12 Months of Films

So 12 months ago (sometime in December) I had a shiny new Cineworld card. I was intending to do monthly reviews but a) I saw far too many films to keep up with that work load, and b) My university work load was incredibly high to the point where some months I didn't leave my room.I have kept all my tickets with the intention of counting them up, but Cineworld saved me the effort by informing me that I have in fact saved £394 this year with my Cineworld Card. How many movies did I see for free? A lot.

So to finish off the subscription on a high, I want to highlight some of the best films I have seen this year, and suggest that you purchase dvds in the January Sales. Just a quick warning, this goes from Decemeber to December, so there may be some 2010 movies in here. Also I have not seen every movie this year, so if I have missed something it is possible I have not seen it!

So to commence.

Best VFX
As a Visual Effects Student, this category is of particular interest to me. There were a lot of movies that stood out this year as the quality gets better and better.

Nominated were:

• X-Men: First Class - human mutations and flying submarine amongst others. 
• Battle: Los Angeles - Shot after shot of battle action.
• Captain America - Incredible matte paintings and compositing.

Winner is Tron: Legacy - for an almost entire CG environment, and the experimental facial replacements.  

Best Actor
Not an easy category as a lot of the films we have seen this year rely on action and VFX rather than acting ability. However a few stood out.

• Ryan Gosling - For two contrasting characters in Drive and Crazy Stupid Love proving a range of skills. 
• Liam Neeson - For his role in Unknown, an experienced actor who can turn his hand to any role.

Winner is Asa Butterfield - Child actors are often the weak links in films, but Butterfield pulled off an incredibly moving role in Hugo that, in my opinion, made him top of my list.


Best Actress
Again, not an easy category. Some reoccurring faces this year were:

• Natalie Portman - In many films this year, varying from the intensity of the Black Swan to the hilarity of Your Highness.
• Michelle Rodriguez - For her role in Battle: Los Angeles.

Winner is Emma Watson - Hermione in Harry Potter. This actress has grown and matured on the big screen in front of our eyes and has become an incredible actress.


Outstanding Animal Contribution
They say never work with children or animals. But what about CG animals?

• Rio - For his great comedy timing and devotion to Jewel. Unfortunately the nasal quality to his voice and those Orange Adverts make him too annoying to win.  
• Hedwig - For his believable and emotional death scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. 
• Po Panda - For his dedication to his training for the martial art sequences in Kung Fu Panda 2. 

Winner is Caesar - For his range of expression and learning to complete simple phrases in his role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.


Funniest Comedy

In my opinion, if it makes me laugh, then it is probably a good comedy. The nominated movies had me laughing out loud in the cinema, and so have made the short list.

• Inbetweeners - I had never seen the series, and was slightly worried that I would not "get it" but it was simple enough to catch up with and inspired me to watch the TV show... a lot. Very funny, not just for the hard core Inbetweeners fans, and such a shame this is the end of the franchise.
• Megamind - for hilarious use of music and genius comedy timing. It is not often we come down on the side of the bad guy but I definitely love this little blue fellow.

Winner is Bridemaids. Snort your drink and choke funny. I saw this several times once even at the Odeon and paid full price for a ticket! Shocking. If you haven't seen this movie you must. Not just a chick flick and covers all manner of comedy styles.


Scariest Horror

•  127 hours - A psychological thriller more than a horror, certainly terrifying to think this could happen to anyone, and certainly makes you think. I'll never leave my house without leaving a paper trail in my wake again. Great movie.
•  Saw: The Final Chapter - Gore more than horror. Better than some of its predecessors but still not a match to the original. 

Winner is Sanctum. I found this movie incredibly claustrophobic which made me feel uneasy from the start. The idea of being confined in a small space whilst struggling with cold and high waters is terrifying for me, which was accentuated but the use of 3D. Brilliantly tense movie, my buttocks were sore for the week following!

Most Disappointing

I generally dislike rubbishing movies in my reviews, as I argue that all films have something redeeming about them. However there were disappointing movies this year, which had the potential to be something great but seemed to fall somewhere along the line. The ones that spring to mind were.

•  Apollo 18 - The trailer for this looked positively creepy and unnerving. I was expecting something in the same league as Blaire Witch. Unfortunately it seemed quite long winded and dull, and by half time I was fidgeting and bored. Shame really as the concept is good.
•  Green Hornet - There was nothing wrong with this movie as such, the title sequences were brilliant and it was a humorous and easily watchable film, however it lacked the punch that the other comic-book movies seem to pack. I kind of hope they remake this film again someday in the future. 

Winner (or loser?) is Suckerpunch. Ok, this movie I could rant forever about. Such potential, such a great concept and cast, and what an awful outcome. At the end of the day it was more like a showcase for VFX (which were incredible by the way, utterly stunning, particularly the fight sequence on the train with the robots) but had little direction or plot. Such a shame.

Most Surprising
These movies I walked into with low expectations and was absolutely blown away.

• Super 8 - I hadn't really seen a trailer for this movie so wasn't really sure what it was about. I won't give too much away, but my word what a great film. 
• True Grit - I'm not a big fan of Westerns, and though I can spend many happy hour on Red Dead Redemption, I wasn't sure I liked the idea of a Western for a modern audience, but I really enjoyed this film. It followed the traditional storyline of a child looking for justice for their fathers death, but unusually it followed a young girl, who was braver than any lad in the west. A great cast with utterly moving acting. I can't recommend this film enough.

Winner is Drive. Awesome. Up there with Scarface. Not at all what I was expecting, but thrilled that it turned out the way it did!


Highly Commended
Not quite my film of the year, but on my must buy list (in fact, already bought list!)

• Ironclad - For a locally made, relatively low budget movie, this film has great production values. I'm not really sure on the story, but there were lots of fight sequences, castles blowing up and general mayhem. Great film, Assassin's Creed meets something awesome with lots of explosions...
• Attack the Block - What do you expect from Nick Frost, a brilliant look at the ASBO culture with some aliens thrown in for fun. 

Winner is Submarine. As far as I'm aware this film didn't originally make general release, and honestly the only reason I went to see it was because my best mate slept on my floor whilst working on this film. However, I was surprised at how brilliant this film was. A look at teenage angst infused with a dark humour that only us Brits can pull off. Wonderfully touching, go buy it. Now.


Best Film of the Year

There are many contenders for this title. I have seen many many movies, most of which are enjoyable and watchable. I'm not one to over analyze a film, and so the winner of this title is a movie I would see over and over and enjoy repeatedly.

• X-Men: First Class - Awesome VFX, action, and humour, the strongest of the X-Men series in my opinion.
• Captain America - The Marvel movies have been gradually increasing in intensity over the last few installments. What a penultimate episode. Bring on the Avengers.
• Black Swan - Beauty and substance over action. Stunning cinematography, and weirdly twisted storyline. Definitely a strong contender.
  

The Winner is Rise of the Planet of the Apes. What a movie. Enough said. 



I hope you have enjoyed my little award ceremony, I have had a great year at the cinema, and guess what. I got another Cineworld Unlimited Card for Christmas this year! See you in 12 months for another award ceremony!