As an introduction to me and this new hole of the internet I’m carving, lets drive right into the deep end, and pick apart my own personal favourite flicks. Let’s get right into it, and let the eclectic mix, speak for itself, and offer insight into what makes cinema ‘CINEMA’ to me.
A Clockwork Orange – Kubrick is King! A film so resoundingly proud of being provocative and unforgiving. So problematic, to this day, and just a spectacle of shock and awe. Kubrick’s nature to lean into the outrageous, matching the most depraved and disturbing images with such a lens of beauty, never ceasing to forge breathtaking spectacles, it’s hard not to feel guilt and assume the identity of the films disturbed protagonist Alex DeLarge, feasting on the same actions that castrated his life. Resounding stuff, and a stone-cold classic, whether you like it or not.
Annihilation – That fascinating point where Sci-Fi and horror converge, and it is glorious. Hauntingly beautiful at times and tragically terrifying at others. What Annihilation achieves, where many fails, is you can have both style AND substance. Never dulling down the anti for moments of beauty and never settling down the visual feast to focus on the narrative.
Black Swan – A ballet melodrama laced with horror undertones and psychological thriller tendencies. Triumphant work, but above all, just a spectacle to behold for the viewer. Portman provides just a breathtaking performance and creates such an emotionally visceral character. Its hard not to adore. Aronoskfy isn’t a stranger to masterpieces, but this, is my favourite.
Halloween – With a backlog as formidable as John Capenters, only one film can helm as the directors’ magnum opus. The ferocious slashing Michael Myers deserves that medal.
The Holdovers – Earlier in this post, I recalled how Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the kind of film you base your entire personality around. That was the phase until you grew up to The Holdovers. The most recent film on this list, but no less deserving of its place. One moment, laughs aplenty, and the other, choking back tears. Heartbreaking through its happiness, with a luscious winter backdrop. Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Mary reigns my favourite character put on screen in recent memory accompanied by a performance for the ages. A movie, to me, so human, so perfect, so earnest in its tragicness, and so honest with its heart.
Jurassic Park – Firstly, let’s get this out of the way. I am an above average enjoyer of dinosaurs, and the concept of quality humour to me, is describing this film as roar-some and moving on. But Spielberg’s dino flick, deserves all the praise one can possibly make. The film may focus on the primeval, but Jurassic Park isn’t and will never be prehistoric. It’s fresh, terrifying, groundbreaking and tremendous, anchoring the blockbuster and still waiting to be beat, to this day. You could call it dino-mite (sorry).
Midsommar – Ari Aster’s masterfully forged Midsommar, follows closely a tick list of everything that effortlessly finds its way under the skin, leading to a 140-minute sun-soaked nightmare that crawls deep. And Florence Pugh! I rest my case.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – “When you asked if I had known love, I could tell the answer was yes. And that it was now.” The visuals expressed, each minute tell the story, one of tragic heartache and the beauties that came before, but the characters, the performances. Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel mastered the act of subtlety and acting between the lines. A film, I wouldn’t say is enjoyable. It’s the kind of film you base your entire personality around.
Rocky Horror Picture Show – Schlocky in every sense of the word, but the definition of camp. And I love it. Whether we are doing the time warp again, or Tim Curry’s going home, Rocky Horror is relentless with enjoyment, but also strange. One-of a kind uniqueness, that cinema will always lack. Drag, music, space-aliens and things that go bump in the night. What more would anyone want?
Scream – “What’s your favourite scary movie?” – Short answer, Scream. The original, which starting my journey into horror, and yet a decade into feasting on the genre, few films have touched the sheer joy (but also technical qualities) that make’s Craven’s classic, wording of that exact branding. A classic. Maybe its sentimental value, reflecting on the world of cinema untouched by myself in my teens Scream introduced me too, or maybe, it’s just an extraordinary feat. Either way, it deserves its adoration from me, and more than earns its place on my favourites list.
Suspiria – Argento’s 1977 offering of the same name, is undoubtably a landmark in Italian cinema, however, Guadagnino’s loose remark, presents the greatest special horror has to serve up. A 2 hour-30 behemoth of transcending dialogue and drama, matched with … performances and some of the most breathtaking visuals the genre has ever seen. And that final act? Severn years later and I still struggle to word the visceral impact forced upon me every time.
There we have it, the tip of the iceberg so to speak, of who I am and my identity with film. Each place holds a special place in my heart, all for many different reasons. Speaking in true cinephile form, this list will and does change daily, this is the only moment in time this top 10 will accurately reflect my feelings.