Movies, however, are not mundane at all. Why, they can be awesome! But before we go and watch them, we like to know what they’re about. We like to know what genre they pertain to, and the actors they feature. We like to know what the critics have said about it, and what the censorship board have rated it. In short, we like to know what to expect, and that’s where a film’s key art — the main image associated with a given movie — comes into play. Whether you see it lining the walls of your local cinema, plastered on a billboard on your way to work or buried in a blog post much like this one, a movie’s key art is often the first contact you’ll have with an upcoming release. And you know what they say about first impressions…

Below are some of the best examples of key art from 2011. They’re attention-grabbing, beautifully composed, richly symbolic and indicative of the mood of the movie. They say a good poster can sell you a movie in three seconds. Well, these are the ones that do it in two.

The Ides of March

Drenched in symbolism, this masterful design tells you everything you need to know about the film, and then some. With his tie loose and top button undone, we quickly establish that Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is the political young gun of the story, working for Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney), a presidential candidate. It’s telling that Morris' TIME magazine cover folds back to reveal Gosling’s face, as Meyers is the man behind Morris, writing his speeches and advising his actions. The fact that there is near-perfect symmetry between their faces is no coincidence, either, as Meyers is a Morris in the making. But take one look at Clooney’s furrowed brow and tell me he’s not hiding something. That's the underlying message of the movie: the political realm is full of egos willing to say and do anything to get ahead. “It’s not about you,” Clooney’s subtle scowl might as well be saying to the voting public. “It’s all about TIME.”

Clever, no?

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Often when a poster features superimposed images, it looks jarring and amateurish, but this one is nigh on perfect. (Well, except for the choice of font, but let's not dwell on that). With a kind of sensual unease, this sun-bleached bastion of good design tells the story of a lost soul looking for her place, and how a sinister father figure – seen ominously approaching in the background – sniffs out and takes advantage of her whimpering soul. It’s almost as if we’ve caught Elizabeth Olsen mid hair flick as she basks in the warming glow of the sun, eyes closed, wishing she could find the same warmth elsewhere. Ok, so I’m probably overthinking it, but how can you not. This poster just absorbs you.

Here I Am

There are colours… and then there are COLOURS. I’m pretty sure there are hues of blue and red on this poster that I have never even seen before, and now that I have, I feel like I’ve been missing out. It’s kind of fitting, too, that the film follows indigenous Australians, which some may (archaically) refer to as “people of colour”. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes – is that a bushfire raging in the background? – the woman pictured is looking to start afresh, and her empowering stance encapsulates the film’s title far better than an arrangement of words ever could. “Life affirming” is one way to describe the raw emotion of this poster, “awe-inspiring” is another.

Apart

I’ve never heard of this film before, but while trawling through the internet looking for posters to compile this list, this one immediately stood out. As two softly-lit young lovers rest heads against a translucent yellow background, the word I keep arriving at is “embryonic”. The sellotaped borders are telling of a photo that has been ripped up and stuck back together again, the only piece missing being the gatekeepers of the soul, the eyes. I’m reluctant to point out that “Torn” is the unspoken verb of the title, because it’s so perfectly conveyed, I'm sure you knew that already. I may have never heard of Apart before, but I’m all ears now.

Melancholia

Have you ever seen someone this stunning look so morose, so deceased, on their wedding day? You’d think it was the end of the world or something! Oh wait...

This poster for Lars Von Trier’s art-house apocalypse has earned its place on this list for one simple reason: that photograph is magnificent. All the Photoshop pros in the world could not recreate an image as gorgeously composed as this one. That’s not to say it hasn’t been touched up – see the looming planet's reflection? – but it’s done is such a natural way, it abides by what Photoshop was designed for in the first place: enhancing photos, not massacring them.

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

I chuckled when I first laid eyes on this witty design, did you? For starters, it’s rare for an ensemble film to have a poster where each actor’s mug is not lazily plonked inside a box like the Brady Bunch, but I guess when your biggest star is Jason Sudeikis, that wasn’t exactly an option. You might say that anyone who can open Microsoft Paint could have made this poster, but that’s like saying anyone with a few bits of wood could have invented the wheel. It’s less about the complexity or technicality of the execution than it is about the strength of the concept. And when you think about it, this concept is probably the most impenetrable thing about this movie. Zzing!

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2

The face-to-face, good vs. evil poster is nothing particularly new, but when it’s done right, by gosh, is it done right. The intensity of the colours, the starkness of the lighting, the power of the symmetry and that nasty reptilian nose; this poster for the final Harry Potter just oozes epic. Much like the films, observing the evolution of the posters is a journey through adolescence itself.
Boy wizard? Not anymore.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

A poster that embraces sexuality this fearlessly is so rare in Hollywood, it’s worth celebrating when it comes along. In fact, had they chosen not to market David Fincher’s latest film with such gritty, gender-centric imagery, they would have done wrong by the Swedish source material, which was originally (and tellingly) titled ‘Men Who Hate Women’. Picturing a haggard Daniel Craig clutching a topless Rooney Mara around the neck, you might initially think the image reinforces the old “man dominating woman” stereotype. But take one look at Mara’s unruffled expression and firm returning grasp, and you’ll be forced to stop and think: who’s really wearing the pants in this relationship?

Scre4m

The one thing you should know about design is that less is almost always best. A poster that will grab your attention is usually the one with a simple yet striking bit of imagery, and this key art for Scre4m fits the bill perfectly. Ok, so it’s a little bit similar to the classic Halloween poster, but there’s no mistaking the Ghostface mask as anything but Wes Craven’s iconic series. Notice the way the tip of the knife leads the eye directly to the Scre4m title treatment; that’s called the visual hierarchy of the design, and an effective poster will make sure our attention winds up at the title sooner rather than later. Why? Because you don’t recite an image when you buy a ticket at the box office...

Super 8

I’m sure everyone has tilted their head at least once to observe this brooding beauty, which by way of an insidious skyline, cleverly highlights just how puny we all are in comparison to whatever the hell is out there. It also mimics the orientation of a strip of film, which is no doubt being wound through the Super 8 camera in possesion of the silhouetted kids. Yes, the credits are a little garish, but when Spielberg is involved, you’d be mad not to slap his name on there in a big, bold font. To top it off, there’s also one of J.J. Abrams' signature lens flares highlighting a key location in the film. A nice bit of ‘wink-wink’ in an otherwise mysterious bit of marketing.

Honourable Mentions

By a whisker, these are the posters that didn't quite make this year's Top 10, but are too good to not share with you anyway. Next year, in the unlikely chance that I'm less lazy than I am now, I might do a Top 20 instead.

Click on an individual poster to see it in all its glory.

When you're ready, click the 'next' arrow below to begin the countdown.

Read my lists for 2008, 2009 & 2010.

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2009

2011 Online Film Critics Society Awards

Competition: Win a PROM DVD/Blu-ray prize pack!

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2008

Competition: Win a BURIED prize pack + movie tickets!

But if there’s any satisfaction to be had from watching bad movies, it’s snarkily writing about how bad they are in year-end lists like this one!

Before we begin, it’s worth mentioning that I was more selective about the movies I went to see last year than I have been in the past, so there were a lot of potentially bad movies released in 2011 – namely anything involving Kevin James, Martin Lawrence and Sarah Jessica Parker – that I actively avoided. So perhaps a better title for this list would be “The 10 Worst Films of 2011 That I Failed to Avoid”.

 Anders Wotzke’s Bottom 10:

10. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

You know it’s a Michael Bay movie when the best compliment you can give is: “it’s slightly less racist than the last one!”

9. I Am Number Four

Actually, you’re number nine, but a good guess nonetheless.

8. Wasted on the Young

Too busy being cool and cutting-edge to be anything else, this grossly miscalculated, po-faced melodrama about Australian high schoolers was Wasted on Me more than anyone else.

7. The Hangover Part II

When the first Hangover turned out to be funny, critics such as myself were lost for words because the zinger we were all planning to use — “It’s awful like an actual hangover!” — was totally shut down. So out of sympathy, director Todd Phillips went ahead and made a sequel that is, undeniably, “awful like an actual hangover!” Thanks Todd!

6. Battle: Los Angeles

If you gave a bunch of drunk teenage boys a camera and a few million bucks to make a movie, the result would look something like this. Only the camerawork would probably be a bit better…

5. Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1

What happens when a vampire and werewolf fight over dinner a girl?

Four movies of NOTHING. F*****G NOTHING.

4. Abduction

With lines like “there’s a bomb in the oven!” and the seminal “I hate balloons!”, it’s an outright scandal that amendments have yet to be made to the AFI’s Top 100 Movie Quotes of All Time list.

3. Your Highness

Did you know that if you say “penis!” a lot whilst wearing a suit of armour you’re making a joke? It’s true! You’ve also just made Your Highness, so shame on you.

2. Just Go With It/Jack & Jill

When Adam Sandler farts in a cup and dares his partner to smell it, I just know he’s thinking “there’s a movie in this.”

1. The Three Musketeers

If I were Satan, The Three Musketeers would be the movie I’d have looping in the lobby to greet new tenants.

Tom Clift’s Bottom 10:

10. Abduction

Don’t get me wrong: I actually really enjoyed this movie. I found it hilarious. Still, there’s no doubt that this Taylor Lautner action vehicle is absolutely one of the worst films of the year.

9. My Week with Marilyn

A lifeless, sappy and wholly unlikely story about a supposed romance between Marilyn Monroe and a British youth so bland and uninteresting I don’t even feel compelling to look up his name, My Week with Marilyn hits Australian cinemas in February 2012. Don’t waste your time.

8. The Ages of Love

Ludicrously un-PC and ludicrously unfunny, this romantic comedy, styled as Italy’s answer to Love, Actually, and starring a very confused looking Robert DeNiro, is abysmal.

7. Tiny Furniture

One of the indie darlings of the year (although not in Australia, where it is yet to play outside the festival circuit), Lisa Dunham directorial debut is full of agonizingly irritating and self centred characters whose constant whining is enough to send you running from the theatre.

6. The Redemption of General Butt Naked

There are other films on this list I consider boring, stupid or artless. This documentary – about a former African warlord who embraced Christianity and went about converting his former child soldiers – I found morally disturbing.

5. Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The CGI is top of the line, but that’s about all this film has to offer. Marginally less offensive than the second Transformers movie, but Dark of the Moon is still juvenile, boring, overlong, incomprehensibly edited and full of unlikable characters whose demise would be a blessing.

4. The Tree of Life

Ambitious and visually stunning…to a point. But Terrance Mallick’s latest soon descends into utter tedium and laughable art house clichés due to its director’s refusal to engage his audience or deliver a cohesive narrative.

3. Melancholia

Utterly one note. Everything from the performances from the colour scheme to the title of the film is void of emotional complexity, or even emotional variation. You’re sad. We get it. Move on.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Perhaps the most shamelessly cash-grabby Hollywood turd of the year, the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie turns its beloved characters to painfully irritating caricatures, and is duller than watching paint dry. Oh, and it was post-converted into 3D. Need I say more?

1. Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

It doesn’t help that I saw it late at night during a five-film day on the last weekend of a film festival in which I spent over sixty hours in various cinemas. But the fact remains that this supposedly existential drama from Turkey is the most boring film I have seen all year. A quarter of my audience walked out. I should have as well.

—

(DIS)Honourable Mentions: Battle: LA, She Monkeys, Troll Hunter, Cowboys and Aliens

Phew, thank God that’s over! Now how about you cleanse your palate by reading our list of the 10 Best Movies of 2011?

The 10 Best Films of 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Video Review)

Competition: Win tickets to SUBMARINE + indie DVDs!

Cinema Releases July 2nd, 2009 – Ice Age 3, Last Ride

Competition: Win ATTACK THE BLOCK tickets!

Ok, enough semantics. Let’s talk about the year that was. At its worst, 2010 will be remembered for two things: failed action-comedies (Knight and Day, The A-Team, The Losers, Cop Out, Killers) and the backlash of 3D (Clash of the Titans, Alice in Wonderland, The Last Airbender). At its best, however, it will be remembered for its strong array of animated features (Toy Story 3, Tangled, How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind, Legend of the Guardians, The Illusionist) and fascinating documentaries that blur the line between fact and fiction (Exit Through The Gift Shop, Catfish, I’m Still Here). With a slew of disappointing blockbusters (Iron Man 2, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Robin Hood, Harry Potter 7, Tron: Legacy), 2010 was far from being a grand year for commercial cinema, but there were some notable exceptions (Toy Story 3, Shutter Island, Inception, Salt).

So without further ado, here are the ten best and worst films of 2010 according to yours truly.

Top 10:

Note: Due to belated release dates here in Australia, there are a number of 2010 films that I haven’t had the opportunity to see (i.e. True Grit, The Fighter) and films I have seen but are scheduled for local release in 2011 (i.e. 127 hours, Black Swan, Catfish). Rather than restrict myself to the films released last year in Australia, I’ve decided to abide by US release dates.

1. Buried

I left the cinema physically shaking after seeing Buried, the exceptional minimalist thriller from Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés. Certainly not for the faint of heart, Buried takes a simple premise – a truck driver, Ryan Reynolds, is buried alive in a box – and milks it of all the intrigue, suspense and emotion fathomable. The intensity of it leaves you utterly drained, but also completely in awe of the talent involved. Among others, Reynolds has been criminally overlooked this awards season.

2. Toy Story 3

Easily one of the best threequels ever made, Toy Story 3 proves once again that Pixar are the kings of animation. There’s more heart and soul in this film than any other this year, which is quite a feat considering it’s merely a bunch of 0s and 1s.

3. The King’s Speech

Sure, it’s an Oscar-bated regal drama plotted like your typical sports movie, but it’s superbly told, deftly acted and monumentally uplifting. And best of all, there’s no sports to speak of!

4. Inception

It’s by no means flawless, but this reality-bending thriller from Christopher Nolan deserves points for making intelligent cinema accessible to the masses. It’s both visually breathtaking and cerebrally stimulating, a combination that Hollywood appeared to have given up on long ago.

5. Boy

Utterly charming from first frame to last, this indie New Zealand drama from writer/director Taika Waititi disarms you with its wit before earnestly exploring the delicate relationship between a boy and his rogue father.

6. Exit Through The Gift Shop

A funny, exciting and captivating documentary about an eccentric French-American tracking down notorious British street artist Banksy. It explores the question of “what is art?” without stencilling its agenda to the back of your eyelids.

7. The Last Exorcism

Terrifically scripted, directed and performed, The Last Exorcism is essentially two films in one: a fascinating faux-documentary about debunking exorcisms and a terrifying exploration of the paranormal. It’s entirely plausible right up until the last five minutes where it derails spectacularly. Still, what comes before is A-grade horror.

8. Blue Valentine

So earnest is Blue Valentine, the raw relationship drama staring the impeccable Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, you’d be forgiven for confusing it for a documentary. Without ever giving way to melodrama, it balances love and loss with hard-hitting resonance.

9. Catfish

A low-budget documentary with such an exceptional narrative structure, complete with compelling twists and turns you’ll never see coming, Catfish almost seems too good to be true. And it might very well be, many dismissing it as being a fabrication. Regardless, it’s top-shelf entertainment that speaks many truths about today’s digital environment.

10. Kick-Ass

It will probably be remembered for featuring an 11-year-old girl saying the C-word, but Kick-Ass should better be remembered as a constantly thrilling and often hilarious superhero movie that felt as if it belonged to a genre of its own. It’s also one of few 21^st century films that hasn’t exacerbated my disdain for Nicholas Cage, so it must be good.

Potential “Top 10” contenders I haven’t seen:
True Grit
The Fighter
Never Let Me Go
Mother
Leap Year

Bottom 10:

1. Furry Vengeance

Direct from the torture chambers of Guantanamo Bay comes the most repulsive cinematic experience of the year.

2. Meet the Parents: Little Fockers

A shameless franchise cash-in that forgets to be funny.

3. Clash of the Titans

If there is one good thing to come out of this boring, baffling and brain-dead excuse for a movie, it’s Liam Neeson saying “RELEASE THE KRAKEN”.

4. The Last Airbender

Thanks to the pointless 3D, the sheer ineptitude of The Last Airbender flies off the screen in multiple dimensions.

5. Killers

An ugly and deeply unfunny film that functions as a “what not to do” when combining action and comedy. Katherine Heigl needs either a new agent or a new career.

6. Dinner for Schmucks

More irritating than funny, Dinner for Schmucks is a perfect example of why absurdist humour should be left to the Brits.

7. Skyline

A cheap Sci-fi invasion B-movie that somehow made its way into cinemas. Would benefit from TV ad intermissions to help dilute the stupid.

8. Tron: Legacy

An utterly lifeless and monotonous money shredder. Without any sense of immersion, the visuals have no value.

9. Burlesque

More predictable than a famine in Africa. A tacky excuse for Christina Aguilera to warble like a drunk walrus on the big screen.

10. Somewhere

A plodding, pretentious and pointless piece of arthouse nonsense.

Potential “Bottom 10” Contenders I haven’t seen:

The Bounty Hunter
Grown Ups
Sex and the City 2
Yogi Bear

Regrettable reviews:
(AKA films I gave a positive or negative review they didn’t deserve.)

Alice in Wonderland

A second viewing of Alice in Wonderland confirms that Tim Burton’s remake is not nearly as good as I first purported in my four star review. This is what happens when hype, wishful thinking, and Gold Class cinema treatment combines to alter a critic’s initial reaction. I wish I brewed on the film review for longer.

Guilty Pleasures:
(AKA films I enjoyed that few others seemed to.)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

It’s incredibly formulaic, but I still stand by Prince of Persia being an exciting, entertaining and relatively faithful game-to-movie adaptation.

Gulliver’s Travels

Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen too many dreadful live-action kids movies this year, but Gulliver’s Travels wasn’t nearly as awful as it appeared to be. It’s a cheery, cheesy and amusing take on Jonathan Swift’s 18th century original.

Hot Tub Time Machine

I am somewhat ashamed to say I laughed – a lot – during this filthy adult comedy about nonsensical time travel.

—

So there you have it! Agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

Australian Box Office Report: 14-17 Oct 2010

Australian Box Office 16/12/2010: Tron trumps Megamind

Australian Box Office Wrap: 25-26 Sep 10

Interview: MONSTERS director Gareth Edwards (Audio)

What do I classify as a good holiday film? Well, firstly they have to feature the holiday season. Duh. Secondly, a good dose of heartwarming cheer is probably necessary. Not quite “IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!” heartwarming, but still feel-good. Thirdly – and this is all-important – they are not allowed to feature annoying small children, or copious amounts of schmaltz or cheese. So, the following films may have Christmas cheer, but they’re not going to make you spew or cringe. Call it the brain-child of someone who’s had enough of terrible viewing on TV in the days and nights leading up to the big day.

Fear not! This list features minimal small children.
Calm yourself! You won’t have to sit through vomit-worthy sentimentality. 
And I promise, no Tim Allen.

10. The Apartment (1960)

Billy Wilder’s superb, Oscar-winning romantic dramedy (I hate that word, but it’s fairly apt) is one of the first films I thought of when pondering this list. It tells the story of C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) a young man working at an insurance firm, who loans out his apartment to his work superiors for their extramarital affairs. He’s unhappy with the situation, but the managers that take advantage of him write glowing praise of him so he continues. While trying to juggle the trail of suits and floozies going through his apartment though, he’s also found himself falling for the elevator girl at the office, Fran Kubelik, superbly portrayed by Shirley MacLaine. She positively glows with charm and warmth, as does Jack Lemmon. Both leads were nominated for Best Actor/Actress Oscars, and certainly it’s easy to see why. Both are unlucky in love, somewhat unhappy, yet are also fully of life and light up the screen. The Apartment tackles themes such as infidelity, depression and suicide, and could have been an incredibly downbeat film in other hands. However, with Billy Wilder at the helm, the film is heartwarming, funny, and even the scenes in which Ms Kubelik is at her most depressed and despairing, you know that everything’s going to turn out alright. Watching two people finding each other, finally, realising they’ve been perfect for each other all along, during the holiday season – in my opinion, a perfect candidate for Christmastime viewing.

9. Hebrew Hammer (2003)
Imagine a world where a Jewish superhero must battle Santa Claus’ evil son Damian in order to save Hanukkah. This is the world that  Jonathan Kesselman’s Jewish take on the blaxploitation genre places us. Adam Goldberg’s Mordechai Jefferson Carver is the Hebrew Hammer, a Certified Circumcised Dick, who has sworn to defend Jews everywhere. When Santa Claus’ evil son Damian (Andy Dick) kills old man Claus and vows to make everyone celebrate Christmas, it’s up to the Hebrew Hammer – with some help from Kwanzaa brothers, a great cameo from Mario van Peebles – to save the day. It’s un-PC, it’s irreverent, it’s pretty stupid and it’s also pretty funny. Adam Goldberg is great as Mordechai, strutting around in a get-up that’s Hasidic Jew via 70s pimp, kicking asses and wooing ladies. Andy Dick is occasionally irritating as Damian, but The Hebrew Hammer (to me at least), hits far more than it misses. If you like your Christmas film fare a little politically incorrect, here’s your winner.

8. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Remember that terrible Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks vehicle from the late 90s called You’ve Got Mail? Remember it briefly, then cast it from your mind. Ernst Lubitsch’s amazing film of 1940 The Shop Around the Corner is the masterpiece it’s based on. In turn, The Shop Around the Corner was based on a Hungarian play called Parfumerie but that’s totally not the point. James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan play Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak, employees at Matuscheck and Co., in Budapest. They loathe each other, constantly bickering while at work. However, unbeknownst to them, the pen pals they’re writing to and falling in love with are none other than each other. There’s really no way to overstate how lovely, darling and heartwarming this film is. For those of you unfamiliar with Ernst Lubitsch, please let this film be your introduction to him. In his hands, The Shop Around the Corner is utterly enthralling, romantic yet controlled, without ham-fisted sentimentality. The “Lubitsch Touch”, as it was called, abounds here. The leads are exceptional. This film brings an unabashed tear to my eye. Oh, and Christmas? Yeah, it’s in there. The climax to the film takes place during the holiday season. It’s perfect Christmas day watching, funny, romantic and touching.

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This one’s obvious, no? This Henry Selick-directed (co-written and produced by Mr Burton) stop motion film is loved by countless fans, for the music, imagery, characters and genuine warmth it exudes. I too, am a fan. Despite that it’s an overly obvious choice, I’m fairly adamant The Nightmare Before Christmas deserves a place on this list. Jack Skellington is the “Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town, who accidentally opens a portal to Christmas Town. Santa is kidnapped, Sally falls for Jack, Jack goes around the world giving “presents” to children, which only terrifies them (not surprising, given the presents are severed heads and snakes), Jack sees the errors of his ways. Christmas is restored! All this going on, with terrific score and songs by Burton and his frequent collaborator Danny Elfman, and truly inspiring visuals and imagery from Selick.

6. Die Hard (1988)
What says “Christmas Eve” better than Bruce Willis rampaging through a building, single-handedly taking down criminal mastermind Hans Gruber? I don’t know. Not much. The first of the Die Hard films, John McClane’s Christmas Eve adventure sees him traveling to LA to reunite with his estranged wife. Unfortunately, plans are put out of whack when Hans Gruber and his men take control of the building. They pose as terrorist extremists, but in reality they’re after millions in bearer bonds. The office party is taken as hostages, and it’s up to John McClane to save the day. Simple. Simple, BUT AWESOME. One of the best action films of all time, with one of the best action heroes of all time, with one of the best villains of all time. On Christmas eve! Bruce Willis, in all his rugged, smartass, singlet-wearing glory, provides all the leading-man charm you’d want from a Christmas movie. And explosions! There’s romance, a happy ending, a Christmas miracle. And explosions!

5. Bad Santa (2003)
Bad Santa, like Hebrew Hammer is what you need if you like your Christmas time viewing irreverent, rude and un-PC. Directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Ghost World), co-written by the Coen Brothers, and starring Billy Bob Thornton, you’d expect as much. Thornton plays Willie, a drunken, hedonistic con-man who takes jobs as shopping mall Santa Clauses with his partner, Marcus (Tony Cox). Every year they get those jobs, then rob the stores. Easy. This year however, Willie finds himself in a relationship with Sue (Lauren Graham), a woman with a Santa fetish, being pursued by head of mall security Bernie Mac, and spending time with The Kid (Brett Kelly). Even then, the film remains demented and somewhat deranged. The Kid is almost stalker-like, attaching himself to Willie. Willie teaches The Kid how to box, and beats up some neighbourhood bullies for him. “I beat up some kids today”, he says, but that it was for a reason and that makes him feel good. Thornton is superb as Willie, the foul-mouthed, depressed barely functioning alcoholic, lead who screws mothers in the plus-size dressing rooms. The entire cast is great, all helped a great deal by a cracking, profane, inspired script. As far as a feel-good ending, I won’t reveal what happens but it certainly ain’t heartwarming in the same way Miracle On 34th Street is. See this with a beer in hand, and without a single child in the room.

4. Joyeux Noel (2005)
Joyeux Noel tells the true story of a truce between French, German and Scottish soldiers on a Christmas Eve during WWI. It’s 1914, and through the eyes of six or so soldiers, we the audience in turn witness enemies fraternising in the no-man’s land between them, after being taught to hate and kill each other. A lesson in human spirit, keeping in the Christmas-y love thy neighbour vibe? Check. Diane Kruger plays Anna Sorensen, a Danish singer who insists on traveling to the front lines to sing for troops (although the real reason is so she can see her lover, a German soldier). As she sings, French and Scottish troops start to watch, poke their heads above the trenches, then eventually lay down their arms and the fraternising begins. They sing carols, they play football, hold a mass, and are able to bury their dead. They all discover that despite their differing countries of birth, they are men that are quite alike. Unfortunately they’ve been given orders to kill each other, which makes the act of sheltering each other in opposing trenches during an artillery fire even more of a touching move. It’s quite a moving film, especially given that this actually happened (although probably not quite as dramatically staged as in the movies). Certainly not as violent and definitely more akin to a fairy tale than most modern war films, but a winning choice for Christmas watching.

3. Meet Me in St Louis (1944)
Okay. THIS is the movie that gets me every single time. Without fail. Every time. Meet Me in St Louis is a cinematic classic, for so many reasons. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring Judy Garland, featuring “The Trolley Song” and debuting “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, it’s truly gorgeous, glorious viewing. The Smiths are a large family living a comfortable middle-class existence in St Louis at the turn of the century. The Worlds Fair is coming to town, it’s summer, the girls are in love. Esther (Garland) is in love with “The Boy Next Door”, although he hasn’t really noticed her yet. However, after a few adventures starring Tootie, the youngest Smith and after Esther finally gets her guy, patriarch Alonzo Smith announces the family will be moving. So ensues family despair, a gorgeous Christmas Eve ball, and Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to her forlorn youngest sister. Now, that short paragraph isn’t doing Meet Me in St Louis nearly as much justice as it deserves. That’s not even mentioning the other great songs, the great cast, the fabulous characters, the wonderful scene in which Esther dances with her grandfather, at the ball which gets me EVERY SINGLE TIME and ends with me blubbering and claiming bad hayfever. It’s a sentimental favourite yes, a fabulous holiday film, but in my opinion it never descends to schmaltz and cheese, which is testament to the superb performances. Get this film in your eyes, now.

2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
There’s no overstating how much I hate the usual “zany family Christmas movie” fare being churned out of Hollywood of recent times. Seriously, without a trace of a lie, they irritate me no end. Which is why it is such a testament to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation that it has clocked in at #2 of this list. The third of the National Lampoon vacation series, it sees Chevy Chase reprising his usual role of Clark Griswald, the ever-embattled family man. All he wants his a good, old-fashioned family Christmas. Given that this is National Lampoon however, that’s exactly what he isn’t going to get. The lights don’t turn on, the tree’s a disaster, and his insane relatives turn up, wreaking havoc. Written by John Hughes, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, a screwball family comedy that does have some of the warm Christmas sentimentality that you’d expect from that sort of film, but man, is it ever amusing. The film belongs to Randy Quaid, and of course to Chevy Chase. This is the one film that I’ll make sure to watch if it’s on TV on Christmas eve, even though I’ve seen it countless times before. Best viewed with a Dad guffawing in the background and with the Christmas tree lights on.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
I know that this film tops most “BEST CHRISTMAS FILM” list, and it’s really a shame that so many probably now think it’s somewhat lame. To me however, It’s a Wonderful Life is a gorgeous, uplifting classic film. Yes, sometimes a little sentimental, but so what. Sue me. Jimmy Stewart is a great enough actor that I tend to forget any sappiness when I watch it. If you can believe it, Frank Capra’s Christmas classic was a flop when it was released, both commercially and critically. You might even call the fact that it’s now considered one of the best films of all time, a “Christmas Miracle!” unto itself. No, let’s not go that far. Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey however, finds himself in the midst of a Christmas miracle however (what a segue!). It’s Christmas Eve and he’s despairing. He’s had enough, of work and family, and life in general. In fact, he’s about to commit suicide. It’s at that moment however, that Clarence, Angel Second Class comes to his aid, to show him a life in which he doesn’t exist, to earn his wings by saving George’s life. He shows George, who has spent all of his life putting the needs of others before him sees a world without him, sees what he’s leaving behind. And so he sees the error of his ways and races back home to his family, right in time for Christmas. Lovely, no? This is probably one of the finest performances of James Stewart’s career, and Frank Capra’s most well-known and loved film (at least, nowadays anyway). If there were ever a film to lose yourself in during the festive season, it’s this one. It’s exactly what you need Christmas time, ’tis the season for it.

White Christmas: The Unrealistic View for Australians

Lights, Camera, Christmas!!

A Christmas Carol 3D (Review)

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Review)

WIN tickets to a preview of A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D! (Adelaide)

So without further ado, I present the ten best and worst movie posters of 2010.

The Best…

To see a poster full-size, click on the image.

10. Saw 3D^*

It would seem as though the marketing team at SAW HQ are the only people still involved in the franchise with an eye for creativity. Speaking of eyes, this striking poster design artfully toys with the notion of SAW now being in 3D, the imagery and title tying together nicely with an amusing tagline. The design has visual punch from a distance, but it also rewards closer inspection, cleverly containing an assortment of well-known images from the series within the eyeball. That said, I’m lost as to why the eye appears to be made of milk…

^* UPDATE: I’ve received an interesting email from a reader who has drawn my attention to the fact that the SAW 3D poster pictured is remarkably similar to a promotional poster for the Playstation 3 from 2007. The likeness is too great to dismiss as creative coincidence, so if I were to rewrite this list again, rest assured knowing that Saw 3D would not make the list and  this poster for Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours would be in its place. Sorry for the oversight!

9. I Am Love

As this list will attest, 2010 has proven to be a standout year for typography. This poster for I Am Love deserves credit for its wonderful juxtaposition of the lurid, free-flowing title and a staged formal photograph. I love the emblematic way in which the text partially covers each actor’s face aside from Tilda Swinton’s, which immediately establishes her character’s centricity to the film. The elegant, warm colour palate tops off this impressive design.

8. Devil

Horror movies often have standout poster designs because they deal with arresting images and sharp contrasts. They also seldom have big names to promote, so there is no obligation to slap the heads of the actors on the front. It’s all about creating menace and intrigue, which is exactly how one would describe this fantastic theatrical poster for Devil. The low angle photography immediately makes the metallic death box imposing, while the hellish glow emerging from the cracks is tremendously foreboding.  The glow’s reflection on the floor is what really sells the design, creating the image of a burning cross that faintly connects with the letter V in Devil. By linking the arresting image with the film’s title, the poster is influencing your visual memory so you won’t think of one without envisaging the other.

7. The Social Network

Probably one of the most widely recognised designs of the year, typography once again overshadows imagery in this powerful and imposing poster for The Social Network. The tagline is memorable in itself, but what really works is the way in which Jesse Eisenberg looks trapped within the browser window and appears behind the wall of text, symbolic of how Facebook enables users to hide, or at least regulate, their online identity.  The “profile picture” of Eisenberg hasn’t been overly airbrushed, drawing on the actor’s geeky, everyman attributes and the insecurity of his character rather than selling him as a blemish-free movie star. I do, however, think the Facebook toolbar could have worked just fine at the top of the page rather than on the side. Still, a poster design that inspires numerous parodies is deserving of a spot on this list.

6. Inception

The title of the film is the most important piece of information a poster conveys. Sure, memorable imagery helps grab the viewer’s attention, but if it doesn’t somehow link back to the title in an effective way, it’s useless from a marketing standpoint.

That’s why this poster for Inception is so damn effective. Not only is it a mesmerizing image of a cityscape, but by means of some ingenious Photoshopping, it also doubles as the film’s title. In other words, one split-second glance at this poster and you’ve already processed everything you need to know about the film.

5. Let Me In

Similar to Inception, this great teaser poster for Let Me In is notable for its eye-catching title treatment.  The designer has utilised one of the most common fonts, Times New Roman, and has turned it into something truly unique and unnerving. Blood and ice are both key components of this wintery vampire fable, while the notion of something being buried beneath the surface is both a central theme and plot point. The design could have done without the director credits on the left, as although it doesn’t completely spoil the poster, it does draw attention away from where it should be. Regardless, it’s an exceptional piece of work.

4.For Colored Girls

It’s risky business making a poster that employs actual works of art. As a poster designer, you’re trying to sell a movie, not merely please the eye, so using images that are either too obscure or too disconnected from the film can prevent the message from penetrating. Then again, a powerful piece of artwork can disarm the viewer, drawing them in so that they can subsequently absorb the marketing message. This poster for Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls is a great example of artwork doing exactly that. Marion Bolognesi gorgeous watercolour depicts the emotive power of eyes, but more importantly, it works seamlessly into the context of the film due to the obvious correlation between the title Colored Girls and the pastel-hued imagery. The tears streaming down the woman’s face effectively draw our attention to the title, while the tagline “Many voices. One poem.” illuminates the rich symbolism of the image.

3. The Last Exorcism

In terms of sheer visceral impact, this chilling poster for The Last Exorcism trumps all. It immediately grabs you by the balls, or if you don’t have balls, entangles your ovaries.

What you’re looking at is essentially two photographs: the first is of the possessed girl lying on the floor, manipulating her limbs in such a way that it appears she’s perched on a wall.  This has been cleverly overlayed onto an upside down image of the corner of a room (notice how the floorboards are on the roof). Her shadow on the wall is a tad off, but the visual impact is still there. The harsh lighting on her face is positively terrifying, while the ample use of empty space gives the confronting imagery the breathing space it deserves.

2. Black Swan

Now here is a poster I would proudly hang on my wall.  Each of the teasers for Black Swan could have made it onto the list, but this simple, elegant and utterly stunning vector-based poster takes the cake, expressively using silhouettes to capture the film’s central theme of light being consumed by darkness. Along with the classy 1930s vibe, I also love the wide kerning of the title; it adds such dramatic punch.

1. Buried

There is an important distinction between inspiration and imitation. Imitation is a creative copout; a tactless way to cash in on the success of someone else without brining anything new to the table. Inspiration, however, is what makes the world go round; every person who achieves greatness is inspired by someone or something before them.

One look at this poster for Buried and you might say “oh, that’s just an imitation of Saul Bass’ poster for Vertigo.” But it’s not. The two, why stylistically similar, are very different. Rather, it has been inspired by Bass’ work, functioning as a fitting homage to the iconic poster artist while also standing on its own two feet as a brilliant work of design.

It’s all about negative space. The hypnotic white lines create an optical illusion of depth, cleverly playing on the idea of being buried deep underground. They also lead the eye directly to the small figure in the middle, Ryan Reynold’s character Paul Conroy, who is also the centre of attention throughout the one-man show. The poster sucks you in with its stark simplicity and makes you want to explore its every detail. Buried is an intensely suspenseful movie, so it’s only fitting that this design pays homage to the posters belonging to the films of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense.

Buried also takes top spot because the entire poster campaign has been exceptional. Check out the other designs here.

Runners Up:

Here are 8 great posters that almost made the list.

NEXT PAGE: THE 10 WORST >>

81st Academy Awards Red Carpet

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2009

Glamour of the Globes

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2008

Competition: Win tickets to see THE STORM WARRIORS

10. A Film With Me In It

In this blackest of black comedies, Irish funnyman Dylan Moran helps makes the worst series of events imaginable downright hilarious.

9. A Serious Man

The critically adored directorial duo of Joel and Ethan Coen delivered a hilariously off-beat look at family and religion in A Serious Man. It’s certainly not for everyone, but what Coen film is?

8. The Cove

A documentary that plays out like a spy thriller, The Cove sheds damming light on the atrocious Dolphin culling business in Japan.  A seriously entertaining film that also packs a potent message.

7. Up

From the animation studio that can do no wrong, Pixar’s Up boasts thoughtfully constructed characters who embark on a classic adventure ripe with humour.

6. Mary and Max

The first feature length clay animation from Oscar winning director Adam Elliot was a unique, funny and heartfelt film about finding friendship in the unlikeliest of places. The animation is full of character, the voice-acting is sublime and the simple story relatable in more ways than you’d care to admit.

5. Let the Right One In

Hooray! A vampire film that actually depicts being a blood-sucker as a burden and not a pre-teen turn on! Atmospheric and engrossing, Let the Right One In blends classic horror with a touching young romance, which is authentically realised by the talented young cast.

4. Avatar

James Cameron can continue being a smug, self-proclaimed ‘King of the World’ because Avatar was a gorgeous film visually and emotionally. The very definition of cinematic escapism.

3. Lake Mungo

Far better than its North American counterpart Paranormal Activity, this cleverly deceptive ghost story is credibly told via a documentary setup. The result is a terrifyingly atmospheric film that doesn’t rely on excessive gore or jump scares. Hollywood, take note.

2. Inglourious Basterds

Featuring one of the best baddies in cinema since 2007’s No Country For Old Men with Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), Quentin Tarantino’s skewed take on World War II was one of the most sadistically satisfying movies of the year. From the delectable dialogue to ‘that’ bar scene, Basterds is an instant classic.

1. Balibo

The only film I reviewed this year to receive 5 stars was Robert Connolly’s remarkable political thriller Balibo, which is based on the true story of five Australian journalists who went missing in East Timor during the 1974 Indonesian invasion. Not only does Balibo dare to lift the lid on tightly kept secret in Australasian politics, it manages to be both highly compelling and deeply moving at the same time. The best piece of Australian cinema I’ve seen in many, many years.

Honorable mentions:
State of Play, The Wrestler, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Drag Me To Hell, Milk

Five Worst Films:

5. G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra

No, it’s not a case of  ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ with G.I Joe. The film is just bad.

4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Painfully unfunny and totally confused as to its target audience.

3. Friday the 13^th

You get what you pay for with slasher films , but this sloppy reboot of the  Friday the 13th franchise makes you wonder why bother paying at all.

2. Transporter 3

Godawful direction, loathsome characters and the most ridiculous excuse for a story made Transporter 3 a certified stinker.

1. Imagine That

Eddie Murphy’s worst to date (which says a lot) is supposedly about a child’s imagination… yet imagination is one of many things this film completely lacks. The only flick I saw this year that I seriously considered walking out on.

Guilty Pleasures:

2012, The Final Destination 3D

There’s a lot to critique about these two films, but I still had more fun that I’d care to admit watching them.

Most Underrated:

Terminator Salvation

Unremarkable, yes. But Terminator Salvation wasn’t as bad as everyone says. I preferred it over Terminator 3, to say the very least.

Most Overrated:

Julie & Julia, Samson & Delilah, Away We Go

The Aboriginal Australian drama Samson and Delilah has had awards thrown at it like confetti, but I actually found it quite tedious. Having seen the plight of Aboriginal Australians first hand, the all important shock value of the subject matter didn’t have the desired effect. I was further disengaged by the one-note screenplay and what I thought to be bland performances by the two leads. That said, I am glad it was such a success. It has opened up many ignorant eyes and put Aboriginal cinema on the map internationally, which is certainly something to applaud.

What I (regrettably) missed:

Mao’s Last Dancer, Departures, An Education

2009 According To… Katina Vangopoulos

There’s a whole mixed bag within a year of cinema, but you can always pick out the good lollies from the duds. My selection has a wide range, which is what I hope serious movie-goers also hope to achieve. But we can’t forget those duds – see the next page for my worst five of the year.

Ten Best Films:

10. 17 Again

Surprised? Some would be. But it’s great to let yourself go sometimes. See my Guilty Pleasures.

9. The Boys Are Back

Scott Hicks’ return to Australia shows a moving tale of a family healing its wounds that stays with you.

8. Samson & Delilah

The Aussie favourite this year was a wonderful debut for Warwick Thornton, and showed that our Indigenous community deserves more notice.

7. The Hangover

This crude comedy has all the laughs, smarts and quotes to boot; a great plot and even better cast.

6. Anvil! The Story of Anvil

This is the most tragic of comedies, and it’s the reality this music documentary poses that makes it so compelling.

5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Ok, so I’m a sucker for the Boy Wizard. But the films are truly getting better as they go along.

4. Camino

This Spanish gem deserved its impressive awards haul – a heart-wrenching story that’s unforgettable.

3. Avatar

The most recent, but it lived up to the year-long hype. What 3D was remodelled for, and worth it.

2. Beautiful Kate

Unexpectedly haunting with an almost sickening twist, this drama leaves you speechless.

1. Watchmen

Uncannily adapted from its novel version, this anti-hero film strips the sugar and leaves you with the barest of its characters’ souls.

Five Worst Films:

5. Confessions of a Shopaholic

Although Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy had decent turns, this shopaholic ran out of cash pretty quickly.

4. Gomorrah (Gomorra)

This crime film was applauded in home country Italy but fails to create interest in the characters or pay attention to the various subplots.

3. $9.99

An Australian claymation dud, with even A-list voices unable to save it from the distracting ugliness of the characters.

2. Three Monkeys (Uc Maymun)

A disengaging Turkish drama seen on the festival circuit that failed to get a general release.

1. Observe And Report

A Seth Rogen film where he’s not creatively involved was a gamble. They observed, and reported that it didn’t pay off.

Most Overrated:

Gomorrah

Critics and fans alike were divided on this film; it was definitely relevant for Italians but it was hard for an international audience to gain any understanding or carry any sympathy.

Most Underrated:

Cedar Boys, Van Diemen’s Land, Into The Shadows

Yes, they’re all Australian; 2009 had the best quality output in years and audiences hardly recognised it. These films show untold sides of our culture, while Into The Shadows also importantly looks into our industry’s problem…

Five Guiltiest Pleasures

We all have them. Usually in the form of comedies that we think are hilarious but no-one else finds funny. I know from experience. So here’s my personal top five for 2009.

5. All About Steve

I’ve never had huge issues with Sandra Bullock. And being a journalist, her passion for words actually stuck with me a bit after the crazy plot.

4. Bandslam

Teen films are more often than not overly cheesy (and nowadays musically-themed). With Vanessa Hudgens bearable, this film had a bit of edge to it.

3. The Boat That Rocked

Ok, while it did drag on a bit, you still wanted to laugh with these guys stuck together on a ship.

2. Bang Bang Wedding (To Gamilio Party)

The craziness of my Greek heritage never gets old, so to see even bigger extravagance on film was a hoot.

1. 17 Again

Ok, I’ll say it: I’m Team Zac. Not just for the looks – this film showed his comic ability and the one-liners from this film are hilarious. Extremely fun.

Tearjerkers of 2009

Ok, so this is the embarrassing list, where I reveal just how much the waterworks spill out. And alarmingly, it seems to be quite often… but with death and destruction, what else am I meant to do?!

5. Samson & Delilah

The true tale of these troubled teens gets you teary as Samson falls further into a spiral of destruction.

4. Quiet Chaos (Caos calmo)

This Italian drama with veteran Nanni Moretti is a slow heartbreaker as a father tries to deal with his wife’s death.

3. Camino
The death of Spaniard Camino is inevitable, but her good faith makes you think about the important things.

2. The Time Traveller’s Wife

Fear of the unknown is what gets you bawling at the film’s halfway point – and you can’t stop.

1. The Boys Are Back

Personally, I saw this just days after The Time Traveller’s Wife. But here the waterworks began five minutes in. And again, the tears hardly stopped.

What I (regrettably) missed: 

Balibo, Moon, Up, Beautiful, Inglourious Basterds

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

Australian Box Office Report: 14-17 Oct 2010

Cinema Releases July 9, 2009 – Bruno, Fox and the Child

SAG Nominations: ‘Benjamin Button’ the ‘Slumdog’ ‘Wrestler’ casts ‘Doubt’ over spilt ‘Milk’

Cinema Releases July 2nd, 2009 – Ice Age 3, Last Ride

—

Good

Good is a startlingly seductive and deeply disturbing film by director Vicente Amorim. Starring Vigo Mortensen and Jason Isaacs, the story follows John Halder (Mortensen), a likeable if slightly eccentric professor in Germany in the 1930s and the unsettling course his life begins to take as the Nazis rise to power. The movie, especially early on, is fun, charming, drenched in warm colours, and ultimately beguiling, as Halder is all too easily swept up by events he deems out of his control. The acting is natural and wonderfully understated, and it is all the more biting for it as the comfortable ease of the film’s beginning is quickly unravelled into something wholly darker and psychologically confronting. By the film’s end, I was left deeply unsettled, horrified and more than a little taken aback at this portrayal of just how effortlessly ‘a good man’, and indeed a whole nation, can fall so very far, without even realising it.

PUSH

Director Paul McGuigan’s (Lucky Number Slevin) latest is a very unusual sort of film. On the one hand, it’s a relatively low-budget, gritty-looking indie film, shot on location in Hong Kong with an almost artsy exploration of the real city, in lieu of the ultra-sleek ‘surface’ normally given screen time in blockbusters. On the other hand it’s a slick, well-paced, action-thriller about psychics and secret government divisions, and has a line up of emerging name actors including Djimon Hounsou, Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans and Camilla Belle. For me, those two kinds of film put together is exactly my kind of thing. For many others, the combination seemed too incongruous and the film came and went quickly and quietly with little success, as much due to poor marketing and even poorer distribution as anything else. Yet despite this, PUSH is a clever, well crafted and thoroughly entertaining piece of cinema (on the flipside, resident critic Anders Wotzke strongly disagrees in his review). The action is gripping, and to my great relief overwhelmingly live-action – relying largely on stunt work and wires over flashy CGI. The story has a grand background, but is refreshingly intimate in scope, and its accompanied by a highly addictive musical score by Massive Attack’s Neil Davidge. This is not a superhero film; the world is not at stake; and the characters are simply trying to survive as best they can. PUSH is not for everyone – it’s a little too artsy and intelligent for the comic book blockbuster crowd, and it’s too outlandish and unashamedly entertaining for the indie film festival sort. But if you’re able to appreciate the merits of both, you might find this film, as I did, one heck of a ride.

Zombieland

Chances are, you may have actually seen Zombieland, persuaded perhaps by good word-of-mouth reviews to check it out. And Zombieland, director Ruben Fleischer’s first film, is definitely worth checking out. Its all-too-conventional marketing does not do the film justice. Yes, it’s a zombie film. It involves a heck of a lot of zombie-killing. It does this remarkably well too, and for such a low budget, the oozy, bloody effects are surprisingly spot on. It’s also a good old American road trip film. It even has a side-splittingly funny cameo by Bill Murray. But more than that it’s a witty, refreshingly fun and delightful film. The characters, named after their respective hometowns; Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg); Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson); Wichita (Emma Stone); and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) are genuinely endearing. Most of all, Zombieland is hilarious. If you’re not laughing out loud until you’re sides hurt or tears start rolling, then cynicism and jadedness have probably consumed your soul just as the film’s zombie’s have devoured America.

Zombieland (Review)

Push (Review)

WTF: ‘Jackass 3D’ a US Box Office Smash?!

Competition: Win CITY ISLAND tickets!

WTF: A Bourne film without Jason Bourne!?

Movie posters have the power to make or break a films success at the box office, so it’s important to get it right.

However, designing a poster that is striking, attractive and, most importantly, makes you moviegoers actually want to see the film being advertised is no easy task. Yet these ten posters from 2009 were able to rise above  medicority and do exactly that. On page two, we showcase the other end of the spectrum and list off ten posters that seriously missed the mark.

The Best…

To see a poster full-size, click on the image.

10.

Brothers

There is so much tension within the imagery of this poster you could almost cut it with a knife. In fact, the poster already does that for you; the subtle misalignment of Natalie Portman speaks volumes about the ruptured relationship that sits central to the film. It’s all very unnerving, but in the best kind of way.

9.

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker is a movie about defusing bombs. Really nasty looking bombs at that. Unlike the confusing theatrical poster, this teaser gets that point across loud and clear without sacrificing style. Inject a hint of humour in the tagline and you’ve got yourself a great poster for a great movie.

8.

The Ugly Truth

This is a fantastic example of clean, minimalist design; not a single photograph to speak of, yet the message remains instantly interpretable. It’s also quite funny.  Shame the movie didn’t follow suit.

7.

Moon

Not only is this poster downright mesmerising, it’s highly relevant to the film. Beyond the fact that the dizzying rings are shaped like a moon (duh!), it places Sam Rockwell smack bang in the center, just as he is the sole focus of the movie. His character’s life is defined by repetition, which if you’ve seen the film, has multiple meanings.  Ultimately though, it’s the hypnotic beauty of the image that truly makes this poster shine.

6.

Friday the 13^th

A woeful excuse for a movie, but this teaser poster certainly grabs your attention by the balls. No title, no tagline, no actors – merely an unnerving image of Jason Voorhees’ iconic hockey mask emerging from the darkness (he has a habit of doing that). That and a release date that says everything it needs to: Friday February 13^th, 2009.

5.

Inglourious Basterds

Inglourious Basterds had a fantastic advertising campaign all round, but this poster gets right down to business; a bloodied baseball bat and a Nazi helmet. It’s striking, twisted and gory. Thus, it could only be advertising a film by Quentin Tarantino. As one of few auteurs working in Hollywood, that’s a big selling point.

4.

Up in the Air

It’s incredibly  rare for a movie to feature someone with as much star power as George Clooney and not feature his handsome mug front and center on the poster. But that would have been contrary to what Up in the Air thematically explores. The film is all about 21^st century isolation; the way the window panels separate each faceless figure is not accidental. Nor is the gaping space above them, which could connote their speck-like insignificance in a globalised world. I could go on praising the deliberate symmetry, witty tagline and hypothesise as to why there is a tiny bird in the top right of the picture, but I won’t. Just know that this poster is fantastic.

3.

The House of the Devil

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.  Hand drawn/painted posters are few and far between nowadays, yet this poster for The House of the Devil doesn’t just get points for being a rarity. It’s also damn good.
The eerie image of the burning house and the shadowy outline of the bloodied woman seamlessly overlap. It really is a beautiful composition. But it’s the typography that really takes this poster to another level; nothing is creepier than a smudged, distorted hand-written title. NOTHING.

2.

Watchmen

This is the kind of poster I would be proud to have hanging on my wall. Not only does it vividly recreate the beautiful imagery from the original graphic novel, it does it with such meticulous style. It takes a single, frenetic moment in time and suspends it with such harmonious beauty. Also, not many movie posters can get away with intense yellow typography. This poster doesn’t only get away with it,  it goes ahead and makes it look insanely cool.

1.

A Christmas Carol

Why this poster wasn’t used more prominently to promote A Christmas Carol is beyond me. I first saw the design while flipping through a magazine, and I literally stopped dead on the page to gawp at it.  If that’s not effective advertising, I don’t know what is. The striking orange flame against the wash of negative black space is stunning. The fluid manner in which it highlights Scrooge’s face is flawless.  It’s also quite ominous,  just like the film.

…The Worst.

To see a poster full-size, click on the image.

With the best out of the way,  it’s now time to grab that bloodied Nazi-bashing bat from the Inglourious Basterds poster and do some damage.

Be it because they are poorly designed, unappealing,  unoriginal or simply feature the mug of an actor I  detest, here are the ten worst movie posters of 2009.

10.
Cold Souls

I’m a big fan of Russian Babushka dolls, but not when it’s Paul Giamatti’s hairy mug. That’s just plain creepy.

I admit it’s kind of quirky, but as it turns out, it’s also a complete rip-off.

9.

Whatever Works…

… and this really doesn’t. It’s about as bland as the tagline ‘a new comedy’.

8.

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Much like the film, this poster is an absolute mess.  Not only is the text at the top borderline illegible, it’s simply a mash of floating heads and objects. Where is the focal point? Why are there jellyfish attacking Parliament?  More importantly, why does Lily Cole look like some gremlin being lugged around by Heath Ledger?

7.

Race to Witch Mountain

You alien buffoons; your petty spaceships are no match for Dwayne Johnson’s gigantic head! Not only will he head-but your ships out of orbit, he’ll charge you extra on your cab fare! Muhahaha!

6.

The Box

Cameron Diaz’s floating head looks worried; perhaps she just spotted a poster on her left that actually has an ounce of originality to it?  Or perhaps she realised the big red paint strike across her face reminds us of M. Night Shamalyan’s The Village? Yikes, not the kind of association that sells tickets.

5.

Knowing

For Nicolas Cage, the tagline “What happens when the numbers run out?” stopped being a hypothetical question when he went bankrupt.

Jokes aside, it wouldn’t be a list of bad posters if Nic Cage didn’t make an appearance. This time, his heavily air-brushed head is hovering above the apocalypse, looking suspiciously calm given the events taking place below. I’ve been trying to tell people for years the world would explode if they kept watching Nic Cage movies.

4.

Gamer

Oh, I get it. Gamer is about a horny teenage boy who hides in girls closets, peeking through a slit he made in pin-up poster of Gerard “moody face” Butler. Maybe the tagline should read; “Who’s prying on you?”

Interesting concept, poor execution.

3.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Stars placed back to back on a rom-com poster? How so very original.
But more to the point, just look at that smug bastard. Now I’m sure McConaughey is a lovely guy, but that face of his is just. so. hittable.

2.

I Love You, Beth Cooper

Paul Rust, what on earth are you doing back there? Put it away, boy.

Also, why do Hayden Panettiere’s arms look a bit like they’ve been mangled in a car door? Come to think of it, is that even her body? Her head looks like a magazine cut-out which has then been glued onto the page. Weird.

1.

Fired Up!

I bet the design team thought they were being super cool and edgy by enlarging the first letters of Fired Up. Because, you know, there’s nothing like saying a big ‘F U!’ to moviegoers. It makes us really keen to see the movie….

So there you have it! Think we missed a gem or forgot to mention a steamer? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Want more? Check out our list of 08s best and worst posters.

81st Academy Awards Red Carpet

Glamour of the Globes

Competition: Win CITY ISLAND tickets!

Win a PARANORMAL ACTIVITY DVD Prize Pack!

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

Hundreds of films have showcased the sniper rifle in action over the years, but some have done so far more memorably than others. Be it because they are realistic, stylistic or just plain ol’ awesome, here are ten of the best sniper scenes of all time.

10. Smokin’ Aces (2007)

Shooter: Sharice Watters (Taraji P. Henson)
Target: 10+ FBI Agents
Weapon: Barrett M82A1
Video: link

Why it makes the list:
Although the film itself is average at best, Smokin’ Aces contains a beautifully stylised sniper scene worthy of making the tail end of this list. Mauro Fiore’s cinematography is breathtaking, using visual FX to fluidly move the camera from one high-rise building to another as hitwoman Sharice Watters (Taraji P. Henson) cleans up a room full of FBI Agents with her beefy Barrett.  Glass, flowers, blood and bodies all start flying in vicious harmony.

9. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Shooter: Martin Blank (John Cusack)
Target: Bicycle rider
Weapon: Remington 700
Video: None

Why it makes the list:
Sniping a moving target is hard enough. Sniping a moving target on a bicycle is even harder. Sniping a moving target on a bicycle and tracking him through a wall is next to impossible. So what do you call it when John Cusack’s character snipes a moving target on a bicycle by tracking him through a wall while on the phone to his secretary? Freakin’ awesome. That’s what.

Oh and playing beneath all this is the song ‘I can see clearly now’ by Johnny Nash.  How could this scene not make the list?

8. Shooter (2008)

Shooter: Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg)
Target: 20+ bad guys, attack helicopter
Weapon: M40A3 and Barrett M82
Video: link

Why it makes the list:
So what if Shooter is about as realistic as a painting by Salvador Dali, it’s entertaining. While there are a number of great sniper scenes in this film, I’ve selected the opening sequence takes the cake. Here, the preposterously-named hero Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg) takes out a moving convoy of militants — from over 800m away with the help of a spotter — on an armed forces mission in Ethiopia. Each kill is a perfect headshot of course, but that’s not the half of it: when an attack helicopter scouts their position, Swagger swaps to the Barrett M82 with anti-vehicle rounds and, after missing a few shots to build some dramatic tension, he takes the chopper down with a perfect shot to the rotor. Nothing like a bit of bullshit-coated action to kick off a Hollywood blockbuster.

7. Phone Booth (2002)

Shooter: The Caller (Kiefer Sutherland)
Target: Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell)
Weapon: Silenced L96A1
Video: link (Trailer)

Why it makes the list:
I admit that I’m bending the rules here as this isn’t so much a single scene as it is the entire movie. Nevertheless, Phone Booth makes the list because few films have captured the terrifying anonymity and silent killing power of the sniper rifle quite as well. The film is dripping with suspense, a remarkable achievement considering only a few shots are fired throughout. And since the shooter is identified only by Kiefer Sutherland’s sinister baritone voice, the movie takes on a whole new level of  ‘awesome’.

6. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Shooter: Andy (Bruce Bohne)
Target: Zombie Jay Leno, Zombie Burt Reynolds
Weapon: M40A1
Video: link

Why it makes the list:
Just because it’s the zombie apocalypse doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of fun. Marooned on the roof of a shopping mall and surrounded by zombies, the survivors play chess with a weapons merchant across the street using a whiteboard and binoculars. When that gets boring, they decide to spot celebrities in the zombie crowd and tell their new friend to snipe them to smithereens. When Rosie O’Donnell name is suggested as the next target, one of them says, “Nah, too easy. Give him something hard!.” Comedy gold!

5. Jarhead (2006)

Shooter: Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal)
Target: Iraqi Officer
Weapon: M40A1
Video: None

Why it makes the list:
Jarhead boasts one of my favourite sniper scenes of all time, yet not a single bullet is fired.  While most films about modern warfare are overblown action extravaganzas, director Sam Mendes takes a decidedly different approach with this film, brilliantly capturing the psychological effect of combat during the second Iraq war. The entire film builds up to this one memorably scene where US sniper Anthony Swofford (Gyllenhaal) finally gets a chance to shoot an Iraqi officer after months of physical and psychological preparation. The tension in the air as he adjusts the elevation, switches off the safety and gets the go-ahead from his spotter is almost unbearable. Just moments before he takes the shot, his superior officer bursts into the scene and calls it off. It’s truly gut wrenching stuff, as we genuinely feel as though we’ve been robbed of a kill just as much as Swofford and his spotter.

4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Shooter: Pvt. Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper)
Target: German Sniper
Weapon: Springfield 1903A4
Video: link

Why it makes the list:
Pvt. Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper) is not your typical sharpshooter. For one, he cites bible verses as he scopes each of his targets, which strikes me as somewhat contradictory. He’s also left-handed, so using a right-handed bolt-action sniper rifle is the kind of nuisance you just don’t need when there are shells exploding all around you. That said, it didn’t stop him from pulling off one of the most badass sniper shots in filmic history, dominating a Nazi sniper by shooting him clean through his own scope 350 meters away. Factor in gravity, elevation, wind and rain and the chances of pulling off this shot are astronomical. This German sniper was no amateur either, as moments earlier he’d taken down Vin Diesel…. Vin Diesel for fucks sake! That’s almost like killing Chuck Norris.

3. Wolf Creek (2005)

Shooter: Mick Taylor (John Jarratt)
Target: Kristy Earl (Kestie Morassi)
Weapon: Remington M40
Video: link

Why it makes the list:
I bet you didn’t see this one coming. The indie Australian horror Wolf Creek proves that you don’t need a big Hollywood budget to make a truly terrifying sniper scene. Just when it looks like Kristy (Kestie Morassi) is about to escape the clutches of psychopath Mick (John Jarratt) by flagging down a passing car, the serial killer pulls of an impressive long range shot out of seemingly nowhere to take down the innocent driver. Kristy then jumps into the driver’s seat and takes off, but just as it looks as though she is about to get away once again, Mick takes out her tyre with another perfect shot.
The genius here is just how simple it is; the handheld camerawork gives this sequence a chilling authenticity, as does the ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ muzzle flash way off in the distance moments before Mick nails his prey.

2. Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Shooter: Major König (Ed Harris)
Target: Vassili Vaitsev (Jude Law), Koulikov (Ron Perlman)
Weapon: Mauser 98k
Video: link (4:30 mark)

Why it makes the list:
Forget Shooter and the Sniper series, the definitive sniper movie is Enemy at the Gates. During the historic battle for Stalingrad in 1942, a Russian and German sharpshooter (both with British accents) go head-to-head in one of the most gripping games of cat-and-mouse depicted onscreen. Jude Law stars as gifted Russian marksman Vassili Vaitsev (an actual war hero), and although he pulls of some impressive shots throughout the film, the finest shot goes to his fearsome rival Major König (Ed Harris). As Vaitsev and his partner Koulikov (Ron Perlman) bicker about who gets to  jump first across a plain-sighted gap in a war-torn building, Vaitsev draws the short straw and jumps second. König, however, does the impossible by sniping Koulikov mid-jump. The stunned look on Perlman’s chiselled faced as a bullet rips through his skull is captured in horrifying slow motion and won’t be forgotten any time soon.

1. The Hurt Locker (2009)

Shooter: Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie)
Target: Iraqi Insurgents
Weapon: Barrett M107
Video: link

Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker — a terrific film about a US bomb squad in Iraq – features a 10 minute sniper scene that is gut-wrenchingly tense, tremendously realistic and technically sublime.  During a mission in the arid Iraq desert, Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) is forced to take control of the Barrett after a skilled enemy sniper picks off members of his team. This memorable scene captures the very essence of being a sniper better than any other film on this list:
Firstly, it shows how sniping is about cooperation: Sanborn’s spotter, SSgt William James (Jeremy Renner), is just as important to the operation of the sniper rifle as the shooter, designating targets and relaying environmental factors.
It’s about composure: even as flies crawl over his eyelids and sweat beads down his face, Sandborn remains completely focused on the job at hand.
It’s about precision: Sandborn misses his first two shots, you know, because sniping a tiny speck in the distance is fucking hard.
Above all, it’s about patience: as the hours pass and dust starts to encrust his face, Sanborn remains calm and collected, patiently waiting for his target to expose himself.

Barry Ackroyd’s dynamic, hand-held cinematography captures the action superbly, and the absence of a soundtrack allows the ferocious grunt of the Barrett M107 to dominate our senses. Folks, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Honourable mentions:
Full Metal Jacket, Spy Games, Savior, Sniper 1 & 2, Quigley Down Under, The Bourne Identity, Wanted.

–

*BIG thanks to the Internet Movie Firearms Database for images and weapon information.

So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree with this list? Did we miss anything? Leave a comment below!

Competition: Win tickets to see THE STORM WARRIORS

81st Academy Awards Red Carpet

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

Competition: Win tickets to see THE THING!

Competition: Win HUGO tix + the bestseller it’s based on!

Gallipoli (1981) – the quintessential movie for Anzac Day, as the film tells the story of a group of Australian men sent into battle at Gallipoli and the horrors they had to endure.

Schindler’s List (1993) – based on a true story, Oskar Schindler is a greedy German businessman who witnesses the horrors of the Holocaust, and uses his factory to save over 1000 Jews from certain death at Auschwitz.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) – Spielberg’s other WWII  epic sees a squad of soldiers journey through Nazi-occupied territory to find and save Private James Ryan after his three brothers were killed.

Black Hawk Down (2001) – based on the best-selling book about the mission of 100 American Army rangers to bring down Somali warlords, which became catastrophic when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed.

Apocalypse Now (1979) – set in the Vietnam War, it follows an American captain’s treacherous mission to bring down a rogue colonel who is controlling his own army within the Cambodian jungle.

Platoon (1986) – A young American volunteers to fight in Vietnam but amidst their struggle for survival and conflict with the enemy, he also has to deal with battles within his own men.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) – Told entirely from the perspective of Japanese soldiers, the film follows the harsh and bloody battle between the Americans and Japanese for Iwo Jima, an island of Japan.

Paths of Glory (1957) – a tale of a power-hungry French general on the Western Front in 1916, who sends his men on a suicidal mission and attempts to discipline those who rebelled to hide his own unforgivable actions.

As you enjoy these war films, take some time to reflect on those that have fought and died for our freedom in conflicts around the world. Here, on Anzac Day, we remember all Australians that have served for our country, beginning with those that fought at Gallipoli 94 years ago. Lest we forget.

Cinema Releases – January 22, 2009

Cinema Releases – January 15, 2009

Cinema Releases July 2nd, 2009 – Ice Age 3, Last Ride

Cinema Releases July 9, 2009 – Bruno, Fox and the Child

Cinema Releases: April 30, 2009 – Wolverine, Defiance

At any rate, as someone with a less-than-conventional love life and relationship radar, and as a way to introduce myself to you, here’s a little list from me to you – a filmic antidote to the flowers and chocolate, the sap and sentiment.

What could it possibly be? My top 10 favourite (and therefore, not by any means the MOST) unconventional film couples.

Get ready to be completely smitten.

Or not.

10. Mr Orange & Mr White

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Unlikely, no? But dear reader, I put it to you that the relationship between Mr Orange (Tim Roth) and Mr White (Harvey Keitel) is perhaps the soul of Dogs, a relationship that is in turns a rollicking ride through Tarantino dialogue country, and completely heartbreaking. Who would have thunk it, something so touching, at the heart of a film in which the only female character utters no more than a scream and fires a shot. Who needs a conventional courtship? Seasoned pro Mr White takes apparent rookie Mr Orange under his wing, shares a taco with him after explaining the finer points of hostage control. It’s testament to Mr Orange, in actuality an undercover cop, that such a discerning professional falls for his “commode” anecdote, and in the end trusts him enough to reveal his real name. As White holds a dying Orange in his arms, defending him to his last breath, it’s hard not to be touched by the tragic turn the film takes. In fact, I challenge you, the interwebbing public, NOT to be moved when Mr Orange, on the edge of his life, tells White his true identity. You can literally see Keitel’s heart shatter into tiny little pieces. Mr Orange, who began as a wary outsider, the mole within the group, is on par with White during this scene as far as pain, bewilderment and heartache.  I know I for one, at first felt angry at Tarantino for ending his film like that, for ruining such a tender moment with a betrayal, then killing all these characters that I had grown to care about. But now, I thank him for slapping (slicing) us in the face with such a film, one that hits us with these characters, tortures them, shoots them, then leaves us to ponder it all, stunned, to the tune of Harry Nilsson.

9. Clarence & Alabama

True Romance (1993)

From one Tarantino film to another (although that is a point that is up for argument among many), number nine brings us tumbling into the rollercoaster romance of Clarence Worely (Christian Slater) and Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette). Loner comic store clerk Clarence is set up with hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold on his birthday…only problem is, they fall in love. And love was never going to be smooth sailing in something written by ol’ QT. The newly married couple are set upon from all sides almost immediately by all manner of bad guys and good-for-nothings. Of course, this may have something to do with the suitcase full of cocaine that falls into their possession. Alabama’s pimp Drexyl (hilariously portrayed by Gary Oldman), Christopher Walken’s mob boss, as well as the fuzz all want Clarence and Alabama’s asses to be grasses. Clarence though, a trash-culture quoting, geek who has visions of Elvis urging him to do what has to be done, finds his strength grow through the adversity he and his naive (yet completely bad-ass) young bride have to face. My mother commented to me, as I watched this film for the upteenth time, “this movie’s so VIOLENT! What a horrible film!”, but I have to disagree. Not only are he leads completely arresting (so to speak), but the love story that dwells underneath the madness and carnage is so sweet, so unswerving and hopeful. It’s the kind of love that makes you drive across the country away from the law, makes you gaze at the object of your affection (Christian Slater, back when he was cool) as he slaughters those who stand in your way, thinking over and over, “You’re so cool. You’re so cool. You’re so cool.”

8. Howard Bannister & Judy Maxwell

What’s Up, Doc? (1972)

They don’t make ‘em like they used to. Peter Bogdanovich’s New Hollywood classic harks back to the days of the 1940s screwball comedy. In fact, What’s Up, Doc? is pretty much a remake of Howard Hawks’ 1938 classic, Bringing Up Baby, starring Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. However, I prefer this version. Is that inviting controversy and criticism, going against the great Howard Hawks? No. Writers never do that, invite controversy.

True to the form of the screwball, Doc has slapstick galore, even slapstick set pieces if you will. It all centers around a hotel, and multiple and identical overnight bags, containing books, jewels, classified FBI documents, and Howard Bannister’s (Ryan O’Neal) igneous rocks. The romance of relevance to this list is between O’Neal and Barbara Streisand… although don’t let that fool you, this is – in my opinion – Streisand’s best and most likable performance to date. She – Judy Maxwell – relentlessly pursues Dr Bannister, undeterred by his uptight fiancee Eunice, or the fact that he seems to despise her and the embarrassment she constantly brings. Embarrassment, the law, mobsters with guns, all after the overnight bag they think is theirs. If only such persistance and obsession (through such absurd circumstances) was rewarded so handsomely in the real world. If only. But, this is the world of screwball comedy, and after a crazy dinner party, a shootout and a car chase through San Francisco, Judy and Howard do end up happily ever after. I think if anything, this film gives hope to the slightly crazed, obsessive in all of us, that we might find the kind, handsome doctor of our dreams (or vice versa), even if they well and truly hate and are petrified of us first.

7. Isaac & Tracy

Manhattan (1979)

For some, watching Manhattan is a slightly uncomfortable exercise considering the well-publicised saga of Woody Allen marrying his wife’s young adopted daughter, but at the same time I think it takes a very cold human being not to be touched by Manhattan. More lyrical in scope than Annie Hall (1977) – probably due to the gorgeous black and white cinematography and the grandiose score, it’s also a more serious look at relationships…without losing that Woody Allen wit. Isaac is in his 40s, a divorcee whose wife left him for another woman. He’s in a loveless relationship with Tracy, a beautiful and intelligent seventeen year old high school student. He soon becomes involved with his friend’s mistress (Diane Keaton), and perhaps falls in love with her…but that’s not the point. No, it’s Tracy to whom he runs across New York for at the end of the film, to tell her not to move to London. His plea to her at the film’s close is quite telling about their relationship, in a few ways. He doesn’t want her to be overseas by herself for six months, because she’ll lose everything he likes about her. As in, her innocence, her youth. To which Tracy replies, “everyone has to get corrupted sometime.” Isaac seems to think that she’s a naive young girl, but in actual fact she is the mature one of the relationship, arguably quite aware that Isaac only liked her for a certain few reasons, and that his profession of love has come as too little, too late. With that knowledge of the dynamics of their relationship, and the fact that Isaac is probably only running back to her because his fling with Diane Keaton’s character has gone awry, there is still something alarmingly touching about seeing this forty year old pleading with a high schooler not to leave, asking over and over if she still loves him. Could it be the music playing in the background? Perhaps. Or the longing look on Allen’s face? Probably.

6. Angela & Emile & Alfred

A Woman is a Woman (Une Femme est Une Femme) (1961)

I could have been obvious and written about Breathless. Or perhaps Jules et Jim, another love triangle of the nouvelle vague. But obvious is not the game of this list. Une Femme est Une Femme, is Godard, is Anna Karina, is Belmondo…all at their most playful and self-referrential. The film centers on Emile (Jean-Claude Brialy) and his striptease artist girlfriend Angela (Anna Karine, Godard’s gorgeous wife). She wants to have a baby, he doesn’t. Instead, she goes after his best friend, Alfred (portrayed by the effortlessly cool Jean-Paul Belmondo). Sounds sinister, I know. But the film itself is one of the most joyous excursions in romance and fun I’ve ever experienced. Combined with ironic little references to other films and actors of the nouvelle vague, the soundtrack, the performances, the characters all exude the feeling that one finds themselves enveloped in when you’re falling in love with someone. You want to dance, you want to sing, you want to do all manner of silly things. So in effect, this is not so much an unconventional couple (although it is), but more so an unconventional way of portraying said romance to the unsuspecting audience.

5. Enid & Seymour

Ghost World (2001)

Jack: “Ghost World?”

Reb: “Yeah, Ghost World.”

Jack: “Fuck that. Every girl around loves that movie. ‘Oh my god, it’s about ME!’”

I have a confession to make. I fell in love with Steve Buscemi during this film. Well and truly, absolutely. And I also love this movie. Something has to be said about a film that makes you look a little differently at the middle-aged weirdos that hang out at record stores. I acknowledge that a fair few of these listed couples have been spring/autumn romances, but I make no apologies…these are some of the most interesting filmic portrayals of love and/or lust I’ve seen. Enid – a sarcastic high school girl – and Seymour – the aging record collector – enter into a strange sort of friendship, brought about by a mean prank that went on a little too long. Even though by the end of the film, Seymour might just be the last straw before Enid realises she has to leave her home and circle of existence, throughout its running time, Ghost World chronicles quite a poignant connection between two complete outsiders. While her best friend enters the real world, Enid (Thora Birch) remains just as weird, just as unwilling to co-operate as she was during high school. Of course, any number of people can identify with that feeling (whatever my cynical friend says), and it’s a heartwarming scene to watch, when two people, so mismatched yet so alike find each other in the strangest of circumstances.

4. Cop 663 & Fay

Chungking Express (1994)

Although Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express is essentially two separate love stories in one film, and even though they’re both worthy of essays unto themselves (believe me, I know…I wrote one at uni last semester. It was epic), I’m going to focus on the second half, the romance between Cop 663 (Tony Leung) and Fay (Fay Wong). Cop 663, a regular at the Midnight Express, has just been broken up with by his flight attendant girlfriend. Fay’s just started working at the Midnight Express, and spends her days listening to the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” turned up to eleven so she “doesn’t have to think”. After what seems like initial indifference, Fay quickly becomes obsessed with Cop 663, and starts breaking into his apartment, rearranging his possessions in fun-filled, music driven sequences that seem to teeter on the edge of reality and daydream. Did the apartment really flood, start to “cry”? Did Fay really sneak out while he was there, or was that just wishful thinking? The fact that Cop 663 asks out Fay at all seems like a small miracle by the film’s close, considering Fay’s quirky idiosyncrasies, and Cop 663′s seeming inability to move on from his ex (and his straight-laced status as a cop). I think it’s largely due to Faye Wong’s performance that Chungking Express is as charming as it is. Faye is almost overly eccentric, but is also amazingly human. Who hasn’t daydreamed those sort of fantasies before? The only difference here, is that she gets away with it. She rearranges 663′s apartment and life, only to turn around at the last minute and do something similarly as impulsive. 663 though is all the better for it, has begun to move on with his life. The entire film centers on memory and time, and their relationship. Faye though, is constantly looking forward, but without a plan. Don’t worry, I won’t ruin the ending for you the interwebbing public, but rest assured that it won’t be what you’re expecting.

3.  Withnail & Marwood

Withnail & I (1987)

Similar to Mr White and Mr Orange, the relationship between Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and Marwood (Paul McGann) walks the edge of a precipice of homosexuality. Certainly, there’s no female characters, certainly, the two leads are rather flamboyant, and certainly Withnail’s Uncle Monty becomes rather smitten with (the admittedly, gorgeous) Marwood, but I would argue that the two men are more so friends that are completely devoted to each other. Two struggling actors, Marwood seems to be swept up in the wake of Withnail, his charismatic and alcoholic roommate. Together they attempt to escape the mess and downward spiral of their apartment and their lives by taking a weekend in the country. Unfortunately what that entails is a rather horny uncle, hideous weather and unfriendly locals. Again, all the two men have is each other, literally huddling together through the night, them against the world. Essentially, Bruce Robinson’s Withnail & I can be seen as a tale of, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”, from the point of view of both men. Marwood narrates, but at the film’s close, when he leaves for a faraway acting job, Withnail is left alone in the rain with a bottle of wine, reciting Hamlet to an invisible audience. For while Withnail might have been holding back the more “together” Marwood in more ways than one (in life and professionally), Withnail is the type of companion that only comes around blue moon, someone whose spell one needs to be under, however destructive it may be. Flamboyant, alcoholic, loyal and compltely unhinged. That is the tragedy of their relationship, that they cannot continue to be together, one has to move forward, leaving the other behind.

2. Clarice Starling & Hannibal Lecter

the Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Honestly. I don’t think there’s anything more unconventional than a psychopathic cannibal and a rookie FBI agent. Should I even bother going into the plot of the film? I’m sure you’ve all seen it. It’s a classic. And besides, it’s getting rather late for me to be delving into my brain and pulling out insightful comments. Perhaps I should have started at this end of the list and worked up? Too late for that now. What I find most interesting about this mismatched relationship is the to-ing and fro-ing between the minds of the two characters. The mind games that gifted psychiatrist Dr Lecter plays with Clarice turn from that of two people trying to figure out each other and push boundaries, to one of (almost) mutual admiration and respect. It gets to the point where, even when one is distracted by Anthony Hopkins now-to-the-point-of-farce performance of Lecter, that we at times forget that he’s such a brutal murderer, we just see him as this intelligent man wrestling with Clarice.

1. Harold & Maude

Harold and Maude (1971)

Remember what I said about no apologies for all these spring/autumn romances? Well, I’m going to turn the tables on this one. Hal Ashby’s (and he’s one of the most interesting filmmakers of the 1970s, in my opinion) Harold and Maude is one of the strangest movie pairings of all time. Hence the spot at number one. Harold is a rich, twenty year old man-boy who spends his time watching buildings getting demolished and faking suicides to gain attention from his mother. Maude is seventy-nine, an anarchist, and has a unique bent on life. They meet at a funeral. There you go. Boy meets girl. They spend time together, they might fall in love. Without a doubt, Maude changes Harold’s perspective on life. It’s all well and good to see an old man with a young woman, but I for one think it’s amazingly refreshing (even almost forty years later) to see a young man have his life turned around by a woman four times his age. Who says the oldies are redundant? A relationship forged on such a connection, between such polar opposites. Or are they opposites? I’ll let you be the judge. I also won’t reveal the ending. It’s not a matter of me being lazy, and it being way past my bed time. It’s a matter of wanting to share this film, and these two characters with you. Unconventional, perhaps. Irrelevant, certainly not!

Cinema Releases – January 15, 2009

Between The Aisles – The Green Hornet, Monsters Inc. 2 & Arrested Development

Cinema Releases: 18 June, 2009 – Year One, The Proposal, Disgrace

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2009

Cinema Releases July 9, 2009 – Bruno, Fox and the Child

However, designing a poster that is striking, attractive, intriguing and memorable is no easy task. As a graphic designer on the side, I know this first hand.  Therefore, I feel it’s important to commend the posters of 2008 that were able to achieve such a standard of quality. I also feel like letting off some steam and listing the posters that completely missed the mark.

The Best…

To see a poster full-size, click the image.

10. The Women

This poster is a classic example of how a body of text can effectively be used to create imagery. Despite the film being the very definition of a chick flick, the eye catching splash of red cunningly defines a shape nearly every adult on the planet desires to either have or to gaze upon. It’s simple, yet remarkably striking.

9. Funny Games

Design by Crew Creative Advertising

It’s one of those posters that is inexplicably mesmerising. The beautifully photographed Naomi Watt’s, with high contrasts distinctly framing her distraught face, clearly suggests that this isn’t a laughing matter. Nothing here is coincidental; the distinct black space above her hairline is almost pushing her downwards, deeper into misery. The simplicity of the text allows the  emotive image to do all the talking, whilst still reminding us that this a film and not merely piece of stunning photography and rendering.

8. Burn After Reading

Design by Mojo LLC

This audacious poster sells the film entirely by naming its cast rather than picturing it. Too many films in 2008 were marketed exclusively by showing a close up of their stars, such as Seven Pounds and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Burn After Reading almost mocks these films by saying; “we’ve got so many freakin’ stars we can’t fit them onto one poster, so we’ll just name them all instead.” Throw in some quirky typography, a bold colour scheme and an intriguing little silhouette and you’ve got yourself a winner.

7. Quantum of Solace

Design by Empire Design

Let’s be honest, a Bond film hardly needs any sort of marketing to garner hype. Yet this poster manages to do what I didn’t think was possible; make James Bond look cooler than he already was. Refreshingly, it doesn’t even feature the mug of infamous hero like nearly every poster before it. Instead, the minimalist image of Bond’s shadow screams ‘anger’ and ‘revenge, representative of Bond’s motives in the film. Also, the faded hues and cracked dirt background is connotative of the gritty and serious new direction of the franchise.  Not to mention that it smugly features a logo that alone could sell a used tissue.

6. The Spirit

Design by Ignition Print

They say don’t judge a book – or movie for that matter – by its cover. If you did, you might have been lead to believe The Spirit would be a good film. This poster demands attention with its striking typography, clearly inspired by the works of Escher. The sepia tones, brooding shadows and ominous skyline instantly implies that this is classic film noir. Once again, a touch of red is effectively used to draw the eye to the title after the impact of the tag line subdues. The end result is a beautiful yet menacing image that is irresistible to the eye.

5. The Air I Breathe

Design by Art Machine

I’m a sucker for glaring juxtapositions. Aside from being a tremendously beautiful and bold image, the radiant beauty of a butterfly sitting at the tip of  a dark, silhouetted killing machine oozes significance. The colour scheme, if you might have notice on this site, is one I dearly approve of. In fact, this poster would have topped my list had it thrown away with the faces, which work only to detract from the images impact.

4. The Dark Knight

Design by BLT & Associates

Whilst this poster is certainly my favourite, nearly all of the posters for The Dark Knight deserves a place on this list. However, it is this menacing poster that first revealed what is quite easily the most infamous slogan of 2008. Why So Serious? Well, the blood smeared lettering and psychopathic grin isn’t exactly what you’d call jovial. It certainly gets across the “Dark” part of “The Dark Knight”. It is also happens to be an image I expect will live with me forever, which is  more than what any poster designer could ever possibly hope to achieve.

3. Man on Wire

Design by All City

Not many films can get away with taking a still from the film and simply slapping it on the poster. Man on Wire can, as it happens to be an image of the likes that will never be seen again. You just can’t help that uneasy feeling you get when you see a glimpse of the Twin Towers. Yet the most remarkable aspect of this poster is that it hardly even features the most iconic buildings of the last century. This is because, like the film it advertises, the poster is a celebration of beautiful achievement of Frenchman Philippe Petit and not a tragic tale of loss and destruction that has since plagued such imagery.

To put bluntly; this poster grabs your attention like I imagine it would if you realised your crotch was on fire.

2. Cloverfield

Design by Art Machine

It’s been done  countless times before, but this teaser poster for Cloverfield took the whole “image of an iconic structure in ruins” thing to a  new level. Why? Because it was a completely out of the blue image of an iconic structure in ruins. With just a date to go with and nothing more, the film garnered an unprecedented amount of buzz as no one even knew the actual name of the film. The internet community went rabid with speculation, not only about the name, but about what they believed was responsible for the destruction of the Statue of Liberty.  Some even looked at the poster for so long, they became convinced that there was an outline of a monster hidden in the clouds. Don’t believe me? Well, see for yourself, it’s on youtube.  If that’s not the result of ingenious marketing, then I don’t know what is.

1. Blindness

Design by Concept Arts

Fact: typography alone can make a brilliant poster. The title alone is so cleverly figurative and visually arresting; it doesn’t even need the added intrigue of the background image. The fact that it’s so damn simple makes it so damn good. Like any good teaser poster should, it hits you all the information needed to make you want to see the film within the blink of an eye.  The witticisms don’t end there;  I think the only way you’d be able to look past this poster is if you are, wait for it…. blind.

Honourable mentions:

More great posters of 2008 that didn’t quite make the list. Click poster for a full sized version.

Choke	Max Payne	Forgetting Sarah Marshall	Punisher: War Zone

The Eye	Taxi To The Dark Side	The Guitar	The X Files: I want to believe

…The Worst.

Now it’s time to get nasty. Below is what I consider to be the worst posters of 2008. It could be because they are poorly composed, terribly unoriginal or because they did everything but make me want to see the film they are advertising. However, more often than not it’s because they feature an actor I severely detest.  Let the bashing begin.

10. Pride and Glory

If you’re going to use bold and striking typography for the name of a film, make sure the title of the film is actually worth emphasising. I mean, Pride and Glory? Sounds like an army recruitment drive…

9. Step Up 2

Having not seen the film, I’m still trying to work out if that’s sweat or rain. The orange glow suggests it’s too sunny to be raining, so I’m going to go with sweat. In that case, obscenely sweaty dancers in a crassly overloaded poster just don’t do it for me.

8. Drillbit Taylor

I swear if I see Owen Wilson pull that pouty-lipped face once more I’ll personally finish what he started.

7. Chapter 27

I didn’t realise they we’re making a sequel to Super Size Me.

6. Untraceable

Or more commonly known as Flightplan 2.

I’m sorry, but Dianne Lane’s listless mug alone isn’t famous enough to sell a mediocre thriller. Also, is that mouse pointer about to pick her nose?

5. Changeling

I never realised how freaking huge Angelina Jolie’s head is. I never want to realise that again, either.

4. Mirrors

Insert scared looking face. No, scratch that; insert completely generic and totally random  scared looking face. Yawn…

3. Fools Gold

If you’re like me, then you have an uncontrollable urge to hit Matthew McConaughey in the face whenever you see him. Oh and they are tinted gold. Get it?

2. Postal

Ok I was wrong; I’m not always a sucker for glaring juxtapositions.

It’s just so terribly composed; Photoshop has feelings too, you know.

Also, if you’re trying to sell a movie, featuring the words “A film by Uwe Boll” is unquestionably the worst way possible to go about doing it.

1. Bangkok Dangerous

Why is this the worst poster of 2008? It might be because I dry heave a little whenever I see Nicholas Cage in a wig, or it might be because the title is possibly the most laughable of the year. However, I do take satisfaction from the way it looks like Nic Cage is punching himself in the shoulder. Hell, it saves me the effort.

So there you have it! Think I missed a gem or forgot to mention a steamer? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

81st Academy Awards Red Carpet

Competition: Win tickets to see THE STORM WARRIORS

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

10 Best & Worst Movie Posters of 2009

Interview: MONSTERS director Gareth Edwards (Audio)

So before you omit the following five films from your memory of 2008, or let them float off into the abyss of films you may never see, read on to hear why I think you should consider giving them the chance they deserve.

5. Be Kind Rewind

Rotten Tomatoes Average: 68%

Rotten Tomatoes Consensus:
None is provided. Instead, here is Glen Kenny’s rather conclusive summary:

“Gondry might have been better off keeping his movie on theoretical/slapstick grounds, because, quite frankly, his attempts at sincerity just don’t make it.”
– Glenn Kenny, Premiere.

Synopsis:
A man whose brain becomes magnetized unintentionally destroys every tape in his friend’s video store. In order to satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films. (IMDB)

Why is it on the list?

It’s hard to truly blame film critics for feeling a bit disappointed by Michael Gondry’s Be Kind Rewind. Expectations can be a disastrous thing. For starters, high hopes automatically arise after the Gondry’s magnificent 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind lamented the director as one of Hollywood’s most promising. Secondly, it doesn’t help that Be Kind Rewind is labelled incorrectly as a comedy. It’s the first thing critics will point out; the film is simply not that funny. Which is true, it really isn’t. But that’s missing the point.

Firstly, there is a fantastic level of creativity injected into this film, mostly seen in each lo-fi remakes Mos Def and Jack Black undertake. The film also manages to tastefully pay homage to the defunct VHS format whilst also rejoicing in the home-made charm of the YouTube generation. Yet the true magic of Be Kind Rewind is firmly within its heartfelt story about a community’s enduring spirit. Prior to Gondry’s film, I had almost forgotten what it was like to walk out of a film completely elated. If only for a moment, it made me want to get to know my neighbour better. It made me want to help the elderly cross the street. It just made me feel – what’s the word – good.

Call me a pessimist, but few film have that effect on me.

If you can approach this film without expecting the greatness of Eternal Sunshine or the comedy event of the year, then there is a lot of heart to Be Kind Rewind that even this cynic can enjoy.

Who else saw the light?

Keith Phipps of The Onion was also drawn in by the giant heart of the film, stating:

“The visual wit, game performances, and overflowing humanity have more than made up for the shortcomings by the time the film finds a final moment that’s simultaneously abrupt and magical.”

4. Australia

RT Average: 53%

RT Consensus:
“Built on lavish vistas and impeccable production, Australia is unfortunately burdened with thinly drawn characters and a lack of originality.”

Synopsis:
Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand. (IMDB)

Read our review here.

Why is it on the list?

It was to be the film that would revitalise the economy, bring forth a flood of wealthy tourists, take home an army of golden statues at the Oscars and initiate the second coming of Jesus. Ok, maybe not the last part. But there is no denying that Australia and its director Baz Luhrmann had the weight of the nation on its shoulders. Consequently, when it bombed at the box office and was met with hugely mixed reviews, it was quickly  labelled as one of the biggest disappointments of the year, if not the decade. Come on now, is it really that bad? More to the point, is it bad at all? I’m starting to wonder if critics were actually expecting Jesus to have a cameo appearance.

It is true Australia wasn’t the masterpiece we all naively came to expect. Yet Australia is  still a vastly enjoyable film that didn’t deserve the poor box office sales it received. The cinematography is breathtaking, the cast is fantastic and the story is splendidly clichéd. Yes, you heard me, splendidly clichéd. The remarkable thing about Australia is that, like the runt puppy of a litter, it’s strangely likeable for its flaws. It’s overlong, overdone, overindulgent and completely passé. Yet from the get-go, it never tries to be anything but. It actually makes a an effort to be all of the above. Somehow, like an expensive soap-opera, it succeeds in doing so stylishly.  It’s a sumptuous cinematic experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Who else saw the light?

Actually, quite a lot of people did. The reviews for the film were a more diverse bunch than the actual population of Australia. That being said, it’s always the negative reviews that take the spotlight. After all, the masses take more satisfaction in reading about something labelled ‘a giant waste of money’ than they do a ‘success’.

Megan Lehmann, in a review for The Hollywood Reporter, summed up Australia perfectly:

“Australia defies all but the most cynical not to get carried away by the force of its grandiose imagery and storytelling.”

3. The Ruins

RT Average: 46%

RT Consensus:
“Despite a solid cast and truly frightening source material, The Ruins flounders, thanks to a weak script and an excess of gore.”

Synopsis:
A group of friends whose leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when they, along with a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins. (IMDB)

Why is it on the list?

Thanks to the anesthetised state of Generation Y, films of the Horror genre have a near impossible task to achieve;

Be actually horrifying.

Sure, it sounds simple, but can you remember the last horror film that truly scared you for reasons other than limbs being tossed around the screen? No? Well maybe you should see The Ruins. Adapted from the book of the same name, The Ruins depicts the frightening encounter a group of backpackers have with an ancient Aztec ruin (surprise!) that is home to some particularly nasty vines that will quite literally get under your skin. Put simply, it’s The Descent above ground. It’s just not as well received for some reason.

Critically, The Ruins was bashed for being overly gory and for its sloppy screenplay adaptation. Without question, it certainly is uncompromising in the  blood and guts department. Whilst gore is something I usually detest and write off as a cheap scare tactic, here it actually feels surprisingly necessary in bringing a realistic sense of consequence to the harrowing scenario. It works supplementary to a story that is persistently foreboding in its depiction of the chaos and terror that takes place. The solid cast and the actual pragmatic decisions their characters make, another rarity in the genre, propel the fear as we are left helplessly to watch everything go so terribly downhill.

If you can handle the gore and  have a long unfulfilled appreciation for the horror genre, you might just find that The Ruins is the film for you’ve been waiting for. Considering this is Carter Smith’s first feature film, it’s also a good sign of things to come.

Who else saw the light?

Popular critic James Berardinelli of Reel Views gave The Ruins 3 out of 4 stars, stating:

“Although The Ruins is unquestionably horror, as the central conceit confirms, it belongs to a shrinking sub-category of the genre: adult films more concerned with generating tension and promoting viewer unease than reveling in an orgy of unrelenting violence.”

2. Speed Racer

RT Average: 36%

RT Consensus:
“The Wachowski Brothers have overloaded Speed Racer with headache-inducing special effects, and neglected to develop a coherent storyline.”

Synopsis:
Speed Racer is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolised-the legendary Rex Racer – whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfil. (IMDB)

Why is it on the list?

There’s an admirable sense of irony about the way in which the message of Speed Racer is delivered. Here we have Larry and Andy Wachowski, whom revealed the truth about our pathetic existence in The Matrix with drab green hues and Gothic trench coats. In 2005 they produce a bleak thriller about a totalitarian Britain in V for Vendetta, using grim set pieces and a frightfully bald Natalie Portman. Yet the anti-capitalist statement of Speed Racer, arguably the most relevant and potent message of their career, is expressed with a set of vibrant crayons. I bet no one saw that coming….

As a result, critics felt as though the Wachowski’s coloured well outside the lines. But they are missing the point; it’s only when going outside the lines that a movie can be set apart from the masses. Speed Racer is geared towards a younger audience and fans of the original Anime, possibly explaining the poor critical reception, but that doesn’t make its panache any less admirable to everyone else. We’ve never seen a movie look like this before… and that’s got to count for something, right?

Critics were so eager to point out the hypocrisy in the films anti-capitalist message, they forgot to mention that Speed Racer is still a trendy, enjoyable ride. Whilst those with epilepsy might want to steer clear, It’s hard not to admire the technical glitter of the film; each scene is littered with colour that is far from “headache inducing”. Yes, the film is over-long and the narrative structure a bit messy; but the characters are likeable, the action is exciting, the story is educational… and did I mention it just looks cool?

Really, you can’t ask for much more than that.

Who else saw the light?

Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 3 out of 4 stars saying;

“Not everybody can create a freshly conceived visual universe. The Wachowskis can.”

1. The Fall

RT Average: 60%

RT Consensus:
“More visually elaborate than the fragmented story can sometimes support, The Fall walks the line between labor of love and filmmaker self-indulgence.”

Synopsis:
In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm, a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances. (IMDB)

Why is it on the list?

If this list has taught you anything, it’s that I admire ambition. The Fall is, in my mind, the most ambitious film of the decade. Yet, thanks to its severely limited release, few have yet to notice.

Filmed in no less than 28 countries, Tarsem Singh’s second feature film is a jaw-dropping showcase of colour, theatrics and supremely beautiful locations. Even the most scathing critics will at least admit to that. Yet these critics are also inclined to label this fantasy an over-indulgent bore. To label a film this visually arresting as “boring” is to almost admit to partial blindness. It’s also failing to acknowledge the many aspects that go into making a film this grand. The decadent costumes, sublime sets, beautiful cinematography and enchanting score must account for something, right? According to some critics, apparently not.

Admittedly, the film can’t decide on its target audience; the childlike theatricality clashes with a decidedly dark narrative. And yes, the story is clearly outclassed by the  film’s visual splendour. However, there is still a heartfelt and symbolic narrative at its core that is propelled by a delightful cast, including a breakthrough performance by young Romanian actress Catinca Untaru and a charming  Lee Pace of mild TV fame (Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls).

But even with all its successes, The Fall still succumbs to much criticism. Although, one should remember that Impressionism was rejected long before it became the most influential art movement of modern history. Maybe in time, The Fall will also be appreciated as a daring push towards something new. But why wait till then to marvel at its beauty?

Who else saw the light?

Roger Ebert actually placed this on his Top 20 Films of 2008 list, suitably stating in his 4 star review that “there will never be another like it”.

So with the world’s most prolific reviewer on board, how do I still classify The Fall as the most underrated film of 2008?

Because I  not only think this film deserved a far wider release than it actually got, but that it even deserves a spot on all critics top 10 lists of 2008. Yes, I think it’s that good.

So what do you think? Agree with this list or disagree?

Is there any films you think should have made it on the list but didn’t?

Leave a comment below and let us know!

Competition: Win tickets to SUBMARINE + indie DVDs!

Competition: Win tickets to see THE STORM WARRIORS

Australian Box Office Report: 7-10 Oct 2010

Cinema Releases – January 15, 2009

SAG Nominations: ‘Benjamin Button’ the ‘Slumdog’ ‘Wrestler’ casts ‘Doubt’ over spilt ‘Milk’

The Santa Clause (1994)

Directed by John Pasquin, this film puts a different spin on the classic story of Father Christmas. When Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) unintentionally causes Santa to fall to his death on Christmas Eve, Calvin must step into Santa’s shoes. He is taken to the North Pole where the elves try to convince him he is the new Santa Claus, and after an amusing series of events and magical transformations, Calvin eventually accepts his role. A nice, heart-warming movie that is one of my Christmas favourites (but forget about the sequels!!).

A Christmas Carol

There have been many film adaptations of the classic story by Charles Dickens, about the selfish, Christmas-loathing Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits from the three ghosts of Christmas who try to change his ways. One of the most popular versions is the 1951 film titled ‘Scrooge’, directed by Brian Hurst and starring Alastair Sim. Brian Henson directed the very entertaining ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992) starring Michael Caine and all of your favourite Muppets. A Disney remake, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release in late 2009.

Miracle on 34th Street

Another Christmas story that has had a number of film adaptations, the most well-known versions of this movie are the classic 1947 version and the more recent 1994 version, starring Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle and Mara Wilson as Susan Walker. Susan is a six-year-old who does not believe in Santa Claus, until she meets Kris Kringle, a department store Santa, who tells her that he is the real Santa. She begins to believe him, as all those who meet Kris can sense something special about him. A great conflict follows the release of this news, eventuating in a court case to determine whether Santa Claus even exists. This is a lovely Christmas story that spreads a message of love and hope throughout a society where commercialism is rampant.

Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually is an uplifting romantic comedy, directed by Richard Curtis, that explores the many facets of love against the backdrop of the Christmas season. With an all-star British cast including Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley, the film is actually many smaller love stories between pairs or small groups of the main characters. As Christmas gets closer, each story is developed and some of the stories intertwine, concluding in an epilogue showing how each story ends. Every story explores a slightly different side of love, with moments that will make you smile, sigh, laugh and cry (if you’re a hopeless romantic!). Love Actually is witty and touching film that will certainly warm your heart.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A cult classic directed by the masterful Tim Burton, this film uses stop-motion animation techniques to tell the story of Jack Skellington, one of the kooky residents of Halloween Town. After growing tired of running the Halloween celebrations every year, Jack accidently finds himself in Christmas Town and becomes so enamoured with Christmas he decides to take it over. The ensuing events are sure to make you smile, with delightful songs and creepily cute characters to fall in love with! A unique and delightful film that all ages will adore and I guarantee you will want to watch again!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

A Christmas movie that I watch with my family every year, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation follows the Griswold family and their Christmas from hell. Chevy Chase, as Clark Griswold, is trying to create the perfect Christmas for his wife, children and all of the relatives coming to stay. However, as Murphy’s Law states, everything that can go wrong will go wrong, from the lights not working to the Christmas tree burning down to the cat meeting an untimely end. Slapstick? Yes. Corny? Yes. Over the top? Yes. But you will certainly get a good laugh and the movie might make you think that your relatives and Christmas ‘disasters’ aren’t so bad after all!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Based on the popular Dr Seuss story and often simply referred to as ‘The Grinch’, this 2000 movie starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch is one for the youngsters, but will also be enjoyed by the young at heart. The Grinch lives alone in a mountain cave, despising the citizens of the town of Whoville at the base of the mountain and their love of Christmas. Cindy Lou is a young Who girl that thinks the town is forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. She tries to reach out to the Grinch, but things do not quite go according to plan. This is a great story for children to show that Christmas is not all about presents and is altogether a sweet and pleasant film.

The Polar Express (2004)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, The Polar Express was one of the first movies to be filmed using 3D motion capture techniques. The film tells the story of a young boy who is starting to have doubts about whether Santa is real, and is lying awake on Christmas Eve to wait for Santa. Instead, he hears the roar of a train outside, and is invited by the conductor to come on a journey to the North Pole. A magical adventure follows, not without its obstacles, but eventuating at the North Pole and encouraging the boy to believe again. As well as being a beautiful tale, this was a breakthrough film in terms of the techniques used.

Elf (2003)

One of the more recent releases, Elf is a fabulously quirky story directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell. Buddy (Ferrell) had been raised as an elf at Santa’s Workshop, until he grew to be twice the size of the other elves, accidentally causing chaos throughout the North Pole. On Santa’s advice, he sets out to find his father in the United States, and at the same time, tries to bring back the Christmas spirit to the American people. Although slightly corny in parts, this is a movie to be watched for its fun and charm.

I hope that gives you a guide to some joy-filled movies to watch this Christmas season. Remember, the point of these movies is to entertain, to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and to instil that festive spirit within you! So grab some fruit mince tarts, Christmas cake and a few good friends, and enjoy!

A Christmas Carol 3D (Review)

WIN tickets to a preview of A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D! (Adelaide)

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Review)

White Christmas: The Unrealistic View for Australians

Arthur Christmas (Review)