Reel and Roll Films

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s idiosyncratic and unforgettable portrait of a time of great mischief takes the win for me - but love all these incredible, daring directorial achievements that all have something unique to offer to the tapestry of modern cinema. #reelandrollawards2025

So much great work to spotlight here from these leading ladies, but my choice was never in doubt for Rose Byrne’s towering work in IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU that’s already an all-timer in my books. #reelandrollawards2025

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I give Lee the win in 3 previous years - for JOINT SECURITY AREA, A BITTERSWEET LIFE and I SAW THE DEVIL - so I don’t feel too badly for ‘only’ having him as a runner-up here.

Lee Byung-hun’s magnificent work would be my win in most years, but it’s no surprise to anyone that my Lead Actor choice is Wagner Moura’s powerhouse star turn in THE SECRET AGENT. #reelandrollawards2025

What’s grown on me the most with every NO OTHER CHOICE rewatch is Son Ye-jin’s performance; grounding it with such devastating power amidst the comedic insanity of it all. Though I also adore Lilleaas’ performance so much too, also the heart of her film. #reelandrollawards2025

And now we proceed to my acting lineups, starting with Supporting Actor, where my win goes to Ralph Fiennes, whose brilliant work as Dr Kelson comes in the clutch marvellously to take 28 YEARS LATER to a whole other level of greatness in its third act. #reelandrollawards2025

With its immaculate balance of tonal shifts, time leaps, offbeat tangents to go with its devastatingly human core; how could I possibly award this to anything but THE SECRET AGENT? Nevertheless, so much layered work here from so many exciting voices. #reelandrollawards2025

Alex Garland did the unthinkable and with 28 YEARS LATER, built upon the post-apocalyptic foundation into directions that were surprising, thoughtful and incredibly moving. Only too glad to give him a win for his outstanding work here. #reelandrollawards2025

The ensemble category, always one I have a lot of fun figuring out my lineups for. #reelandrollawards2025

Would love to see a surprise win for SIRĀT’s immaculate soundscape work at this year’s Oscars. #reelandrollawards2025

Another year, another Park Chan-wook film getting my personal win in the editing department. #reelandrollawards2025

Definitely saw a little less than usual this year that qualified for this category, but still plenty of strong work to be found. #reelandrollawards2025

I knew from the first time I watched it, that Evgenia Alexandrova’s work on THE SECRET AGENT was going to be my personal win here. Don’t fret too much over the exact rankings. All superlative work and it was so hard narrowing last year down to ten slots. #reelandrollawards2025

From period to contemporary costuming, a wide range of costume design excellence; the stylish extravagance of FRANKENSTEIN plain itself at the top of my list. #reelandrollawards2025

So many incredible makeup and hairstyling effects last year, especially in the horror genre, and kudos to the Academy for nominating and drawing my attention to THE UGLY STEPSISTER, which is my personal win. #reelandrollawards2025

Many gorgeous set designs in 2025 films, and the crowning achievement for me was every distinctly crafted phase of Bi Gan’s RESURRECTION. #reelandrollawards2025

Just saying, this would be quite a terrific afterparty playlist. #reelandrollawards2025

There was no other choice for the winner, of course, in what might be Park Chan-wook’s most memorable needle drop of his career (which is saying something). But many banging song choices by directors this year. #reelandrollawards2025

And here we go. Kicking off my annual tradition of the Reel and Roll Awards with the Original Score category. Ludwig Göransson’s career-best score takes its rightful victory. #reelandrollawards2025

Wish I liked this lineup more overall, but they did nominate the best film of the year sooo. 🤷‍♂️

Love those two screenplay noms he got. Variety!

Not brave enough to post this on the big site but this is how I’d rank all the Oscar nominated performances this year

I have one purely based on wishful vibes and nothing else prediction every year and that’s No Other Choice in screenplay.

Well, here we go, final predictions for tomorrow.

As the year comes to a close, these are my Top 30 Favourite Films of 2025.

(Still have quite a few things to catch up on so hardly definitive, but as is - another fantastic year for cinema)

Busan International Film Festival 2025 | Movie Review: “My Father’s Shadow” Seamlessly Blends Personal Memory and Historic Conflict in a Striking Feature Debut — ForReel “The juxtaposition between the personal and the collective in My Father’s Shadow is essential.”

Akinola Davies Jr.’s MY FATHER’S SHADOW has just been submitted as the UK entry for International Film for the upcoming Oscars. My review of this extraordinary film, one of the year’s very best so far.

thisisforreel.com/home/busan-i...

What a privilege it was today to attend a masterclass with the brilliant Sakura Ando, moderated by HK actress Chung Suet Ying. She was such a wonderful speaker and lovely presence, and spoke with such earnest depth on a wide variety of topics regarding her career.

Movie Review: "I'm Still Here" Leverages Compelling Performances To Deliver A Powerful and Devastating Political Drama — ForReel “Anchoring it all is the extraordinary tour de force leading turn by Torres, where motherhood in adversity delivered with restraint and quietude that makes it all the more emotionally devastating.”

As I’M STILL HERE continues expanding in cinemas across the world, resharing my review for this exceptional film.

thisisforreel.com/home/movie-r...

So many directorial achievements to celebrate for last year, that it was so hard to narrow down to just ten of them for my ballot; but my choice for the win is easily, without question, RaMell Ross’ extraordinary, groundbreaking work in NICKEL BOYS. #reelandrollawards2024

No surprises as to who gets my overall win here, with my favourite performance of the year taking the crown, but as always with Lead Actress: so much incredible work to choose from. #reelandrollawards2024