In the interest of getting “hard” copies of my work under one roof, I plan to spend the next few weeks posting the entire archive of my film journalism here on ScullyVision. With due respect to the many publications I’ve written for, the internet remains quite temporary, and I’d hate to see any of my work disappear for digital reasons. As such, this gargantuan project must begin! I don’t want to do it. I hate doing it. But it needs to be done. Please note that my opinions, like everyone’s, have changed a LOT since I started, so many of these reviews will only represent a snapshot in time. Objectivity has absolutely no place in film criticism, at least not how I do it.
I’m late to the party on this one, but since everyone else has been making a list like this, I had to do it too. A few caveats:
1. This is in no way comprehensive. No available yearly lists are complete, so I’m sure that plenty of movies weren’t even considered in the making of this list. I fear plenty of foreign films went unconsidered. Whatever.
2. I’m sure that my own capacity for error resulted in a few shameful misses.
3. If one of these doesn’t match my previous Best of the Year lists, don’t bother me about it. I do not care that you noticed my change in taste.
4. Zodiac is better than No Country for Old Men and There Will be Blood. Deal with it.
Here goes!
1984 – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1985 – Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
1986 – The Fly
1987 – Robocop
1988 – Die Hard
1989 – Back to the Future: Part 2
1990 – Goodfellas
1991 – Defending Your Life
1992 – Batman Returns
1993 – Jurassic Park
1994 – True Lies
1995 – Casino
1996 – Fargo
1997 – Boogie Nights
1998 – Rushmore
1999 – Eyes Wide Shut
2000 – High Fidelity
2001 – Mulholland Drive
2002 – The Rules of Attraction
2003 – 28 Days Later…
2004 – Kill Bill: Vol 2.
2005 – Grizzly Man
2006 – Casino Royale
2007 – Zodiac
2008 – Tropic Thunder
2009 – A Serious Man
2010 – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
2011 – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
2012 – Bernie
2013 – Inside Llewyn Davis
2014 – Under the Skin
2015 – Creed
2016 – Swiss Army Man
2017 so far – Logan
