In the past I have made videos discussing my top 10 favourite films of the year, but this time I’m going to be doing something a little different. For the past several years I’ve been finding that system to be inefficient in discussing something this short term, after all a film that I saw back in February has had much longer to fester than a film I will have just seen this past month, and often ranking those films in chronological order proves to be outdated within several months as my opinion changes or I see even more films that would have made the list otherwise. There is also the issue that I don’t feel most of the films I loved this year I could write up a definitive list of saying which one is better than the other, especially when I know it'll be out of date within just a matter of months. Nevertheless I find myself with the desire to write up an end of year summary because it’s a fun way to recognise my thoughts and opinions at the time of release, sort of like a time chamber.
Before we get into the list however, let’s begin with some Honourable Mentions. Because there are some that still might only have one or two elements that stand out to me that make them worth discussing, but not to be mistaken as acclaim for the film as a whole.
Crawl/Ready or Not
I place these two films together because I appreciated them for the same reason. They are both small-budget horror films that I didn’t anticipate going into the year but ended up being surprising dark horses that from beginning to end was a hootenanny of a good time. Crawl can probably take the medal for most times I’ve clenched in a theatre this year, while Ready or Not goes with the old fashioned message of “Rich white people are crazy and it’s fun to see them suffer”, a message that has been told several times this year and it's never going to be a message that I tire of.
The Kid Who Would Be King
For the most part I feel this film plays it rather safe which certainly makes it a decent watch that I would recommend. That being said I will always be a sucker for a film that lets its characters genuinely hit rock bottom. That moment at the end of the 2nd act when the protagonist is supposed to be at their lowest? Any film that genuinely makes me feel like this is that character’s emotional pit of despair amongst all other pits of despair, then I will always praise them for that.
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
“Everything's not awesome. Things can't be awesome all of the time, it's an unrealistic expectation, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to make everything awesome. In a less idealistic kind of way, we should maybe aim for not bad, cause not bad, well that would be real great. Everything is better when we stick together” I shit you not, those lyrics nearly made me cry.
Stan & Ollie
The most underdiscussed movie of the year! In a time where every biopic feels formulaic, safe and basic…this one still is—but it’s really good at it! Steve Coogan and John C Reilly portraying two of the most iconic comedians of all time and they simply do phenomenal in the roles; they’re subtle, they have great chemistry and the film puts thought behind what made these two funny rather than just skip over it and pretend it was all natural talent like many others do. I saw this film back in January and somehow I have heard no one talk about it, for shame.
Blinded By The Light
A light-hearted romp based on a true story around a Pakistani teenager growing up in 1980’s Britain who finds solace and inspiration in the music of Bruce Springsteen to show how music transcends. Meanwhile also working as an allegory for the harsh times Britain faces today with how it handles prejudice bigots, corrupt tori governments and gives us a kick ass soundtrack along the way…I liked it.
Hmmmmm…okay turns out I had more to say on my honourable mentions than I first thought, so I suppose I’ll have to save my actual favourite films of the year for it’s own post tomorrow. See ya then.
-Danny
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