The way I'm defining "mainstream" is basically any movie that was distributed through two or more cinemas. So, even if it was only distributed through the more elite cinemas of Nova and Palace, I'm counting it as mainstream. Mainly because it's the easiest way for me to divide them. And I would just like to remind everyone that this is based purely on the movies I saw last year, rather than the movies that only came out last year. Like I said, Australia is annoyingly out of loop on some things. Anyway, let's begin!
10. Quartet
Originally, I was going to put Tom Hooper's Les Miserables, but while I don't think the film is bad, I don't think that it was made as well as it could've been. The music fits the stage so well, it was never going to work as a film. And besides, it doesn't have four of my favourite British actors in it. Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon are absolutely fantastic in this. They act so effortlessly that you don't even realise that they're acting. I got so sad towards the end because I thought that Pauline Collins actually did have alzheimers, but then I remembered that she's Pauline Collins and is sharp as a fox. Even though this was his first time directing, I knew that Dustin Hoffman was going to make an actors movie. And it looked like he didn't have to do much with all the talent that you see in this. And I love the fact that they used actual stage performers and opera singers and musicians from the previous century. It added something extra to the film.
9. Shame
Michael Fassbender is the expert at not showing emotion in any of his parts. Or, as in the case this film, showing as little emotion as possible so that the audience is left with an impression of a character rather than someone fully fleshed. Which is refreshing, amazingly. When you don't know someone's backstory, then it makes them more intriguing, but also more realistic. This is a very tragic film about a mans spiral downward into addiction. There are very few films about sex addiction (the only other one I can think of is John Waters' A Dirty Shame) and I think Fassbender was very brave to take this role. In my opinion, he should've won the Best Actor Oscar, but the Academy seems to have something against films that have a lot of sex in them.
8. Looper
In all honesty, last year was a really good year for sci-fi. We got a lot of really clever science fiction movies, including Dredd, Robot and Frank and Saftey Not Guaranteed, though all of those examples aren't completely sci-fi. Looper was the only one last year that I would count as a straight up sci-fi movie, and it is one of the smartest that has come out for a while. And I am so thankful it doesn't explain the time travel, because that really isn't what this movie is about. It's about facing your future, and learning about your past mistakes... Okay, that was a little cheesey. But ignore my awful analysis, and you will find a movie that actually takes it time and thinks about what it has to say. Plus, Bruce Willis. Always an excellent choice.
7. The Intouchables
Similar films often come out around the same time. Last year, we got two movies about men who couldn't move their bodies connecting to someone. And while The Sessions I think was one of the more underrated movies of the last year, The Intouchables was just so joyous, sincere and funny in its story-telling that I enjoyed a lot more. Omar Sy was such fun to watch, and this was actually a lot funnier than I thought it would be. The trailer lied! And it has one of the best openings of the year (I am forever a fan of Earth, Wind & Fire now), really what more could you want? Good acting, well paced, hopeful ending and an excellent mixture of comedy and drama. It's not the second highest grossing French movie of all time for nothing.
6. The Angels' Share
If you know any Ken Loach's films, then this one may come as a surprise. It'a quite sweet. Yep, a Ken Loach film is sweet! About a group of friends who try to steal some prized whisky so that Robbie (Paul Brannigan) can move onto a better life with his girlfriend and his newborn son, there really isn't a lot more to that film apart from that little summary. But the characters are hilarious, the theft is ingenious and it's nice to see something that's quite light (in parts) and genuinely moving amid all these sour films like Argo, that focus too much on trying to shock into a response than in telling an original story. And for those wondering, it came out at both Palace and Nova, just within my guidelines.
5. The Avengers
No, it's not number one. Sorry to disappoint you. This was an excellent pay-off to a new way of making movies. But it does have flaws. Thankfully, the good stuff is so good that you find yourself not caring about the flaws, at least not until after the film is finished. And even then, you don't care about whatever faults you find. It's nice to see a superhero movie nowadays that isn't trying to be all brooding and "new". This one has the right mix of laughs and action, and while the character development was lacking a little, Joss Wheedon handled it better than anyone else ever could. And it's nice to see a superheroine actually wearing clothes for once.
4. The Artist
I'm still amazed that this won the Best Picture Oscar, and not because something else may have deserved it (it was such a tough year this year, I would've been pleased with most of the other films winning), but because this film celebrating the golden age of Hollywood is French. We need movies like this, movies looking back and remembering the olden days with fondness. There are too many shallow movies around nowadays. Yes, I know the plot isn't the most original, but it is done in an original way that makes it appear new. Maybe it's the ending, maybe it's the fact I saw this with about 20 of my closest friends (we took up one and half rows in the cinema) or maybe it's simply because it moved me to tears, but I think this is my favourite film of the year. (And it did come out last year in Australia. Told you we had annoying release dates.)
3. Skyfall
I saw this twice. That's how awesome I found it. For the 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise, this is an excellent addition. It's a Bond film for people who don't like action movies! A blend of action sequences and character driven scenes that will keep everyone happy. And it adds some of the humour and campness from the old Bond films, which is what it set out to do anyway. Bring a mixture of the old and new together in one film. And permit me a moment to gush over the cinematography. Oh my god, that fight in silhouette on top of the building! And at the end, with the fire creating shadows on the moors!! Truly breathtaking. Plus Ralph Fiennes. Always a bonus.
2. The Sapphires
I don't think people in other countries understand how groundbreaking this film is. Only recently have their been more films including characters that are mostly Aboriginal, or specifically written for Aboriginal actors. This is only second mainstream film that I know of that has this. (Coincidentally, both this and Bran Nue Dae are both based on stage-plays and were both the opening night films at MIFF). And while everyone in the UK will be going on about Chris O'Dowd's performance, Deborah Mailman is the real star of the film. She gives a hard, but subtle performance as the leader of the group of sisters. One of my favourites, moving and funny, an definitely excellent.
1. Hugo
I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said. And it's more than likely none of you are even reading these little commentaries, anyway. This film is amazing. Breathtaking. Ground-breaking. Moving. This film is a whole bunch of adjectives that you aren't going to get unless you have experienced this wonder. And it's a Scorsese film above all else. The only thing left to say is, if you haven't seen it you're an idiot.
Well, there's that. Hopefully the next one will be out in a few days. Hopefully, someone is actually reading this. Right now, it's 33 degrees at a quarter to twelve. I don't think I'll be getting any sleep. Time to look up old Eurovision entries on youtube. Until next time, readers.
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