My favourite releases in the UK this year. I have no idea how I Swear will be received outside of the UK but I'd take it over anything else I've seen in 2025. The book it is based on is also superb 👌

I know people go with top 10 favourite first watches and all that but why restrict it to that when you've seen so many belters this year. An Icelandic gem that everyone is sleeping on at the top sounds about right for me 🎬

My world cinema viewing this year was very...French

My 2025 roll call of hidden gems/underseen films. A mix of documentaries, Polish-Russian stop motion, Ken Loach, East Asian cinema, Sidney Poitier and eh Looney Tunes 🤌

The Mascot (1933)
I Swear
My Mom Jayne
The Vanishing (1988)

The Illusionist (2010)
A Real Pain
The Verdict
Le Cercle Rouge
Dune
Prisoner Of Azkaban
The Lily Of Belgium

It went from a good month to a great month in no time

Flow
The Wild Robot
Rebecca (1940)
Hidari

Top notch animation and a superb Hitchcock/Olivier pairing

Casino
High and Dizzy
Dheepan
On Falling

Not watched a lot this month but there's some belters here

The Graduate
The Great Escape
Cyborg: A Documentary
One To One: John & Yoko

2 blindspots; 2 new docs

Mr Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1975)
Mickey's Trailer (1938)
A Patch Of Blue (1965)

20th century strikes again

The Straight Story (1999)
Belleville Rendezvous (2003)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

Fellow Pride appreciation!