Here again I present my favourite films of the year. As usual it's important to remember that this isn't the BEST films of the year, rather the movies that I've found the most entertaining; not necessarily the best crafted, most awards worthy, or most powerful dramatically, as a professional film critic might see them. Personally I'm looking for a re-watchablity factor in all these films (do I want to purchase it on Bluray for future multiple viewings?) There's a longevity factor to consider as well; I might love the film now but will I still love it in a year from now, or ten years time? Finally there's that highly subjective personal factor that means a film might have a look, or theme, or a story, or characters that talk to my tastes as an individual, more than it might to others who have viewed these films.
20/ The Guest
Subversive 80’s inspired thriller that deconstructs the ‘unstoppable killer/slasher’ genre like Halloween and The Terminator. Sleek, suspenseful and slick.
19/ The Babadook
An extremely unsettling Australian supernatural drama that explores parenting.
18/ Snowpiercer
If you can get past the ludicris premise, this is a great piece of apocalyptic science fiction social commentary with black humour and mega violence.
17/ Oculus
It’s science verses the supernatural in this brain teasing chiller. Creepy with a non-linear narrative. The female cast are top notch.
16/ The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
It’s a brave blockbuster that chooses to depict a propaganda war rather than an all-action conflict, but this does. Jennifer Lawrence demonstrates why she’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
15/ Locke
A thriller with just one on screen character and set entirely within a car. captivating, unpredictable drama with a legendary turn from Tom Hardy.
14/ The Grand Budapest Hotel
The most accomplished movie to date from Anderson . Epic slapstick, smart subversive cinema with a comedy tour de force from Ralph Fiennes.
13/ Stretch
Joe Carnahan’s sweary, often hysterical, star-studded, unpredictable, day in the life of, crime thriller. Like Smokin’ Aces that preceded it, a wild ride with Patrick Wilson as your driver.
12/ Wolf Creek 2
Far better than the original, this does for Australian horror icons what Crocodile Dundee did for Australian comedy icons. It has the raw, epic beauty of Mad Max and the twisted humour of Chopper.
11/ The Lego Movie
How could a movie so blatantly commercial and goofy be so intelligent, meta, offbeat and outright, ball-achingly funny? Way too smart for kids, and yet with a Lego Batman this cool, why the hell should they even care. Amazing.
10/ Predestination
A small scale time travel thriller with an idea so original it’s shocking no one has filmed it before. Sarah Snook and Ethan Hawke are superb, the script doesn’t have an ounce of fat on it and The Spierig Brothers direct the crap out of it.
9/ Gone Girl
David Fincher’s riveting examination of the institution of marriage. Rosamund Pike is on award winning form, the narrative is delightfully twisty and the darkly comic tone blacker than black.
8/ The Raid 2
I thought it would be 20 years until an action movie came along and outdid The Raid. It turns out it was only 2 years and that film’s sequel that achieved it. Immaculate and originally choreographed fight sequences with a brutality rarely seen these days. My kind of movie.
7/ Godzilla
The plot is very predictable and Aaron Taylor-Johnson lacks the charisma of a bonefide leading man. However, it’s magnificent at building tension, has realism that’s commendable, is directed with Spielbergian style and has all the excitement of a Rocky movie smackdown.
6/ Captain America The Winter Soldier
Changing this franchise to a World War 2 movie to an espionage actioner was a genius move. High stakes, unexpected humour, gritty setpieces and a climax that feels earned.
5/ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Beautifully directed by Cloverfield’s Matt Reeves, this sequel has smarts and rightly makes the apes more engaging than the humans. Only slightly let down by an all-action climax. Still, can’t argee with apes, on horseback with machine guns!
4/ X-Men Days of Future Past
Singer returns to the X-Men franchise with his most fun film to date. A familiar premise is heightened with memorable scenes (the Pentagon kitchen escape) and strong, ever developing characters. A series high point.
3/ Edge Of Tomorrow
A surprisingly fun, high concept, time travel, war movie. Blunt & Cruise excel while the script is that rare beast; a block buster with brains. Only in the final act does it descend into a straight forward shoot-em up.
2/ Interstellar
While it felt like a few talky middle act scenes could be streamlined, this was yet another intelligent, mesmerising & haunting piece of blockbuster Oscar bait from Christopher Nolan. A pleasure to watch hard-science fiction on an awe inspiring level.
1/ Guardians Of The Galaxy
Not only was this a full-on space opera (for which I am a sucker), but it was exceptionally cast, tightly written, looked amazing, had a sublime 70’s soundtrack and that irreverent James Gunn humour that we were hoping for. Moving, exciting and hilarious.
Bubbling Under = Noah, In Your Eyes, Frank, The Wolf Of wall Street, Captain Phillips, Horns, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, All Cheerleaders Die, Nightcrawler.
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