And the Film of the Year is...

[Roman]

…I give up. What is it? I’ve missed most of this year’s movies because I’ve been away in strange, exotic, slightly alarming places making some disposable TV.

My problem is I’m a film-voting member of BAFTA and I’m supposed to give my ‘informed’ view at the end of the year.

What I have managed to see has been mostly tosh. (Worst film by far is a worthy piece of utter crap called Blindness) The best I’ve seen is either Batman or Hellboy 2 – and no comic book franchise is ever going to win, so it would be a wasted vote.

I suspect the ‘best’ films are still to come in the next few weeks – especially Frost/Nixon.

Anyone seen anything they think is really great? I can probably get a screener DVD if I’ve missed something.

[revolution saint]

Well I haven't been to the cinema for a while but the last film I saw was 'The Orphanage' which was exceptional.

[AwaySaint1]

Well I haven't been to the cinema for a while but the last film I saw was 'The Orphanage' which was exceptional.

Is the film English language?

[jeff leopard]

'The Orphanage' was good, so too was 'Perseopolis' the best Iranian animated film of the year! Another good foriegn laguage film was 'Lust:Caution'

For English language the best films are all very obvious ones, Wall*E, No Country for Old men and, my fave, There Will Be Blood.

[revolution saint]

Is the film English language?

No, it's one of those damn foreign films with subtitles. Madness! These foreigners seem to have a different word for almost everything and it's so infuriating. Sometimes I wonder why they bother with other languages - it's not as if they're going to catch on or anything. Still, if you can get past that then it's a good film.

[Deppo]

Come on,Tiggs...I'm interested to see what your entry to this thread will be...

[Appy]

The Dark Knight.

[Kadeem Hardison]

Sister Act II: Back in the Habit (Remastered Special Edition, Director's Cut)

[Roman]

No, it's one of those damn foreign films with subtitles. Madness! These foreigners seem to have a different word for almost everything and it's so infuriating. Sometimes I wonder why they bother with other languages - it's not as if they're going to catch on or anything. Still, if you can get past that then it's a good film.

Apparently I can volunteer to vote on foreign language films too so long as I absolutely promise to watch some. Will look at Orphanage - but I bet it will find it tough to beat off The Baader-Meinhoff Complex (by the producer who did Downfall).

There's a special rule prohibiting any voting 'for all or any films containing the title "Sister Act", wherever they may be made, thoughout the universe, in perpetuity.' Can't imagine why.

Dark Knight plays well with BAFTA people because they like to imagine it's a British film - so has a shot, although I would think it would clean up in the specialist categories (best director, actor, sfx, etc.). Now that the BAFTAs precede the Oscars in the awards calendar, there's a kind of pressure to pre-empt them - so I'd expect a more 'worthy' film to win Best Picture.

Still a good movie though...

[St Landrew]

…I give up. What is it? ...I suspect the ‘best’ films are still to come in the next few weeks – especially Frost/Nixon.

I think you'll probably be safe with this one. If it has anything like the tension of the real interviews, it'll stroll away with several awards. I saw a review of it the other week and the pundits were going overboard. One to watch, as they say..!

[jeff leopard]

Frost/Nixon

its directed by Ron Howard, a man who can only make Hallmark channel/daytime tv movie style toss.

[St Landrew]

its directed by Ron Howard, a man who can only make Hallmark channel/daytime tv movie style toss.

Anyone can improve. I wouldn't dismiss him just because the only standouts in his list as a director are Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, and neither of those are what I would consider an excellent film. But they are very good indeed.

[Roman]

its directed by Ron Howard, a man who can only make Hallmark channel/daytime tv movie style toss.

I sort of agree, but it's written by Peter Morgan, whose original play was nothing short of brilliant - and surprisingly cinematic.

It must have been the easiest pitch in recent Hollywood history.

All Howard had to do was turn up. At least he had the good sense to keep the West End/Broadway leads, Michael Sheen and Frank Langella.

And although these things are hardly reliable, the trailer's terrific too.

[Bentley]

The Dark Knight.

[swannymere]

High School Musical 3

[Deppo]

Sister Act II: Back in the Habit (Remastered Special Edition, Director's Cut)

I thought as much.

[norwaysaint]

Well I haven't been to the cinema for a while but the last film I saw was 'The Orphanage' which was exceptional.

This is easily the best film I've seen this year. Amazing.

[Kadeem Hardison]

This is easily the best film I've seen this year. Amazing.

Have you not seen Sister Act II?

[Ewell]

Well I haven't been to the cinema for a while but the last film I saw was 'The Orphanage' which was exceptional.

Agreed, like Pan's Labyrinth a stunningly shot well acted film.

Like others on this thread the best English speaking film I have seen is 'No country for old men'.

[jeff leopard]

Anyone can improve. I wouldn't dismiss him just because the only standouts in his list as a director are Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, and neither of those are what I would consider an excellent film. But they are very good indeed.

I salute your optimism, sir! But I believe some people are beyond redemption and Ron Howard is one of them. I didn't like Apollo 13 and thought Beautiful Mind was hilariously bad, the fact it had oscars thrown at it just highlights what a waste of time the oscars are. As bad as that was, it still shines down upon the rancid stillbirth that was the Da Vinci Code, oh lordy.

But its all about different opinions isn't it, thats what keeps it interesting.

I hope Frost/Nixon is good but the reviews i've read have said its all a bit too static and rather meh. Watch out for those Howard motifs, the soft focus shots and oppresively emotive soundtrack.

I sound rather cynical, this limit of two posts a day is killing me.

(The first person to tell me to subscribe is a massive gheyer)

[Julian H. Cope]

You cannot deny his talents opposite Henry Winkler in Happy Days.

Oh & I enjoyed Cinderella Man,even though it was formulaic & schmaltzy.

[Danny]

Wall-e.

I didn't cry. Honest.

[jeff leopard]

You cannot deny his talents opposite Henry Winkler in Happy Days.

For sure, although I think his best acting work was in Lassie.

If I ever finish my time machine and set out on my quest to kill certain celebrities before they became lame, i'll be sure to whack Howard just after he finished making Splash, his only decent film IMHO.

[GuttedAnt]

I watched Iron Man last night I thought that was brilliant, as an action film and a comic book film. On par with The Dark Knight in my opinion.

[Deppo]

Howard The Duck-Redux

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

What about I am Legend? Was that this year? Immense filmage! Wanted is defo this year, very good again...

Others but again you will need to check if 2008 or 2007:

Pathology
21
Vantage Point
Jumper
The happening
The Bucket List
Untracable
Cloverfield

[jeff leopard]

Wall-e.

I didn't cry. Honest.

I loved the self-harming robot that kept hitting itself in the face with a tray, it only appeared for a few seconds but made me laugh for the rest of the film (especially during Wall*E's agonising and shockingly graphic death scene).

[percy windham]

What about I am Legend? Was that this year? Immense filmage! Wanted is defo this year, very good again...

Others but again you will need to check if 2008 or 2007:

Pathology
21
Vantage Point
Jumper
The happening
The Bucket List
Untracable
Cloverfield

this post must be laced with sarcasm.