Pat’s Other Five

So…as happens every year without fail I made a top ten list of the films I saw. And, as happens every year…immediately upon finalizing said list I remembered about five movies that surely would have been considered more closely had I remembered them to begin with. So…with that in mind…I’m standing by my original top ten. But here’s five more that I should have at least mentioned.

5) THE FALL–Wall-E was the only film I saw this year that was more purely visually engaging as this one. Tarsem, the visual genius behind The Cell and several music videos over the years, put this little project together and made something pretty extraordinary. It’s a fantasy told from the point of view of a suicidal stuntman in 1920′s California. He tells an intricate fantasy to an admiring little immigrant girl with a broken arm. At times the girl is almost too adorable, but you get over it once the story takes hold of you. Find this film. It’s well worth the look.

4)RACHEL GETTING MARRIED–If Anne Hathaway’s truly beautiful performance wasn’t reason enough to see this little gift from the brilliant Jonathan Demme, then let me tell you that the movie itself is truly wonderful. There’s life, love, tragedy…and yes a wedding. More importantly, it’s a movie about family. An honest…sometimes too emotional, look at a family recovering from crisis and tragedy. It’s a beautiful piece of work.

3)HAPPY-GO-LUCKY–How did I forget this one?! I reviewed it here a couple months ago, and my feelings have not changed in the slightest. It’s a terrific, uplifting story of a woman steadfastly refuses to let the world get her down. Sally Hawkins…the people of England apparently think you are a “silly twat” in this role. Screw them. I adore you. Well Done.

2)IN BRUGES–Another one I can’t believe I forgot. This should have been in my original top ten. I really loved this film. I recently had a lengthy discussion with a friend as to whether or not this is a comedy or a drama. I say it’s a comedy with dramatic elements. My friend disagrees. I will let you decide. Anyway, the set up is this: Two hit-men, after a botched mission are sent to the absolutely beautiful city of Bruges to hide while things cool off. Their boss intends to set one of them to off the other…and that’s about it. There are lots of Colin Farrell haters out there, but please don’t write this one off because of him. He really is quite wonderful here, and he just won a golden globe for his role(and if you like him here…check out A Home At The End of The World. You will view him in a new light. I promise.) Also here is the always reliable Brendan Gleeson, doing stellar work, and the brilliant Ralph Feinnes, in one of my favorite performances from him. You will not be disappointed with the rental fee here.

1)IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS–Holy Shit! I can’t believe I forgot about this little beauty. I think, in hindsight, that it probably would have wound up number three on my original list had I recalled it then. Oh well. I can make it number one here. A funny, sweet, sometimes disturbing little indie set in LA on New Year’s Eve. We follow a young man…an aspiring writer no less…as he meets a woman through Craigslist at the last minute to ring in the new year with. It’s a funny set up. It’s a funny movie. The opening scene will have you crying tears of laughter. I saw this movie with someone I love(thank you Nina for reminding me of the omission), and that may have made all the difference. I’m not totally sure. I do know that this is a wonderful little film that anyone with a heart and a soul should enjoy. And the soundtrack kicks fucking ass.

So, there you are. My top ten is now fifteen. Deal with it.