#yearsbest

[onlythehours]

Top 19 of ‘19

Here’s a list of the top 19 things I watched in 2019. I’ve included a few mini-series that were spectacular. I’m not arguing they are films, just great works. 

Note: I’m still to see lots of films I was excited for this year, such as: The Souvenir, Monos, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire... 

19.) High Life (Dir: Claire Denis)

Denis’ film is a tense, beautiful, and wholly new take on a space-journey film. Robert Pattinson is fantastic. 

18.) Atlantics (Dir: Mati Diop) 

Diop’s film is a curious mix of spellbinding and down-to-earth. Part haunting/possession story, part love story, and part post-colonial parable. 

17.) Amazing Grace (Dirs: Sydney Pollack, Alan Elliott)

Aretha’s voice takes centre stage. It is remarkable to sit and watch her talents. The behind-the-scenes nature of it offers quick glimpses into the quiet, contained professional she was. 

16.) Years and Years (Dirs: Simon Cellan Jones, Lisa Mulcahy. Written by: Russell T Davies)

Russel T Davies created a fantastic and all-too-believable account of where our world and society could go. The stories of one family over 15 years: heartbreak, loss, and happiness - all played out against a frenetic political backdrop that makes for part satire / part dreadful premonition. 

15.) Rocket Man (Dir: Dexter Fletcher)

Tarog Egerton is such a gem. A slightly less conventional approch to a star biopic.

14.) Us (Dir: Jordan Peele)

Lupita Nyong’o delivers a captivating dual performance in this well-paced horror thriller mashup. 

13.) Holiday (Dir: Isabella Eklöf)

Brutal, uncomfortable, and challenging. Brilliant cinematography and a magnetic central performance by Victoria Carmern Sonne lead the way in this prickly feminist tale about power, abuse, and control. 

12.) Animals (Dir: Sophie Hyde)

Funny and poignant at the same time.  A story of friendship and re-adjustment that asks how you go about finding yourself at the same time your closest friend finds their place in the world and the difficulties this many pose. 

11.) Ad Astra (Dir: James Gray)

Brad Pitt gives ones of his best performances since Moneyball in this elegiac, unpredicable story of loss and redemption. Makes an interesting companion to Denis’ High Life as an original take on a space exploration film that is firmly tied to burning questions of family and the future. 

10.) Luce (Dir: Julius Onah)

I found this film compelling, puzzling and unique. So many unanswered questions swirl in this story that explores black respectability and inter-generational conflict. Kelvin Harrison Jr is an enigma, in the best possible way.

9.) Knives Out (Dir: Rain Johnson) 

A wonderful murder-mystery script is brought to life with snappy go-for-broke performances. Ana de Armas is a total star. 

8.) Booksmart (Dir: Olivia Wilde) 

Go for the lols, stay for the well-drawn characters and relatable story about  friendship, the future, and identity. 

7.) Hustlers (Dir: Lorene Scafaria) 

A brilliant script is brought to life with fantastic performances and sharp editing.  JLo is as wonderful as everyone said. Under the glossy surface is a sadness and frustration that the films taps into well. 

6.) Little Women (Dir: Greta Gerwig) 

Gerwig perfectly balances the humour and pathos of the story. Florence Pugh is a true delight (what a year she’s had!!!). Gerwig has cemented herself as a major player in American cinema.  

5.) The Farewell (Dir: Lulu Wang) 

Equal parts funny and sad. Wang’s film touches a real part of the heart - asking what it means to live a life, love, and find yourself in the context of family (and the wider world). Awkwafina’s performance is captivating.  

4.) Wild Rose (Dir: Tom Harper)

Jessie Buckley delivers the definiton of a breakthrough performance in this feel-good, touching, and heartfelt story of one woman’s struggle to find her place. With a killer final song and a fantastic supporting performance from Julie Walters it is not to be missed. 

3.) When They See Us (Dir: Ava Duvernay) 

Ava Duvernay’s correction to history. A heartbreaking and infuriating look at racist injustice and its all-too-real consequences.  Episode four is an excellent dramatic diversion focusing on the micro of Korey Wise’s confinement and showcases Jharell Jarome’s phenomenal performance.

2.) Chernobyl (Dir: Johan Renk, Written by: Craig Mazin)

Maybe the 'best-made’ thing I’ve seen this year. Haunting, gutting, and terrifying. Beautifully made, perfectly paced. Excellent performances across the board, sensational production design, and a brilliant script expertly directed and edited.  

1.) Unbelievable (Dirs: Lisa Cholodenko, Michael Dinner, Susannah Grant. Written by: Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman, Jennifer Schuur and Becky Mode)   

A compelling antidote to the all-too-typical sexual assault narrative. It moves beyond questions of ‘what happened’ and ‘how’ to get at the deeper issue of who gets believed and the consequences of systemic injustice, misogony, and sexism. Merrit Wever and Kaitlyn Dever are remarkable. 

[lackingframe]

One BEST OF moments of this year was to see my work published on It's Nice That's magazine Printed Pages. 

It's simply a wonderful feeling to open a magazine that brings my photos amongst other exciting contemporary artists. It was the first time this work was published in international pages and I was BEYOND honored. 

Printed Pages is the biannual magazine of the amazing blog It's Nice That. Water Park can be found on page 53 of the Autumn/Winter 2017 issue.

THANK YOU It's Nice That for the invitation and the great amount of love you placed in this pages.

[incogem]

Our top nine posts according to you, thank you for your likes, comments and continued support of our page. We’re happy you share the same appreciation for jewelry that we do. 💍 #best9of2019 #top9of2019 #bestof2019 #yearsbest #favorites #jewelrydesign #diamondring #artdecoring #davidyurmanbracelet #ringinthenewyear #jewelry #diamonds #estatejewelry #jewelryaddicted #jewellery #instajewelry #ringoftheday #ringsofinsta #jewelrygram #1stdibsjewels #incogem See our bio for new & estate jewelry on 1stDibs (at Palm Desert, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tkx-ZBSNp/?igshid=dhl6lvtcaeok

[doctortdesigns]

My traditional yearly review week is starting up on the blog, so I thought I’d take a look back at the #bestnine2017 today. No surprise that the Pattern Review Sewing Bee is dominating in the results! #prsewingbee #sewing #podcasting @patternreview @geeksaywhat #geek #nerd #yearsbest

[fredhandbag]

Halfway through the year, these are my favorite reads. I have laughed - I have cried - I have visited magical places - I have solved crimes and been terrifically entertained along the way. Thank you authors for sharing your stories with us. #yearsbest #topbooks #top10 #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookshelf #books #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #booklover #bookish #bookreview #novel #bookaddict #bookhaul #bibliophile #goodreads #homelibrary #crimefiction #thriller #ya #yafantasy #youngadult #youngadultfiction #timetravel #scifi

[lifestylesae-blog]

#repost from @gemmlisaw - Thanks @doylejewelry Taking a look back at 2016 the best. This Platinum and Diamond Ring offered in October 19 auction sold at $130,000, far surpassing the estimate of $70,000-90,000. #lookback #yearsbest #auction #sold #yearinreview #8.65cts. #lifestylesaemagazine

[zeibfps]

https://ift.tt/2vQgXD5 via /r/gaming

[netunleashed-blog]

Best new bands from New York

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=34658 Best new bands from New York - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=34658 Smooth and soulful, yet creative, edgy and angry – New York’s unique and unparalleled character has inspired all manners of different musical dedications. From The Velvet Underground to The Talking Heads, from Blondie to Tupac, the list of New York’s musical gifts to the world is endless. With artistic legends in all manner of genres, the Big Apple has proven a hotbed of musical talent for generations. This next batch of eager New Yorkers are hoping to take up the baton for the city that never sleeps. Promiseland Who: Julian Casablancas has described him as the “Future Prince of Anarchy”.Sounds like: Edgy punk-driven angst on top of heavy, drum and bass beats. Signed to Cult Records, he’s only released a handful of tracks, but they’re packed with ferocious youthful angst.For fans of: The Prodigy, Show Me The BodyBest track: ‘Take Down the House’ Promiseland ‘Take Down The House’ by Cult Records www.facebook.com/PROMISELAND11 www.twitter.com/PROMISELAND_X www.instagram.com/_PROMISELAND_ QTY Who: A pair of native, born and bred New Yorkers.Sounds like: The perfect combination of the best New York bands in history, with a modern Kurt Vile-like twist. With their dual vocals and immediately uplifting chorus, QTY is quintessential New York indie rock.For fans of: The Velvet Underground, The StrokesBest track: ‘Rodeo’ Bodega Who: Brooklyn-dwelling post-punk purveyors.Sounds like: If ’70s icons Television had Instagram – we’re certain they’d sound as sardonic and vital as this bunch do.For fans of: Television, Parquet CourtsBest track: ‘How Did This Happen!?’ Blood Cultures Who: Mysterious balaclava wearing producer from New Jersey.Sounds like: Dark, brooding electro-pop. Combining equal parts psychedelic textures and dance-worthy beats. The music produced is as murky and obscure as its creator’s true identity.For fans of: Mount Kimbie, SBKTRKTBest track: ‘Phospholipid’ Nation of Language Who: Brooklyn-based new wave revivalists.Sounds like: An absolute blast. There’s elements of bands like New Order, Bruce Springsteen and OMD in there, but songs like ‘Reality’ and ‘I’ve Thought About Chicago’ give it a thoroughly modern edge.For fans of: Bleachers, New OrderBest track: ‘I’ve Thought About Chicago’ Ex Reyes Who: Psych-soul invention of an adopted New Yorker.Sounds like: Shimmering soundscapes drifting along effortlessly, for harking back to afternoons lazing around on sandy coastlines. Think carefree, summery vibes.For fans of: The Beach Boys, Real EstateBest track: ‘Keeping U In Line’ Mike Who: Teenage MC who moved to the Big Apple in 2014.Sounds like: Downbeat and direct rap verse, over hazy soulful beats and typically underground New York style lounge piano. An eclectic mix of his London and New York upbringing.For fans of: Earl Sweatshirt, WIKI, Isaiah RashadBest track: ‘God’s With Me’ GOD’S WITH ME, by MIKE GOD'S WITH ME by MIKE, released 06 June 2017 King Princess Who: Pop icon-in-waiting who has already received co-signs from Mark Ronson and Harry Styles.Sounds like: Emotionally-charged pop, but with a stylish and witty edge. Take ‘Upper West Side’, a love song about forbidden love – not because there are barriers, she just doesn’t like them that much.For fans of: Harry Styles, Years & YearsBest track: ‘Upper West Side’ Sheck Wes Who: Harlem rapper who, in his own words, wants to be the first rapper/model/NBA Star/Nobel Prize Winner in history.Sounds like: Bouncing, brooding hip-hop with trap sensibilities – all of which are secondary to his vibrant, explosive personality.For fans of: Travis Scott, Lil GnarBest track: ‘Mo Bamba’ 79.5 Who: Soul troupe bringing an old-school sound into the modern era.Sounds like: If Studio 54 was revived for one night only, we’d want this gang to open things up with their groovy basslines and intoxicating choruses.For fans of: Donna Summer, ChicBest track: ‘Terrorize My Heart’ Words by Thomas Smith and Kai Feltham Source link

[mariannedepierres]

A V Mather Reviews: YEARS BEST YA SPEC FIC 2013

http://www.burnbright.com.au/a-v-mather-reviews-the-years-best-ya-speculative-fiction-2013/

[myklkatt]

View this post on Instagram

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#yearsbest #statigram #2013

[onlythehours]

2014 IN FILM: TOP 25 STAND-OUTS.

From the 113 films I’ve seen in the cinema this year, here are 25 that stood out as exemplary works sitting at the intersections of entertainment quality, artistic ambition & integrity and cinematic value. Even though there is no such thing as best, the final 10 films are ordered numerically to reflect my personal ‘Top 10’ - my favourites of the year reflected through a lens of individual taste and objective quality. 

(Note: This list is ordered alphabetically from 25-11 and excludes films released in 2014 that fell into the previous awards season calendar, i.e “12 Years a Slave”, “Her,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” etc, and as such the awards season hopefuls of this year yet to be released.)

25-10:

"The Babadook"

"Blue Ruin"

"Camille Claudel 1915"

"Exhibition"

"The Fault in Our Stars"

"The Grand Budapest Hotel"

"The Guest"

"Love Is Strange"

"Maps to the Stars"

"Nightcrawler"

"Pride"

"Say when/Laggies"

"Tom at the Farm"

"Violette"

"What If"

TOP 10:

10. “Only Lovers Left Alive” - Director Jim Jarmush:

- A cooly paced, sharp, fearless film. Tilda and Tom are a sensational pairing, they’re hot, and so is this film, but in the kind of way a vampire film is hot… 

9. “Gone Girl” - Director David Fincher

- Slick, powerful, wicked and as sweet as it is sour. Rosamund Pike is a revelation, carving into her marble character with complexity and intrigue. Also see the line “I’m the cunt you married, I’m it baby” unashamed feminist reclamation of self 101. 

8. “Two Days One Night” - Director The Dardenne Brothers

- Languid, poetic and true. Marion leads this simple yet effective glance at a woman trying to survive both the emotional, and economic difficulties of her life and all it’s aspects. 

7. “Citizenfour” - Director Laura Poitras

- The content is more riveting than the execution, but that is by no means a negative evaluation. Poitras is the unseen heart to this post modern cyber horror, and the scariest part is, its all real. 

6. “Ida” - Director Pawel Pawlikowski

-  Etched into history with human pain and reflectivity. The aesthetic is sparse, but the emotional impact is wrenching and poetic. 

5. “Belle” - Director Amma Asante

- A story well told. Classic scripting enriched by measured, determined performances. A female story with universal reach, and the emotional carefulness it deserves. Gugu is a star. 

4. “Stranger By The Lake” - Director Alain Guiraudie

- Brutal, sexual, spiritual and haunting. A must see. Who knew the sound of wind blowing through tree leaves could be so atmospheric, continually so?

3. “Leviathan” - Director Andrey Zvyaginstev

- Scorchingly political and deeply human. A landscape so beautiful and impactful it beholds a film with sharpness and esteem. The characters and their circumstances are specific, but we relate universally. 

2. “Boyhood” - Director Richard Linklater

- As everyone says, a cinematic landmark. Patricia breaks your heart and lifts your soul at the same time. A coming of age tale, given it’s full potential.

1. “Under The Skin” - Director Jonathan Glazer 

-Scarlet leads this esoteric, stunning, malevolent and haunting film with grace and gut wrenching guile. Visually it compels, and conceptually it confounds, but it knows what its doing, and you just know it goes way, way, way beyond the surface, truly under the skin. 

[xavsolo]

Seized Opportunity

[doctortdesigns]

Another year done, which means we have another set of BurdaStyle Magazine issues in the stash!  This year I feel like everyone has been pretty positive towards the looks we’ve been getting from Burda, but often hindsight and distance puts things in perspective, especially after the newness wow factor wears off a bit.  In case you want a quick refresher, here are the links to all of my Burda Reviews for this year:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

As a recap, here were my top picks for patterns from the year:

And these were my bottom picks from 2017:

I figured we should get the less awesome stuff out of the way first, so here are my picks for the 2017 BWTF Awards:

Second Runner Up: May

While the concept for this shirt is definitely something I would usually appreciate, the execution here is such a mess that I would be afraid to waste fabric on this pattern.  I think there have been a lot of other styles with this sort of built in belt tie that have been a lot more successful.

First Runner Up: December

The comments for this issue were pretty unanimous that these cropped mom jeans with a hem ruffle just weren’t cutting it.  We’ve all given enough though to this crazy design, so let’s just move on…

BWTF 2017: September

Ok, so there have been a lot of great Burda Plus designs this year, but this just really wasn’t one of them.  The low sleeve openings on this top really make it feel shapeless and sack like, plus it gives the arms a weirdly restricted shape and proportion.  Not a flattering look for anyone, even a super cute Burda model.

With those out of the way, here are my choices for the top Burda patterns of 2017:

Honorable Mention: February

I love this coat, and while I don’t think it necessarily deserves to be considered as one of the top 3 patterns for the year, I really love the lines and details, so I thought I’d give it a special shout out.

Second Runner Up: September

I feel like Burda produced a lot of wonderful sheath dress patterns this year, but I think this one will be particularly memorable.  The criss-cross detail and pockets are lovely features, and it’s nice to see Burda including more embellishment examples on their garments.

First Runner Up: December

This jacket has so many great details!  While the ruffled sleeves are very 2017, I think they are a nice counterbalance to the military features here.  I love the juxtaposition, and I think this again will be one of those iconic patterns from this year that people will remember as giving the issue a wow factor.

Best of BS 2017: November

Burda Plus designs have been hitting it out of the park this year, but I especially love this classic coat from the November issue.  Everything about this, from the in-seam pockets to the piping detail to the shape of the collar is perfection.  It is utterly classic, and would be well worth the time investment it would take to create this sort of garment.  Plus, this is the sort of pattern one would keep coming back to for years to come, making this the top pattern for the year.

With the individual pattern awards underway, let’s look at the magazine issues as a whole.  Which ones will you want to have down the road?  Which ones were missed opportunities?  It’s been a pretty good year for Burda, so the competition is pretty stiff.

Let’s start with the less successful issues of the year.

Second Runner Up: January

As this has been a pretty good year for Burda, being part of the bottom three doesn’t really mean that this was a bad issue, but just that it wasn’t as good as the other issues this year.  There is a lot of exercise wear in this issue, some of it with rather dubious looking fit on the models.  Similarly, the entire Plus section is pajamas.  Which, in terms of long-term stashing, could be a great thing, but doesn’t make for the most exciting issue.  The pj-as-office-wear doesn’t do much to elevate this issue either.  There are some nice jackets and a few tops of note, but, on the whole, this isn’t the most inspiring issue for the year.

First Runner Up: July

Although we get a rash guard and a few nice dresses, the majority of this issue is boxy knit dresses and beachwear.  The thing that prevents it from being completely on the bottom is the Burda Plus section, which has a few gorgeous party dresses, plus quite a few other items that dance along the line of being both practical and trendy.  Certainly not the worst issue we’ve had from Burda, but lacking in the variety of patterns that makes some Burda issues really great.

The Worst of Burda 2017: June

Going back to that lack of variety problem, this issue was mostly tops and dresses, with very few jackets, trousers, skirts, or other patterns.  Although it’s warm in summer, I would like a few options for things to wear with the tops in this issue.  Compounded to that is that fact that this was perhaps the most “trendy” issue of the year, with many of the patterns featuring blocky silhouettes and ruffles.  Aside from a few button down blouses (which are quite ubiquitous throughout Burda’s offerings), there isn’t much in this issue that won’t look dated fairly quickly.

And, finally on to the Best Burda Magazines of 2017:

Honorable Mention: May

Ok, so on the whole the patterns in this issue are decent in terms of design style and variety, but this issue gets a special nod in particular because the Burda Plus section is phenomenal!  If you fall in the Plus ranges, this is definitely a great issue to have in the pattern stash, even if you skip out on most BurdaStyle Magazines.  From a classic trench to versatile dresses, rompers, and tops, this issue certainly made me jealous of the options that only came in the Burda Plus size range.

Second Runner Up: December

Ruffled mom jeans aside, there is a lot of great stuff in this issue for the whole family.  From fancy party dresses to practical winter gear, this feels like an issue that everyone will find something to sew from.  The looks have a nice balance between classic and trendy, and I predict that many of these styles will be great to sew for holiday parties for many years to come.

First Runner Up: March

A bit of a shock, as March always has more than its fair share of party dresses and wedding gowns, but I think this issue struck a nice balance between practical pieces and party frocks.  Another issue that gave a great balance of trendy ruffled looks and timeless classic pieces.  Plus, these wedding dresses are probably some of the best we’ve seen from Burda, so props for that.

Best of BurdaStyle Magazine 2017: September

The September issue is often near the top of my list, what with all the yummy fall fashions, and this year is no exception.  Although the Burda Plus section was a bit of a disappointment in this month, the regular sizes are all knock-out hits, with several chic sheath dresses, practical skirts and trousers, and a lovely moto style jacket.  This is definitely one of those issues which you will want to keep around and keep going back to, as the styles are rather classic and promise to be fashionable for years to come.

And that’s is!  Another year of Burda in the books, another year to look forward to.  On the whole, this was a fantastic year for Burda, and it looks like the momentum will be carrying forward into the next year as well.  What do you all think?  What were your top and bottom issues for the year?  Best and worst pattern picks?  Feel free to discuss it all in the comments!

A Year in Review: BurdaStyle Magazine 2017 #Burda #BurdaStyle #sewing #YearsBest Another year done, which means we have another set of BurdaStyle Magazine issues in the stash!  This year I feel like everyone has been pretty positive towards the looks we've been getting from Burda, but often hindsight and distance puts things in perspective, especially after the newness wow factor wears off a bit. 

[fredhandbag]

Halfway through the year, these are my favorite reads. I have laughed - I have cried - I have visited magical places - I have solved crimes and been terrifically entertained along the way. Thank you authors for sharing your stories with us. #yearsbest #topbooks #top10 #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookshelf #books #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookclub #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookcover #bibliophile #goodreads #homelibrary #bradsbooks #bradslibrary #crimefiction #thriller #ya #yafantasy #youngadult #youngadultfiction #timetravel #scifi #sciencefiction

[zeibfps]

https://ift.tt/2AJMoo8 via /r/gaming

[zeibfps]

http://ift.tt/2l5Tjgw via /r/gaming