Christmas is over...but a new year arrives! And what can we celebrate over Christmas, besides family, friends, presents, bad TV, heaps of food and the odd sleep? Isn't it obvious? The farewell to Matt Smith in Doctor Who of course!
Anyway, we're not here to hear me geek out on the world's favourite time traveller. No, we're here to get all nerdy about films again. And December, even with the Christmas period throwing in some random dates and busy times, managed to give us some stellar content to tide us over the yuletide period.
We witnessed the return of the Top 10 in a roundabout way, with a special holiday themed Top 12. More on that below. Also, not only were there some cracking films to talk about (some with Christmas themes too) but due to December's timing of weekends it was one of those bonus months again. Five reviews for the price of four!
So let's remind ourselves of December...
Pick of the week recap
Five reviews this time around. Let's take a peek at what was chosen:
Acting brilliance from Frank Whaley and Kevin Spacey in Swimming With Sharks, a stripped down drama thriller about politics in the movie industry. Strip down the torturous scenes and you'll find a rich screenplay by the film's director George Huang. It received poor box office which is a terrible shame as this a real hidden gem.
My favourite film from one of the world's greatest directors. Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement is a beautiful blend of genres, adorned with gorgeous palettes and lighting, delivering a breathtaking picture. Plus, there's the stunning Audrey Tautou, who'll melt your heart at every corner on her hunt to find her long last love, missing during the Great War.
Then begins a long stint in Scandinavia. The Hanks starring Captain Phillips has been making waves recently, so here's a filmbore equivalent. Tobias Lindholm reaches into your gut for A Hijacking, a raw, terrifying drama. Part of its success is through its switching from boat raid to office negotiations from beginning to end. This is one for anyone.
Staying in Denmark, and for the first Christmas themed (if tenuously!) film we have Thomas Vinterberg's Festen: the ultimate dinner party film (besides Abigail's Party, of course!). A huge family gathering is the perfect moment for Ulrich Thomsen's Christian to drop a bombshell, exposing a dark family secret. Amazing performances in the first Dogme 95 movie.
Over to Finland for Christmas film number two, for the incredibly original and hugely enjoyable Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. It's existence is thanks to some hilarious shorts (don't watch them until after this film, due to spoilers), birthing a wonderfully dark story of Christmas and doomed mythology. Have you been a good kid this year?The return of the Top....Twelve?!?
I needed to get back into doing Top Tens for you all and I promise there will be many more for 2014. December saw the return of the list with a Christmas twist.
filmbore's Twelve Days Of Christmas takes the famous song and relates each lyric with a suitable movie. Some are well connected, some a little odd, but you know how I roll people... they are Top Tens With A Difference after all!
In case you don't agree with each choice, there is an alternative at each point. And, if you don't agree with the other choice either, then let your views be known by commenting as usual. Go take a peek and let me know what you think.
And, I promise, there will be more on their way soon.
Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all have a smashing 2014!
Don't forget to leave comments below, tweet me @filmbore or post on my Facebook page here.
Or, you can email me directly at overview@filmbore.co.uk.
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