I don’t just play games
Scott White
I’ve already talked at length about my favourite games of the year (please watch the pissing video here), so I thought I’d share my other top picks for all the other distractions that have pulled me through 2019. While I’ll endeavour to include only new media, this will be made up of things that were new to me, so keep that in mind dear friends.
FILMS
Number Five: Leaving Neverland
A difficult watch, but it presents the facts and the subjects clearly and seemingly without embellishment. Rather than some of the more recent spate of Netflix docs, there’s no rush to move onto the next revelation, allowing the information to settle uncomfortably into your brain. Unpleasant but essential.
Number four: Klaus
Absolutely gorgeous, very funny and sentimental in all the right ways. I hope I watch it every Christmas.
Number Three: Knives Out
Knives out isn’t one of these films that changes on a second or third viewing – it’s more like a beautifully-made timepiece which will hit the same beats repeatedly in a satisfying and precise manner. If you love a wee Agatha Christie, this is for you; if you like Foghorn Leghorn, this is also for you.
Number Two: John Wick 3: Parabellum
Best of the series so far; it’s like an action movie ‘best of’ that covers that last decade of punching. It happily acknowledges the debt it owes to films like The Matrix and The Raid and even gives those performers space to give us some amazing set pieces.
Number One: Ad Astra
1970s sci-fi with modern humanist edges, a journey through anger to forgiveness, Apocalypse Now with no apocalypse. Pitt gives as small a performance as he ever has, full of regret and half-finished thoughts. I did see it drunk, but so much of it has stuck with me since. An all-timer.
Albums
Number Five: To Each His Own – E.B. The Younger
We saw E.B. supporting John Grant early this year and we were immediately interested in this wee spin-off from Midlake. The album flows well from track to track and leaves you feeling buoyant.
Number four: Frozen 2 Official Soundtrack – Various Artists
Look, we all know I’m an auld Da now and my defences have been worn down by hours of Disney songs, but I genuinely think the tracks on here are brilliant; Into the Unknown and Show Yourself are instant classics, but Into the Woods and Some Things Never Change are very worthy. Maybe it’s just the novelty of new songs to listen to in the car, I don’t know. I just don’t know.
Number Three: Thanks for the Dance – Leonard Cohen
Even death can’t stop the best. An album created posthumously by Cohen’s son and trusted musicians, it’s a nice way to say goodbye to an artist who has meant a lot to me over the years.
Number Two: Diviner – Hayden Thorpe
Thorpe has some set of pipes – a bold, ethereal album that takes all the good stuff from Wild Beasts at their best.
Number ONE: Book of Romance and Dust – Exit North
One of the few times Spotify has delivered a genuine surprise into my old ears – haunting, distant and perfect music for long walks in the wind and rain.
TV Shows
Number Five: Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
I’ve got no real attachment to the original, beyond thinking that it’s a perfectly fine children’s film. The TV show though really impressed me; the attention to detail, performances from both the puppeteers and actors and being able to capture the atmosphere of the original really blew me away. There’s a really good Making of available on the show too, definitely worth a watch afterwards.
Number four: Hey Duggee
It’s probably the show I’ve seen the most this year and it never stops being funny or outstays it’s welcome. A treat for the whole family.
Number Three: Good Omens
A shockingly good adaptation that moves at a fair clip. The whole cast is cracking and although it mirrors the weaker elements of the book, it was a joy to watch.
Number Two: Chernobyl
Riveting, horrifying and absorbing, the nearly true story covers some of the worst decision making ever. It’s like watching your work try to arrange someone’s leaving drinks.
Number ONE: Watchmen
No-one is more shocked than me about how much I enjoyed Watchmen. It’s respectful of the source material in a way that Moore really deserved back when he was interested in that sort of thing. A clever and well-paced sequel to one of the best comics ever written – I really hope they leave it there, but nothing ever ends.
Comics
Number Five: Providence – Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows
A look under the skin of New England and the myths living in plain sight. Unpleasant at times, but Moore and Burrows bring horrors to life like no other team.
Number four: Judge Dredd: The Small House – Henry Flint and Rob Williams
A classic Dredd story with plenty of twists and references to the many great story arcs that fans have come to love. The art style is pure 2000AD and I love it.
Number Three: One Piece - Eiichiro Oda
I’m about half-way through One Piece and it’s been like no other manga I’ve read – exciting, funny and absolutely bursting full of heart, friendship and respect. I can’t wait to catch up next year.
Number Two: Private Eye – Various
I’m cheating here but being subbed to Private Eye for a year has kept me better informed than checking any news website. It’s a special organ and one that deserves our respect.
Number ONE: IDW’s Transformers series
This year I bought a Humble Bundle with every major issue of IDW’s original run of Transformers comics, before the big reset came down earlier this year. Throughout the mammoth series, I found writing and art that was head and shoulders above my highest expectations. While the early days are almost exactly what you’d think it would be, the character development shown throughout is consistently excellent.
BOOKs
Number Five: United States of Japan/Mecha Samurai Empire - Peter Tieryas
The novel version of an arcade game – fast, all surface and very entertaining. Genuinely looking forward to the next in the series and how he’ll tie in a mention of his beloved Hideo Kojima.
Number four: Berlin: The Downfall 1945 - Antony Beevor
Some non-fiction entertainment, although finding out more about the absolute shitshow that was the end of the second World War was harrowing. Beevor writes the facts without implicit judgement and allows the reader to see that all sides were involved in tearing apart Europe for their own ends.
Number Three: Dante’s Divine Trilogy Part 1: Hell – Alasdair Gray
A very readable and interesting adaptation of Dante’s great work by one of Scotland’s greatest no longer living authors. It’s full of character and filth, highly recommended as a primer to the more accurate translations.
Number Two: The Busconductor Hines – James Kelman
An absorbing look into the life of a Glaswegian man going through one hell of a depression. Astounding to think that this is Kelman’s first published work.
Number ONE: Jerusalem – Alan Moore
Second entry for the Big Man (three if you kind of count Watchman, which I’m sure he doesn’t), and it’s probably not just my favourite book of the year, it might be one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s a mammoth undertaking, but I don’t think anyone writes about working class mysticism and belief better than Moore. If turning his back on comics has led us to this, then I’m happy he’s done it. A masterpiece.