2018 was a really solid year for movies. A great mix of everything. Thrilling genre work, genuinely good blockbusters, loads of small scale intimate drama, sequels that earned their keep, more minority faces onscreen and behind the camera and hell there was even room for an Irish revenge western. Netflix upped it's game too with plenty of excellent original movies that may not have seen the light of day if not for streaming. The year wasn't all good though.
But first my top 15 of the last 12 months. In no particular order bar the first.
You Were Never Really Here - Lynne Ramsay's thriller about a damaged man righting wrongs is a masterpiece. Film of the year for me.
I, Tonya - The inside story of a sporting scandal portrayed in a way you'd never imagine. Just fantastic.
Unsane - Steven Soderbergh's twisty turny watch was superbly made slice of genre joy about a woman who signs her life away unwittingly..
Creed II - The 8th film in the Rocky franchise is one of it's best. A brilliantly nostalgic watch.
The Cured - Zombies in Dublin. Cured of their condition but still remembering the horror. A cracker.
Blackkklansman - Spike Lee's return to magnificence was at once horrifying and highly entertaining. A serious accomplishment.
Beast - This Channel Island set mystery was a haunting, ethereal and totally unpredictable watch. Jessie Buckley from Kerry is an actress to watch.
Katie - A documentary about Ireland's greatest sporting hero had us in tears and punching the air at the same time. Superb stuff.
Summer of '84 - A murderer is on the loose and chased by a group of teens .Pulpy, scary, thrilling. Like It minus the supernatural stuff. Feels like a Stephen King story in the best way.
Black 47 - The Irish revenge western we never realised we all needed. Cathartic stuff.
Private Life - A stunning portrayal of the smaller battles waged by normal people every day.
Lady Bird - A beautiful movie. You won't see a more heartfelt portrayal of a parent/child relationship than here.
Leave No Trace - Will and Tom. Father and daughter. The woods. PTSD. Brilliance.
Upgrade - Body horror par excellence starring Logan Marshall-Green, the Tom Hardy lookalike who's far more likable than Tom Hardy. That kitchen scrap - whoa.
The Shape Of Water - It's always good when the best film of the ones nominated wins the best film Oscar. Guillermo Del Toro's grown up fairytale is a beaut
Duds of the year
The Happytime Murders - Septic. No other word for it.
Death Wish - A truly awful remake that made the originals look like masterpieces.
The Package - A 90 minute long cock joke. I felt genuinely bad about myself afterwards.
Jawdropping moment of the year - The machine gun assault in Hold The Dark. Large calibre bullets meeting unsuspecting cops is always going to be messy but no one expected this carnage.
Scene of the year - Jason & Danno spill some home truths - Dublin Oldschool
Biggest disappointment - The Predator. So so so shoddy. Shane Black needs a kick up the hole.
Biggest earworm - Rewrite The Stars. The Greatest Showman. Yup, im a big sap.
Best audience reaction - A Quiet Place. The baby arrives. Nailbiting and the silence in the cinema during it amplified the terror ten fold.
Blockbuster moment of the year - Avengers : Infinity War. The finger snap. Without a doubt.
Best actor of the year - Ethan Hawke in First Reformed/Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody
Villain of the year - Gerard Butler in Den Of Thieves. Hilariously scummy.
Best actress of the year - Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird. Of course.
Best singalong of the year - the inpromptu 4 Non Blondes moment from The Miseducation Of Cameron Post.
Funniest moment of the year - John Cena & Gary Cole locking eyes - Blockers.
Most gripping watch of the year - Searching. Track this one down. Seriously. More people should watch it.
Hero of the year - T'Challa. Black Panther. Cool as hell.
Most unintentionally hilarious film of the year - Gotti
Most overrated watch of the year - Crazy Rich Asianzzzzzzzz..... sorry, typing that bored me to death.
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