IMDB'S TOP 250

I am ashamed to say I haven't seen 94 of the 250 films on IMDb's astonishing and revealing list of what we the (internet) people rate as the best films.

So I have challenged myself to see all of them before the end of the year and review each one (most of them). I'm going to start with Guy Ritchie's Snatch. which as you can see has a full-stop in it! I've been assured this film is "really good" and as it is 20 places above The Graduate it must be true. Anyway I'll return to this.

Here is the IMDb list: HERE

IT'S COMPLICATED

My mum saw it last night and she says it's quite funny...

THE ROAD

Like the truest of true film fans I've not read Cormack McCarthy's "The Road" and probably won't now that I've seen the film. In most book/film cases I'd advise you either read it or watch it and never do both. Obviously if you're a fan of the book you'll probably want to watch the film, but this is a terrible idea, because one of two things will happen:

1. You'll say "that was [BLANK], not as good as the book" (placing "good", "satisfactory" or "shit" in the blank space depending on your view)

2. You'll remember the film and book as one big muddled-up memory and your recollection will be tainted and impure. Like reading "Fear and Loathing" having watched the film and reading it all in Johnny Depp's voice.

OR secret (and impossible) option number 3. In which you prefer the film.

People and so hard on films sometimes. Critics like to come across well read so they dare not see a film based on a book having not read the book, but this, as I have mentioned, is a terrible idea. So here is my pure review of "The Road" the film, on its own, without any other medium affecting it.

It's really grey. It's the greyest film ever made in colour and some of the shots look absolutely incredible. Positive use of CGI backgrounds. Completely bleak and completely fitting. The acting is spot-on. Viggo is a personal favourite and always watchable, but he is especially watchable with a big apocalyptic beard. Beards really bring out the eyes and the sorrow (watch Jeff Daniels' performance in The Squid and the Whale for further indications of this). The young boy is a little annoying, but that is to be expected, he also has some charm and an incredible likeness to his on-screen mother (Charleeeeese).

There are some scenes that will haunt me forever. Scenes, that if you had read the book, would have a softened blow, but in my optimum film-viewing state, affected me greatly. It is not quite as bleak as the bleakest of films (The Mist and Gomorra to name a few within the bleak-genre) as the film keeps a wavering sense of hope, one that can be diminished by certain horrific incidents, but recaptured in moments of intimacy between the son and father.

In retrospect it's a neatly-made, nicely edited and beautifully shot story that is in no parts preachy. And I have a man-crush on Viggo "History of Violence" Mortensen

FOUR STARS

TOP TEN BEST FILMS (THAT I SAW) IN 2009

I can't speak for all the Oscar-worthy films and hidden gems I failed to go and see such as:

- Milk

- Synecdoche, New York

- The White Ribbon

- Adventureland

- Drag Me To Hell

- The Cove

- Thirst

- Humpday

- Fish Tank

- The Hurt Locker

- Antichrist

- A Serious Man

(I left out Wes Anderson's The Fantastic Mr Fox because I saw it at an inferior cinema and want to view it a second time to help realise what I think of it. Oh and I don't think Inglourious Basterds isn't the masterpiece some people seem to think it is) But here are my personal faves:

10. ABATAP (AVATAR)

It's a touch too long (or epic as James Cameron Diaz might put it), but gawsh it's purdy. Many can attack the flimsy story, but it sets up some pretty sweet visuals. I can guarantee you, if you set your expectations low and see it at an IMAX screen you will be thoroughly entertained.

9. STAR TREK

More or less everything Abatap wasn't. Although the running time is a little over two hours you don't feel it at all thanks to some great performances, accomplished direction and alot of lens flare and hanging off cliffs. What really made Star Trek enjoyable (wasn't just that they realised they should make it more like Star Wars) was how it was rewritten in such an intelligent way that it wipes out the rest of the Star Trek mythos. Jabrams does it again.

8. THE CLASS

Now for something completely different. A French film, documentary style, positive use of "real people" instead of actors and genuinely compelling and thought-provoking throughout. Parents like it a lot.

7. CORALINE

The masterful Henry Selick takes on the legendary Neil Gaiman's story and pulls it off without a hitch. Not only is Coraline beautiful to look at, it's a kid's film that does not condescend. Featuring some genuinely creepy moments and showcasing Selick's recognisable stop-motion style. Many disagree with me but I think it's better than The Nightmare Before Christmas.

6. MOON

Sam Rockwell should win both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscars for Duncan Jones's thoughtful Sci-Fi debut. It really shows that you can make a good-looking and simplisticly brilliant Sci-Fi movie with a low 5 mil budget (something Michael Bay can't quite grasp).

5. DISTRICT 9

Another low budget Sci-Fi classic (YEAH classic!) film that people will remember for years to come. If not just for pig throwing, people-exploding guns, but for the emotionally intact performance from Sharlto Copley and whoever animated Christopher Johnson and son. Like Moon, this film references all the right Sci-Fi predecessors and yet remains, somehow, completely original.

4. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Just thinking about it now has me looking over my shoulder and shutting the door to the landing. One of the only films on this list that I never want to see again. However, to propperly enjoy this film I insist that you leave your cynicisms at the door and watch it at a cinema or in a dark room without any distractions. I know you shouldn't have to do this if the film is genuinely brilliant, but you do if it's SCARY. And this film isn't fourth because it's good, it's fourth because it made me lift my knee to my chin and hide behind it.

3. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

As we are aware, us white people love Spike Jonze. We also love the book "Where The Wild Things Are". So when the two are combined with a lovely and unique soundtrack by Karen O (some dismiss as shouting, but obviously don't remember the first song in the film) we get a film that perfectly evokes childhood and looks unlike anything you've ever seen before. I still dream of that wide shot of the fort. Deserves Oscars. It's also kid friendly don't listen to idiots.

2. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

If it wasn't for my unashamed favouritism this Swedish vampire film would be number one. It has some fantastic unforgettable moments that really must be seen and also a completely genius mix of graphic horror and unbelievably sweet moments. Also fuck bullies.

1. UP

Sigh... unlike any other PIXAR film, or any other film for that matter, Up made me laugh throughout, but most importantly made me cry twice and only once from sadness. The second time I cried from pure happiness and upon leaving the cinema I realised that Up is one of my favourite films of all time. I saw it twice at the cinema, I don't know how many times I'll watch it on Blu-ray, but it needs to win Best Picture and Best Animated Film Oscars. Siiiiiiiiigh.

GONE WITH THE WIND IN SPACE

This video is sort of boring, but skip to 0:32. I have lost all respect I previously had for Sigourney Weaver. How can anyone seriously describe any film as being like another film, but "in space"? I'm beginning to wonder if Avatar is actually an elaborate hoax to reveal the true ridiculousness of the movie industry, like Joaquin Phoenix's rap career.

HOT TIME TUB MACHINE?

TRAILERBURN

IRON MAN 2


THE RUNAWAYS