Bottom 10 of 2025

Well, I finally got my s*** together for a timely post on my best and worst film experiences from last year. We'll start with the worst.

10) Mickey 17 (2025)

I like Robert Pattinson. I want to like director Bong Joon Ho. Obviously, I'm a science fiction fan. But I just couldn't stand this film. Everything about it annoys me. The story. R-Paz's character. His f**king moronic narration. The girl. The bad guy. That Asian dude. The Hulk. The poster. The message. Toni Collette's disgusting smoothies. That's a giant f**king nope from me on this one.

9) Nosferatu (2024)

I guess you could say that Nosferatu isn't actually a bad film, but I found it excruciatingly dull. And also, haven't we seen enough versions of this exact story? Comparisons to Coppola's delightful Bram Stoker's Dracula are inevitable, and not many films can stand up them to that creative powerhouse of a film. Robert Eggers just doesn't make movies for me. I get why he might appeal to some people, but I spent the entire 132-minute running time of this film wishing I had put the Coppola version on instead.

8) The Alto Knights (2025)

A surprising case of inept filmmaking from the man who brought us several stone-cold classics, but seems to have lost the ability to make good movies. Barry Levinson used to make movies like Rain Man, Sleepers, and Good Morning, Vietnam. Now he creates scenes that look like they were made by a first-time director. And let's not even waste time trying to figure out why anybody on this film thought it was a good idea for Robert De Niro to play both leads. It makes absolutely no sense and adds nothing but confusion to the endeavor.

7) Cleaner (2025)

What a wet noodle of a Die Hard rip-off! Made by the man who rebooted The James Bond franchise not once, but TWICE, both times knocking it out of the park. There's no sign of that talent in this cheap-looking and dumb movie. Not even Daisy Ridley can save this for me. And that should tell you everything you need to know, Mr. Campbell.

6) Ice Road: Vengeance (2025)

The first Ice Road was bad, but it did at least look somewhat like a film. This does not. The effects are so terrible! And the cheap video look is even worse. The story actually isn't all that bad (though it could do with a bit of trimming), but visually this film is on the level of an in-house corporate instruction video, made by Stu from accounting, who shot his cousin's bar mitzvah, so he kinda knows which way the camera should point.

For the record, I'm completely on board with Liam Neeson getting with his almost 30-years-younger co.star - the adorable Fan Bingbing - but could he please do it in a better film? And also, guys, if you're making an Ice Road 3 (or Ic3 Road), you might want to consider including some f**cking ice roads to the story!

5) The Electric State (2025)

Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the least talented filmmakers working in the $200 million-plus realm at the moment, thought they could make an interesting non-Marvel film. They apparently did not learn their lesson on the equally stupid The Gray Man.

Chris Pratt resembles a slightly less porny alternative to John Holmes. Millie Bobby Brown, despite playing a teenager, looks like a 40-year-old prostitute. Sorry! That was uncalled for. She just looks like she's actually the mother of the character she's supposed to be playing. And that there was a special offer on cheap makeup at Costco.

The story is sh*t. Those robots are just creepy as all hell. And the less said about the nonsensical world-building, the better. And this cost a reported $320 million! Netflix, you're out of your f**king mind.

4) In the Lost Lands (2025)

This is even MORE dull than the soulless Monster Hunter. I hope Paul W.S. Anderson is sending a fruit basket the size of a garage to Paul Thomas Anderson every month, because PTA's insistence on making progressively worse and worse films is the only reason I can still call W.S. "the good Paul Anderson", as I am wont to do. W.S. himself has done nothing to earn that moniker in the last 15 years. This guy COULD actually make movies once. Come back to us, Paul. Make a great movie again. You know, like Resident Evil.

3) A Minecraft Movie (2025)

What can be said about a film like this...? It makes the Battleship movie look sophisticated? I'd rather watch someone play a video game for 117 hours? I wish they had done a Minesweeper movie instead? How about this: it grossed almost a BILLION dollars!? What the f**k is wrong with you people!?

2) 28 Years Later (2025)

Danny Boyle is not a bad filmmaker, but he's prone to bad filmmaking decisions when it comes to this zombie franchise. The choice to shoot the first film, 28 Days Later, on laughably low-res video, because of the damn Dogma vibe that was in vogue at the time, is nothing short of heart-breaking. You'll never know how cruel the world can be, until you've seen a MiniDV-shot film on a 65-inch TV. To some extent that choice made sense at the time. The artistic choices here, however, are baffling.

Why shoot the film, on consumer-level iPhones? Why those incredibly awkward visual choices that just didn't work? Why those goofy cosplay characters (that apparently get more screen time in the next film)? Why the giant zombie schlong? And on top of all that, the story was underwhelming at best, and very rarely scary or dramatic enough.

1) One Battle After Another (2025)

Without a doubt THE most insufferable movie of the year. The grotesquely bloated 160-minute running time isn't even the worst part. Whatever message the film may have about the current state of the world, and America in particular, is suffocated by the cartoonish Leonardo DiCaprio performance, the film's obnoxious lack of tonal commitment, and Sean Penn's ridiculous villain, whose every second of screen time is more annoying than the last. Oh, and the core story is also just bad.

Kindly f**k off, Paul Thomas Anderson. And don't bother us again until you're ready to make something that's actually watchable and entertaining. And under two hours. You know, like Resident Evil.

WRAP-UP

We made it! That last one nearly did me in. Keep that in mind when it wins a gazillion Oscars. Or in three years when everybody wakes up from their collective hangover, and realize what a piece of sh*t it really is. Can't wait for that! But enough badness. Time for some goodness.... Next up, the top list.

Top 10 of 2023

Overall 2023 was a disappointing year at the movies, but we did get a couple of handfuls of excellent movies along the way, so it wasn't hard to fill this top 10.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

First a few honorable mentions, worth checking out.

Polite Society (2023)
The Princess (2022)
Renfield (2023)
To Catch a Killer (2023)
Door Mouse (2022)

And now, the actual list....

THE LIST

10) A Lot of Nothing (2023)

I wrote a review of this film on this very blog. Read it here.

As a TL:DR, let me just add this: You should watch this film. It's doesn't look like much, but it is. It's a whole lot more than a lot of nothing.

9) Rosaline (2022)

Utterly charming, completely irresistible movie that takes Billy Shakes' Romeo & Juliet for a modern ride, by focusing on the unseen reason for the eponymous hero's romantic woes. Kaitlyn Dever (keep a close eye on this one) stars as "the other girl"- the one who didn't get Romeo. Smart, insightful, goofy, fun and cute. Don't be fortune's fool and sleep on this one.

8) No One Will Save You (2023)

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, another Kaitlyn Dever film finds its way to the top list! Didn't I just say you should keep an eye out for her? This film is as brilliant as it is simple. Most of the running time is spent with a girl alone in her house, as an alien invasion advances outside. Oh, and it's almost completely dialogue-free. Daring and highly entertaining.

7) Inbetween Girl (2021)

I completely fell in love with this film. The story about a girl who starts a clandestine affair with "the hot guy" at school, who's already got a girlfriend, while her family-life collapses around her. It's a quiet, unassuming film, but first time director Mei Makino gets everything right. And relative newcomer Emma Galbraith is heartbreaking in the lead. They DO still make brilliant teen movies, it's just a little harder to find them these days.

6) The Moon (2023)

The second manned Korean mission to the Moon threatens to end as disastrously as the first, when a single astronaut is stranded alone in space. What follows lies somewhere between the reality of Gravity and the sheer preposterousness of Armageddon. A dedicated action/science fiction film that isn't afraid to turn the volume way up on the emotional elements too.

5) The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

The In Bruges team is back! Director Martin McDonagh and actors (and obvious friends) Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson return with an even more grim story, this time detailing the end of a friendship between two men on a quiet island off the coast of Ireland.It would be hilarious, if it didn't cut so deep. This is not an easy film to enjoy. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be seen, though.

4) Limbo (2021)

Two cops must find a serial killer who leaves severed hands in the gutters of a trash-covered Hong Kong slum neighborhood. The stark black and white images look like something out of Frank Miller's Sin City, the core story is reminiscent of the brilliant Se7en, and yet Limbo finds its own vibe with this devastatingly cruel tale that takes place on the dark side of humanity, where light and hope is almost completely absent. Almost.

3) Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Holy shit, perpetually overrated M. Night Shyamalan actually made a brilliant film! After his breakthrough with the over-hyped The Sixth Sense, Shyamalan has struggled to deliver anything remotely as good as everyone claimed that film was. He finally did it with Knock at the Cabin. The film works with a simple concept, but manages to be both thrilling, dramatic, outrageous, sad and deeply disturbing. All the players are good, but Dave Bautista and 10-year old Kristen Cui are the MVPs.

2) Women Talking (2022)

27 years ago my friend said "That Sarah Polley is gonna win an Oscar one day", Neither of us expected that it was going to be for writing! Of course the film is talkative, the title gives that part away, but Polley manages to bring some impressive directorial flourishes to the project that removes any feelings of staginess. She should have been nominated for directing as well.

Women Talking is a fiercely appropriate attack on the patriarchy, by way of a unique situation, abused women in a religious cult, but the themes and message remain universally relevant. This really is the kind of film everyone should watch.

1) The Menu (2022)

One of those "the less you know going in, the better" movies. This is a wild, sublimely unhinged film, layered with social commentary and biting satire, in turns both sad, funny and scary. And it loses nothing on repeated viewings. It's rare these days to be as presently surprised and impressed with a film as I was with this.

WRAP UP

Well, what d'ya know, we made it through another year at the movies! Now 2024, it's time to show what you got!

Bottom 10 of 2023

Before we begin this little journey through my worst film experiences from 2023, an important message from the board.

Public service announcement from the board

Please note the following changes to The Rules:
From this point on movies where one story is split into two (or more) parts will be ineligible for any "end of the year" or "best of" lists until all the parts have been released.
Furthermore, the board also recommends that these films be deemed ineligible for any type of awards, at any point, regardless of when their parts are released. No Oscars, no People's Choice awards. Nothing.
Please make sure these rules are implemented as soon as possible.

Wow, these people are serious, they don't mess around!

So just to be clear, this rule change affects the following films from 2023....

Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire - Part One (2023)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Fast X (2023)
(And perhaps others?)

Dodged a bullet there, Zack Snyder!

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS

Before we get to the list, here is a few movies that almost made the cut.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Avoid at all cost. Except the book behind Killers of the Flower Moon, definitely read that.

And so, with no further ado, here is the list...

THE LIST

10) The Killer (2023)

David Fincher is as sharp as ever, as he turns a dreadfully dull comic book into a dreadfully dull movie. The uninteresting lead is captured to perfection. The uninspired plot hits every beat of its printed predecessor. The world of the live action version as cold and uncomplicated as its inked counterpart. When Fincher fails he does it more beautifully than any other director. But it's still a fail.

9) Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

I won't deny that there are moments in this ostensible last Indiana Jones movie, where I felt that old Indy magic from the first 3 films, but most of the time this was just a crushing disappointment. The characters are badly written, the plot is cumbersome and unimaginative, and the whole film looks CGI fake.

8) Heart of Stone (2023)

Another large scale misfire from Netflix. Another movie about an all-powerful tech-thingy that can destroy the world. Another movie to cast doubt on the actual star-quality of Gal Gadot. This film belongs to an especially annoying category of bad films. Too big to ignore, not bad enough to be funny. Soulless, Witless. Pointless.

7) Ghosted (2023)

I could see this idea work in the right hands, but those hands sure don't belong to director Dexter Fletcher. Chris Evans is miscast as the hapless hopeless romantic who falls for Ana de Armas's super badass secret agent. He can't sell being a bumbling fool. She can sell being interested in him. The plot surrounding the two characters needs work - yeah, another world destroying "thingy" is at play - and there's a tone-deaf, stalkerish, incel vibe over certain aspects of the story.

6) Cocaine Bear (2023)

The Snakes on a Plane of the Tik-Tok set (and let's remember that film was shit too). This might have worked better as a 10 minute SNL segment, it sure doesn't work as a feature film. The real story of that bear and that mountain of cocaine is depressing and short (Spoiler: Bear died), so the filmmakers really needed to come up with a solid foundation to expand the story from a punchline to an actual film. They didn't. They didn't have much beyond the title.

5) Everything Everywhere All at Once (2023)

I hate everything about this film, except its success. I'm so happy a crazy film like this could all but sweep the Oscars. So glad so many people found hope and value in this story. So happy Ke Huy Quan got a career revival thanks to this.

However, personally I couldn't stand the film. Hated the story. Hated the characters. Hated the obnoxious style. Hated the running time. I turned off the film after half an hour the first time I tried to watch it. I only gave it a second chance because of the Oscar-hype. If not for that, I never would have made it all the way through.

4) Hypnotic (2023)

Laughably unintelligent attempt from Robert Rodriguez to make a Chris Nolan-like thriller and show he can still entertain grown-ups. He can't. Ben Affleck seems catatonic in the lead. I wish that was just a mean diss, but he genuinely looks like he's medicated and not all there. If he had been fully present, he would have witnessed a director on the bottom of the deep end of the pool, completely outmatched by his own ambitions, unable to fathom how big a fool he's making of himself. Maybe druggie Ben had the right idea after all.

3) The Detective Knight Trilogy

Including: Detective Knight: Rogue (2022), Detective Knight: Redemption (2022), Detective Knight: Independence (2023)

I watched The Detective Knight Trilogy knowing it was going to be my farewell to Bruce Willis. I had already seen quiet a few of his direct-to-video projects so I was prepared for the budget and skill level at play. I was not prepared for the devastating sight of a mentally impaired man, barely comprehending where he is, unable to speak more that a few coherent words, being forced through three whole feature films, by producers who just wanted to squeeze that last dollars out of the ailing action star. It's nothing short of shameful. At least we'll always have all the great films Bruce made.

2) Expend4bles (2023)

I mean, the third film was already pretty bad, but they took a 9 year break before they made this 4th film of the Expendables franchise, surely that gave them enough time to come up with something good? Nope. The story is terrible and barely functioning. The emotional stakes are non-existing. And everything looks CGI fake. Extra penalty points for attempting to make 50 Cent act and for completely wasting the talented and charming Levy Tran.

1) The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

Renny Harlin is laughing in his grave. Oh, I'm sorry, he's still alive, it's was his career that died. Anyway, up to this point he had made the worst movie of The Exorcist franchise. Not so any more. Step up David Gordon Green!

The story is trivial and dull. The threat is unconvincing and the scares absent. Worst of all, though, this film seem to have been made by people who have never seen an exorcist film before, nor done any research into the concept. it's nothing short of baffling how little work in this film, or makes any kind of sense. The characters are idiots and so is everyone behind the camera. The only smart one is William Friedkin, who died before he had a chance to see this unholy creation.

WRAP-UP

Phew that was a rough one, right? Well, not to worry, the best is yet to come. As in, we're doing the Top 10 movies of 2023 next.

2023: The Stats

Well sports fans, here we are again. Time for the annual January 1st tradition, The Stats.

What was last year like in pure numbers, when it comes to my consumption of movies and TV shows? Hold your breath no longer...

Number of films watched in 2023:

263

Comparison:

2022 (262) - 2021 (292) - 2020 (329)
2019 (263) - 2018 (290) - 2017 (263) - 2016 (288)
2015 (307) - 2014 (331) - 2013 (401) - 2012 (405)
2011 (343) - 2010 (338) - 2009 (302) - 2008 (361)

Breakdown:

Films watched for the first time: 133
Re-watched films: 130

Films in play for the top/bottom lists:

83

Quality distribution (of new films):

Good: 39
Okay: 22
Bad: 22

Format distribution:

4K: 22
Blu-ray: 122
DVD: 6
VOD: 112
Cinema: 1

Decade-of-release distribution:

1920's: 1 film
1930's: 6 films
1950's: 2 films
1960's: 1 film
1970's: 11 films
1980's: 22 films
1990's: 23 films
2000's: 36 films
2010's: 53 films
2020's: 108 films

Most watched film:

"65" (3 times) *

* This is NOT an endorsement, or reflection of the film's qualities or lack thereof.

TV-SHOW STATS

I made a concentrated effort last year, to watch more TV-episodes, which paid off. I’m 65% through the 7 season run of the original Mission: Impossible series, for example!

Number of TV-show episodes watched:

604

Number of different TV shows watched:

50

Complete seasons watched:

33

Best Shows of the Year:

Gangs of London
The Lazarus Project
Poker Face
Tehran
Upright

FINAL THOUGHTS

And so, with these practical details out of the way we can get on to making the top and bottom lists of the year. Stay tuned!

2022: The Stats

It's that time again! Time to look back at the previous year to determine how well we did, when it came to movies and TV-shows.

This year I completely fell in love with the pre-code period (1928-1934), so almost 1/5 of the films I watched came from that brief period. But enough chit chat, let's get on with it...

Number of films watched in 2022:

262

Comparison:
- 2021 (292) - 2020 (329)
- 2019 (263) - 2018 (290) - 2017 (263) - 2016 (288)
- 2015 (307) - 2014 (331) - 2013 (401) - 2012 (405)
- 2011 (343) - 2010 (338) - 2009 (302) - 2008 (361)

Breakdown:
- Films watched for the first time: 142
- Re-watched films: 120

Films in play for the top/bottom lists:

76

Quality distribution (of new films):

Good: 38
Meh: 19
Bad: 19

Format distribution:

4K: 34
Blu-ray: 116
DVD: 22
VOD: 88
Cinema: 2

Decade-of-release distribution:

1920's: 1 film
1930's: 49 films (42 from the 1930-1934 period)
1940's: 5 films
1950's: 3 films
1960's: 5 films
1970's: 6 films
1980's: 17 films
1990's: 31 films
2000's: 29 films
2010's: 34 films
2020's: 82 films (2020: 3 / 2021: 26 / 2022: 53)

Most watched film:

None.

(several movies were watched twice, but it takes more than that to get on the list)

TV-SHOW STATS

Well, this year I finally got to Game of Thrones! I watched the whole thing (73 episodes in 3 months flat). I've also been really good about watching at least one episode of something most days - last year I only managed 219 episode, so I have much better TV stats this year.

Number of TV-show episodes watched:
(not counting game shows)

349

Number of different TV shows watched:

38

Complete seasons watched:

32

Best Shows of the Year:

Game of Thrones
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Ragdoll
Reacher
Rick and Morty
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Obi-Wan Kenobi

FINAL THOUGHTS

That's it! And now, with the stats out of the way I can get down to what really matters: The lists of the best and worst films from last year. Stay tuned.

2021: The Stats

I usually post some sort of semi-profound blog on the last day of the year, but I'll be honest, I didn't know what to say this year. I could have reposted the one from last year, almost verbatim, and if that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does.

So instead we'll skip to the new year and start fresh by adding up the stats from 2021 as we prepare for the lists of the best and worst films from last year....

Number of films watched in 2021:

292

Comparison:
- 2020 (329)
- 2019 (263) - 2018 (290) - 2017 (263) - 2016 (288)
- 2015 (307) - 2014 (331) - 2013 (401) - 2012 (405)
- 2011 (343) - 2010 (338) - 2009 (302) - 2008 (361)

Breakdown:
- Films watched for the first time: 166
- Re-watched films: 126

Films in play for the top/bottom lists:

120

Quality distribution (of new films):

Good: 59
Meh: 32
Bad: 29

Format distribution:

4K: 29
Blu-ray: 129
DVD: 1
VOD: 131
Cinema: 2

Decade-of-release distribution:

1940's: 2 films
1950's: 5 films
1960's: 6 films
1970's: 11 films
1980's: 25 films
1990's: 35 films
2000's: 29 films
2010's: 44 films
2020's: 135 films (2020: 43 / 2021: 92)

Most watched film:

Shadow in the Cloud (3 times)

TV-SHOW STATS

Number of TV-show episodes watched:
(not counting game shows)

219

Number of different TV shows watched:

34

Complete seasons watched:

20

Best Shows of the Year:

Kevin Can Go F**k Himself
Foundation
Intergalactic
Miss Scarlet and The Duke
Resident Alien
Vigil
Squid Game
Debris

FINAL THOUGHTS

That's it for the time being. I will now sit myself down and make those lists of the best and the worst films I saw last year. And soon, as per tradition, they will appear on the very blog.

Top 20 of 2020

THIS is what we're all here for! The BEST films of 2020. Too much badness in that year. We need and deserve some good films, and here are my favorites....

THE LIST

20) DeadTectives

I know this looks dumb. And to be fair, it IS dumb. It's meant to be! The delightful Chris Geere (of You're the Worst-fame) leads a pack of fake ghost-hunters, who are suddenly forced to step up, when they come across a real haunting for the first time. Cheeky, silly and full of energy. It takes a big, deserved shit on the face of "real" ghost-hunter shows, while refusing to let its obvious low budget hinder it in any way. Irresistible!

19) The Witch: Part 1 – The Subversion

It's hard to put The Witch higher on the list, because even though I enjoyed it, it's clearly the first part of a larger story, and it feels a bit unfinished. Having said that this Korean film sets up an interesting scenario: A teenage girl's dormant abilities awakes after she goes on a singing competition TV-show. The title calls her a witch, but what she does would not be out of place in a straight up superhero movie. These abilities turn the film into a full-on, kick-ass action extravaganza, full of brutal fights and all-out epic coolness.

18) A Perfect Plan

This low-budget heist movie charmed the hell out of me. I'm not sure if everybody will feel the same way, but I really enjoyed it! I liked the clever twist on a familiar genre, I found the actors immensely likeable, and the central story works surprisingly well. You're going to have to forgive this film that it's not a $100 million Hollywood production, but once you get past that, this slick-fingered devil has a few tricks up its sleeve.

17) James vs. His Future Self

The premise is as simple as it is intriguing: James is a brilliant scientist, trying to invent time travel. One day his future self arrives to a) inform him that he will succeed and b) urge him to stop his research immediately! What follows is a surprisingly heartfelt story, nowhere near as silly as the title perhaps suggests, and Daniel Stern knocks it out of the park in the role of "older" James.

16) The Plagues of Breslau

This Polish ripoff of Se7en delighted me to no end. It's never anything short of absolutely preposterous, but I found myself drawn to the lead detective and her quest to solve a mysteries series of murders: And I loved that the mood and style was distinctly NOT American.

15) Banana Split

A girl becomes best friends with her ex's new girlfriend. A simple pitch. A simple movie, but I fell instantly in love with the couple in the center of the story. Hannah Marks, who both wrote and plays the lead as the scorned lover, steals the show. We're gonna have to keep an eye on her in the future.

14) Spontaneous

What if teenagers in a small town just started to explode? No, not metaphorically, like for real! Giant explosions in a cloud of blood! The implications for a young couple in love make this an intriguing teen film. Katherine Langford leaves quite an impression in the lead role, as does Charlie Plummer as her charming, unusual love interest. Their banter is irresistible and you'll never look at a dick pick in the same way, I promise. A touching, funny and quite cheeky little flick.

13) Rabbit

Fascinating, but demanding mystery thriller that feels like a combination of episodes from Twilight Zone, The X-files and True Detective! It's a bit hard to follow at times, but in a good way, and with the always watchable Adelaide Clemens in the lead, the film never loses its emotional feet on the ground, even when the story takes off towards the sky.

12) Project Power

This Netflix film seemed to rub a lot of people the wrong way. Pitched as an "alternative superhero movie" Project Power caught flack for not being on par with the stuff Marvel delivers. You're damn right, this is WAY better than anything Marvel could hope to produce. What really makes this interesting, however, is not the flashy action stuff, but the real underlying theme that deals with drug addiction and all the collateral damages that comes with it. A gorgeous film, with something to say. You paying attention, Marvel?

11) Sea Fever

Alien meets The Thing on a fishing boat! I mean, is there anything else to say? There is, but I won't. Just watch this fine, little thriller!

10) Coma

A Russian take on Inception? Sign me up!

Admittedly, I was drawn to this because of the insane, mind-bending visuals, and honestly if that was all the film had, it would have been enough. Surprisingly, Coma has a bit more going for it than that. A likeable hero, an intersting mystery, and a suitable, not too forced love story. I know some people have a hard time with Inception, finding the plot too impenetrable and the characters too cold. I don't agree, but I do understand the sentiment. Coma is the kind of film I would recommend to those who feel that way. Assuming the language isn't a barrier, this film delivers a more down to earth, relatable version of Nolans masterpiece, along with some truly memorable visuals.

9) Sputnik

I find the set-up for this film utterly intriguing. A psychiatrist with a questionable reputation is called in to interview an astronaut who's returned to Earth with.... something! This delightfully moody Russian science fiction film doesn't disappoint. Even when the big reveal comes the film stays the course and takes the story to a fascinating conclusion.

8) Queen & Slim

In the year of #BlackLivesMatter this movie is especially relevant. Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith are riveting to watch as the star-crossed, 1st date, Tinder couple who is forced to go on the run after a fatal run-in with a cop. It's a simple story, and it's familiar at times. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful, poetic, devastating film that is very hard to shake. As well it should be.

7) Volition

Volition caught me off guard. I thought it was just going to be a cool film about a guy who can see his future, and then suddenly sees his own death, but it turned out to be something even more clever. Better still, the film also turned out to be much more heartfelt than I expected. Don't read anything about it ahead of time, just trust me and watch it. This is a real treat!

6) "1917"

1917 crawls quite a bit higher up on this list than I expected. I think I was a little harsh when I originally reviewed it after having seen it only once. At that time I felt it was style over substance and that perhaps the film didn't have all that much to say. I think I expected a more cerebral film from Sam Mendes. Having rewatching the film a few times, I've come to the conclusion that the style and the emotional content is enough. I don't need a history lecture. Good thing, because the film has no interest in providing one. The technical merits alone are worth noting, but it's the "hopeless mission with an impossible deadline" pitch that makes me go back to the film again and again. That part works flawlessly.

5) 21 Bridges

I guess you could argue that 21 Bridges is merely a traditional Hollywood thriller, but then you'd be missing the point. It's an EXCEPTIONALLY solid Hollywood thriller. It plays in a genre, where Tinseltown often disappoints. Everything in this film has the volume turned up. The story is just a bit tighter than similar films. The violence more shocking. The dialogue more slick. The characters have just a little more depth. It all adds up to a gorgeous, engaging film that stands up to repeated viewings, made even more powerful by the tragic fate of Chadwick Boseman. He burns so very, very brightly in this film.

4) The Trial of the Chicago 7

Aaron Sorkin directs this movie about the famous trial against protesters during the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. Any person with a decent bone in their body will get SO mad watching this story unfold. Even if you know where this is going you WILL get pissed.

Aaron Sorkin is famous for his words, but here he manages to conjure up some memorable visuals and a few very cinematic sequences. I gotta say, I'm impressed. This is a solid piece of work, dealing with a very important historic event.

3) The Vast of Night

Unbelievable. This is made by a first-time filmmaker, Andrew Patterson. It's so stylish, so confident. It looks so cool, and it's so moody. Plus, the story itself is right up my alley. A kind of The X-files meets American Graffiti, a UFO story set in the 50's.

Now, I'll admit, the opening half hour is a bit challenging, because the film doesn't provide a primer to guide the viewer. It requires a bit of patience, which will pay off in the end. The finale is also a bit underwhelming, until you realize it's perfect.

Amazon bought this, and that's unfortunate. This is not a film for a streaming service. It needs to be seen on a large, good screen (it's quite a dark film), in a good video quality, in a dark room, with no interruptions.

2) Tenet

I just can't in good conscience put this any lower on the list. Despite its many faults - and it has MANY - Tenet just too damn brilliant.

I never liked  the hero. I never bought the love story. The bad guy is almost embarrassingly weak. And the less we say about the idea of making a film that simply DOES NOT work on the first viewing, the better. Despite all this, Chris Nolan has managed to construct an amazing, unique film. Tenet is a deeply flawed, confusing, often unlikable, sometimes downright cocky masterpiece, but it IS a masterpiece. The more I watch it, the more I'm convince this will be the final verdict.

1) Misbehaviour

Imagine my surprise, when I went through my list of 2020 favourites and discovered that I had given this film the highest marks. I'm not sure why I was surprised, after all I enjoy the hell out of this deceptively unassuming little gem. It pretends to be a bit silly, but don't be fooled, this is a solid piece of focused filmmaking, full of great performances. Best of all, though, it's got something on its mind, and despite the 70's setting, its themes are still relevant in the world today. I've already rewatched it once, and dare say I enjoyed it even more the second time. I can't wait to watch it again.

WRAP-UP

And so we bid 2020 farewell. A year that changed a lot for the world and for cinema. The effects of The Rona will ripple through 2021 and beyond. It's be interesting to see where we are 1 year from now.