CAST
MARTIN FREEMAN, RICHARD ARMITAGE, MANU BENNETT, IAM McKELLAN, JAMES NESBITT, ANDY SERKIS, AIDAN TURNER

DIRECTED BY
PETER JACKSON

A marvel of filmmaking wizardry and engrossing adventure storytelling, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey marks another triumph by director Peter Jackson who once again takes J.R. Tolkien’s words and brings them to life with skilful, passionate expertise.

Based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the film stars a perfectly cast Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, a bewildered hobbit coerced by grand wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) into joining a group of crusading dwarves in reclaiming their kingdom.  

Filled with the same atmospheric, emotive, sweeping magic that made The Lord of the Rings series such a success,The Hobbit… is a criminally underrated marvel that combines engrossing characters with awe-inspiring spectacle.

CAST
ALEC GUINNESS, WILLIAM HOLDEN, JAMES DONALD, JACK HAWKINS, SESSUE HAYAKAWA

DIRECTED BY
DAVID LEAN

An epic movie which is large in scope and personnel, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a highly acclaimed and influential WWII film, which speaks of the code of honour amongst men during war, the respect shared by enemies of war, and the madness which war evokes. 

Set in a Japanese POW camp, Alec Guinness stars as the exceedingly principled British Colonel Nicholson, who is ordered by sadistic Japanese Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) to build a bridge and complete the construction of a railroad which will allow passage through Burma.

Masterfully directed by David Lean, the film features exotic locations, excellent score by Malcolm Arnold, and an engrossing performance by Guinness who perfectly portrays his character’s virtues of authority, pride, and strong principals.

CAST
TOM HANKS, TIM ALLEN, DON RICKLES, JIM VARNEY, WALLACE SHAWN

DIRECTED BY
JOHN LASSETER

The film which started it all way bay in 1995, Toy Story still holds as a family animation classic whose combination of visual excellence, intelligent wit, and pitch perfect sentiment has not withered, where much like a fine animated wine its pixels have become richer with time.

Its story of a beloved group of toys undertaking an adventure to save one of their own is one filled with a heartfelt magic and never ending wonder.

Meanwhile, the pairing of lanky cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and adventuring spaceman Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) brought with it one of the best duo’s in modern cinema, and set the bench mark for voice acting in animated films.   

CAST
ANWAR CONGO, SYAMSUL ARIFIN, HERMAN KOTO, IBRAHIM SINIK, YAPTO SOERJOSOEMARNO

DIRECTED BY
JOSHUA OPPENHEIMER

Sometimes a movie can transcend its medium and become something almost other worldly. The Act of Killing does just that.

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, this documentary on the former Indonesian death squad leaders (and their thugs) who re-enact their murderous rampages from the ‘60s, brings forth emotions of anger, sadness and frustration at the injustice displayed.

That injustice is particularly soul crushing, for not only have all of these men escaped punishment but they also gloat about their crimes with a prideful ease that’s almost unbearable to witness. Yet so sturdy is Oppenheimer’s vision and determination to expose these devils and their proud, sickening boastfulness, that extraordinary results are captured on camera for the world to see and justifiably judge these men for the monsters they are.

CAST
VIVEAN GREY, DOMINIC GUARD, JOHN JARRET,ANNE-LOUISE LAMBERT,HELEN MORSE

DIRECTED BY
PETER WEIR

An eerie mystery that tells of the disappearance of three schoolgirls and a teacher in the Australian outback, Peter Weir’s critical breakthrough Picnic at Hanging Rock is as chilling a cinematic enigma as they come.

Blending period detail with some very creepy activity, the dread in Picnic… is palpable as no resolution is given for what happened to these people, who presumably vanished in thin air as Weir forces us to use our imagination and draw our own conclusions.

That no logical conclusion can be formed brings with it a special kind of dread that haunts after the credits roll, Weir never allowing the tension to ease one iota, resulting in a disturbing yet wholly engrossing movie experience.

CAST
EDWARD NORTON, BRAD PITT, HELENA BONHAM CARTER, ZACH GRENIER, JARED LETO, HOLT McCALLANY, MEAT LOAF

DIRECTED BY
DAVID FINCHER

Polarising upon its release, Fight Club stands its ground as a visually arresting, brilliantly acted and innovatively directed classic.

The film stars Edward Norton as a (nameless) man stuck in an insomnia fuelled loop of materialism and self-loathing. When he meets soap salesman and anarchist Tyler Durder (Brad Pitt), their mutual rage against a world which has devoured the notion of masculinity results in a revolutionary idea...but the crap out of fellow man.

Both Norton and Pitt are excellent as the ying to one another’s yang. Yet the true star of Fight Club is director David Fincher, who delivers a (some say “dangerous”) film of cutting edge visuals and even sharper social commentary.  

CAST
JEAN DUJARDIN, BERENICE BEJO, JAMES CROMWELL, JOHN GOODMAN, PENELOPE ANN MILLER, MISSI PYLE

DIRECTED BY
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

Novelty can be a dangerous thing, yet The Artist avoids any such trappings. While it is in fact a silent movie, the legacy of The Artist will not rest upon its concept but rather the details found within.

It’s story of a silent movie star (Jean Dujardin) whose career is destroyed after the introduction of the talkies is one filled with laughter, bitterness, romance and a crippling sadness, where tap dance numbers sit comfortably alongside tear jerking scenes.

It is the writing and direction of Michel Hazanavicius which makes it all work so well, not to mention the stellar performances from Juan Dujardin and the enchanting Berenice Bejo. The Artist once again proves that silence is indeed golden.

CAST
GARY OLDMAN, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, COLIN FIRTH, TOM HARDY, JOH N HURT, TOBY JONES, MARK STRONG

DIRECTED BY
TOMAS ALFREDSON

An espionage thriller that does away with action choreography and exotic seductresses, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy builds its foundations on complex mystery, thick tension and stirring drama, not to mention the best ensemble cast of that year delivering high level performances.

Gary Oldman leads the charge as George Smiley, a semi-retired spy brought back into the fold to smoke out a Soviet agent hidden deep in MI6. Complementing Oldman’s wonderfully introverted performance are strong supporting turns by Benedcit Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong.

Weaving it all together is director Tomas Alfredson, who followed Let the Right One In with his best film to date. Exactly how Alfredson will follow up Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a mystery on its own.

CAST
ROBERT REDFORD

DIRECTED BY
J.C. CHANDOR

With only his second film, J.C. Chandor is proving to be an incredible filmmaker, with All is Lost an immersive triumph that draws it viewers into one man’s spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical journey as he attempts survival amongst the high seas.

Despite no dialogue or paltry attempts at exposition, Chandor has created a film that is rich in theme and stirring in feeling, made especially potent by Robert Redford who delivers a soulful, thoughtful and engrossing performance that ranks amongst his best in a storied 60 plus year career.

It is only a shame that the overrated and similarly structured Gravity won the awards that All is Lost should have collected. Give it time and history will show that to be the case as well.

CAST
PEYMAN MAADI, SAREH BAYAT, SARINA FARHADI, LEILA HATAMI, SHAHAB HOSSEINI, ALI-ASGHAR SHAHBAZI, MERILA ZAREÍ

DIRECTED BY
ASGHAR FARHADI

This Iranian movie from writer/director Asghar Farhadi works on several facets: family drama, perplexing mystery, court room thriller and exploration into the social fabric of Iranian society.

The result is an absorbing and (at times) frustrating movie that surprises with each carefully planned reveal. What arises is that A Separation is in one of the most gripping films to come from any country.

Equally impressive are the performances from its cast, especially by Sareh Bayat whose debut performance as a lower class caretaker evokes much sadness and anger. If A Separation is an example of what Iranian cinema can create under such strong censorship, who knows what could be without such restrictions?