5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Based on a novel that examines the treatment of Pakistani nationals living in the US following the September 11th attacks, the film works in reverse as Changez relays his life in America from unbridled success to a life of oppression and racism against him because of his race and nationality. All subtly set against the backdrop of the fear that he may have become a terrorist due to his treatment. A surprise film that flew under the radar but quietly impressed viewers.
4. Side Effects
Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller was a real pleasant surprise, given Soderbergh's track record it shouldn't have been but it was a clever Hithcockian style film that caught you out with a couple of neat little twists. Rooney Mara is excellent as the struggling wife whose husband is released from prison but is suicidal and takes a new drug to help combat her depression. The whole script is incredibly tight with very little wasted time on superfluous scenes, a rarity in Hollywood today.
3. Zero Dark Thirty
An Oscar contender which was released way back in January, I honestly though it was released last year but it wasn't, is Jessica Chastain's best performance since her role in The Help in 2012. A film that was overshadowed by the fact it shows the torturing of prisoners as leading to the information that captured Osama bin Laden meaning that people spent more time discussing the morality of torture rather than how good this film actually was. A tense and possibly anti-American look at the relentless search for the World's most wanted man.
2. Before Midnight
The final part in the trilogy by Richard Linklater is clearly the best as we catch up with Jesse and Celine 18 years after they first met and 9 years since we last saw them in Paris. The characters are realistic and easily relate-able to whilst the script is rich and compelling as they discuss a variety of random topics before the topic of their lives and their complicated relationship inevitably comes to the fore.
1. The Place Beyond the Pines
A crime based drama that was released a little under the radar early in the year, especially considering the cast included Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes. It is an enthralling look at small town life in America and what people will do to make ends meet when there is a distinct lack of jobs in rural towns. The films makes bold developments in the characters and plot which are decisive and not looked back upon, making it really stand out from the crowd. Derek Cianfrance is rapidly growing an impressive filmography.
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