Hey guys, I usually love writing my yearly favourites of films, tv shows, albums, books and more but this year the only subject I got really passionate about on reflection was films. I may note a few mentions from other categories at the end but in main, this is a few excitable film reviews.
If you know anything about my taste in films of course Rocketman would make this list. This film was so much more than I ever expected. After the monstrosity Bohemian Rhapsody was, we didn’t have high expectations but god this is a treat. Elton John does have the added benefit of being alive and a huge part of this film (his husband even co-produced it) so no wonder it was so successfully Elton and told his story well. (I am still angry and believe Freddie Mercury would hate Bohemian Rhapsody). This film touches upon the dark and emotional aspects of Elton life while also being a wild, crazy musical with the best costumes. It’s weird, wild but touches on the darkness in a balance that is so hard to get right. You go from scenes of Elton reflecting on his addiction to a full-blown music video ensemble in the space of five minutes. I know a few people who disliked this film for the same reasons I loved it but I can’t imagine Elton’s story being told anyway.
This one is a little less my usual taste in films. I am not a fan of franchises, big-budget superhero films. However, this is different. I knew Joaquin Pheonix only does good indie films plus the jokers back story was always going to be dark. Yet I didn’t expect to enjoy this half as much as I did. I was gripped from start to finish. A little thing I adored about this film was the music editing, at points that triggered Arther Fletcher’s development into the joker, completely contradicting songs (think that’s life by Sinatra) would start playing in the background which was very eerie, it made everything feel even more raw. Every scene and movement from Joaquin had me obsessed. I don’t remember any other characters. It was a one-man show. The plot wasn’t perfect, nor the script but the performance and cinematography will take this film right through award season.
The lesser well know film on my list is called Bait. It’s produced by a Bristol company and made in Cornwall. You can’t get more local and independent than that. Bait is shot on 16mm film, in black and white (before The Lighthouse made it cool) and processed by hand. The basis of the plot doesn’t sound thrilling, it’s about a fisherman’s struggle as his beloved Cornish hometown gets ruined by middle-class tourists coming down from London buying second homes and changing the village he grew up in, but there are twists a-plenty. I adore the main character, everyone falls for him throughout the film and he is quite sarcastically funny, beautiful played by Edward Rowe (aka. the Kernow king). It’s shot in such a snappy way that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Still, aren’t impressed? a black and white film about a cornish fisherman got a standing ovation at Venice film festival, and New York premiere so don’t just take my word for it. Support homegrown art and give this a watch.
Little women is still in cinemas so it could be argued its a 2020 film? I went to see this at the cinema the day after boxing day with my mum. We’d been counting down its release. It’s one of our favourite books, mum worships the original Hepburn adaptation, and I am naturally obsessed with Everything Greta Gerwig, Timothee Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan do. I have to admit even I did wonder if we needed another adaptation of this book, boy I was wrong.
Greta Gerwig didn’t just re-read the book and direct the story in the same way the book played out. She wrote an original screenplay, she interpreted the story and kept in key lines more relevant in 2019. This is also the first adaptation that changes the chronological order things happen. I think this was a wonderful creative decision, it starts at the end of the book and looks back on key plot points – you feel as though you are reflecting on the story through Jo’s eyes or even Louisa May Alcotts. This also makes some key events more emotive as a similar situation for the grown-up girls mirrors something that happens to the younger girls, and you see how they have all grown up more effectively. Even so, the best thing about this adaptation is how, through the work of Gerwig and Florence Pugh, they have made the most hated character in the book now steal our hearts. Amy March was as the spoilt brat up till now, but you see her grow up properly and Florence brings something to this character that’s magical. I don’t want to give too much away, but Greta Gerwig looked after Lousia May Alcott’s struggle getting the book published 150 years ago and twists her ending to how she feels Alcott would have wanted the book to end if she could have written it now.
This version made me fall in love with the story and Jo March all over again.
Honourable mentions in TV would have to be The Crown, for someone who never considered myself a royalist I fell in love with this shop recently. Fleabag, obviously (season two episode one may be one of the best TV episodes ever made) and Stranger things season three.
I hope you enjoyed this post, film reviews and general musing on popular culture is something I always get tempted to write more off and really enjoy discussing. Let me know what your favourite film of 2019 was?