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7 films to properly send-off 2020

12/31/2020

3 Comments

 
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It's no exaggeration to say that 2020 has been the absolute worst. But, as they say, it's always darkest before the dawn. As we step into 2021 with Kevlar safety gloves and the most cautious of baby steps, a new year brings a fresh start, and most importantly, hope, whether it comes in the promise of a new vaccine, a new US president, or Jedward being the voice of reason.

And as we drag 2020 on to the "things to never mention again" pile – except perhaps to doe-eyed grandchildren – we should reflect on the last 12 months and then look ahead to fresh, better pastures.

With this in mind, here's my pick of 7 films to perfectly see-off the garbage fire that was 2020.

1. Behind the Curve

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Misinformation has been an exploding topic across the last few years. Whether they're alternative facts, opinions sold as facts, or straight-up lies, the many voices across our social platforms have made the world a confusing and noisy place. It's these voices that have provided a haven for groups to dissent against scientific fact and reality.
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Flat Earth theorists are one such community who defy the idea that our planet is round. Delving into what makes such people tick, BTC holds a fascinating candle to how we got from ridding the world of smallpox and landing on the moon – allegedly, to pulling down 5G towers and claiming that vaccines cause autism.

This is why we can't have nice things.

2. Good Boys

Remember when you were 12? With Good Boys, we can regress to simpler times, when all we had to worry about was speaking to members of the opposite sex and being grounded. Best friends Max, Lucas, and Thor must navigate how to kiss, score drugs, and play on that sweet indoor swing their parents have. Knowledge may be power, but ignorance is most definitely bliss.

It might be treading familiar territory with its "Superbad with kids" schtick, but when the consistent script is packed full of jokes, along with some genuinely endearing performances, do you even care?

3. Stranger than Fiction

Harold Crick is a tax agent who discovers his whole life is being live-narrated by Emma Thompson's neurotic author. The only rub is that his personal novelist is famous for killing all her main characters.

What do you do if your fate is laid bare and seemingly unavoidable? You take stock and find joy in the little things that make you happy. In a time where COVID-19 massively disrupted our lives, it's important to rediscover these small pockets of happiness, whether it's finally learning the guitar, or surprising a loved one with a bunch of flours.

4. 1917

I was debating whether to put this one in, as 1917 is a rollercoaster of stress. But what could accurately frame 2020 more than this? Two ordinary soldiers are selected to deliver an important message, with their failure meaning the loss of many lives.

The palpable tension cranks up superbly in 1917, with our heroes enduring all manner of hardships and a hail of enemy bullets. We never leave their perspective throughout, with clever camera tricks designed to deliver a seemingly long cut, crafting an intimate and personal journey through WW1.

Despite a seemingly relentless onslaught, our protagonists fight on, taking the odd time to recover and regroup. That's the important thing in these times: wherever you are in your struggle this year.

And wherever you are in your struggle through this awful year, as they say, when you're going through hell, keep going.

5. Fyre

The infamous true story of the greatest party that never happened. Entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule decide to hold an exclusive high-end festival on an island, and it all goes downhill from there. By the end, you'll be watching it through your fingers.

2020 forced us to enjoy the summer days from our couches and dining table/offices, with a yearning to venture outside. But when you watch Fyre, much like the investor funds that bankrolled this disastrous project, you can watch your 2020 FOMO vanish into thin air.

6. Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi playing a goofball Hitler was always going to be close to the bone, but the sheer absurdity of it all makes this work.

Jojo's a sensitive kid with dreams of making it into the Hitler Youth, if it wasn't for his hapless nature.

With a star-making turn by Roman Griffin Davis, this film is a darkly funny tongue-in-cheek tale about the rise and fall of the cult of personality, drawing obvious parallels to a certain outgoing lame-duck leader. It'd be ridiculous and shocking at this time, but we've already seen too much.

7. The Martian

How much is a life worth? The Martian is the ultimate panacea to these times of anti-science, tribalism, and inhumanity.

Botanist Mark Watney becomes stranded on the Red planet, as experts across the world come together to work out how to bring him home.

Our world faces many challenges, among them climate change, inequality, and deadly disease. And here's the thing: not one nation can solve them without the help of our neighbours.

The Martian is the culmination of what happens when a world joins hands, dropping the political point-scoring, the dick-measuring, and the animosity, to see what it can accomplish together.

Sure, it may seem like a distant pipedream now, but perhaps now is the perfect time for dreamers to dare to try.

3 Comments

My Films of 2018

12/31/2018

1 Comment

 
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It’s been a fairly strong year for the big screen - the House of Mouse continues to assert its celluloid dominance and we’ve had some surprise hidden gems. One thing that’s not a surprise, is that there’s no signs of superhero fatigue, with no fewer than six costumed capers making the global box office top ten.
Here’s the seven films I most enjoyed in 2018:

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7. Searching
Films and TV depicting our use of technology have often felt woefully or even hilariously inaccurate. Searching then, is a surprise hit that deftly captures the unique ‘language‘ we have with our phones and computers, as a father frantically searches the web to find his missing daughter. Told almost entirely through digital screen, it’s an innovative take on how we communicate and behave online, with a range of emotions told through what we type, and what we don’t.

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6. A Star is Born
An unlikely pairing make for one of the year’s best dramas. This generation’s A Star is Born had to contend with a trio of undertakings: making us believe in the chemistry of its leads, showing us that Bradley Cooper can pull off an ageing rock star, and testing out Lady Gaga’s acting chops. It’s a resounding success on all three fronts, with a rocking soundtrack to boot.

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5. Mission Impossible: Fallout
Fallout is proof positive that a 56-year-old Tom Cruise is still a viable action lead. The story, revolving around nuclear bombs with the odd double and triple-cross, might be a tad convoluted, but by the end you’ll still need to pick your jaw off the floor as you see Cruise subject himself to all manner of insane stuntwork, including hanging off a cliffside, jumping out of a plane and dangling off a helicopter. It’s a thrilling action heavyweight as we’re made to feel every punch, crash and explosion.

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4. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Frances McDormand turns a powerhouse performance as Mildred Haynes, a one-woman force of nature who rages against her local police chief’s ineptitude in solving her daughter’s rape and murder. Three Billboards combines a biting script with an engaging cast that includes Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. Funny, dark and moving

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3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spidey films have always touched upon the ‘hero within us all’ themes, and Spider-Verse takes this as its main theme as we’re introduced to newest web-slinger Miles Morales. Made with striking stop-motion CGI, Spider-Verse is unashamedly a comic-book film, with stylish fluorescents, thought bubbles and arresting effects that bring the screen to life. The writing sizzles and the humour is on-point, as we’re treated to not one but five other Spideys from the multiverse with their own graphical style and dialogue. A must-see cinematic experience.

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2. A Quiet Place
Jim from The (US) Office only co-wrote and directed one of the year’s finest horror films for his feature debut. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski play mom and pop roles in rural America as a family under threat by an alien entity that hunts using sound. With a deaf daughter in tow they’ve managed to adapt to survive, although Emily is carrying a ticking timebomb in the shape of a yet-to-be-born baby. You’ll only be catching your breath during the film’s few ‘quiet’ moments. An instant horror classic.

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1. Avengers: Infinity War
There’s few cinematic outings as ambitious as Infinity War. A cast list that redefines the word ‘ensemble’. A packed story that draws from each of its 18 previous films. Character arcs and real stakes that come from 10 years of MCU worldbuilding. With so much packed in, it could have gone so wrong, but the Russo brothers have managed to craft a crossover behemoth that packs some serious emotional heft and thrilling superhero action. Its success is due in no small part to Josh Brolin’s portrayal of Thanos - a giant, purple CGI big bad brought to life thanks to excellent motion-capture and voicing. And this is his movie without a doubt - on his quest to collect the Infinity Stones, he carries himself with sheer menace and gravitas, yet we see a human side of him and a logical argument for his motivations. It’s not a perfect movie, but as we’ve invested upto 10 years with many of these characters, we genuinely care for them as the film reaches its shocking climax.

1 Comment

Typo negative

12/8/2018

2 Comments

 
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Words. Words are pretty flipping great aren't they? How would we think without them? As a writer and journalist, I'm obviously a big fan. I enjoy them in snappy dialogue in films and TV, the ones that turn humble books into real page-turners and those that make magazine features a joy to read. Sadly, not all words make up the beautifully written, finely constructed and error-free prose we all aspire to craft. Ever come across the clunky bit of dialogue that makes you groan, or a shocker of a typo in a national magazine that makes you wince?

Yes, we're human, and we're allowed to make mistakes. That's what editors and proofreaders are there for right?

But we live in an age where people demand news and content and they damn well want it now. Many major news sites have become glorified clickbait, goading users into clickthroughs of sensationalist worldwide stories. What that means is that today there is far more content around to steal your attention, and this means that all the blog posts, internet stories and Tweets out there are rife with grammatical and spelling errors. Unlike in print journalism, online publishing is a different beast altogether. The rules of proofing and subbing are very simple:

1. Always proofread work.

2. Never proofread your own work.

And yet because there is a need of getting that video of a cat barking like a dog to you first, often it means these thorough quality checks go out the window. Maybe an editor glances at it before hitting the publish button, a subber may spend more time thinking up a pun-worthy headline, but that error gets put online for potentially millions to see.

Arguable then, that proofreaders are needed now more than ever to assist in the fight against apostrophes in plurals, mistypes, repetitious text and horrible style.

Because there's nothing worse than spelling your client's name wrong on a business proposal, or spotting that absolute sitter of a typo on an online news item that gets viewed and shared by thousands, before you even have a chance to amend it.

But in this age of quantity over quality, our "human" mistakes can be shared and potentially go viral and cause much embarrassment and harm to your name, reputation and brand before you get to finish your morning coffee.

Have a news item or feature you need a second pair of eyes on? Give me a shout using the Contact button above.
2 Comments

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    Matt Ng

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