10. THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
A Netflix true-crime hit on the platform that is also an awards darling, Geeta Gandbhir’s timely body-cam account of a minor disagreement between neighbors in Florida which takes a lethal turn deftly prompts conversations of race, gun law and American society. Horribly fascinating.
9. 28 YEARS LATER
Danny Boyle’s return to his ‘infected’ franchise delivers teeth-gritting tension, social commentary and the same verve as his 23 year-old original. Continuing to push the boundaries of tech (filming on iphones), Boyle’s fable is a strangely beautiful poem to death which takes on new emotional resonance post Covid.
8. BRING HER BACK
Following up their sensational horror debut Talk To Me with an escalation in discomfort, sibling writer/directors Danny and Michael Philippou prove their flair is no fluke with a story of the monstrosity of motherhood. Disquieting and haunting in every way, with kitchen utensils used in unforgettable ways.
7. A REAL PAIN
An awards winner last season but only coming out in UK cinemas in January, Jesse Eisenberg’s self-penned tale of two cousins travelling to their grandmother’s Polish homeland and reckoning with their Jewish heritage lives long in the memory. That’s thanks to a finely-calibrated dramedy script and a pitch perfect performance that is both infuriating and endearing by Keiran Culkin.
6. IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Jafar Panahi’s electric, salient film festival hit is understandably on awards shortlists now. Following a group of former prisoners who think they recognise their sadistic jailer, Panahi explores the cruelty of man, trauma, revenge, forgiveness and the difficult road to Iranian democracy.
5. MARTY SUPREME
Timothée Chalamet’s bombastic bid for Oscar is housed in this energetic, nervy anti-sports movie from Josh Safdie which follows the mythomania of a table tennis player and might as well be about America’s unapologetic self-identification in the world. Electrifying cinema.
4. BUGONIA
Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for a more accessible satire than their Kinds Of Kindness – and it pays off. Taking in themes of misogyny, environmentalism and radicalisation while still playing exploding head for grisly laughs, it’s entertaining while also being sly, smart and ultimately, unbearably sad.
1. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Paul Thomas Anderson’s exemplary stoner comedy loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland addresses immigration, white supremacy, racism and corruption by making them a lot of fun and a lot of a mess. An embarrassment of riches in performances from an all-star cast but the absolute comet blazing through it all is Teyana Taylor; magnificently, unapologetically fierce, with two lone eyelash extensions and a semi-automatic, she is one of cinema’s great female creations.
Words by Jane Crowther
