#1 "Late Shift"
(The ‘sweaty armpits’ movie of the year).
Follows the lone late shift of a dedicated nurse, as she tirelessly serves in an understaffed hospital ward. Leonie Benesch is outstanding in her portrayal of the nurse who is confronted with all manner of tense and urgent situations. By far the most absorbing movie of the year.
#2 "I Swear"
(‘Uplifting’ movie of the year).
The compelling story of John Davidson who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age. What an absorbing and endearing story covering the alienation suffered, the hardships endured and the triumphs achieved.
#3 "Code 3"
(The most thoroughly ‘entertaining’ film of the year).
Follows a burnt-out paramedic who, before he resigns, must do one last 24-hour shift to train his replacement. Engaging characters, sharp dialogue and captivating events. He may be burnt out but he’s nailing it!
#4 "Sharp Corner"
(One of the ‘edgiest and quirkiest’ movies of the year).
An unsettling psychological thriller about a troubled man increasingly consumed by the fatal car crashes that keep happening in front of his recently purchased dream house.
#5 "Bugonia"
(One of the ‘trippiest’ films of the year).
Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien.
Emma Stone is fast becoming one of my favourite actors. What she puts herself through and the ordeals endured in the name of her craft as an actor, are truly astounding.
If you have seen ‘Eddington’ and ‘Poor Things’, you will know what I mean.
#6 "Companion"
(The best Sci-Fi movie of the year).
A psychological thriller and with its twists, turns and surprises makes it one of the best thriller Sci-Fi movies of the year.
#7 "Warfare"
(The best ‘based on true events’ movie of the year).
A US platoon embark on a hazardous mission in Ramadi, Iraq. The tense and chaotic events are retold through their memories of the US Navy Seals involved.
#8 "Relay"
(One of the best ‘thrillers’ of the year).
It’s an engaging thriller about an aloof and lonely "fixer" who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations. Negotiation go very well until he becomes emotionally attached to one particular client. Idiot!
#9 "Weapons"
(The most fascinating ‘horror’ movie of the year).
A grade-school teacher with a drinking problem, is accused of having caused 17 of her students to vanish
(and the kids were not even misbehaving!)
# 10 "Caught Stealing"
(One of the most ‘guilty pleasure’ movies of the year).
A bit of light hearted dark humour never hurt anyone, but for this guy who tends bar at a New York dive,
well he gets hurt, big time by a motley crew of threatening gangsters.
Here are some movies that came with high critical praise, BUT I SUGGEST AVOIDING THEM.
‘Sentimental Value’.
A dreary plot with tedious and pretentious characters. I resorted to fast forward.
‘Riefenstahl’.
The movie is akin to portraying Rolf Harris as a good painter. He may have been but ….!
Riefenstahl may have been good film maker/photgrapher but …!
‘The Long Walk’.
Steven King ties hard to create a dystopian situation, the characters give it a good shot but it is simply not convincing. The Long Walk is best kept as a short story.
‘The Perfect Neighbor.’
A neighbourhood dispute ends in violence. Watch the local news instead.
‘Naked Gun’.
I am a big fan of the original, of Liam Neeson and also a big adolescent fan of Pamela Anderson
but this effort failed to raise much at all!
