MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS doesn't meet all of the Golden Brick criteria, but it does a few things very well. Formally inventive? Not really. Does the filmmaker show promise? Unless his sister starts a successful band, I'm not sure if Tom Berninger has a future in filmmaking. That said, what the director did so well is coax a very powerful narrative about siblings struggling against their expectations for each other. And most importantly, there is a sequence at the end of the film merging the band's live performance with Tom's quest for validation that is a true reverie moment captured on film. I would not have seen this movie without Adam's recommendation and I also get to discover an excellent back catalogue of a band that I was completely unaware of. This film is definitely Golden Brick worthy. Jim Pallini Bethpage, NY
Mistaken for Strangers is not just the winner of this poll for me, it's my third favorite of the year (after Boyhood and Love is Strange). My favorite aspect of the film is that the very fact it was created is inspiring in and of itself. The entire doc is a journey for director Tom Berninger, learning to believe that he, and anyone really, deserves to be the lead in their own story. That we see him editing the film really brings him home. Though formally different, this reminds me a lot of last year's Stories We Tell, where the film is about storytelling, and the way we shape our stories, and the stories around us. A powerful look at brotherhood, self-confidence and, in a post-credits scene that blows anything Marvel has done out of the water, the innate power of rock and roll.
Jason Alba - 9 years ago
Under The Skin
Locke
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
RB - 9 years ago
After Josh's short review of The Tale of Princess Kaguya last week, I immediately sought out the film and it now ranks of one of my three favorite films of the year. I know it is not a nominee, but it is certainly my favorite film this year that I would not have seen if not for filmspotting.
Luke Scholtes - 9 years ago
My finger hovered over Calvary for a split second but since I found a lot of positive reviews on it aside from that of Filmspotting so chances were I would have seen it anyway. My vote goes to Mistaken for Strangers. There was so much about this movie that I loved but it deserves the Golden Brick because I think it's the most Filmspottingest movie on the list (movie about movie making, meta elements, two men who really care about each other deep down but argue over silly things), and because it comes with the extra nugget that it may also turn you on to The National.
Johan Salberg - 9 years ago
Blue Ruin & Starred Up are two really great films. Jack O´Connel is about to take the world by storm and hopefully so is Macon Balir.
Art (Maumee, Ohio) - 9 years ago
To be completely honest, I had heard about all these movies before, albeit days or weeks, they really came up on the show except for The One I Love and Mistaken for Strangers. Since I haven't caught up with Mistaken for Strangers, I will definitely have to go with The One I Love, a movie I greatly enjoyed and admired the ambition it displayed.
Darrell Mather (Brighton, UK) - 9 years ago
I've managed to catch 4 out of the 6 on this years final list but I think that even if I'd seen all 6 that my vote would still be going to 'Starred Up'. There are few films this year that have captivated me from start to finish the way this one did. It comes as no surprise to me that Jack O'Connell is getting the praise he is for his role as Eric Love. I have no doubt that his other great performance from this year in Yann Demange's Belfast set thriller ''71' would have made that film another runner for the Golden Brick too if only that had got a wider release. Just ask Michael Phillips about that one.
Wendy "The Agony and the Ectoplasm" Weber - 9 years ago
I was trying to decide between two films, and decided on the one I haven't seen yet, because it seemed to represent the criteria the best. I would have never heard of "Starred Up" if it wasn't for Filmspotting, and despite the fact that it sounds a little inaccessible to me, I still really wanted to see it because of your discussion.
The other film was "Blue Ruin," which I did see. Good lineup this year, though. I'll probably see all of them. (I've also seen "The One I Love").
Dom (Australia) - 9 years ago
Calvary wins it for me. I loved The Guard - funny, sad, thrilling, intruiging - and expecting something similar from McDonagh with another Brendan Gleeson-starring Irish flick featuring comedic actors Chris O'Dowd (from the IT Crowd and Bridesmaids) and Dylan Moran (from the brilliant Black Books). But any comedy here is as black as it gets, and instead we get a film that takes a hard look at some big themes (the circle of violence, forgiveness, the flaws of Catholic Church) while remaining entertaining throughout. Plus an ending that you just wouldn't get from Hollywood. You just know whatever comes next from McDonagh (and Gleeson) will be worth seeing.
Oliver (NZ) - 9 years ago
Have only seen Blue Ruin & Calvary. I crashed my car on the way to Starred Up.
I liked Calvary more than Blue Ruin but I chose Blue Ruin over Calvary because the director John Michael McDonagh directed The Guard which was a popular movie amongst my friends. They haven't seen Blue Ruin.
Colin Hinckley - 9 years ago
I'm really surprised you guys didn't catch up with The Babadook, the incredibly impressive debut from director Jennifer Kent. This is the most unique horror film I've seen in a long time; a deconstruction of grief and loss conveyed through the first fear of our lives: the thing that goes bump in the night.
Fran - 9 years ago
I'm surprised that The Babadook wasn't mentioned, a genuinely creepy, inventive horror that should be getting a lot more buzz than it is.
Chris Pike - 9 years ago
"Blue Ruin" is my pick all the way! I caught it on Netflix and thought it was terrific!
Edward Savoy - 9 years ago
Seeing The One I Love after seeing Gone Girl, I've concluded that the two would make an excellent double bill, as both are films that, at their core, are exploring the idealized personas we create in relationships and the impossibility of maintaining that persona. Count me on Team Adam on this one.
My vote perhaps shouldn't count as much as some others as I haven't seen all of the movies on this list, but for me, The One I Love is the winner. It was such a playful but cerebral film about love that despite it's few shortcomings I still can't stop thinking about, and that's truly what I want from a film. I want a journey that puts me into someone's life and mind, while also making me ask important questions about myself and the relationships in my life. Not since Eternal Sunshine has a film combined magical realism and deep questions about love in such a complex and interesting way.
Joshua Heizer - 9 years ago
I don't see how it could be anything but Starred Up. All great nominees, but the performances in this film outshine anything else from the year. Fantastic film.
MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS doesn't meet all of the Golden Brick criteria, but it does a few things very well. Formally inventive? Not really. Does the filmmaker show promise? Unless his sister starts a successful band, I'm not sure if Tom Berninger has a future in filmmaking. That said, what the director did so well is coax a very powerful narrative about siblings struggling against their expectations for each other. And most importantly, there is a sequence at the end of the film merging the band's live performance with Tom's quest for validation that is a true reverie moment captured on film. I would not have seen this movie without Adam's recommendation and I also get to discover an excellent back catalogue of a band that I was completely unaware of. This film is definitely Golden Brick worthy. Jim Pallini Bethpage, NY
Mistaken for Strangers is not just the winner of this poll for me, it's my third favorite of the year (after Boyhood and Love is Strange). My favorite aspect of the film is that the very fact it was created is inspiring in and of itself. The entire doc is a journey for director Tom Berninger, learning to believe that he, and anyone really, deserves to be the lead in their own story. That we see him editing the film really brings him home. Though formally different, this reminds me a lot of last year's Stories We Tell, where the film is about storytelling, and the way we shape our stories, and the stories around us. A powerful look at brotherhood, self-confidence and, in a post-credits scene that blows anything Marvel has done out of the water, the innate power of rock and roll.
Under The Skin
Locke
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
After Josh's short review of The Tale of Princess Kaguya last week, I immediately sought out the film and it now ranks of one of my three favorite films of the year. I know it is not a nominee, but it is certainly my favorite film this year that I would not have seen if not for filmspotting.
My finger hovered over Calvary for a split second but since I found a lot of positive reviews on it aside from that of Filmspotting so chances were I would have seen it anyway. My vote goes to Mistaken for Strangers. There was so much about this movie that I loved but it deserves the Golden Brick because I think it's the most Filmspottingest movie on the list (movie about movie making, meta elements, two men who really care about each other deep down but argue over silly things), and because it comes with the extra nugget that it may also turn you on to The National.
Blue Ruin & Starred Up are two really great films. Jack O´Connel is about to take the world by storm and hopefully so is Macon Balir.
To be completely honest, I had heard about all these movies before, albeit days or weeks, they really came up on the show except for The One I Love and Mistaken for Strangers. Since I haven't caught up with Mistaken for Strangers, I will definitely have to go with The One I Love, a movie I greatly enjoyed and admired the ambition it displayed.
I've managed to catch 4 out of the 6 on this years final list but I think that even if I'd seen all 6 that my vote would still be going to 'Starred Up'. There are few films this year that have captivated me from start to finish the way this one did. It comes as no surprise to me that Jack O'Connell is getting the praise he is for his role as Eric Love. I have no doubt that his other great performance from this year in Yann Demange's Belfast set thriller ''71' would have made that film another runner for the Golden Brick too if only that had got a wider release. Just ask Michael Phillips about that one.
I was trying to decide between two films, and decided on the one I haven't seen yet, because it seemed to represent the criteria the best. I would have never heard of "Starred Up" if it wasn't for Filmspotting, and despite the fact that it sounds a little inaccessible to me, I still really wanted to see it because of your discussion.
The other film was "Blue Ruin," which I did see. Good lineup this year, though. I'll probably see all of them. (I've also seen "The One I Love").
Calvary wins it for me. I loved The Guard - funny, sad, thrilling, intruiging - and expecting something similar from McDonagh with another Brendan Gleeson-starring Irish flick featuring comedic actors Chris O'Dowd (from the IT Crowd and Bridesmaids) and Dylan Moran (from the brilliant Black Books). But any comedy here is as black as it gets, and instead we get a film that takes a hard look at some big themes (the circle of violence, forgiveness, the flaws of Catholic Church) while remaining entertaining throughout. Plus an ending that you just wouldn't get from Hollywood. You just know whatever comes next from McDonagh (and Gleeson) will be worth seeing.
Have only seen Blue Ruin & Calvary. I crashed my car on the way to Starred Up.
I liked Calvary more than Blue Ruin but I chose Blue Ruin over Calvary because the director John Michael McDonagh directed The Guard which was a popular movie amongst my friends. They haven't seen Blue Ruin.
I'm really surprised you guys didn't catch up with The Babadook, the incredibly impressive debut from director Jennifer Kent. This is the most unique horror film I've seen in a long time; a deconstruction of grief and loss conveyed through the first fear of our lives: the thing that goes bump in the night.
I'm surprised that The Babadook wasn't mentioned, a genuinely creepy, inventive horror that should be getting a lot more buzz than it is.
"Blue Ruin" is my pick all the way! I caught it on Netflix and thought it was terrific!
Seeing The One I Love after seeing Gone Girl, I've concluded that the two would make an excellent double bill, as both are films that, at their core, are exploring the idealized personas we create in relationships and the impossibility of maintaining that persona. Count me on Team Adam on this one.
My vote perhaps shouldn't count as much as some others as I haven't seen all of the movies on this list, but for me, The One I Love is the winner. It was such a playful but cerebral film about love that despite it's few shortcomings I still can't stop thinking about, and that's truly what I want from a film. I want a journey that puts me into someone's life and mind, while also making me ask important questions about myself and the relationships in my life. Not since Eternal Sunshine has a film combined magical realism and deep questions about love in such a complex and interesting way.
I don't see how it could be anything but Starred Up. All great nominees, but the performances in this film outshine anything else from the year. Fantastic film.