It’s that time of the year again, the Globes, BAFTA’s and Oscars
have passed by and at last it’s come to big one. The Stu-ies. It’s the same
deal as last year. Any film released in the UK in the last twelve months or if
they became eligible for the Oscars were all in the mix to be on this most
exclusive of lists.
5. The Place Beyond The Pines
Derek Cianfrance’s generational crime drama, was one of the
biggest surprises of the year for me. Initially when I saw the first few images
from it, I was less than enthused about seeing seeking it out. For a film that
shows the damage a parent, or lack of one can do to a child, it also
entertained from start to finish. Yes, the films chapters get stronger as the
film progresses, but no chapter drags and each presents a fully formed film, at
the mercy of what came before and affecting what follows.
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writers: Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio and Darius Marder.
4. The Hunt
How would you react if someone you had known all your life
was accused by your young daughter of exposing himself to her? Would you
believe your best friend? Or your young daughter? Within that premise and those
questions is the truly horrible scenario we see primary school teacher Lucas
forced into. Ostracised and instantly hated, his life is torn apart, not by the
truth or his own actions but the fear of those around him.
Mads Mikkelsen, should have quite honestly been nominated
for every single Lead Male acting category this year. Few got close to the
level of performance he gave us this year. But no doubt due it not being in
English, it counted against him, Thomas Vinterberg and the film as a whole.
Expect an English language remake in the next two to three years.
Director: Thomas Vinterberg.
Writers: Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street
Let’s be honest, the trailer for this film was better than a
lot of what came out this year. It shut people up in the cinema, it actually
got their attention and you could people saying “I want to see that” after it
finished.
For, me the third in a loose trilogy with Goodfella’s and Casino, Wolf is the
funniest Scorcese film in a long time and arguably his best film since Casino. It’s sprawling but also closely
focused on this one man who climbed so high and became so powerful that he could
almost do anything he wanted, have anything he wanted and get away with
it…almost.
Did anyone write a better script than Terence Winter this
year? No. He made a took an unlikeable man who took advantage of countless
people to make himself stupidly rich and didn’t make him that likeable. He made
him and his group of followers interesting, funny, depraved, stupid but never
likeable. This, right here, is the secret of the films success and it’s
greatest strength.
Director: Martin Scorcese.
Writer: Terence Winter.
2. Captain Phillips
I could quite easily have put this joint first place. It was
that close. Both films in which life on the water plays an integral part to the
story.
I could only vaguely remember the events as they played out
a few years ago and as a result wasn’t sure what happened or how the hostage
situation ultimately came to an end.
So I was relatively blank when this film started and let it carry me
along. Like Paul Greengrass’s other work, after about five minutes you hooked
and in Phillips you are only
introduced to both Phillips and Muse. By the time the two meet, you are in deep
as the tension starts to crank.
A lot of people talk about stakes when it comes to films.
Here the stakes are, as far as action films go, relatively low, just one man.
Although what that one man signifies is a lot bigger. As you see from America’s
response. It’s by this time, roughly half way through, that you’ll know if
you’re in. As tensions become almost unbearable in the lifeboat and the SEALs
wait for instructions from their commanders before the lifeboat reaches the
Somali coast.
How Tom Hanks was overlooked by the Academy is quite
frankly, farcical. There wasn’t a better two or three minutes of acting than at
the very end of this film.
Director: Paul Greengrass.
Writer: Billy Ray.
1.Mud
Jeff Nichols third feature film, his best so far and the
best film of the year. Captain Phillips
pushed it close, but for me this never dropped from my top spot from when I say
it back in October. A mix between a modern western and Huckleberry Finn,
Nichols created a whole world and filled it with messed men, women and children
(Two of the best child performances you’ll see anywhere).
Considering that Matthew McConaughey has just one an Oscar
for Dallas Buyers Club, I am actually
surprised that he didn’t get anything for Mud,
as for me he gives a much more interesting and engaging performance here.
I could go on and on about Mud, but the best advice I could give to you is to go and buy it
and watch it for yourself and see a film that has been tragically overlooked by
the academy and hasn’t received the worldwide recognition it deserves.
I eagerly await Jeff Nichols next film.
Director: Jeff Nichols.
Writer: Jeff Nichols.
