GOOD BLOG #2: 2024 UNWRAPPED

DEC 17, 24
zhangbikang.com GOOD FILMS AWARDS
GOOD FILM OF THE YEAR
Twenty-three new films were added to the Good Films list this year. The Best Films of All Time as of 2024 list now includes 53 films. South Korean supernatural film, The Wailing, finished at 7th place, is this year's highest ranked film. Other films that made the list this year include:

10. Decision to Leave, 2022, SOUTH KOREA
11. Better Days, 2019, CHINA & HONG KONG
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 2008
21. Oppenheimer, 2023
23. Basic Instinct, 1992
24. In the Mood for Love, 2000, HONG KONG
26. Anatomie d'une chute, 2023, FRANCE
30. Shaolin Soccer, 2001, HONG KONG
31T. The Bourne Ultimatum, 2007
31T. The Bourne Supremacy, 2004
34. Silver Linings Playbook, 2012
35. Kung Fu Hustle, 2004, HONG KONG
36. Ich Seh, Ich Seh, 2014, AUSTRIA
37. Crawl, 2019
38. Burning, 2018, SOUTH KOREA
39. The Talented Mr. Ripley, 1999
41. Ready or Not, 2019
42. The Fault in Our Stars, 2014
44. Memento, 2000
49. Nebraska, 2013
50. Erin Brockovich, 2000
51. American Psycho, 2000
GOOD INTERNATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR
Out of the 23 new films that made the list this year, there were 9 international films. The Good Films list now includes 18 international films. This year's highest ranked international film is The Wailing, an almost masterpiece. Other international films that made the list this year include:

10. Decision to Leave, 2022, SOUTH KOREA
11. Better Days, 2019, CHINA & HONG KONG
24. In the Mood for Love, 2000, HONG KONG
26. Anatomie d'une chute, 2023, FRANCE
30. Shaolin Soccer, 2001, HONG KONG
35. Kung Fu Hustle, 2004, HONG KONG
36. Ich Seh, Ich Seh, 2014, AUSTRIA
38. Burning, 2018, SOUTH KOREA
GOOD ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR
No new animated films were added to the Good Films list this year. Mulan remains as the only animated film on the list.
GOOD DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Out of this year's 23 Good Films, I was most impressed with the direction of the following four films. And out of the following four films, Na Hong-jin's work on The Wailing edged above the rest. I was torn between Na Hong-jin's The Wailing and Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave. I felt The Wailing was more complete. While the ending was depressing, there was closure. Decision to Leave felt like a run on sentence, and then it just abruptly ended. Visually, both movies were equally striking. The Wailing was a tad prettier.

Winner and nominees for Good Director of the Year.

Na Hong-jin, The Wailing
Park Chan-wook, Decision to Leave
Christopher Nolan, Memento
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
GOOD ACTOR OF THE YEAR
I was torn between Bradley Cooper's performance in Silver Linings Playbook and Christian Bale's performance in American Psycho. I ultimately decided to give the honor to Bradley Cooper. Good comedic acting is hard. And Bradley did it so naturally. He was so likable in Silver Linings Playbook. That charisma that won Tiffany's heart also won my heart.

Winner and nominees for Good Actor of the Year.

Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Christian Bale, American Psycho
Guy Pearce, Memento
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
GOOD ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Zhou Dong Yu is the Chinese Saoirse Ronan. Good actors are subtle. I shouldn't be able to tell you're acting. You're not acting. You're the character you're playing. And actresses like Zhou Dong Yu and Saoirse Ronan do that effortlessly.

This year, the competition for Good Actress of the Year was tough. Sharon Stone was commanding in Basic Instinct. Samara Weaving busted her butt in Ready or Not. It was a very tight race. All three actresses were phenomenal. The deciding factor came down to the films themselves. Better Days was the strongest of the three films. And Better Days would not be the film that it is without Zhou Dong Yu. Zhou Dong Yu shined so bright, she whited out her costars. For this reason, the honor was given to Zhou Dong Yu this year.

​Winner and nominees for Good Actress of the Year.

Zhou Dong Yu, Better Days
Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct
Samara Weaving, Ready or Not
GOOD SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Out of the three supporting actors in Anatomie d'une chute, Milo Machado-Graner was the best. His excellence, however, was neglected at the César Awards, probably due to his age. Zhangbikang.com does not discriminate against age. I give flowers where flowers are due. Milo Machado-Graner is your Good Supporting Actor of the year.

Winner and nominees for Good Supporting Actor of the Year.

Milo Machado-Graner, Anatomie d'une chute
Mark O'Brien, Ready or Not
GOOD SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Zhangbikang.com does not discriminate against age! Kim Hwan-hee is THE supporting actress in The Wailing. She's young, yet demonstrated so much talent. Rachel MacAdam, a make-up nomination, is this year's runner up.

Winner and nominees for Good Supporting Actress of the Year.

Kim Hwan-hee, The Wailing
Yuen Qiu, Kung Fu Hustle
Rachel MacAdam*, Mean Girls
GOOD CAMEO OF THE YEAR
The word "cameo" is used loosely. More like minor roles. Of the three nominees, the only true cameo is Lee Jung-eun in The Wailing. The Good Cameo Award is a new award given to the most memorable or impactful actor or actress, with minimal screen time. Of the three nominees, I like Chen Kai-shi in Kung Fu Hustle the most. She was funny. I wish she had more screen time.

​Winner and nominees for Good Cameo of the Year.

Chen Kai-shi, Kung Fu Hustle
He Wen-hui, Kung Fu Hustle
Lee Jung-eun, The Wailing
GOOD SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR
Two short stories, with the same name, but different plots, from opposite ends of the world, collided and morphed into this psychological thriller. This is another one of those films that's almost a masterpiece. It's just a little too poetic and not enough scary. Nevertheless, I applaud the writers of this film who saw that special something in those two stories that became Burning. 

​Winner and nominees for Good Screenplay of the Year.

Oh Jung-mi and Lee Chang-dong, Burning
Park Chan-wook and Jeong Seo-keyong, Decision to Leave
Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, Ich Seh, Ich Seh
Christopher Nolan, Memento
Na Hong-jin, The Wailing
GOOD ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF THE YEAR
No films were nominated for Good Original Concept this year.
zhangbikang.com GOOD FILMS SUPERLATIVES
DIRECTOR WITH MOST FILMS
​ON THE LIST
Christopher Nolan extends his lead with now four films that he directed made the list. The four films are The Dark Knight (2), Oppenheimer (21), Memento (44), and Dunkirk (48). 
ACTOR IN MOST FILMS
​ON THE LIST
Matt Damon also extends his lead. He's now featured in seven films that made the list. Matt played lead role in The Departed (18), The Bourne Ultimatum (31T), The Bourne Supremacy (31T), The Bourne Identity (31T), The Talented Mr. Ripley (39) and Contagion (52) and supporting role in Oppenheimer (21).
ACTRESS IN MOST FILMS
​ON THE LIST
Cate Blanchett overtakes Kate Winslet. With two new films featuring Cate added to the list this year, in addition to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Cate is now featured in five films that made the list. Cate played lead role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (20) and supporting role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (3T) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (39).
COUNTRY (EXCLUDING U.S.) WITH MOST FILMS ON THE LIST
Hong Kong, with five films that made the list, including a collaboration with mainland China, edges out South Korea for the top spot. The five Hong Kong films that made the list are Better Days (China & Hong Kong, 11), In the Mood for Love (24), Shaolin Soccer (30), Kung Fu Hustle (35) and The Grandmaster (47).
GOOD YEAR IN FILM
​
As of 2024, 2008 is the best year for film. 2000, 2008, 2017 and 2019 each has four films included on the Good Films list. The average ranking for the four 2008 films is the highest. The four 2008 films are The Dark Knight (2), The Reader (15), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (20) and The Hurt Locker (46).
zhangbikang.com GOOD LOOK AWARDS
TOP MALE MODEL OF THE YEAR
I've been slacking this year. I didn't work on the fashion curation boards much. No new Matthew Terry photos were added to the boards this year. Nevertheless, Matthew Terry holds onto the top spot for another year. With 10 photos and 2 magazine covers, Matthew Terry remains as the Top Male Model of the Year. The top three male models are:

1. Matthew Terry (12)
2. Simon Nessman (8)
3. Sean O'Pry (5)
TOP FEMALE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Gisele Bündchen, with 4 photos and 2 magazine covers, also remains as the Top Female Model of the Year. The top three female models are:

1. Gisele Bündchen (6)
2. Abby Champion (5)
3. Natalia Vodianova (4)
DIAMOND EYE AWARD
The Diamond Eye Award once again goes to Steven Meisel for the second year in a row. The top three photographers are:

1) Steven Meisel (15)
2) Mert & Marcus (9)
3) ChuanDo & Frey (8)
GOD VISION AWARD
The God Vision Award once again goes to America's Next Top Model (ANTM) for the second year in a row. The top three brands/ magazines are:

1) America's Next Top Model (18)
2) Vogue Italia (15)
3) Giorgio Armani (9)
BEST DRESSED MALE OF THE YEAR
Manu Ríos extends his lead, with now five looks included on the Ken board. Manu Ríos, for the second year in a row, is the Best Dressed Male of the Year. The top three best dressed males are:

1. Manu Ríos (5)
2. Joe Alwyn (1)
BEST DRESSED FEMALE OF THE YEAR
Zendaya overtakes Beyoncé for the lead. With now three looks included on the Eve board, Zendaya is the Best Dressed Female of the Year. The top three best dressed females are:

1. Zendaya (3)
​2. Beyoncé (2)
3T. Khloe Kardashian (1)
3T. Kim Kardashian (1)
goooodlooooks GOOD LOOK AWARDS
goooodlooooks TOP MALE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Matthew Terry, with 3 photos included on goooodlooooks, is, once again, the goooodlooooks Top Male Model of the Year. The top three male models are:

1. Matthew Perry (3.5)
2. Arthur Gosse (2)
3. Sean O'Pry (1.5)
goooodlooooks TOP FEMALE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Gisele Bündchen​, with 3 photos included on goooodlooooks, is, once again, the goooodlooooks Top Female Model of the Year. The top three female models are:

1. Gisele Bündchen (3)
2T. Abby Champion (2.5)
2T. Nicole Fox (2.5)