The 2018 Raymo Awards

So we've come to the end of another year at the movies and by my list I've seen 44 films at the cinema - starting with Pitch Perfect 3 and ending with Vice. They couldn't be any further removed as films!

Overall it was a solid year though only 12 movies managed an 8/10 or better, there were 18 that scored either 7 or 7.5 which means largely it was a good year and I chose wisely ;-)

There was no real standout this year but there was one clear-cut lowest end - the Happytime Murders was so unfunny I'm not sure it even deserves the 2/10 I awarded it. If you haven't seen it - don't!
So I present my top five, you may have seen them or may not but rest assured the top five are all worthy of your time for different reasons.

1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (9/10)
Not surprisingly Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother who, frustrated with the local police's inaction, riles up trouble by posting provocative messages on three billboards outside her home town (Ebbing, Missouri of course). This provokes a war with the town Chief (Woody Harrellson) that leads in some interesting directions. A great cast, surprising and just a fantastic film and a worthy number one for the year.

2. Call Me By Your Name (9/10)
"But to feel nothing so as to not feel anything - what a waste''. Arguably the movie quote of the year for mine and it comes from a film that's easily the most interesting of the year. Set in the 80s in Italy, it focuses on Elio (Timothee Chalamet in what I described at the time as the 'single best acting performance I can remember in recent times' and that stands) and the complicated relationship he develops with Oliver, a grad student who spends a summer working with Elio's father. There's a lot of ambiguity, it's a stunning setting and there's type of high drama that I really enjoy. Brilliant.

3. Avengers: Infinity War (9/10)
I've been called a Marvel stooge or something to that effect (I should note Wonder Woman made by top five in 2017) but Infinity War promised so much and, boy, did it deliver. The build up of almost 10 years of stories had plenty riding on it and to keep so much of it secret really led to a big pay off at the end. I don't think anyone really saw it coming. The characters meshed so well, the dialogue is amusing and Thanos proved to be the villian that he was promised to be. Can't wait to see Endgame!

4. Bohemian Rhapsody (8.5/10)
While the biopic of Queen's Freddie Mercury may not be entirely factual or at least correct in a timeline sense I thought it was unbelievably enjoyable. Remi Malek plays Mercury brilliantly from what I can see of old footage and the movie reminds you just how many amazing songs Queen is responsible for. I thought they held back some of the more salacious elements of Mercury's life quite classily while still alluding to them. A lot of fun and very interesting (despite some factual issues).

5. Boy Erased (8.5/10)
Based on the true story of Garrard Conley, this film focuses on church run gay conversion therapy programs and is a real eye-opener. The fantastic Lucas Hedges plays Jared who is sent to one such place in the early 2000s by his parents, a church pastor (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) after he is outed in terrible circumstances. I thought Joel Edgerton directed this one well, picking moments for high drama for the greatest effect. And it's not a preachy film either. 

Honourable mentions: Just outside the top five were Black Panther and Ant Man & The Wasp (both 8.5/10). Some of the early year 'true stories' like The Post (Nixon vs the press) featuring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks (8/10) and The Darkest Hour (Winston Churchill) (also 8/10) were excellent viewing, Love, Simon (8/10) is a coming of age story with a difference done with heart, The Wife (8/10) features a great performance from Glenn Close, Christopher Robin (8/10) is just a delight and Beautiful Boy (8/10) was another superb Timothee Chalamet performance. A Star Is Born (7.5/10) was highly enjoyable though a bit too long, Creed 2 (7.5/10) a solid sequel and I very much enjoyed Bumblebee (7.5/10) restoring some faith in the Transformers universe.

Surprise of the year: Tough category. A Quiet Place (7.5/10) was a suspense/horror/thriller like nothing we've seen in a long time. It's actually quite creepy as a family tries to survive in a world invaded by alien beings who only need the slightest noise to find you. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are excellent and any film that can hold your attention with very little dialogue is an achievement. I hope they don't ruin it with a sloppy sequel, though.

Flop of the year: On the horror theme again it has to be Hereditary (4/10). Despite a pretty decent premise and a solid showing from Toni Collette what could have been a creepy, jumpy film just descended into being a ridiculous mess with an ending that's laughable. I just don't understand the rave reviews it received at the time, it's just garbage.

The film I wanted to like more: Aquaman (6/10). I had high expectations for one of the more interesting and entertaining members of the Justice League and I was really disappointed. Sure it was spectacularly made and Jason Momoa is excellent as the half human-half Atlantean hero but it just doesn't fit together. There's continuity issues and it was too long and while entertaining enough I had the feeling it could have been a lot better.

Letdowns: Aside from Aquaman I thought Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (6/10) was a poor retread, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (6/10) brought a once promising franchise to a disappointing end, Breath (6/10) was stunningly made but didn't go where it should have, Bad Times At The El Royale (6/10) had so much going for it that wasn't realised and The Crimes Of Grindlewald (7/10) while not bad was a step back from the excellent Fantastic Beasts and that franchise is on notice.

What lies ahead? All attention is obviously on Avengers: Endgame in April and the preceding MCU film Captain Marvel which will hopefully join a few dots. As always I'm hoping for some interesting dramas and I'd still love to see something fresh in a comedy. There's plenty of sequels coming up like It 2, John Wick 3, Toy Story 4 and all these Disney 'live-action' remakes of their animated classics. I really don't think Aladdin or Lion King should have been risked.
See you at the movies!

Is 5.30am the key?

So I've been looking to shake things up a bit but haven't quite been able to come up with something radical enough to make a difference.
The other day I came across a YouTube video by a young guy called Jordan Taylor called 'Waking Up at 5am is Changing My Life' and it got me thinking.

You can watch his YouTube post here.

Obviously his station is a bit different to mine, I'm not a guy in my 20s (which is what I assume he is from looking) so I'm not going to be able to do some of the things he's able but I think the principle will still work.
He's basically stripping things back to detach a bit from technology at times when we're all addicted to it most - before bed and when we wake up. And spends the time away from his phone etc reading, exercising and going back to basics.
From his evidence it has been a revelation and I don't doubt making similar changes will make a difference to me. He says things like his memory has improved and general demeanour.
So here's hoping.
I may opt for the 5am starts at some stage but I'm thinking 5.30am might be a more achievable goal given when I usually get up to go to work. It gives me an hour before that process and I guess the small sacrifice will be going to bed by around 10-10.30pm most days.
To make it work I think Sunday may have to be a 'rest day'.
Exactly what will I do in that hour?
It's the start of winter so luring myself out of a warm bed is no easy task. I actually wish I had a treadmill as in this period of the year it would make exercise a lot easier.
Perhaps a period of stretching, shower and head off to work a bit earlier but take a walk along the Harbour or something prior to getting to the office would work?
Any suggestions would be welcome. I plan to start this on Monday. Hopefully getting up at 5.30am will change mine too!

Simon

People come and go, you've got to accept that as fact.
I'm pretty sure Simon has gone and it's something I'm not overly happy about but I don't think it's something I can change.
Yeah that comes across as a bit mysterious and melodramatic.
Simon is someone I've known for quite a while, I actually don't remember exactly how long, and someone whose views I always valued. He also pushes me.
I think everyone needs someone who tries to make you a better version of yourself. He's very switched on and has a steely constitution, though I have seen it crack once or twice to remind me he is actually human.
He's emotionally strong, I find it hard to be sometimes.
I'm not sure exactly where along the way we started to move in different directions, though I suspect it's more him moving and me staying put. Eventually, I couldn't keep up.
I'm not blaming Simon for anything. If there is blame to be thrown around it's likely it should be shot back at me. And it's a shame.
Ultimately any relationship, be it professional or personal, lives and dies through how much attention it is given and as much as I hate to say it....
Cheers, Simon. I never quite felt good enough to be in the inner sanctum. I'm just sorry I was right.

The 2017 Raymo Awards

It started with Passengers and wound up with Jumanji, and now’s that time to review the year in film in between.

I saw 45 films at the cinema this year (and as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and overall I think it was a solid year. And just like last year 24 movies were rated 7.5 or above, of those scoring 6 or below there were only seven so that’s less than 2016.

Quality drama rose to the top this year and yet again super hero movies were prominent, for the most part they were very well executed too. The reboots/sequels etc didn’t shape up on the whole with a couple of minor exceptions.

Without further ado, here’s my 2017 in film.

1. Lion (10/10)
Nobody would be surprised to see this dramatised version of Saroo Brierly’s true story top the list. And it’s an Australian film too! Lion starts in India and we meet a young Saroo (played amazingly by Sunny Pawar), who is lost while tagging along with his older brother and winds up 1000s of miles away from home. He’s eventually adopted by a Tasmanian couple and grows up there. The second half is the story of how an older Saroo searches for his lost family. It’s stunningly made, emotional in the right spots and everything a good drama should be. Easily the best movie of the year.

2. Manchester By The Sea (9/10)
An acting tour de force by Casey Affleck that rightly won him an Oscar for Best Actor. This is a heavy film, as you’d expect for a movie about grief. Affleck plays Lee, a handyman carrying a heavy burden from his past who, when his brother dies, is called on to be guardian for his teenage nephew Patrick. He reluctantly moves back to Manchester where he’s confronted with his ex-wife Randi (Michelle Williams, also outstanding) and the past he’s running away from. There’s some wrenching drama in this film and if you’re left wondering why Lee doesn’t pull himself together the answer is in one line in the movie – ‘I can’t beat it’. Brilliant.

3. Wonder (9/10)
For a PG movie, Wonder came as quite a surprise. Auggie (a brilliant turn by Jacob Tremblay) begins the fifth grade, his first time in public school, but people can’t seem to get past the scars on his face that were the result of a number of operations due to a rare condition. He likes to get around wearing an astronaut’s helmet and he finds school as confronting as the children find him. It’s treated with warmth and supporting roles from Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents add depth. It’s also told from a few perspectives which was interesting. If you missed it, it’s well worth it and don’t think it’s a tearjerker – though I can’t promise you won’t shed one!

4. Wonder Woman (9/10)
Who would have thought DC would produce the best super hero film of the year?! Why they didn’t do it before Dawn Of Justice is anyone’s guess but the origin story of Diana Prince (played with class by Gal Gadot) is all quality. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes near the mysterious island of Themyscira he brings the real world to the Amazons. Diana is convinced the god Ares is responsible for the conflict and leaves to take the fight to him and save the world from war. She’s brilliantly naïve early on and there’s plenty of awkward humour that’s been missing from the DC films. My only gripe is that she’s yet to be referred to as ‘Wonder Woman’ in any of her appearances. But it’s a fantastic super hero entry.

5. The Fate Of The Furious (Fast & Furious 8) (9/10)
I don’t know what to say, I’m a sucker for this series of films and they seem to get better and better (albeit more ridiculous). Having finally brought the family together in F&F7, Dominic Toretto is drawn away from the good side by a mysterious villain named Cipher (Charlize Theron). While I think she was a little underused it’s a great twist on the series forcing Hobbs, Letty and company to battle Dom and win him back. There’s also a fantastic dynamic between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham that apparently has spawned a spin off that will delay F&F9 (not sure I’m happy about that). Great fun.

Honourable mentions: Spider-Man: Homecoming (9/10) is the Spider-Man film we’ve desperately wanted for years and Marvel nailed it with the casting of Tom Holland and the integration into the MCU. Just bumped out of the top five by Wonder. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (8.5/10) fell a bit short of the first film, possibly because of the raised expectations, but stood up pretty well thanks to the dynamic between the main cast. There were a few surprises from leftfield and I bet a lot of you haven’t heard of these – A Ghost Story (8/10) sees Casey Affleck covered in a sheet for most of the film (as a ghost) after his character dies. He returns to try to comfort his wife and make sense of what happened. Paterson (8/10) is a simple film about a man (Adam Driver) who leads a seemingly mundane life but it’s a slow burn and is better on reflection as well. Baby Driver (8/10) was very cool and possibly rated higher had it not had about seven endings. A few others to note are 20th Century Women (8/10), Thor: Ragnarok (8/10) and War For The Planet Of The Apes (8/10) wrapped up the trilogy very nicely.

Surprise of the year: Goodbye Christopher Robin (8/10) is the story of how A.A. Milne created Winnie The Pooh and its beloved characters inspired by his son. My expectation wasn’t super high. Domhnall Gleeson plays Milne while Margot Robbie is his wife Daphne. Upon the birth of their son both parently basically ignore young Christopher Robin (who they call Billy Moon) for different reasons. When Milne is forced to care for his son it leads to him writing a book about him and his toys. It’s an excellent story and definitely one I wasn’t expecting.

Flop of the year: Downsizing (5/10). I did have reasonable expectations but it really let me down. The concept of people wanting to shrink in size to live a better life sounded like a fantastic idea. And it was for a while until it went in a rather boring direction and was reduced to, well, less than it should have been. Matt Damon does his best but the plot after a small twist doesn’t leave him much to work with and it just heads downwards. Shame.

The film I wanted to like more: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (7/10) came with huge expectation after a cracking trailer so was always going to be harshly judged. It’s divided fans a bit and as a fan, but not nutjob fan, I was disappointed with a few things. After setting up a number of burning questions in the Force Awakens it seems all of JJ Abrams’ work was swept aside by Rian Johnson to go in a different direction. When Mark Hamill says it’s not the Luke he knows it’s a worry. Then there was the Leia problem. We could argue black and blue here but it just should have been a lot better.

Letdowns: Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Picture but I thought it was average and definitely not what it was cracked up to be; same goes for Loving; Cars 3 was better than Cars 2 but pales in comparison to the original. Pixar on notice again.

What lies ahead? I’m keen for Black Panther and Avengers Infinity War and Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ready Player One looks cool – kinda Tron-esque. The Han Solo movie could go either way, there’s Jurassic World 2 and The Crimes Of Grindlewald (Fantastic Beasts 2), the latter of which I expect a bit from. Hopefully there are some great dramas, I’d love to see a return to the classic comedy genre (though hopes aren’t high) and I wonder whether they’ll get Aquaman right.
See you at the movies!