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Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Olli — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:55:41 GMT

Author: Olli

Posted: 06/12/2026 08:55

CA Dreamin wrote:

Reckon we've reached the point when we stop talking about the last poll, and start talking about the next one.

next one? ok. I'm thinking 1930s ?

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

CA Dreamin — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:55:40 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 06/11/2026 14:55

Reckon we've reached the point when we stop talking about the last poll, and start talking about the next one.

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

CA Dreamin — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 05:27:23 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 06/04/2026 09:27

Hayden wrote:

This isn't a slight, I enjoyed both films, but Park and PTA dropped mid-tier works in their filmography and it's a bittersweet time for them to shine, but they did— and I'm glad they got some awaited dues, but I think everyone is thinking something along the same lines—...

...EDIT: And yeah, Die My Love was somewhat close, would've landed the top 50, etc— another case, like PTA, Park, where a director released a lesser work but was given the air to shine— I actually liked Die My Love far more than the general critics/audience reaction, but it's still like... maybe last in Ramsey's filmography for me? 😐 — more a testament to the strength of her work, but—

Hmm, I 2/3 agree with this. First, I think we're on the same page about One Battle. Overly long, a weak first act, etc. And we're on the same page about Die My Love. Hell of a performance from J-Law in a weak script. I remember watching it in theaters and hearing a couple boos from the audience after it was over, and I felt that was harsh. It's still Ramsay's worst film though. I admire that it tries to tackle a traumatic subject, but it does so on a completely superficial level. The movie constantly shows J-Law's shocking outbursts and self-harm, but that seems to be the extent of the movie's interest in her as a character and the mental illness she's suffering. It just feels like the movie has little to say, and what does have to say isn't exactly clear. To make matters worse, 'J-Law going nuts' quickly gets repetitive, resulting in a narrative that barely goes anywhere. Meanwhile Robert Pattinson is poorly written. Again though, I liked Sissy Spacek as J-Law's mother-in-law, but she was under-utilized. Die My Love could have been a lot better, frustrating how it turned out.

Lastly, we may somewhat disagree on No Other Choice. I felt Park Chan-wook was borrowing a page from Bong Joon Ho's book. Bong has always been exploring class inequality and hierarchy, and criticizing the capitalist systems that create them (even in horror (The Host), sci-fi (Snowpiercer), comedy (Barking Dogs Never Bite), and crime (Memories of Murder)). Whearas Park has always been more interested in telling stories about revenge, guilt, eroticism, etc. His films are more stylish, more violent, more action-driven, than Bong's and I see influences of Hitchcock and Tarantino in Park's filmography. However, No Other Choice represents Park's foray into anti-capitalist territory, but he does not abandon his distinctive flair. There's still plenty of action here as the main character plots to murder his rivals for a job position, and things, of course, don't go according to plan. I found more laugh-out-loud black humor and satire from No Other Choice than any Park film I've seen. Oh, and the camera angles, editing choices, and transitions were really creative too. Personally I loved No Other Choice, hands-down the best film Park Chan-wook has directed. (Yeah I know that's a loaded statement, but fuck off. Oldboy, Handmaiden, etc. may be more popular and higher-rated, but they're a bit too exploitative and lacking in sympathy). I find it interesting how the better companion piece to Parasite (2019) in 2025 was not Bong's long-awaited follow-up, Mickey 17, but No Other Choice, coming from Bong's fellow Korean countryman and friendly rival. Speaking of Mickey 17, why the hell is that movie on our list? That movie was such a disappointment.

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:12:36 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/03/2026 23:12

CA Dreamin wrote:

Seen 21/26

Olli wrote:

I’ve seen all 26 films. 🤡

I'm at 24/26—

I hadn't actually heard of Bring Her Back before this, never hit my radar—
It'll go on my watchlist, always keen on whatever Sally Hawkins is picking—

Olli wrote:

I’m also surprised that no one chose our number one OBAA as their personal number one? :D

This is correct 😎
It's happened before when a top film isn't selected as anyone's individual #1, but it's the minority of results—
It appeared on the most lists, which sometimes is enough brute strength backing to come out on top—
In this circumstance though, I find it especially surprising— feels like it would've landed someone's #1 somewhere—

Repo wrote:

We were having deep dish pizza in downtown Chicago at the time! 😋

Oh, and she thought Frankenstein "dragged, especially in the middle." I'll have to watch it!

Oh, and we really want to see No Other Choice now! 🤓

Love that you were watching the results live Repo 😄
I like to imagine that's the most fun way to experience this, rather than one swoop—
(I was in a minor typhoon in Busan while posting this, eating discounted grocery store bibimbap)

I agree with your daughter. Frankenstein needed to be just a little tighter. It's a great project, and I'm incredibly happy GDT pulled it off, but he could've trimmed about 3-4 minutes across the board— being said, his cut was probably closer to 4 hours, so—

And yeah, speaking of Korea, No Other Choice is solid, and I'm glad it landed slightly unexpectedly high— hope you get around to it soon—
It's a good film, but just the narrative is just slightly sloppy, which weakens the work as a whole—
Wish it went through the washer one or two more times before being worn—

This isn't a slight, I enjoyed both films, but Park and PTA dropped mid-tier works in their filmography in a below-mid year, and it's a bittersweet time for them to shine, but they did— and I'm glad they got some awaited dues, but I think everyone is thinking something along the same lines—
(No Other Choice not walking away with anything at Venice is truly bonkers though)

I hate calling a Jarmusch film trash— he's probably in my top 10 favourite directors— but to see him win the Golden Lion with something as flimsy as Father Mother Sister Brother is... sad— No Other Choice feels ridiculously obvious in comparison—

cestuneblague wrote:

Great job as always Hayden. Again haven't seen the vast majority here, the only one I did that didn't make my (brief) list was Marty Supreme, an entertaining-in-the-moment movie that personally just found incredibly overrated, but there's one of those for everybody. Will hopefully get to Sinners when I'm not just on my laptop, missed a chance to see an encore screening when I was in Portland.

Thanks Cestuneblague— the 25 cap made it a lot less work for me (literally half), so it kinda felt like a breeze this time around—
I'm hoping to get around to Sinners again somepoint soon— I've only watched it once—
Loved the first half (I mean, really solid 9/10 kinda stuff), and then a balloon popped— thought the back end was incredibly immature and lazy—
I'll give it another go, eventually— now that I know what to expect, maybe I'll enjoy it a bit more—

CA Dreamin wrote:

Yeah the first 30 minutes of 1BAA suffered from 'who cares about any of these characters' syndrome. It got better in the second and third acts, but it never quite won me over, and I consider it one of PTA's weaker movies (and yet it's still decent). I would have preferred a different Best Picture winner but I was okay with it because it was a long time coming for a PTA film to win the big prize. It pretty much nabbed Best Picture from every major awards body, but I was hoping BEA would go with another film.

Also just now realizing Jennifer Lawrence got #3 in the actress category, but her film, Die My Love, did not make the Top 26 25. It was the only instance of a performance making the Top 5 while the film was left out, and I completely agree. Die My Love had a glaring thematic and narrative issues, but Lawrence went all out and gotta give her cred. Sissy Spacek was really good too; Robert Pattinson, not so much.

And oh my god does it ever— only time I've ever felt that way with a PTA film— it comes together in time, truly, but I also felt that moment near the beginning like... really? (particularly Taylor's character)— I think it faults from that blunt mass swath kill-off, it almost persuades you not to become invested in these characters— not to signal anyone out, but a few weeks after I watched it I had completely forgotten Regina Hall was in it... her character just did not stick in my head— it's not going to be my favourite from PTA, ever, nor do I think it should be, but I enjoy it as a popcorn flick nonetheless, look at it as an homage to the genre, and I'm glad the dude got his dues—

The 2007 Oscars (this was before I was invested in cinema) would've been such a pain... I still don't know how I would've scrambled the winners—
I always look at it thinking PTA should've walked away with best director, but... the Coens were due—
There Will Be Blood v No Country For Old Men is brutal—

EDIT: And yeah, Die My Love was somewhat close, would've landed the top 50, etc— another case, like PTA, Park, where a director released a lesser work but was given the air to shine— I actually liked Die My Love far more than the general critics/audience reaction, but it's still like... maybe last in Ramsey's filmography for me? 😐 — more a testament to the strength of her work, but—

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

CA Dreamin — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 17:28:10 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 06/03/2026 21:28

Yeah the first 30 minutes of 1BAA suffered from 'who cares about any of these characters' syndrome. It got better in the second and third acts, but it never quite won me over, and I consider it one of PTA's weaker movies (and yet it's still decent). I would have preferred a different Best Picture winner but I was okay with it because it was a long time coming for a PTA film to win the big prize. It pretty much nabbed Best Picture from every major awards body, but I was hoping BEA would go with another film.

Also just now realizing Jennifer Lawrence got #3 in the actress category, but her film, Die My Love, did not make the Top 26 25. It was the only instance of a performance making the Top 5 while the film was left out, and I completely agree. Die My Love had a glaring thematic and narrative issues, but Lawrence went all out and gotta give her cred. Sissy Spacek was really good too; Robert Pattinson, not so much.

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Repo — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:36:09 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 06/03/2026 17:36

Olli wrote:

I’m also surprised that no one chose our number one OBAA as their personal number one? :D

Ha! That's crazy! �... I was hoping for more of Daddy-Daughter type of film a la Logan. I pretty much hated the first 30 minutes of it, but really enjoyed the rest.

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Olli — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 09:35:31 GMT

Author: Olli

Posted: 06/03/2026 13:35

I’ve seen all 26 films. 🤡

I think Affeksjonsverdi and Marty Supreme are both perfectly fine, but I don't consider either of them good enough for my own Top 25 list. I’m actually rather surprised that so many people rank Affeksjonsverdi so highly. 😮

I find Black Bag to be merely mediocre. That said, I generally struggle with Soderbergh’s films; I don’t find any of them particularly good. 🙄

I’m also surprised that no one chose our number one OBAA as their personal number one? 😁

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

cestuneblague — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 16:17:11 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 06/02/2026 20:17

Great job as always Hayden. Again haven't seen the vast majority here, the only one I did that didn't make my (brief) list was Marty Supreme, an entertaining-in-the-moment movie that personally just found incredibly overrated, but there's one of those for everybody. Will hopefully get to Sinners when I'm not just on my laptop, missed a chance to see an encore screening when I was in Portland.

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Repo — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:14:44 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 06/02/2026 14:14

I LOVE it personally! My daughter Genni got first crack at looking at being revealed last night, and she LOVED seeing Bring Her Back, Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die, Superman, and Bugonia make the list. We were having deep dish pizza in downtown Chicago at the time! 😋

Oh, and she thought Frankenstein "dragged, especially in the middle." I'll have to watch it!

Oh, and we really want to see No Other Choice now! 🤓

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

CA Dreamin — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 02:11:01 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 06/02/2026 06:11

Slightly disappointed by the placements of the top film, and the film that just barely made it. Folks, Black Bag is a great film. #25 is way too low. I hope this is a case of people simply haven't seen it yet. At least it made the list. As for One Battle After Another, it's fine but it didn't live up to the hype. I was really pulling for Marty Supreme to top this poll. Great movie, and seemed like a BEA kind of choice. Alas. Overall it's fairly agreeable list. Seen 21/26

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 22:28:33 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 02:28

And that's the list 😁

Please feel free to post in the thread—

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 21:08:01 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 01:08

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

1) One Battle After Another
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Points: 129

"I'm not on the phone man! I'm trying to charge the phone!"

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 21:01:47 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 01:01

5)

It Was Just An Accident
Dir. Jafar Panahi
Points: 89

4)

Marty Supreme
Dir. Josh Safdie
Points: 95
#1s: 1

3)

어쩔수가없다 (No Other Choice)
Dir. Park Chan-wook
Points: 104

2)

Affeksjonsverdi
Dir. Joachim Trier
Points: 111
#1s: 2

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:55:27 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:55

10)

Hamnet
Dir. Chloé Zhao
Points: 81

9)

Bugonia
Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
Points: 82

8)

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Dir. Mary Bronstein
Points: 83
#1s: 1

7)

O Agente Secreto
Dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho
Points: 84
#1s: 1

6)

Sinners
Dir. Ryan Coogler
Points: 87
#1s: 1

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:48:52 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:48

15)

Wake Up Dead Man
Dir. Rian Johnson
Points: 51

14)

صوت هند رجب (The Voice of Hind Rajab)
Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
Points: 55
#1s: 2

13)

Frankenstein
Dir. Guillermo del Toro
Points: 61

12)

Train Dreams
Dir. Clint Bentley
Points: 65

11)

Bring Her Back
Dir. Michael Philippou & Danny Philippou
Points: 66
#1s: 1

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:41:45 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:41

20)

Weapons
Dir. Zach Cregger
Points: 45

19)

Mickey 17
Dir. Bong Joon Ho
Points: 46

18)

Eddington
Dir. Ari Aster
Points: 48

17)

Sirāt
Dir. Oliver Laxe
Points: 48*

16)

Blue Moon
Dir. Richard Linklater
Points: 49

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:41:25 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:41

25) (tie)

Black Bag
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Points: 37
#1s: 1

25) (tie)

Superman
Dir. James Gunn
Points: 37

24)

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
Dir. Gore Verbinski
Points: 37

23)

左�'�子女孩 (Left-Handed Girl)
Dir. Shih-Ching Tsou
Points: 39

22)

The Phoenician Scheme
Dir. Wes Anderson
Points: 40

21)

Sore: Istri dari Masa Depan
Dir. Yandy Laurens
Points: 41

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:05:01 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:05

BEA's Best Score of 2025 Award

One Battle After Another (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2025) by Jonny Greenwood

2. Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)
3. Max Richter (Hamnet)
4. Bryce Dessner & Nick Cave (Train Dreams)
5. Kangding Ray (Sirāt)

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:00:49 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:00

BEA's Best Actor of 2025 Award

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

(Tie) 1. Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)
(Tie) 1. Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

3. Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
4. Paul Mescal (Hamnet)
5. Michael B Jordan (Sinners)

Re: Best Films of 2025 [List]

Hayden — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 19:53:19 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/01/2026 23:53

BEA's Best Actress of 2025 Award

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

1. Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

2. Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You)
3. Jennifer Lawrence (Die, My Love)
4. Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
5. Saja Kilani (The Voice of Hind Rajab)