Films seen so far this year: 235
Films seen this week: Mamma Mia, Origin: Spirits of the Past, Journey to the Centre of the Earth (3D), I've Loved You So Long, The Silence of Lorna
The Top Ten Of The Year So Far
As we're just over halfway through the year, I thought it would be the perfect time to post my Top Ten of 2008 so far. It's always interesting (well, it is if you're of the list-making persuasion) to see what will fall out of the provisional top ten by the end of the year – for example, I can't see anything threatening the top three at this point, but the bottom two could easily be replaced, especially if The Dark Knight is as good as I've heard it is. Still, as it stands, these are my favourite films of the year so far:
1. There Will Be Blood
2. The Visitor
3. In Search of a Midnight Kiss
4. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
6. No Country For Old Men
7. [REC]
8. Persepolis
9. Lonesome Jim
10. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Hellboy Hits The Promo Trail
Aside from the already awesome-looking trailer (see previous blog), the geniuses behind the Hellboy 2 promotional campaign have come up with a series of videos of Hellboy appearing on other US TV shows and commercials. These include: Chuck (there are two of these, so check YouTube links), American Gladiators, one of those audition shows I'm unfamiliar with, Inside the Actors Studio, a public service announcement and Ghost Hunters. Brilliant.
Top 10 Films On Release This Week (as recommended by me):
Only one new entry this week: Mamma Mia. You might also have a job finding a screening of The Mist, as it's rapidly evaporating from cinemas, but it's worth looking out for at late-night screenings or second-run cinemas.
1. The Visitor
2. In Search of a Midnight Kiss
3. The Mist
4. Mamma Mia
5. Priceless
6. Persepolis
7. Iron Man
8. Wanted
9. Gone Baby Gone
10. Female Agents
DVD of the Week: Dan In Real Life (out now, RRP £17.99)
This week's DVD of the Week is Dan In Real Life, a feel-good comedy/drama starring Steve Carell as a widow and father who falls for his brother's girlfriend (Juliette Binoche) during a family get-together. Written and directed by Peter Hedges, who made the underrated Pieces of April (also worth seeking out), it's a nicely written, frequently funny and emotionally engaging drama with superb performances and surprising chemistry between Binoche and Carell. The DVD also has a pretty decent extras package that includes: an audio commentary with Hedges and co-writer Pierce Gardner; a making-of featurette; a featurette on creating the film's score; deleted scenes and a gag reel.