We’re getting to tail end of my marathon of movies I watched for the first time in 2020. By July last year I had watched on average, a film a day. It slipped from there. So you should be thankful, this could have been a 365 film chart had I carried on at that momentum.
50. To Catch A Thief
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
The setting is gorgeous, the cast are too. A Hitchcock classic.
49. The Peanut Butter Falcon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
My wife picked this film and I knew nothing about it. It’s a sweet story, some great acting, and some kick ass wrestling moves.
48. Terminator Salvation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Of the three films they’ve made saying it’s the beginning of a new trilogy, this is the one they should have continued. Yes it’s bleak, yes Christian Bale was a dick. But bleak can be good, and Bale can be replaced. You’ve recast John Connor so many times no one would care.
47. Erin Brockovich
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Was thinking about Michael Bolton the entire time, it’s a great film too.
46. The Big Short
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Not even Margot Robbie in a bath could explain this film to me. Loved it though.
45. The Adventures Of Tintin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
I’ve been meaning to watch this movie for ages, and it didn’t disappoint. Great film, wish Adam Buxton was in it.
44. The Sisters Brothers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Was keen to read the book, but babies and time to read books don’t mix. So watched the film and loved it.
43. Jumanji: The Next Level
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Not as good as the original but still one heck of a ride.
42. Dirty Harry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
How have I never seen any Dirty Harry films, my dad loved them. Now I’ve watched a couple, I do feel lucky, punk!
41. Rain Man
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Another classic I’d never seen. Top performances all round.
40. Rashomon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
I saw this after Seven Samurai. A perspective film amazingly structured, keeping you guessing beyond the end.
39. Thelma And Louise
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
The end was no surprise. Being a kid in the nineties, it was parodied every other week. It was still one hell of a ride.
38. Snowpiercer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Haven’t started on the TV series, but watched this off the back of Parasite. Civilisation is surviving on a constantly moving train with major hierarchy divides.
37. Hustlers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Jennifer Lopez is amazing.
36. Ready Or Not
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
As I said before, Samara Weaving is quickly becoming one of my favourite actresses. This is the best game of hide and seek I’ve ever seen.
35. My Neighbour Totoro
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
This is the second Hayao Miyazaki film on my list, and it’s a sweet story about two sisters who move to be closer to their sick mother. But their new home is full of magical spirits.
34. Blinded By The Light
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
A real crowd pleaser. Bruce Springsteen, 1980s and Luton. It’s a match made in heaven.
33. Throne Of Blood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
A film of prophecy, suggestion and ambition, that spiral out of control. This was deep into my Japanese phase last year.
32. Casablanca
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Set during the war, made during the war. Unbelievably I had no idea what the film was about. Knew where it was set though.
31. 8 1/2
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
In Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2, we delve into the troubled mind of a film director.
30. In The Heat Of The Night
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Watched this on a hot night in the summer. Best picture winner.
29. Platoon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Tom Berenger plays a real evil fucker in Platoon. I’ve watched so many Vietnam films, can’t believe it took me so long to get onto this one.
28. For A Few Dollars More
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Part two of the best spaghetti western trilogy. Classic.
27. High And Low
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
I’d watched a lot of Akira Kurosawa samurai films last year, so it was nice to see his talent showcased in a modern kidnapping film.
26. Blood Diamond
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Diamonds make people do crazy things. Fantastic movie.
25. Ran
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
A samurai movie in colour now. It was such a beautifully shot film and another great by Akira Kurosawa.
24. Up
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
If you can watch the first ten minutes and not cry, you are completely heartless.
23. Begin Again
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Well John Carney can make great films. I watched this and Once last year. Both great, but even better is Sing Street. I urge you to visit any of these films.
22. The Machinist
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Christian Bale can be hard to work with, but he is a bloody good actor.
21. Sherlock Jr.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
My highest rated silent film in the list. I was a bit apprehensive about silent films, but every one I watched last year was amazing. I’ll definitely track some more down in 2021.
20. The Hateful Eight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
I was put off watching this by a friend who said it was boring. I don’t know why I listened to him, I loved it.
19. The Conversation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
The never young Gene Hackman gives a great performance as a lonely surveillance expert.
18. Cape Fear (1962)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Robert Mitchum steals the film with a magnificent performance. Such a presence, and the simplest action makes you feel uneasy.
17. The Battle Of Algiers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
A piece of history I knew nothing about, it made me investigate further. Well worth a watch.
16. The Favourite
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
A well deserved Oscar for Olivia Coleman in this mad film.
15. 1917
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
This was the last film I saw at the cinema last year. It was also only the second film I saw at the cinema last year. A Great War film, a cinematic masterpiece. The only reason it didn’t get five stars was the weird shift before the finale just didn’t work for me.
14. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Love a great spy film as you can see by the number in this list. This was by far my favourite.
13. Aladdin (2019)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
Born in 1983, obviously Aladdin was my favourite Disney film growing up, so a live action remake made me nervous. I was even more worried when I found out Guy Ritchie was directing. Well I absolutely loved it. It is on a par with the original, and has the same magic, fun and spectacle.
12. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
It’s Redford again, he turns up everywhere. Newman and Redford are a great double act, the story is great and I love raindrops keep falling on my head.
11. Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars
I am a disgrace. I watched the remake years ago, but never got round to watching this one. I will admit I like the remake, but this is another level. No holds barred brutal, bloody loved it.
To be concluded…
