Film Review of the Year Part 1 of 8

its that time of the year again when everybody begins compiling their lists and opinions of the past 12 months. So why should I be any different. in previous years I've just plodded through with opinion, ratings and news from the past year. This year is different. I have my blog, and so I will try to jot down bite sized nuggets of my views and thoughts, both good and bad on the past year. Where better to start than with Awards. Cyclically, and conveniently it is Awards season, so whilst we ponder and consider who deserves Oscar's, Bafta's and Golden Globes to name but a few, and marketeers plan they attack strategy to convince the voters that their picture deserves the prestige of trophies and statuettes, lets look back on the awards of 2008.
For me the best possible news for the Awards season was Joel and Ethan Coen's masterpiece No Country For Old Men. Beating off such stiff competition as There Will Be Blood, Atonement, the quirky nominee Juno and and the somewhat unexpected Michael Clayton. That Joel and Ethan Coen also walked away with Best Direction was also a deserving Award. The film is unparalleled in its ability to put its audience in edge. The direction is as close to perfect, the script is lean, driven, purposeful genius and cinematography by Roger Deakins beautifully encapsulates the fatalistic theme of the story. Also in Javier Bardem, who himself evil.

Juno, written by Diablo Cody picked up best original screenplay. its a fantastic story with great wit, quirky dialogue and an offbeat style all of which demonstrated the writers innovative brilliance. It was regarded this years Little Miss Sunshine, but comparisons go no further than the quality of the writing and the fantastic acting which breathed life into one of the best scripts of the year.

The Bafta's were a typically British affair with the epic Atonement scooping the best and biggest prize of Best Picture. This Is England won best British film. Matt Greenhalgh won the Carl Foreman Award for for special achievement and Ronald Harwood won Best adapted screenplay for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. this may seem like just a list but it establishes Britain as a place full of diverse, artistic, creative and brilliant filmmakers. It truly is an inspiring time to be in the British film industry....