A wee while ago, I posted about 6 films that I've watched and loved in 2015 so far - here. Now, I'm gonna tell y'all about another 6 films that I've seen this year which are, in my opinion, freaking fantastic and completely worth watching.
Kill Your Darlings (2013): John Krokidas
If you like Daniel Radcliffe, poetry and/or killer 40s fashion, you'll love Kill Your Darlings. It's a film set in 1944 about the poets from the Beat Generation and it's insanely stylish but there's an amazingly dark, sinister undertone throughout and it's essentially a murder mystery so don't be fooled by the big glasses, cable-knit jumpers and tweed coats. I love the general aesthetic of Kill Your Darlings.
Mysterious Skin (2004): Gregg Araki
This is an odd one because I didn't think twice before putting it on the list yet I can't bring myself to watch it again. Mysterious Skin is such a powerful, brave film but it's disturbing. It sticks with you for months after you watch it which I feel like is the mark of an amazing movie. If you simplify it right down, it's about a male prostitute and a guy who's convinced he was abducted by aliens. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the part of Neil absolutely brilliantly and Gregg Araki directed it to perfection (I'm a big Araki fan). There are some really beautiful shots and gorgeous, vivid colours that contrast with the overall muted aesthetic, which sticks to the jewel-colour motif in the book it was based off of. The full thing's just stunning. I'm finding it really quite hard to write about this film because it's so graphic but if you're old enough, give it a watch.
Heathers (1988): Michael Lehmann
On a slightly lighter note, Heathers is a true 80s wonder. I say "slightly lighter note" because it's still dark and twisted but it's hilarious so it's definitely some light relief after Mysterious Skin. This film just oozes 80s style which I absolutely adore and Winona Ryder kills it throughout (literally). Heathers somehow manages to mix crime and comedy to perfection, completely taking the piss out of what it means to be 'cool'. It has some great acting and one of the best plots to come out of the 80s. 10 out of 10, would recommend to a friend.
I Killed My Mother (2009): Xavier Dolan
Oh look at that, another post involving Xavier Dolan, what a shock. I Killed My Mother was Xavier Dolan's first feature film and, correct me if I'm wrong, I think he wrote it when he was 17 so that makes me feel like a massive failure. It's a semi-autobiographical film about a gay teenager with a complicated relationship with his mum. One of my favourite things about Xavier Dolan is his complete lack of fear when it comes to breaking the rules of film-making; he throws in some really weird shots that may or may not work and you spend the full film just admiring his guts. The dialogue and interaction between characters (especially Hubert and his mum) is ridiculosuly natural and believable, and the fact that it's in French somehow makes every word sound better. I love everything about this film.
Kaboom (2010): Gregg Araki
Another Gregg Araki film...I should've thought this through. Kaboom only has a 5.7 rating on IMDb which is a travesty in my opinion because I watched it in April and I still tell people about it on a weekly basis even now, 4 months later. It's potentially the most bizarre film I've ever seen. It makes no sense. I love it. I watched Kaboom one night after a really sad episode of Skins because I thought it would be quite light-hearted (and it has Juno Temple in it who's kinda my queen) but I was wrong...very wrong. I've never been so disturbed and confused by a film in my life. It's a sci-fi movie about a group of college students experimenting and trying to find themselves but it's honestly so weird and out-there. I won't say anything else because I don't want to ruin it at all but it's psychedelic, wacky and absolutely hilarious. Gregg Araki is a genius.
Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of (2015): Stephen Kijak
Bit of a wildcard to finish with but you probably saw this coming because it's common knowledge that I really like the Backstreet Boys. Like, really like them. This is a documentary about the backstreet boys but don't be fooled into thinking that they're just a superficial boy-band with killer harmonies and over-flowing bags of talent because this documentary is a work of art. There is so much more to the backstreet boys and everyone should love them as much as I do. I mean, have you heard Quit Playing Games With My Heart? It's genius. I cried buckets at this film, mainly when I saw how well Nick Carter had grown up. Just take my word for it and dedicate a day to this documentary.
Just a quick little apology for the lack of female directors. The film industry in general definitely supports male directors more than it does female directors but I should've made more of an effort to be more critical and watch films more diversely, and to feature a more diverse range of films in this post. Sorry! I'll work on that for future film-related posts.
Have you seen any of these films? What have been some of your favourites from 2015 so far?
Cat