What an amazing year for film. I’ve had my heart broken, my eyes opened and soul stirred with the magic of performance, politics and vision.
The thrillers have also been strong this year with Mile 22, Day of the Soldado, A Quiet Place and You Were Never Really Here breaking the 4.5 mark – l love a good thriller!
But I was also blown away by the life-affirming masterpiece, Roma; and Gurrumul: who’s view of life had as much effect on the soul as his unique voice and music.
10. A Quiet Place
The mechanics and thought put into the presentation of the film, the soundtrack, the drama of the family dynamic shown in the facial expressions and eyes of the cast pushes the suspense to maximum in this horror thriller.
An impressive film from start to finish.
I felt like my eyes had been opened with a new understanding watching this film – the way the behaviour of racism looks on screen is so ridiculous it’s funny. And very, very scary.
8. Mile 22
A simple concept, with many layers, so believable and so very violent – there’s no holding back in this action packed, political spy-thriller.
7. Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Italian director, Stefano Sollima had big shoes to fill after director, Denis Villeneuve absolutely nailed, Sicario (2015). Yet with my expectations set to a such a high level, I was not disappointed.
6. GURRUMUL
It’s such a gentle unfolding I didn’t realise how strong the rising of emotion in response to the purity of his voice, the calling in the telling of his story in song. Even in a different language I could still feel the meaning. I’m getting teary writing about it. Not from sadness but the exposure to such honesty of feeling.
5. In The Fade
This is the reason I review films: to be exposed to movies I wouldn’t otherwise watch because I know it’s going to be confronting. And, In The Fade is filled with rain and tears and loss but there’s also a powerfully gripping story here, beautifully told.
A Star Is Born is one of those country love stories because with real love comes the real tragedy of watching a star rise despite people telling her she’s ugly and the mega-star musician suffering addiction and tinnitus while losing the sense of who he is.
Add music, good music, and you’ve got more just a love story.
A thoroughly absorbing enchantment.
2. Roma
I loved this film, the quiet, the sad, the love, the beauty, the simplicity of people living their lives shown with amusement and a rare honesty that fills you up. Now that’s film making.
Astounding performance, gritty story and visually, brutally poetic.
