Films have been an incredibly prominent part of my life since I was a child. In fact, there are many pictures from my childhood of me proudly clutching the newest VHS tape of Disney films from the 00s. Whilst the tapes have since been laid to rest, my love for film is yet to cease in the slightest. Here are a few of my favourites that have impacted me in different ways:

Madagascar (2005)

Among the others in this list, Madagascar might stick out like a sore thumb – but that by no means suggests that it’s any less important. The first film I saw in the cinema, Madagascar was one of the best things that I had ever seen at the time. I had been raised on Disney VHS tapes but nothing had quite compared to witnessing the ragtag group of zoo animals run wild on the big screen.

Even when I watch it back now, there seems to be a timelessness to it. There are so many smaller comedic moments that went over my head as a child that I engaged with fully as an adult – which is always a nice feeling, isn’t it? To be able to continually interact with this film with similar emotions that I had as a child is something that I’ll cherish for a long time.

Us (2019)

No film in recent years has mesmerised me as much as Jordan Peele’s Us. Horror had never been my genre – nothing had ever really stood out to me as being worthy of watching again. Us turned the tables. Peele’s horror goes far beyond the typical gore and violence of prototypical horror films that had preceded it. He subverted the idea of the final girl in every possible sense; it was impossible to look away from.

Peele’s attention to detail is a marvel to behold, with every subtle nuance adding layer after layer of mystery to the film’s conclusion. The tension never ceases, never even alleviating, the audience is never able to revel in peace, even with the film coming to a close. Peele’s frightening and endlessly witty horror ignited my love for the genre and established Us as one of my favourites of the last few years.

Roman Holiday (1953)

In the role that won her an Academy Award, Audrey Hepburn captured not only the heart of lifelong friend Gregory Peck but the hearts of the entire world. As the restless Princess Ann, following her adventures around Rome feels like being let out into the world for the very first time. Through the eyes of Hepburn’s doe eyes, everything feels new. Rome is the perfect backdrop for a dalliance that proved that even fleeting interactions can be impactful.

Roman Holiday was one of the first classic films that captivated me. Hepburn became, and remains to be, one of the first actresses to leave a lasting impression on me; as a child, stories of her Humanitarian efforts helped to shape my early concept of what it meant to be an activist. It is a film that brings back the feelings of trying something new and seeing things for the very first time.

I, Tonya (2017)

Biographies are incredibly hit or miss. It is easy to take a controversial figure and paint them in a light that does not befit their actions, or take a prolific figure and omit the impact of those around them to elevate their status. I, Tonya does neither of these things. We are meant to despise every person in the narrative, and we do. It seeks to contextualise the events in the lead up to the 1994 Winter Olympics, but does not stop to validate their behaviour for even a second.

This film crept up on me. It’s trashy, it’s violent, and its intensity makes you feel a bit like Jeremy Kyle – but ultimately, it is powerful. The pain is as poignant as the comedy and the performances of its leading cast (Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, and Allison Janney) convincingly portray the complexity of the scandal. It’s unique, fourth wall breaking style firmly establishes it as one of my standouts of recent years.

American Psycho (2000)

American Psycho inspired enough rage in me to create an entire dissertation topic. Patrick Bateman and his colleagues are intolerable vacuums of capitalism and vapid conversation. His treatment of his fellow man is as painful as it is narcissistic and everyone seems to be deeply entrenched in 80s scandals. And yet, I could not stop watching.

As the first satirical director I knew that just so happened to be a woman, Mary Harron was the only of her kind that I had ever been exposed to and reminded me that there is space for girls like me behind a camera. This dark comedy will always leave me pulling at my hair in frustration, but as the years have gone on, it would appear that I owe more to it than I would like to admit.

Looking for more film reflection? Check out these other articles from Redbrick Film:

New Perspective: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

Child’s Perspective: The Twilight Saga

Child’s Perspective: Chicken Run

Ranking the Star Wars Films

Underrated Disney Classics