeting and ruminating on the choices they have made in their lives and what might have been had certain things transpired differently. Yet, in no small part due to the tremendous performances of Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro, and given it is based on Song’s own life experiences, it has a lot more to say about destiny, love, regrets and what might have been, relatable themes as we all navigate this complex, messy and sometimes beautiful world we live in.

2. Killers of the Flower Moon 

review

Like The Zone of Interest, the latest epic from Martin Scorsese is another film which takes a look at a dark and disturbing chapter in human history. Over three and a half hours, Scorsese takes an unflinching look at how the ugliness of corruption, greed and white supremacy in the 1920s USA, a time known as the Roaring Twenties due to the economic upturn in the country, resulted in the white community systematically murdering wealthy Osage members just to secure their wealth, in a period that became known as the Reign of Terror. It’s not an easy watch, but seeing Leonardo DiCaprio share a screen with Robert DeNiro,  the latter of whom is chillingly terrifying in his performance, and the phenomenal Lily Gladstone outshines them both with masterful editing by Scorsese’s long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and one extremely powerful ending, this is one film you will not forget in a hurry, and proof that even at 81 years old, Scorsese is still at the very top of his game.

 

1. Oppenheimer 

review

What more is there to say about the latest masterpiece from Christopher Nolan? Since his debut feature back in 1998, he has become one of the most recognisable names in Hollywood. There has always been an interest in science and scientific discovery with his films, and this biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a man who the director considers one of the most important people to have ever lived, represents the culmination of his career.

It is a testament to his immense skill as a screenwriter/director, that Nolan made a film which is a very science-heavy dialogue-driven film about a very complex subject and yet made it accessible to audiences, primarily due to the phenomenal importance of the weapon built by Oppenheimer at Los Alamos and the consequences of the uses of such a weapon, consequences which are still being felt on the world stage today. Barbeneheimer defined cinema in 2023, so it is extremely fitting that one-half of that phenomenon will walk away with the biggest prize on the night and could well become the most successful Best Picture winner in more than a decade, since Slumdog Millionaire walked away with eight Oscars, a haul Oppy stands a very strong chance of matching.

And now he has become victor, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture… 

 

Could/should have been nominated…

That concludes my ranking of the ten films up for Best Picture this year. However, I always like to hypothesise what could have been, but given the quality in this year’s crop, this is considerably harder than normal as I can’t really say that none of these films deserve their place competing for the top prize. But, if push comes to shove, if I had a ballot to cast, I would eliminate Maestro and replace it with one of the following three films:

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – My favourite film of last year, the Academy’s tendency to not nominate animated films outside of the Best Animated category is starting to get particularly frustrating as with this year alone,  incredible film as well as displaying truly ground-breaking animation, could and perhaps should have got in for Best Picture, as well as Best Visual Effects, and certainly Best Score. Perhaps they are keeping those nominations for when Beyond the Spider-Verse swings its way into cinemas and blows our collective socks off.

The Iron Claw – The first of two films that absolutely broke me into a million pieces. I knew absolutely nothing about the Von Erich family going into this movie and by the end, I was uncontrollably sobbing in my seat. The mark of a great sports film is that even if you know nothing about the sport or the true story on which it is based, it still can have a profound impact, particularly if you have a brother. This was a stacked and fiercely competitive year for movies, absolutely. However,  how this didn’t, like a devastating wrestling move, leave Academy members floored and bestowing it with a tonne of nominations (Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Directing, Original Song) to name but a few is something I cannot fathom.

All of Us Strangers – The second of two films released in this awards season that reduced me to an absolute sobbing mess. As with The Iron Claw, how Andrew Haigh’s beautiful and devastating emotional drama of one man who makes a fateful journey to his childhood home, didn’t even get a single nomination at the Oscars totally eludes me. Seeing this at the London Film Festival, I genuinely don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. The experience after the film as everyone collectively processed their emotions after they were put through the wringer, was cathartic, to say the least.

Posted in 2020-2029, Film Feature, Ranking

Best Films of 2023

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Another year of cinema has drawn to a close, and to say it was an eventful year in the world of film would be something of an understatement. There have been great films aplenty, but the year will probably be most remembered for the Writers’ Guild of America Strike which began in May and was later followed by the SAG-AFTRA strike by the actors’ union in July. Both strikes combined brought Hollywood to a complete standstill for many months and thankfully the unions reached deals to bring their respective strikes to an end, and kudos to both unions for staying strong throughout those tough months and getting the deal they deserve. Simply put, without them we would have no films to celebrate. Now let’s get down to business and have a look at the best films of 2023, which was an excellent year for cinema.

My key criteria for determining films to consider for the list is if the film is listed as a 2023 release on IMDB. Though, as always seems to be, there are some films released last year elsewhere but didn’t come to UK shores until 2023, so there can be some exceptions. In addition, there are films which are 2023 releases, but don’t get UK-wide releases till next year. As I saw these at London Film Festival, they are eligible for inclusion on this year’s list. Also, though I wish I could, I have not seen every film released this year, so if your favourite film isn’t on here, it is possible I have not seen it, so please let me know if there’s a film you think I missed.

Lastly, as usual, while I have not reviewed every film here, grades do not matter in determining the rankings. This is my list to highlight and celebrate the films which resonated with me the most and defined the past 12 months of cinema, As usual, there are some honourable mentions, films which are excellent and worth your time but just didn’t quite make my list this year:

 

The Creator [review]. Discussions about artificial intelligence and its use have been plentiful since they were integral parts of both strikes which brought Hollywood to a standstill. In his first film in seven years, Gareth Edwards directs a visually striking film, which bears similarities to films which have tackled AI before, but most assuredly brings its own stamp on it, with a standout breakthrough performance from Madeleine Yuna Voyles.

The Marvels [review]. It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had some stinkers in recent years, (see Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), but after a certain group of galaxy-saving a-holes reunited for one last glorious adventure (more on that later), the latest MCU team-up proved the MCU is not at the crisis point many have seemingly gleefully said it was. Nia DaCosta’s energetic direction ensures this cosmic adventure is a delightful blast of fun thanks to the chemistry between its three leading ladies, especially Iman Vellani as Ms Marvel.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish [review]. A sequel to 2011’s Puss In Boots was probably not high on anyone’s wish list when it came to sequels anyone was asking for, but when this film opened wide in the UK early this year, it was easy to see why it was so highly well thought of after very positive reviews across the pond. Another film (along with this year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) to be inspired by the revolutionary style of animation from Into The Spider-Verse, its mesh-up of Western flick meets fairytale worked a treat, for cats and humans alike.

All of Us Strangers. Death is inescapable to all of us, whether it’s the fact we’re faced with our own mortality or the agonising prospect of seeing someone we love pass away. However, this is just merely scratching the surface of Andrew Haigh’s beautiful and devastating film about the life of one writer who makes a fateful journey to visit his childhood home. To say this film is emotional would be an understatement and features awards-worthy performances from Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal.

The Zone of Interest. The Holocaust, one of the darkest and most evil periods in human history, is made all the more horrifying in this film from Jonathan Glazer depicting the everyday life of a family who live in a house right next to Auschwitz. A disturbing and urgent analysis of human complicity in the face of unspeakable evil, it’s certainly not the easiest watch, but its method of storytelling is devastatingly effective, will get under your skin and will not leave your mind for a very long time.

The Bikeriders. My final honourable mention is a film that was meant to come out this year but frustratingly has been delayed till next year after it was dropped by its distributor due to the actors’ strike, and reacquired by a new one. I was lucky enough to catch this at LFF, and is a powerful story about a biker gang through the decades, featuring top performances from Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy. What more could anyone want?

 

Honourable mentions honoured. Now, here comes the best of the best…

 

15. Rye Lane

2023 saw a handful of new British voices make their mark with their directorial debuts, one such example being Raine Allen-Miller with her delightful rom-com, which in a refreshing change of scenery, was filmed entirely in South London. Charting the budding romance between David and Yas two souls who are recovering after break-ups, it doesn’t reinvent the rom-com wheel but it doesn’t need to when it is charming, funny, well acted and serves as a refreshing take on the British rom-com and as a loving tribute to the city of London.

14. The Holdovers

review

If you were to ask people to name the worst or least preferable place you would want to spend Christmas, chances are a school might be high up on that list. It is one particular example of that type of institution where three unfortunate souls must spend the holidays together in this heartwarming hug of a film from Alexander Payne as one student, a cranky professor and the school’s cook are forced to remain on campus throughout the holidays. From the moment the opening titles transport you to that special time of year, it expertly balances some very funny humour with a more poignant story of three unlikely souls forced to spend time together, while bonding and understanding one another’s perspectives on life. It is the perfect Christmas film, and for that, I cannot remotely fathom why is it getting a UK release in mid-January when it would have made much more sense to release it in the run-up to Christmas?

13. Godzilla Minus One

For nearly seventy years now, Godzilla, or to give him his proper title, the King of the Monsters has been a staple of Japanese cinema, and latterly in American cinema, appearing in 38 films in total. It is somewhat fitting that as the legendary monster will celebrate his 70th birthday next year, a film has come along that is one of the best Godzilla films that has ever been made and blows the US-produced films to feature Gojira out of the water. The film brings a new level of menace to the kaiju as he torments a post-WWII Japan, all while showing its US counterparts, how to provide rich depth to its human characters to make the audience want to root for them.

 

12. John Wick: Chapter 4

It is incredible to think a film which is not based off any existing IP back in 2014 has consistently produced incredible action scenes with each and every instalment and ripping up, or rather, (shooting up) the rule book on how to make action films. It is a testament to director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves, for the impact these films have made on the action film genre. While being a man of few words,  Baba Yaga is certainly a man of action and across four films, exhibiting endlessly creative ways to eliminate those gunning for him, has added yet another role to the many he has played across his incredible career and while a fifth film is said to be in development, Reeves certainly went out on the best possible note he could have.

 

11. Poor Things

There is no one currently working in Hollywood, who does eccentric filmmaking quite like Yorgos Lanthimos, and his latest idiosyncratic odyssey is easily the most bizarre film of his career and is also his best. Exploring the life of a woman brought back to life by an orthodox scientist and given the brain of an unborn infant,  it revels in its eccentricities with some of the hilarious dialogue all year, and a bold celebration of feminity and sex-positivity and an award-worthy performance from Emma Stone.

 

Now for the top 10…

 

10. Polite Society

review

Along with Raine-Allen Miller, Nida Manzoor is another director who announced herself as an exciting new voice in British Cinema with this action-packed and hilarious story of a budding young stuntwoman who must hatch a plan to save her sister after she gets engaged to a man she sees as deeply suspicious.  A joyful celebration of an unbreakable bond between sisters,  Priya Kansara’s brilliant breakthrough performance deserves to put her on the path to stardom. This film massively flew under the radar this year. So if you haven’t seen it, (UK readers, it is available on Sky/NOW), I would highly recommend seeking it out, as it even received former US President Barack Obama’s seal of approval! I mean, there is no higher endorsement than that!!

 

 

9. Joy Ride

review

Along with another film that will appear later on this list, there has been an increasing amount of Asian representation in cinema, which is wonderful to see and long overdue. Similarly on the rise has been an abundance of raunchy comedies that are unafraid to go all out to get audiences laughing, and no film went as harder or was as hilariously brilliant as Adele Lim’s directorial debut. Focusing on a group of Asian-American women who travel to China for a business trip, before one of them is persuaded to venture across China to find her birth mother. Such comedies live or die on the chemistry of their cast, and the chemistry between the leads is electric and is filled with side-splitting gags to make you laugh every single time, while also providing some touching moments along the ride. You will never look at a basketball and massage gun the same way again.

 

8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3

review

For a long time, it really felt like the third and concluding chapter of the trilogy featuring the lovable rogues gallery of a-holes in the MCU was never going to see the light of day after James Gunn was fired by Disney. Thankfully though, the director who catapulted these characters from obscure comic book fringes to arguably the MCU’s most beloved team got to make his concluding chapter and a swansong for this team as we know them, and it was certainly worth the wait.

From the outset, Gunn made it clear that there was one key reason for him to come back to conclude this franchise, as it explores the tragic past of the smallest and the-wise cracking member of the team, Rocket. Some scenes are undoubtedly hard to watch and the film ventures into considerably darker territory than its two predecessors, but through that, Gunn brings the usual brand of humour and energy one would expect of a Guardians film. Plus, it takes some doing to outdo the Mad Titan Thanos in terms of being an evil villain, but in Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary, you have one of the MCU’s most evilest of bastards, and of course another banging soundtrack. Gunn is now heading up things for DC in their rebooted cinematic universe, but we can be thankful that he got the chance to give these heroes the send-off they thoroughly deserved.

 

7. The Killer

review

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what on earth the mindset of a deadly assassin possibly looks like, then look no further than the latest film from the master of the thriller David Fincher. Rigorous preparation, the removal of all emotions and endless patience (plus chowing on some McDonalds and listening to the Smiths) all while waiting for the opportune moment to strike. It is befitting of a character who utilises precise methods in his line of work, to come from a director who takes a similarly meticulous approach to the way he directs. The movie never ceases to thrill and provide moments of tension as it follows this assassin on his personal quest, all while getting a brilliantly chilling lead performance from Michael Fassbender after a three-year hiatus from the big screen.

 

6. Creed III

review

When it was revealed the ninth instalment in the Rocky franchise would not feature the involvement of the Italian Stallion, fans would have been well within their rights to have had a little trepidation going into this sequel. Yet they needn’t have worried, because with Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed once again dusting off his boxing gloves stepping both into the ring as well as behind the camera for his directorial debut, to build on the legacy of both the previous Creed films, and the Rocky franchise as a whole.

The stakes are significantly heightened when Adonis is reunited with Dame, a childhood friend who after serving nearly two decades in prison is keen for a shot at professional boxer glory, to make up for lost time. This desire puts the former friends on a direct collision course. Jordan once again shines as the titular character as he grapples with the legacy of his father, as well as his own now he has a daughter with his wife Bianca. Furthermore, as a director, the passion he has for anime comes to the fore when directing the fight sequences. There may have been no Italian Stallion this time, but the franchise has got plenty of fight left in it.

 

Such was 2023 a fantastic year for cinema, deciding where to put these next five movies was REALLY hard because they are all excellent and I could have very easily put any of them at number #1. But, as this is a ranked list, sadly they can’t all share the crown of my favourite film of the year, and so on we go…

5. Barbie

review

The first of two films which generated the Barbenheimer cultural phenomenon. From the minute Greta Gerwig’s take on the influential Mattel doll, which changed the toy industry forever, began with a parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey, it was clear this was going to be a Barbie movie unlike any other.  Filled with those bright fuschia sets which caused a worldwide shortage of that particular paint colour, came a hilarious and moving story about feminism, consumerism, gender roles, and the patriarchy and its treatment of women. A stacked and flawless cast, led by another excellent performance by Margot Robbie, but it is Ryan Gosling who steals the movie with all his Kenergy. On top of all that, you had an irresistibly catchy soundtrack with Billie Eilish’s beautiful song “What Was I Made For?” tugging on those heartstrings. It is little wonder the film is the undisputed Queen of the box office of the year and the highest-grossing film ever from a solo female director. As Ryan Gosling’s Ken would say, “SUBLIME!”

 

4. Past Lives

review

At some point in your life, you might have remarked about what you might have been in a past life and what would have happened had you made different choices. It is this concept about a life never lived, through a uniquely Korean concept known as “in-yeon” that is the basis for Celine Song’s beautiful and emotional directorial debut. Having moved from her native Korea as a child and now settled in New York, Nora (a brilliant performance by Greta Lee) reconnects with her childhood sweetheart years later over the internet and then again later in person having seen over two decades pass. At its heart, it is a movie about a love triangle, but there are so many nuances and layers to this beautiful story, in particular about the immigrant experience, love, and regrets, as its three main characters ruminate on their journeys through life, and what might have been. Easily this year’s best directorial debut.  

 

3. Killers of the Flower Moon 

review

The Reign of Terror, a period of dark and violent history in the United States, in which members of the Osage tribe were systematically murdered by White people to obtain the enormous wealth the Osage had gained following the discovery of oil on their land. It’s a period that history, even in the region where these events took place has tried to bury and silence the Osage. However it should be taught in schools as an example of the poisonous and terrible impact of corruption, white supremacy and greed can have on society, which is still depressingly relevant even after a century has passed. After making films across six decades, Martin Scorsese continues to prove what a formidable filmmaker he is as across 206 enthralling minutes,  which fly by thanks to Thelma Schoonmaker’s masterful editing, he brings together his two muses Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro for the first time on the big screen. Still, both of them are outshone by Lily Gladstone’s Mollie Burkhart, who steals the entire film with a powerful and emotionally devastating performance.

2. Oppenheimer 

review

“Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For this, he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity.” From the moment these words appeared on screen in the latest film from Christopher Nolan, against a backdrop of a big ball of flame and a thunderous ominous score, it set the scene for a thrilling and haunting thriller exploring the life and legacy of a man the director has called “the most important person who ever lived”, the American Prometheus, and the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Across three riveting hours, jumping effortlessly between the perspective of his titular character and from a more objective perspective, this record-breaking biographical film explores Oppenheimer’s efforts to bring Nuclear physics to the US, his work on the Manhatten project to develop a weapon which would as one character memorably says “gave them the power to destroy themselves, and the world is not prepared”, which all leads to the incredible and nerve-shredding Trinity Test sequence, one of the most mind-blowing accomplishments of Nolan’s incredible career. Impeccably acted by all of its all-star cast, especially Cillian Murphy and arguably the best performance of Robert Downey Jr’s career, and a stunning score from Ludwig Goransson,  and you have a film which Downey Jr succinctly summmarised was the “culmination” of Nolan’s career  “and a freaking masterpiece”.  I couldn’t agree more with his sentiments.

What a marvellous double bill Barbenheimer made for countless cinema-goers.

 

And so my favourite film of 2023 is..

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1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 

review

What do you do when you’ve created one of the most ground-breaking superhero films of all time which redefined what was possible in animation and superhero movies as a whole? This would have been the challenge facing the visionaries behind Miles Morales’s first animated multiversal adventure when it was released in late 2018? A film which raised the bar for studios when it comes to crafting spectacular animation, as well as being ahead of the curve when it comes to films exploring the multiverse. The answer, is, that you somehow manage to outdo yourselves by creating a follow-up that manages to surpass its predecessor with even more incredible animation in so many incredible styles. Honestly, you could hang some of the shots from this film in a museum and they would not look out of place.

On top of the incredible animation, this sequel brings to the table another moving and emotional story which challenges what it means to be the hero who puts on the mask and whether is it within Spider-Man’s power to stop the inevitable or “canon events”? It also brings more jaw-dropping action sequences and allows Miles to grow in his role as Brooklyn’s one and only Spider-Man while exploring his relationships with his parents, particularly his mother, and those closest to him, namely Gwen Stacy, Peter B. Parker and more. A spectacular accomplishment and with the concluding chapter on the way, if it does stick that superhero landing it will thwip its way to become one of the finest trilogies of all time without any question of a doubt.

Between this and Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, it is an amazing time to be a Miles Morales fan and his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe cannot come soon enough.

————————————————————————————————

And that brings the curtain down on my list of the best the big screen had to offer in 2022. Thank you for reading, especially if you read all the way through! What were your favourite films of 2023? Let me know in the comments below or you can find me on the following platforms: X/Twitter, Facebook or Letterbox’d.

 

 

Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Oscars, Ranking

95th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees ranked

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Another awards season has come to a close and it is time to celebrate Hollywood’s biggest night with the 95th Academy Awards. After a full uninterrupted year of films on the big screen, ten films are competing for the top prize. They include a sharp social satire on the wealthy, a furious examination of the patriarchy, a biopic of one of the most iconic music artists of all time, a new interpretation of a classic anti-war novel, a couple of extremely successful sequels, and one of the most original films of the year.

An impressive crop of nominees, but as usual, only one film will emerge victorious. So, without any further ado, here’s my ranking of these films from worst to best. We start with…

10. Tár

I’ve always found every time awards season rolls around, there is always going to be one film that I struggle to connect with. This year, this film is Tár. For his first film in 16 years, director Todd Field brings the story of Lydia Tar, a fictional composer whose life begins to fall apart when a series of scandals come to light. There is a lot of depth to Fields’ screenplay, it is so rich and detailed, with a lot to say about cancel culture and the pedestal we often put celebrities on, you could almost be forgiven for thinking the film is based on a real-life figure, brought to the screen superbly by Cate Blanchett.

However, despite Blanchett’s incredible performance, the film sits at the bottom of this list because, while the film is impeccably crafted, I found it a bit of a slog to get through. Furthermore, the character of Lydia Tár was a difficult one to connect with and the film left me feeling quite cold as a result.

 

9. Elvis

Elvis Aaron Presley. The King of Rock and Roll and one of the most accomplished musicians to have ever lived. The popularity of musical biopics meant another film about the life of the singer was bound to happen sooner or later. In the hands of Baz Luhmann, a director whose previous films have certainly not been shy of extravagance and lavishness, he seemed like the ideal candidate to direct a film about the iconic singer.

Luhmann certainly goes all out for this depiction as he bids to capture Presley’s entire life, seen through the perspective of his controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker (a severely miscast Tom Hanks). The film’s ambition cannot be denied, but even at 2 hours and 39 minutes, the attempt to capture Presley’s entire life feels too ambitious for its own good and drags the film down. However, what keeps it afloat is the extraordinary performance by Austin Butler whose dedication to bringing Elvis to the screen is so transformative, you could be forgiven for thinking it was the King himself on screen.

 

 

8. All Quiet on the Western Front

Throughout history, we have seen numerous examples of the horrors and brutality of war, and these horrors have often been captured in film in quite a brutal fashion. Indeed, those horrors have been brought into much sharper focus since the start of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine last year, which makes this new take on the 1930 novel by Erich Maria Remarque feel all the more relevant in light of the brutality of the scenes we’ve all seen in Ukraine over the last 12 months.

The film recaptures the brutality of trench warfare and the unimaginable horror the soldiers on both sides would have gone through on a day-to-day basis, with millions sent to their deaths to make minimal gains. The film is technically flawless, boasting immaculate production design and cinematography. However, while it serves its purpose as an anti-war film, it suffered due to a lack of development of its lead characters who merely exist to hammer the film’s main point home about the brutal and unforgiving nature of war.

 

7. Triangle of Sadness

Ever since the COVID pandemic hit and the wealth gap between the 1% in our society and everyone else grew even bigger, satires of the super-rich have been in plentiful supply as of late, which has been joyful to watch and necessary. However, none have done so in quite a scathing, and simultaneously hilarious manner as this Palme D’Or winner from Ruben Östlund.

Focusing on a young couple who are invited onto a cruise ship for the super-rich, the film is not afraid to take shots at numerous aspects of society, from wealthy oligarchs to social media influencers. This all culminates in a hilarious and slightly nauseating second act during a fateful night aboard the cruise, a scene which was an absolute riot to experience at a packed screening during London Film Festival. The film’s three distinct acts all have a unique feel to them, and while it does begin to run out of steam in the third act, it retains that stinging rebuke of the wealthy.

 

 

6. Women Talking

The only film of this year’s contenders to be directed by a woman (more on this later). The very fact Sarah Polley’s powerful and furious examination of the patriarchal nature of our society and analysis of an ongoing problem in said society was at very real risk of missing out on a nomination is shambolic, and some serious conversations would need to have been had if it had missed out.

Focusing on an isolated community of Mennonite women who have been repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by the men in their community brings an urgent meeting where the women must decide whether to stay and fight or to leave. The film, as the title suggests, is very dialogue-driven. However, Sarah Polley’s screenplay, adapted from the novel of the same name by Miriam Toews, is so powerful and so tremendously performed by every member of its cast, especially Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy, that when these women are talking, everyone in the world should be listening to what they have to say.

 

5. The Fabelmans

Steven Spielberg, a director whose career has spanned over six decades, in which time he has provided audiences with killer sharks, killer dinosaurs, an extraterrestrial who wanted to phone home, an insanely cool archaeology professor who is arguably one of the best characters in cinema history, and so much more. Yet, as seems to be a trend among filmmakers in recent times, the legendary director has made his most personal film yet, about how he discovered his love of movie-making and the people in his life who played a key role in urging him to pursue his dreams of becoming a director.

Unlike some other films recently released this year which have tried to capture the magic of cinema only to completely miss the mark, Spielberg’s film captures the importance of family and how those around us can play a significant role in shaping the career we choose to pursue, as well as a passion for the art of cinema.

 

4. The Banshees of Inisherin

Full review here

There are not many directors who can combine a really (and I mean really) bleak situation and use that as a backdrop to provide utter hilarity quite like Martin McDonagh. On its surface, his latest film is the simple story of two men and the fallout when one of them abruptly decides he doesn’t want to be friends with the other one. Yet, there is so much more to McDonagh’s screenplay than this simple premise as it explores themes of toxic masculinity, nihilism, loneliness, and pursuing creativity over friendship all against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War.

The reunion (sort of) of In Bruges stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, both of whom arguably give the best performances of their careers, is fantastic to see. Yet, the show belongs to Jenny (the donkey to whom Farrell’s character holds dear) and Kerry Condon’s scene-stealing performance as the sister to Colin Farrell’s character. A fecking brilliant motion picture!

 

 

3. Avatar: The Way of Water 

Full review here

The first of two films on this list which utterly dominated at the box office this year. It had been 13 long years since the first Avatar film came out, and after such a long wait, the question as to whether audiences would be interested in a return to Pandora raged. Several months, and nearly $2.3 billion dollars as of writing this later, it is fair to say audiences this debate has been settled. Audiences were interested and proved to the naysayers you should never ever bet against James Cameron.

With the visuals being a key selling point for the first film when it opened back in 2009, the question would have been how to surpass those this time around? And it would be fair to say they did just that, the use of pioneering new motion capture technology all while actually shooting these scenes underwater provided the film with some breathtaking visual majesty which is completely awe-inspiring to look at. Much can be said of the film’s script and how it is in many ways a retread of the first film, but when the last hour hits, it never lets up and reinforces Cameron’s talent for crafting terrifically compelling action.

 

2. Top Gun: Maverick 

Full review here

The second sequel among this year’s nominees and the film which, before The Way of Water came along, was the undisputed champion of the box office in 2022.  When it finally took to the skies last summer (after numerous delays), it was the film which as Steven Spielberg himself admitted to its star Tom Cruise might have just saved the cinematic experience as we know it.

Right from the very first moment when Kenny Loggins’s “Highway to the Danger Zone” blasts over scenes of jets taking off from a military warship, the film hits those nostalgic notes right off the bat runway. Yet, what this legacy sequel pulls off so successfully is it adds a real sense of emotional weight to the story, particularly for Cruise’s Maverick and certain decisions he has made across a 30-year career as a naval aviator. Furthermore, I cannot talk about this film without mentioning the aerial combat sequences, which were utterly exhilarating to watch. A perfect example of how to do a legacy sequel, and one that takes my breath away every time I rewatch it.

 

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once 

Full review here

What more is there to say about A24’s highest-grossing film of all time? Ever since it had its premiere in March last year at South by Southwest, the word of mouth for this film, and the insane level of hype surrounding it, was simply unprecedented. Was it actually going to live up to the hype when it finally opened on our shores in May? As you might have guessed from its position on this list, the answer is an emphatic yes.

I genuinely have no idea how writers/directors The Daniels concocted such a wacky, bonkers, insane and genius script which threw everything into the mix and somehow made it all work. The film had everything, multiversal travel, hotdog fingers, tremendous kung-fu-inspired fight scenes, googly eyes, and a genuinely very emotional scene with two rocks. But above all else, an impactful and moving family drama with one of, if not the best performances the legend that is Michelle Yeoh has given throughout her extraordinary career, as well as a wonderful performance from Ke Huy Quan, who will be one of the best Supporting Actor winners we’ve had in a long time. It was, for many people, the film which defined cinema in 2022 and it fully deserves its status as the best picture frontrunner, and will be one of the best victories of all time should it crown its phenomenal awards-season success.

 

Could/should have been nominated…

 

So there you have it, that is my ranking of the ten films up for Best Picture. However, I always like to hypothesise what could have been, because for me there are some films which really should have been included in this year’s race. Therefore, if I was an Oscar voter, my ballot for the ten films to be nominated would be to remove, Tar, Elvis and All Quiet on the Western Front, and replace them with:

She Said (review). In the same vein as last year when Ridley Scott’s powerful historical drama The Last Duel was snubbed entirely across the board last year, the absence of Maria Schrader’s tremendous film about how two reporters from The New York Times broke the story about Harvey Weinstein’s rampant sexual abuse led to the rise of the important #MeToo and Time’s Up movements is bemusing, to put it kindly. The film had an incredibly difficult job, given this is very recent history, to portray this story in a careful manner, and they did exactly that. Had it been nominated (as it should have done), it would have sent a real message of support to those who suffered at the hands of Weinstein. A real missed opportunity by the Academy.

The Woman King (review). Another brilliant film directed by a woman, and another which has been inexcusably overlooked by the Academy. So often, when a historical epic is brought to the big screen, it is from the perspective of men, such as Gladiator or Braveheart. This is precisely what made Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film so unique, that it centred on one of the few all-female armies in recorded history. Yes, it does take some liberties with the true story of the Agoije, this is not uncommon when bringing a true story to the big screen. Its extraordinary cast, led by an exceptional Viola Davis all shine, and it was just an epic time at the movies. Like with She Said, this is an incredible film which should have been nominated in all of the above-the-line categories, but the very fact it wasn’t nominated for anything at all feels particularly egregious.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (review). A snub which is not as egregious as the ones mentioned so far, given that the brilliant sequel to Knives Out, got the adapted screenplay nomination it deserved. But, given the aforementioned screenplay nod, I am surprised to see it didn’t crop up anywhere else because it was definitely deserving of multiple nominations, given it clearly must be liked by the Academy. Supporting Actress for Janelle Monae did feel like a long shot due to how crowded that category is, but a nomination for costumes at the very least seemed a sure bet. Perhaps, the Academy is holding everything back for when the third Benoit Blanc film is released? Let’s hope so.

Posted in 2020-2029, Film Feature, Ranking

Best Films of 2022

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

After the last two years saw cinema closures due to the pandemic for significant parts of the year, it has been immensely satisfying to have had a full interrupted 12 months of uninterrupted movies on the big screen. And what a year for film it has been, whodunnits aplenty, a long-awaited return to Pandora, more multiversal shenanigans, a very meta-comedy, some utterly enthralling action epics and a couple of extremely important movies that shone a spotlight on some very important and brave people. So without further ado, let us have a look at the best films of 2022.

With regards to films eligible for inclusion on this list, I always aim to include films which are listed as 2022 releases on IMDB. Yet, as seems to be the case every year, there are those films listed as 2021 releases which did not get released until well into the year, which makes them eligible for my 2022 list. On the flip side, there are some films featured here that are yet to be released in UK cinemas, but as I was able to catch these at London Film Festival, they are eligible for inclusion on this list. And as much as I would want to, I haven’t seen every film released in 2022, so if your favourite film is not on here, I might not have seen it. (On that note, I haven’t yet seen Babylon or The Fabelmans as they have not been released in the UK yet. I will factor these films into this list once I have seen them.)

Lastly, as always, the grades I awarded a film do not determine the final position on this list, a film which gets a perfect grade will not necessarily make it my favourite film of the year. This is my unashamedly biased list to highlight and celebrate the films which defined cinema in 2022 for me. As usual, there are some honourable mentions, films which are really great and worth your time but just didn’t quite make my list this year:

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent [review]. Nicolas Cage stars as Nick Cage in a very meta, but utterly hilarious, comedy that celebrates the career of Nicholas Cage, whilst also recognising the greatness that is Paddington 2. What more could you want?

Causeway.  Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry both give exceptional performances in this slow-burning but heavily impactful drama exploring the dynamic between two people trying to readjust and find their place in the world following tragic circumstances.

The Menu. A delightfully delicious satire of the wealthy elite of our society with a fascinatingly chilling performance from Ralph Fiennes as the head chef of this unique restaurant which will make you crave a particular food item by the end credits.

The Banshees of Inisherin [review]. Martin McDonagh reunites with his In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson for a simple tale of two friends who have fallen out elevated by McDonagh’s razor-sharp screenplay, which is a fascinating blend of black comedy meets tragedy.

Bros. Billy Eichner co-writes and stars in by far and away the funniest film of the year in a hilarious, heartfelt and groundbreaking rom-com which stars a predominantly LGBTQ+ cast, and openly and proudly celebrates the LGBT+ community in a massive step forward for diversity on screen.

 

 

Honourable mentions honoured. Now, here comes the top 10…

 

15. The Whale

For years, Brendan Fraser was absent from Hollywood for a multitude of reasons. In this powerful drama from Darren Aronofsky, he makes his triumphant return in this moving film as an obese man who tries to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter after he drove her away by eating to excess. It’s a simple story but one made extremely powerful, with stunning supporting performances from Hong Chau and Sadie Sink, as well as a devastating lead performance from Fraser.

 

14. Avatar: The Way of Water

review

13 years after the release of his ground-breaking film Avatar, James Cameron triumphantly returns to Pandora for the long-awaited sequel which has proved the appetite for audiences to make the return to this incredible world was there all along. This enthralling sequel offers some of the most dazzling visual effects you will ever see, especially for all those underwater scenes. While a bit of a retread of the first film in terms of its plot, it offered plenty of emotional stakes and compelling action to make this a worthwhile return to Pandora.

 

13. Till

In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was brutally lynched and murdered by white supremacists. Following this heinous crime, his mother Mamie Till became an activist and a powerful voice in the Civil Rights Movement in the USA, campaigning for justice for her murdered son. It is certainly not an easy watch, but an extremely powerful and necessary one thanks to Danielle Deadwyler’s extraordinary, devastating and awards-worthy performance.

 

 

12. See How They Run

review

Agatha Christie is arguably the greatest novelist of all time when it comes to penning murder mystery novels and plays, so where better to set a murder mystery at the centre of a production of The Mousetrap? Harbouring the whimsical spirit of a Wes Anderson film, this film provides some delightful and witty meta-commentary on the murder mystery genre, whilst getting stellar performances out of its cast, especially Sam Rockwell as a grumpy detective and the scene-stealing Saoirse Ronan.

 

11. Nope

 

Jordan Peele’s first two films, both superbly blending horror and comedy, cemented the former star of the Key & Peele comedy double act as one of those directors whose name alone has the power to sell a film. Much intrigue surrounded his third film in the build-up to its release as to what the master and horror comedy could produce and whether he could complete his hat-trick? Short answer, yep, he can.

Once again providing an expert blend of horror and comedy, Peele upped the ambition for this one by going down the sci-fi route as a strange phenomenon haunts the sibling owners of a ranch, namely OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer). Like his previous two films, the film has a lot to say with thought-provoking subtext and social commentary about humanity’s love/fascination with spectacle. Reuniting with Peele after Get Out, Kaluuya adds another stellar performance to an impressive filmography, but this film belongs to Keke Palmer who steals the show with a fantastic performance.

 

Now for the top 10…

 

10. Bullet Train

review

A high-speed bullet train is probably the last place you’d want to find yourself on your commute, especially if you knew there was a group of deadly assassins on board whose missions are interconnected. Fortunately for us, under the vision of stuntman-turned-director David Leitch, this particular service is a delightfully entertaining and one of the most stylish action films all year as these missions criss-cross with violent and hilarious results and one of the best comedy double acts of the year in Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s assassin comedy duo.

 

 

9. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

review

The foundations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were forever changed when it was announced that Chadwick Boseman passed away in August 2020. It put director Ryan Coogler in the toughest of positions when it came to the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther as to how on earth they could overcome such a tragic horrific loss of someone who brought so much to the screen with every single role? In the most difficult of circumstances, Coogler and his cast came through to deliver a heart-breaking but beautiful film which in the most difficult circumstances explores how we process the grief when someone close to us has passed away, while also serving as an emotional tribute to Boseman’s extraordinary legacy.

8. Turning Red

review

Pixar films have never been afraid to tackle meaningful subject matter while also turning audiences into blubbering messes with the brilliantly emotional stories they have created over the years. In their first film directed by a woman, Domee Shi continues this trajectory with her brilliant, hilarious and emotional film about a girl who discovers whenever she gets nervous or excited, she turns into a giant red panda. Simultaneously a moving story about culture, family, and the perils of growing up, plus lots and lots of 2000s nostalgia. Furthermore, to its immense credit, the film is not afraid to shy away from the subject of puberty from a female perspective.

7. Belle

review

Offering some of the most jaw-dropping and stunning animation we have seen so far this decade, Mamoru Hosada’s film is a beautiful tale of one girl who, after a personal tragedy, is able to rediscover her passion for singing when she joins a vast digital world and becomes a global sensation. Encompassing themes of the impact of bereavement on a young person, the increasingly digital nature of society and the desire particularly among young people to have an online presence, the highs and lows encompassing fame/viral sensation online, while providing a modern 21st-century update for a tale as old as time. It is utterly scandalous this film was not nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar.

6. The Woman King

review

What comes to mind when you hear the words: historical epic? Chances are you’ll think of a film like Gladiator or Braveheart where men are taking revenge against those who have wronged them or are charging into battle. Given these sorts of films are almost always from the perspective of a man, it makes Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film telling the true story of the Agoije, an all-female group of warriors in a West African kingdom so awe-inspiring and badass.  Viola Davis’s General Nanisca is exactly the sort of commander who you would follow onto the battlefield. She leads an impeccably acted cast including career-best work from Lashana Lynch, an impressive breakthrough performance from Thuso Mbedu and a wonderfully regal performance from John Boyega.

 

5. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

review

 

When Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc made his introduction in Rian Johnson’s 2019 murder mystery/whodunnit Knives Out, right then and there, with his iconic Southern drawl, a modern icon of the genre was born. With the film representing a revitalisation of the genre, it came as little surprise when Netflix sanctioned a massive money deal for the rights to two further sequels. It brought much anticipation as to what everyone’s favourite Southern sleuth would get up to on his next case.

With another superbly stacked cast bringing to life another array of eccentric, colourful and rather douchey characters at its core, Johnson proves once again there was no foul play with Knives Out as he demonstrates his love for the genre with another wonderfully witty and hilarious screenplay, which is almost prophetic with the satire and social commentary at the centre. Every single member of this ensemble cast play their roles to perfection, and it is wonderful to see Craig have so much fun following his stint as 007. But the standout is, by far, Janelle Monae. So long as Craig and Johnson are happy to keep making these movies, there will be no complaints from me if we have many more adventures with Monsieur Blanc for many years to come.

 

 

4. Top Gun Maverick

review

One of many films to have seen its release date moved around a few times due to the pandemic, fans may have wondered if this long-awaited sequel to 1986’s Top Gun was ever going to take flight. Perhaps it was due to the multiple delays, but it certainly seemed like the hype around this film was fairly muted prior to its release. Though this all changed when it finally blasted its way into cinemas, becoming Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing film of all time.

The original Top Gun arguably made a star out of Cruise, but his star power has continued to grow in the 36 years between the two films’ releases. His commitment to entertaining the audience through crazy, death-defying stunts remains unrivalled in big blockbuster filmmaking, and we are lucky to have him. Through a winning combination of utterly exhilarating flight sequences putting the audience at the heart of the action, alongside an extremely emotional story of Maverick confronting his past and his guilt over the death of his close friend Goose, as well as an extremely emotional scene with Val Kilmer’s Iceman, and you have a sequel which surpasses its predecessor in every single way, and will take your breath away again, again and again.

 

 

3. She Said 

review

Throughout history, we have seen examples of the extraordinary work journalists can do to bring stories to light in a way that changes the world forever. One such example is the extraordinary work of Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, whose tireless investigative reporting uncovered the rampant sexual abuse of men in positions of power, such as Harvey Weinstein, which gave rise to the Time’s Up and Me Too Movements.

Given how these movements represent very recent history, it was important for the filmmakers to approach this subject matter with care, and this is exactly how Maria Schrader and screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz handled it. The film simultaneously shines a light on the incredible bravery of the women who came forward to speak out against such systemic behaviour and the tireless determination of the women who, in spite of threats to have the story buried, persisted in their efforts to bring the truth to light. Flawless acting by the entire cast, especially Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as Twohey and Kantor respectively, this important film shines a light on the important work journalists carry out, and the necessity for women’s voices to come to the fore when telling these stories.

 

2. The Batman

review

The Caped Crusader is an iconic figure in both comic book and cinematic history throughout the decades. Every actor who has donned the cape and cowl has managed to bring something unique to the role. The pressure was certainly on Matt Reeves for his take on this character to do something we haven’t seen before, and he absolutely delivered.

In a Gotham City quite unlike anything we have seen before, under an eternal cloud of perpetual rainfall, we have a Batman early in his crimefighting career (portrayed magnificently by Robert Pattinson) who must utilise all his skills as he comes up against Paul Dano’s terrifying Riddler. Portraying Batman’s skills as a detective in a manner previous Batman films have rarely utilised was an inspired choice and the combination of the exploration of Gotham’s murky criminal underworld, exemplified by a terrific performance from Colin Farrell as The Penguin, alongside some brilliant action sequences. When you have all of the above, along with an outstanding turn from Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and you have one of the greatest incarnations of the Dark Knight ever put to screen.

And so my favourite film of 2022 is

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1. Everything Everywhere All At Once

review

When 2022 began, it was poised to throw a number of films at audiences which explored the concept of the multiverse. Such a concept has exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly in the genre of comic book films, little did we know that the best film to explore this concept was not something that had a Marvel logo attached to it, but was an entirely original indy flick, from the minds of the directors of Swiss Army Man.

The film lives up to its name by throwing a plethora of genres all into one big melting pot and the results were bonkers, hilariously entertaining and emotionally devastating all at once. You will never look at googly eyes, rocks, raccoons, hot dogs and bagels in the same way after watching this masterpiece. At the heart of it is an awards-worthy performance from the legendary Michelle Yeoh who pours her heart and soul into every single action scene, likewise for Ke Huay Quan who after several years away from acting makes a triumphant return. No other film released this year has illustrated to me perfectly just how special cinema can be as an art form, and for this, it more than earns the title of my favourite film of 2022.

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And that brings the curtain down on my list of the best the big screen had to offer in 2022. Thank you for reading, especially if you read all the way through! What were your favourite films of 2022? Let me know in the comments below or you can find me on the following platforms: Twitter, Facebook or Letterbox’d.

For my picks for my most anticipated films of 2023, please click here.

 

 

Posted in Film Feature, Ranking

Most Anticipated Films of 2023

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Happy new year cinephiles!

2022 was certainly a much better year for the big-screen experience as there were no enforced cinema closures to contend with. A full 12 months of uninterrupted cinema, and long may it continue! Looking to the year ahead, there is, as usual, lots to look forward to, so let us dive straight in with my most anticipated films for 2023. These are the releases that I am most looking forward to, but time will tell if they will be the best because as is the case every year there are bound to be some films that come out of nowhere with very little fanfare to blow audiences away and the films that are likely to be big awards season players tend to start popping up in the latter half of the year.

Before we start, there are a few 2022 releases that are finally getting their wide release on these shores this year, such as Babylon, TAR and The Fabelmans, but as these are technically 2022 releases, they will not be included here.

Before we have a look at the top 10, here are a few honourable mentions  (All current UK release dates unless specified):

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (release date: 31 March): For anyone who grew up with the early generation video game consoles, Mario is one of, if not the most iconic and recognisable video game characters of all time. Fans might have a feeling of trepidation, particularly with Chris Pratt as the voice of Mario, particularly as the other time they adapted Mario for the big screen, it did not go well. However, in the hands of Illumination, and with a strong voice cast behind it, let’s hope this one gets the gold star!

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (release date: 17 November)  Director Francis Lawrence is once again stepping back into the world of Panem for the prequel set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen became the Mockingjay to ignite the rebellion to overthrow the Capitol.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (release date: 24 March) Keanu Reeves is once again suiting up as John Wick AKA Baba Yaga for the fourth instalment of this action-packed franchise. Given how the last film ended, he’s out for bloody revenge and I fear for anyone who would dare get in his way…

Shazam: Fury of the Gods (release date: 17 March) Asher Angel/Zachary Levi return as Billy Batson who with a single word turns into the hero Shazam. There are significantly higher stakes this time around as Billy and his adopted family of superheroes must face off against the Daughters of Atlas.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (release date: 30 June). 15 years after he last donned the iconic hat and whip of the legendary Dr Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr, Harrison Ford reprises his role for the fifth and probably final time. James Mangold takes over the directing duties from Steven Spielberg, and with Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge joining the cast, fingers crossed it can right the wrongs of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Now, let’s see what cracked my top 10:

10. The Little Mermaid

Release date: 26 May

Disney’s live-action offerings, particularly some of the recent ones, have mostly left an awful lot to be desired, begging the question as to why these films exist outside of an excuse for the Mouse House to print money. However, the live-action retelling of the story of Ariel could be the one to arrest the slump. Halle Bailey as Ariel is an excellent piece of casting, and she’s joined by Melissa McCarthy, and Javier Bardem, as well as the voice talents of Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina.

 

9. The Marvels 

Release date: 28 July 

It’s been a while since we have seen Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in the MCU, but she is poised to make her return in this sequel to her 2019 film. The plot remains under wraps but this film will see Carol team up with Monica Rambeau and Ms Marvel, with Teyonnah Parris and Iman Vellaini reprising their roles from WandaVision and Ms Marvel respectively. Seeing these three team up, with Candyman reboot director Nia Da Costa (the first black woman to helm an MCU movie) calling the shots. Give it to me.

 

 

8. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Release date: 17 February

The third instalment of the adventures of the MCU’s tiniest heroes promises to be one of the biggest films, certainly for Ant-Man and in all likelihood for the MCU as a whole as this film will see Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly, as well as Cassie Lang (now played by Kathryn Newton), travel down to the Quantum Realm where they will have to face off against Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror, who promises to be a major (pun intended) villain of the future MCU phases going forward.

7. Creed III

Release date: 3 March 

Speaking of Jonathan Majors, he pops up again here in this third instalment of the Rocky spin-off franchise as an old friend of Michael B Jordan’s Adonis who seemingly has a very personal score to settle after being released from prison. The stakes feel considerably higher for this third film, but alas Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky will not be involved this time around, with Jordan stepping behind the camera for his directorial debut.

 

6. Barbie

Release date: 21 July 

I honestly never thought I would see the day when a film about Barbie would feature on one of my lists of the most anticipated films of the year. But here we are, the POWER of Greta Gerwig.  Not much is known about the plot of the film, but with a cast which includes Margot Robbie in the lead role, Ryan Gosling as Ken, as well as Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae and Michael Cera, and you have my interest, especially since THAT trailer hit the internet. Come on Barbie, let’s go party!

 

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

Release date: 5 May

The fate of this film lay uncertain for a long period of time following the departure of director James Gunn. However, common sense prevailed and after being poached by DC to make the terrific The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, Gunn returns for what is likely to be his last project for Marvel, and a potential end of the road for Marvel’s collection of loveable villains-turned-heroes as the recently released teaser indicates it could be an emotional farewell for The Guardians. Let’s hope Gunn has another Awesome Mix of banging tunes to drown out any potential audience waterworks.

 

4. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One

Release date: 14 July

The storming box office success of Top Gun: Maverick is proof positive Tom Cruise still commands insane box office power. Since Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, the MI franchise has somehow managed to find ways to keep going and just get better and better with every new instalment. This is no small part due to Cruise’s willingness to keep doing absolutely jaw-dropping and insane stunts which manage to outdo the last crazy stunt he did for the previous film.

While plot details remain unknown, Cruise is showing no signs of slowing down with the craziness of the stuns he seems willing to pull off, and all of the familiar faces seem to be back in action alongside Cruise. Christopher McQuarrie is once again calling the shots as the director. What’s more, the franchise has added some very exciting talents including Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementioff, Esai Morales and Shea Whigham. Given this is likely to be the penultimate film with Cruise in the role of Ethan Hunt, expect even more fireworks than before, if that is somehow possible.

 

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Release date: June 2

 

2018’s Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse was one of the most stylish and unique animated films to have come out in a long time, and it’s one of the best superhero films ever made. Introducing fan favourite Miles Morales as Spider-Man, its unique animation style made it feel like it was as if the animators were directly taking pages of a comic book and translating them onto the screen. Plus given the recent trend among superhero films to explore the multiverse, it was a film ahead of the curve.

With this sequel, we can definitely expect more multiverse shenanigans, and the fact that this film will be part one is an extremely intriguing prospect. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson will all be reprising their voice roles. Joining the case will be Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099, Issa Rae as Spider-Woman, Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk, and quite possibly many more if the trailer is anything to go by. My spider senses are tingling with excitement already!

2. Oppenheimer

Release date: 21 July

Christopher Nolan’s films are always cinematic events, and his next film promises to be an enthralling, explosive spectacle exploring the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer and more specifically his role in the creation of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Frequent Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy leads what is an extraordinarily stacked cast which includes: Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, Kenneth Branagh to name but a few.

And, my #1 most anticipated film of 2023 is…

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1.  Dune: Part Two

Release date: 3 November 

“This is only the beginning”, says one character in the closing scene of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, a cliffhanger which left fans wanting an immediate return to Arrakis. The sequel was not assured given the film was released to cinemas as well as a day and date release on HBO Max, but with strong box office support, substantial viewership on HBO Max, and six Academy Awards at the 94th Oscars, the spice will flow once more as Villeneuve got the go-ahead to adapt the second half of Herbert’s novel, with Paul (Timothee Chalamet) out for revenge against the ruthless Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard).

As well as Chalamet and Skarsgard, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Javier Bardem reprise their roles from the first film. Joining them for this sequel will be Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Lea Seydoux and the legendary Christopher Walken.

This concludes my picks for the most anticipated films of 2023, What are your most anticipated films for this year? Let me know on any of the following platforms: Twitter, Facebook or Letterbox’d. 

 

Thanks for reading. Here’s to a great 12 months of cinema!

Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Ranking

94th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees Ranked

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Another awards season has come and gone. While this year’s awards season has unfortunately been full of controversy, it has been extremely satisfying to see films back on the big screen where they belong in 2021, after the previous year’s awards season was much changed due to the pandemic. With so many films coming out in 2021, it also is extremely satisfying to see ten films being selected for the top prize this year. This year’s crop includes a new adaptation of a classic musical, part one of an enthralling adaptation of a beloved sci-fi novel, a heartfelt coming-of-age story, the inspiring story of the father of two of the best athletes of all time, a gothic-noir thriller, and a beautiful semi-autobiographical film of the significance of the place we call home.

A (mostly) impressive crop of nominees, but as usual, only one film will emerge victorious. So, without any further ado, here’s my ranking of these films worst to best, starting with…

10. Don’t Look Up

Full review here

I always say, that every year there’s going to be one Best Picture nominee potentially that you are not going to get the fuss about. However, it has been a few years since a film has appeared in this lineup that I’ve completely and totally LOATHED. Adam McKay’s latest attempt at a satire takes that title this year, and the last time it happened, was another McKay film, Vice.

There’s not been a single one of McKay’s satirical films that I’ve enjoyed. The Big Short had its moments, but I was not a fan of it for the most part. It’s been a recurring theme throughout each of these films, there’s an overbearing smugness and pomposity to them that just winds me up something fierce. I thought Vice was bad, but here, that smugness was dialled up to the maximum, and it was just an extremely unbearable and rage-inducing film to sit through. There is an important, urgent message at its centre which I begrudgingly give the film credit for. However, by attempting to portray that message with the most unsubtle and unfunny satire, which is at times is practically insulting its audience, it renders the whole thing utterly pointless. The Academy clearly has a love for Adam McKay’s satires that I don’t think I will ever have. This film won’t want to look up and see its position in this list.

9. Licorice Pizza

It is incredible to think that for a director as beloved as Paul Thomas Anderson, he has so far, failed to win an Oscar, despite his films often getting recognition. There was much hype about his latest film, and on paper, it ticked all the boxes. A sweet 1970s set coming-of-age story, drenched in nostalgia. It could be the one film to end his long wait for an Oscar, but I for one, find the love for this film completely baffling. While it’s not as infuriatingly offensive as the preceding film on this list, it’s not a million miles off.

The film is immaculately shot and the performances of its leads Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim are excellent. However, there’s so much about this film that just fell completely flat. Firstly, the plot (if you can call really call it that) meanders and is at times extremely tedious, and it all felt extremely aimless and unconnected. But the film commits a couple of massive indiscretions that are just completely baffling, and avoidable. The first of which is the age gap between the leads. As a 25-year-old woman falling in love with a 15-year-old boy, the age gap felt extremely icky, especially as the film wanted these two to find a way to be together. If the genders were reversed, there would be a justifiable furious outcry. There’s a fantastic piece on why this age gap is so problematic, which you can read on In Session Film. It was a problem that could have been so easily avoided, Hoffman’s character is perceived to be grown up because of how mature he is, so why not just make him an adult? As if that wasn’t problematic enough, there are also two scenes that feature instances of a deeply uncomfortable depiction of a racist stereotype that serve no purpose to this story, and could have very easily been taken out of the film.

 

8. Nightmare Alley

Now, we’re into the stuff that actually deserves to be here. The newest film from Guillermo del Toro since he scooped Best Picture and Best Director for The Shape of Water at the 90th Academy Awards. Whenever you think of the Mexican auteur’s films, chances are you might associate them with the mythical monster genre. There’s nothing quite like that in his newest film, but there’s still a distinctly noir vibe to this enchanting mystery that pulls you in and keeps you engaged. A fascinating thriller focusing on Bradley Cooper’s Stanton Carlisle, a con man who charms his way into working at a carnival. As usual with any GDT picture, the production values are all excellent, from the stunning production design, Dan Lausten’s cinematography, it’s all visually immaculate. The first half is a bit sluggish in its pacing, but from the moment Dr. Lilith Ritter (a riveting Cate Blanchett) enters the picture, the film pulls you into the mystery and never lets up.

 

7. West Side Story

In 1961, Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins’s West Side Story won a grand total of 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. 50 years later, acclaimed director Steven Spielberg took on the challenge of bringing this musical to a brand new generation. Quite the daunting task, especially for a director even one as acclaimed as Spielberg, especially when you consider that he’d never done a musical before!

In the hands of Spielberg, there was never any doubt that the film would be visually tremendous, even though Spielberg got a bit too trigger happy with the lens flares. Rachel Zegler, in her first film role, proves that she is an absolute star in the making with an incredible debut performance as Maria. Alongside her, Ariana DeBose excels as Anita with a performance that will surely land her a history-making Supporting Actress Oscar win. The story of finding love and hostility between rival communities remains as painfully relevant now as it did back in the 1960s. However, the presence of Ansel Elgort here really drags the film down. He lacks the charisma to be a leading man, but furthermore as everyone else around him by comparison, is a much more talented singer/performer, he really sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

6. Drive My Car

Grief is something that all we go through whenever someone near and dear to us departs this world. How does one process this when that happens to them? While there’s no right answer to that question, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s moving film provides a meditative and thorough examination of this process and how we as humans cope with it. Clocking in at three hours, the film does its best to keep the audience engaged right throughout as it takes a thought-provoking look at melancholy, and how we process the grief that we experience when someone extremely close to us has passed away.

The film focuses on a renowned theatre director (an outstanding Hidetoshi Nishijima), who’s struggling to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife. To that end, he is driven to work by a chauffeur hired by the production company. A film that touches on such a difficult subject matter, with that runtime could have very easily been a recipe for disaster. While it is extremely heavy to watch, and you do begin to feel the three-hour run time by the end, Hamaguchi’s nuanced screenplay packs a lot of layers into the film and is a thought-provoking look at how we come to terms with grief and loss.

 

 

5. The Power of the Dog

Full review here

To the first film that is one of the two favourites to be the film that takes home the big prize of the evening. Jane Campion’s return to the director’s chair after a 12-year wait was a layered Western that has much more than shootouts on its mind than Cowboys and shootouts. Focusing on the tense relationship between two brothers in 1925 Montana, one very unhospitable and unkind to pretty much everyone and every one, one very much the opposite. So when one brother gets married,  it becomes a great source of tension between the more cruel and inhospitable brother and his more gentle brother’s new family.

Brilliantly acted by its entire cast, especially Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee, Campion’s layered and nuanced screenplay slow-burner is a fascinating exploration of the concepts of toxic masculinity and homosexuality at a time when it would have been extremely taboo to talk about both. It bides its time with its script, thoroughly exploring the characters and the internal conflicts that are raging in them,

4. CODA

Full review here

And now to the second film that’s heavily tipped to take home the top prize. Coming-of-age stories have been plentiful over the years, so it can be hard to distinguish yourself from the crowd, but this is exactly what CODA does, and it does it in a beautiful and emotional manner. Focusing on Emilia Jones’s Ruby, a child of deaf adults, as she pursues her dream of going to a prestigious musical college. A dream that her deaf family can’t understand as they’re unable to appreciate Ruby’s talent.

There are familiar narrative beats that you will see in plenty of coming-of-age stories, and while CODA doesn’t deviate from these, it provides crucial representation for the deaf community. This is a very sweet and sincere love letter to the warm embrace and the emotional support that comes with being surrounded by a loving family, with Troy Kotsur stealing the show as Ruby’s father. With just one word, he was able to break the audience’s emotions into a million pieces. Plus, the fact that the two films that are the favourites to win Best Picture are both directed by women is something to be celebrated.

 

 

3. Belfast

Full review here

No matter where we go in this crazy world we live in, you never truly forget where you come from. Those formative years can play a massive part in shaping you as a person and they may well define the later years of your life, particularly if you’re growing up at a time when your country is in the midst of political turmoil and the threat of political violence erupting at any given moment. In what is his most personal film to date, Kenneth Branagh frames all this from the perspective of young Buddy, who watches all this unfold while trying to enjoy his childhood surrounded by his beloved family.

Jude Hill excels in what is a fantastic breakthrough performance as Buddy. He leads an outstanding cast of exceptional performances. From Jamie Dornan and Catriona Balfe as his loving parents, to Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench as Buddy’s Grandparents. The mark of a quality performance is one where you see the character and not the actor, and this applies to every member of this cast.  Given when the film is set, it seems unlikely that there’d be much room for comedy, but Branagh’s screenplay expertly balances the political tensions with brilliant moments of humour.

2. King Richard

Full review here

Venus and Serena Wiliams: two of the most instantly recognisable names in any sport. Over the course of their careers, these fantastically gifted athletes have cemented themselves as two of the best athletes not just in the sport of tennis, but of all time. While you will undoubtedly know their name, someone whose name you might not know is their father: Richard Williams. This emotionally uplifting biopic provides a detailed look at the integral impact that Richard had on two of the best athletes of all time.

The film pays tribute to the parents who sacrifice so much so that their budding sports superstars can achieve their dreams of success. Will Smith’s likely Best Actor win will be so well deserved. He’s a man who’s committed to his plan to ensure his daughters achieve their superstar dreams, and will not suffer fools gladly. In a film that is the biopic of two of the biggest stars in the history of tennis, it might seem odd to frame it from Richard’s perspective, yet the film makes you understand just how much of an impact Richard had on his daughters’ early careers. Yet, crucially,  the film doesn’t lose sight of the women in this story. Aunjaune Ellis’s towering performance as Venus and Serena’s mother Brandy goes toe to toe with Richard, and Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as the young versions Venus and Serena are all equally brilliant.

1. Dune

Full review here

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of cinemas across the world meant that there was a distinct lack of the iconic cinematic blockbusters that audiences have enjoyed for decades. With the return of cinemas last year, it was extremely pleasing to see these blockbusters return to where they belong. No film typifies the wondrous experience of seeing films on the big screen in 2021 than the first half of this adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel from visionary director Denis Villeneuve.

Villeneuve’s passion for the source material shines through with every frame. The sheer scale of the world-building is awe-inspiring, in a manner that’s akin to Lord of the Rings, for example. It sweeps the audience up with its breath-taking visual majesty, perfectly accompanied by Hans Zimmer’s score that will transport you back to Arrakis in an instant. The stacked ensemble cast is all pitch-perfect in their roles, and Villeneuve’s direction is masterful in every respect. The novel was said to be unfilmable, but Villeneuve proved everyone wrong. I cannot wait to make the trip back to Arrakis in 2023 to witness Part Two.

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Could/should have been nominated…

 

This year, for the first time in what feels like a long time, we have a full set of ten films that are up for the biggest prize. But like I do every year, I like to have a look at what could have been, because there are some films that simply put should not be in this year’s race. So if I was an Oscar voter, here are three films that would make a perfect Best Picture lineup this year. So out go Don’t Look Up, Licorice Pizza, and Nightmare Alley and in their place, we have:

The Last Duel (review). I am at a complete loss as to how this has completely missed the mark for this year’s awards season. It really should be a contender in numerous categories and should be absolutely running away with Best Actress, as with the exceptions of Kristen Stewart and Tessa Thompson, no one came close to matching Jodie Comer’s brilliant leading actress performance in this enthralling historical epic. Directed by the legendary Sir Ridley Scott, the film’s poor box office probably didn’t help matters, but that shouldn’t have mattered. Its important and timely themes meant that it should have been a frontrunner, and the fact that it’s not is something I will forever be bitter about.

Spencer (review). Speaking of Stewart, the fact that hers is the only Oscar nomination for Pablo Lorrain’s biopic of Princess Diana is so baffling. While that nomination is thoroughly deserved, the film was an extremely unique biopic that took creative liberties with the troubled marriage between Diana and Prince Charles as it was clear that the marriage had broken down. It should have been a shoo-in for production design and costumes at the very least…

Passing. The subject of race has been a major talking point over these last few years, and in her directorial debut, Rebecca Hall takes a considered and thought-provoking approach to this topical issue, and gets awards-worthy performances out of Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. Two more actors who, along with Comer should have been nominated this year at the very least. Like The Last Duel, Passing being completely shut out of this year’s awards season is just beyond baffling.

Posted in 2020-2029, Film Feature, Ranking

Best Films of 2021

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

2021, a year that initially began as 2020 ended, with the cinemas still closed amid a continuing lockdown that kept us at home. New releases were being brought to us through the streaming services, but it was wonderful to see the cinemas finally reopen in May. That feeling of being back in the cinema, watching films where they are meant to be seen, there’s honestly nothing like it. Given that the year saw the release of many films that were pushed back, there were lots of films for cinephiles to enjoy, and so let’s have a look and see what was the best films that 2021 had to offer.

Whenever I compile these end-of-year lists, the aim is always to include films that are listed as 2021 releases on IMDB. Yet, as will probably be the case till the end of time, some films had very staggered release dates. Consequently, there are some films appearing on this list that came out in 2020, but they weren’t available to UK audiences until 2021. Hence, this makes them available for this year’s list. Also, as much as I would want to, I’ve not seen every film that was released this year, so apologies if your favourite is not on here, as I may not have seen it. On the flip side to that, some films featured here that are listed as 2021 releases on IMDB, haven’t yet made their way to UK cinemas. However, as I was able to see some of these at London Film Festival this year, this means they are eligible for inclusion here.

Additionally, as I say every year, the grades I give the films do not determine the rankings of these films. A film that gets a perfect grade is not guaranteed to be my favourite film of the year. Lists like these are always a chance for the person compiling them to be as biased as they want to be. These are the films that, for me personally, defined 2021 as a strong year for film.

Before I get into the main list, I must give a shout out to some honourable mentions. These films are excellent that you should definitely check out, but they just didn’t quite make the list:

The Power of the Dog [review]. 12 years after her last film, Jane Campion returns to the director’s chair for an enthralling Western that focuses less on the cowboys and the shootouts, and more on the tense relationship between two brothers on a 1925 Montana ranch.

Encanto [review] The first, and not the last, film on this list that has the involvement of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Disney celebrated their landmark 60th animated feature film in some style, with a beautifully animated film that depicted a heartfelt story to prove the House of Mouse still has the magic touch.

Spencer [review]. Princess Diana’s story is one that is all too well known. A tragic figure in British history, Pablo Larrain’s unconventional biopic zeroes in on a time when Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles had grown cold. There’s a lot of creative liberties in terms of the story, but it all comes together thanks to an astonishing, transformative Kristen Stewart performance as Diana.

A Quiet Place Part II [review]. The first film that I saw in cinemas when they reopened. John Krasinski returned to the director’s chair to bring us a sequel to one of the most unique horror films of recent years. Recapturing that tension that of the first film was always going to be a tough ask, but Krasinski pulled it off, delivering a sequel that proved to be a worthy follow up to the original, with an incredible performance from Millicent Simmonds.

Spider-Man: No Way Home [review]. Since the pandemic began, there’s arguably not been a film that had quite the level of hype going into it as the concluding chapter to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy. Where previous Spider-Man sequels failed, this threequel webbed all of its plot threads tremendously well and delivered an extremely satisfying film that should change the MCU as we know it.

 

Honourable mentions honoured. Now, since we had so many films this year, let’s dive into the top 15…

15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 

review

It had been a long time coming, but at long last this year, the MCU made a film that was led by an Asian superhero, alongside a predominantly Asian led cast. A landmark moment, and thanks to the outstanding stunt work, the film brought a unique visual style to the action scenes that are unlike anything that previous MCU films had brought to the table. Thanks to the brilliant performance of Simu Liu in the titular role, a new hero was born. Plus, in Tony Leung’s Wenwu, you have one of the best MCU villains in years.

14. tick, tick… BOOM!

As time goes by and we hit the later years in life, we begin to feel the pressure of wanting to leave our mark on the world. Taking the truly tragic story of Jonathan Larson and his struggles to craft the missing pieces of the puzzle for a play he’s writing doesn’t sound like the most invigorating combo in concept. But when you have a career-best performance from Andrew Garfield, and the usual catchiness of the songs that Lin-Manuel Miranda pens, and you have an extremely emotionally impactful combination that is beautifully directed by Miranda.

 

13. In the Heights

review

Continuing on the subject of Lin-Manuel Miranda, after being delayed by a year due to the pandemic, this Jon. M Chu-directed adaptation of Miranda’s 2005 musical was the much-needed blast of sun-soaked joy that we needed after many months of cinemas being shut. Filled to the brim with a plethora of memorable songs, all of which had a unique visual style to them. The film’s screenplay packed some important changes that made it extremely topical for the political landscape of 2021. In a year that saw a number of musicals, this is the best of them all and further proof that 2021 was the year of Lin-Manuel Miranda supremacy.

 

12. Belfast

review coming soon

In this beautiful semi-autobiographical film, director Kenneth Branagh tells the story about centres on a young boy growing up in the centre of Belfast just as the Troubles were beginning in Northern Ireland. Given that background, it seems unlikely that there’d be much room for humour, but Branagh works it so wonderfully well into his script, and gets awards-worthy performances out of every member of the main cast, especially Jamie Dornan and Catriona Balfe.

11. Raya and the Last Dragon

review

In all of the 58 Disney films that preceded this one, they’d never given audiences a heroine of South-Eastern Asian origin. As was the case with Shang-Chi, the film was a ground-breaking moment for representation that had been a long time coming. A lot of lore is packed into the story, but it married that up with an extremely exciting adventure. Plus, in Raya, you have yet another fearless and badass warrior princess that gives young girls a positive role model, and Awkwfinha as the voice of a dragon. One of Disney’s best films in years.

Now for the top 10…

 

 

10. No Time to Die

review

Being one of the first films to be affected by the pandemic, and being hit with a number of subsequent delays on top of that, it was starting to feel like we’d never get to see Daniel Craig’s final turn as James Bond. But thankfully this Autumn, it was finally released to the world, and it was worth the wait. The film had the extremely difficult task of tying all the loose ends from all of Craig’s previous Bond films, and managing the enormous expectations of the fans beforehand. Thankfully, while it wasn’t all plain sailing, it was mission accomplished with a compelling story that gave one of the best actors to play Bond a memorable final bow, and the send-off he deserved.

9. The Last Duel

review

Credit where credit is due for Ridley Scott. The veteran director is, at the age of 84, is still producing incredible pieces of cinema. He’s got a history with swords and sandals epic. However, what sets this apart from his previous films in this genre is that this is a medieval epic, with a modern, and very important message. Presenting its story in three distinct acts from a different person’s point of view, the first two acts are compelling and well written. However, it’s not until the third act, that the film truly soars, thanks to the award-worthy performance of Jodie Comer. This is, along with another film in this list, one of the most important films of the Post #MeToo Era of Hollywood, that absolutely did not deserve to be a box office bomb.

 

8. Sound of Metal

review

Losing one of your senses would undoubtedly be an extremely traumatic time in your life, especially if one of those senses was integral to your job as a drummer in a band. This is the devastating position that Ruben finds himself in, and must adapt to the changing circumstances of his life. With stunning sound work, the film puts you in Ruben’s (an extraordinary Riz Ahmed) position, and examines how his life will forever be changed by this painful diagnosis. An extraordinary directorial debut from Darius Marder that shines a deserved spotlight on deaf communities across the world.

7. King Richard

review

Serena and Venus Williams. Two names who need no introduction, as they have established themselves as two of the greatest athletes to have ever lived. What you probably don’t know, is the story of their father, Richard Williams, and the impact he had in shaping their early careers. The parents of any budding young superstar athletes undoubtedly have to work tirelessly to help their children achieve their dreams, and this uplifting family drama takes us on that journey. The film is packed with incredible performances, including an arguably career-best performance from Will Smith as Richard. He’s very ably supported by star-making turns from Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as the young Venus and Serena respectively, likewise for Aunjanue Ellis as their mother Brandi.

 

6. The Harder They Fall

review

The Western genre is one that has so often been dominated by white lead characters. Meanwhile, for any black characters in these films, they are too often reduced to bit-part roles that don’t give them a chance to shine. However, as the words “These. People. Existed.” flash up on the screen at the start of this slick and stylish Western, it is a timely reminder that these people have stories of their own that deserve to be told. Enter Jeymes Samuel, with his feature film directorial debut that puts these characters front and centre.

Looking at what Samuel brings to the table in terms of his cast and the action scenes, it almost defies belief that this is his feature film debut. His passion for the genre comes through with every frame, and with the super talented cast he has at his disposal, it all meshes together tremendously well. An enthralling and much-needed revitalisation of the Western genre.

 

5. The Mitchells vs. the Machines

review

Technology has very much become a crucial aspect of modern life. From computers to mobile phones, it seems every so often we’re bathing our eyes in the blue light of some fanciful gadget. Films have often tackled the seemingly probable eventuality of a robot apocalypse, but what if when said robot uprising begins, humanity’s last hope is in the form of a hilarious, but extremely dysfunctional family? The answer is the latest hilarious film from those animated wizards at Sony Pictures Animation.

Filled to the brim with funny commentary about how dependent we are on our gadgets, the film’s animation brilliantly combines 2D and 3D styles of animation. The voice performances are all first-class, and the film has, hands down, THE best scene involving Furbies that will ever be seen in any film, ever.

 

4. The Suicide Squad

review

It’s fair to say that DC’s first attempt to bring their collection of super villains and mould them into a team of heroes didn’t get the reception and adulation that DC would have wanted. So what do you do to make a second attempt at this crop of characters work? Well, you bring in the guy who turned an obscure collection of Marvel anti-heroes into box office gold, and apply that to DC’s equivalent collection of characters.

While the film retains some characters from the 2016 film, it’s very much a soft reboot than a direct sequel. James Gunn brings his unique sense of humour to the story, and this new iteration expertly combines previous fan favourites, such as Harley Quinn, with exciting new recruits like a walking, talking humanoid shark, and a character who’s fond of rats. On paper, it sounds ridiculous but under Gunn’s direction, the end result is glorious and gory comic book movie mayhem.

 

 

Now, when it came to the top 3, putting these three films in some kind of order was extremely tough. At one point this year, I had all three of these at #1, and they all would be thoroughly deserving of that spot. If I could have them as a three-way tie for #1, I would. But as they must be ranked, we go on with…

 

3. Judas and the Black Messiah

review

The Civil Rights Movement in the US has seen a number of highly charismatic and influential leaders take a stand and leave their mark on history. The likes of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali are all important figures whose story has been told throughout history. Yet there’s one important figure whose name has seldom been told, but who really should be held in the same breath as these aforementioned historical figures: Fred Hampton Jr.

The story and film’s message have only become more important and relevant in recent years since events in 2020 forced the world to have an urgent conversation about race relations in the US. LaKeith Stanfield’s leading performance as the FBI informant is incredible. However, it is Daniel Kaluuya’s transformative, Oscar-winning, supporting turn as Hampton himself that cements this biographical historical drama as one of the most important films of the year.

2. Promising Young Woman

review

Every so often there is a film that holds up a mirror to our society, that demands us to have a conversation about a particular topic. It’s the power of a truly great film. Not only do they generate a discussion, but they stay with you even after the credits have rolled. This was most definitely applicable for this enthralling directorial debut from Emerald Fennell.

Forced to drop out of med school, following a tragic incident involving her best friend, Cassie goes out at night pretending to be drunk, to catch in the act, would be sexual predators who would take advantage of a drunken woman. The film grips with you with the opening act, and only escalates when circumstances present Cassie with an opportunity to take revenge against the person who inflicted all that pain on her years ago. Fennell expertly juxtaposes bright and colourful romantic comedy moments, with the more dark and brutal revenge mission, all while getting a career-best performance from Carey Mulligan.

 

And so my favourite film of 2021 is

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1. Dune 

review

For two years running, this was my most anticipated film of the year, and it absolutely delivered on those lofty expectations. Denis Villeneuve has cemented himself as one of, if not, my favourite directors working today. He has consistently delivered incredible films every time, and it was clear from interviews in the build-up to the film’s release just how much of an impact Frank Herbert’s iconic novel had on him growing up. It was said to be an unfilmable book, but Villeneuve absolutely proved everybody wrong.

Right from the off, the film immediately pulls the audience into the world of Arrakis and Dune. Villeneuve brings the visual majesty that he brought to his previous sci-fi works, and with a packed ensemble cast tells an utterly enthralling story, or at least the first part of it. The scope of the novel meant that Villeneuve was able to take his time, and it pays off. Dune very much stands on its own as an enthralling piece of sci-fi storytelling, and it was made for the big screen. Experiencing films like this was an experience that was sorely missed in 2020, and so to get the opportunity to experience this on the biggest screen possible was absolutely special. Plus, the great news is that we’ve Part Two still to come.

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And that brings the curtain down on my list of the best that film had to offer in 2021. Thank you for reading, especially if you read all the way through! Let’s hope that it won’t be long before the cinemas reopen and we can witness more films on the big screen. What were your favourite films of 2021? Let me know in the comments below or you can find me on the following platforms: Twitter, Facebook or Letterbox’d.

For my picks for my most anticipated films of 2022, please click here.

Posted in 2020-2029, Ranking

Most Anticipated Films of 2022

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Happy new year cinephiles! 2021 was a very mixed year for cinephiles, we got a return to the big screen at long last, but it hasn’t been the complete return to normality that the cinema industry would have liked to see. Though the feeling of being back in the best place to watch films was truly special, and the 2021 box office was certainly an improvement on that of 2020’s. There’s still much uncertainty in the coming months, as we continue to struggle with the ongoing pandemic, but let’s hope that our cinemas stay open right throughout the year.

With that, let’s look ahead to the upcoming films that are scheduled to be released over the next 12 months. As may be the case for the foreseeable future, some films on this list may end up getting delayed into next year. But, hopefully, we will get to see all these films and many more in 2022. So let’s dive straight in with the films I am most excited to see. First thing’s first, let’s have a look at the honourable mentions (All current UK release dates unless specified):

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (release date: 1 April): So often do films based on video games disappoint, so it was a very welcome surprise when the first Sonic proved to be a blast of fun. The decision to delay the film so they could redesign the titular character worked wonders, and now the sequel will see Sonic team up with Tails, as they take on Dr Robotnik, and Knuckles the Echidna.

Jurassic World: Dominion (release date: 10 June)  Life finds a way, and for the concluding chapter in this Jurassic World trilogy, a few very familiar faces will be making their return for this dinosaur threequel. Namely Sam Neill and Laura Dern as Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler respectively, as well as Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm, who will hopefully have a much bigger role this time around.

The Flash (release date: 4 November) The DCEU has been through its ups and downs, but after a solid 2021 in which both Zack Snyder’s Justice League and The Suicide Squad pulled in good numbers on HBO Max, 2022 it’s looking like it will be a big year with three films being released. The most intriguing is Ezra Miller’s solo Flash film, which will reportedly borrow from the Flashpoint storyline in the comics. The film is set to introduce Supergirl, see the return of not only Ben Affleck’s Batman, but also Michael Keaton’s iteration of the Dark Knight as well.

Avatar 2 (release date: 16 December) Back in 2009, Avatar became a cultural phenomenon. Partly thanks to the revival of 3D, it stormed its way to the highest-grossing film of all time, which it held for over a decade, and has since retaken thanks to a rerelease in China. However, it has taken a while for James Cameron to get all of the pieces in place for the sequel to finally be released after numerous delays. Will Cameron recapture that enthusiasm that audiences had for a Pandoran adventure, or has the ship sailed? Time will tell.

Turning Red (release date: 11 March). Very few studios can sell a film based on the strength of their name alone, but Pixar is definitely one of those studios. With two films from Disney’s sister studio to look forward to this year, Focusing on a girl who turns into a giant red panda when she’s stressed out. Pixar can so often be at their brilliant, and emotional, best when crafting original stories, and this is their most unique film in quite some time.

Now, let’s see what cracked my top 10:

10. Lightyear

Release date: 17 June

The second Pixar offering of the year. Everyone knows the name Buzz Lightyear and his iconic catchphrase. However, what makes this film so intriguing is that it is not a direct continuation of the first four Toy Story films, but rather a look at how the Buzz Lightyear action figure came to be the #1 toy that all of the kids wanted to have. With Chris Evans taking over the voice duties from Tim Allen, this film promises to be an exciting space adventure that audiences will be wanting to go To Infinity and Beyond to see.

9. Nope 

Release date: 22 July

With his first two films as a director, Jordan Peele has proved himself to be one of the new masters in horror filmmaking, creating thought-provoking and brilliantly terrifying films. One of which won him a well-deserved Oscar. Not much is known about the plot of his third film but with a cast that includes his Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, as well as Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun. Was there a chance this was missing the list?

Well, erm, nope….. (I’ll see myself out..)

 

8. The Northman

Release date: 22 April

Along with Jordan Peele, another director that has come along in recent years and changed the horror genre is that of Robert Eggers. However, with his latest film, he seems to be stepping away from horror, into a more historical epic that focuses on one man’s quest to avenge the death of his father. With that super exciting first trailer, this promises to be an enthralling epic, with a stellar cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Bjork.

7. Don’t Worry Darling

Release date: 23 September 

Olivia Wilde successfully made her directorial debut with the hilarious Booksmart. For her second stint behind the camera, she’s going back to the 1950s for a mysterious thriller/horror about a married couple. Not much else is known about the film’s plot but when you have Florence Pugh and Harry Styles in the lead roles, with Gemma Chan, Chris Pine and Kiki Layne in supporting roles, well need I say anymore?

6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Release date: 11 November 

The first Black Panther film was a landmark moment for the MCU as it was the first MCU film with a predominantly black cast, and it was a phenomenal success, winning the MCU their first 3 Oscars. But, as exciting as it will be to make a return to Wakanda, it will ultimately be a very bittersweet one given the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman.

It’s quite the unenviable task for director Ryan Coogler to honour Boseman’s extraordinary legacy, and simultaneously pass the mantle of the Black Panther onto a new character. Fortunately, as the first film introduced audiences to numerous memorable characters, Ryan Coogler will find a way to ensure that legacy of the Black Panther, and that of Chadwick Boseman, will live on. Plus, there’s been plenty of rumours as to who some of the new additions to the cast, such as Michaela Coel, might be playing.

5. Mission: Impossible 7

Release date: 30 September

Since Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, the MI franchise has somehow managed to find ways to keep going and just get better and better with every new instalment. This is no small part due to the willingness of the franchise’s star Tom Cruise to keep doing absolutely jaw-dropping and insane stunts that manage to outdo the last crazy stunt he did for the previous film, quite a feat for him as he’s fast approaching his 60th birthday.

While plot details remain unknown, all of the familiar faces seem to be back in action, and Christopher McQuarrie is once again calling the shots as the director. What’s more, the franchise has added some very exciting talents including Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementioff,  Esai Morales and Shea Whigham. Based on the above picture, audiences can surely expect more insane stunts and some thrilling action sequences.

 

4. Thor: Love and Thunder

Release date: 8 July

It took a while for Thor’s MCU solo films to really find their feet after a decent debut film, and a somewhat shaky second outing. However, in came director Taika Waititi in the director’s chair for the third film, and it proved to be a match made in heaven, with one of the funniest MCU films to date. So it’s thrilling to see Waititi return to helm this sequel that promises to somehow outdo the bonkers nature of Ragnarok, as if that was possible.

Natalie Portman will make her return as Jane Foster, but not only that, she will also be suiting up as the Mighty Thor. All of the supporting cast from Ragnarok like Valkyrie and Korg are expected to return. Plus, there’s also the strong possibility that the Guardians of the Galaxy will show up as well, all possibly taking on Gorr the God Butcher as played by Christian Bale.

 

 

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)

Release date: October 7

2018’s Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse was one of the most stylish and unique animated films to have come out in a long time, and it’s one of the best superhero films ever made. Introducing fan favourite Miles Morales as Spider-Man, its unique animation style made it feel like it was as if the animators were directly taking pages of a comic book and translating them onto the screen. Plus given lots of superhero films this year are all about the multiverse, it was a film ahead of the curve.

With this sequel, we can definitely expect more multiverse shenanigans, and the fact that this film will be part one is an extremely intriguing prospect. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson will all be reprising their voice roles. On top of which, Oscar Isaac joining the cast as Spider-Man 2099 and Issa Rae as Spider-Woman.

2. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Release date: May 6

Phase 4 of the MCU has slowly but surely been building towards unleashing the Multiverse, and now thanks to the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it has finally arrived. Based on the teaser trailer for the film, one cannot help but wonder if we’re only just scratching the surface with the Multiverse in the MCU, and it’s going to be something that the MCU heroes will be dealing with for a long time to come. Based on what’s been teased, this could well be the closest thing the MCU may ever come to a horror film, and the trailer looked suitably ominous and foreboding.

Featuring the return of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo and Rachel McAdams as Christine, the film will see Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange working with Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Given these two are arguably the two most strongest MCU heroes, it will be fascinating to watch these two team-up. The cherry on the cake, however, is that this will be directed by Sam Raimi, the director of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films. A director with a history when it comes to horror films.

 

And, my #1 most anticipated film of 2022 is.

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1.  The Batman

Release date: March 4

If you had to ask anyone to name five superheroes, chances are good that most people would name Batman among them. The character of Bruce Wayne/Batman is truly iconic, and it’s a role that has been held by a number of actors down the years. Now, Robert Pattinson is latest man to don the iconic cape and cowl.

What started out as a DCEU film to be directed by and starring Ben Affleck, has now become a stand alone DC film, under the direction of Matt Reeves. It looks like this iteration of the Dark Knight will be considerably more darker and brutal than those that came before it. Pattinson looks like an inspired choice for the titualr role, and when you add Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Jefffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred, Paul Dano as the Riddler, and an unrecognisable Colin Farrell as the Penguin, you have the makings of what could turn out to be the best Batman film ever made.

This concludes my picks for the most anticipated films of 2022, What are your most anticipated films for this year? Let me know on any of the following platforms: Twitter, Facebook or Letterbox’d. 

Thanks for reading. Here’s to a great 12 months of cinema (fingers crossed!)