Alex's Top 10 of 2009

10. Funny People

9. Paranormal Activity

8. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

7. Knowing

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

5. Adventureland

4. Drag Me To Hell

3. Star Trek

2. Avatar

1. Inglourious Basterds

Movies I'm Looking Forward To #1

James Cameron's AVATAR

Alex's Top 5 Scariest Films

Film: The Strangers (2008)
Scariest Bit: sack-face at the window

Film: Paranormal Activity (2007)
Scariest Bit: the scene where Katie is dragged out of bed

Film: Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Scariest Bit: any scene where the demon is tormenting Christine

Film: Signs (2002)
Scariest Bit: the Brazilian birthday video

Film: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Scariest Bit: the last scene in the basement

Masterpiece #1: Se7en (1995)

Director: David Fincher

Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow

Why is it a masterpiece?

1. The intricacy of the script is awesome in the way that its brilliance can only be understood once the film is finished. This keeps the viewer guessing throughout the whole film.

2. The 'secret' inclusion of Kevin Spacey as John Doe is ingenious. Spacey is able to create a chillingly memorable villain with minimal screen time. Credit must be given to Fincher and Spacey for choosing to keep this casting secret before the film's release.

3. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman both give incredibly subtle and brilliant performances. Freeman's one-two punch of this film and The Shawshank Redemption the previous year is one of the best in film history.

4. The ending, which has to be seen to be believed. The final scenes wrap up the narrative perfectly while elevating the rest of the film to a higher class of film making.

5. The diner scene. Masterful dialogue and performances from Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow provide the film (and Detective Somerset) with a large dose of humanity. 

The best bit?

The ending in the field, hands down.