A Year In Film: Part I

All the current hype in the movie industry is surrounding 2015. Star Wars Episode VII, Batman & Superman, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World, Ant-Man and many many more triple A blockbusters. But let’s not forget that we’ve had some cracking big screen experiences in the last year.

The following is a list of my top picks, honourable mentions and a dud from each month. A quick note though. As I’m not a film critic by trade, I don’t have the time or connections to see every film. Although I have seen quite a few and can form opinions on some that I haven’t from friends, writers and general social media hate, there may be some omissions that seem outrageous to some.

Anyway, enough chit chat. Let’s get to it.

January

Cream Of The Crop

Everybody loves Quentin Tarantino right? No? You’re not a fan of his long eloquent ramblings with many a fuck thrown in, all the while in his squeaky voice? Oh. Well you must enjoy his bloody pieces dripping in witty monologues and one-liners though? No? WELL YOU’RE CRAZY!

There’s a reason Tarantino is lauded by critics and everyday cinema goers a like. He is a marvel, and Django Unchained shows why. I’d argue that Inglorious Basterds dipped a little from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction but Django is a phenomenal return to form.

A spaghetti Western with Christoph Waltz stealing the show, a solid Jamie Foxx – who sometimes gets caught looking stunned that he’s the lead in a Tarantino movie, a smarmy Leonardo Di Caprio continuing to put forward his claim to the most consistently brilliant actor of his generation and a small yet brilliant performance from old hand Samuel L Jackson. Action is appropriately bloody, the story is one worth telling and although overly long, the payoff is worth your time.

A Worthy Watch

January’s a weird time in the UK. We often get the over spill of Oscar contenders from the previous year. In 2013, we were treated to the heart-wrenching The Impossible. Welcome Tom Holland you future superstar. Live singing paid off big time for musical juggernaut Les Misérables. Russel Crowe, who knew. Daniel Day Lewis proved he’s still the greatest actor to live in Lincoln, John Hawkes put in a sleeper performance in The Sessions and although lacking in any sort of plot, Gangster Squad was a great hark back to the mob story.

Stinkin’ Turd

Movie 43. It’s baffling how a film with solid directors can bring a multitude of A List stars to the screen to produce a fascinatingly unfunny comedy.

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February

Cream Of The Crop

Already this list has become one that features directors at the top of their game. Judd Apatow is no exception. Whatever you think of the guy or his movies – whether as director or producer – you can’t deny This Is 40 is a fantastic comedy. Apatow gets a lot of hate for being self indulgent in the films he writes and directs. Knocked Up and Funny People, their full cuts at least, are a little too long. But for me, it’s a case of more the merrier than any untoward pain.

This Is 40 got a lot of marketing as the sort-of-sequel to Knocked Up. It’s a stupid coined phrase from some studio exec. Yes the two share some characters but you should go into this one like it’s a fresh story. Because it is.

Paul Rudd continues to be one of the funniest men on the planet. Leslie Mann never gets enough credit and the Apatow-Mann kids could both go into acting full time if they so wish. The story is one that I’m sure a shed load of couples can relate to but the true joy comes in the smaller parts and cameos. Megan Fox, Jason Segel, Chris O’Dowd (who’s EVERYWHERE right now), Lena Dunham and Melissa McCarthy are all solid.

A Worthy Watch

February’s films were all there or thereabouts. This Is 40 grabs the top spot more for my own taste than being inherently better than everything else. Just look at Denzel Washington in Flight, zombie love story Warm Bodies and Pixar’s homage to the 8 Bit generation in Wreck It Ralph. They’re all well worth a cheeky Bluray purchase.

Stinkin’ Turd

A Good Day To Die Hard. Somebody put Bruce Willis out of his misery. That poor old man. As if appearing in a humourless advert for Sky wasn’t bad enough, Die Hard version 75 million is everything an action movie shouldn’t be. A monotonous repetitive dive into 90s B movies.

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March

Cream Of The Crop

Although slim picking in March, Danny Boyle’s Trance isn’t just here by chance. It’s a stand alone cracking film that deserves its place in any Best of British list for years to come.

Anyone with an ounce of knowledge about the movie industry is fully aware of what an utter genius Boyle is. 127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting are all so vastly different yet so wonderful. Trance is just the same. A metamorphosis of mind games and fantastic visual tricks constantly up the tension with one of our best, James McAvoy, anchoring a cast of relative unknowns.

Rarely a film comes along and leaves you talking about it’s meaning for hours after. Trance not only does that but also leaves you wondering what the hell is real before questioning your own sanity and understanding of our world.

A Worthy Watch

Like I said, March is notorious for being a filler month between Oscar hype and that first Spring blockbuster slot, so all I can muster for you here is The Paperboy. If a film gets absolutely drilled at a fancy festival then it’s odds on that it’s actually quite good. Zac Efron breaks type while Nicole Kidman dazzles as a sultry siren.

Stinkin’ Turd

Congratulations The Guilt Trip, you made Seth Rogen unfunny. That poor guy, being paired with Barbra Streisand who could just about keep pace in Meet The Fockers. If only it ended in a car crash, that might be fitting.

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Check back soon for Part II where the superheroes come out in force and the indies hold their own.