It's that time of year again. The wine is mulling, the pies are mincing and my jeans are tightening. 2016 has been a truly atrocious year in many many respects, both political and personal, but I have loved spending time in a darkened room watching some fantastic films. My Top Ten Films of the Year (in no particular order) are:
Hail, Caesar! which I've now watched twice and I adored every second of it both times. Channing Tatum tapdancing, George Clooney playing the idiot and Scarlett Johansson playing a screwball Hollywood diva. And that's not even mentioning the utterly wonderful Ralph Fiennes. Also, hands down my favourite trailer of the year.
Actually no, my favourite trailer might be for the brilliant High Rise. Incredibly stylish and inventive, and a perfect interpretation of J G Ballard's 'unfilmable' novel, which is one of my favourites of all time.
Back to the magnificent Ralph Fiennes - his performance as a narcissistic music producer in A Bigger Splash was one of the best of the year. Tilda Swinton is perfection, as always, in a mostly silent role.
Everybody Wants Some!! is so much fun but also has a deceptive depth to it. It cements Richard Linklater is one of my very favourite directors.
Love & Friendship is a Walt Stillman adaptation of a Jane Austen, which is turns out is what we've all been waiting for. It is a total delight, full of sharp wit and wonderfully hilarious performances.
Switching mood entirely, I have never cried as much in a cinema as I did at Room, tears of sadness, tension and joy. I'm not sure I will ever put myself through the stress of watching it again but it is a beautiful and intensely moving film that deserves all the plaudits it has gained.
The technical aspect of Victoria (it was filmed all in one take) is impressive but it was the exuberance of the performances and the skillful ratcheting of tension that won me over.
Arrival is more than a sci-fi movie. it's an intelligent look at ideas and language and love and loss which is intensely moving and beautiful.
Hunt of the Wilderpeople was my unexpected gem of 2016. Hilarious and poignant, everyone should see it.
American Honey is a freewheeling languorous road trip movie, beautifully directed by Andrea Arnold and beautifully performed by a cast of mostly unknowns, with a wonderful use of music.
And if you'll permit me, I'll sneak in the utterly glorious La La Land, which I saw at the London Film Festival and which has its full release in January 2017. More about this in the New Year...
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