Advent Calendar 2011: Day Sixteen & Seventeen

2009 FILM OF THE YEAR
WINNER: SHERLOCK HOLMES
2009 boasted many stellar efforts from great directors (as the runner-up for its Best of award shows below), but for me none could top Guy Ritchie's fantastic first effort of portraying a Victorian London, layered with chills and intrigue as Robert Downey Jr's spot on Sherlock Holmes faced off against the evil Lord Blackwood. The supporting cast were brilliant too, introducing stars such as Jude Law and Rachel McAdams who many of my generation may not have come across otherwise, and none of these additional contributors felt like they were thrown in for novelty factor or sheer laughs- something which I found A Game of Shadows to be a little guilty of- rather to bring something new and fresh to the plot at a consistent rate. Everything about Sherlock Holmes was top notch: the direction, the casting, the innovative fight sequences, they all had a part to play in creating the best film of the year. It's no wonder the sequel couldn't attain as high status, but to be fair Ritchie's team did manage to come pretty close!

RUNNER UP: AVATAR

Of course, the preceding paragraph of praise does mean that I would not have awarded Film of the Year 2009 to Avatar, James Cameron's sweeping sci-fi epic that went on to become the best-selling film ever. Why did I not go with the more critically and comercially acclaimed feature? The main reason is because if you simply dig under the sumptious visuals, lucsious soundtrack and well-rounded performances from both the CGI and human casts, the central plot of the movie really wasn't that original, certainly unable to hold a preference over the other close competitors for the best-selling movie like The Dark Knight and The Lord of the Rings. If Cameron can tighten up his writing so as to make his much anticipated sequels to this movie legend, then he will easily have Film(s) of the Year on his hands come 2014 and/or '15.

2010 FILM OF THE YEAR

WINNER: TOY STORY 3

What will all of the brilliant, dark action flicks on offer last year, you might have thought it strange in December 2010 when I awarded Toy Story 3 the title of Film of the Year. However, I still stand by my decision to name a children's animation the best film of 2010 one year on: the Toy Story films had always been masterclasses in a host of genres, yet I didn't choose this based on my love of them in the past, rather the way that the final film in the trilogy managed to so masterfully deal with all of the franchise's loose ends, introducing lovable new characters along the way that could have you in fits of laughter or tears, or both on occasion! Best of all, TS3 finally rounded off the tale of Woody, Buzz and the gang, culminating with the tear-jerking parting of Andy and his toys as the boy we used to know became a man, passing his childhood stories on to a new generation. And really, isn't that what life is all about? How apt for so many of us at this stage.

RUNNERS UP: KICK ASS; HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1

Quite honestly, looking back there hasn't been a more difficult choice for Film of the Year than there was in 2010 (although damn, has the choice of this year's Game of the Year been a toughie!...more soon). Kick Ass was the best merge of two genres I think I've ever seen, as Matthew Vaughn skilfully blended superheroes with comedy in what might have been a disaster had it not been for his casting of many rising stars only backed by some of the biggest names in film. On the other hand, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 remains my favourite entry in the entire encapsulating film franchise even having seen its breathtaking conclusion- unlike Part 2, the opening segment of Hallows managed to maintain a central effective focus on its three leads, hammering in any death of their friends to its emotional crux (Mad-Eye Moody! Hedwig!! DOBBY!!!) and keeping the suspense of their escape from the tyranny of the Death Eaters throughout its entire two-and-a-half hour duration. So although I chose Toy Story 3 in the end and still stand by that decision, let it be known that the challenge of making such a choice has never been so great for me- choosing this year's Best Film was hard, but not a patch on 2010- and that in my opinion Kick-Ass and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 remain two of the best ever movies you can watch right now, no questions asked.