Red Dog
Brimming with a memorable and distinctive charm, this great Aussie yarn made for an unforgettable film that almost (unbelievably) drowned in the film distribution cycle of slap-down, international blockbusters. But once word was out, audiences flocked to it in their droves and were superbly rewarded for their devotion to the tale of loyal red kelpie and the extent to which he brought the disparate, hard-working folk of a mining community together. The mighty Pilbara locations co-starred with an excellent ensemble who took on the challenges of Daniel Talitz’s flashback-based screenplay with dedication, skill, passion and great humour.
War Horse
Steven Spielberg delivered this vast, emotional drama to the screen in unforgettable style and it contains some of the grandest and most haunting sequences of the year. The story of young Albert Narracott’s lifelong bond with his horse Joey plunged us into the horrors of World War I – when tanks and howitzers replaced bayonets, rifles and the cavalry. The desperate escalation of the battle was surpassed only by Joey’s flight for his life into No Man’s Land in an almost unwatchable sequence, delivered to the screen in a way only possible when a crew is working with a director at the peak of their creative prowess.
Snowtown
This gruelling, unapologetic Australian psychodrama about the extent to which vulnerable communities can be decimated by ambitious, blood-lusty individuals was one of the most talked-about films of the year. The brilliant cast nailed every moment of escalating cruelty – lead by Louise Harris in one of the performances of year as the tortured matriarch who could only, almost wordlessly, watch as her beloved family was destroyed from the inside out.
Puss in Boots
This dazzling triumph of character animation tangoed effortlessly with Tom Wheeler’s delightfully entertaining screenplay about well-loved and well-known fairytale and nursery rhyme characters. Antonio Banderas purred his way perfectly through the story of the heroic, swashbuckling cat we first met in Shrek 2 – and the eye-popping beanstalk sequences remain amongst the most spectacular and inventive examples of 3D animation we witnessed this year.
The Fighter
Nominated for seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture), this was another true story adaptation that boasted an outstanding performances from an ensemble that included Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. Mr Wahlberg played Mickey Ward, a young boxer determined to step out of the long shadow cast by his crack cocaine-addicted older brother (Mr Bale) and match up with the world’s best fighters on his own terms. The lashings of unexpected humour balanced the intense family intrigue perfectly, with Ms Leo (Frozen River, 21 Grams) storming off with the acting honours as the brothers’ ambitious and controlling mother.
Dolphin Tale
Continuing the trend this year of true stories being adapted for the screen, this beautifully-made film about a boy’s love for an injured dolphin can honestly be described as perfect family entertainment. While it occasionally threatened to drown in twee sentimentality, actor-turned-director Charles Martin elicited fine performance from his uniformly excellent cast. But it was the performances from young star Nathan Gamble and a determined little dolphin called ‘Winter’ that took us somewhere very special.
Rio
From the moment Rio de Janeiro’s native birdlife burst into song, it was perfectly clear we were going on a very special ride. Bold, colourful and unsentimental, Rio’s dazzling aerial escape and pursuit sequences nudged the 3D animation bar set by How to Train Your Dragon. John Powell’s samba-infused original score and the charming voice-work of Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada), ensured this impossibly lively take on the age-old rites of passage formula raced not only to the top of the worldwide box office, but into our hearts.
Thor
Australian-born Chris Hemsworth’s star shot well and truly in the Hollywood stratosphere with his tilt at the title role of Marvel Comics’ Thor. Boasting magnificent visual effects (including an unforgettable Bifrost Bridge) and an ensemble of spirited performances, director Kenneth Branagh (Henry V) escorted his cast and crew to the very heights of the Marvel Comics universe.
Moneyball
What might have been an idle ‘based on a true story’ curiosity about the behind-the-scenes machinations of a struggling baseball team actually turned out to be one of the best films of the year. Brad Pitt delivered a great performance as the team’s General Manager, while Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and Steven Zaillian’s (Schindler’s List) compelling screenplay explored the theme of the extent to which greatness can be found in the most unlikely people (and circumstances) to perfection.
Unstoppable
The simple premise – two engineers (Chris Pine and Denzel Washington) must chase down a rogue locomotive and its rolling stock laden with toxic chemicals before it derails in the middle of a heavily-populated American town – was masterfully executed. Every detail of this dare-devil action adventure was captured from every possible nail-biting angle by director Tony Scott and cinematographer Ben Seresin, while yet another based on a true story hook added an extra dimension of gritty authenticity.
This list was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.
No comments:
Post a Comment