Monthly Round-up: December 2014 Viewing

To close out 2014 I watched 27 films, which left me just shy of 400 for the year. Not much else to note this month. Work was stressful and we have been busily getting bits and pieces ready for the wedding in March. We visited family for Christmas and escaped Sydney for Melbourne to see in 2015.

I will also take this opportunity to inform everyone that this will be my final post on The Film Emporium. I have not had the time to commit to this site as much as I used to, and have been contributing to Graffiti With Punctuation and An Online Universe over the last two years. The latter most recently, and continuing in the future. I am absolutely addicted to film and love writing so I will not be stopping. Rather I will be dedicating my time to just contributing reviews and articles, and hopefully freeing up some time for TV, novels and other passions.

I wish to thank everyone for supporting The Film Emporium over the years. It has been about five years now since I started it, how fast that time has gone. There are 1600+ posts on the site and 600+ reviews. Thank you to everyone who has shared an article, left a comment, linked to the site from their own page, or voted for me in the LAMMY awards (I once won 'Most Prolific Blogger'). There are many people I have to thank for making The Film Emporium the site it is today, and I hope you all know who you are. Many of you are dear friends I see regularly today, and many others I had the pleasure of meeting this year while I was overseas.

Now, here is what I saw in December 2014:

-------- Essential Viewing --------

Singin' in the Rain (Stanley Donen, 1952) - First time. I get it now, guys. Wonderful. 

Birdman (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2014)

Virunga (Orlando Von Einsiedel, 2014) - Conservation, capitalism and civil war collide in this vital, thrilling historical document of a desperate attempt to protect Virunga National Park and the endangered mountain gorillas within. Some of the footage in this film is the result of people risking their lives - a journalist meets with one of the oil company's chief executives, and covertly films their meeting - with the filmmakers also placing themselves in the thick of the conflict for the extraordinary content. I was floored by this documentary.

Paddington (Paul King, 2014)

The One I Love (Charlie McDowell, 2014) - I have been thinking about this one a lot, even though I snuck it in just before the busy Christmas period. I am a big fan of Duplass and Moss, and what they bring to the film is every bit as commendable as the clever execution of this interesting idea that provokes a lot of consideration about communication in relationships, how much weight we place in who we desire our partners to be (and how different that is from who they actually are/have become) and notions of adultery. Just roll with it. Very funny, but it takes a dark and disturbing turn.

-------- Essential Viewing --------  

2014 Buckle Awards

The 2014 Buckle Awards. Not much to say, other than this was hard to narrow down and on another day I might have gone with a different nominee, or even winner.
 
But, every film and person and achievement is more than worthy of recognition, even if they don't get it at the Oscars (for the most part, unlikely).

What is interesting is that Inside Llewyn Davis was considered for last years awards - in fact it was the first film I watched in 2014 - but it received no nominations at all. What was I thinking? I have enjoyed it even more over subsequent viewings but I have not included it here. So, you never know how are you going to feel 12 months, 5 years or 10 years down the track. This is 2014 in review. 

Best American/British Feature Film

Only Lovers Left Alive *WINNER*
Under the Skin *Runner Up*
Nightcrawler
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Birdman
Snowpiercer
All is Lost
Foxcatcher
Enemy
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Best International/Foreign Language Film

Why Don't You Play in Hell? *Runner Up*
Two Days, One Night
Mommy *WINNER*
Winter Sleep
Ida
The Great Beauty
Force Majeure
Tom at the Farm
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Girlhood

Best Australian/New Zealand Feature Film

These Final Hours
Son of a Gun
What We Do In the Shadows *WINNER*
The Dark Horse
The Babadook
The Infinite Man *Runner Up*

Best Director

Jim Jarmusch - Only Lovers Left Alive - *Runner Up*
Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Xavier Dolan - Mommy/Tom at the Farm - *WINNER*
Jonathan Glazer - Under the Skin
Sion Sono - Why Don't You Play in Hell?
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - Birdman

Best Lead Male Performance

Antoine-Olivier Pilon - Mommy
Jack O'Connell - Starred Up
Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler *WINNER* TIE
Channing Tatum - Foxcatcher
Robert Redford - All is Lost
Haluk Bilginer - Winter Sleep
Michael Keaton - Birdman *WINNER* TIE

Best Lead Female Performance

Tilda Swinton - Only Lovers Left Alive
Anne Dorval - Mommy *WINNER*
Scarlett Johansson - Under the Skin
Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night *Runner Up*
Essie Davis - The Babadook
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Beyond the Lights

Best Supporting Female Performance

Suzanne Clement - Mommy *WINNER*
Rene Russo - Nightcrawler
Carrie Coon - Gone Girl
Imelada Staunton - Pride
Kristen Stewart - Clouds of Sils Maria *Runner Up*
Melisa Sozen - Winter Sleep

Best Supporting Male Performance

Edward Norton - Birdman *Runner Up*
Jemaine Clement - What We Do in the Shadows
Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher *WINNER*
Pierre-Yves Cardinal - Tom at the Farm
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Ciaran Hinds - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him

Best Original Screenplay

Only Lovers Left Alive
Mommy
Birdman *WINNER*
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Nightcrawler
Foxcatcher
Force Majeure *Runner Up*

Best Adapted Screenplay

Snowpiercer *WINNER*
Under the Skin *Runner Up*
Tom at the Farm
A Most Wanted Man
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Tokyo Tribe
Enemy

Best Cinematography 

Violet
Birdman *WINNER*
Only Lovers Left Alive
Nightcrawler
Mommy
Ida *Runner Up*
Winter Sleep
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

Best Original Score/Soundtrack

Only Lovers Left Alive *WINNER* Score
Under the Skin
Mommy
The Double
Fury *Runner Up* Score
Pride *WINNER* Soundtrack
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Tom at the Farm
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night *Runner Up* Soundtrack
It Follows

Best Documentary

20, 000 Days on Earth
Jodorowsky's Dune
Virunga *Runner Up*
The Possibilities Are Endless *WINNER*
Tales of the Grim Sleeper
Tim's Vermeer 

Best Scene  

'Diamonds' + hotel - Girlhood
The stakeout/pursuit - Nightcrawler *Runner Up*
The beach (of many) - Under the Skin
'Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now' - The Skeleton Twins
THAT montage - Mommy *WINNER*
Riggan locked out - Birdman
'The sandwich' - What We Do in the Shadows 
Weight loss - Foxcatcher
The reunion - Only Lovers Left Alive 

Top nominations: Mommy (9), Only Lovers Left Alive (7), Nightcrawler (7), Birdman (7), Under the Skin (6), Foxcatcher (5), The Grand Budapest Hotel (4)

20 Favourite New-to-Me Films in 2014

Here are 20 films (from any year) I became obsessed with this year for one reason or another.

How many did you guess? Duck Soup (1933), His Girl Friday (1940), My Darling Clementine (1946), Stray Dog (1949), Singin' in the Rain (1952), On the Waterfront (1954), Rio Bravo (1959), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Seconds (1966), Thief (1981), The Man Who Planted Trees (1987), Old Joy (2006), Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father (2008), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Under the Skin (2013), Mommy (2014), What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Birdman (2014), Nightcrawler (2014)

My Best Films of 2014

I have been more privileged than normal with the sheer number of films I have been able to see this year. I ventured across the world to attend the Toronto Film Festival, and made an effort to see at least one film at each of the festivals that run in Australia. It has been a terrific year, and I think what is notable is the incredible depth of excellent films.

There were a number of titles that had a theatrical release in early 2014, but I saw in 2013 and were considered for last year’s list. They include Nebraska, The Wolf of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, Her, 12 Years A Slave, The Great Beauty and Blue is the Warmest Colour. The first four films listed here would have made this short list, had I considered them.

So, with them exempt, the chosen films have been sourced from everything else I saw in 2014, whether they had a theatrical release in Australian cinemas in 2014 (or 2013 internationally), are set to have one in 2015, screened at a festival or went straight to VOD/DVD.

I didn’t get the chance to see some of the best-received films internationally, like Citizen Four, Goodbye to Language, Obvious Child and Listen Up Phillip, or some of the films receiving Oscar buzz like Inherent Vice, Selma, A Most Violent Year and The Theory of Everything.

But, before you say “Where’s ….” here are some honourable mentions (#35-26) that just missed the cut:  Jodorowsky’s Dune (Frank Pavich), Of Horses and Men (Benedikt Erlingsson), The Double (Richard Ayoade), Starred Up (David Mackenzie), Tokyo Tribe (Sion Sono), Boyhood (Richard Linklater), Calvary (John Michael McDonagh), Virunga (Orlando von Einsiedel), The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her (Ned Benson) and Beyond the Lights (Gina Prince-Bythewood).

Continue to the Top 25 at An Online Universe. 

"Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal!" Home Alone Turns 24

Guest article by Brandon Engel. 

The fact that the movie Home Alone is soon turning almost a quarter of a century old will certainly date some people. Arguably, though, the subsequent career of director Chris Columbus contributed to a variety of successful, entertaining movies as well. Either way you look at it, Home Alone remains one of the most memorable holiday films of all time.

Home Alone inserts viewers into the chaotic but loving McCallister family. The youngest of the lot, Kevin, played by MaCaulay Culkin, feels picked on and misunderstood by his boisterous family members. Like many families during the holiday season, the family scrambles to get everyone and everything in place for a trip to celebrate the season. But, in the frenzy of their preparations, little Kevin gets overlooked and ends up alone in a rather large house for an 8-year-old boy.

At first, this seems like a gift in disguise, as young Kevin has the chance to engage in all the misbehavior his parents scold him about. He gets to try on some adult activities, like using aftershave, as well as jumping on the bed with impunity. When a couple of burglars show up, though, Kevin has to delve deep into his bag of childhood mischief to protect his house and himself in this comedy of juvenile genius and adult criminal ineptitude. Separated by the Atlantic Ocean in a pre-Internet era, Kevin and his family have very few ways to contact each other at all, so he is left to his own devices.

John Hughes, who was already famous for his movies from the previous decade, wrote the script for this hit, giving director Chris Columbus rich material for a blockbuster comedy production. From an estimated budget of about 15 million dollars, the film brought in over 17 million during its first weekend and eventually accounted for well over 200 million in revenue in the US alone. Besides being a financial success, the movie also won over most reviewers to some degree, despite some critics who lamented the more unrealistic aspects of the plot line – even before the advent of automated home monitoring systems like ADT, forgetting a child at home and failing to contact any authorities isn’t exactly the easiest storyline to believe. The outlandish premise didn’t stop most moviegoers from going to see what damage this young protagonist could inflict on a couple of middle-aged miscreants.

It’s hard to believe that MaCaulay Culkin, the actor portraying the movie’s protagonist, has become a grown man with his own projects and interests, aside from wreaking havoc on inept burglars. The movie launched him into almost immediate stardom as a household name all over the world, but the sequels were met only with mixed reviews. In the real world, Culkin’s troubles with his parents (who were entangled in a custody war over MaCaulay and his fortune) made national and international news as he tried to gain more control over his financial future. Eventually, Culkin was able to parlay his skill, fame and resources into other projects, including stints in theater and music.

These days, the movie still rates above average on many review sites. The lack of appeal relative to its popularity when it was released can be partially explained by changes in the culture, which involves far more home security awareness, and sensibilities over the years. That being said, kids still seem to love this holiday classic that delivers a dose of adult-directed schadenfreude, as will adults who just want a trip down the path of their childhood reveries.

Review: Paddington (Paul King, 2014)

From the beloved novels by Michael Bond, Paddington tells the story of the misadventures of a young bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to London in search of a home after his idyllic Peruvian forest homestead is destroyed in an earthquake. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined, until he meets the kindly Brown family who take heed of the label around his neck – “Please look after this bear. Thank you.” – and offer him a temporary haven.

This is a fun, clever film and it is exceptionally well made. But, I take a look at the impressive pedigree working on it and wonder why I am surprised. Writer/director Paul King is the man behind Bunny and the Bull and The Mighty Boosh, which explains why Paddington is so funny. King worked with editor Mark Everson on the aforementioned projects, and this is a sleek, polished cut. Master DP Erik Wilson (The Double, 20, 000 Days on Earth and The Imposter) shoots the film beautifully, while the delightfully rewarding intricacies of the film’s design (for example, the Brown house reduced to a dollhouse model and a sequence where Paddington appears to walk through a projected image into a memory) and CGI/animatronic effects are seamlessly woven into the film’s fabric.

Continue reading at An Online Universe. 

Favourite Male and Female Performances of 2014

Male Performances

Male Performer of the Year:

Jake Gyllenhaal (for three brilliant performances in two films)

Honourable Mentions (In No Particular Order): Steve Coogan - The Trip To Italy, Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street, Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club, Jim Broadbent - Le Week-End, Russell Crowe - Noah, Jeff Goldblum - Le Week-End/The Grand Budapest Hotel, Tom Hiddleston - Only Lovers Left Alive, Jesse Eisenberg - The Double, Dominic West and Ben Schnetzer - Pride, Alfred Molina - Love is Strange, James McAvoy - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, Ciaran Hinds - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, Tom Hardy - The Drop/Locke, Bill Hader - The Skeleton Twins, Chris Evans - Snowpiercer, Ben Mendolsohn - Starred Up, Jemaine Clement - What We Do In The Shadows, Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbel - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Mathieu Amalric - Venus in Fur, David Gulpilil - Charlie's Country, Casey Affleck and Christian Bale - Out of the Furnace, Cliff Curtis - The Dark Horse, Al Pacino - The Humbling, Ben Stiller - While We're Young, Aleksei Serebryakov and Roman Madyanov - Leviathan, Bill Murray - St Vincent, Ben Affleck - Gone Girl, Robert Duvall - The Judge, Ewan McGregor - Son of A Gun, Miles Teller and J.K Simmons - Whiplash, Johannes Kuhnke - Force Majeure, Brad Pitt and Logan Lerman - Fury, Eddie Marsan - Still Life, Keanu Reeves - John Wick, Timothy Spall - Mr Turner, Riz Ahmed - Nightcrawler, Pierre-Yves Cardinal - Tom at the Farm, Zach Galifainakas - Birdman, Ethan Hawke - Boyhood and Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game

15. Edward Norton - Birdman

14. Haluk Bilginer - Winter Sleep

13. Toni Servillo - The Great Beauty

12. Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel/The Invisible Woman

11. Brendan Gleeson - Calvary 

10. Oscar Isaac - Inside Llewyn Davis

9. Jack O'Connell - Starred Up

8. Channing Tatum and Steve Carell - Foxcatcher

7. Robert Redford - All is Lost 

6. Antoine-Olivier Pilon - Mommy

5. Joaquin Phoenix - Her/The Immigrant

4. Leonard DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street

3. Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher/Begin Again/Infinitely Polar Bear

2. Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler/Enemy

1. Michael Keaton - Birdman

Female Performances

Female Performer of the Year:

Scarlett Johansson (she WAS everywhere, and nowhere)

Honourable Mentions (In No Particular Order): Judi Dench - Philomena, Lindsay Duncan - Le Week-End, Paulina Garcia - Gloria, Emmanuelle Devos - Domestic Life, Felicity Jones - The Invisible Woman, Rose Byrne - Neighbours/Adult Beginners, Mia Wasikowska - Only Lovers Left Alive, Agata Trzebuchowska and Agata Kulesza - Ida, Patricia Arquette - Boyhood, Marissa Tomei - Love is Strange, Viola Davis - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, Sarah Snook - Predestination, Keira Knightley - Begin Again/Laggies, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D'Anna - The Duke of Burgundy, Naomi Watts - While We're Young/Birdman, Elena Lyadova - Leviathan, Brit Marling - The Keeping Room, Carrie Coon and Kim Dickens - Gone Girl, Reese Witherspoon - Wild, Lisa Loven Kongsli - Force Majeure, Emma Stone - Birdman, Alicia Vikander - Testament of Youth 

15. Imelda Staunton - Pride 

14. Rene Russo - Nightcrawler

13. Karidja Toure - Girlhood

12. Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart - Clouds of Sils Maria 

11. Emmanuelle Seigner - Venus in Fur 

10. Melisa Sözen and Demet Akbag - Winter Sleep

9. Jessica Chastain - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her

8. Tilda Swinton - Only Lovers Left Alive/Snowpiercer

7. Margot Robbie - The Wolf of Wall Street

6. Essie Davis - The Babadook

5. Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Beyond the Lights/Belle

4. Julianne Moore - Still Alice

3. Scarlett Johansson - Under the Skin/Her/Lucy

2. Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night/The Immigrant

1. Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clement - Mommy

Note: There are a few films I won't get the chance to see this year - A Most Violent Year, Inherent Vice, Selma, The Theory of Everything, '71 and Unbroken - so those performers will be a part of next year's considerations.

New Releases 11/12/14

In cinemas this week: Paddington, Horrible Bosses 2, The One I Love and Folies Bergere

Paddington - From the beloved novels by Michael Bond and producer David Heyman (Harry Potter), Paddington tells the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined - until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says "Please look after this bear. Thank you," and offer him a temporary haven. It looks as though his luck has changed until this rarest of bears catches the eye of a museum taxidermist. 

Horrible Bosses 2 - The follow-up to the 2011 hit comedy reunites Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as Nick, Dale and Kurt. Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey also reprise their Horrible Bosses starring roles, while Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz star as new adversaries standing between the guys and their dreams of success.

The One I Love - The highly anticipated debut feature from acclaimed author Charlie McDowell, The One I Love is an original tale that continues to showcase McDowell's keen observations of human relationships with a distinct and comedic voice. Written by Justin Lader, The One I Love was produced by Mel Eslyn and executive produced by Mark Duplass who stars opposite Elisabeth Moss. On the brink of separation, Ethan (Duplass) and Sophie (Moss) escape to a beautiful vacation house for a weekend getaway in an attempt to save their marriage. What begins as a romantic and fun retreat soon becomes surreal, when an unexpected discovery forces the two to examine themselves, their relationship, and their future. ★★★★

Folies Bergere - Brigitte and Xavier are a couple of cattle farmers living and working together in Normandy. They have always got on well but now that their two children have left the household routine and weariness have set in. One night, Brigitte, who has been invited to a party by a group of Parisians in the house next to their farm, lets herself be wooed by Stan, a witty, cool attractive young man. Some time later, giving a visit to a dermatologist as an excuse, she goes to Paris to meet him. But things do not go according to plan. Stars Isabelle Huppert. 

Weekly Recommendation: I have been recommended Folies Bergere and anything with Isabelle Huppert is usually worth watching. I really liked The One I Love. What a clever and fun film that is odd enough to keep you guessing but not so twisted it starts to become indecipherable. Duplass is such a funny guy, but Elizabeth Moss is terrific in an unusual role. It is a very interesting look at a relationship in trouble, and how desiring your partner to change isn't the answer unless you're willing to change too. And then there's Paddington, which is getting very positive reviews. I am now very much looking forward to it. A surprisingly interesting week. December is usually a bit of a graveyard - though last year American Hustle swept in a blew open the box office - in the lead up to the Boxing Day and the new year.