MOVIE MATTERS PODCAST - WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR BEST GIALLI!

Michael and I are planning on recording the next episode of the MOVIE MATTERS podcast in the first week of June, along with our good friend Sandy, a.k.a. The Gialli Fan at Dark Dreams. As befits Sandy's nickname, this will be a giallo special, beginning with a discussion of the genre, followed by reviews/discussions of three films.

We would like listeners to submit their three favourite gialli in order of preference, so if you'd like to participate, please add a reply to this topic. The plan would be to read out as many of these lists on air as possible.

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2010

This list is based on the films I saw from Jan 1st to Dec 31st in 2010. The only criteria I adhered to is that the films must have been released theatrically or straight to DVD in the UK during 2010.

1. TOY STORY 3 (dir. Lee Unkrich)
2. INCEPTION (dir. Christopher Nolan)
3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (dir. Niels Arden Oplev)
4. KICK-ASS (dir. Matthew Vaughn)
5. THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES (dir. Juan Jose Campanella)
6. [REC]2 (dir. Juame Balaguero and Paco Plaza)
7. THE SOCIAL NETWORK (dir. David Fincher)
8. SHUTTER ISLAND (dir. Martin Scorsese)
9. THE HORSEMAN (dir. Steven Kastrissios)
10. GREEN ZONE (dir. Paul Greengrass)

Honourable mentions must go to the following films that could quite easily of found themselves in my list: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP & VIDEOTAPE, THE ROAD, CEMETARY JUNCTION and THE KILLER INSIDE ME.

I should also point out I've yet to see critically acclaimed films such as MOTHER, FOUR LIONS, DOWN TERRACE, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, AMER, A PROPHET, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP and EASY A.

My worst film of the year was without doubt A SERBIAN FILM. I've said pretty much all I care to about this abhorrent mess on the MOVIE MATTERS podcast. UK new releases in 2010 which disappointed include FROZEN, LEAP YEAR, THE LOVELY BONES, WHIP IT and DATE NIGHT.

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2009

This list is based on the films I saw from Jan 1st to Dec 31st in 2009. The only criteria I adhered to is that the films must have been released theatrically or straight to DVD in the UK during 2009.

1. UP (dir. Pete Docter and Bob Peterson)
2. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (dir. Tomas Alfredson)
3. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (dir. Danny Boyle)
4. DISTRICT 9 (dir. Neill Blomkamp)
5. AVATAR (dir. James Cameron)
6. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (dir. David Fincher)
7. FROST/NIXON (dir. Ron Howard)
8. TRICK 'R TREAT (dir. Michael Dougherty)
9. BOLT (dir. Byron Howard and Chris Williams)
10. WATCHMEN (dir. Zack Snyder)

Honourable mentions must go to the following films that could quite easily of found themselves in my list: TRANSSIBERIAN, TIMECRIMES, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, MARTYRS, THE HURT LOCKER, THE READER, STAR TREK, AWAY WE GO, STATE OF PLAY and TERMINATOR SALVATION.

Other notable works I enjoyed watching at the cinema this year were the Halloween re-release of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, the natural history documentaries UNDER THE SEA 3-D [IMAX], PLANET EARTH: SHALLOW SEAS 4-D EXPERIENCE [SEA LIFE 4-D] and on the small screen, the darkly gripping television mini-series the RED RIDING TRILOGY.

I should also point out I've yet to see critically acclaimed films such as ANTICHRIST, BROKEN EMBRACES, THE CLASS, CORALINE, AN EDUCATION, MESRINE, A SERIOUS MAN, SUNSHINE CLEANING, THIRST and THE WHITE RIBBON.

As for worst films of the year, I didn't really hate any of the new releases I saw in 2009 but then again I never saw TRANSFORMERS 2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. From the 45-odd films I did see from among the UK new releases in 2009, I was left most disappointed by the likes of RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, THE INTERNATIONAL and THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES. However, this is mainly due to the fact I had allowed my expectations to be raised based on positive reviews, leaving me subsequently disappointed by these, in my opinion, decidedly average films. If I had to identify one film as my 'worst' then it would have to be Frank Henenlotter's BAD BIOLOGY which came out on DVD in 2009 following a limited release at festivals. Whilst I acknowledge this film is meant to be an offensive, deranged, cult oddity from the filmmaker behind BASKET CASE, it is quite simply awful.

MY TOP 20 FILMS OF THE DECADE (2000-2009)

1. THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (Peter Jackson, 2001/2002/2003)
2. MULHOLLAND DRIVE (David Lynch, 2001)
3. HANNIBAL (Ridley Scott, 2001)
4. AMERICAN PSYCHO (Mary Harron, 2000)
5. WALL-E (Andrew Stanton, 2008)
6. BATMAN BEGINS (Christopher Nolan, 2005)
7. AMELIE (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
8. ZODIAC (David Fincher, 2007)
9. CHILDREN OF MEN (Alfonso Cuaron, 2006)
10. UP (Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, 2009)
11. PAN'S LABYRINTH (Guillermo Del Toro, 2006)
12. A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (David Cronenberg, 2005)
13. MEMENTO (Christopher Nolan, 2000)
14. BLACK BOOK (Paul Verhoeven, 2006)
15. FINDING NEMO (Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, 2003)
16. ATONEMENT (Joe Wright, 2007)
17. OLDBOY (Chan-wook Park, 2003)
18. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (Paul Greengrass, 2004)
19. THE DESCENT (Neil Marshall, 2005)
20 MONSTERS, INC. (Pete Docter, David Silverman and Lee Unkrich)

Special "Jury Prize" for Film Fun: SERENITY (Joss Whedon, 2005)

Honourable mention: AUDITION (Takashi Miike, 1999) - released theatrically in the UK in 2001.

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF 2008

This list is based on the films I saw from Jan 1st to Dec 31st in 2008. The only criteria I adhered to is that the films must have been released theatrically or straight to DVD in the UK during 2008.

1. WALL-E (dir. Andrew Stanton)
2. THE DARK KNIGHT (dir. Christopher Nolan)
3. JUNO (dir. Jason Reitman)
4. IN BRUGES (dir. Martin McDonagh)
5. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (dir. Ethan Coen and Joel Coen)
6. THE ORPHANAGE (dir. Juan Antonio Bayona)
7. THERE WILL BE BLOOD (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
8. IRON MAN (dir. Jon Favreau)
9. INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (dir. Steven Spielberg)
10. THE MIST (dir. Frank Darabont)

Honourable mentions must go to the following films that could quite easily of found themselves in my list: GONE BABY GONE, CLOVERFIELD and REC.

I should also point out I've yet to see notable films such as MAN ON WIRE, CHANGELING, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS and 2 DAYS, WALTZ WITH BASHIR, EDEN LAKE and HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY.

As for the worst films I saw in 2008 or the films that left me most disappointed I would have to select DIARY OF THE DEAD, CASSANDRA'S DREAM, DOOMSDAY and MOTHER OF TEARS.