New Years Resolutions and End of Year Lists

Well. Finally this year is over. It has not been the greatest. I'd be hard pressed to even call it a good year. But the good news is that it's now time for my favourite part of the year, writing up the end of year lists!

It's going to be a little different this year. I only saw 58 films this year, and as such I don't think that I can make two top ten lists. I just don't think I saw enough of a range this year to warrant two separate lists. Instead, I'm going to do a top 15 films list. This is still going to be hard, cause I saw quite a few awesome films, and it's going to be hard to narrow it down to just 15.

Because of that, I'm going to be releasing the list in three parts. This is partly because no one wants to read one full post of text, but mainly because I'm too lazy to write about 15 films at once.

I'm also going to be writing out a special top five films, for a genre that really stood out this year. And also so that I can talk about more awesome films and make it easier to narrow down the other 15 films.

As usual, I will be doing a worst films list. Not sure how many will be on that yet, since I didn't see that many awful films this year, mainly because I don't see the point in deliberately spending money on a film that looks terrible.

The other thing I want to talk about is what's happening next year. I really want to get into a rhythm of doing regular reviews, preferably once a week but for next year I'm going to try and do one every two weeks at least. And in order to this I'm going to go through the complete filmography of the films Orry-Kelly designed costumes for.

One of the biggest films to come out in Australia this year (which I haven't yet seen but I will soon) was the documentary Women He's Undressed directed by Gillian Armstrong, about Kelly and his costumes. Considering that I want to watch more old films anyway, why not start with his films?

Of course, since he did direct over 300 films, I won't be watching all of them in one year. But I will try and watch and review at least one of his films a month. I hope I can stick to these goals. If I don't, please feel free to berate me until I do.

So, I hope everyone has an excellent 2016. Wish me luck with these resolution, and I will get the end of year lists up as soon as possible. Until next time, readers.

Pan (2015)

Peter Pan is one of my favourite books. When I was a kid, I would reread it at least once a year. I read about five different spin-offs, sequels, prequels, whatever when I was 12 or 13. I grew up with the Disney animated film, the live action 2003 film, and Hook. I have even sat through Return to Neverland more than once. Yep, I am a Pan Fan. So naturally, when I heard that a new retelling was coming out, I was pretty excited. For a while at least. Pretty soon after watching the trailers, I began to get really worried. Hollywood has not had the best run with re-adapting classic children’s books. Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and Maleficent (2014) have all been pretty divisive in their own ways. But Pan is by far the most divisive for me personally, and hopefully this review will tell you why. And just to make my job just a little harder, this review is going to try and answer two other big questions: was this a good film, and did I enjoy watching it? Oh, and despite my best efforts, there will be a few spoilers! Sorry!

Peter (Levi Miller) is an orphan living in London during World War 2, when one night he suddenly gets kidnapped by pirates and taken to work for Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman) in Neverland. Blackbeard, obsessed with living forever, has hundreds of slaves working in mines trying to find pixie dust to help him stay young, leading to the destruction of most of the fairy population on Neverland. Once he is there, Peter discovers he can fly and escapes with the help of fellow slaves James Hook (Garrett Hedlund) and Mr Smee (Adeel Akhtar), who promise to help him look for his mother who Peter believes is somewhere on the island. The three of them set off to find the Tribal People, a group of warriors resisting Blackbeard’s destruction of the island. The find and befriend Tigerlily (Rooney Mara), princess of the tribe, and together they must stop Blackbeard before he destroys what is left of the fairies.

From the synopsis above, I’m sure some of you would’ve spotted the first major problem with the film. The plot is basically Star Wars. Peter is Luke, Hook is Han Solo, Tigerlily is Leia, Blackbeard is Darth Vader. Even Smee could be seen as C3PO. There is even a ghost that appears at the end to give encouragement to the hero and tell them that they did a good job. Copying the plot of Star Wars in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel like the screenwriters were a little lazy. I think the plot would’ve been a lot better if they hadn’t decided to copy Oz the Great and Powerful and make the main character ‘the chosen one’ when there was no real need for it. It’s a trope that is used too often, and rarely in a good way, and again, it feels really lazy.

Some of my problems with the film can be put down to me being really nit-picky, but some of things I’m going to talk about now were just weird or stupid. Biggest one, why was Hook American? Why was he a cowboy? It just really bugs me a lot that such an iconic character was changed so drastically for no real reason other than the makers wanting to appeal to an American audience. I probably wouldn’t mind if I thought the actor did an okay job, but Garrett Hedlund just didn’t. Most of his screen time was spent mugging to the camera.

Hook was the biggest disappointment in terms of character, mainly because while I do have problems with other characters, they also had qualities that redeemed them in some way. There was quite a lot of CGI used in the film, which I get, but it did bring the film down for me a little because I prefer practical effects to CGI stuff. Also, it seemed that there was quite a bit of borderline child-abuse going on. I’m fairly sure that by the end of the film Peter would have broken most of his rib cage from the amount of harm he came to. The dialogue was kinda painful in a lot of parts, and there were a lot of heavy-handed references to the book that were just embarrassing really, and not necessary. I'm also fairly sure that the costume designer was on LSD.

 

There are two really odd moments that I just want to mention quickly, one I understand, the other I cannot comprehend. The one I understand was during the pirates attack of the Tribal People, instead of dying, the Tribesmen exploded into paint. Okay. I get that it’s a kid’s film and the director didn’t want to show any blood, but it’s just a bit jarring when you show Tigerlily taking out a pirate with her blades moments before the first paint explosion. The other moment is when Peter first arrives in Neverland, the miners and pirates are standing all over the mines singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, and then Blackbeard comes out and joins them. What? While I admit it is fun to see Hugh Jackman going a little bit crazy, why the hell was that song used? It’s never explained how they all know that song, why they have to sing it, and why that song in particular is important to Blackbeard. It just raises questions, and it surprised me so much that I felt alienated from the sequence. It’s just a really weird scene, and again not really necessary.

But the biggest problem I have with the film is what it actually should be classified as. I can’t see it as a prequel because it just brings up too many questions, like why is it set during 1940? Why are Peter and Hook still friends by the end of the film? Why does the ending have no foreshadowing to the end of the original? Also being a prequel to Peter Pan is kinda redundant for two reasons. Number one, and all prequels suffer from this, is that there is no tension during the climax. Everyone who knows the story can guess that everyone will end up okay, with no major deaths or anything like that, so the climax ended up being a mediocre CGI fest. The second reason is that Peter Pan already has a backstory, a really good one, one that explains the motivations of the character and how he came to be Peter Pan. Inventing a new one, again, is not necessary!

So then I guess we call this film either a reimaging or retelling. But then why advertise it like a prequel? A lot of people were disappointed with this film, and I think advertising this film as a straight up prequel is why. Does it work as a reimaging? Sort of, but it suffered from a plot that was too Hollywood-anised for it to feel like a new story. Like I said earlier, Oz the Great and Powerful already did a prequel featuring a 'chosen one' plot, and that film probably borrowed that idea from Alice in Wonderland. I don't get why they didn't just film Peter's backstory as it was in the book, but apparently that would be too easy.

But with all these things against the film, I do think there were some really good things in it as well. Hugh Jackman was practically electric as Blackbeard, bringing a lot of depth to the character that would otherwise have been lost with another actor. There were a lot of small character tropes that weren’t spelled out or expositioned over, instead just shown through the characters actions. Tigerlily was pretty bad-ass, and her fight between Blackbeard was one of the highlights of the film, though she does suffer a little from lack of personality. Levi Miller was extremely likeable, and for his first major role I applaud him for saying some atrocious dialogue with a straight face. Kathy Burke is hilarious in a supporting role, and was probably my favourite character in the film. The cinematography was really nice, the fight scenes excellent, the music was good. But most importantly, kids really enjoy this film.

 

I saw this in a cinema full of kids, and I think they were all entertained. The kid in front of me couldn’t stop saying how good a film it was, and some girls behind me said how awesome they thought Tigerlily was. And hopefully after seeing this film, it will inspire them to go and read the book, which is the most important thing a film like this can do. So after all this talk, how can I answer the questions I asked at the beginning of this review?

Is this film a bad film? Well, let’s put it into perspective. Comparing it to the other films I listed at the beginning, it is miles above the migraine inducing Oz the Great and Powerful, but it doesn’t make as much sense as Maleficent, which was very clear in its intent despite its faults. It comes closest to Alice in Wonderland I think. I don’t think it’s terrible, but it could be a lot better. As to whether or not I like this film, I don’t know if I can answer that question, at least not at this moment. I was entertained while watching it and I don’t regret seeing it, but the source material is so close to my heart I’m not sure I can ever fully like it. I guess all I can do is wait a while and see how I feel a few months from now. I might even need to see it again before I form a solid opinion. But one thing I can say is that, for all its faults, Pan did inspire me to start writing again.

If you are interested in seeing it, then do. There are worse films out there. I’m sorry this was such a long review after months of inactivity. I really didn’t mean to write so much, it just kept coming. Not sure what I’ll be doing next. Maybe a list, who knows? If you stuck this out to the end, well done. Until next time, readers.

Top 15 Books I've Read This Year So Far

Well, it has been a long time! First semester was really busy, made even more busy by the fact that I was applying to go on exchange. Thankfully, I will be going to Canada in about two months, and I am kinda terrified and very excited!

Anyway, since I've been reading way more than I have been seeing films, I thought I would give an update of the best books I've read this year so far. I have a goal on Goodreads to read 51 books, and I'm about four books away from completing it. And luckily for me, most of the books I've read this year have been really good, there have only really been two not so good ones. I should also mention that this list is about first time reads, no re-reads, otherwise Soul Music, Howl's Moving Castle, and Fahrenheit 451 would all be on this list.

So, without further ado, here are the Top 15 Books I've Read This Year... So Far!

15. Lolly Scramble: A Memoir of Little Consequence by Tony Martin

I'm not sure if many people know this, but I am a big Tony Martin fan. And that's the Kiwi comedian Tony Martin, not the other one. I think he's a really funny dude. And so naturally when I saw his memoir in an op shop, I had to get it. It's basically a series of short stories about his life, but instead of focusing on all the things he's done on TV and in films, Martin instead chooses to tell stories that could have happened to anyone. It's a really funny yet bitter kinda book. One story in particular that stands out is one where Martin has to get his blood drained because he has a rare disease, and for such an unpleasant subject matter it's told with a lot of humour. Just a nice book by a nice guy.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

14. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

I can't believe I only read this book this year. This is such a joy to read! There is so much heart in this book, that even when bad things happen there's still a silver lining to be had. And I love Precious Ramotswe, and the comments she makes about Agatha Christie throughout the book. The book is based on some of the cases that the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency takes, with an overarching plot about an abducted child. If you like Agatha Christie's work, then you would probably like this. Both deal with rather horrific things in the nicest way possible, and sometimes you need that reassurance that after something terrible, you can still go home and have a cup of tea and eat some pumpkin.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

13. The Lollipop Shoes (The Girl with No Shadow) by Joanne Harris

So, I read the entire Chocolat trilogy, and this was by far the best one. This takes place about eight years after the first book, and Vianne Rocher is now living in Paris with her two daughter, Anouk and Rosette. Something has happened in the past that made Vianne become Yanne, and she has given up making chocolates and guessing peoples favourites. Into their lives comes Zozie de l'Alba, who seems to possess the vitality that Vianne once had. She helps transform Anouk and Vianne in ways that they couldn't imagine. But there is something sinister in Zozie, and to fight it Vianne has to reawaken the magic inside her. That was a very cliche filled summary, but that is basically what happens. I read this before Chocolat, and I loved it. It incorporated the magical elements smoothly into the story, and created an excellent villain in Zozie. I have since read the third book, Peaches for Father Frances, but out of the three, I think this one was the most satisfying. Considering it's a 450 page book and I read it in a weekend should give an indication of how hooked on it I was.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

12. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

This is not an easy book to read, despite being only around 125 pages. This book is literally what the title says, one day in the life of a prison inmate in Russia. You learn so much about not only Ivan, but the other prisoners around him and what their life has become. You read about how they manage to survive by finding whatever they can, and trying to make a use for it. You learn how much value one slice of bread has for one person. It's definitely a book everyone should read, if to learn of hardships that we can't even imagine in the present day. And the writing style is so good, I finished it in one sitting.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

11. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Okay, so Toni Morrison is becoming one of my favourite writers. I always feel so guilty that I've only read two of her books. I love the themes she explores, not only ones of slavery and freedom, but themes of motherhood, guilt, and love. She is also the author who got me hooked on magical realism, a genre that I never really understood before reading Song of Solomon last year. Beloved is about the ghosts of the past forever haunting the present, so much so that they manifest themselves into solid forms. But Beloved isn't that straight forward, the things that happen are never really explained away completely. It's a book that will haunt the reader, and even now I still think about everything that's happened in it. I have another of her books on my shelf, and hopefully I will get to that soon.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

10. Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento by Maitland McDonagh

So, I read an entire academic thesis! And it was on Dario Argento! Sometimes, I love being a film student. I found this book while researching for a media essay, and decided to check it out. It goes through each of Argento's films, plus one that he made with George Romero, and discusses the themes, visuals, acting, actors, setting, lighting, music and everything in quite a lot of detail. If you are a fan of Argento then I would suggest this, but it is very analytical and might turn a few more casual readers off. Having only seen three of his films, I know what to watch and own all of them. Especially Tenebrae, which this book says is his masterpiece. The analysis is really interesting, and flows smoothly from point to point (unlike my clunky essays). I've read quite a few non-fiction books this year, but I think this is both the best written and most interesting. To me anyway.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

9. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

I read this the weekend I found out that Terry Pratchett had died. I loved it. I will always love his books. This is about Eskarina Smith, who wants to become the Discs first female wizard. Unfortunately, everyone else keeps getting in the way. The end is a bit weird, a bit too Lovecraftian for me, which is why this is quite low on the list. But it is the first appearance of Granny Weatherwax, who is one of my favourite Discworld characters. Not my favourite book from the series, but enjoyable nonetheless. Goodbye, Sir Terry. You will always be missed.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

So, I found out earlier this year that there are quite a lot of booktubers who don't like this book, and I can sort of see why. The main character, Holden Caulfield, can come across as selfish and clueless. But I can't help but want to remind people one vital thing about this character: he is only sixteen! I think this book paints a really vivid picture of teenage depression. Through the few days that he writes about, one can see that Holden is trying to keep his life together while still being traumatised by the death of his brother. Because of the time period, and because of the pressure put on young men, he doesn't know how to deal with his sadness. I can see why this book is as praised as it is. It is a must read for pretty much everyone.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

7. The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter

Toni Morrison isn't the only magical realist author I've gotten into. In this collection of stories, Angela Carter reinvents well-known fairy tales, and gives them her own twist. I particularly enjoyed the were-wolf retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, stories that would eventually become the Neil Jordan film The Company of Wolves. Most of the stories are full of violence and sex that the originals don't have, but the language used is so beautiful! It's lyrical, smooth, dainty, erotic, chilling, and funny all at once. I'd say if you've never read any of Carter's work before, this would be an excellent place to start.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

6. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The artwork in this book is breathtaking! So dark, so horrific, yet beautiful in a grotesque way. This book is about a boy, Conor, whose mother has cancer. Late one night, a monster arrives demanding from him the most dangerous thing of all, the truth. This is a book that looks at grief and guilt and how it affects children. It will make you cry. It made me cry. I don't really want to give much more away, so I might stop here. But I will say that the writing is very simple, and it is an accessible for many people, but it can also be quite scary as well.
Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

5. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume

One night, in Melbourne, a man is found murdered in a cab. A few days later, one of Melbourne's most upstanding citizens is arrested, but pleads innocent. A detective and a lawyer join forces to find out what actually happened. I'd say that anyone who lives in Melbourne should read this book. It's rare to find any Australian literature that came from the 1800s, and this seems to be the most famous Australian work from that time period. The writing is full of incredible descriptions of Melbourne, the one about the weather is one of the greatest things I have read. I am so glad I read this book. The mystery is interesting and keeps you guessing til the end, but it is the descriptions that I love most of all.
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

4. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

This book is scary, but not in the way you would think. The premise is simple: how do you solve a mystery when you can't remember what you were doing five minutes ago? Maud is suffering from memory loss, and is sure that her friend Elizabeth is missing. She knows this because she writes notes to herself saying that Elizabeth is missing. But no one will believe her. This is a really good mystery-thriller, so good in fact that I can't believe it's Emma Healey's debut novel. The mystery is really gripping, but also the writing style. You get very frustrated at times, because Maud does forget everything. But you also get drawn in very easily, and you want to find out what happened? Where is Elizabeth? Who else might be missing that Maud can't remember?
Goodread Rating: 5 stars

3. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

People are very hard on this book, and I kinda get why. Fanny Price is a passive heroine, she doesn't do much. Edmund is a very boring hero, and a lot of the other characters are not very likeable. So why do I like this book so much? Because I do like the character of Fanny. I know people get at her for being quiet, but I can't help but think after living within a family that constantly puts you down for any number of years is bound to make anyone quiet. And when she does do something, she sticks to it and remains very steadfast in her decision. The biggest example being her refusing to marry Henry Crawford. And I must say, that out of all the Wickham characters in Austen's work, Crawford is my favourite. He's the only one who does what he does for fun rather than for money or because of society, or at least it seems that way. So yes, I really liked Mansfield Park, I think it is very underrated, and more people should give it a go and not put it down so much!
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

2. The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

I picked this book up in Melbourne airport when me and my mum were flying up to Brisbane. It looked kinda interesting, the back cover didn't say what the book was about, but it did intrigue me enough to get it. Little did I know that this would not only be one of the best books I read this year, but also one of the best books I've ever read. And to top it all off, it's about zombies. I'm not going to say much more than that. It's best to go into this book not knowing much. But I will say, that I loved the characters, and I loved the fact that three of the main characters were female. It's not your typical zombie novel, and if you aren't of a squeamish persona then I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

1. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Again, I have to thank Toni Morrison for bringing this book to my attention. It's another magical realism book, based in an unnamed South American country that bears quite a resemblance to Chile. This book chronicles the life of one family, the Trueba's, focusing in particular on the female line. There's so much in this book, it's hard to summarise it. So instead I will say what I loved about the book. I love the way it was written, it felt like a journal or a history book, it didn't feel like a novel. And yet scattered throughout were little phrases here and there that gave so much description in just a few words. I loved the way the characters were written. You really get into the head of each character, even the most despicable of them. I loved the women, especially Clara. I loved how it turned the conflict in Chile and the brutality of the Pinochet regime into something relatable for everyone. It is a hard book to read at times, but it is worth it. And it is the most beautiful book I have read this year, and my favourite so far.
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

I'm not sure when the next post will be up. I do have some ideas, so hopefully soon. We'll see. I hope you enjoyed this, sorry for being away for so long. Until next time, readers.

Best Mainstream Movies of 2014

Well, this has been a long time coming. In my defence, for the past week or so I have been out of the state visiting various relatives and friends. And now that I'm back, it's time to finish this last list of the best mainstream movies of last year!

Unlike the other list, this is a lot more predictable. However, it still contains films that were technically released in 2013 everywhere else except here (stupid Australian release dates). Also, a lot of films that other critics have listed are not on here. Most likely because I didn't have to money to see them. But enough introduction, let's begin!

10. The Lego Movie

This was a tough one to decide on. Originally, I was thinking of putting either St. Vincent or Gone Girl in the number 10 slot. But neither of those films gave me as much joy watching them as The Lego Movie. A lot of top 10 lists that I've read have put Guardians of the Galaxy on their list as the film that gave critics pure and simple enjoyment. But for me, it was this one! While Guardians of the Galaxy was a fun film, for me there were just a couple too many plot holes and inconsistencies for me to include it on this list (sorry!). The Lego Movie, while being fun and silly, also took the tired 'hero with a destiny' trope and changed it to make a more intelligent story for both children and adults. And while the ending may have alienated some people, for me it brought back many nostalgic feels, and it elevated the film for me from just another kids film. One of the best family films to come out in years, and one of the most excellently animated films I have seen in a while. Especially for CG animation!

9. Saving Mr Banks

This film still conflicts me in some ways. I'm not sure what I think about the way Walt Disney is presented, I'm not sure if I like how the aunt is built up only for to appear for less than five minutes of screen time, I'm not sure if I like the end shot of PL Travers crying during the premiere. But what I do like about this film is so strong that I can't help but put this film on the list. I love Emma Thompson's portrayal of Travers, I think it was one of the biggest crimes that she wasn't considered for Best Actress at last years Oscars. I love the inclusion of Paul Giamatti's Ralph. And I love the "Let's Go Fly a Kite" scene! The strength of what I love alone makes this film excellent in my mind, despite my doubts about some aspects of it. But the best thing about this film, is that it doesn't diminish my love of Mary Poppins, it makes me love it even more!

8. My Old Lady

Kevin Kline is one of those actors who I never think of as great, until I see him act. And this is one of his best films, playing a man who is plagued by feelings of inadequacy and disappointment thanks to how he was treated by his now deceased father. Sins of the father is one of the themes of this film, and how it can greatly affect the children even after they are grown up. This was one of the most underrated films of the year, not that widely released and not given much fanfair. But I am so glad that I saw it. Kline gives an excellent performance, and is marvelous to watch in his scenes with Maggie Smith, who is excellent as always. Just to add icing on the cake, Dominique Pinon appears in a small role as well! It is a fairly slow film, and one that is focused on character rather than plot, and can be very French at times. But I loved the acting, and the themes that film explores. It makes it stand out from your usual Parisienne romantic dramas.

7. The Grand Budapest Hotel

Ralph Fiennes and Wes Anderson are a match made in heaven! Again, this is just a completely enjoyable film from start to finish, and it just gets crazier and crazier every minute! The cast is awesome, like some sort of dream cast collected from all over the world. I love the set design, and the plot structure, and everything! The love story is suitably sweet and tragic. All the traditional Wes Anderson touches are there, in beautiful bright primary colours. This is one of those films I will have to watch a couple more times to gather everything in, since it is so lush and full of hidden meanings, and objects in every frame! Plus, the contrast between the dark moments of the plot mixed with the bright colours of the set gives me no end of thrills! One of Anderson's best, and one of the most enjoyable films of the year!

6. Her

I love strange and different love stories, and this was the strangest love story that I love this year. I feel the need, after watching Her, to watch some more Spike Jonze films. I like the way he uses his films to think through ideas that are relevant to our evolving society, but also that he does it in a funny, and quite heart-breaking way. I also like how Scarlett Johansson's Samantha grows from just a tool, a piece of technology that is subservient to Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore, into a sentient being with a capacity for thought that exceeds her human companion's. It's great! And it's shot in such a simple way, you feel everything that Theodore is thinking through how shots are framed! If you haven't seen it yet, and you like unconventional rom-coms, then I would definitely give this a watch!

5. Pride

British comedy-drama films based on actual events are my favourite cinematic sub-genre! And Pride is one of the best! The thing I really love about these films is the way that they can take little known events and let the whole world know about them! It's awesome! The story that Pride tells is of how a small group of LGBT activists during Thatchers Britain band together and raise money to support a small Welsh mining town. I wish these stories were the sorts of things we were taught in school! Pride mixes humour and pathos, as only the British can, to make a film that will make you laugh and cry! The cast is great, with Imelda Staunton stealing every scene she's in! This has really been George MacKay's big break-out year, and after this and Sunshine on Leith I hope to see a lot more of him. An excellent little film in the tradition of Kinky Boots and The Full Monty, if you like British comedy, then you need to see this film!

4. Belle

Speaking of films about little known historical events. Just to bring my feminist ways to front for a moment, this has really been an excellent year for female directors and writers! Especially when it comes to interesting female characters, both fictional and historical. Belle is based on Dido Elizabeth Belle, a woman of colour who was brought up in late 18th century British society. Instead of sticking to explicit facts, director Amma Asante and writer Misan Sagay instead focus on how someone in Dido's position would feel during a time when other people of her race live the lives of slaves, while also looking at how women in general were treated at that time and the expectations that were put upon them. It's also a very good look at how the beginning of the Abolitionist movement may have had its beginnings in England. If you're into historical films that aren't just period romances, then this is one that I have to recommend.

3. Paddington

While The Lego Movie was an excellent family film, I don't think it was the best one that came out this year. Paddington just had that little extra spark in it. Call it nostalgia, or a bias for British over American films, but I like to think it's because of the excellent direction from Paul King, who people may remember as the director of The Mighty Boosh. King's Paddington is not a direct retelling of the children's books. There are little differences here and there, but the basic story remains the same. Paddington arrives from Peru looking for a home, and gets taken in by the Brown family (who are resided over by Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins). But it's not a cutesy little film about a bear, no, things get quite dark, especially because of Nicole Kidman's taxidermist villain (guess what her wants Paddington for?). There are also small parts played by other well-known British actors (Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, and Simon Farnaby to name but a few who pop up). It's just such a feel good film! And the set-ups are excellent, the way the story is told in some scenes is genius, Ben Whishaw is the perfect voice for Paddington. If you grew up with the character, then your heart will melt into marmalade over this adaptation! And if you didn't, then it also serves as an excellent introduction to the characters! 

2. 12 Years a Slave

And now we come to the most difficult film to watch out of the entire year. This is a very confronting film, but one that can also be very rewarding. A film about slavery that doesn't rely on any of the usual sentimental tropes to get its point across. Instead, it just shows you how brutal the experience was. Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of the best actors out there, so it's also nice to see him finally get some recognition. This film will have you on the edge of your seat with worry over his character, Solomon Northup, and what he goes through. The acting all round is excellent, especially from Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender. Like I said, it's hard to watch some of the things that happen, but I'm glad this film exists. There are too many fairytale versions of slavery out there, and hopefully this film will change that. Also, I dare you not cry during any scene with Lupita Nyong'o in it.

1. The Lunchbox

 
I bet that not many people saw this film. Which is a shame, since it's one of the most underrated films of the year, and one of the most ambitious. A love story where the two main characters never meet on screen, that explores how people can connect over food and through words only. And it's told in the least sentimental way possible, letting the characters wants and thoughts come naturally through the acting rather than clunky dialogue or voice-over narration. I don't want to give too much away, since this is the sort of films that works best when you don't know what it's about, or only kinda know what it's about. But I love this film, I love the characters, I love the story and I love how many rules it seemingly breaks with what it achieves! One of my favourite characters doesn't even appear onscreen! We just hear her voice! I say it's an underrated film for another reason, and that's because the acting is so natural. There's nothing melodramatic in any of the performances! This little, hidden gem is number on my list because it tries to do things that other films are afraid to. And it succeeds! And that makes it stand out, and makes it memorable, and incredible!

So, there you have it. The last of the year end lists. Sorry it took so long! I have some ideas for what I want to talk about next, but I won't give anything away! You'll just have to wait and see! Until next time, readers.

Best Non-Mainstream Movies of 2014

The thing about Australian release dates is that most of the Oscar nominees come out in January for us, a month that is usually reserved for leftovers in other parts of the world. Because of this, it always makes my end of year list a little different from others, since I always feel the need to include films that officially came out the year before.

This has also made this years list one of the most difficult ones I've ever had to put together! There were so many excellent non-mainstream movies released (in Australia) this year, that I have been anguishing over the placements of these films for at least a week and a half.

Because of the large number of films that were released this year, and because of my limited funds and time, I have not been  able to see every film. So, if you're wondering why Boyhood, Whiplash, and Nightcrawler are not on this list, it's because I have not yet been able to see them.

Again, my definition for a non-mainstream film is a film that has been released through only one cinema chain, or was only able to be seen at a film festival, and that they must have been released or shown in an Australian cinema in 2014.

So, without further ado, let's begin!

(Note: I have noticed that most of these films did actually come out in 2013. Oh well. Sorry. Blame the Australian release schedule.)

10. Populaire

 
You know, sometimes all you want  to watch is a cute, little romantic comedy, set in the 50s about a secretary and her boss, and how they enter a typing competition and fall in love along the way! This film is adorable, from the sets to the costumes to the acting, adorable all around! I know it's not a deep film, or a subversive film. But what it is is a charming comedy that had me smiling all the way through it! The fact that I also went onto Amazon and spent $30 on shipping to get the DVD after I saw it should also indicate how much I enjoyed this film. And sometimes, an enjoyable film is all you need and want!

9. Keep On Keepin' On

If you haven't heard of Clark Terry, I don't blame you. While his name is probably one that floats around jazz circles, but this trumpeter is still not that much of a household name, unlike Miles Davis and Quincey Jones. I hadn't even heard of Clark Terry until I saw this film, but now I think he is one of my favourite jazz instrumentalists. And not just for his playing, which as the film describes stands out by being so joyous and mellow. The man himself is incredible! CT has taught both Quincey and Miles, and played with the likes of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and during the later part of his life, he started teaching other young musicians. This documentary is a love letter to a musician who should be more well-known, and it shows off his achievements by following one of his students, a blind pianist named Justin Kauflin. The best parts of the film are the moments when CT is teaching Justin, and just mumbles melodies to him that the pianist picks up and plays over and over. The film also goes over CT's life, as well as Justin's and how they came to be working together. But the most incredible thing is that CT keeps going, keeps teaching, and keeps playing when he is 94 years old! A wonderful tribute to an excellent, not well-known man.

8. Blue is the Warmest Colour

So, this is the spot I have been agonising over for at least a week. And this is also the reason that I hate Australian release schedules, because it means that I have to leave off other incredible films like Snowpiercer since this technically came out in 2014 down here. But after thinking it over, I decided that Blue is the Warmest Colour would appear on this list for a number of reasons. While Snowpiercer is an excellent film and I would recommend it to everyone, Blue is the Warmest Colour stands out in my mind more clearly for being an exceptional film experience. Although, like most other critics I do find the sex scenes uncomfortable and borderline pornographic, the good things in this film outweigh that controversial part. The acting is incredible, both Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos give such emotional and intense performances that they keeps the audience enraptured for the entire 179 minutes. It is also beautifully shot, and I do like the way that the director, Abdellatif Kechiche (around whom controversy swarms like flies), put the colour blue somewhere in every shot. And the way he shot the food! I have never wanted spaghetti bolognese so much after I watched this film! I do regret that there is no place for Snowpiercer on this list, but I am still pleased with my choices, and I am glad that the film instead of it is Blue is the Warmest Colour.

7. In a World

This film is a comedy about the cut-throat world of voice-over artists. That description sounds interesting, but not exceptional. But this awkward comedy also serves as a look into how hard it is for women to make a name for themselves in a man's world. The film follows Carol Solomon (played by the writer-director Lake Bell) as she tries to not only move out of her fathers shadow, but also fights against a system that favours men. And it is pretty hilarious along the way! I really like the way it makes fun of old movie trailer voice-overs, while also celebrating how cheesy they are. I really like the main character, and how she interacts with her family, and her co-workers. I really like the humour, as it ranges from awkward dialogue, to subtle sight gags. Again, this is a fun film to watch and enjoy. It may not be the best film ever made, but to me it is an excellent film that brings to light some important issues without feeling the film is shoving them down your throat. And I dare anyone not to say the title in a silly voice-over voice!

6. Cupcakes

There was no way this film was never not going to be on this list somewhere. For those who don't know what this film is about (and I'm guessing that's most of you, unfortunately), this film is about a group of friends who enter a song contest that greatly resembles another famous European song contest. Of course, they can't call it the Eurovision Song Contest, but that doesn't matter. Everyone who went to see this knew they meant the ESC. Again, this is an adorable, hilarious little film (most of the films on this list seem to fall into that category) about friends in Israel who one day find themselves entered into the UniverSong Contest. I love anything even slightly Eurovision related, so of course I love this film! And I am not ashamed of it! If you want a cheesy, fun, hilarious film, then I would recommend this. If you like Eurovision, I recommend this even more so! And you know what, the song they come up with is actually pretty darn good!

5. The Babadook

For a film that is getting a lot of praise from overseas, it might surprise everyone on how limited a release it received in its own country. However, I do know that everyone here who saw the film agrees that it is one of the best horror films ever made. And I agree wholeheartedly! This is a film that uses the character of the boogeyman to examine how grief and depression can destroy a family. The acting is incredible, with Essie Davis giving an incredible performance, but Noah Wiseman, who plays her son, also gives a very affecting performance. A lot of what happens in the film could just be blamed on the resentment that Davis' Amelia feels towards her son, or the Wiseman's Sam's troublesome behaviour, but both of them are not quite right and get worse as the film goes on. It's a very clever psychological horror film that I would recommend for everyone, though you might want to watch it with the lights on!

4. Calvary

This is a film that questions whether the Catholic Church is relevant and needed in a modern world. And it does this by making the film a sort of murder mystery. I say sort of, since the plot revolves around one of Brendan Gleeson's Father James parishioners telling him in confessional that they are going to kill him, and Father James already know who it is. The mystery is instead for the audience, as we go through a normal week for the priest and all of his encounters with potential suspects. This is a very good character study, looking at how Father James deals with the prejudice against himself and his religion, while also looking at how victims of the church are sometimes unable to let go of traumatic events. The acting in this is excellent, especially from traditionally comedic actors like Dylan Moran and Chris O'Dowd. This was one of the tensest films of this year, and also one who wasn't afraid to question religion and dogma, without providing any r3eal answers.

3. The Indie Vampire Movies of 2014
 
Okay, so I'm going to cheat a little here. This was the year of indie vampire films, with not one, or two, but three excellent films all revolving around the creatures of the night, and made by three incredibly different filmmakers. Since I love all these films, I couldn't bear to keep any of them off. So all three are on the list. In one spot. Yep, I'm tripling up on this best of list, because these vampire films were just that good!

Only Lovers Left Alive

The first indie vampire film is Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive, which I'm pretty sure had the greatest soundtrack of the year. There is so much to talk about in this film. The characters are different from your usual vampires, you really get the feeling that they have been alive for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Tilda Swinton is almost ethereal in nature Eve, a vampire who has spent her life reading and gathering knowledge. And for the first time, Tom Hiddleston has kinda impressed me as Adam, a brooding musician who can barely survive on his own, and needs Eve there to look after him. I love the sets and houses they use as the vampires lairs, especially since they're cluttered with books and guitars and other oddments garnered over the years. Vampire lore in this film is sort of upheld, but not forced down people's throats. It's acknowledged, but not made a big fuss of, which is a definite plus. It's also quite funny at times, with most of the laughs coming from John Hurt's Christopher Marlowe, who didn't die in the 16th century, but was instead turned into a vampire! For a more stylish vampire story, with interesting ideas on what vampires actually do throughout such a long lifetime, I'd definitely recommend this. For a slightly more in depth analysis of the film, I'd recommend you to check out Maven's review of the film, which focuses more on themes and all that (which I've kinda forgotten now, since I did see the film way back in April).

What We Do in the Shadows

And from the sublime to the ridiculous, as my mum would say. What We Do in the Shadows had the best premise of the year, and delivered it beyond measure! The film is a mockumentary about 4 vampires who share a house in modern day Wellington. The group's dynamic is changed with the arrival of a recently turned vampire named Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), and how he both helps and hinders the group. This film, as you might have guessed from the poster, is hilarious! While it deals primarily with how a group of centuries old vampires survive in the modern day, it does so by taking  known vampire law to nth degree and spinning it on its head! In recent years, New Zealand has really come out with some excellent writers, directors, and actors, with the Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi at the forefront. If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, it is still showing at Cinema Nova, in its sixth month of release! Yep, this film is so popular that it is still playing at a cinema after being released six months ago! Do yourself a favour and see this film! It is hilarious, kinda adorable and very very clever.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

We finish with the most recently released vampire film, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. The director of this film, Ana Lily Amirpour, calls this an Iranian vampire spaghetti western, and it certainly feels like that. This film is style personified, shot in black and white and features an eclectic musical score. The plot is basically nonexistent, which might alienate it from more mainstream audiences. Scenes do lead naturally into one another, it's just that not a lot happens over the course of the film. But that is fine by me! I love horror films that subvert cliches, and this one does it straight from the title. The acting is also good, with the eponymous Girl of the title giving a very subdued performance. We don't much about her, or why she has become a vigilante vampire, but from a few scenes we get an idea of what might of happened. Nothing is very clear cut in this film, and that's what makes interesting and very re-watchable. I know I'll be looking out for this on DVD!

2. Gloria

This film had my favourite character of the year. An older woman who goes to bars to pick up men, takes drugs, drinks, does whatever the fuck she wants, has breakdowns and flaws, but always gets up back and keeps dancing! This is the woman I want to be when I'm older. The film serves as a character study of Gloria (Paulina García), a 58 year old divorcee, and how she lives in modern day Chile. The film follows how she meets a man, Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), who may or may not be someone she can spend the rest of her life with. I love how the film doesn't think middle age is the end of someone's life! More of these films are coming out, ever since Shirley Valentine really, where older female protagonists re-discover life, but this is the first film I've seen where the protagonist never thought her life had ended after 50. Like I said, I love this character. Chilean cinema is becoming more predominant, which is awesome! It also means that those who about Chilean history and the Pinochet regime can read this film as an interpretation of how modern Chile has evolved after such a brutal era. But if that's not your thing, the rest of the film offers an interesting look at a woman who keeps on living however she likes! And of course, the song 'Gloria' is in this!

1. Obvious Child

We need more films like this. Films made by female filmmakers that can tackle big subjects while also appealing to mainstream audiences. Films about female characters that don't completely revolve around finding a man. Films that normalise the controversial. But most importantly, films that are excellent comedies! Too many comedic films nowadays resort to gross-out humour, and shock humour, and crude visual humour to try and engage audience. I'm not saying that this sort of humour doesn't exist in Obvious Child, but it's presented as a comedy routine. It isn't shoved in your face. I really love this film, and I wish it had gotten more of a release down here. I love the characters, and how they act awkwardly normal. I love the plot, it's simple and it doesn't say that having an abortion is the be all and end all of everything. I even love the dick and fart jokes. They made me laugh. We need more films like this, because in a world full of shit we need to be told that the obvious child doesn't always need to be denied.

So, that was my list. When writing I realised that there are a lot more comedies on here than on a lot of other critics Best of 2014 lists. Not sure if that's good or bad.

One more list to go, and this last one was a lot easier to put together. Hopefully, next week will see the arrival of the Best Mainstream Movies of 2014. Fingers crossed! Until next time, readers.