As I said in last year’s film fight, a knock-out tournament like this can only show my favourite film of the year, not even producing a guaranteed second place, but who cares? Let’s start with notable films that never took a final place:
- Shopgirl
- Jarhead
- Walk the Line
- Derailed
- Capote
- The Matador
- V for Vendetta (… maybe)
- El Lobo
- Fearless
- Beerfest
- Black Dahlia
- Clerks 2
- The Departed
- Casino Royale
Now the finalists:
- Cock and Bull Story
- Good Night, and Good Luck
- Stay
- Pierrepoint
- The Magician
- Thank You For Smoking
- District B13
- A Scanner Darkly
- Children of Men
- Little Miss Sunshine
- The Prestige
- Pan’s Labyrinth
Unlike last year, I think I can say that none of those finalists got through by default in a weak month. With just as many notable films as finalists (with more sitting just outside that list), it’s been a good year for cinema and a hard decision to make. A Scanner Darkly impressed visually and with the deft handling of the source material, The Prestige and Pan’s Labyrinth were masterfully crafted in their vindictiveness, District B13 was the action film of the year, Cock and Bull Story and Stay were a head-scratching pleasure, and Thank You For Smoking and The Magician were darkly comical.
I think my April tip for film of the year has proven true: Pierrepoint. I don’t think I can say it better than I did in April: “Starting from humble beginnings, we see the complexities of the man as he rises to fame and descends into a broken shell. A stunning, faultless work.” A deeply affecting work, that thoroughly deserves more acclaim than it has acquired.