Review of the Movie Year 2013

Another year over, another Review of the Movie Year blog post (apparently the only blog posts I write these days). 2013 was overall a terrific year of film, with great colour and diversity and some truly original productions. It does make naming a ten best list incredibly difficult, and I honestly believe that were I asked for my list tomorrow, or the day after, I may provide something entirely different to what you see below. This is the list that I came up with today, so it's the list I am standing by. As per usual I have wimped out of ordering the ten films, so it is simply what I deem to be my favourite ten films of 2013. This does not necessarily mean the 'best made', or the films with the higher production values, but rather the films that have stuck with me the most as I reflect back on the movie year, that perhaps created the greatest emotional resonance. These are the ten that I look back on with the clearest and fondest memories, that I have or will be rushing out to buy on DVD.

I was somewhat disappointed by the summer blockbuster output this year, with only 'Star Trek: Into Darkness' exceeding expectations. 'Man of Steel', 'Pacific Rim' and 'The Lone Ranger' all left me pretty cold, while some, such as 'After Earth', 'Jack The Giant Slayer' and 'The Host' bordered on awful. This is all perhaps reflected in my top 10 list, which includes fewer tentpole Hollywood releases than previous years. This blog post, as with previous years, also features several other awards, including Actor, Actress, Scene-Stealer, Soundtrack and Trailer of 2013.

To make the list a film must have received its UK cinema release within the year 2013. Several of the current big awards buzz films, including '12 Years A Slave', 'American Hustle' and 'The Dallas Buyers Club', are not released in the UK until the early months of 2014. One of my favourite films I saw this year, 'The Spectacular Now' (London Film Festival), cannot be included on this list as it will not receive its official UK cinema release until 2014. There are a few critically acclaimed recent releases, including 'Nebraska' and 'Kill Your Darlings', that I have not seen yet and am unlikely to until January so I could of course not consider these for the below list. Similarly, 'All Is Lost' and 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' are not released until right at the end of December so have not been considered. Anyway, happy reading, and would love to hear all your end-of-year lists!

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2013 ------->


BEFORE MIDNIGHT

'We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna' (IMDb). The third in Richard Linklater's masterpiece series about the relationship between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) is arguably the finest, and the patience to set the films each nine years apart has really paid off. So strong is the writing that it doesn't take us too long to catch up, yet we are never unaware of just what the couple have been through during this time, and the changes they have undergone. The dialogue is sharp and true, the result of much hard work by Linklater, Delpy and Hawke, all now so in tune with the characters' thoughts and feelings. The interplay between Delpy and Hawke is as beautifully cohesive and natural as ever, albeit tinged with a sense that there is something about to break, some harsh truths needing to be spoken.

One of the unlikeliest trilogies of all time but easily one of the best, these films explore the relationship between these two people in such depth that come 'Before Midnight' we are so familiar with Jesse and Celine they are like family. When we see them hurting, or hurting each other, it hurts us too. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It'll warm you up and then break your heart, and then warm you up again. But please see the other two films first, to really get the full character arc of this wonderfully real, human couple.


THE KINGS OF SUMMER

'Three teenage friends, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land' (IMDb). Nick Robinson and Gabriel Basso are both terrific as best friends Joe and Patrick in this lovely coming-of-age story with echoes of Stand By Me. Joe, frustrated by his father's attempts to control his life, enlists the help of his friends to build a new home in the nearby woods so that they may live off the land and be their own men. Comic relief comes in the form of Moises Arias as the tag-along oddball Biaggio.

Support is provided by the ever dependable Nick Offerman as Joe's Dad Frank, searching for his missing son and learning about him as if for the first time. The Kings of Summer may be slight, but it is also touching, sweet and funny, 'perfectly evoking', as Robbie Collin writes in his Telegragh review, 'that too-brief time of life when you could pass the evenings drunk on stolen beer and all the spare time you could dream of'.


THE WAY, WAY BACK

'Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park' (IMDb). Dripping with nostalgia, The Way, Way Back came out of left field as one of the sweetest and funniest films of the year. Steve Carell has fun playing against type as the bullying, narcissistic Trent, and there are great supporting turns from Toni Collette as Duncan's nice but slightly unaware mother, Maya Rudolph as a water park staff member, and Alison Janney is a hoot as the boozy, brash neighbour.

The film belongs to Sam Rockwell, though, as the wisecracking Owen. Rockwell is the film's main source of humour, warm and likeable and delivering endlessly quotable dialogue (credit to writer/directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, fresh from their Oscars success with The Descendents) in a deadpan manner reminiscent of Bill Murray. The Way, Way Back surprised me with its injection of warmth, heart and fun - almost the perfect summer movie.


STOKER

'After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him' (IMDb). Park Chan-Wook's first foray into English-language cinema after the success of Korean flicks Oldboy, Lady Vengeance etc was certainly a divisive one, with some considering it genius and others ludicrous. I was in the former category, finding Stoker to be a deeply atmospheric, moody mystery tinged with eroticism and yearning and anchored by a terrific cast.

Mia Wasikowska has gone from strength to strength in recent years and gives one of her finest performances to date as the troubled India. The film marks a return to form for Nicole Kidman as India's mother, and Matthew Goode oozes a wonderfully slimy charm as the sinister Uncle Charlie. The cinematography by regular Park Chan-Wook collaborator Chung-hoon Chung is nothing short of stunning, and the score by Clint Mansell (one of my favourite composers) is unsurprisingly beautiful. As a horror, Stoker is more psychologically disturbing than full-blooded and shocking, a slow-burning, provocative, creepy mood-piece.


WHAT MAISIE KNEW

'In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle' (IMDb). This modern day adaptation of Henry James' novel is a small-scale but heartbreaking, beautifully acted study of the effects of her parents' divorce upon young Maisie. She is thrown from one parent to the other with a truly shocking lack of care or attention. Steve Coogan is enjoying quite the year, adding his strong performance here as Maisie's selfish and shallow father Beale to the hilarious Alan Partridge film and his fabulous screenplay and performance for the much lauded Philomena. Meanwhile Julianne Moore excels as the desperate, somewhat ugly character of Maisie's ageing rocker mum Susanna.

Alexander Skarsgard and Joanna Vanderham are absolutely wonderful as the new partners of Maisie's parents, struggling themselves with the neglect and mistreatment that Maisie is encountering. They give so much heart to the film and allow us to see, rather devastatingly, what Maisie's life could be like with parents who gave her the time and attention she deserves. The star of the show, though, is six year old newcomer Onata Aprile as Maisie. Aprile is an absolute revelation, turning in one of the finest child performances in recent memory and causing the entire audience to warm to her and suffer with her.


THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES

'A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective' (IMDb). Director Derek Cianfrance moves comfortably from the small, quiet but devastating relationship drama 'Blue Valentine' to this sprawling three act story set in the leafy environs of Schenectady, New York. Much as with 'Blue Valentine', The Place Beyond The Pines' greatest success lies with the power of its two central performances. Ryan Gosling, in a very different role to that of 'Blue Valentine', plays stunt rider Luke with a quiet but strong presence, a man driven to desperate measures to support the son he has only just discovered he has. Bradley Cooper, meanwhile, builds on his excellent work in Silver Linings Playbook with this performance as cop Avery, wrestling with his own sense of morality as all his ambitions take hold. Support is provided by the always excellent Ben Mendelsohn and Ray Liotta.

The third act requires the audience to accept certain coincidences, but if you can move past this it proves to be incredibly rewarding. This is where Cianfrance's full vision comes alive, helped by an electrifying Dane DeHaan as Luke's son Jason, as we see the long term effect of decisions made 15 years before. The Place Beyond The Pines deals in an accomplished manner with a number of big issues, chiefly those of and actions and consequences, of right and wrong and how often these concepts can be blurred. It wasn't for everyone, some finding it overlong or implausible, but I found the epic scope of this melodrama something to be commended - a film that isn't afraid to take risks. It confirmed Cianfrance as a new filmmaker of real note, and I can't wait to see what he does next.


THE BLING RING

'Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes' (IMDb). Largely misunderstood, The Bling Ring has actually wound up on a few worst-of lists but finds itself a place in my top 10 of 2013. Sometimes a film that features vacuous characters ends up being mistaken for vacuous itself, which seems to have been the case with Sofia Coppola's latest. I've been a fan of Coppola's since the very beginning, including 2010's equally misunderstood 'Somewhere'. There was no film released this year which felt as current, as of its time, a snapshot of a celebrity-obsessed culture high on social media. This is not the first time in recent times to find itself occupied with the excess of our current generation, with The Bling Ring cut from the same cloth as Harmony Korine's similarly divisive Spring Breakers in its depiction of a modern youth driven to the thrills of crime through boredom and dissatisfaction (this trend looks set to continue, most notably with Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street). In fact many parts of The Bling Ring felt very Korine-esque, coldly presenting a story of young Americans and their debauchery with very little attempt to pass judgement.

There is something refreshing about a film with no particular interest in critiquing, rather in simply capturing a piece of modern culture and leaving it to the audience to critique. Coppola's touch is present throughout the film, which features a number of terrific visual flourishes. In one bravura scene the Bling Ring rob Audrina Patridge's house of floor to ceiling windows, allowing us to watch the entire robbery in a single extended CCTV shot. I would argue this as one of the shots of the year. Emma Watson continued her great work in The Perks of Being a Wallflower with this revelatory performance as Valleyspeaking, unintentionally hilarious Nicki ("I want to lead the country someday, for all I know"), and Katie Chang was also very strong as the group's ringleader Rebecca.


GRAVITY

'A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space' (IMDb). Gravity signals its ambitious intentions from the off with an astonishing 12 minute unbroken opening scene unlike anything seen before, as we are introduced to our protagonists. Alfonso Cuaron's latest broke new ground, making the most of updated technology to deliver the most visually arresting film of the year. The sound design is nothing short of incredible, nailing the difficult task of creating realistic noise in a vacuum and cleverly incorporating Sandra Bullock's breaths and heartbeat as true thematic elements.

Gravity, as good looking and good sounding as it undoubtedly is, would only be half as watchable if the central performances lacked, but fortunately they do anything but. Sandra Bullock, an actress I have at times struggled to warm to, is left to carry the film for great parts and gives a career-best effort as Dr. Stone, forced to summon incredible strength in her struggle for survival while still grief-stricken after the death of her daughter. George Clooney, as Matt Kowalski, is as dependable as ever, his laid-back calm a perfect foil for Bullock's barely controlled panic. Gravity is Cuaron's best work so far in a career already displaying a number of quality, varied films. It begins by acknowledging that 'Life in space is impossible', but Gravity does a magnificent job of bringing space to life.


STORIES WE TELL

'A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers' (IMDb). Sarah Polley's third full film as director after the very impressive 'Away From Her' and 'Take This Waltz' (one of my favourite films of 2011) is this wonderful little documentary about her family and the way in which their memories of events differ. Polley plays detective as she tries to discover the truths behind the relationship between her father Michael, a retired actor, and her mother Diane, a Canadian TV personality who died of cancer when Polley was 11, but with this film it seems that the truth depends on who is telling it.

As she grew up Polley was the subject of many comments regarding the lack of likeness between herself and her father, and this forms much of the focus of her explorations. Stories We Tell is a startlingly intimate and personal film, Polley unafraid to lay herself and her family bare. It's complex, grown-up watching, humourous and heartbreaking, with much to say about family, relationships, love and truth, and the effect of these human relationships on a much wider web of people.


BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

'Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself' (IMDb). Blue is the Warmest Colour is the love film of 2013 without question. Director Abdellatif Kechiche manages to coax (through whatever means he did - we won't go into that) the performances of the year from his young French stars. Léa Séydoux, as the blue-haired free spirit Emma, is tough, daring, a creative bohemian energy and a ray of light in Adele's life. The film's beating heart, though, is Adele Exarchopoulos, producing a totally believable, totally staggering performance as our protagonist Adele.

Much has been made of the lengthy, explicit sex scenes, which is a shame really in that it has somewhat distracted attention away from the fact that this is easily one of the films of the year. Yes, those particular scenes are full-on and extended, but so is every scene. The film is a meticulous, slow study of Adele's life and love, exploring themes of not just sex and lust but also education, art, romance, literature, discrimination. Some have classed it as overlong at 3 hours, but I barely felt it pass, so invested was I in the story and its many beautiful, devastating moments. I must admit I'm not a big fan of the film's English title - the French is 'La Vie d'Adele', directly translated as 'The Life of Adele', and works much better. The focus of the film is, after all, Adele's life, and the audience go on a truly epic journey with her. Ian Freer describes it well in his Empire review - '"How do you understand that the heart is missing something?” is a question posed at the start of Abdellatif Kechiche’s Palme D’Or winner. The answer is as emotionally shattering as movies get, the ecstacy and agony of first love, real love, in all its magnificent simplicity and complexity'.

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Honourable mentions go to 'Ain't Them Bodies Saints', 'Blue Jasmine', 'Captain Phillips', 'Spring Breakers', 'Short Term 12', 'Prince Avalanche' and 'Frances Ha'.


ACTOR OF 2013 -- TOM HANKS

The last couple of months of the year have seen Tom Hanks in not one but two excellent turns in awards buzz movies. First up was Paul Greengrass' unbearably tense 'Captain Phillips', in which Hanks' titular sea captain and his crew find themselves the victims of Somali pirates aboard their container ship The Maersk Alabama. Hanks is all clear-headed, calm professionalism, a Boston everyman, which makes his breakdown at the end of the film so much more devastating, and one of the most powerfully acted scenes of the year.

He followed this up with a totally different, but similarly brilliant, performance as Walt Disney in 'Saving Mr Banks'. He hints at the multi-faceted nature of Disney, the likeability and showmanship (a perfect fit for Hanks' natural charisma), the childlike wonder, the ruthlessness, and perhaps impresses most in the quiet scenes with Emma Thompson (the way they play off each other makes for the most humourous and warm moments). Add these to his six (yes, six!) roles in the Wachowski Brothers' mind-bending, massively underrated 'Cloud Atlas' earlier in the year and it is very clear that 2013 was Tom Hanks' year, confirming to the world that not only is he a 'HUGE MOVIE STAR' but he is also a fabulous actor capable of great versatility.

Honourable mention should go to Hugh Jackman for 'Les Misérables', 'The Wolverine' and 'Prisoners'.


ACTRESS OF 2013 -- ADELE EXARCHOPOULOS

19 year old Adele Exarchopoulos came from nowhere this year to deliver certainly one of the bravest and most committed performances in recent times as her namesake in French love film 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour'. Exarchopoulos laid herself bare, both physically and emotionally, fully investing herself in a tour de force performance so natural that you lost yourself completely in the emotional rollercoaster that her character undergoes. She was unafraid to snub beauty for realism, often in tears, snotty.

What was most impressive was how well she nailed the subtle but very present transition that Adele goes through over the years that the film covers, from unsure youth to mature, heartbroken teacher. There is a particular moment later on in the film with Adele teaching her kindergarten kids, maturely containing her emotion from the kids that she loves so much, before breaking down in the classroom after they leave, that ranks amongst the finest acting I have ever seen. Time will tell as to whether she makes the leap across the pond to Hollywood or stays within French cinema, but whatever comes next a star is most certainly born. What will be interesting to see, in the long career that she undoubtedly has ahead of her, is if she can genuinely top this performance.

Honourable mentions should go to Cate Blanchett for 'Blue Jasmine' and Judi Dench for 'Philomena'.


DIRECTOR OF 2013 -- WOODY ALLEN

It's Woody Allen, and I love him. I'm really enjoying his return to form recently, and this year's Blue Jasmine was his most accomplished film in a long time, an effective character study featuring a sharp script by Allen, and stand-out performances. In it, 'a New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace, or love...' (IMDb). Allen gets a career best performance from Cate Blanchett as the titular Jasmine, and she is rightly being discussed as an Oscar frontrunner. Sally Hawkins and Alec Baldwin provide reliably excellent support - Hawkins has been rewarded with a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination. In fact the more I think of it, the more I think Blue Jasmine should have been in the Top 10 list. No, no, I will not change my mind! Anyway, it's great to see Allen back in business and I'm looking forward to his next film, 2014's Magic in the Moonlight, starring Emma Stone and Colin Firth.

Honourable mentions should go to Alfonso Cuaron and Paul Greengrass.


FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF 2013 -- THE GREAT BEAUTY

As I have already written about 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour' I decided to give this award to 'The Great Beauty', a wonderful Italian movie that could easily have made the Top 10 Films list itself. 'Jep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty' (IMDb). Much has been made of this as a homage to Fellini's La Dolce Vita, but that in some ways does a disservice to Paolo Sorrentino's film and the originality of much of his vision. The Great Beauty is a sumptuous affair, exquisitely shot (if you needed any other reason to visit Rome, this could be it) and by a mesmerising central performance by Sorrentino regular and veteran actor Toni Servillo as the charming, reflective Jep. Italy's contender for 2014's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar is uplifting, thought-provoking, and features the most breathtakingly beautiful music.


BREAKOUT STAR OF 2013 -- BRIE LARSON

Brie Larson was for me the obvious choice for Breakout Star of the year after excellent supporting turns in The Spectacular Now and Don Jon, followed up with one of the finest performances of the year in the lead role of foster care drama Short Term 12. As supervising staff member Grace, Larson breaks hearts and raises spirits in equal measure, nailing the strong, compassionate, beautifully human character perfectly. Next up for Larson is Rupert Wyatt's The Gambler, co-starring Mark Wahlberg, and The Basmati Blues, opposite Donald Sutherland. Watch out for this one.


SCENE OF 2013 -- 'EVERYTIME' SINGALONG IN SPRING BREAKERS

A scene in the much-derided Spring Breakers in which some girls stand around a piano and sing a Britney Spears song with James Franco may not seem like an obvious choice for my scene of the year. But thinking back over all the great scenes in the great films of 2013, this one is still sticking in my mind more than most, so it gets my vote. Yes, it's absolutely OTT and ludicrous and trashy, but also wonderfully provocative and gloriously bonkers. Michael J.W. Stickings, in his the-reaction blog post, gets it right when describing Spring Breakers as 'an intriguing (and shocking) presentation of postmodern American nihilism, of a dream turned dystopic, of the dark side of youth culture and so of a terribly bleak future'. Franco underwent a manic transformation to play creepy gangster rapper Alien (one of the most underrated acting performances of the year), and it is him that kicks this scene off as his piano begins the Everytime singalong, assisted by his three Spring Breakers (Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine, clad in pink ski masks and 'DTF' printed sweatpants and clutching machine guns), all bathed in the beautiful pink Florida sunset. The scene then begins to intercut shots of the girls assisting Alien in the torturing and robbing of other vacationers.

This bizarre contrast between the hauntingly beautiful innocence of the girls (leading into Spears' own voice) singing Everytime and the horrific violence of their crimes works surprisingly well and lends the song a truly disturbing edge. Harmony Korine's musical choices throughout the film are strong, but the decision to use Spears' arguably finest song in this scene is certainly his best (the story of Spears herself bears an odd parallel to the fall of modern American youth that this film immerses itself in). The cinematography of Benoit Debie (the visionary DoP behind 'Enter the Void' and 'Irreversible') is excellent in this scene and throughout the film, all hypnotic slo-mo, lurid colour and voyeuristic lens work. The scene fades out to Franco's whispered 'spring break bitches', an aural motif cleverly used throughout this trippy, twisted film.


SCENE-STEALER OF 2013 -- SAM ROCKWELL (THE WAY, WAY BACK)

As explained in my piece on 'The Way, Way Back' above, Rockwell steals the show in that film as the wise-cracking water park worker Owen. Laughing all the way as he delivers priceless quote after priceless quote in his deadpan, warmly sarcastic style, it is easy for us to see why geeky kid Duncan finds an idol in Owen. Rockwell has been quietly turning in superb peformances for years now, notably recently in Moon, Seven Psychopaths and Choke.


SOUNDTRACK OF 2013 -- LES MISÉRABLES

Loving the music of Les Mis as I do this was probably always likely to be the winner this year, unless the music had been poorly delivered in the film. Fortunately this is not the case, whatever you may think of Russell Crowe's singing. Anne Hathaway's 'I Dreamed A Dream is worth every bit of hype it received, heartbreaking and full of naked emotion. Hugh Jackman, already renowned for his appearance in musicals, delivers a powerful and tearjerking 'Bring Him Home', and Eddie Redmayne perhaps teases the tears the most with 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables'.

Honourable mentions should go to 'Gravity' and 'The Great Gatsby'.


POSTER OF 2013 -- SPRING BREAKERS

'WISH YOU WERE HERE' - suggestive, hypnotic, and a neat reverse on the standard picture-postcard use of the phrase. The lurid colours that abound in the film itself. The sexualisation of violence that the film finds itself invested in, refusing to comment on the morality of it in typical Harmony Korine fashion. Beautiful and disturbing.

Honourable mention should go to 'Gravity'.


TRAILER OF 2013 (SHARED HONOURS) -- THE WOLF OF WALL STREET

Martin Scorsese's latest is one of my must-see films of 2014. The brilliant, bold trailer showcases a reel of glorious excess in this 'true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government' (IMDb). Leonardo DiCaprio has yet to falter in his various collaborations with Scorsese and looks to be bang on form here (he now has a Golden Globe nomination to boot). Support from Jonah Hill (a revelation if early whispers are anything to go by), Matthew McConaughey (what a year 2014 looks like being for him) and the always brilliant Kyle Chandler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszwuX1AK6A


& THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Sharing the honour of Trailer of 2013 with 'The Wolf of Wall Street', The Grand Budapest Hotel looks like it may well be the most Wes Anderson-y Wes Anderson film so far, which is saying something. The latest from one of my all-time favourite filmmakers, TGBH looks like typically quirky fun in this tale of 'Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend' (IMDb). This could be the ensemble cast of 2014, led by Ralph Fiennes and also featuring (pause for breath) Saoirse Ronan, Edward Norton, Jude Law, Bill Murray (of course), Léa Séydoux, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel and Tom Wilkinson. Phew!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fg5iWmQjwk

Honourable mentions should go to 'Anchorman 2', 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' and 'Gravity'.

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Finally, here is my rating out of 5 for every 2013 release that I’ve seen. I have left a few gaps for films that I intend on seeing over the next few weeks, so I can edit this post to include my ratings.

The Impossible – 3/5
Quartet – 3/5
Gangster Squad – 3/5
Les Misérables – 4/5
What Richard Did – 4/5
Django Unchained – 4/5
The Sessions – 3/5
Lincoln – 4/5
Movie 43 – 1/5
Zero Dark Thirty – 4/5
Hyde Park on Hudson – 3/5
Hitchcock – 3/5
Warm Bodies – 3/5
Wreck-It Ralph – 3/5
This Is 40 – 4/5
Cloud Atlas – 3/5
Song For Marion – 3/5
To The Wonder – 2/5
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters – 2/5
Broken City – 3/5
Stoker – 4/5
Oz The Great and Powerful – 3/5
Robot & Frank – 4/5
Side Effects – 4/5
The Paperboy – 2/5
Welcome To The Punch – 3/5
Identity Thief – 2/5
Jack The Giant Slayer – 2/5
Trance – 4/5
The Host – 2/5
Spring Breakers – 4/5
Oblivion – 2/5
The Place Beyond The Pines – 4/5
Evil Dead – 3/5
Iron Man 3 – 3/5
The Look of Love – 3/5
21 And Over – 3/5
I’m So Excited – 3/5
Star Trek Into Darkness – 4/5
Mud – 4/5
The Great Gatsby – 3/5
The Hangover Part 3 – 3/5
Byzantium – 3/5
The Purge – 2/5
After Earth – 2/5
Behind The Candelabra – 4/5
Admission – 2/5
Man of Steel – 2/5
Much Ado About Nothing – 4/5
Stuck In Love – 4/5
Summer In February – 2/5
Before Midnight – 5/5
World War Z – 2/5
Despicable Me 2 – 3/5
The East – 4/5
Stories We Tell – 4/5
This Is The End – 3/5
The Internship – 2/5
Now You See Me – 3/5
The Bling Ring – 4/5
Monsters University – 3/5
Pacific Rim – 2/5
Breathe In – 4/5
The Frozen Ground – 3/5
The World’s End – 2/5
The Wolverine – 3/5
Frances Ha – 4/5
The Heat – 2/5
Only God Forgives – 3/5
Red 2 – 2/5
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa – 4/5
The Lone Ranger – 3/5
Kick-Ass 2 – 3/5
Elysium – 3/5
The Kings of Summer – 4/5
Lovelace – 3/5
We’re The Millers – 3/5
What Maisie Knew – 4/5
The Way, Way Back – 4/5
Pain & Gain – 2/5
Upstream Colour – 3/5
About Time – 3/5
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints – 4/5
Any Day Now – 4/5
Rush – 3/5
Diana – 1/5
Blue Jasmine – 4/5
Filth – 4/5
Girl Most Likely – 3/5
Prisoners – 4/5
Runner Runner – 2/5
How I Live Now – 3/5
Le Week-end – 3/5
Machete Kills – 2/5
Romeo and Juliet – 3/5
Captain Phillips – 4/5
Enough Said – 4/5
Prince Avalanche – 4/5
The Selfish Giant – 4/5
Thor: The Dark World – 3/5
Drinking Buddies – 3/5
Philomena – 4/5
Short Term 12 – 4/5
Gravity – 4/5
The Butler –
The Counsellor –
Don Jon – 3/5
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire –
Blue Is The Warmest Colour – 5/5
Parkland – 3/5
Carrie –
Jeune Et Jolie –
Saving Mr Banks – 4/5
The Class of ’92 –
Kill Your Darlings –
Nebraska –
Oldboy –
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug –
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues –
All Is Lost –
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty –

Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2013

Another annual must, blog-wise, is my most anticipated films of 2013 list. Another toughie! I was loath to include too many films that aren't yet guaranteed 2013 release dates, which means that Spike Lee's 'Oldboy' remake and 'Anchorman: The Legend Continues', both of which would've made the cut, have been left out for this reason. I have included one film which has not yet been given a 2013 UK release, 'Beyond Midnight', but its January Sundance premiere suggests a good chance we'll see it this year.

LES MISÉRABLES

'In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever'(IMDb). I remain slightly sceptical of how well one of my all-time favourite musicals can be translated to the big screen, but I'm full of excitement nevertheless, thanks in great part to those breathtaking trailers (goosebumps!). Tom Hooper has assembled a really superb cast - Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe (I even love his singing voice), Anne Hathaway (huge Oscar buzz based almost entirely on her 'I Dreamed A Dream' rendition), Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.

STOKER

'After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him' (IMDb). 'Stoker' represents the first foray into English-language features for the masterful Park Chan-Wook, following Korean successes such as 'Oldboy', 'Lady Vengeance' and 'Thirst'. Looks truly creepy, less of a horror as some have called it and more a chilly, psychological mystery drama. Featuring the immensely talented Mia Masikowska and Matthew Goode, the film should also represent a return to form for Nicole Kidman, her moments in the trailers bringing to mind her haunted performance in 2001's 'The Others'.

MAN OF STEEL

'An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world' (IMDb). Directed by Zach Snyder, produced by Christopher Nolan, the latest Superman incarnation bears all the dark, haunting hallmarks of Nolan's Batman movies, though it is worth remembering that Zach Snyder brought us one of the greatest superhero films to hit the big screen in 2009's 'Watchmen'. Hopefully this will succeed in banishing memories of Bryan Singer's ill-conceived 'Superman Returns', perhaps re-invigorating a franchise that had almost seemed dead in the water. Henry Cavill looks like he will make for a suitably brooding Clark Kent/Superman, physically similar to Christopher Reeve's iconic portrayal. He will be supported by Kevin Costner as Clark's father Jonathan, and Russell Crowe as Jor-El. The potential is certainly there... now to see if they've realised it.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

'The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug' (IMDb). 'The Hobbit' may have had its critics, but Martin Freeman made a perfect Bilbo, Richard Armitage a perfect Thorin, and the film was overall an epic adventure with a real sense of fun. The second part of the adventure promises Mirkwood, much more of Benedict Cumberbatch's Smaug, and building towards the absolutely huge Battle of Five Armies, in 2014's 'There and Back Again'.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES

'A motorcycle stunt rider considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician' (IMDb). 'Place Beyond the Pines' reunites man of the moment Ryan Gosling with director Derek Cianfrance after their brilliant and heartbreaking first collaboration, 'Blue Valentine'. This looks to be an altogether different beast, a sprawling crime drama that has thus far divided festival critics. Also starring Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes.

THE GREAT GATSBY

'Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy' (IMDb). An entirely original take on F.Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, Baz Lurhmann's latest promises a whirlwind of colour, crazy costumes and epic romance. The only fear is that amongst all the scale and grandeur of Lurhmann's reimagining, some of the heart and character emphasis of the novel may be lost, but this remains to be seen. 'Gatsby' will be a visual treat for sure, but with a cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, should also prove a showcase of terrific acting. The intriguing decision to hire Jay-Z to score the film could well prove a masterstroke.

KICK-ASS 2

'The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows' (IMDb). Again following the escapades of Aaron Johnson's Dave Lizewski, this sequel will also see the return of one of the greatest screen creations of recent times, Chloe Moretz's potty-mouthed Hit-Girl. We'll also be introduced to some new characters, including Doctor Gravity (played by Scrubs' Donald Faison) and, intriguingly, Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. Here's hoping it retains all the fun, energy and frenetic action of the first film, despite the lack of Matthew Vaughn's involvement.

THE WORLD'S END

'Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival' (IMDb). Director Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have thus far managed to keep many of the details about their latest collaboration well under wraps, but you can expect much of the same silliness and big belly laughs that made 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' so enjoyable. The central cast of Pegg, Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marson will be one of the finest British ensembles of the year. 'The World's End' probably won't break any real comedy barriers, but could be one of the most fun cinematic experiences this year.

TRANCE

'An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting' (IMDb). Danny Boyle's latest, coming off the almighty buzz generated by his truly magnificent Olympics opening ceremony, looks to be a fine thriller amongst the world of hypnosis. The trailer goes live on Thursday (10/1/13), so we can have a better idea of what to expect then. Starring the superb triumvirate of James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel, 'Trance' looks set to build on Boyle's reputation as a truly adept 'genre skipper' of a director.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT

'We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna' (IMDb). I'm a huge fan of the previous two films in Richard Linklater's series, 'Before Sunrise' and 'Before Sunset', and have high hopes for the latest. The films are so simple, so beautiful, and the chemistry between stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy so natural, that I can't help but expect the third part of Jesse and Celine's journey to be another little gem. Though 'Before Midnight' is not guaranteed a UK release in 2013 (nothing has been announced yet), it is receiving its premiere in this month's Sundance Film Festival, suggesting we may well see this before the year is out. Here's hoping!

Honourable mentions must go to 'Django Unchained', 'Lincoln', 'Elysium', 'Iron Man 3', 'To The Wonder', 'Star Trek: Into Darkness', 'Elysium', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'The Wolverine', and 'Oz: The Great and Powerful'.

So, what would make your list?

Review Of The Movie Year 2012

If one thing was going to make me write a blog post for the first time in nearly a year, it would be my 'Review of the Movie Year', including my top 10 films of the year. And what a year it's been! I'd have liked to have named a top 20, or perhaps a top 25. 2012 really has been a terrific year for films, from huge tentpole releases ('Avengers Assemble', 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'Skyfall', 'The Hobbit') to awards season favourites ('Argo', 'The Master') to smaller indie fare ('Martha Marcy May Marlene', 'The Perks of Being A Wallflower', 'Take This Waltz').

As per usual, I'm chickening out of ordering the ten. I've found it hard enough, particularly this year, simply to pick a ten, let alone have to number them! And, as with previous years, sticking to UK 2012 releases means that although some films were released in other countries in 2011, they'll find themselves considered for inclusion in this list. It also means that films getting huge awards buzz in the States at the moment having been recently released, namely 'Les Miserables', 'Zero Dark Thirty', 'Lincoln' and 'The Sessions', will not be considered for this list (as they haven't been released over here yet!). The only release in the remaining days of 2012 that I intend to see is 'The Life of Pi', so it should be noted that I have not considered that for inclusion here. I've obviously missed some other big releases here and there this year, though do have a look at the long list of star ratings at the end of this blog post to see briefly what I thought of all the films I saw at the cinema this year (there really are a lot of them!). Happy reading, and do comment below and let me know what you would have done differently in your list.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2012 ------->

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Faced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love (IMDb). 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' is a remarkable first film for director Benh Zeitlin, and anchored by a truly beautiful, naturalistic performance from nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis as Hushpuppy. It's sheer poetry on film, a small movie with a big, big heart, stunningly shot by Ben Richardson, bringing 'The Bathtub' (home of Hushpuppy and her family) to colourful life. 'Beasts' teases your tear ducts and makes you smile - a little marvel.

ARGO

A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran (IMDb). Ben Affleck, having impressed with his first two directorial efforts, 'Gone Baby Gone' and 'The Town', takes a huge leap forward with 'Argo' and deserves to be inundated with project offers after this. The film, based on a peculiar and astonishing true story, sizzles with almost unbearable tension at times as we follow the unique operation that Tony Mendez (Affleck) undertakes to rescue the American diplomats. The thing that really sets 'Argo' apart from other recent political thrillers is its undeniable sense of fun, brought out in particular by Alan Arkin and John Goodman (both terrific). In the end, you'll feel like fist-pumping your way out of the cinema.

ON THE ROAD

Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly (IMDb). Adapted from the supposedly unfilmable Jack Kerouac classic - one of my all-time favourite books. People had their gripes – that it was overlong, that it was too full of hedonism and not a lot else. This has been the case for the book, and the film was always going to encounter the same criticisms. To see the film for just this is to do it a great disservice, and to miss the inherent, overwhelming sadness at its heart.

‘On The Road’ follows characters who embrace the madness of the road, the colours and smells, the culture, the jazz music, the women, on their search for ‘it’ (that point of all-consuming joy), and characters who swiftly reject all those who try to bring them down to earth. Characters who are too young to understand or take responsibility for the damage their actions so often cause. Garret Hedlund was an absolutely perfect Dean Moriarty, all charisma and freedom until the cracks begin to show, until he can ignore the world and his responsibilities no more. Kristen Stewart has never been better, bringing a wounded beauty to the character of Dean’s wife Marylou, and the film features memorable cameo roles from Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst and Steve Buscemi. Walter Salles has done a remarkable job of translating Kerouac’s autobiographical novel to the screen, featuring a beautiful score by his usual collaborator Gustavo Santaollala. A sad, reflective paean to youth and freedom.

LOOPER

In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self (IMDb). Writer/director Rian Johnson adds to his sterling work on 'Brick' and 'The Brothers Bloom', stepping up to the bigger budget and greater pressure with consummate professionalism. He has crafted a science fiction film that takes the best of classic sci fi while adding a new spin to it, a really quite original idea, and comes up with one of the few recent fresh entries in a sometimes stale genre.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, having previously worked with Johnson on the little-seen but terrific 'Brick', showcases not only his range ('Looper comes amongst the comedy of '50/50', the superhero thriller of 'The Dark Knight Rises' and the period drama of 'Lincoln') but also his ability as a leading man. Bruce Willis (as the older Joe) is the best he's been in years, excelling in both the action scenes and more emotional moments. There are also superb performances from Emily Blunt, and young Pierce Gagnon as the creepy, troubled Cid. 'Looper' is not only successful in its full throttle action, but in its thought-provoking concept and matters of the heart, connecting emotionally with its audience as well as getting their pulses racing.

AMOUR

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple's bond of love is severely tested (IMDb). Described by some (aptly) as the best horror film of the year, 'Amour' makes for truly uncomfortable viewing in its unflinching, uncompromising depiction of ageing. Of course, you'd expect nothing less than uncomfortable and unflinching from master filmmaker Michael Haneke, the Austrian crafting perhaps his best film yet. From Anne's first attack to Georges' one moment of frustrated weakness to the heartbreaking ending, Haneke is not afraid to show anything, the camera lingering on the tormented faces of the film's protagonists.

'Amour' follows the majority of Haneke's output in having no non-diegetic (added after filming, ie music) sound, adding to the intense, claustrophobic feel and meaning that sentimentality is not shoved down the audience's throats. The acting is nothing short of astounding. Though all the fuss has been made of Emmanuelle Riva as the rapidly deteriorating Anne, I think the real gem of the piece is Jean-Louis Trintignant in the subtler, less showy role of Georges. As he tries to hold it together and attend to his dying wife, the cracks begin to show and you can see the real pain in his eyes, a real testament to the deliacy of 82 year old Trintignant's performance. Isabelle Huppert is also memorable as the couple's daughter Eva. If you haven't seen it yet, do. And take tissues.

THE MASTER

A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (IMDb). Paul Thomas Anderson's latest challenges and unsettles, and is led by some of the very best performances this year. It may not be the easiest film to love, as such, keeping itself at a distance from the audience at all times, but it is certainly easy to admire, beautifully shot and filled with haunting moments. Think of Hoffman's creepy, vaguely threatening rendition of '(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China', eyes fixed on Phoenix the whole time.

The film can be read in several ways, but translates most easily as a take on post-war America and those who chose to rise up amongst all the uncertainty and take these uncertain, vulnerable people under their wing, bend them to their beliefs. Phoenix's Freddie Quell is just one of these people, a man broken by war and the things he has seen and done, and really quite unsure of what to believe in anymore. He finds his comfort at the bottom of a bottle, and is a perfect target for Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) and his brand of conditioning. Phoenix gives the best performance of his career so far - Freddie is an actor's dream of a character, bruised and battered, and Phoenix gets the very best from him, all slurred words and big laughs, anger always threatening to boil over. Hoffman, in his fourth collaboration with director Anderson, brings a dark, dangerous quality to Dodd (a thinly veiled representation of Scientology founder L.Ron Hubbard), his surface warmth often hinting at something uglier beneath. Amy Adams, as Dodd's wife, is also terrific.

LIBERAL ARTS

When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them (IMDb). Written and directed by 'How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor, 'Liberal Arts' is a lovely little coming of age story about a man who is struggling to accept his years. Jesse (played by Radnor) has never been able to truly leave college behind, so much so that he works in New York in Admissions just to feel closer to that college environment. It is commonly said that college/university equals the best years of a person's life, and Jesse looks wistfully back at that time, unable to shake the idea that nothing has been quite the same since.

Radnor is brilliant - just the right mix of boyish energy and enthusiasm, and the intelligence and sensibilities of his years (his character is not dissimilar to 'How I Met Your Mother's Ted). He captures the dreamer/lost soul side to the character so well that you wonder if the film is perhaps semi-autobiographical. Elizabeth Olsen, as Zibby, is an absolute gem, and it is quite easy to see why Jesse would be attracted to her despite the age gap that always plays on his mind. The two are supported by a reflective Richard Jenkins and a very amusing Alison Janney. 'Liberal Arts' breaks no real barriers but is a memorable little film, funny and warm and full of heart.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own (IMDb). 'Silver Linings Playbook' is made by its performances. Bradley Cooper is the best he's ever been, finally finding the right role to showcase his talents. Robert De Niro is the best he's been in years as Pat's Dad, all worry and frustration at his son's self-destructive nature. The film is really set apart by Jennifer Lawrence, in one of the performances of the year. 'Silver Linings' flits successfully between genres - a rom-com, dark drama, sports movie - creating a unique mix. It's very much a follow-up to 'The Fighter', David O.Russell's last film, a real ensemble piece that says much about family bonds and the fragility of the human condition. I would be surprised if this didn't do well come Oscar nominations time. Despite its rather clichéd, rom-com ending, the film overall achieves a superb balance between dark and fun, pulling at the heartstrings and making you truly care about its oh-so-human characters.

MOONRISE KINGDOM

A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them (IMDb). The new film from the marvellous Wes Anderson ranks as one of his best, a whimsical little tale and really a tribute to youth and adventure. It's certainly one of his funniest, and boasts the best cast (and one of the best ensembles of 2012) - Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray (of course), Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman all support the strong central pairing of Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the youngsters in love. Willis and Norton in particular are wildly against type (note Norton saying lines like 'Jiminy Cricket, he flew the coop!'), which is really very fun to watch. It's unlikely to win over any Anderson detractors - in fact the quirkiness is perhaps lifted to a whole new level in 'Moonrise' - but if you're a fan then you'll struggle to do anything but love this.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult (IMDb). A wonderfully understated little movie, 'Martha' is thought-provoking, intelligent, and acts as a fitting showcase for Elizabeth Olsen's burgeoning ability. Olsen's Martha is withdrawn, hiding some dark secrets about her past, and her behaviour starts to become more and more erratic as she struggles to separate dreams from reality. John Hawkes followed up his Oscar-nominated turn in 'Winter's Bone' with another tremendous performance here as cult leader Patrick, unsettling and unpredictable - his 'Marcy's Song' is beautiful and yet horrifically disturbing, knowing what we know of him. The film, non-linear in its storytelling as it flits between Martha's new life back with her family and her old life in the cult, is slow-paced and atmospheric, getting under the audience's skin. 'Martha' represents a great calling card for first time writer/director Sean Durkin, a creepy, paranoiac indie film with an ambiguous ending which frustrates and fascinates in equal measure.

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Honourable mentions go to 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', 'The Hobbit', 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'The Descendants', 'Take This Waltz', 'Skyfall', 'Rust and Bone' and 'The Muppets' (yes you heard right, I bloody loved it).

ACTOR OF 2012 -- MICHAEL FASSBENDER

2012 was an absolutely huge year for Michael Fassbender. Having already established himself previously with terrific turns in 'Fish Tank', 'Inglorious Basterds', X-Men:First Class' and, most impressively, Steve McQueen's debut feature 'Hunger', this year saw Fassbender cement his reputation as one of the greatest character actors around. He reunited with director McQueen for 'Shame', a bleak and harrowing depiction of sex addiction, in which Fassbender's subtle performance brings to life a man always seeming on the edge of a breakdown. Fassbender's Brandon is a cold, really quite creepy creation, all long, lingering glances and forward mannerisms. He sometimes brings to mind the more reigned in parts of Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman, a simmering madness barely buried beneath manly charm.

As Carl Jung in Cronenberg's 'A Dangerous Method', Fassbender put in yet another solid, memorable performance. His scenes with Viggo Mortensen (playing Sigmund Freud) crackle with tension, a titanic psychological struggle between two masters at work. Finally, he was arguably the best thing about 'Prometheus', Ridley Scott's 'Alien' prequel. Playing android David, Fassbender always hinted at a darker side, at hidden secrets, at being one step ahead of all those around him. 2013 should be no less a year for the actor, as he reunites with Scott for 'The Counselor', McQueen for 'Twelve Years a Slave', while appearing for the great Terrence Malick for the first time in a currently untitled project.

Honourable mentions must go to Joaquin Phoenix for 'The Master' and Jean-Louis Trintignant for 'Amour'.

ACTRESS OF 2012 -- JENNIFER LAWRENCE

Rising to prominence in 2010's wonderful 'Winter's Bone', Jennifer Lawrence hit the big time in 2012, producing performance after performance of class, and ending on the highest note of her young career so far as Tiffany in 'Silver Linings Playbook'. Firstly she played the 'other girl' Sam with warmth and likeability in Drake Doremus' Sundance favourite 'Like Crazy'. Next up was her biggest role to date, the leading lady of the blockbuster adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games'. Lawrence nailed the role of heroine Katniss Everdeen, finding the right moments for Katniss' hard-edged nature and the right ones for her vulnerability. Showcasing her range, the film has catapulted Lawrence into the Hollywood limelight and proved she is perfectly capable of handling the pressure of leading a franchise - indeed, I found her to be by far the best thing about 'The Hunger Games'. She was solid in horror 'House at the End of the Street' - another genre successfully conquered.

Finally, she gave one of the best acting displays of the year in David O.Russell's 'Silver Linings Playbook'. It was a performance well, well beyond her years - there certainly aren't many actresses of just 22 who could have pulled off the role of depressed, damaged Tiffany with quite the skill that Lawrence has. Her chemistry with Bradley Cooper (who is also superb) is electric, as they give one of the great one-two Actor-Actress displays of the year - both deserve to be rewarded with Oscar nominations. Taking into account Lawrence's age, it is scary to think how good she could be in the years to come.

Honourable mentions must go to Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone) and Emmanuelle Riva (Amour).

DIRECTOR OF 2012 -- PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON

I love Paul Thomas Anderson. Love love love him. I've yet to feel anything but blown away by one of his films, and this year's 'The Master' is no exception. Almost a companion piece to his previous feature, 'There Will Be Blood', Dodd/Quell's master-disciple relationship similar to that of Plainview/Sunday (Daniel-Day Lewis/Dano), 'The Master' continues Anderson's skill at bringing to life characters who display both the highest power and lowest weakness of human beings, characters who you simply cannot tear your eyes from. He gets the most fantastic performances from his actors, truly remarkable - think the ensembles of 'Boogie Nights' and 'Magnolia', Adam Sandler in 'Punch-Drunk Love', Day-Lewis in 'There Will Be Blood'. The acting from Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman (one of my all-time favourite actors) and Amy Adams in 'The Master' is so spectacular, the story so thought-provoking, that I felt it only right to bestow this year's Director award upon the brilliant Anderson.

Honourable mentions must go to Michael Haneke (Amour) and Ben Affleck (Argo).

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF 2012 -- HOLY MOTORS

Rather than simply bestow this award upon 'Amour', which has already made it onto my Top 10 films of the year, I have decided to look at my 2nd favourite foreign language film, and one that very very nearly made my Top 10, 'Holy Motors'. Director Leos Carax's first feature since 1999's 'Pola X', 'Holy Motors' is a truly original take on the themes of identity and features arguably the performance (or should that be eleven performances?) of the year by previous Carax-collaborator Denis Lavant. It's certainly one of the most bizarre films released in 2012, following Lavant's Monsieur Oscar around Paris in the back of a limousine, as he 'journeys from one life to the next. He is, in turn, captain of industry, assassin, beggar, monster, family man...' (IMDb).

In turns a thriller, a melodrama, a comedy, a horror, 'Holy Motors', just like its main character, constantly changes before your eyes, leaving you unsure of what to trust. The film is dominated, owned, by the astonishingly powerful Lavant, and also features a couple of inspired cameos from Eva Mendes and, intriguingly, Kylie Minogue. 'Holy Motors' is a surreal, twisted portrait of the fluidity of identity, making interesting comments about the nature of performance, the human condition... I really do recommend it.

Honourable mention must go to 'Rust and Bone'.

BREAKOUT STAR OF 2012 -- ELIZABETH OLSEN

Displaying a real versatility, Elizabeth Olsen produced two wildly different performances this year, both fanastic, to step out from the shadow of her older sisters and achieve an acting reputation that they never could. Her title role in 'Martha Marcy May Marlene' brought critical acclaim and awards buzz. Playing the wounded, disturbed Martha with such dedication that her performance, and character, became unnerving, Olsen set her name in lights across Hollywood and beyond. She followed this up by playing the ball of youthful energy that is Zibby, in Josh Radnor's 'Liberal Arts'. Always smiling, laughing, Zibby is almost the antithesis of Martha, but Olsen plays her with just as much enthusiasm and skill. Interestingly, both films ended up on my Top 10 list for this year. Watch out for Elizabeth Olsen, who will be seen as Edie Parker in 'Kill Your Darlings', before appearing in Spike Lee's US remake of 'Oldboy'.

Honourable mentions go to Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants).

SCENE OF 2012 -- THE SHOOT-OUT AT THE END OF SKYFALL

Director Sam Mendes brought the world the best ever James Bond film this year with 'Skyfall'. In this scene, Javier Bardem's Silva arrives with his minions at Bond's childhood home, intent on destroying Bond (Daniel Craig) and M (Judi Dench). The house gets blown to pieces in the ensuing shoot-out, but not before M and house gamekeeper Kincade (Albert Finney) escape. Chased across the marshland by Silva, Bond not far behind, the scene crackles with electricity, the audience's hearts in mouths. It is stunningly shot by the masterful Roger Deakins (this could, and should, get him his tenth Oscar nomination, and perhaps his first win), much of it bathed in orange light from the burning house. Oliver Lyttelton's Indiewire blog post wrote that 'every frame could hang in a gallery'.

This is more than just a great action scene - it's a genuinely terrific piece of filmmaking, beautiful, full of agonising tension and superbly acted by Craig, Bardem, Dench and Finney. The scene contains a very real threat, unusual for a Bond film, culminating in that devastating finale at the church, when the stakes seem greater, more real, than in perhaps all previous Bond films put together. Mendes has created an emotional connection with the audience that is like no previous Bond movie, worked Craig into the most human and vulnerable of 007s, and there was stunned silence around the cinema at the great shock at the end of this scene.

SCENE-STEALER OF 2012 -- MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY IN MAGIC MIKE

Often the laughing stock of the acting world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74MZNhBC5No), Matthew McConaughey shocked critics and audiences alike this year by being, actually, rather good. First there was the creepy turn as the titular killer in the little-seen but brilliant 'Killer Joe'. Then he ended up being the best thing about the otherwise disappointing new Soderbergh effort, 'Magic Mike', stealing every scene he is in as the fun, slick, slightly sleazy Dallas. All this has led to McConaughey being cast in Martin Scorsese's next film, 'The Wolf of Wall Street', alongside Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill.

Honourable mentions must go to Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises) and Zac Efron (Liberal Arts).

SOUNDTRACK OF 2012 -- ON THE ROAD (Gustavo Santaolalla)

Gustavo Santaolalla's score for 'On The Road' manages to beautifully capture the colour and energy of the road; if you close your eyes and just listen, the sights and smells and tastes soon enter your consciousness. The soundtrack also features a number of lovely songs (in particular Santiago Laserna's 'Goodbye' and Billie Holiday's 'A Sailboat in The Moonlight') to backdrop Sal, Dean and Marylou's journeys across the heart of America.

Honourable mentions must go to Jonny Greenwood for 'The Master' and Howard Shore for 'The Hobbit'.

POSTER OF 2012 -- MOONRISE KINGDOM

Old-fashioned, beautiful, playful.

Honourable mentions go to 'Ted' and 'Shame'.

TRAILER OF 2012 -- THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (OFFICIAL TRAILER #3)

The ominous opening music and lines ('There's a storm coming'). Anne Hathaway's delectable Catwoman ('I'm adaptable'). The awe-inspiring shot of the bridges being blown up in succession. The broken, beaten Bruce Wayne, showing a superhero's vulnerability like perhaps no film had before. Tom Hardy's near-camp delivery of 'Your punishment must be more severe'. Bane dropping Batman's mask on the ground. Alfred's teary 'I won't bury you. I've buried enough members of the Wayne family'. And the light relief of 'This isn't a car', as 'The Bat' takes to the sky. Pushed excitement levels to breaking point, as fans worldwide prepared themselves for one of the biggest film releases of the new millennium.

Honourable mentions go to 'Les Miserables' and 'The Hobbit'.

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Here's the full list of films that I saw in the cinema this year, along with my star rating of each film.

THE IRON LADY - 2/5
MARGIN CALL - 4/5
SHAME - 4/5
WAR HORSE - 2/5
J.EDGAR - 2/5
THE SITTER - 2/5
LIKE CRAZY - 4/5
THE DESCENDANTS - 4/5
CHRONICLE - 3/5
CARNAGE - 3/5
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE - 4/5
YOUNG ADULT - 3/5
A DANGEROUS METHOD - 3/5
THE MUPPETS - 4/5
THE WOMAN IN BLACK - 3/5
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL - 4/5
PROJECT X - 2/5
THIS MEANS WAR - 3/5
WANDERLUST - 2/5
BEL AMI - 2/5
21 JUMP STREET - 4/5
WE BOUGHT A ZOO - 3/5
THE HUNGER GAMES - 4/5
THE PIRATES! IN AN ADVENTURE WITH SCIENTISTS - 4/5
SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN - 3/5
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE - 4/5
AMERICAN PIE: REUNION - 3/5
DARK SHADOWS - 3/5
THE DICTATOR - 2/5
MEN IN BLACK III - 3/5
MOONRISE KINGDOM - 4/5
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN - 3/5
PROMETHEUS - 3/5
ROCK OF AGES - 3/5
COSMOPOLIS - 4/5
THE FIVE YEAR ENGAGEMENT - 3/5
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN - 4/5
MAGIC MIKE - 2/5
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - 4/5
TED - 4/5
TAKE THIS WALTZ - 4/5
KEITH LEMON: THE FILM - 1/5
ANNA KARENINA - 3/5
LAWLESS - 4/5
HOPE SPRINGS - 3/5
TO ROME WITH LOVE - 4/5
NOW IS GOOD - 3/5
KILLING THEM SOFTLY - 2/5
HOLY MOTORS - 4/5
LOOPER - 4/5
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER - 4/5
LIBERAL ARTS - 4/5
PRIVATE PEACEFUL - 3/5
RUBY SPARKS - 3/5
FRANKENWEENIE - 3/5
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD - 5/5
SKYFALL - 4/5
RUST AND BONE - 4/5
THE MASTER - 5/5
ARGO - 5/5
AMOUR - 5/5
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2 - 2/5
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK - 4/5
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - 4/5
LIFE OF PI -

Phew. So that was where all my money went this year!

My Review of 2011

Seeing as I consider 2011 to be one of the best years of my life thus far, it felt only right that I took a moment or several to reflect back upon the many incredible events that helped to shape the year for me. So here is a blog post doing just that! 2011 has been a real year of change, and it has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it, and it has always been special.

FILM - I got my first ever experience of life as a movie extra in July, working on the upcoming feature film Now Is Good (starring Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Irvine, Kaya Scodelario, Olivia Williams and Paddy Considine, and directed by Ol Parker) on the streets and piers of Brighton. Over the last couple of years I have had to (for a variety of reasons) turn down offers of extra work on, amongst others, Captain America, X-Men: First Class, Hugo, and Snow White and the Huntsman, something that has been absolutely gutting. To finally get my chance to work on the set of a big film, even just for a day, was fantastic, and one that I only hope will not be my last! You can check out Now Is Good from 25th May - see if you can spot me in the background! I'm determined that in 2012 I will work as an extra again at least once (NO WAY am I turning down working on Marvel or a freaking Scorsese picture again, not for any reason), so watch this space.

Also in July, I shot a short film entitled Whirlwind Summer Romance, in Southampton. Following a young couple's relationship from beginning to end over the course of one summer, Whirlwind is a 13 minute, slightly experimental project that was my first real experience of shooting something that I had worked on extensively. My two actors, Sally Paffett and Ryan Carter, were brilliant to work with and I hope to work with them again at some point in the future. Their performances are very strong. The film is something I am very proud of, especially as I did absolutely everything on it (script, storyboarding, casting, location scouting, directing, camera, lighting, sound, editing). It makes me think a lot about what might be achievable when I have a talented crew to work alongside me and nail those technical elements - the first test being my feature film Our Last Summer thid year, of course! Whirlwind was shown at Ventnor Fringe Festival 2011 and Shorts:Cut 2011 - although only small, local festivals, this felt like a great step in the right direction and a big confidence-builder. The short was also nominated for Best Film at The News Guide Awards 2011. Although it didn't win, getting nominated and being able to attend the awards ceremony were great experiences and two more things to cross off the list! Hopefully it will represent the first of many opportunities for me to take my film to film festivals and awards ceremonies. Next stop, the BAFTAs!

2011 also involved the writing of and planning of my feature film Our Last Summer, to be shot in April 2012. To have my first ever feature film screenplay written and finished was a big thing for me, feeling like a real achievement. It is now my mission to take that screenplay and try and make the very best film possible from it. Much of the latter half of 2011 was spent working on this very desire. Honing the screenplay, running cast auditions, deciding upon my (rather lovely) main cast, running the film's social media, cast photoshoots, getting someone on board for logo and poster design, securing the very important cinematographer role, sorting camera, sound and lighting equipment, talking to bands and singers about soundtrack contrubution, considering locations, budget, make-up, costume, travel, accommodation, amongst much, much else. There will be no let-up in 2012 - plenty of work to be done before the start date of April 16th - very exciting! I really cannot wait to get stuck into making this work of art and commerce that we can all be incredibly proud of. Our first port of call (after the glitzy premiere, of course) once the film is totally complete will be the festival circuit, trying to get it seen by as many audience members (and industry professionals) as possible. At the very least, I will ensure that the film has self-distribution (the internet has made this extraorinarily possible for young, upcoming filmmakers) so that we can reach a genuine audience with this film, and hopefully some sort of profit via DVD purchases. With the internet how it currently is, with all its possibilities of global word of mouth spread, the sky is the limit! Our Last Summer will be great, because I cannot allow any other future for it. This is my first feature, and I am confident now that it will be the first of many. Indeed, I have a few very strong ideas for what my follow-up films could be (one of which I am around half way through the screenplay of and may well find itself going into pre production come the latter half of 2012).

Over the course of 2011, a career in film has gone from a simple, beautiful dream to something that feels a much more real possibility. My hopes for 2012 are high - I will be working incredibly hard to make this happen for myself, because it is something I truly believe in and care about. I can't let that slip away.

UNIVERSITY - I spent the first half of 2011 writing two dissertations that I am really, genuinely proud of. They took up a lot of time and effort but it was more than worth it in the end. Most shockingly, perhaps, I actually really do miss academic writing and am planning to set myself an essay task in the not too distant future to address this! Graduating in July (with a 2:1!) was a surreal but truly special experience, finally getting my chance to slip on the silly dress and don the equally silly hat and take to the stage in front of everyone to collect my degree (getting a nice bear hug from Sanjeev Bhaskhar too!). It was a day I will never forget.

HOLIDAYS - I was incredibly lucky in 2011 to have 4 amazing holidays abroad, more than I have ever had in a single year before. First of all, March saw myself and my girlfriend head to Paris for a few days to celebrate her 21st birthday. I have been to Paris a few times now and it really is a wonderful city, as magic as everyone claims. The weather was not kind to us, but we had a great few days, taking in all the amazing tourist locations (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, etc etc) and walking each day until we could walk no more! A really lovely and memorable city break. In June I went to Portugal, again with the girlfriend, for a week of glorious sun, sand and sea. We stayed at the resort Praia Da Oura, in the heart of the Algarve. Neither of us had ever been to Portugal before so it was a great place to spend our third summer holiday together. The weather was ridiculously hot all week and we soaked up some sun, ate lots of lovely food, took a couple of trips and had a general relax. Holland was up next, at the very end of September, staying at my Dad's work apartment in Leiden, a lovely city not too far from Amsterdam. During our 3 day stay there we explored Leiden, Den Haag and Delft, all beautiful places with a lot of character and history. Last but not least came the trip of a lifetime, spending 10 days with the family in New England, USA. 5 states covered, so many fantastic and wildy different cities and towns covered, so many colourful characters met. I still fully intend to at some point gather together all my memories from my America trip and write an entire blog post about it. So keep an eye out for that in the coming weeks!

THEATRE - In May I went to see Neil Labute's latest, In A Forest Dark And Deep, starring Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams. Set entirely within the same setting, in near enough real time, it was a terrifically dark and twisty little show, bolstered by strong, intense performances from its two leads. I also took my girlfriend to see Chicago in the West End; the first time either of us had seen it on stage, and we were not disappointed. I went to see The Syndicate, starring the magnificent Sir Ian McKellen, at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester. This Naples-set tale of a Mafia family was beautifully orchestrated and made the very best of the Minerva's small, intimate stage. The highlight, though, was undoubtedly getting to see one of my favourite ever screen actors, Kevin Spacey, in the title role of Sam Mendes' production of Richard III.

THE FLAT - July saw one of the biggest changes of my year as I moved into my flat in Southampton with my girlfriend, our first place together. Moving out properly was a big deal and has so far been a fantastic experience. The flat itself is great, providing a great little base and a none too shabby first place for us to inhabit together. No great luxury maybe, but a definite step up from studenty mess! I've had some lovely times in there already, none lovelier than my 22nd birthday night out. 2012 will present even more change as we move onto somewhere new once again, in a whole different town or city entirely. Where exactly that place will be is as yet undecided (hoping for a good mix of affordability, nice area, job opportunities and convenience for travel etc) - the decision-making process is going to involve a real mix of excitement and terror! It's safe to say that we both love our little pad and are going to miss it when we have to leave it in June, but it's given some great memories that we'll always have - now onto the next home!

WORK - I spent a couple of months early in the year delivering directories for The Directory Group. I continued working at weekends for the cafe Rosie's Tearooms in Westbourne, something I started doing in April 2010. I gave this up after over a year in June, moving into the flat making it no longer really an option. As mentioned before, I worked as an extra on the film Now Is Good in July. After moving to Southampton in July I struggled to find employment (isn't everyone at the moment?) - while this was fine for a while, as I worked hard on film stuff and enjoyed catching up with people, boredom (and being skint!) eventually sets in and I was very pleased to eventually get myself a job. At the beginning of October I started working for Debenhams in Southampton. I've met some great people there and learned a lot about various things. Whether I will continue there after my contract ends in January remains to be seen, but for now it does the trick, and it's lovely to have some money rolling in! We'll see what 2012 brings.

FOOTBALL - United winning 19th league title. Rooney overhead. The Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona was a disappointing end to the season, but one which I was able to take humbly - no harm at all, I feel, in being second best to potentially the greatest club side of all time. On the international front, England appear to finally be improving, showing true English grit and determination to eke out a 1-0 win over world and European champions Spain at Wembley in November. I can't help but look forward greatly to Euro 2012 - as an English football fan I am far too versed in getting my hopes up to stop now! There have been some great Premier League games this year. Off the top of my head... Arsenal 5-3 Chelsea (End-to-end stuff all game long, fantastic to watch). Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal (Amazing comeback from the Toon Army). Man United 8-2 Arsenal (for obvious reasons). QPR 1-0 Chelsea (A really old-school English war of a match, tackles flying everywhere, 2 players sent off, great stuff). Low of the year? Definitely going to have to go with the 6-1 defeat to Man City - not an easy day at all, but we have moved on well from it and currently find ourselves level on points with City (and set to face them again in the FA Cup!) and with a real prospect of retaining our title. Sometimes being the underdog suits us just fine.

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As I already stated, 2011 was a real year of change for me, in a number of respects. Some of this change I found very hard, but it also made me appreciate certain things more. Indeed, this festive season was so lovely in large part due to me appreciating seeing my friends and family more than I perhaps ever have. Being away from them for long periods means that I have a really heightened appreciation for them and for the times that I get to see them. There is plenty that I haven't really covered in this post - parties, gigs, cinema trips, etc etc, but suffice to say that 2011 was a successful one for me. I have great faith that in 2012 all the good stuff that made 2011 good can be even more good and make this an even more good year. Yes, quite.

10 Most Anticipated Films of 2012

When I did this last year, I got it very right in some cases (Black Swan, True Grit, Blue Valentine, Hugo) and fairly wrong in others (Sucker Punch, Restless, Cowboys & Aliens). Where will I get it right and wrong in 2012? Very excited to find out!

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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES -

Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes (IMDb).

I don't think much needs saying about the anticipation levels for this film. They are sky high. They are, quite frankly, INSANE. Can Christopher Nolan possibly make something that lives up to this level of expectation? Can he make something that can stand alongside the critically-lauded, award-winning, record-breaking The Dark Knight? We will have to see. The posters and trailers on offer thus far suggest that Nolan is going to give it a damn good go, but the fan issues are already starting to creep in. Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Bane's voice, the over-done football pitch scene. In Nolan we trust, though (I have loved every one of his films), and this film boasts high pedigree and a truly knock-out cast (Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Jospeh Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, who might just have enough charisma between them to fill the boots of Heath Ledger's Joker). If The Dark Night Rises can come anywhere close to its preceding film, a genuine comic-book masterpiece, it will be a roaring success. Out 20th July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8

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THE AVENGERS -

Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army (IMDb).

Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr). Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Captain America (Chris Evans). The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson). A supporting cast that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Stellan Skarsgard, Paul Bettany and Tom Hiddleston, as villain of the piece Loki. Every comic-book fan's wet dream. Whether director Joss Whedon (a potentially inspired choice) can handle this number of huge characters, whether the end result comes across as a severe case of 'too many cooks spoil the broth', remains to be seen. But hell, I'd watch this group of characters stand around in a room for 2 hours discussing economic downturn and probably still come out happy. Perhaps even more so. Hmmm. Out 27th April.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJK3TVVceSc

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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY -

Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, journeys to the Lonely Mountain accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug (IMDb).

I feel like this is another one where not a great deal needs to be said to explain my excitement about the film. If I HAD to make some sort of decision with regards to rankings, The Hobbit may well rate as my most anticipated film of 2012. There is great competition, of course, but nothing quite comes close to what I felt when the trailer for this was released. Martin Freeman as Bilbo, flashes of Ian Holm and Elijah Wood, FREAKING GANDALF, Bag End, the dwarves (led by an almost unrecognisable Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield) and their wonderfully eerie song, those lovely moments of warmth and humour that injected the Lord of the Rings trilogy with so much heart, epic battle scenes, Galadriel, and oh yes, of course, Andy Serkis' whispered 'precioussssss' at the end. Unbelievable stuff. Do we HAVE to wait nearly a year for this?! Out 14th December.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k3kHtyoqc

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AMERICAN REUNION -

Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion (IMDb).

My guilty pleasure inclusion, inspired by growing up watching the American Pie films with my friends. I love these characters, I really do, and I can't wait to see them all together again, grown up or not. The trailer makes me feel warm inside, and I can't help but expect the same feeling from the film upon its release. Don't get me wrong, the film will probably suck, but not necessarily in a bad way. Out 6th April.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7qq0iJGSu0

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SHAME -

In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Cissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay (IMDb).

Director Steve McQueen's last collaboration with Michael Fassbender, his debut directorial feature Hunger, was terrific and provided sufficient reason for me to be excited about this second collaboration. Shame has more than the previous of its director and star going for it, though, having completed a festival circuit in which it was critically lauded and Fassbender won Best Actor at Venice. Looks like a controversial, provocative and mesmerising portrait of a sex addict. Fassbender is one of the best British actors going at the moment, and it's wonderful to hear so much praise for his performance in this. Support from Carey Mulligan, who is really starting to make waves in her career after solid turns in Drive, not to mention her upcoming lead performance in Baz Lurhmann's Great Gatsby adaptation.

Out 13th January.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD1Hmjlqag

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NOW IS GOOD -

A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity (IMDb).

OK, this one is mainly in here because I did some extra work on it, and now I'm eager to watch it and try and spot my arm somewhere in the background. But the film has potential, too, thanks to a great cast that includes Dakota Fanning, Jeremey Irvine, Kaya Scodelario, Paddy Considine and Olivia Williams. Out 25th May.

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DJANGO UNCHAINED -

With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner (IMDb).

The latest film from Quentin Tarantino was always pretty likely to rank highly on the anticipation scale, but this is a Tarantino Spaghetti Western, a combination that could prove truly special. It's also his next film after Inglorious Basterds, arguably his finest since Pulp Fiction, so he's in good form. I've read the screenplay for this, and it's classic Tarantino - violent, pulpy, destined for cult success. Tarantino has amassed a seriously impressive cast for the film, with Jamie Foxx (as our hero Django) supported by Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L Jackson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kurt Russell and Sacha Baron Cohen. Out 26th December.

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GANGSTER SQUAD -

A chronicle of the LAPD's fight to keep East Coast Mafia types out of Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s (IMDb).

Director Ruben Fleischer has started his filmmaking career in comedy with Zombieland and 30 Minutes Or Less, but now moves onto whole new terrain with this gangster flick. A wonderful cast on show, headed by Ryan Gosling, currently in the form of his career, and also featuring Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte and Giovanni Ribisi. Gangster Squad looks like a terrific, old-school gangster film, owing much to LA Confidential, itself a scathing tale of police corruption, sleazy media types and mafia business in 50s Los Angeles. Out 9th November.

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DARK SHADOWS -

A gothic-horror tale centering on the life of vampire Barnabas Collins and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. Based on the cult TV series (IMDb).

I find Tim Burton rather hit and miss, but I'm very much looking forward to his latest, a gothic tale based on the cult series. Spearheaded by a dream cast of Johnny Depp (of course), Helena Bonham Carter (of course), Christopher Lee (of course), Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Moretz, Jackie Earle Haley, and Alice Cooper (yes, you read right). Out 11th May.

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YOUNG ADULT -

Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now married with kids (IMDb).

I've yet to do anything but love a Jason Reitman film, and I'm hoping that Young Adult will be no exception. I also loved Diablo Cody's script for Juno (and, to a lesser extent, for Jennifer's Body) and am very excited about a creative reunion between the two. Charlize Theron looks to be on great form in the lead role, and the film seems to have the perfect mix of humour and pathos that Reitman does so well. Out 10th February.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_-v7dEEoo

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Some very honourable mentions to films that just missed the cut - The Great Gatsby, The Descendants, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Bourne Legacy, Men In Black III, Carnage, Skyfall, Gravity, The Dictator, and of course THE MUPPETS!

I have high hopes for film in 2012! As well as some fabulous tentpole releases to look forward to, especially in the superhero category, there looks to be some really intelligent indie fare on offer too. As for 2012 on a personal level, including filmmaking exploits and otherwise, more on that later!

2011 Film List

As a companion piece to my Review of 2011 blog post I just published, I thought I would publish this list of all the films I have seen this year, in order of their UK release dates from January to December, as well as a rating out of 5 for each. I have left a few blank, as these are films I intend to see before the year is out and can update accordingly. Looking over this, I can see the truly varied nature of the films I have seen, as well as the overall quality of 2011's cinematic releases. The list is short, however, on genuine 5/5 films. We'll see what 2012 brings!

127 HOURS - 3/5
THE KING'S SPEECH - 4/5
BLUE VALENTINE - 4/5
BLACK SWAN - 4/5
MORNING GLORY - 3/5
HEAREAFTER - 2/5
BIUTIFUL - 3/5
THE FIGHTER - 3/5
BRIGHTON ROCK - 2/5
NEVER LET ME GO - 4/5
TRUE GRIT - 5/5
ANIMAL KINGDOM - 4/5
NO STRINGS ATTACHED - 2/5
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU - 3/5
UNKNOWN - 2/5
NORWEGIAN WOOD - 3/5
ROUTE IRISH - 3/5
SUBMARINE - 4/5
LIMTLESS - 3/5
SOURCE CODE - 4/5
SUCKER PUNCH - 2/5
RUBBER - 4/5
YOUR HIGHNESS - 2/5
SCREAM 4 - 3/5
THOR - 3/5
CEDAR RAPIDS - 3/5
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS - 3/5
HANNA - 3/5
ATTACK THE BLOCK - 2/5
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4: ON STRANGER TIDES - 2/5
THE HANGOVER PART II - 2/5
APOCALYPSE NOW - 5/5
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS - 3/5
BAD TEACHER - 3/5
GREEN LANTERN - 2/5
BRIDESMAIDS - 2/5
SUPER - 4/5
THE TREE OF LIFE - 5/5
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 - 4/5
HORRIBLE BOSSES - 3/5
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER - 3/5
SUPER 8 - 4/5
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES -
THE INBETWEENERS - 4/5
IN A BETTER WORLD - 4/5
THE SKIN I LIVE IN - 4/5
THE ART OF GETTING BY - 3/5
FRIGHT NIGHT - 3/5
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS - 4/5
TROLL HUNTER - 4/5
30 MINUTES OR LESS - 2/5
THE CHANGE-UP - 2/5
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - 5/5
CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE - 4/5
DRIVE - 5/5
WARRIOR - 3/5
MELANCHOLIA - 4/5
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - 4/5
TYRANNOSAUR - 4/5
SLEEPING BEAUTY - 4/5
CONTAGION - 3/5
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN - 4/5
THE HELP -
THE IDES OF MARCH - 3/5
IN TIME - 3/5
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS -
WUTHERING HEIGHTS -
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 - 3/5
50/50 - 4/5
THE DEEP BLUE SEA - 4/5
MONEYBALL - 4/5
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN - 4/5
HUGO - 5/5
NEW YEAR'S EVE - 3/5
ANOTHER EARTH - 4/5
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - 4/5
MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE GHOST PROTOCOL -
THE ARTIST -