Middle Earth Envisioned book review and Insidious Chapter 2 DVD review

This month at Starburst Magazine I have been contributing more than ever. I have written a review of the book Middle Earth Envisioned, reviewed The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and contributed to the 2014 movie preview that went in the December issue which you can purchase here. I also contributed a DVD review of Insidious Chapter 2 and am very optimistically in the process of trying to secure an interview with director James Wan. There is a very tight deadline for this interview and James Wan is extremely busy with Fast and Furious 7 so perhaps I should not be so optimistic but I can't help hoping that I'll get to have a quick chat with the guy who made Saw.

Here is a snippet from my review of the Middle Earth Envisioned book and please be sure to check out my full review here and consider adding this to your Christmas list if you are a Tolkien fan.

"Middle-earth Envisioned is not for readers who are only interested in Peter Jackson's films or casual Tolkien fans. It is an exhaustive illustrated history of all those who have attempted to bring Tolkien's writing to life. Unless you are already a Tolkien know-it-all who speaks Elvish, you are bound to find plenty here that will leave you inspired to search the internet for further evidence of the weird and the wonderful adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings."

 As for Insidious Chapter 2, here is a snippet and click here for my full review:

"It is an admirable attempt to tell a deeper story and reward fans of the first film but by the end it's sadly lacking in the scare department."

It was a shame as I really quite liked the original but this one was a bit of a mess. It will be an eve greater shame if this really is James Wan's last horror film. Here's hoping he returns when he gets finished with the Fast and Furious franchise.

Best Battle Speeches in the Movies

The day has finally come. After ages of trying to get something on to The Guardian website, they have published my top 5 battle speeches as part of their Clip Joint series.

Here is the article on movie battle speeches. I hope you like my choices and don't forget to leave a comment on your favourite eve of battle speeches. There was so many to choose from, I found it hard to stick to just five!

I'm not sure any of these speeches would motivate me to go to war but they are very motivational and epic nonetheless. I hope you will all look out for my next clip joint article which will hopefully be published in late July.

Pleasures of Film Watching: The Relationship between Audiences and Films Part 2

Part of the theory of active spectatorship is that audiences do not all just watch whatever they are told to watch and instead different individuals consume different films for different reasons and pleasures. The Uses and Gratifications theory suggested by Blulmer and Katz indicates that there are four main pleasures that audiences gain from films; diversion, personal relationships, personal identity and surveillance.

Diversion is probably the most common reason people choose to watch films. Quite simply many viewers will watch a film just to get away from the problems and reality of their own lives. This is why most big Hollywood blockbusters offer pure escapism. They tell easy to understand stories where good usually triumphs over evil and people can go home feeling good. They can provide us with emotions we may not always feel in the mundane routine of our everyday lives, making us laugh, cry or scream. Many films even take us to fantasy lands like Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings or far off planets like in Star Wars, allowing us to completely escape the reality of our lives.

Some people may use films as a substitute for personal relationships. A classic example of this is a viewer choosing to go and see a romantic comedy because they are single. The idea of a relationship or finding a happy relationship is played out in the film. Similarly films that are about groups of friends may help a person to feel like part of a group. In films like the American Pie series or The Inbetweeners, viewers might find characters that they would like to be friends with and watching a film is like being in their company. I’m not sure I fully agree with this one and think it may apply more to TV shows like soap operas rather than films.

On a perhaps more concerning note, many people may watch a film for reasons of personal identity. This is where a viewer watches a film because they see themselves reflected in it, whether it be one specific character or a certain subculture of lifestyle. Stoner comedies are a perfect example of this. People who smoke certain substances are much more likely to relate to the stoner comedies of Jay and Silent Bob, Cheech and Chong or Pineapple Express. Similarly some people chose to watch violent films about football hooliganism such as Green Street and The Football Factory because it is a lifestyle that they can relate to. The viewer may even learn some of their values from the text. For example when I first saw Fight Club, I was taken in by much of what the revolutionary character Tyler Durden said found my own beliefs altered after watching the film.

Finally surveillance is another pleasure of film watching that means finding films that might contain information that is useful for living. For example watching documentaries such as Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine or Fahrenheit 9/11 might educate the viewer about the current state of America. I might also watch world cinemas to learn more about cultures that are foreign to me. For example the films City of God and La Haine teach the viewer about what it is like to live in poor areas of Brazil in France. While this could be considered escapism from my own life in Britain, they could also contain information that is useful in my life.

Next up in part 3 I will be looking at Frameworks of Interpretation and Media Literacy and how this affects the relationship between audiences and films. Part 1 on active vs passive spectatorship is here.

Did you miss...?

Part 1 on active vs passive spectatorship.

Read more:

Part 3 on frameworks of interpretation.

Part 4 on media literacy and intertextuality.

Part 5 on the effects of film.

Part 6 on fandom.

Part 7 on pre- and post-viewing experiences and conditions of reception. 

The Many Methods of Movie Marketing: Part 3 Merchandise

This is the third part of my many posts on the different methods of movie marketing, this one covering merchandise. This is mainly for my film students who are looking at the relationship between film producers and audiences. First we looked at how producers get information from audiences and now we move on to how producers give information to audiences. You can find part one on posters and trailers here. Part 2 on TV, radio and print media advertising and using the internet and viral marketing is here.

 

Merchandising is another useful way to market a movie and has become increasingly important since the days of films like Star Wars and Jaws. Not only can merchandise help to spread the word about a movie, but it also can make the studio a lot of money. The audience are basically paying to help market the movie. Merchandising means putting an image or logo from the film on a range of products and selling them to the public. Merchandise can range from t-shirts, toys, lunchboxes and duvet covers to collectible items such as replica weapons and props from films. 

Blockbusters and high concept films that can be sold on the strength of a single image can be particularly beneficial for selling merchandise as the image or logo is easy to recognise and gives the film brand recognition. Spiderman, Batman, Jurassic Park and Jaws all have distinctive, easy to reproduce and recognisable logos or posters which can be put on any products the studio wishes to sell. Transformers was a toy range before becoming a film but now with the film versions begin released, Hasbro can make more toys that tie in with the films. George Lucas, the writer and director of Star Wars kept ownership of the licensing and merchandising rights  (which the studio did not realise could be so profitable) and made a fortune from selling Star Wars toys, collectibles and games based on the franchise.

Merchandise is often, but not always, aimed at children so family movies can often have a larger and more successful range. Disney, Pixar and Marvel will make huge amounts of money from selling toys of the characters and a huge range of products with images from the films on them. The idea is that once a child sees the movie, they will want a souvenir and then fortunately for the studio, that piece of merchandise will advertise the film to more children.

The Hobbit: An Unnecessary Trilogy

If only I had as much writing talent as Peter Jackson has filmmaking talent. Then I could make all you readers sit through a three part review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and love almost every minute of it. Even if it was bloated, meandering and perhaps a little pointless splitting it into three parts.

I finally saw The Hobbit last night at the cinema and I must say I was a bit fidgety, particularly in the first forty minutes before the unexpected journey actually begins. Despite this, it has made me want to re-read the book if not just to see how much Jackson has added in himself.

I’m still angry with Tarantino for what he did to Kill Bill. I really didn’t think Kill Bill Vol 2 worked very well whereas I loved every minute of Vol 1. If he had just kept it as one film, I would probably have loved the whole a hell of a lot more than I loved these two separate parts. As soon as I heard about Jackson splitting The Hobbit in two I was very dubious but then to hear he was splitting it into three seemed laughable.

I loved the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions as much as the next Tolkein fan but that was after I had fallen in love with the original well-paced films in the cinema. Watching The Hobbit felt a bit like watching an extended edition that we hadn’t asked for yet. There were many scenes that felt like they belonged on the cutting room floor and that perhaps one day in the future it would be enjoyable to see on a special edition DVD.

That said it’s still a brilliant piece of filmmaking and there is no doubt I’ll be seeing the next two. But I do wish Peter Jackson had gone for a leaner version. The Hobbit would make an excellent single film I’m sure. And I wonder how kids have managed to sit through this first part of the journey. I read reviews saying it was more kiddy-friendly with all the dwarves making it comical. But that running time was making my mind wander. There were so many scenes that will take all three films to realize their true meaning and value I suspect.

Without a doubt, the most brilliant thing about the Hobbit was the return of Gollum. To all the people I hear slagging off Lord of the Rings, I would argue that no matter what they think about the endless battles, the endless walking and the infinite characters with confusing names, Gollum is the reason to love these stories. He is the character that stands above them all; utterly tragic, convincing and played to absolute perfection by Andy Serkis and the incredible effects work of WETA.

The riddles in the dark scene was perfection. The genesis of all Gollum’s troubles and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy is here. Like the scene that opened The Return of the King where we leaned how Smeagol found the ring in the first place, this was completely devastating and immediately made me want to re-watch the LOTR trilogy. Gollum is completely sympathetic and the tragedy of his story all came flooding back when he appeared out of the darkness. Martin Freeman and the dwarves never had a chance of stealing this film from the real star. Although I must mention Cate Blanchett as Galadriel who  managed to give a potentially dull scene more spark.

The Hobbit Parts 2 and 3 will have a huge task in making me forget Gollum and I only hope that Smaug will be a memorable villain who might be able to do the trick.

Let me know what you thought in the comments below.

The Liebster Award

Thanks so much to Shala at Life Between Films, Chris at Movies and Songs 365, Iba at I Luv Cinema and Robert at To The Escape Hatch for nominating me for the Liebster Award.


The rules are:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.
4. Choose 11 people to award and send them a link to your post.
5. Go to their page and tell them.
6. NO TAG BACKS

11 THINGS ABOUT ME

1. Ever heard of the reality TV show Freaky Eaters?  I was on it.  I am Pete: Addicted to Meat from series 2, episode 3.  This also led to me being on Harry Hill very briefly.

2. I was in a plane crash on the island of Ko Samui in 2009.  Sadly the pilot died but me and my girlfriend were in the front row right behind the cockpit.  We were interviewed for another reality TV show called Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8182962.stm 
3. I teach film and media for a living but I want to be a film journalist.
4. I’m doing a PhD thesis on found footage horror films.
5. I love making music videos for my friend’s band Feud.
6. I’m running my first half marathon in October.
7. This year will be my twelfth consecutive Reading Festival.
8. My best man’s speech was littered with Mallrats references as when my best man and I first met, we bonded over our love for Brodie.  Why buy the cow when you can get the sex for free?
9. I love travelling, especially Greek Island Hopping and exploring Thailand.
10. I lived in Australia for 7 from the age of 10 to 17.
11. I just got married to the love of my life that I have been with for 11 years already!

Questions from I Luv Cinema

1. LOTR or Harry Potter?

LOTR no contest.  Never much liked Harry Potter but I haven’t read the books.

2. What’s the longest you have waited in line for a movie?

Probably about half an hour.

3. Have you ever fallen asleep in a film? If so, which one?

Plenty.  At the cinema, I definitely fell asleep in Conspiracy Theory, Con Air and Mercury Rising.  At home, many more!

4. What was your first concert experience?

Bush at an arena in Perth, Western Australia.

5. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Still want to see parts of China, Alaska, loads of islands, parts of Africa.

6. Any hidden talent(s)?

I’m pretty good at digital editing.

7. Subtitles: Yea or Nay?

Yea.  It’s not ideal but it’s better than dubbing.

8. What book would you like to be seen made into a movie?

I’d like to see The Beach remade but better this time.  Also I’m waiting for the sequels to Tomorrow When The War Began.  I LOVE that series with a passion!

9. What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Depends how much.  But probably buy a house on a Greek Island.

10. Have you ever snuck into a film without paying for it?

Yes.  After watching another one.

11. What is your favorite silent film?

Modern Times

Questions from Movies and Songs 365

1.      When and how did you become interested in movies?

When I went on the set of a film at age 6.  I was fascinated that there was a ‘behind the scenes’.

2. Who is your favorite director, and why?

David Fincher because he made Fight Club, the perfect blend of style and substance.

3.) What is your favorite movie discovered in 2012 (old or new), and why?

Too early to tell but probably The Dark Knight Rises.  Despite massive expectations, it still exceeded them.  Easily my favourite comic book based film ever. 

4.) If you had to recommend any movie you think everyone should watch, what would it be, and why?

This is tricky.  I’d like to say Fight Club but I know a lot of people would hate it or be offended by it.  Maybe I’ll go with Back to the Future.  It’s just a family friendly and absolutely perfect piece of storytelling.

5.) Have you been to a film festival, and how was the experience?

I’ve been to the London film Festival to see a Gaspar Noe Q&A, a Nick Park Q&A and a talk from documentary makers on the difference between fact and fiction.  I love the atmosphere of being surrounded by real film buffs.

6.) Which soundtrack or score do you keep going back to?

Requiem for a Dream.

7.) What films do you find yourself daydreaming about every so often?

The Goonies when I was a kid.  Terminator 2 when I grew up a bit.  Now not much really.

8.) Who do you talk movies with in real life, outside of blogosphere ?

My wife!  My students, my colleagues, my friends.  Anyone really.

9.) Favorite film poster?

The Rules of Attraction humping bunnies.

10.) What movie is the record holder that you have seen the most times, and why?

Tricky.  Maybe Fight Club.  I just love it.  And I teach it so I watch it a lot in class.

11.) Which movie websites (not blogs) do you visit?

Empire Magazine.  Filmoria.  Lovefilm.  Den of Geek. 

Questions from Life Between Films

1. If you could change the ending to any movie, what movie and what would you make different?

Can I go with a TV show and say Lost?  That ending was terrible.  Wish they had not bothered trying to answer any questions and just made it go even weirder and then just ended it abruptly.

2. Have you ever thought about writing a screenplay?

Wrote one at university called The Only Answer.  It’s a dystopian future thing about a corporation that is running the world from headquarters on the moon.  Terrorists from Earth plan a suicide mission to destroy the moon base.

3. What is one artistic choice in a film that still stands out for you?

The use of red in American Beauty.  The use of black and white in La Haine and Schindler’s List.

4. Who is your favorite actor that is also a musician?

Probably Jack Black off the top of my head.

5. What is your favorite independent film?

The Blair Witch Project.

6. What actor do you think is the most underrated?

Sacha Baron Cohen.  I think he’s going to get an Oscar one day.

7. Have you ever bought something or done something because you saw it in a movie? If so, what was it?

Yes but I can’t answer it in public as I’m a teacher and it may have been illegal.

8. Has blogging ever got you in trouble?

Not yet.

9. Has a movie ever scared you so much that you were frightened for days? If so, which movie?

Loads.  A Nightmare on Elm Street.  The Exorcist.  Wolf Creek.  The Ring.

10. Do you prefer to watch foreign films with subtitles or dubbed?

Subtitles

11. What is your favorite book to film adaptation?

Fight Club.  A rare example of film improving on the book.

Questions from To The Escape Hatch

Favorite actor/director performance?

 Charlize Theron in Monster

 

Favorite comedy?

 Team America

 

Any place you’d like to visit because of a particular film?

 Hill Valley from Back to the Future

 

Biggest character crush?

Probably Isla Fisher's character in Wedding Crashers

 

Least favorite movie?
 

 Sex Lives of the Potato Men

 

If you could get a sequel to any movie, what would it be?

 Probably Mallrats or La Haine

 

If you could keep any movie off limits in terms of a reboot or remake, what would it be?
 

 Fight Club

 

Last movie you saw in the theater?

 Ted

 

Movie you can’t bring yourself to watch?
 

 Gone with the Wind took me a loooooong time to sit through.

 

Someone who should stop acting?
 

 Nicholas Cage

 

An actor whom you’d like to see directing?

 

 Edward Norton

 

Now here are my questions for anyone who hasn't received the award yet:

1. What is the most important thing you learned from a movie?
2. What is your favourite TV show?
3. If you could be a film character, who would it be?
4. What is your favourite British film?
5. What is the ideal way to watch a film? Place, time, technology, company?
6. What is your favourite shot from a film?
7. Ever visited a film location just because it’s in a film and if so which one?
8. Can documentaries be better than fiction films?
9. Favourite found footage film and why?
10. Ever met a movie star?
11. Who makes better blockbusters… James Cameron or Steven Spielberg?

It looks to me like every blogger and her/his dog has had this award now so I’m going to leave this open.  If there is anyone who reads this who would like to take part, please leave a comment below and I will gladly edit this and pass it on.  Or if you feel like answering any of these questions for the hell of it, then please feel free!

Best films of the 2000s

The new century began with a bang.  On September 11th 2001, the World Trade Centre literally exploded onto screens across the globe.  Hollywood failed to create anything as shocking, terrifying and unforgettable as witnessing the deaths of all those people on live TV.  Not to mention the years of war that followed, with American bombing campaigns, the hunt for Bin Laden and thousands more innocent lives destroyed in a misguided quest for justice/revenge/oil/power.

But the movies of the decade fought hard to divert, entertain and distract us from the sorry state of affairs outside the multiplexes.  Ok there was a lot of war on screen; from Black Hawk Down and We Were Soldiers to Jar Head, The Hurt Locker and Redacted.  Terrorism was tackled in The Sum of All Fears, Collateral Damage and within five years, even the events of 9/11  got taken on by Oliver Stone and Paul Greengrass.  But like the 90s, Hollywood thrived as did the lower budget indie sector as well as world cinema.  It was another very exciting decade in the movies.

Again, like with my best of the 90s list, I just don't have the self-discipline to keep this to a top 10.  So without further ado, here is my top 15 of the first decade of the 21st century:

15. District 9 (Neill Blomkamp, 2009) Fast, funny, exciting and moving, this South-African apartheid allegory uses science fiction conventions to tell its story of townships, segregation and xenophobia.  Sharlto Copley is a revelation as the man sent to evict the stranded-on-earth alien 'prawns' from their titular shanty town but who gets more than he bargained for from the aliens.  Mixing wonderful special effects with depressing real locations, the film shows what a modest budget and a great idea can become.

14. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benifit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Larry Charles, 2006) Creating a ridiculous amount of law suits as the real people caught out by talented comedian Sacha Baron Cohen attempted to sue the filmmakers, this film is a tasteless but subversive look at America that demonstates SBC's fearlessness as a performer.  Not only is Borat himself a vile but hilarious comic creation, wait to you meet the ordinary Americans he encounters on his road trip.

13. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (Quentin Tarantino, 2003) Opening with a gruelling close up on Uma Thurman's damaged face and closing on one hell of a twisted cliffhanger, the first part of Tarantino's martial arts epic is a belter.  Following The Bride on her quest for vengance, the film is a mash-up of styles from an anime section to black and white sections to split-screens.  Tarantino creates another classic soundtrack and the fight scenes are gory, vicious bloodbaths, outstandingly choreographed by the previously talky Tarantino.  Shame about Vol. 2 though.

12. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)  Simply the greatest comic book film ever made.  Heath Ledger nails the Joker, putting all memories of Nicholson to bed for good.  Director Nolan and his screenplay scribe brother turn a Batman film into a sprawling crime epic, with more in common with Michael Mann than Tim Burton.  Bale has annoyed many but his Bruce/Bat is dark, brutal and bordering on psychotic.  The film also deals with deeper, darker issues than any summer blockbuster dares with Batman resorting to some terrifying techniques in order to stop the terrorist threat posed by the Joker.

11. Saw (James Wan, 2004) Breeding a scary amount of gruesome torture porn imitators, the original in the now bloated franchise is a low budget horror masterpiece.  Occasional moments of dodgy acting aside, the premise is a killer.  Locked in a bathroom by a madman intent on pushing people to extremes, two men must decide their own fates with only a saw and a chain around their legs keeping them from freedom.  The twisty turny narrative grips throughout despite minimal sets and characters, the style is flashy and disturbing but its the final twist that shocks more than the graphic violence.

10. Bowling for Columbine (Michael Moore, 2002)
Proving that a documentary could be just as entertaining (and fictional according to some) as a fiction film, Moore took aim at America's gun culture in this funny and powerful film.  Yes it meanders through other problems Moore has with his nation and perhaps there is far too much of Moore himself on screen, but the issues raised are valid and the execution is brilliant.  With real footage of the Columbine killings, interviews with survivors and celebrity appearances from Marilyn Manson, Matt Stone and Charlton Heston, BFC is a stirring look at a country with an addiction to guns but no easy answers.

9. Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006)  This is science fiction cinema at its gritty, bleak, dystopian best.  Full of contemporary relevance, set in a recognisably grim not-too-distant future England, the premise is that the human race is now infertile.  When the youngest human on the planet is killed, it seems all hope is lost.  Clive Owen plays Theo, a man who like so many others has lost hope for the human race, that is until he comes across a miraculously pregnant woman.  Outstanding performances from Owen, Michael Caine and Julianne Moore and fantastic cinematography from Cuaron and Emmanuel Lubezki (including some incredible long takes in a couple of thrilling action scenes) make this a classic science fiction thriller.

8. Gladiator (Ridley Scott, 2000)  Russell Crowe's finest film features bloody battles, epic CGI enhanced armies, ancient cities and a chance to be awestruck by the Colosseum as it was back in the days of the Roman Empire.  Crowe's Maximus is a general turned gladiator out for revenge on the man who killed not only his family but also the true emperor of Rome.  It's a classic tale of good vs evil with a great performance from Crowe and the under appreciated Djimon Hounsou.  Ridley Scott creates a grand old-fashioned swords-n-sandals epic that spawned many imitators (300, Troy etc) but was never beaten.

7. Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000)  Nolan's second entry on this list is a head-scratching noir thriller with an amnesiac protagonist played by Guy Pearce on the trail of the murderer of his wife.  The narrative plays out in reverse with Nolan choosing to cut the film in a way that reflects the state of mind of the main character.  Roughly ten minute segments are played out and then the audience is taken back to the preceding ten minutes.  Pearce nails the confusion and determination of the character but Carrie-Anne Moss is the real one to watch here with a performance that is as devastating as the ending.

6. 28 Days Later (Danny Boyle, 2002) Three words: running fucking zombies.  Versatile director Boyle bounced back from the hugely disappointing The Beach adaptation with this terrifying vision of the apocalypse.  Updating and injecting the zombie sub-genre with a shot of the 'rage virus', the film's 'Infected' are running, vomiting, savage creatures that would rip Romero's shuffling zombies to shreds.  And true to the genre's roots, the message that other humans are the real reasons to be worried when the monsters take over, remains intact.  The last act when our heroes reach the supposedly safe army base is bloody, brutal and scary stuff.

5. Panic Room (David Fincher, 2002)  Ok I'll admit it's probably ridiculous to have this slight, silly home-invasion thriller this high up on my list.  But Fincher ratchets up the tension to such levels, that it's difficult to stay perched on the edge of your seat during this tense urban nightmare.  Trapped in their panic room, Jodie Foster and pre-Twilight Kristen Stewart are terrorised by a trio of burglars intent on getting into the panic room to recover some loot.  The performances from Foster and Stewart are brilliant but Jarad Leto, Forest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam are equally memorable as the criminals.  It uses it's minimal set and characters to its advantage with Fincher creating a claustrophobic playground for his camera and the cat-and-mouse antics of the characters.

4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Peter Jackson, 2001-2003)  A rare book adaptation that is equal to the source material.  First time I read the books, I'll be honest, I found them a struggle.  Slow, strangely structured and stuffed with too many songs.  On the other hand the films nailed the pace but also the beauty of Middle Earth (with the fantastic casting of New Zealand), the horror of the orcs, the sadness of Smeagol and the epic battle scenes that rage for much of The Return of the King.  So many classic moments, great performances and stunning visuals, apart from the overdose on endings, these films are pretty much flawless fantasy epics.  Here's hoping The Hobbit can live up to the memory of this outstanding trilogy.

3. United 93 (Paul Greengrass, 2006)  Controversial, cathartic and crushing, this is the story of one of the many real-life tragedies that occurred on 9/11.  The fourth hijacked plane that crashed in a field was taken down by the terrorists when the passengers fought back.  Whether you believe this official version of events or not, you cannot deny the power of Greengrass's film.  Mounting the tension to unbearable levels using a real-time pace, the film explores the events of the day through those in the air on board United 93 but also allowing the viewer to see the confusion and panic unfolding on the ground at air traffic control, NORAD etc.  The last twenty minutes is incredibly difficult to watch with handheld camera adding to the realism, phone conversations scripted from the real thing but also an emotive score that cannot fail to move viewers.

2. Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky, 2000)  Another harrowing film, this time not based on real life but on a book.  Ellen Burstyn gives possibly the most moving performance ever committed to celluloid as a mother of a drug addict (Jarad Leto) who turns to diet pills to try and find happiness.  Stylishly directed by Aronofsky,  it captures the highs but mostly the sickening, soul-destroying lows of drug abuse as (SPOILER!!!) the four main characters descend into prostitution, prison, amputation and madness.  Scored by Clint Mansell, the music is as heart-wrenching as the editing and cinematography is dazzling.  This is one of the hardest films you will ever have to watch.  But you do HAVE to watch it.

1. City of God (Fernando Meirelles, Katia Lund, 2002)  The best film of the 00's is hardly surprising, it's topped so many lists already.  It's another depressing film but less so than the previous two films on this list.  Set in the favelas of Brazil, it follows Rocket, a young man who dreams of becoming a photographer but has to deal with the day to day struggles that come with being a favela dweller.  Starting in the 80s then flashing back to the 60s, Rocket narrates the changes in his slum as drug lord Lil Ze takes over the business, turning the slums into a cocaine-riddled war zone during the 70s.  The style is manic with choppy editing, handheld camera, improvised dialiogue from an astounding cast of non-professionals and use of real locations.  But it's the characters, Rocket, Benny, Lil Ze, the 'runts' that stay with you long after the film has finished.  It's a difficult watch at times (witness a very small child being forced to shoot an even smaller child) and the end is both hopeful and pessimistic, but overall the film is a powerful peek inside a world you will unlikely ever experience.



What do you think?  What have I missed?  Why are my top three so depressing? 
What are your favourite?  Please comment if you read this... it's very nice to hear from you!