Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2016

Honorable mentions in order of appearance: Arrival, Sing Street, The Nice Guys, Manchester By The Sea, Deadpool, Swiss Army Man, Doctor Strange, Zootopia, and Hell or High Water.

Opening song: In The Shadows by Foreign Air

Sing Street Review (2016)

Sing Street

  Sing Street sets us up in 1980's Dublin, and is a coming of age story about a boy who starts a high school band at his Catholic school.

  I hadn't heard too much about this indie flick going in, but boy was I pleasantly surprised. 

  Since it's about music, let's first talk about the soundtrack and score, which I really liked. Sing Street pays a lot of homage to 80s bands, while still keeping its own style. At one point during a scene, I even heard a slow piano rendition of Take On Me that was a part of the score. It was really cool and subtle. Like seriously, good on you, movie. Good on you.

  The cast is also really solid! The main kid, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo really reminded me of a young Freddie Highmore. Highmore is one of my favorite actors, so that's a huge compliment. Another surprise was Jack Raynor who you might recognize from that piece of trash that was the fourth Transformers movie. No need to worry though, he's great here! Probably the best part. He had this really genuine, authentic relationship with our main character, and some hilarious lines of dialogue.

  The other characters in the band weren't fleshed out as much as I would've liked, but they were fleshed out enough that it didn't take away too much from the story. I also thought their dorky transition of clothing style through the film as they changed genres was really fun.

  Sing Street is a feel good film that's almost impossible to dislike, even with it's sometimes unrealistic optimism. 7 out of 10 Stars. (Very Good)

Speed Reviews: Deadpool, Sully, The Nice Guys, and The Purge: Election Year

  In a year where superhero films are a dime a dozen, Deadpool hit theaters and changed the game. Not afraid of earning that hard R rating, Director Tim Miller gives us an edgy, cleverly self aware, and entertaining film. Does it break ground in terms of plot? Not particularly, but it has a lot to offer, and Ryan Reynolds couldn't be any cooler. 8 out of 10 stars. (I'd Buy It)

  I'm generally not a huge fan of Clint Eastwood films (I know, shoot me),  but I am a big fan of Tom Hanks. As usual, Hanks gives us a solid performance, but I must say I've seen him give more memorable ones. While Sully is definitely an inspiring story, I couldn't help but feel that the film as a whole felt lifeless in its execution. 5 out of 10 stars (Rent It)

  The Nice Guys is a detective story set in 1970's Los Angeles. Films like this aren't made very often, and this one hits just the spot. If there's one thing I loved about The Nice Guys, it's the amazing chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. The humor is offbeat, the story is clever, and Shane Black's directing is top notch. This film knows exactly what it is, and delivers.  8 out of 10 stars (I'd Buy It) 

 

  Being a fan of the previous films, I was disappointed by how utterly stupid The Purge: Election Year was. All I wanted was some good entertaining action, a decent script, and some decent acting. Instead, I got the exact opposite. I was literally hoping certain characters would die just because their acting was so unbelievably awful. The script felt like it was written by a 9 year old boy, and the worst part, is that The Purge: Election Year thinks itself a relevant political commentary. Do yourself a favor, and skip this. 1 out of 10 stars. (Trash)

Lion Review (2016)

Lion

  Lion is the true story of a young Indian boy named  Saroo, who gets lost on a train and taken far away from his home. Saroo is then adopted by a family in Australia and 25 years later, he tries to find his real family.

  I have very mixed feelings about this film because the first hour is absolutely amazing. It's powerful, it's emotional. The little boy who plays five year old Saroo is a revelation. Sunny Pawar. Remember that name guys. Not only did he have the cutest face in the history of ever, but his first acting debut completely won me over. Every line was believable, every expression genuine. He was by far the best part of this film. 

  Dev Patel plays Saroo as a 25 year old, and this is where the film kind of lost me. It's not that Dev Patel did a bad job, he was really solid, I simply felt he was miscast. He literally looks nothing like 5 year old Saroo, and I couldn't help thinking that someone like Manish Dayal would have been better for the part. 

  The second hour of this film was flawed on a lot of levels, but mainly dictatorially. What at first felt extremely organic, and truly gut-wrenching in execution, suddenly switched tones into a frankly boring melodrama. Nothing really happens in the second half of this film, and what does happen feels rushed and contrived. This is Garth Davis's directorial debut, and it shows.

  Nicole Kidman and David Wenham were pretty good, but a lot of Kidman's scenes feel Oscar-baity. They want us to cry, but they don't take the time to earn the tears. 

  Rooney Mara was also in the film, and her character felt completely useless. She didn't add anything to the plot and could have been played by almost anyone.

  In the end, Lion is a good looking film with a beautiful score, but the emotional punch doesn't quite land despite it's spectacular set up. 5 out of 10 stars (Rent It)

Speed Reviews: The Neon Demon, Zootopia, The Witch, and Lights Out

  The Neon Demon is about a young, aspiring model who enters a world of obsessed women who will stop at nothing to kill her career. This film was dark, twisted, bizarre, and stylistically hypnotic. The Neon Demon isn't afraid to go to deranged and horrific places, but perhaps to a fault. 7 out of 10 (Very Good)

 

 

  Zootopia isn't just a kid's movie, no, this zany film took me by surprise with it's depth and creativity. This is a genuinely funny film that tackles systematic racism in a Animal Farm-type style. The animation is adorable, the dialogue is witty, and the delivery from the voice actors is on point. There is plenty of charm and plenty of fun. 9 out of 10 stars (I'd Buy It On Blu-Ray)

  The Witch is one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. This slow-building masterpiece  doesn't quite scare you while you're watching, but when you finish, you realize that it's settled deep down into your skin, and you won't be getting it out anytime soon. The Witch is a visually stunning, brilliantly acted, period piece that will give you chills. If you like quality horror that doesn't rely on jump scares, give this one a watch. 10 out of 10 stars. (A Must See)

 

  Lights Out seemed to get a pretty good reaction from most critics, but unfortunately failed to impress me. Everything about this film you've already seen before, and the story itself is weak. I didn't love any of the characters, it followed a lot of the horror tropes, and in the end was more laughable than it was scary. I give Lights Out a 4 out of 10 stars. (One Time See For Free)

The Lobster Review (2016)

The Lobster 

 

  I thought that Swiss Army Man was the weirdest movie of the year, but I was wrong. Boy was I wrong.

  I saw The Lobster a while ago, but I was so confused by what I thought of it that I am just now doing this review. 

  The Lobster is a dark comedy about single people who are taken to this place where they are supposed to fall in love. If they don't meet anyone in a certain amount of time, they are turned into an animal. I'm not even kidding, that's the plot.

  As far as critiques, this is a frickin long movie with a very repetitive score. The satirical humor is very off color (definitely not for everyone), and the plot is pretty odd as I'm sure you've noticed. That said, there is something about this bleak, indie film that I really liked. It was original, layered, and well acted. Collin Farrell really commits to this role, giving us a quirky, funny, and moving character. As strange as the world he inhabits is, he grounds us and makes it believable. 

  This is a film that some people will love and some people will hate. I really appreciated the ambitious nature of it and the way it commented on social norms. When it comes to relationships, singleness, and loneliness, The Lobster tackles its themes in a way that really works. If you go into this with an open mind, you may like what you see. 6 out of 10 stars (Worth Ticket Price)

Silence Review (2016)

Silence

  I have literally never heard a movie theater so quiet. Even when this film ended, you could hear a pin drop. Nobody said anything, nobody clapped, everyone just stayed in their seats and waited for the credits to end.

  The whole time I was watching this, I felt like I was holding my breath. It's just one of those movies that grips you with its relentless storytelling and refuses to let go. 

  If you don't already know the plot, Silence is the story of two Jesuit priests who go to Japan for missionary work and to see if a former priest has truly apostatized or if it's just slander. This film was extremely hard to watch, but at the same time you can't look away.

  The cinematography was just mesmerizing, all of these beautiful long shots of the exotic locations. It was so moody and evoked this feeling of being in an unfamiliar, hostile environment, but also a beautiful and hopeful one.

  Andrew Garfield blew me away in this film, giving the best performance I've ever seen from him. It's going to be a tight race between the male Oscar contenders this season, but he definitely deserves to be up there. For such a young actor, Garfield has this maturity about his work. He's able to emote in a way that is both raw, honest, and vulnerable. Absolutely stellar.

  This was a deeply beautiful film in a lot of ways, but it's also a conversational piece that takes some interesting stances on its own religious beliefs. Silence was adapted from a book written by a Japanese Catholic and is also directed by a Catholic. As a non-denominational Christian myself, I tried to be as objective as I possibly could when watching this film. Still, at times I felt some of the moral questions and conclusions betrayed even their own faith. Without going into spoiler territory, I will say that the third act takes a very unexpected turn, and asks some very interesting questions. This turn kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, but also stayed in my head long after I left the theater. 

  Silence is a powerful film that makes you think and leaves a lot open for different interpretations. Would I watch this two hour and forty minute film again? I don't know. It isn't a film you really sit down and enjoy. Silence is gut-wrenching, heavy, and tragic. It doesn't try to pull at your heartstrings, it just straight rips them right out of your chest while your heart is pumping. And while I'm still not sure what to think hours after the film ended, I'm glad that I got to experience it and I highly respect it.  9 out of 10 stars (I'd Buy It On Blu-Ray)