I am an unashamed movie nut. Every year for the last post of the year I
pontificate on the best and worst from only the movies I went to see during the
concluding year. I’ve also included what I considered to be the worst movies of
the year, because that’s almost more fun. I’ve chosen a quote from each of the
top ten movies. If nothing else, the films below (except for the bottom three)
were hugely enjoyable. Again this is only one man’s opinion and reflects only
the movies I saw this year. I await the inevitable criticism from my progeny.
My daughter has been making big noise over La La Land (but that could be a
Gosling thing) which I have not seen.
Best Movies of the Year
#1 - Deadpool – I love movies that
take chances and they certainly did here with the superhero genre and scored a
huge win. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much at a movie in years as I did at
Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds nails the sardonic, witty, hero-challenged title role.
The pointed and very funny lines are relentless and would seem silly if it
wasn’t backed up with a solid plot and fantastic action sequences. Reynolds
doesn’t just break the “Fourth Wall” he desecrates it which ends up being some
of the funniest moments in this hilarious film. It was smart and innovative and
so nice to see a superhero movie overcome the corporate need to tranquilize
itself down to PG-13 levels. I tried to move several other movies above
Deadpool but it kept winning out – just a fantastic movie.
Quote:
Colossus: You will come talk with Professor Xavier.
Deadpool: McAvoy or Stewart? These timelines can get so confusing.
#2 – The Nice Guys – I really liked
this when I first saw it and it rose in my estimation with each subsequent
viewing. Incredibly inventive and relentlessly funny; an engorgrged Russel
Crowe and Ryan Gosling, who is finally speaking in movies) were a terrific pair
together. The semi-fondly remembered 1970s also got an unremitting skewering. The
tone is irreverent from the start when a nude porn star drives her car through
an adolescent boy’s house. It veers shamelessly between slapstick and action
and never forgets to be fun. It’s the best thing Crowe has done in a long while
and maybe the best thing Gosling has ever done.
Quote:
Fred's Widow: It's my husband, he's gone missing.
Holland March: Missing ?
Fred's Widow: I'm terribly worried, it's just Fred's never gone this long before.
[March casually looking around room
when he notice ash urn with Fred's name on it]
Holland March: How long has he been missing ?
Fred's Widow: Since the funeral.
Holland March: Well, I can start right away.
#3 – Manchester by the Sea – A stark
story of a much damaged man with the barren, cold, winter landscape of
Manchester mirroring the seemingly soul-dead man. This movie should be a film
school standard on the skillful use of flashback scenes to explain how the man
evolved into what he’s become. Casey Affleck is absolutely perfect as the
severely damaged lead trying to maintain his thin hold on sanity and not give
into the barely held back rage. There’s a surprising amount of subtle humor
laced throughout and you eventually can’t help but understand and sympathize
with Affleck’s character. I really liked the scenes involving Affleck and his
on screen nephew who trying to deal with the death of his father, a really
weird uncle/guardian, and usual teenage drama. The plot doesn’t go for any
grand gestures and felt more like a true life – a tragic story of family. There
are some things you never recover from and while that’s painful to see it’s
understandable. One of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time.
Quote:
Lee Chandler: I can't beat it. I can't beat it.
This single quote captures the desperation
of Affleck’s chaachjter understanding how damaged he is and his frustrating inability
to overcome it.
#4 – Edge of Seventeen – Looking from
the outside you’d think this was another in the long line of teen coming of age
dramedies which rely heavily on typecasting and formulaic, angst ridden plots.
This was so much more. It felt very true, especially with the teen
relationships, whether mother-daughter, sister-brother or friends. It was also
incredibly funny with each actor allowed her/his space without going over the
top. Hailee Steinfeld continues her remarkable young career as the self-centered
brat who somehow comes across as truly likable. I’m still trying to figure out
how she carried that off. Everyone will be able to pick out a situation that
resonates with them from their own high school experiences. It wasn’t a
caricature and it didn’t have to be to be funny and poignant.
Quote:
Nadine: There are two types of people in the world: The people who naturally
excel at life. And the people who hope all those people die in a big explosion.
#5 – Star Trek Beyond – This is one of
the few films that honors Gene Roddenberry’s vision about the possibility of
human endeavor. While it is anti-military in tone – I loved it. Any real
Soldier would love to see the military become obsolete. This was a return to
some of the best features of the original series with all the action you want
and the goofy humor the original Star Trek was so good at liberally sprinkled
throughout. You finally have a sense of comradery and they let the Kirk
character grow up as well. This is definitely the best of the new series.
Quote:
Spock: Lt. Uhura wears a Vokaya amulet which I presented to her as a token of
my affection and respect.
Bones: You gave your girlfriend a radioactive jewelry?
Spock: The emissions is harmless, Doctor. But its unique signature makes it
very easy to identify.
Bones: You gave your girlfriend a tracking device?
Spock: [realizing] That was not my intention.
#6 – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story –
This movie was all about adding texture to the original Star Wars movie which
is provided in relentless fashion. The female lead absolutely rocks and there’s
a gentle graying of the strict white and black of rebel versus empire. The
desperate state of the rebellion and the signature battle which this film
culminates in will truly resonate with any Star Wars geek (guilty as charged).
They even resurrect two actors from that first movie, one of whom has been dead
for nearly 40 years. Even without the galaxy far, far away back drop this was a
kickass action flick with just the right amount of sly humor injected along
with those heaping piles of nostalgia.
Quote:
K-2SO: The captain says you're a friend. I will not kill you.
Jyn Erso: Thanks.
#7 - Arrival – This is one of the most
intelligent and thought provoking films I’ve seen in a long time. It was not
the usual sci fi action flick but a very cerebral film theorizing what
humanity’s reaction would be to the arrival of twelve massive alien aircraft
around the world. There’s a poorly disguised but ultimately fulfilling twist
which raises questions in the viewers’ mind as to what you would do in the same
situation. Despite its somewhat dour tone, this is Denis Villenueve after all,
the message is surprisingly optimistic. The smartest movie of the year.
Quote:
Dr. Louise Banks: If you could see your whole life laid out in front of you, would you
change things?
#8 – Hacksaw Ridge – Jaw dropping as Mel
Gibson returns to the battlefield which he does so well and this might just be
his tour de force. It’s really two movies; the first half shows the hero growing
up in rural Virginia and enlisting during World War 2. The true life hero, a conscientious
objector, turns out to be the bravest man on a hellish battlefield rescuing
wounded left behind in enemy territory. The fact that this really happened and
wasn’t exaggerated by Hollywood is still more astounding. This movie speaks
volumes on courage and faith.
Quote:
Desmond Doss: I don't know how I'm going to live with myself if I don't stay true to
what I believe.
#9 – 13 Hours – An accurate portrayal of the Benghazi events
in 2012, blissfully stripped of all the politics. The story of some true
American heroes, former special forces Soldiers contracted for security called
upon to defend an American base against a horde of Islamic radicals. The battle
scenes are very realistic. I was wondering why a director like Bay would step
into the political mess that is the aftermath of this affair but I honestly
believe he was trying to honor the sacrifices of these special men which has
been lost in the politics. This movie truly honors them and their incredible
toughness and sacrifice.
Quote:
Jack Silva: What would they say about me? "He died in a place he didn't need
to be, in a battle over something he doesn't understand, in a country that
meant nothing to him."
#10 – Hell or High Water – Another texture flick - it is so . . . Texas. West Texas permeates the film. It should
get billing as an additional character because the story of two bank robbing
brothers pursued by an aging Texas Ranger plays out on those dusty, oil soaked
plains. Anyone who’s visited Texas will see the infinite detail in casting the
minor parts and the exterior shots that will bring Texas, with all its warts
exposed, into the limelight. This movie belongs to Jeff Bridges, out for his
last ride as a Texas Ranger. A vestige of pre-political correctness, his dogged
pursuit defines an era passing, as do so many other smaller elements in the
movie. It’s not a typical cops and robbers flick as the there was a lot more
gray area explored in the search for justice. The final, underplayed
confrontation between Pine and Bridges crackled. I don’t think anyone would
voluntarily visit West Texas and you now don’t have to, go see this movie and
you’ll leave with some grit between your teeth.
Quote:
Toby Howard: I've been poor my whole life, like a disease passing from generation to
generation. But not my boys, not anymore.
Honorable Mention:
Passengers – Sci fi done very well
because the people were the important focus and not the technology. If there
was any doubt (none here) about Jennifer Lawrence’s screen presence this movie
should eradicate it. The movie brings up interesting moral questions.
Doctor Strange – Marvel scores again,
ho hum. Almost hypnotic with cities
being turned inside out and Mads Mikkelson doing what he does best – being a
deranged villain. The sixties in all their psychedelic glory asserts itself
with mind-bending trips around the globe and cosmic battles. This was a great
ride, liberally infused with sly humor
The Accountant – As an autistic
accountant/assassin, this character slowly emerges through some very well done
flashbacks. It's the movies folks so don't get too wound around the axle about
this ever being possible - it's a great story and Affleck pulls it off with a
lot of nuance and style.
Criminal – Costner does evil way, way
better than most leading men and does an interesting job of displaying the
inner conflict of a lifelong criminal having a conscience imposed upon him. There’s
funny (if very violent) scenes where very polite English society, where the
movie takes place, is exposed to the ruthlessly inappropriate Costner
character, probably every Englishman’s secretly held opinion of Americans in general.
Captain America: Civil War – Really should
have been titled Avengers 3 as everyone’s back. They give heart and depth to
these comic book icons and make even semi-believers care. There’s also non-stop
action along with an examination of the repercussions of all their prior city
busting exploits. The conflict seems forced as none of them truly hate each
other but it does lead to a lively, if very crowded confrontation.
Worst Movies:
Zoolander 2 – This took silliness to
the ghastly level – never a good thing. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reprise
their roles as idiotic supermodels (I know – unneeded adjective) and are
launched on a spy plot but none of the charm of the orignal. The filmmakers
sacrificed comedy by going for the record on how many celebrity cameos they
could wedge in.
5th Wave – This is yet
another example of young adult science fiction brought to the screen. Maybe
(hopefully) this will be the death knell for the genre because this was just a
bad movie. Moretz plays a typical Ohio high school girl who’s fighting hormones
as well as aliens when they inconveniently interrupt her senior year with a
full scale invasion. Worst movie of the year.
Mother’s Day – How someone could make
a bad movie with as stellar a cast as this mind boggling but they did. Tapping
into an audience’s reverence for mothers shouldn’t be hard and it certainly
shouldn’t be compulsory. I left the theater with one word in my head –
“cringeworthy”.
2016 Superlatives:
Best Comedy: Deadpool (with a hefty nod to Bad Moms)
Best Horror Movie: The Witch
Best Drama: Manchester by the Sea
Best Romance: Passengers
Best Action: 13 Hours at Benghazi
Best Special Effects: Rogue 1
Best Scene of the Year: Manchester by Sea – Casey Affleck and Michelle
Williams confronting the pain of their lost children
Best Quote: Edge of Seventeen after a hair brained
student comes in during teacher Woody Harrelson’s (Mr. Bruner) lunch hour to
threaten suicide:
Mr. Bruner: Wow. I actually was writing my own suicide note just now. I have 32
fleeting minutes of happiness during lunch, which has been eaten up again and
again by the same especially badly dressed student, and I finally thought I
would rather have the dark nothingness.
I couldn’t leave without at least one
photo of California perfection – still the biggest star of 2016 – THE FIRST
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