Capturing the Friedmans (2003) - ★★★★★

Director: Andrew Jarecki

This documentary had my mind doing flips. Did he do it? Didn't he do it? He must have done it! But maybe he didn't... Capturing the Friedmans is one of the best documentaries ever made. The Friedmans was your average, loving family... until allegations against Arnold Friedman destroyed their world. He was charged with over 100 accounts of child molestation, as was his son Jesse. This documentary unfurls all of the drama, the history, the opinions, and the facts that surround such a dark, disturbing, and sad story.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks (2013) - ★★★★

Director: Alex Gibney
Writer: Alex Gibney

The Story of WikiLeaks would rank up there as one of the most interesting stories from the past 10 years. This is a pretty thorough and engrossing documentary, showing signs of bias here and there. Overall it paints a pretty cloudy picture of the infamous Julian Assange. In the end, I feel like I don't know anything about the REAL Assange. That's not really what interested me though. I wanted facts... cold hard facts. While we got some pretty good facts, I found the actual story to be so bloody interesting, especially when it focused on the REAL man behind the US military leaks, Bradley Manning. It's not a wildly entertaining documentary, or a very emotionally stirring documentary... it's just really effective and purely interesting.

Upstream Color (2013) - ★★★★½

Director: Shane Carruth
Writer: Shane Carruth
Stars: Amy Seimetz, Shane Carruth, Andrew Sensenig, Thiago Martins, Frank Mosley, Carolyn King

Upstream Color is one of the strangest, most interesting films I've ever seen. It's extremely weird, wildly original, and masterfully put together. Although the pace is a little slow, the film's ending left me feeling flabbergasted at how amazing the whole experience was. This isn't a film to everyone's taste, and I can understand that (kind of like myself and The Tree of Life). I'm still beaming over how different this film is. Just when I thought 2013 was becoming a pretty dud year for cinema, Shane Carruth surprised me with a touching, mind-bending, and quite an uplifting film about a subject I'd never even heard of before. I don't know what else to say really, except that I love this movie!

Spring Breakers (2013) - ★

Director: Harmony Korine
Writer: Harmony Korine
Stars: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Gucci Mane

I don't know what the purpose of Spring Breakers is, whether it be to highlight how society is going down the drain or if the characters are just an example of stupid girls with bad ideals... but I just couldn't stop myself from crossing my arms and shaking my head throughout the film. It's just so stupid. SO STUPID. None of these actresses gave convincing performances. There was little to no substance in the dialogue. Their actions were unrealistic, which further alienated me from the characters. It's just one gargantuan mess of scenes and dialogue that is aimed to impress 9th grader's who are having a serious identity crisis. It felt like the longest, slowest, most boring music video I've ever seen in my life.

Stoker (2013) - ★★★★

Director: Park Chan-Wook
Writer: Wentworth Miller
Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman, Jackie Weaver, Dermot Mulroney, Phyllis Somerville

Have you ever seen Alfred Hitchcock's classic, 'Shadow of a Doubt?' Well, Stoker is like that, except our female protagonist is just as crazy as Uncle Charlie. It's a beautifully made, disturbing, and extremely intriguing film. There are plenty of masterful elements to Stoker, especially in the cinematography. I found all of the performances to be really effective, particularly Mia Wasikowska as India. While it may not be perfect, it's one of the most fiendishly entertaining films of 2013.

Oldboy (2003) - ★★★★★

Director: Park Chan-Wook
Writers: Lim Chun-hyeong, Park Chan-Wook, Hwang Jo-yun
Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yu Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Ji Da-han

"Woah. Wow. What the f#ck?" 

That was my initial reaction to Oldboy. I loved this movie. LOVED IT! It's one of the craziest, mind bending movies I've ever seen. It also happens to be funny, charming, exciting, thrilling, and filled with cringe-inducing moments. I adored everything about this film. From the chillingly beautiful score to the stunning cinematography, I just found Oldboy to be a masterpiece from head to toe. The performances are just remarkable, as is the story. The twists and turns made my jaw hit the floor in shock, and they just kept coming! If there's one word to describe this film, it's "engrossing." I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen. To me, Oldboy will always stand up there with the very best movies cinema has to offer.

The Sapphires (2013) - ★★★½

Director: Wayne Blair
Writers: Tony Briggs, Keith Thompson
Stars: Deborah Mailman, Chris O'Dowd, Jessica Mauboy, Miranda Tapsell, Shari Sebbens

The Sapphires is a fun, entertaining, politically correct film that is sure to go down as an Aussie classic. I liked it, but I feel it could have been so much better. With the enormous talent of the cast, particularly Deborah Mailman, I could see this story as a masterpiece of cinema. Wayne Blair managed to turn it into a good film, but it's a film that only dabbles into certain issues. We get a glimpse of Australian history and racism, a glimpse of romance, a glimpse of drama, a fair amount of comedy, and a helluva lot of soul music. The problem with this film, and indeed a lot of modern Australian films, is that they've become too Hollywood. The Aussie accents are a little overdone, the Aussie sayings are a little out of place, and all of this is done for the benefit of foreign audiences. It stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

Million Dollar Baby (2004) - ★★★½

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers: Paul Haggis (Screenplay), F.X. Toole (Stories)
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Margo Martindale, Jay Baruchel, Lucia Rikjer, Mike Colter

Million Dollar Baby is great in someways, and average in others. It's very thrilling, meticulously acted by most, and very well put together. BUT I just don't see why people think it's one of the best movies of the decade. I just finished reading Roger Ebert's thoughts on the film, and he hailed it as a masterpiece! Well I guess this is yet another one of those films that I "Just don't get." I can definitely see how someone can have their heartstrings pulled by this movie. I'm not saying that people are wrong for lauding Million Dollar Baby as a great film, but I am saying that it's far from a faultless masterpiece.

Top 10 | Pure Drama

Top 10 Pure Drama

For a film to be a 'pure drama,' the overwhelming theme and element to the film must be drama. There were a number of films that could have made it onto this list, such as The Last Picture Show (1971), Citizen Kane (1941), and The Lives of Others (2006). Films such as these are dominated by drama... not romance, not comedy, not crime nor action... just drama. Here is my Top 10 Pure Drama's. 

10 | All About Eve (1950) Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz

What's cooler than Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, George Sanders and Anne Baxter bantering in the same scene? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. All About Eve is one of the wittiest, funniest, and most dramatic movies ever made. It contains my second favourite Davis performance of all time, along with my favourite performances by George Sanders and Anne Baxter. I just found the clash of divas, the chaos, and the backstabbing so darn entertaining. It's one of the greatest Best Picture winners of all time, and one of my all time favourite movies. Also, it contains one of the greatest lines in movie history. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night." 

9 | Mulholland Drive (2001) Directed by David Lynch

(I'm aware that crime is a major theme in the film, but the dramatic aspects are phenomenal). I'll admit, I wasn't a fan of Mulholland Drive when I first saw it. After re-watching it, I found it to be one of the most thrilling, wild, confusing, entertaining masterpieces I'd ever seen! It contains Naomi Watts' greatest performance, along with a haunting score, a wildly original story, a jumbled up puzzle of clues, and one of the best endings I've ever seen. The highlight: The Spanish rendition of "Crying" by Roy Orbison. 

8 | 12 Angry Men (1957) Directed by: Sidney Lumet

12 Angry Men may just be one of the most important movies ever made. The first time I ever saw this film, I was blown away by how flawed the jury system in America is (keep in mind, I was only in the 10th grade). The drama that unfolded between all of the jury members was astounding, especially when certain social prejudices were revealed. I just remember my jaw hitting the ground every time Henry Fonda refuted certain pieces of evidence... evidence that would otherwise be used as the nail in the coffin for the suspect. The best line: "No jury should declare a man guilty, unless it's sure." 

7 | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) Directed by: Julian Schnabel

Seldom has there been a film that has moved me as much as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It's usage of first-person cinematography and extremely effective, poetic dialogue made the movie a masterpiece. I just remember sitting there, feeling as paralysed as the main character. I was so submersed in his story that when the ending came... I just lost it. I cried for about 15 minutes. In my opinion, no other movie from 2007 comes close to the league of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. 

6 | Sunset Boulevard (1950) Directed by: Billy Wilder

"I am big, it's the picture's that got small!" Sunset Boulevard is arguably the greatest movie of all time. It's a flawless film. Absolutely flawless. When it comes to 'drama,' there are no other women as dramatic or as creepy as Norma Desmond, played perfectly by Gloria Swanson. To me, it is the greatest performance in the history of cinema. That's right, it's my all time favourite. I remember feeling torn between liking and hating Norma. I felt sorry for her, being abandoned by the world of cinema since the introduction of the talkies... but she was also an obsessive and self-loving bitch. Her immortal line 'Alright Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up," always gives me chills. 

5 | American Beauty (1999) Directed by Sam Mendes

American Beauty is one of the first films that made me fall in love with the world of cinema. The 'normal' family, neighbours, and friends are anything but normal... and this film was the opposite of what I expected. There is lots to talk about, so I'll narrow it down. The affairs and midlife crises of Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening were hilarious, believable, and always entertaining. My favourite story was the daughter's relationship with the strange neighbour, "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it." I loved how the over-confident best-friend is more self-conscious than anyone, and that the extremely conservative neighbour had to repress himself his whole life. It's just one big, perfect-mess of drama. 

4 | Farewell My Concubine (1993) Directed by Kaige Chen

Leslie Cheung moved me to tears.

Farewell My Concubine is my favourite Chinese movie of all time, and my personal favourite drama. It spans 5 decades of Chinese history, and follows one of the most unusual and interesting characters in cinematic history. It's one of those stories where it's hard to like any of the characters, yet you're so invested in their lives. It is stunning and tender, shocking and heartbreaking, and always riveting. Leslie Cheung gives one of the all time greatest performances in this film. He plays an actor that makes a living from playing a female opera singer... but he's also in love with his male co-star and best friend.

3 | A Separation (2011) Directed by Asghar Farhadi

A Separation is one of those films that BEGS to be discussed immediately after the credits roll. It's another 'flawless' film in my opinion, and one of the most intelligent and interesting ever created. We instantly delve into a really f*cked up situation, where it's easy to feel sorry for everyone and hard to pin the blame on anyone. I just remember after seeing this film, my family and I just sat in the lounge room discussing it for about an hour. It had a profound effect on me, and I think it'll become a 'classic' in the near future. 

2 | The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Directed by Frank Darabont

The Shawshank Redemption was my first taste of a perfect film. It raised the bar for me, setting a new tone for anything I saw after it. The characters, the dialogue, the cinematography, the score by Thomas Newman, the story, that escape scene... wow. Put simply... it's one of the most inspiring, poetic films I've ever seen. I couldn't pick a highlight from the film, because to me, the whole thing is just one big highlight.

1 | Ikiru (1952) Directed by Akira Kurosawa

I started watching this film having no idea what to expect, and left with a smile and a tear. Ikiru is undoubtedly one of the greatest movies of all time, for its story is enough to inspire someone to do something with their life. Takashi Shimura's performance is nothing short of perfection. It's one of the greatest performances of all time. Never has there been a film that made me appreciate life so much... there are so many wonderful lessons throughout this film. It's a must-see for any film fanatic. 

If you liked this list, check out my list for
Top 10 Greatest Romance Movies

Lore (2012) - ★★★★★

Director: Cate Shortland
Writers: Cate Shortland, Robin Mukherjee (Screenplay), Rachel Seiffert (Novel)
Stars: Saskia Rosendahl, Kai-Peter Malina, Nele Trebs, Andre Frid, Mika Seidel, Ursina Ladi, Hans-Jochen Wagner

There's something about Lore that will stick in my mind forever. It's haunting, poignant, powerful, realistic, and very touching. I was in a sort of trans whilst watching this film. I felt so submersed into the story and the environment, it was like I was on the journey with the characters. The performances are flawless, the music is haunting and beautiful, the story maintains intrigue and urgency, and the cinematography reminded me of the always stunning films by Terrence Malick. I'm not sure what else to say, except that so far it is my favourite foreign language film of 2012.