It’s been a slight plateau of a year for culture. We’ve seen for a long time now that bigger-budget and franchise films are dominating cinemas (90% of all theatrical releases now are remakes or sequels). Naturally, attendance or access to mid-budget and smaller films is wavering. One thing that has been notable this year though – apart from a two or three picks in the lists below (Namely ‘Atlanta’, ‘The Square’ and ‘You Were Never Really Here’) – there has been a distinct lack of originality across the board. That shouldn’t suggest, for instance, that ‘The Deuce’ wasn’t exceptional, but technically and artistically less risks seem to be taken anymore. The same can be said of music; although I love every album in that top ten with a passion, they were all fairly accessible, and fit with a sense of familiarity in relation to what has come before (except for the more experimental albums of Yves Tumor and Low).
Just to be clear, I’m not bemoaning what we’ve been blessed with this year. Every film, TV show, or album below offered something of great quality. As is the case every year, what you see below is what I’ve seen or heard this year, so there may be a couple of pieces from late 2017 in there. Without further ado, here’s the list:
FILM
1. The Square
2. You Were Never Really here
3. First Reformed
4. Phantom Thread
5. Hereditary
6. Faces Places
7. Cold War
8. Shirkers
9. The Other Side of the Wind
10. Private Life
Honourable Mentions
I, Tonya, A Fantastic Woman, Miseducation of Cameron Post, Roma, Filmworker, Three Billboards, Paddington 2, Widows, Isle of Dogs, Columbus, BlacKkKlansman, Leave No Trace.
Overrated
Annihilation, Mandy, A Quiet Place, Eighth Grade, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, A Star is Born, The Wife, Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Incredibles 2, Beast, Bohemian Rhapsody.
TV
1. Atlanta
2. The Deuce
3. Wild Wild Country
4. High Maintenance
5. Flowers
6. Killing Eve
7. The Americans
8. Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm
10. Dear White People
Honourable Mentions
Barry, Maniac, F is for Family, Sally4ever, Cunk on Britain, Inside No.9, Insecure, Kidding.
Overrated
Westworld, The Romanoffs, The Good Place, Bojack Horseman, Glow, End of the F*cking World, Patrick Melrose, Legion, The Bodyguard.
MUSIC (Albums)
1. Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!
2. Beach House – 7
3. Low – Double Negative
4. Yves Tumor – Safe in the Hands of Love
5. Mitski – Be the Cowboy
6. U.S Girls – In a Poem Untitled
7. Anna Calvi – Hunter
8. Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy
9. Matthew Dear – Bunny
10. Blood Orange – Negro Swan
Honourable Mentions
Ought, Noname, Marianne Faithful, Arctic Monkeys, A.A.L, Preoccupations, Amen Dunes, MGMT, Yo La Tengo, The Good, The Bad, and The Queen, Stephen Malkmus, Snail Mail, Ex:Re, Khruangbin, Kamasi Washington.
Overrated
Shame, Courtney Barnett, 1975, Boy Azooga, Jon Hopkins, Goat Girl.