December 2009 Archives

AND so here we are. Ten years after the Queen was shaking (hands) with Tony Blair inside The Dome, we can now look back at a whole decade of film - the first of the 21st Century.

That's 120 months, 520 weekends and some 3,652 days and 87,648 hours worth of potential movie-watching time.

But first, before I launch my films of the decade overall, here's one last look at the whole of 2009 itself.

What were your favourites? Click on the link below to read about mine.

In the meantime, it's worth nothing that the second decade is being launched tomorrow with what can only be described as an abominable collection - there's Post Grad, a live action film from Shrek co-director Vicky Jenson, Ashton Kutcher in Spread and, would you believe, an early hot contender for turkey of the year 2010. . . Hugh Grant / Sarah Jessica Parker in Have You Heard About the Morgans?

All of these will be explored in the New Year's Day edition of the Birmingham Mail so don't forget to buy your copy to find out why they are only worth one star between them!

There will also be a lovely, full-colour double page spread illustrating the best movies of 2009.

It's just as well the distributors of Nine refused to screen that film to regional critics before its Boxing Day release in the sticks followed its West End release on December 18.

Otherwise I'm not sure what we'd have done for a cover story review for our New Year's Day What's On section if Penelope Cruz hadn't stripped off for us to save the day.

Happy New Year!

WE'RE just hours away now from the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

And that means it will soon be time to reveal my top films of 2009, the whole decade and a little feature which explores some of Birmingham's astonishing facts re the movie industry in general.

All of this will be up and running before the end of New Year's Day so do keep returning to this site.

Meanwhile, time is beginning to play tricks.

It's impossible to believe that Heath Ledger died TWO years ago on January 22 in our latest featured year, 2008.

He could have made another two or three movies since then already. Perhaps if Clint Eastwood had had him under his wing for a period, things might have turned out differently. But we'll never know.

To find out all you need to know about 2008 - especially if you are the sort of person who likes to compile pub quizzes! - simply click on the link below.

WE'RE on the home straight now with this look at the year 2007 in movies.

On December 31 it will be the turn of 2008, before New Year's Day heralds the arrival of a look back at the Films of the Year 2009, plus a special feature on the role that Birmingham has played in movie history down the years.

For all you need to know about 2007, which as once seems so near yet so far away, simply click on the link below!

DOESN'T time fly when you are having fun?

The year 2006 is our seventh year to come back up for inspection during our ongoing day-by-day, countdown review of the decade.

It was something of a vintage year. To read more about 2006 simply click on the link below.

WELCOME to the start of the countdown for the second half of the decade representing the years 2000-2009.

Today's year is 2005 when I liked Crash to much I decided to make it my Film of the Year.

I don't always agree with the Oscar results, but I was delighted that this movie went on to win the Best Picture award at the next ceremony in 2006.

To read much more about the year in question, simply click on the link below.

Happy reading. And even better viewing!

HERE we are at the exact halfway mark during my countdown of the first decade of the 21st century.

We've already had the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Now it's the turn of 2004 to stand up to be counted.

And how!

Please click on the link below to find out more. . .

Welcome to our Boxing Day countdown of the decade in film.

Today we're up to 2003, when Pirates of the Caribbean arrived and The Lord of the Rings bowed out in style.

Click on the link below to read all about it.

This is already the third Mega Movies review of a year from the first decade of the 21st Century.

Now we are up to 2002.

All you have to do is to click on the link below to read the verdict for this year.

Open Sesame!

PS Happy Christmas for 2009 to all Birmingham Mail readers and, indeed, to anyone pouring over these pages from afar and beyond.

Welcome to the second Mega Movies review of a year from the first decade of the 21st Century.

This time it's 2001 and, once again, I'm reproducing my Birmingham Mail summary from the end of that year - regardless of whether or not I still agree with myself!

Click on the link below to read the 2001 verdict, together with a string of self-explanatory top tens which will jog memories, make you realise what you loved or missed - or perhaps even have you rubbing your eyes with disbelief that these films are either so old or were even released in the same year together.

Happy reading - and viewing!

THERE are just nine days to go before the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close.

And so it's time to begin one of my most ambitious projects to date - a year-by-year countdown of the movies that have been released since Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow on January 7, 2000.

Every day until the end of the year, Mega Movies will reveal how life has imitated art and art has imitated life on the silver screen.

Movies you've forgotten about or didn't know existed will be referenced along with those you love.

I've been watching and tracking all of the releases week by week and month by month and it's been fascinating to look back on the highs, lows and various trends.

Today begins with the Year 2000.

By Boxing Day we'll be up to 2003, ready for my review of 2008 to appear on December 31.

On January 1 you will be able to read all about my Films of 2009 as well as my Films of the Decade, plus the full version of a special story I've written about the wider influence of Birmingham in the film industry, starting in the 1860s and continuing right up to the present day.

Any errors will, of course, be mine alone. Please let me know of any corrections and I'll make them.

Similarly, if you agree, disagree or just have your own points of view, do make your own comments.

Each year rightly ends on a groundswell of optimism that the next one will be better.

But, however life treats you in 2010, don't forget the cinema, whether you prefer to seek its treasures for enlightenment, entertainment or education - or maybe all three.

As rising attendances during the worst recession in memory are proving, it's an escape valve giving many of us the chance to be transported into another world. Long may it continue to do so!