As promised, this is my ‘Pick of the year’. Over many months i’ve posted many top notch movies - some of the most unusual, fascinating and best films ever made from around the world. Here's 18 of my personal favourites, not in any particular order. Check them out
Thanks for everyone’s support .
Let the right one in (Sweden) (Horror/Drama)
In a wintery Stockholm, a lonely lad, bullied at school, befriends a mysterious girl next door, who has been '12 for a long time’. Atmospheric, beautiful, subtle, moving - this is the stunning Swedish Vampire movie. Fantastic heartbreaking performances, beautiful cinematography and a haunting story are just some of the qualities of this outstanding and original film.
East is East (U.K) (Comedy/Drama)
In 70’s Salford, 'George’ a strict Pakistani father with a English wife is appalled that his mixed race family reject traditional Pakistani values and is determined to arrange marriages for them all. Fish n chips, racism, tradition and identity are just some of the ingrediants in this comedy drama which takes refreshing look at northern working class life through the eyes of one of England’s ethnic minorities.
Death of a president (U.K) (Thriller/Drama/'Documentary’)
President George W Bush is assassinated during a convention in Chicago. With the controversial 'Patriot act’, and widespread civil unrest , who is the killer? This unusual drama imagines the assassination and its consequences - all in the form of a fake documentary. Real footage and staged scenes with actors, blend perfectly in a eerily convincing movie, that functions both as a thriller and exploration of government policies, racism and other issues
Far North (U.K/France) (Drama/Thriller)
Two women living a lonely and dangerous Eskimo life in the Arctic circle save a mysterious stranger. Soon both are vying for his affections with tragic results.This stunningly beautiful drama is based on a strange and macabre short story. Love, loneliness, passion are just some of the themes in this subtle, sparse and almost wordless drama. The tiny cast headed by Michelle Yeoh give powerful performances against a beautiful bleak landscape.
Black Narcissus (U.K) (Drama)
In a old palace, which used to house a harem, in the remote mountains of the Himalaya, a group of nuns try to establish a base - but the heady atmosphere and other events threatens to drive them crazy. This is one of the most beautiful and stunning films by the unusual filmmaking team Powell and Pressburger. Filmed on a sound stage in the U.K using ingenious sets this is on the surface a story about nuns, but beneath, its a subtly erotic film about passion and the sensuous world. Hauntingly atmospheric - fantastic
Frankenweenie (Animation : Comedy/Fantasy)
This is Tim Burton’s full length animation, based on his short from years ago. A young boy devastated by the loss of his pet dog 'Sparky’ , discovers science, and sets out to bring him back from the dead with hilarious results. This is a Ingenious, beautiful funny and charming reworking of the old 'Frankenstein story. One of the best animated films for years, it is a horror film buffs dream, with references from everything from the Mummy to the Godzilla.
Downfall (Germany) (Drama/War)
It’s the last few days of the war in Europe. Surrounded by the Red army, Hitler and other Nazi bigwigs are holed up in his secret Berlin bunker, awaiting their downfall. Based on the eye witness accounts of Hitler’s secretary, this meticulously researched film, presents a utterly convincing recreation of the end of the Nazi nightmare. Ganz and others give great performances in eerily realistic surroundings.
Raise the red lantern (China) (Drama)
In old China, a intelligent young woman finds herself the fourth wife of a rich man.Though living in sumptious surroundings, waited on hand and and foot, all are essentially prisoners. All wives scheme and plot for the husband’s attention and with tragic results. This is a beautiful recreation of the bad old days of old China with women and their the subjugation, at the heart of this sobering tale.
A tale of two sisters (Korea) (Drama/Horror)
Following a mysterious family trauma two sisters return home from a psychiatric hospital. Their homecoming is fraught with tensions as they are greeted by a distant father and a sinister stepmother. The house may also be haunted. Family secrets, ghosts, psychosis are just some of the ingredients in this fantastc Asian horror drama. Beautiful, sad and scary, mindbending and artistic, this is one of the best films and best looking to come out of Korea. Fantastic. (Hands up, its also one of my all time favourite films)
Supersize me (U.S.A) (Documentary)
This Is Morgan Spurlocks entertaining and eye opening exploration of the fast food phenonema and it’s impact on culture and health. Macdonald’s claim that its food is not harmful, is put to the test as Morgan sets out to live on nothing but Macdonald’s food for a month - with fascinating, funny and scarey results. One of the best film documentaries ever made.
Badlands (U.S.A) (Drama/Crime)
This gem, Terrance Mallick’s debut movie, is one of the best films from the American New Wave of the early seventies. Based on real events, a dangerous young man and his girfriend go on the run with various people being killed on the way. Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen are fantastic as the srangely sympathetic oddball delinquents. Beautiful top notch drama.
Ed Wood (U.S.A) (Comedy/Drama)
This is Tim Burton’s affectionate film about real life terrible filmmaker and closet transvestite Ed Wood, with the help of faded horror star Bela Lugosi and other oddball misfits. A great cast, great performances and evocative black and white photography are just some of the great ingredients in this funny and sad movie - It’s also one of the best ever made about the pleasures and headaches of movie making.
The return of Martin Geurre (Drama/Thriller)
In a mediaevel France, a woman’s husband runs off to the war after a disasterous arranged marriage only to return years later, but as a changed man. Now he is warm and loving toward his wife and soon tongues are wagging that the stranger is imposter. This unusual thriller/drama takes place in a fantastically realised, medieval world of mud and thatch. (I couldn’t locate the trailer - this is a clip from the film)
Blame it on Fidel (Drama/Comedy)
In 70’s France, a husband and wife abandon their comfortable life to become radical socialists. Their fiesty daughter is not amused by the move to a tiny flat, and the coming and goings of bearded revolutionaries, women’s rights campaigners, refugee nannies and others.. This is funny and thoughtful look at a idealistic time all seen through the eyes of a child who comes to discover a world far more complicated than she realised. Terrific
Land and freedom (U.K/Spain) (War/Drama)
In the 30’s, an idealist Liverpudlian goes to Spain to help in the fight against the fascists.Fighting in a brave but poorly equipt militia, he finds his hopes and outlook seriously challenged.This is social realist Ken Loache’s magnificent and Thoughtful recreation of the Spanish civil war and the left’s heroic struggle, and what went wrong. Moving powerful stuff
Fears of the dark (France) (Animation - Horror/Fantasy)
This is a collection of short animated films by international graphic artists - all on the theme of 'fears’. Stories draw on folklore, bugs, wolves, psychosis and other things that scare us. This is a wonderful and original example of the creative potential of traditional 2d animation. Different stories, ideas,and styles blend in this beautiful and all too rare compilation. Magical
Paper Moon (U.S.A) (Comedy/Drama)
In depression era U.S.A, a con man with a scam selling Bibles to widows, finds himself travelling with the orphaned daughter of a ex girlfriend. When he discovers his charge is brighter than he, they team up. This is one of the best road movies ever made - both funny and moving boasting a cracking script, top notch performances, beautiful cinematography and much more.
The motor cycle diaries (Argentina , U.K and others) (Drama/Adventure)
A young Che Guevara and friend set off to explore South America on a motorbike and besides discovering fascinating landscapes and peoples, encounter poverty and social injustice and find a new outlook on life. Based on the autobiographical writings of Che, this is a thoughtful look at one of the 20th century’s most iconic and inspirational characters and issues which are still relevant today.
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