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Dear duo of readers.
Its seemingly not a natural choice for a small-ish film distributor
specialising in independent talent driven works to attend a ceremony
celebrating celluloid but without actually using the word film in the title
– National Movie Awards, yes we are talking about you, but in the spirit of
balance and even, dare we mention the word, popularity, the intrepid Soda
team set forth last night for an evening of much whooping and cheering as
the nation spoke and selected their best films from the last year. (more…)
Posted on May 27th, 2010 by admin | Permalink | One comment | Share This
So we didn’t do too badly at predicting the BAFTAs, let’s see if we can improve with our guesses at what will win the Oscars. And again, what we think will win, not what we want. (more…)
Posted on March 3rd, 2010 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
Faith is the winner in the office, correctly predicting 6 out of 11 winners. Now to work out a suitable prize, or maybe wait to see how the Oscar predictions fare. (more…)
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
There is currently a Matthew Barney exhibition taking place at the Sadie Coles gallery in London which is well worth a visit. (more…)
Posted on February 11th, 2010 by Frances | Permalink | No comments | Share This
A spreadsheet has been circulating the office, gathering our votes for who will win at the BAFTAs. What we think will win, not what we want to win. So here’s what the Soda office has its money on… (more…)
Posted on January 29th, 2010 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
After giving you our film highlights of 2009 we now look forward to what’s ahead. So here are a few lists from us on our hot tips for 2010.
Ben (Sales Manager)
- I am Love - A great festival buzz that mentions a stand out performance from Tilda Swinton
- Lebanon - Any film that’s billed as next year’s ‘Waltz with Bashir’ peaks my interest.
- Green Zone - Greengrass and Damon - Bourne by a different name? That’s no bad thing.
Edward (Managing Director)
Frances (Acquisitions and Content Manager)
Posted on January 6th, 2010 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
And our last but no means least contribution comes from our Communications Manager, Faith Taylor.
Top 5 films of the year:
Milk - Of all the oscar films out early this year, this is the one that has stayed with me.
The Hangover - Manages to blend obvious gags with subtle, intelligent wit. So good I saw it in the cinema twice.
Hurt Locker - Absolutely gripping experience.
Hurt Locker
Fish Tank - Exceptional. Performance of the year from Katie Jarvis.
A Serious Man - I’m not a fan of everything the Coens do, but when this ended I wanted at least an hour more.
Honourable mention goes to Il Divo, for the best sequence of the year, if not the decade.
[If anyone can find an image/clip of this, please let us know!]
Top films of the decade:
Infernal Affairs
Talk to Her
No Country for Old Men
Elephant
Brokeback Mountain
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Magnolia
Posted on December 18th, 2009 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
Our penultimate top 5 of the year is brought to you by our Content Co-ordinator, Jamie Heatly:
Top 5 films of the year
The Hurt Locker - Tense, bewildering and brilliant. Unravels war’s addictive brew of fear and testosterone.
Let The Right One In - Perfectly sparse, dark Scandinavian beauty.
3 Monkeys - Veiled crimes draw you into an intriguing, murky Istanbul.
Drag Me To Hell - Proper, entertaining, jumpy horror - Raimi doing what he does best.
The Wrestler - Rourke is mesmerizing, and altogether honest, as a crumbling man coming round to a crumbling America
The Wrestler
Top Soda film of the year
Modern Life - Beautifully photographed, slow burning immersion into a fading rural existence…a bit like going back to Hereford for Christmas.
Modern Life
Top films of the decade
Gomorrah - A great de-glamourising, gutter-up look at Italian organised crime
There Will Be Blood - Jonny Greenwood’s amazing score envelops the film and perfectly unsettles the tone.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada - A weary-eyed, dusty tale of pilgrimage and redemption down on the Mexican border. Nice.
Finding Nemo - Incredible…UP pales in comparison. One of the best kid’s films ever.
Finding Nemo
Mulholland Drive - Mysterious, stylish, masterful Lynch
The Man Who Wasn’t There - A favourite film. Stunningly shot, and wonderfully scripted - creates a thick, blackly comic atmosphere as only the Coens know how. Billy Bob Thornton puts in a superb laconic performance as the Barber and Scarlett Johansen shines as Birdy.
Silent Light - More transcendent work from Reygadas, and worth a watch for the opening shot alone.
Defining film of the decade
No Country For Old Men - Anton Chigurh as an unflinching, amoral force of nature ushering in a new age of terror, leaving the old lawmen blinking in the dust. Broody, bloody, witty desert brilliance.
No Country For Old Men
Posted on December 17th, 2009 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
Today sees a return to the blog for our former Online Co-ordinator, Marie Foulston who is now the Innovative & New Markets Executive at Screen West Midlands:
I did 6 months of Soda service this year so I’m back again to offer 50% ’s worth of a Top 5 post. Whilst I can put together a list of my favourite films of the year, I can’t hand on my heart call these the best of the year considering I have a list longer than my arm of films I wanted to but failed to catch this year, I promise to make amends as soon as I can.
Films of the Year
In the Loop: Armando Iannucci’s colourfully worded writing at its best. Its quite rare that a film genuinely makes me laugh (please note: I’d had 3 glasses of champagne before seeing Knocked Up so that doesn’t count)
Fish Tank: Powerful, beautiful, emotional.
Wendy and Lucy: ditto what Kate said a few posts below.
Where the Wild Things Are: Sad and magical, truly reminded me of the highs and lows of years spent in the playground.
Where the Wild Things Are (Not a still from the film, but I'm hoping Marie wont mind. ~ Frances)
Zombieland: Surprised to be adding this here. I truly thought I didn’t have room to love another Zombie film, but I was wrong. It’s not perfect it’s entertaining and it was just right.
Favourite Soda Film of the Year
Home: Dark humour, great colours and very stylish (yes I know it’s like the Baftas, “how can it be best film of the year, and not also be best British film the year”, re; Wendy and Lucy above but I’m trying to spread the love)
Home
Defining Film of the Decade:
Donnie Darko. Frances got there before me, but I can’t not duplicate the response (but I’ll do so with more enthusiasm) as there has been no film from the noughties I’ve watched as many times as I have Donnie Darko (I think 5 of those were at the cinema). Maybe it’s because it’s one I’ve had the more distance from, so ask me again in 5 years and we’ll see if it stands up.
Posted on December 16th, 2009 by admin | Permalink | 4 comments | Share This
Two shorter lists today from our Managing Directors, Edward Fletcher and Eve Gabereau.
(Edward)
Top 5 of the year
White Ribbon
Genova
Up
Up
Fish Tank
Shifty
Favourite Soda Film
Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy
(Eve)
Top 5 of the year (in order)
1. Home
2. Wendy and Lucy
3. The Wrestler
4. An Education
An Education
5. Three Monkeys
Gratuitous extras
1. Inglourious Basterds - for a fun/clever blockbuster
2. (500) Days of Summer - for a fun/clever romantic comedy
(500) Days of Summer
3. Julie & Julia - for a fun/clever drama
Posted on December 15th, 2009 by admin | Permalink | No comments | Share This
