Top 10: Movies

Hello again! Today I am going to list my Top 10 movies. I'm not going to include any musicals, documentaries or animated films as I will save these for other lists. This was ridiculously hard and I've almost definitely forgotten a lot of my favourites but here we are...

10. The Wolf of Wall Street (2014)

What's the story?

Based on the biography of multi-millionaire Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street is an account of his incredible life. After a taste of working on Wall Street, wannabe stockbroker Belfort becomes a giant of selling penny stocks and making a small fortune. Him and new sidekick Donnie start their own business and the debauchery begins. Prostitutes, enough drugs to comatose an entire city, a tiger in the office, crashing helicopters, throwing money at FBI Agents from a private yacht... the list goes on. With the FBI hot on his trail and his wife understandably unhappy with his adultery and drug abuse, Belfort's dream lifestyle eventually comes crashing down around him - but man, did he have a good time.

What's great: Clearly, stockbrokers party hard. The film is full of ridiculous events and hedonism that makes you feel you've been transported into the lives of people who have more money than they know what to do with. DiCaprio plays the greed-fuelled yet charming Belfort perfectly, with Jonah Hill as the ridiculous Donnie making for some brilliant comedic moments. The best scene is post-drug binge Jordan trying to get down the steps of his house and into his car. That scene alone deserved an Oscar for DiCaprio. Overall, the film is funny, smart, exciting and intense.

What's not so great:

At 3 hours long, it's pretty full on. There's a lot of swearing, drugs, nudity and it gets a bit gross scandalous at times. Other than that, it's a really good watch.

9. Juno (2007)

What's the story?

Juno MacGuff is a quirky, opinionated girl who falls pregnant at sixteen by friend Paulie. After being told outside the abortion clinic that her baby has fingernails, she decides to choose adoption instead. Paulie makes his love for Juno clear although she continues to push him away. She chooses dream couple Mark and Vanessa as adoptive parents, however their marriage begins to disintegrate and Vanessa eventually adopts the baby as a single mother whilst Juno and Paulie finally try to be a couple.

What's great:

The film is full of great one liners from Juno and she is a one of a kind character. For a coming of age story, there's something really different about Juno and it feels very honest. Juno isn't a stereotypical teenage girl - she's sharp, witty and honest and that's the draw of this film. Michael Cera is wonderfully awkward as Paulie also, of course. 'Juno' is funny, smart and real.

What's not so great:

I guess there isn't that much that goes on in terms of exciting plot twists and the story has probably been done before a thousand times. However, the way in which Juno was created makes it feel different to any other movies of a similar genre. 8. Shutter Island (2010)

What's the story?

Yet another DiCaprio movie (I'm sorry but they are great). Psychological thriller Shutter Island revolves around Teddy Daniels, a US Marshall who travels to a hospital for the criminally insane in the 1950s for an investigation. He finds cryptic notes, codes, and a secret lighthouse that him and his partner are forbidden from accessing - all the while suffering blinding migraines and dreams of his deceased wife. Daniels is told by a patient that lobotomies are what happen in the lighthouse and stumbles upon an ex psychiatrist-turned patient in a cave nearby who confirms this. There is excellent twists, lots of suspense and really will keep knocking you back every time you think something makes sense.

What's great:

Again, DiCaprio is outstanding. Mark Ruffalo plays Daniels' fellow marshall perfectly, also. Michelle Williams is a standout as Daniels' wife, with some really heartbreaking flashbacks that show the ugly sides of mental illness. The film keeps you on your toes and is creepy enough without crossing into a weird horror combination. Shutter Island really is one to watch.

What's not so great:It's a little lengthy and things keep getting thrown at you but it's worth it. Not really an easy watch that you can chill and not pay attention to, as there are lots of details you'll need to remember. There isn't really a downside to the movie, in my opinion. 7. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

What's the story?

Young Bruno lives with his family in Nazi Germany during World War II. After his Father's promotion, the family move to the countryside. Bruno is banned from the 'farm' in the distance but sneaks off into the woods anyway, making friends with a young boy named Shmuel. Neither boy knows that the true purpose of the 'farm' is a Concentration Camp, believing that the uniforms are pyjamas. Bruno's Mother eventually finds out the true purpose of the Camp and is horrified, wanting to send Bruno and his sister away. Bruno goes to help Shmuel find his missing Father, putting on a uniform and sneaking into the Camp. The result is... well, about as heartbreaking as it gets.

What's great:

The film is beautiful, from start to finish. There is a reason that it is regarded as one of the saddest films of all time but it really does make you think. It's so beautiful to see the divide broken down by two children who just want to play catch and are completely unaware that they should be enemies. That's what tears your heart out, though. When Bruno enters the Camp, it is a horrible feeling watching and praying this won't go in the direction you're thinking.

What's not so great:

As above, truly heartbreaking. I cried for hours. It's an important film but isn't the easiest to watch. 6. Black Swan (2010)

What's the story?

It worries me that people think this is a 'dance film' or is just about Ballet and won't watch it. Black Swan is a psychological horror/thriller that shows the danger of obsession (by my favourite director, Darren Aronofsky). Nina Sayers is a ballet dancer in the prestigious New York City ballet company. She flunks her audition for the upcoming production of Swan Lake, being told that she embodies the gentle White Swan perfectly but doesn't have the darkness for the Black Swan. After biting the Director's lip, he sees the Black Swan in her and she is given her dream role. However, Nina becomes obsessed with the idea of perfection and crumbles: hallucinating, taking drugs, scratching herself and thinking that friend Lily is trying to take her role. She stabs Lily with a shard of broken mirror in the intermission of the first performance, only to find out that this didn't really happen. I won't spoil any more.

What's great:

As a performer, I really connect with the themes of the movie. Trying to be a perfectionist and getting lost in a role is a really dangerous thing that isn't talked about enough. Natalie Portman portrays the neurotic Nina extremely well, with laid back, careless Mila Kunis playing Lily, the anithesis of uptight Nina. It's a great concept for a psychological horror and there are some super creepy moments that stay with you.

What's not so great:

I personally love it. I just hope that people with no interest in Ballet still watch the movie as that isn't the real crux of the story. 5. Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)

What's the story?Bridget Jones told a generation of women that basically, we didn't have to have our s*** together. One of the smartest and most relatable Rom-Coms, this movie is adored by many and with good reason. Jones is a single, clumsy, socially awkward 32 year old woman who 'smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and dresses like her Mother'. There's a love triangle between her arrogant boss, Daniel Cleaver and uptight lawyer Mark Darcy, her parents are separating etc. Long story short, she begins a diary to get her life in order and it doesn't exactly go to plan. But it's super entertaining.

What's great:There are so many great moments in this movie. The girly fight between the men to the song 'It's Raining Men', the hilarious one liners ('I would rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse'), Bridget running down the road in the snow wearing leopard print underwear and lots more. It's clever, well-written, funny, relatable and brilliant.

What's not so great:

Nothing. I could watch it forever. Also, there are now 2 sequels which are surprisingly good so plenty of Bridget to go around. 4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

What's the story?

If you haven't seen this movie - what have you been doing? Andy Sachs is an aspiring journalist who ends up taking a job as Editor-in-Chief Miranda Priestly's assistant at giant fashion magazine, Runway. To say that Priestly is a demanding boss would be the understatement of the Century. Andy has no fashion interest or experience and is essentially the laughing stock of those around her. She battles through, eventually gaining respect at the loss of her personal relationships between her friends and boyfriend. It's a glimpse into the intensity of the fashion world, the epitome of stressful bosses and finding your feet in the adult world of work.

What's great:Meryl. Streep. This is probably my favourite Streep movie - she is insanely talented. She manages to make mega-rude Priestly into an almost likeable character, spawning brilliant lines such as 'by all means, move at a glacial pace... you know how this thrills me'. You don't have to know anything about fashion (that's kind of the point) and you will still enjoy it. The script is amazing, the performances are top notch and it's really intelligently funny.

What's not so great:

Nothing. Watch it, now (probably for the 1000th time, as everybody else is). 3. Titanic (1997)

What's the story?

You already know but lets recap. Elderly woman Rose helps treasure hunter look for the 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace by recounting her time upon the RMS Titanic many years before. The story goes like this: Uptown girl Rose (Winslet) meets working class Jack (DiCaprio, again) upon the RMS Titanic boat. They fall in love, her rich fiancee is pretty annoyed about it... and oh yeah, the 'unsinkable' Titanic, sinks. Based on the actual historic sinking of the Titanic, it was the most expensive film ever made for a long time (and the highest grossing film of all time until Avatar).

What's great:There's class struggles, there's forbidden love, there's the whole romance whilst a disaster is happening. The shots are incredible, even today, and the scale of the production can be seen instantly. Winslet is perfection as trapped, longing-for-a-different-life Rose, with DiCaprio matching her with his cheeky, spontaneous characterisation of Jack. There's a reason the movie is such a cult classic. It's beautiful, scary as hell when the boat sinks and makes me cry like a baby every time. P.s there was room for Jack on that plank of wood, Rose. We all know it.

What's not so great:It's quite emotionally taxing and over 3 hours long, I guess... but there's a reason it's called an epic love story. 2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

What's the story?Another Cult Classic must-see. Often rated by critics and audiences alike as 'the greatest movie ever', it's safe to say that you should watch this. In 1947, Andy Dufresne is accused of murdering his wife and her lover and is served 2 life sentences at Shawshank State Penitentiary. He requests a rock hammer to make chess pieces and a poster for his cell. As a well-educated man, he begins helping with staff with their finances and writes letters to try to improve the quality of the prison. He begins laundering money on behalf of the Warden and one day, goes missing. Yep - he tunnelled out of the prison, taking his new identity created to launder the money along with the actual money, and escaped.

What's great:It's just so smart. Andy is also a really likeable character, helping inmates get their GED's and promoting the importance of reading. The best part is when the Warden asks Andy to get his shoes polished and instead, he escapes in the polished shoes leaving the Warden with his grubby prison footwear. Morgan Freeman as Red is classic and brilliant and the film is tear-jerking, moving and amazing.

What's not so great:

Again, it's a little long (because these movies are ART) but worth it.

1. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

What's the story?I'm not going to sugar coat it, this is probably the most depressing movie ever. However, I am a firm believer in the idea that art should do something to you or move you in some way and if you're not moved by this, then you have no heart. The movie follows 4 different stories revolving around drugs and addiction. The story goes like this: Harry sells his Mother's stuff for drug money and eventually tries to save money to get his and his girlfriend Marion's future in order. Meanwhile, his Mother Sara gets a spam call to say that she's going to be on television and becomes obsessed with losing weight, taking dodgy diet pills that she becomes addicted to. Harry's friend Tyrone is also an addict trying to save for a piece of the American Dream. The end result? I'll try not to spoil too much but Harry ends up in a bad way medically, Tyrone winds up in prison, Marion gets gang-banged for heroin and Harry's Mother literally loses her mind and has to have ECT. Yep - it's as bleak as it gets.

What's great:Anybody who knows me knows I could talk about this movie forever. One of my favourite things is the repeated split-screen shots showing the routine of drug addiction. Also, the later shots are sped up into what's now been dubbed a 'hip-hop montage' as it is more akin to music videos, with scenes flying past you so quickly as the movie progresses that the terror and intensity literally grips you. The acting is incredible, especially from Ellen Burstyn (Harry's Mother) and when she loses her mind you can't help but sob. Finally, the soundtrack literally gives me shivers. It's played loudly and intensely towards the end of the movie when everything begins spiralling out of control and it's absolutely terrifying.

What's not so great:It's a whole new level of 'psychological' movie and will most likely have you sat in the bath crying in the dark. But hey, it will move the hell out of you.

Special Mentions (or ones I forgot) Mean Girls Derailed

Whiplash Ladybird

White Chicks Contagion Side Effects Sex and the City movies (what? I think they're great...) Harry Potter series The Hunger Games series