I’ve been writing for Movie Buzzers for just under a year now, in fact (and I went back to check) it was the 10th of January I was first in touch with the site to write for them. Before that it was all blogging and hoping I’d get hits into the double digits.
Being on such a wonderful site like Movie Buzzers (wipes the brown from one’s nose) has helped me become a better writer, a faster writer and more creative. I’ve had the pleasure of being involved in many firsts such as my first ever press screener (Welcome To The Punch) my first ever festival (New York Asian Film Festival), my first chat with a director (Fisher Stevens – Stand Up Guys) and I’ve been exposed to many films I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to see if it wasn’t for this site.
So because it’s been quite an exciting year for me, I decided I would share my favourite films from this year, courtesy of Movie Buzzers. These lists tend to become very samesy though, you’ll read the same names over and over again, so to mix things up a bit I’m splitting my list into categories, each category receiving two entrants – what’s going on, this guy is crazy, he’s breaking all the rules. Anything ranging from US Blockbusters to my time covering the NY Asian Film Festival and, to top it off, I’ll give a special mention to the most disappointing film of the year, in my opinion. Feel free to share your thoughts at the bottom of the page.
UK Cinema: Where would I be without my much loved homegrown films. It hasn’t been a spectacular year for UK cinema, but there have still been some diamonds in the rough:
Easily one of my favourite films of the year. This little known film based on the book with the same title is perhaps James McAvoy‘s most impressive performance. It follows the story of a dangerous, deranged Police Officer in Scotland as his mental stability progressively deteriorates as he messes with his entire team of co-workers and friends, all for his own personal pleasure.
Richard Curtis‘ retirement film in the director’s chair. While he’ll continue to write for the screen – which isn’t quite the same – this was a perfect sign off film for the British director, who has earned a name for himself when it comes to these soppy middle-class romances. About Time didn’t disappoint with a wonderful cast, heart-warming story and more of that bumbling-lovey goodness.
Hollywood: The most reliable sorts of films year on year. We know exactly what we’ll get with Hollywood Blockbusters. Big name casts, high concepts, and if we’re really lucky, spectacular flops from films that we never wanted in the first place:
Django Unchained:
Now I know technically it was released the back end of last year for the US, but here in the UK we didn’t get Django until January 2013, so for me it counts. I loved Django, perhaps my favourite Tarantino film – big statement. It incorporated everything I like about a Tarantino film: the gallows humour, a great cast and a sense of unpredictability. All of this, and it was a Western – a genre I love that has been making a comeback as of late. It set the standards high for the beginning of the year, a standard not many beat.
Iron Man 3:
As soon as I saw that Shane Black was attached, I knew this film would kick some serious ass. Afterall, things couldn’t be any worse than the diabolical outing of Iron Man 2, and it had a great backdrop from The Avengers to piggyback on. Iron Man 3 was easily the best Superhero film of the year, and probably the best action film of the year too. It was exciting, hilarious and ballsy by messing with the comic book arc of Iron Man, but it worked perfectly. Hopefully Shane Black comes back for Iron Man 4.
American Indie: While the machine keeps churning out the same, mostly mundane, sometimes surprising films, you can rely on the ever-growing presence of the independent market to produce some truly wonderful films in America:
The Way Way Back:
It’s difficult to call The Way Way Back an indie film with such a sterling cast, but an Indie film it is none-the-less. These coming-of-age tales are becoming quite popular at the moment, but this film was easily at the top of the pile. It’s one of those films that makes you wish you could live it, through the heart-ache and the pain, so you can reach that light at the end of a tunnel. Kudos goes to Sam Rockwell – one of my favourite actors – for taking this film on his shoulders, he’s a pleasure to watch in every scene he graces his presence with.
Mud:
A film I couldn’t wait for, mostly due to my love towards Matthew McConaughey – seriously, the guy is fantastic and it’s great he’s finally getting the credit he deserves. This indie coming-of-age film by a superb director in Jeff Nichols is quite different to the other coming-of-age flick above. It’s a dark drama set in the West of America as two young boys discover a fugitive, Mud, on an Island along the Mississippi River. Mud is about love and life, trying to work your way through life with the torments of love forever on your shoulder. It’s a film you need to see if you haven’t already.
Asian Film Fest: I’ve been a huge fan of Asian cinema for a few years now, so when I was offered the opportunity to cover the New York Asian Film Festival I jumped on it. This was a hard one as there were a whole host of fantastic films offered, but I’ve done my best to give you the one that stood out the most:
Again, a bit of a cheat as this film was technically released in 2011 – but I’m assuming that was in South Korea, as it was over in the NY Asian Film Festival in 2013. Confession of Murder was a film which confuses, you don’t really know what is going on or where the film will ultimately end up, but by the end of it you can’t help but be blown away by the gripping plot.
The Woodsman and the Rain is a film in stark contrast to Confession of Murder. It’s a sweet drama/comedy following the relationship between an elderly windower and a young inexperienced film director who is in the village shooting a film. The film is built on friendship as the two men make each other stronger and more confident in their own ways.
Most Disappointing of the Year: And very quickly to finish this off, we all have them. Those films that just don’t deliver.
Kick-Ass 2:
There were definitely worse films than Kick-Ass 2, huge names like Man of Steel spring to mind, but I can’t say I wasn’t expecting that, ever since the trailer it looked so un-Superman, it wasn’t a let down because I wasn’t expecting it to be good. Kick-Ass 2 however had a lot more promise. The trailer looked great, and funny moments didn’t evade the film. Overall though it was a huge let down that failed to capture the same magic from the first outing. Maybe the story went too big? Maybe it relied far too much on the same elements the first film relied on, when really we needed something new? Maybe it just needed a little less Jeff Wadlow and a little more Matthew Vaughn. Whatever the reason, Kick-Ass 2 is definitely the most disappointing film I’ve had the misfortune of seeing this year.
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