Finally, we’re into the list proper, with…
#10 Nina Forever
There have been quite a few tales of “tainted love” that I really loved this year, including a couple from the above list (both of which would steam roll Fifty Shades of Grey anyday; The Duke of Burgundy is how you do a kink relationship right on film!). However, just squeezing in with its very limited London run of one cinema is this “Fucked-Up Fairy Tale” (Not my words btw, that’s the tagline!). It uses the horror genre to tell the story of a relationship haunted by the ex in a far better way than the similarly premised Burying the Ex; this one knows how to write female characters for a start! It’s also brutally honest about the way relationships and grief work, with a cast of newcomers and established actors all pulling it off well. However, it will of course be remembered not just for the almost Hellraiser-esque appearances of the titular Nina (played magnificently by Fiona O’Shaughnessy), but for the way that sex and the horrific elements are so tightly woven together in the visuals and the storyline. Definitely not an all ages or all tastes experience, but that hasn’t stopped full critical recognition; star Abigail Hardingham was awarded Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film awards! Deserved.
(BTW, I must make clear that I am not just saying all of
this because I know one of the cast, Richard Sandling, who has a small, but
funny scene.)
#9 Turbo Kid
There has been an interesting trend recently as those who grew up in the golden age of VHS era schlock are now filmmakers, and trying to make films in that style with the one difference that it is now possible to make one that lives up to the cover art. This year alone YouTube was rocked by Kung Fury, and that one is a tonne of fun, but for my nod on this list we have to look this utterly demented piece from French Canada. This actually started out as a potential candidate for The ABCs of Death, T is for Turbo, but there was plenty for material for a full story. This captures the fun of the VHS in so many different ways; the soundtrack, the aesthetic, the far-flung future of 1997, even having Michael Ironside as the main bad guy, clearly having a ball with his part. But the two most memorable parts of this are Laurence Leboeuf as Apple, not just a perfect parody of the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” archetype, but a ridiculously fun character in her own right (complete with Gnome Stick) and then there’s the gore. Yep, we’re talking early Peter Jackson levels here, some of the most hilarious, impossible to take seriously violence on screen in years! This was a blast seeing it on the big screen at FrightFest, if you have a fond love for 80s video cheese, you need to check this out!
#8 Ex Machina
Thoughtful, intelligently made sci-fi cinema isn’t dead yet, despite idiotic efforts like Prometheus and Transcendence in recent years. I must admit, I wasn’t and still am not enamoured with Alex Garland’s screenplays he did with Danny Boyle, but since then we’ve had Dredd, and now this. It’s wonderfully minimalist with just the leads Oscar Issac, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Sonoya Mizuno (who does so well with zero dialogue) just getting to show off their range for the runtime. It also asks some wonderfully grim but important questions about not only our relationships with technology, but also a lot about gender politics too. It's like this Robot Chicken sketch, but not played for laughs. This is like a full Black Mirror movie, complete with some wonderful steps into the horror genre as well. Also, for a directorial debut, it is superb and beautiful to look at, I’m definitely looking forward to Garland’s next one Annihilation, an adaptation of a novel by Jeff Vandermeer.
Wait a minute, both male leads were in Star Wars too! Co-incidence?
Yes, very probably. Hey, speaking of...
#7 Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Getting this out of the way now; yes, the plotline follows the template of the first film pretty damn closely, but anyone immediately pointing at that as a flaw isn’t considering why it’s like that. Star Wars at its best set itself up as an epic myth, an archetypal tale, so the way that this new generation for the franchise has set itself up in honour of the mythical previous heroes (Luke and the Rebel Alliance for the good guys, Vader and the Empire for the First Order) makes perfect sense. It is the cycle of history; all this has happened before, all this will happen again. That’s just one way that this film has got Star Wars firmly back on track; it’s learned all the right lessons from the original trilogy. Fun, vibrant characters. Peppy pacing. Practical effects. Even one key emotional beat acknowledges the much reviled prequels, they make an already powerful scene have much more weight. Despite a few slightly straining at the seams plot point, it works in a hard to discuss without spoiling whole; in fact, I am going to have on here soon a very spoilery post discussion on of the film’s biggest shocks… or was it a shock after all? Oh, and if you get the chance, see this at the Science Museum IMAX while it’s still playing, it’s the only place in Europe to see it in projected IMAX 70mm, and by Gods it’s so beautiful I honestly got teary eyed at points.
#6 Song of the Sea
#6 Song of the Sea
Of all the things I missed on my “most looked forward to in 2015” list, this is the one I’ve been kicking myself about the most. I absolutely adore Tomm Moore’s previous film The Secret of Kells, and this was a fine follow-up, keeping a lot about what I loved before, and going in new directions. Learning a lot of lessons from Studio Ghibli, this is firmly tied to the legends of its homeland, bringing to life many parts of Irish folklore in ways like never before. This is also gorgeous to look at, with the same, crisp, 2D animation style from Kells, with plenty of wondrous imagery to showcase. Above all though, it’s a very personal tale, with a narrative fit for the whole family, with a genuine human warmth to it. This has been a great year for animation in films, not just in terms of the overall quality, but in the range of projects that have been created in various formats, and this is a perfect example. Tomm Moore’s apparently already at work on his next big project, dealing with werewolves; in!
#5 Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg and the Coen Brothers. I never would have considered that mix
before, but Holy Hell does it work like gangbusters here! Somehow Spielberg’s directorial style and the
Coen’s script (and there is some very Coen Brothers dialogue in here)
complement this story so well, with both parties believing strongly in this
story of the Cold War. Of course it
should be mentioned that though this takes place in the lead-up to the Berlin
Wall being built, this story has a lot of relevance today. Agents of a foreign power that’s eternally
being demonised in the American media, being said to be given a fair hearing
but ultimately being treated in a way that’s both inhumanising and illegal,
those that speak in their support also being targeted; gee, does this remind
you of something? What’s more, the film
does a good job of showing that, despite what everyone says, the two sides are
more similar than either would care to admit.
Through in wonderful performances all round, including Tom Hanks at his
Tom Hanksiest, and this is one of the best spy dramas in years. Real espionage may include less explosions
than James Bond, but in its own way, it’s way more interesting and rewarding.
#4 The Martian
Ridley Scott making a good movie. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Truth is, he’s never lost his touch as a director, it’s the scripts and stories that have been the problems all this time. Well, with an excellent source material in Andy Weir’s novel and Drew Goddard adapting it, this has a superb script to work with. What’s remarkable is how relatively simple the story is; Matt Damon’s trapped on Mars, how are we going to keep him alive, and get him back home? From there, we get one of the best YEAH SCIENCE!!! storylines we’ve had since at least… OK, since Big Hero 6, but it’s still refreshing to see so many big films firmly embrace science after years of ME AM PLAY GODS. It’s a real feel good experience to watch so many characters from different backgrounds, nations and viewpoints come together to solve this problem, and while they may occasionally butt heads about what’s the best way to do it, there’s no bad guy here, no antagonist beyond the Martian environment. This also does the whole “space movie with a retro seventies soundtrack” thing that Guardians of the Galaxy did, except it might even work a bit better here, not least for some simple but fun gags. Also, how funny is it to see a character explaining a Lord of the Rings reference while Sean Bean is in the room? This is probably my feel-good movie of the year, and another one that I think may have some future benefits, like getting a new generation excited about SSSSSSPPPPAAAAAACCCCCCEEEEEEEE!!!!!
#3 Crimson Peak
#2 Inside Out
I got to see this early thanks to the fine folks at Den of
Geek, and what an experience this movie is.
I could go on and on about the beauty, the artistry, the comedy, the
sadness (I still have feels about Bing Bong!), but what I really love is the
impact this can have. Mental health is
something that’s still poorly understood, taught and stigmatised by many, so I
cannot emphasise enough the importance of films accessible to all which
addresses the topic. Big Hero 6 this
year did that too, with a storyline that includes facing depression as a
serious, treatable condition that needs understanding, support and positive
action to overcome. Inside Out takes
things even further in that it can give kids and their families ways to discuss
these things, a vocabulary and new way of looking at these problems. It shows that sadness isn’t something to be
ashamed of, or terrible to be, but a source of empathy, catharsis, healing, and
it helps to make the joy in your life mean more. The fact that all this is in a film that it’s
impossible not to have fun watching makes it all sink in far easier. I think this has the potential to lead to
great things for a whole generation growing up; I’ll be interested to see how
right I am.
And my #1 movie of 2015 is… Mad Max: Fury Road
How the hell does a sequel to a franchise that ended in 1985
made by a seventy year old director feel like one of the most fresh, new,
vibrant and dangerous visions to come along in years? With attitude, power, and by tearing up the
rulebook of course! There’s so much to
discuss and unpack on why this is so awesome.
The utterly blatant “smash the patriarchy” feminist storyline. The raw power of the practical effects
work. The gorgeous cinematography and
production design. The solid theming in
almost every aspect of the production.
Tom Hardy banishing all thoughts of Mel Gibson while not talking for
most of the film. Charlize Theron. I want to give an extra shout out here to
Margaret Sixel, the editor who managed to get the rhythm and placement
perfectly right for some of the most intense action choreography in years. If I carry on at this rate I’m worried my laptop
keyboard will be worn away to nothingness.
Let’s just say that this actually has some serious Oscar buzz around it;
if a film that features a sight as gloriously demented as the Doof Warrior even
gets a nomination in one of the main categories, that’d really be something.
So, a very interesting year in film, especially in genre
films. Tomorrow though, it’s time for me
to reveal my last list, the titles I’m looking forward to checking out in 2016…
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