MY TOP 10 MOVIES SEEN IN 2015
Last year I compiled a list of the Top 10 Movies I Have Seen in 2014. I have decided to try and do this every year. This is as much for myself as it is for anyone that is interested in reading this list. If you are not interested, then move on.
The point is to share my movie watching experiences with others that may be interested and share some films that I think are worth the watch (if you have not seen them already).
As you will see, the movies on this list are not restricted to movies made in 2015. Rather, it is a list of films I watched for the first time in 2015, whether they were actually made in 2015 or 1957.
I watched 70 movies in 2015. Yes, I keep a list of every movie I watch. I am a filmmaker and movie freak after all. One day, when I am an old man, I wish to look back at this list and recollect on all the movies I watched in my lifetime and how they had an impact on my life at the time I watched them. It’s just something I like doing.
So here we go, whether you are interested or not, My Top 10 Movies Seen In 2015 are (arranged by the year they were made):
1. The Seventh Seal (1957) - Ingmar Bergman
IMDB: A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Swedish director, Ingmar Bergman is recognised as one of the most accomplished and influential auteurs of all time and The Seventh Seal is one of his masterpieces.
The film questions life and death and the meaning of it all with beautiful and haunting black and white cinematography.
In this film, we see Death personified and how the living try and escape and avoid an encounter with him. No matter how skilfully we plan our moves or how determined we are to win, we can never beat Death. They beg him, pleading “Not Now!” But in the end, no one can escape Death and he comes on his own terms. A fact that all must accept.
The Seventh Seal is deep, mesmerising and a darkly beautiful work of art. This is a film that does not only entertain, but has the power to change the way we think.
2. Persona (1966) - Ingmar Bergman
IMDB: A nurse is put in charge of an actress who can't talk and finds that the actress's persona is melding with hers.
Another masterpiece by Ingmar Bergman and personally one of my favourite films. The cinematography and editing are sublime.
The film opens with a surreal sequence that is beautifully shot and masterfully edited. The eerie opening sequence sets the mood for the film. A sense of something not being quite right.
A nurse is assigned to take care of an actress who has stopped talking (for no clear reason) in an isolated home. Because of the silence of the actress, the nurse takes it onto herself to fill the silence with her own ramblings which become more and more personal. The actress listens intently, but never responds. The nurse seems to open up and reveal her deepest, darkest secrets because the lack of response reveals no scrutiny or ridicule or judgements. The lack of response makes her feel safe to confess her darkest secrets to this silent listener, almost as if she is just an object; as if she is talking to herself. The relationship between the two women is fascinating, and the mental consequences when the nurse realises that her confessions haven’t fallen on deaf ears.
A mesmerising film with beautiful imagery. This is a film that leaves many questions unanswered and therefore stays with you for a long time.
3. Stalker (1979) - Andrei Tarkovsky
IMDB: A guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes.
Ingmar Bergman said: “Tarkovsky for me is the greatest director, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream”.
This is an experience, more than just a movie.... It is a long and slow movie, so if you are looking for fast paced Hollywood style action, then this film is not for you. But if you want to see a work of art and a poem in movie form, then give yourself time in a dark room and experience this film.
I read a review by ‘OttovonB’ on IMDB that perfectly sums up the film and how I experienced it: “One of Stalker’s many treats is that it invites you to get carried away into your own thoughts, flowing with the images as it provides new questions to ponder... In that sense, the film is very much like a philosophical poem: a very simple surface covering innumerable layers of meaning. Yet the images Tarkovsky provides - whether filming landscapes or wide-shots or simply peering into his actors' extraordinary faces - make this almost hypnotic.”
His father was a poet, which inspired Andrei Tarkovsky to become a true cinematic poet. It is believed that this film was the cause of his death due to chemical contamination as they were shooting in an area near an abandoned chemical plant.
The last scene of the movie and its possible meanings has stuck with me since seeing this film. This film and its filmmaker, has inspired me in turn as a filmmaker.
4. 2046 (2004) - Wong Kar-Wai
IMDB: The women who enter a science fiction author's life, over the course of a few years, after the author loses the woman he considers his one true love.
Wong Kar-Wai is a director from Hong Kong that often explores themes of the tragedy of lost love that everyone can relate to, and tells his stories in a highly visual, vivid space.
Rich in characters, drama and colour. It is beautifully shot. The story is told non-linear, so at first some things may be a bit confusing, but at the end of the film it all falls into place.
This is a film about love and loss and how the timing of love is crucial. If it comes at the wrong time it can result in great heartache, but if it comes at the right time, it can result in happiness and satisfaction in life.
5. A Scanner Darkly (2006) - Richard Linklater
IMDB: An undercover cop in a not-too-distant future becomes involved with a dangerous new drug and begins to lose his own identity as a result.
This cult film is a very fascinating film to watch because it is animation and live action at the same time. This is the technique known as rotoscoping, where animators trace over footage, frame by frame, converting live action into animation. This makes for a visually intriguing and artistic movie. Something different. Not quite live action, but not quite animation. A mix in-between.
The story itself is quite bizarre, trippy and dark, accompanied by a soundtrack by Radiohead. It has some very funny moments too. Although not a huge fan of Keanu Reeves, here he is good alongside Robert Downey Jnr, Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder. The often improvised dialogue between these characters is very entertaining.
A unique visual experience, along with an interesting twisted storyline, with very entertaining characters, makes this a must watch film. It has gained cult status for a reason.
6. The Assassination Of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) - Andrew Dominik
IMDB: Robert Ford, who's idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the reforming gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.
A great modern western which tells the story of the infamous bandit Jesse James and his admirer, Robert Ford, and the events that lead to Robert Ford planning the assassination of his idol.
Strap yourself in, it is a long movie, but full of drama and entertainment. Thanks to cinematographer, Roger Deakins, it is one of the most beautifully shot movies I have seen. And thanks to Nick Cave and Warren Ellis it contains one of the most moving and poignant scores I have heard.
The acting of Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck is of the highest calibre. Pitt’s portrayal of Jesse James makes the character very likeable, even though he does bad things. He seems to show signs of remorse and regret as his assassination draws nearer, which makes you feel compassion towards him.
SPOILER ALERT: The moment of his assassination is so beautifully done and shows that he knew all along that Robert Ford was going to kill him and that he eventually surrenders to this, purposefully making himself an easy target for Robert Ford.
After watching this, I was not surprised to read that Brad Pitt has said that this is his favourite film that he has acted in.
7. Valhalla Rising (2009) - Nicolas Winding Refn
After being held captive for many years, a silent Viking warrior escapes and embarks on a spiritual quest and discovers his true self.
This instantly became one of my favourite movies, purely because of its mood and tone. It has a certain fascinating ambiance to it.
Even though there is quite a bit of violence and gore, don’t expect a fast paced movie. There is some action, but most of the movie has a slow, tension filled mood. The imagery is great. The mood of this film is everything.
I can see how some can find this movie boring, but similar to Tarkovsky’s Stalker above, this film gives you time to think and delve into the mind and world and spiritual journey of the character. There is always a sense of tension and impending doom, which kept me riveted and on edge.
One IMDB user wrote: “Valhalla Rising rendered me speechless. I can't even tell you if it's good - I just want to tell you that it's worth watching. Every minute of it. It is an experience... A piece of art. Take your time, be patient, and you will enjoy it like no movie before.”
8. 20,000 Days On Earth (2014) - I. Forsyth & J. Pollard
IMDB: Writer and musician Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on the planet Earth.
I am a big fan of Nick Cave. An inspiring film for all creatives. Through the eccentric, enigmatic and dark character of Nick Cave, we see his sensitive, soft and human side. We see and learn how he creates music and words without giving too much away.
The style of this documentary is unique and fresh. Therefore it does not really feel like a documentary. It is just a day in the life of Nick Cave.
Typical “interviews” are disguised as meetings or chance encounters with people and friends or thoughts and memories. For instance, Nick Cave goes to his shrink, where we naturally find out things from his past in what seems like a natural therapy session. He stops by to have a meal with Warren Ellis, his longtime friend and musical collaborator and they have a conversation about some of their past experiences as musicians. On his way to a show, Kylie Minogue seems to appear in his backseat and they have a conversation and suddenly she is gone again, as if this was just Nick Cave daydreaming while driving in the rain.
Whether you are a fan of Nick Cave or not, I recommend this documentary, for its unique storytelling style. If you are a fan of Nick Cave, then I highly recommend that you watch this.
9. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) - Ana Lily Amirpour
IMDB: In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire.
A fresh modern take on the vampire genre with a deeper underlying message. Set in a poverty stricken town in Iran, this film is gritty and real. Made by a female director this film seems to have feminist principles. The protagonist is a female vampire who seeks out evil men that misuse women. This film obviously also speaks out against the oppression of women in Iran, in a culture mostly ruled by men.
One moment in the film that stands out is when a drunk and naive young man crosses paths with the beautiful female vampire. She is overcome with his drunk innocence and battles with herself to kill him or let him be. There is a beautifully captured moment when she decides to let him live. After pushing his neck back and looking at his neck for a moment, she leans forward and just rests her head against his chest. All the while, in his naive drunken state, the man is blissfully unaware of the danger he is in. Soon a love story unfolds between man and a vampire that once hated all men.
The film also has a cool soundtrack and striking industrial black and white imagery.
10. Birdman (2014) - Alejandro G. Inarritu
IMDB: Illustrated upon the progress of his latest Broadway play, a former popular actor's struggle to cope with his current life as a wasted actor is shown.
From the first shot where Michael Keaton is floating in the air, I knew that this was going to be a magical film. It won the 2015 Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. However, I saw this movie before it won its awards, and I was immediately struck with the thought this film is an instant classic that people will look back at one day.
The reason why some people find this film boring, is because the whole film seemingly has no cuts. Even though cuts are carefully hidden throughout the film, it all seems like one shot. One long take. People aren’t used to seeing movies like this. People are subconsciously used to seeing cuts. Cuts in a film cause the pace in a film to quicken as you can jump and cut past the boring parts. I think cuts in a film are also similar to comas and fullstops and chapter ends in a book. They give you a moment to breath or to pause and to see something new, which therefore keeps your concentration going. Whereas people may lose attention without cuts because the scenes seem to run on too long and your attention span may drift and you may therefore lose interest in the film.
However, I never once found the film boring. On the contrary I found it extremely fascinating and I marvelled at how it was all achieved. The filmmaking quality overall is superb. Where some find that the lack of cuts makes it a boring film, I think that the lack of cuts is exactly what makes it so special. I think if the film was cut in a conventional way, it would not stand out so much and it would not have won its well deserved awards.
Because of the nature of the very long scenes, the acting, directing and camerawork had to be perfect. The effort of the actors and crew to pull this off so successfully is immense. The acting is of the finest quality. Particularly that of the lead, Michael Keaton, who won an Oscar for his performance. Imagine screwing up a line in the last minute of the long take and having to do it all again. I’m sure this happened a lot, but they got through it with perseverance and hard work.
The standouts for me, then, are the masterful use of long takes, the flowing camera, the brilliant acting, the characters and their dialogue, the dilemma and fantasies of the protagonist, the rolling drum soundtrack and then the moment when you see a drummer in the background actually playing the soundtrack and the beginning and the ending.
All in all I think this film deserves every acclaim it gets.
11. What We Do In The Shadows (2015) - J. Clement & T. Waititi
IMDB: Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane - like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
A light one to finish off this list.
From the creators of Flight of the Conchords comes a fake documentary (mockumentary) about a group of vampire friends sharing a house in New Zealand.
This movie is hilarious! Personally one of the funniest movies I have seen. The film is filled with so many absurd moments between the vampires, humans and a werewolf pack that doesn’t like swearing. “We’re werewolves, not swear wolves!”
I guess not everybody has the same taste in humour, so if you don’t enjoy it “Be Gone!”
You will soon pick up the vampire accent.
(My Top 10 Movies Seen In 2014: http://roundaboutfilms.tumblr.com/post/106606313071/
