My cinematic 2025 sucked. It was a drag, it was boring and more importantly, it was disappointing. I couldn’t even sit through most of the films as I turned so many of them off. I couldn’t help it. And even those I sat through from beginning to end were a slog. It felt like so many of them were low-energy and completely bland. I couldn’t even sit through a single noir, and it’s my favourite genre. Baffling!
I tried a Fred Astaire film, but no, boring. I tried a Bob Fosse musical – lifeless. I tried a psychological thriller – was confused out of my mind. Tried multiple period pieces – rolled my eyes at the dialogue or delivery. Tried a comedy – couldn’t find a funny joke in sight, tried a romance – there was no romance in there. Watched a Sherlock Holmes film (and I absolutely adore them) couldn’t follow the story at all. Tried an adventure – was yawning all the way through. No favourite actor (Judy Garland, Shirley MacLaine, Ewan McGregor, Humphrey Bogart, Brad Pitt, Ginger Rogers, Tyrone Power, Ida Lupino) could make this year’s films any more bearable. I also think I watched one of the emptiest films I’ve ever seen this year in Gigi (1958). I love Leslie Caron. I adore Vincente Minnelli. Musical is one of my favourite genres ever. And yet, this film is so empty I wanted to cry. And the more they tried to pretend like it had a story to tell and actual characters, the less it worked. It won Best Picture at the Oscars… Over Cat on a Hot Tin Roof! Hell, OVER VERTIGO! WHICH WASN’T EVEN NOMINATED…. When I say I gave up on films after this, I mean it. I did not want to watch anything. It sucked out all my will to do anything. Best Director, Best Editing (huge wtf), Best Music. Best Music is actually offensive considering the very first song we hear in the film.
Even the top 10 best are just…. underwhelming. This was the first year I was legitimately worried I wouldn’t have enough entries for a top 10 best. Even though I’m really happy with my #1, compiling the list was really difficult.
I’m doing something slightly different for next year, though. I made a checklist of what to watch in 2026. I’m thinking of doing a 50/50 new-to-old ratio. Maybe if I sprinkle in some film I KNOW are good, it might remind me why cinema used to be my favourite art form. I hope so, because as of now it feels like my enjoyment is just slowly fading away and leaving me emotionless.
Anyway, to a better and more positive cinematic 2026!
Actor you’re unfamiliar with
Best Picture nominee (non-winner)
Blocking-driven storytelling
Chosen purely for poster or title
Comic or graphic novel adaptation
Creative use of limitations
Critically acclaimed film you’ve been avoiding
Deliberately chaotic tone
Editing that manipulates time
Expressive use of shadows
Feels impossible to remake
Film by a director you dislike or don’t “get”
Film by a director you love
Film from a country you’ve never seen before
Film surrounded by controversy
Film that scared audiences on release
Final film in a trilogy or series
Fourth wall break used meaningfully
Limited theatrical release
Multiple intersecting storylines
Mystery or detective film
No traditional protagonist
Non-chronological storytelling
Not a three-act structure
Notable soundtrack or score
Oscar-winning acting performance
Perfectly cast supporting role
Primarily natural lighting
Recommendation-worthy film
Recommended by a friend/family
Released in the last two years
Rotten Tomatoes score under 40%
Set more than 100 years ago
Silence used as direction
Single cut that changes everything
Standout antagonist performance
Stop-motion animated film
Title is a character’s name
Transformative lead performance
Two films from the same year
Unmistakable directorial style
Watched without checking the plot
tangentwithtanner
titsay
stormborns
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
