Parasite
MA15+
South Korea, 2019
Genre: Comedy, Thriller, Drama
Language: English, German, Korean
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-Kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam
What's it about?
It shouldn't be a surprise that Bong Joon-ho's Academy Award-winning film has made the list. Making Academy Awards history in 2020, this film is thought-provoking and certainly lives up to the hype. All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.
[link title="Cannes winner "Parasite" captures rich-poor gap in "basic unit of life" -director" url="node/204651"]
[link title="Bong Joon Ho on Best Picture ‘Parasite’ Making Oscars History: ‘It’s Really F—ing Crazy’" url="node/206153"]
The Bookshop
PG
United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, 2017
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Isabel Coixet
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Patricia Clarkson
What's it about?
Based on the 1978 novel of the same name and starring Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy, The Bookshop is the ultimate comfort viewing, much like the feeling of getting lost in a good book, so it's no surprise it's made the list again this year. Set in a small English town in 1959, it's the story of a woman who decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop, a decision which becomes a political minefield.
Hope Gap
M
United Kingdom, 2019
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Director: William Nicholson
Starring: Annette Bening, Bill Nighy, Josh O'Connor
What's it about?
Any film with Bill Nighy is most likely to be one of SBS On Demand's top-viewed films, and Hope Gap also stars Annette Bening – what a powerhouse duo. Edward and Grace's visit with their son Jamie takes a dramatic turn when Edward tells him he plans on leaving his mother. Through stages of shock, disbelief and anger – and with support from her son – Grace ultimately regains her footing while learning it's never too late to be happy.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
PG
United Kingdom, 2003
Genre: Drama, Romance, Biography
Language: English
Director: Peter Webber
Starring: Tom Wilkinson, Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth
What's it about?
Audiences were drawn to the visually arresting period drama from 2003 starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Based on Tracy Chevalier's novel the film presents a fictional account of Vermeer, the model and one of his most famous works. When her father goes blind, Griet must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer. While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret. When wealthy patron Van Ruijven begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.
[link title="Girl with a Pearl Earring review: Scarlett Johansson is superb" url="node/2995"]
To Die For
MA15+
USA, 1995
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Fantasy
Language: English
Director: Gus van Sant
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, Nicole Kidman, Casey Affleck
What's it about?
We dive into some 90s nostalgia with our next two films, and this satirical dark comedy from Gus van Sant is a classic. Nicole Kidman gives an incredible performance as the psychopathic Susan who just wants to be a star, no matter the cost, even if it means killing her husband. The cast is rounded out by the wonderful Matt Dillon and a young Joaquin Phoenix.
Point Break
PG
USA, 1991
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Action
Language: English
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James LeGros, John Philbin, Bojesse Christopher
What's it about?
The 90s nostalgia continues with this surf crime classic starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. An FBI agent becomes a Californian surfer to infiltrate a group of surfing bank robbers who commit their crimes wearing masks of former presidents. However, things get complicated when he befriends the gang's leader, Bodhi.
And speaking of popularity, the following films also made am impact on audiences this year.
Fidelity
MA15+
Russia, 2019
Genre: Drama
Language: Russian
Director: Nigina Sayfullaeva
Starring: Aleksandr Pal, Evgeniya Gromova, Aleksey Agranovich, Marina Vasileva
What's it about?
Lena is a talented midwife and gynaecologist, her husband Serezha is an actor at a provincial drama theatre. They are close and gentle with each other, but there is no sex. Lena suspects that Serezha is having an affair, but she worries quietly and does not reveal her jealousy. Instead of sorting out her relationship with her husband, Lena starts to betray him with chance acquaintances. Gradually Lena's parallel life gets out of control and changes her original life.
Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story)
MA15+
France, 2015
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Eva Husson
Starring: Marilyn Lima, Daisy Broom, Finnegan Oldfield, Lorenzo Lefèbvre, Fred Hotier
What's it about?
In the well-to-do suburbs of a small town in France, 16-year-old George, the high school hottie, falls in love with Alex. To get his attention, she initiates a group game with Alex, Nikita, Laetitia and Gabriel. They will discover, test and push the limits of their sexuality.
