I quite enjoyed the chronology employed in the retelling of this story, but overall the film felt somewhat inconsequential. It was a nice story, but something held this film back from any sort of emotional response from me.
7.25/10
13th
This documentary begins as an inspection of a particular clause in the thirteenth amendment that has far-reaching effects on our nation, but quickly blossoms into an examination of the minority experience in the US, as well as the epidemic of mass incarceration. This was one of the more depressing films I've seen as of late. It's hard watching so many humans be so real-life horrible to one another.
9.25/10
9.25/10
Krisha
KRISHA is one of those films that lives or dies solely on the strength of the lead role. And this film thrives because the breathtaking performance given by Krisha Fairchild that at times becomes a bit hard to stomach given the weight and nature of the narrative.
8.75/10
8.75/10
OJ: Made in America
This sprawling, exhaustive documentary clocks in at just under 8 hours, and covers one of the more surreal lives the public has been captivated by. The film supplements OJ's story with a great tangential examination of race issues in LA during the time. As someone who grew up during the time but wasn't familiar with many of the details of the case, it was transfixing.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Mad Max: Fury Road (Black and Chrome Edition)
Taking away the color from a film that used it to create such gorgeous set pieces only serves to highlight how tremendous every other aspect of this film truly is.
10/10
10/10
Sky High
This was a really fun film! The visual effects are quite dated (and probably not up to snuff in 2005), and the comedy and plot are very basic, but you can tell this film was made with a lot of love. The talent involved in the film is pretty incredible, as well, with big names popping up in a handful of cameo roles all throughout the film.
7/10
7/10
Passengers
Potentially troubling plot aside, I found this film to be fairly enjoyable. The somewhat overwrought melodrama was counterbalanced with a really interesting environment that was a lot of fun to slowly discover.
7/10
7/10
La La Land
A beautiful film that doesn't quite live up to the director's previous work for me, but features some great music and dance sequences. Act two drags a bit, but the final act is phenomenal and well-worth the price of admission.
9/10
9/10
Assassin's Creed
I knew nothing about the lore or games going in. The plot felt inconsequential and silly. But the largest crime this film commits is the cinematography. The colors are washed-out and dull, which is a shame, as there are some really interesting shots here that could look much better. Similarly, the camera-work for the many action scenes feels as if the director was begrudgingly showing the briefest bits of a set piece before cutting to a different part of the action. There is some cool stuff on display here, slow down and let your audience savor it! This felt like it should have been a better film, had a few crucial decisions been made differently.
5.5/10
5.5/10
Pacific Rim
Gorgeously shot gigantic monsters battle gargantuan robots with a healthy amount of world-building and a plethora of fun, charismatic characters. What's not to love?
8.25/10
8.25/10
Train to Busan
An extremely competent zombie-survival action film, TRAIN TO BUSAN knows exactly what it is trying to do, and does it quite well. The film is tense, and the characters act in an intelligent manner, which puts it leagues ahead similar competitors.
7.75/10
7.75/10
No Country For Old Men
A brilliant and visually gorgeous film featuring some incredible performances. This film doesn't shy away from anything, or hold the audience's hand, but it's more than worth the effort.
10/10
10/10
Central Intelligence
The Rock and Kevin Hart are entertaining and charismatic. The plot is somewhat rote, and a lot of the jokes didn't land for me, but the ones that did were quite funny.
6.5/10
6.5/10
Big Trouble in Little China
It's been more than 15 years since I last watched this film. I remember liking it then because it was funny and there were cool action sequences. Last night I got to revisit it, and immensely enjoyed it for the those same things, but also because it is a wonderful subversion of roles and focus in action films.
8.25/10
8.25/10
Bad Moms
A textbook example of a paint-by-numbers, just barely dipping its toes into R-rated territory comedy. I rarely laughed, and the plot was contrived and uninteresting. It wasn't offensively bad, but I doubt I'll be returning to this one in the future.
4/10
4/10
Prisoners (2013)
The acting is top-notch. The story manages to be thrilling and tense, even a second time. The cinematography is phenomenal. Aside from a few minor nit-picks, this film is a slam-dunk.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
A few characters felt a bit underdeveloped, and the first act or two seemed a tad slow, but there is a lot to love here. Some of which I won't mention specifically, because, ya know, spoilers. But a wonderfully diverse cast and some fantastically fun action sequences add up to a solid entry to the Star Wars cinematic universe.
7.5/10
7.5/10
Manchester by the Sea
This movie is expertly written and acted. Almost every performance is award-worthy, and the narrative is devastating gut-punch after devastating gut-punch. It's hard to recommend the film, as it's quite the unrelenting, harrowing experience, but the film is simply tremendous.
9.75/10
9.75/10
Nocturnal Animals
This was an extremely complex narrative that I'm sure I didn't fully grasp, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the experience immensely. The visuals were wild and unique, with maybe only THE NEON DEMON topping them this year.
8/10
8/10
Office Christmas Party
This R-Rated comedy was only barely so, on both accounts. The comedy was lukewarm, and the mediocre, at-times-laughably bad plot took way too much attention from the very talented comedians onscreen. There are certainly some chuckles, but this could've been so much more.
4/10
4/10
Don't Think Twice
A couple of wonderful and surprising lead performances from Keegan-Michael Key and Gilian Jacobs headline this great little film about an improv troupe. It's not the funniest film in the world, but it accomplishes being funny and very emotionally resonant at the same time.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Weiner
It is rare for a documentary to illicit so many vastly different feelings about its subject, but this snapshot of Anthony Weiner's post-scandal political life manages this task with tremendous skill. This film produces so many moments that are filled to the brim with conflicting emotions and thoughts about the man's actions, it seems almost trivial to read the film in a way that lines up with your personal feelings on the matter. And for me, this yielded a touching, gloomy narrative that was expertly told.
9/10
9/10
Moana
A beautiful hero's journey tale with killer music and absolutely stunning visuals. I do not envy those who have to choose the best animated film this year.
9/10
9/10
The Handmaiden
This is one of the most unique and interestingly-told stories I've seen in a long time. The mystery is the main selling point, but the film also features some jaw-dropping cinematography.
9.5/10
9.5/10
The Edge of Seventeen
This is an excellent example of a fairly rote narrative being done extremely well. Hailee Steinfeld does a great job in the lead role, and Woody Harrelson is hilarious.
9/10
9/10
Moonlight
A gorgeous film in every sense of the word. The narrative is subdued and hauntingly beautiful. The use of color in the cinematography is stunning, and the lead performance is among the year's best.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
There are some significant flaws with the antagonist here, and the action is quite difficult to follow, but FANTASTIC BEASTS was a lot of fun overall. Leaning ever so slightly on the world-building of the previous entries in the series, this film has a lot of really cool ideas.
7.75/10
7.75/10
Arrival
An incredibly touching and beautifully shot film that asks some very tough and thought-provoking questions. My only complaint might be that the pacing is quite deliberate, but the payoff is more than worth the wait.
10/10
10/10
Hacksaw Ridge
Gibson's unapologetic attachment to displaying the horrors of violence humans can enact upon one another is in full effect here. The performances are good, but at times felt a bit over-the-top. The story being told is mostly paint-by-numbers, but this is another solid entry into the 'montages of humans slaughtering one another to a swelling orchestral soundtrack' genre.
7.5/10
7.5/10
Doctor Strange
The stunning visual effects and mind-blowing unique action set-pieces are the highlight's of Marvel's latest. Cumberpatch is excellent, and the supporting cast are all great as well.
I have a few issues with pacing in the first act, and oddly lots of the humor didn't work for me in this film. There are also a couple very small but very noticeable continuity errors, which is just sloppy. That being said, it was still a great experience, and worth the 3D ticket price alone for the visuals.
8.25/10
I have a few issues with pacing in the first act, and oddly lots of the humor didn't work for me in this film. There are also a couple very small but very noticeable continuity errors, which is just sloppy. That being said, it was still a great experience, and worth the 3D ticket price alone for the visuals.
8.25/10
American Honey
Yeah, I don't know. I was worried about not liking this film, as by many accounts it was one of the year's best. It seemed to me it was just going to follow around some asshole teens while they acted like garbage humans for a while. And that's pretty much what I walked away feeling, as well. Maybe I missed something. LaBeouf was tremendous, and the cinematography was quite stunning, but I found the film far too indulgent, with a runtime of nearly three uneventful hours.
6.5/10
6.5/10
In a Valley of Violence
This fairly formulaic western revenge film somehow manages to be equal parts comedic and menacing. Ethan Hawke is wonderful as the lead, and aside from a few instances of over-acting from the rest of the cast, I found this film to be a delightful genre piece.
8/10
8/10
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
I found this film to be a disappointing half-hearted attempt at recreating the magic. Almost every single aspect of this film is lesser-than; the action scenes are stilted and fraught with shaky-cam, the plot is far less interesting, and the performances more phoned-in and forced (save for Cobie Smulders, who was fantastic).
5/10
5/10
Jack Reacher
From the first chilling scene, I was completely enthralled with this film. The mystery unraveled in a very satisfying way, and watching Tom Cruise do what he does best is always tremendous fun. The action set pieces are interesting and hit hard, and the film just never stops being a great time.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Tickled
As various podcasters and film-critics I follow mentioned this documentary, they all had two things to say about it. It was about the world of Competitive Endurance Tickling, and it quickly turns into one of the most bizarre and surreal documentaries they've ever seen.
Having now seen the film, all I can do is echo those two statements.
9/10
Having now seen the film, all I can do is echo those two statements.
9/10
The Accountant
Ben Affleck delivers yet another strong performance, and the supporting cast is just as good. The action sequences hit hard, and felt like a mix of the Batman sequences from Batman v Superman mixed with a dash of John Wick. The narrative is somewhat complex, and left me with a few unanswered questions about character motivations, which hurt the film a bit, but I quite enjoyed to deliberate unraveling of layer after layer as the film progressed.
7.75/10
7.75/10
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
Setting aside the caveats that go along with family films, and the disbelief that must sometimes be suspended (especially when your film is about middle school and not a single teenager curses), I really enjoyed this film.
The lead is a talented young artist, and the film embraces that with wonderful daydream sequences in which his illustrations come to life. The criticisms leveled at our education system and standardized testing were great to see, and Andrew Daly was a solid overbearing, out-of-touch principal/dictator. There is also a surprising emotional heft to the film that I didn't expect at all, but worked quite well.
8.25/10
The lead is a talented young artist, and the film embraces that with wonderful daydream sequences in which his illustrations come to life. The criticisms leveled at our education system and standardized testing were great to see, and Andrew Daly was a solid overbearing, out-of-touch principal/dictator. There is also a surprising emotional heft to the film that I didn't expect at all, but worked quite well.
8.25/10
The Birth of a Nation (2016)
For a film with such a strong 'Best Picture' buzz a few months ago, I expected so much more than this. Woefully underdeveloped characters, absolutely no sense of subtlety, and every female "character" was essentially an object only present to move the plot forward. The cinematography was interesting at times, and a few of the shots are certainly going to linger, but this film was simply not good.
4/10
4/10
Masterminds
For a comedy with a cast as strong as MASTERMINDS, I expected to laugh a lot more than a couple times. The plot was also fairly underwhelming.
4/10
4/10
Deepwater Horizon
Aside from a slightly-above-average third act, this film struck me as a cookie-cutter disaster/survival film. Solid, but mostly unexciting.
6.5/10
6.5/10
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
I wasn't expecting much from a remake of a reinterpretation, and while this movie was certainly watchable and somewhat entertaining, the overall experience fell a bit flat. I've heard it referred to as the Meh-gnificient Seven, and that seems appropriate.
6/10
6/10
Blood Father
Mel Gibson, despite all of his flaws, is quite fun to watch in this film. The core emotional relationship didn't really work for me, but the raw physicality Gibson brings to the role kept me entertained.
6.75/10
6.75/10
Band of Robbers
Part modern retelling of classic Twain stories and part Goonies Grown Up, BAND OF ROBBERS was an absolute blast. The narrative was full of twists and turns, and the core relationship between the two leads felt genuine and gave the film a great deal of heart and charm.
9.25/10
9.25/10
The Light Between Oceans
This film was gorgeously filmed and acted, to be sure. Narratively, I felt that the plot dragged quite a bit, and despite some excellent and unsettling sequences in the third act, I left feeling a bit underwhelmed.
7.25/10
7.25/10
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
This is both Volume 1 and 2 cut together into one glorious 4-hour film, with a smattering of additional footage and bonus content sprinkled in.
I don't think the extra scenes added much to the film. The slightly longer and uncensored Crazy 88 action sequence was appreciated, but the best thing I got from this version was simply the excuse to revisit this jaw-dropping, excessively slick, and incredibly engaging story.
10/10
I don't think the extra scenes added much to the film. The slightly longer and uncensored Crazy 88 action sequence was appreciated, but the best thing I got from this version was simply the excuse to revisit this jaw-dropping, excessively slick, and incredibly engaging story.
10/10
Don't Breathe
This fishbowl story was excellently paced and thrilling from start to finish. Aside from a few very minor character motivation concerns, this film was a real treat.
9/10
9/10
Hell or High Water
An incredibly tense, gorgeously shot genre film that pits two bank robbers opposite a grizzled old sheriff. I can't say enough about the fantastic camera work and cinematography in this film. The scenes are picturesque, and the setting of the film adds an interesting wrinkle to the attempted robberies, which left me feeling more tense than I could recall at any other heist sequence.
9.25/10
9.25/10
Kubo and the Two Strings
This film should immediately leap into the discussion for the best animated film of all time. The visuals were stunning, and truly display the mastery of stop-motion animation that Laika possesses. The narrative was excellent, and the presentation blew me away. I laughed, I cried, and I may have watched the best film of the year.
10/10
10/10
War Dogs
Hill and Teller deliver some great performances, and the 'based on true events' plot was both entertaining and engaging. I enjoyed the way in which the story was presented, and some of the smaller stylistic choices. WAR DOGS won't be anyone's best film of this year or anything, but it was a fun film to be sure.
7.75/10
7.75/10
April and the Extraordinary World
A charming animated adventure tale that is pro-science and pro-entertainment.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Sausage Party
I found a lot of the humor here to be clever and amusing, but nothing elicited the uproarious laughter I've come to expect from Rogen and friends.
5/10
5/10
Pete's Dragon (2016)
Everything about this film struck me as being good, but no aspect crossed the line into being great, and I found some aspects of the plot to be lacking. I found it to be a solid family film, but nothing special.
5.5/10
5.5/10
Suicide Squad
While certainly more fun to watch than other DC films of late, Suicide Squad still lacks in critical areas.
Most of the (many) characters are completely flat, two-dimensional caricatures. The villain of the film has murky motivation at best, and the third act brought to mind horrible memories of FANT4STIC FOUR. Leto's Joker was a HUGE letdown as well.
I really loved the art direction of the film, but the unique and fun aspects seen in the first act quickly disappear. Smith is generally entertaining, but his dialogue ranges from 'pretty fun' to 'I can't believe that line is actually in the film'. Robbie's Quinn is the singular truly great performance for the film's duration, and easily the best part of the film. It wasn't enough.
4.75/10
Most of the (many) characters are completely flat, two-dimensional caricatures. The villain of the film has murky motivation at best, and the third act brought to mind horrible memories of FANT4STIC FOUR. Leto's Joker was a HUGE letdown as well.
I really loved the art direction of the film, but the unique and fun aspects seen in the first act quickly disappear. Smith is generally entertaining, but his dialogue ranges from 'pretty fun' to 'I can't believe that line is actually in the film'. Robbie's Quinn is the singular truly great performance for the film's duration, and easily the best part of the film. It wasn't enough.
4.75/10
Sing Street
Narratively, this film is a rather paint-by-numbers attempt at a "boy meets girl" romance story. But sometimes, apparently, that's enough to produce a fantastic film. The music is catchy, the characters are supremely entertaining, and the film is paced in such a way that nothing feels wasted or extraneous.
9/10
9/10
Captain Fantastic
This film struck me as being on of the most earnest, endearing, and positive films I've ever seen. The incredible performances do a tremendous job at displaying a deep and intractable love for one another, and the end result is simply beautiful.
Maybe THE GOOD DINOSAUR should've aimed a little higher with its titular adjective.
9.5/10
Maybe THE GOOD DINOSAUR should've aimed a little higher with its titular adjective.
9.5/10
Jason Bourne
More like Jason Boring, am I right!? I found the narrative to be fairly tedious and uninteresting. The action scenes were fine, but plagued by an overabundance of shaky-cam.
5.25/10
5.25/10
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi follows up the incredible WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS with another film that is as unique and special as it is funny. The narrative is fast-paced and almost never goes the direction I expected, much to my delight.
9.5/10
9.5/10
Star Trek Beyond
While certainly visually impressive, the plot and pacing lack a sense of urgency or excitement. The events unfolding during the course of the film feel far less important than the filmmakers assuredly intend, and the action was fairly rote "big summer blockbuster" fare.
The best selling point is certainly the characters and dialogue. At the very least, this series has been consistent in providing a fun group of people to be around for a couple of hours.
6.5/10
The best selling point is certainly the characters and dialogue. At the very least, this series has been consistent in providing a fun group of people to be around for a couple of hours.
6.5/10
King Jack
King Jack tells the tale of a teenage boy with few friends, a complicated home life and a persistent, vicious bully. The film does so beautifully and with a great deal of charm. The lead actor does a fantastic job with a very tough role.
9.25/10
9.25/10
The Invitation
A wonderfully tense, fantastically thrilling fish-bowl tale that kept me unnerved throughout the runtime.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Ghostbusters (2016)
I was worried about this one, given that the trailers made the film look atrocious. And that new theme song didn't help...
But I found this film to be both fun and funny. There are some pacing issues that hold it back, and some of the cameos, while appreciated, didn't quite land for me. Don't get scared away by the marketing for this one, though!
7.75/10
But I found this film to be both fun and funny. There are some pacing issues that hold it back, and some of the cameos, while appreciated, didn't quite land for me. Don't get scared away by the marketing for this one, though!
7.75/10
Nerve
This film has some interesting things to say about social media and personal technology in general, but nothing particularly revolutionary or novel. The film is entertaining, but doesn't seem to carry much weight, which is especially true in the third act, which leans on some fairly silly hacker shenanigans to wrap up the narrative.
5.75/10
5.75/10
Swiss Army Man
This film is truly a unique experience. The performances are excellent and quite memorable, but I think the film didn't quite stick the landing in the third act.
7.75/10
7.75/10
Independence Day: Resurgence
The threat is bigger, the cast is larger, and the stakes are universal this time around. And yet, somehow, nothing seemed to carry much weight. The action was fine, but far from inspired. And really, that sentiment summed up most aspects of this film for me.
6/10
6/10
Mr. Right
Starring the eminently watchable Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, and Tim Roth, this part-hitman-part-rom-com was a lot of fun. There are some significant asks of the audience's suspension of disbelief, and the special effects and camerawork could use some refining, but no issue was so glaring that it ruined the wonderfully fun dialogue or gleeful performances.
7.25/10
7.25/10
Barista
As is the case with most great documentaries, Barista transcends the specific subject-matter of the world of competitive baristas. It becomes a beautiful, energetic look into what it means to fervently compete, and to relentlessly pursue excellence in any given field. It is as expertly crafted as the fine beverages on display (I assume, anyways. I don't drink coffee.).
9.25/10
9.25/10
The Neon Demon
This film is visually stunning, making incredible use of color and light to create transcendent beauty scene after scene.
The plot is very deliberately paced, almost to the point of losing me once or twice, but man does this film deliver in the third act! And I'm being vague on purpose here, as this is one of those films that gets exponentially better with as little prior knowledge as possible.
I found Only God Forgives to be a bit of a misstep of Refn, but he's back in a big way with this film.
9.5/10
The plot is very deliberately paced, almost to the point of losing me once or twice, but man does this film deliver in the third act! And I'm being vague on purpose here, as this is one of those films that gets exponentially better with as little prior knowledge as possible.
I found Only God Forgives to be a bit of a misstep of Refn, but he's back in a big way with this film.
9.5/10
The Shallows
A tension-filled fishbowl story that features some of the best underwater cinematography I've ever seen. Despite a few groan-worthy lines in act three and the filmmakers' penchant to overuse slow-motion, I really enjoyed this film. The performance from Lively is pretty good, and the plot is paced well to keep the tension high.
8/10
8/10
Finding Dory
Pixar rights the ship after a lackluster dinosaur film with Finding Dory. While not as emotionally taxing as some of their other work, this film is fast and fun with great characters and little-to-no downtime.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island compatriots deliver an uproariously funny, star-studded film about a pop star at his peak. You've got to enjoy the Lonely Island brand of humor, but if you do, you're going to love this film. The plot is fairly rote, but it doesn't get in the way of the funny at all.
8.25/10
8.25/10
X-Men: Apocalypse
I was listening to a review of this film in which the reviewer claimed that this was more of a 'greatest hits' compilation than standalone film, and that rang very true for me. Many of the set-pieces felt like something we'd seen many times before. I think there are real motivation problems from the antagonist, the dialogue is laughably bad at times, the CGI is incredibly uneven, the plot is bloated, and the action feels very unspectacular.
Even with all of that, I wouldn't say that this film was bad. There were lots of awesome characters present; characters that I grew up with, and this movie did a good job with almost all of them. The film, despite its flaws, was still enjoyable and very fun at times. I didn't walk away disappointed, but I didn't walk away thrilled either.
6.5/10
Even with all of that, I wouldn't say that this film was bad. There were lots of awesome characters present; characters that I grew up with, and this movie did a good job with almost all of them. The film, despite its flaws, was still enjoyable and very fun at times. I didn't walk away disappointed, but I didn't walk away thrilled either.
6.5/10
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
The leads in this film do a great job with truly funny and savvy material. Chloe Grace Moretz felt largely outclassed, and given her pivotal role, the film was hurt somewhat. Not every joke landed for me, but plenty did and there is a wealth of attempts, so even when something missed, something else had me laughing shortly afterwards.
7.75/10
7.75/10
The Nice Guys
Shane Black delivers with this spiritual successor to Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. In fact, the only bad things I have to say about this film are that it so closely mirrors his previous work. Of course, that previous work was hilarious and tremendously fun, as is The Nice Guys. Crowe and Gosling are perfectly cast, and a joy to watch in these roles. The plot is a great noir story, and I was loudly laughing throughout most of the film.
9.75/10
9.75/10
The Lobster
Colin Farrell stars in a very odd film that straddles the line between a dark comedy and a romance film. The world presented is very interesting and fun to live in for a bit, and the performances are tremendous. I think the film drags a bit, and would be improved with a bit more judicious cutting, but overall a great experience.
8/10
8/10
High Rise
While beautifully shot, I found the narrative fairly difficult to follow. The opening act is incredibly engaging, but the second and third dropped off quite a bit for me. It's a weird film, and it may work better for you, but I wanted something more.
5.5/10
5.5/10
Captain America: Civil War
This film is tremendous. So many characters, some new to the MCU, all of whom are handled so wonderfully. So many great action scenes, full of fun and novel beats. The central plot is engaging, and I love how they handle the villain role. The small breaks for genuinely funny moments. It's all just so damn good.
And the best part? Now maybe people will believe me when I tell them we haven't had a good Spider-Man movie yet. Because this movie finally nails the character, completely and perfectly. Just amazing.
I tried to find things I didn't like about this film, because comic book films still feel somehow lesser-than traditional films. But I couldn't.
10/10
And the best part? Now maybe people will believe me when I tell them we haven't had a good Spider-Man movie yet. Because this movie finally nails the character, completely and perfectly. Just amazing.
I tried to find things I didn't like about this film, because comic book films still feel somehow lesser-than traditional films. But I couldn't.
10/10
Green Room
Incredibly gritty, tense, and exciting "fish-bowl" thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the movie. Be warned, there are some extremely graphic depictions of violent acts that will stay with you for a while.
8/10
8/10
Keanu
Keanu was a solid first outing for the comedy duo Key and Peele. While nothing was earth-shattering or particularly innovative, the film was funny and entertaining throughout. Despite some issues with the third act, it was mostly a positive experience.
7/10
7/10
Enter the Battlefield
This is a wonderful documentary about a world in which I've spent countless hours. I place a tremendous amount of value in this game and competitive scene, so it was exciting to have a (hopefully) fantastic thing to demonstrate this to those not in the know.
I greatly enjoyed this documentary, but it's hard to discern if I would find so much enjoyment as someone unfamiliar with the community. I'm very interested to hear thoughts from muggles, as it were.
8.25/10
I greatly enjoyed this documentary, but it's hard to discern if I would find so much enjoyment as someone unfamiliar with the community. I'm very interested to hear thoughts from muggles, as it were.
8.25/10
Everybody Wants Some!!
I found it difficult to connect with most of these characters, which hurt the overall impact of the film.
Linklater's dialogue-heavy style of filmmaking is once again on display, providing fun, light conversations that subtly hint at deeper meanings, although the characters in this film don't go down that road nearly as much as in previous works. This felt like a much lighter film from Linklater, more of a slice-of-life romp than anything else.
7/10
Linklater's dialogue-heavy style of filmmaking is once again on display, providing fun, light conversations that subtly hint at deeper meanings, although the characters in this film don't go down that road nearly as much as in previous works. This felt like a much lighter film from Linklater, more of a slice-of-life romp than anything else.
7/10
Hardcore Henry
Hardcore Henry is exactly what you think it is. No, actually, somehow it's even more like what you think it is. There are some great bits in here, and some truly funny elements as well. The action was pretty fun, although there were definitely moments I wished I could watch what was happening in third-person. The plot is bare-bones and not particularly good, but nobody bought a ticket to this film for the plot. If nothing else, it is an interesting experiment, and one I wasn't sad that I saw.
7.25/10
7.25/10
The Jungle Book (2016)
Any review not starting with the stunning and breath-taking visuals is burying the lead. They are, simply put, some of the very best ever put to the screen.
The plot is the same we all know and love, and it's mostly fine. The voice acting was great, although I found the King Louie scene to be a bit confused tonally. I didn't connect with any of the characters in particular, otherwise this would've been a near-perfect film. As is, I walked away thinking it was a gorgeous, but mostly just fine film.
8.25/10
The plot is the same we all know and love, and it's mostly fine. The voice acting was great, although I found the King Louie scene to be a bit confused tonally. I didn't connect with any of the characters in particular, otherwise this would've been a near-perfect film. As is, I walked away thinking it was a gorgeous, but mostly just fine film.
8.25/10
Midnight Special
A sleek throwback to 80's sci-fi, Midnight Special is a smart, subtle thriller that doubles as an allegory for raising children. It is gorgeously shot and led by some beautiful and truly touching performances.
9.25/10
Demolition
Demolition is yet another playground for Jake Gyllenhaal to show off his incredible talent. Jean-Marc Vallee, director of WILD and DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB, delivers a very similar film that seems as if it should feel more important and profound than it actually did to me. I connected with this topic more than his previous works, as the idea of dismantling as an exercise in self-reflection was very resonant for me, but I did feel like the film could have impacted me more. The cinematography and editing are fantastic, though, and worth the ticket price alone.
7.5/10
7.5/10
Eye in the Sky
The performances are fairly great, but the plodding pace and knocked this down a bit for me. The subject matter is quite heavy, and the few moments of levity seem jarring and out of place, but the film builds the tension of the situation well, and was an enjoyable experience overall.
8/10
8/10
Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice
The visuals are incredible, the performances across the board are fantastic, and the score is excellent.
However, the narrative structure of the film is far too bloated, and character motivations far too thin too often. There are too many goofy, immersion-breaking moments that caused some people in my audience to laugh out loud at the nonsense they were being asked to accept. The conclusion to the nominal showdown is hilariously and offensively dumb.
That being said, there is plenty to like about this film. If you can avert your eyes from those large issues, the film is a decent amount of fun. The action is pretty great, and I was sufficiently sold on upcoming DCU films. But man, this could've and should've been so much better.
6.5/10
However, the narrative structure of the film is far too bloated, and character motivations far too thin too often. There are too many goofy, immersion-breaking moments that caused some people in my audience to laugh out loud at the nonsense they were being asked to accept. The conclusion to the nominal showdown is hilariously and offensively dumb.
That being said, there is plenty to like about this film. If you can avert your eyes from those large issues, the film is a decent amount of fun. The action is pretty great, and I was sufficiently sold on upcoming DCU films. But man, this could've and should've been so much better.
6.5/10
Eddie the Eagle
If you had asked me my opinion after the first 15 minutes, I'd have said something north of a 9/10. Unfortunately, the film sagged in the middle and fell into almost every trope imaginable; the stuffy old guard not letting the scrappy up-and-comer in, the disapproving father, the loving and encouraging mother, and the formerly-great-but-now-drunken-and-reluctant coach. The list goes on and on.
That being said, Taron Egerton is fantastic, and the film finishes just as strongly as it opened. Backed by a synth-fueled, very 80s score and a great message about competition, the film reflected the man on which it was based; plucky, uncompromising, and determined.
8.75/10
That being said, Taron Egerton is fantastic, and the film finishes just as strongly as it opened. Backed by a synth-fueled, very 80s score and a great message about competition, the film reflected the man on which it was based; plucky, uncompromising, and determined.
8.75/10
The Brothers Grimsby
Sacha Baron Cohen makes films that are silly, disgusting, and juvenile. And if I ever stop laughing at them, I'll know all traces of my inner-teenager are dead.
The Brothers Grimsby was very enjoyable for what it was, but stay away if you don't like toilet humor and gratuitous nudity and violence.
6.75/10
The Brothers Grimsby was very enjoyable for what it was, but stay away if you don't like toilet humor and gratuitous nudity and violence.
6.75/10
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Fey's performance was solid, but the film didn't make me care too much for any of the characters. In a film that leans so much on the interpersonal relationships, that is quite the bad sign.
5/10
5/10
Zootopia
A fantastic and fun detective film with a strong, positive message. The film is peppered with hilarious references, the plot is engaging albeit somewhat predictable, and the two leads have great charisma and chemistry.
9/10
9/10
10 Cloverfield Lane
This is exactly how this kind of movie (and I'm being intentionally vague here) should be made. John Goodman is unnerving and imposing, and the film is just an absurdly great experience.
9/10
9/10
Triple 9
Although the film included some excellent set pieces and tense, high-pressure moments, nothing seems to carry much weight, and the ending is baffling and unsatisfying.
6.5/10
6.5/10
The Wicker Man (1973)
This film was all about setting up a creepy and unsettling atmosphere. While it didn't do a terrible job doing so, it wasn't particularly good either.
5.5/10
5.5/10
The Witch
The pacing, cinematography, and soundtrack combined to set a tone that was very engrossing and chilling, but the film ultimately didn't do very much with it. The largest criticism I can levy at a competently made horror film is that I don't think about it much after leaving the theater, and that was unfortunately the case with The Witch.
6.75/10
6.75/10
Deadpool
From the opening credits, I knew Deadpool was going to be something special. The film plays with and nods to almost every superhero trope in a lighthearted manner, and is hilarious. The action is really well done as well.
9/10
9/10
Hail, Caesar!
Somewhat unexpectedly, this film was hilarious! There are just so many memorable and quotable bits. It's essentially an ensemble film, with many fantastic actors showing up for small roles. Josh Brolin acts as the glue, the central story around which all of these characters revolve, and turns in a wonderful performance. There was just so much to like with this film, and it's one of the more fun film-going experiences I've encountered.
9/10
9/10
Top 29 of 2015
#29 - Creed
This film is electric. Michael B. Jordan is fantastic, and the camerawork during a fight is exciting and beautiful. The story is compelling and well-paced, but the huge selling point of this film is the energy and momentum that is built. It was an incredibly satisfying experience.
8.75/10
#28 - The Revenant
DiCaprio and Hardy are wonderful as always, and Iñárritu's long takes and breathtaking shot-composition combine to produce a gorgeous piece of art. There are a few scenes that really highlight the enormity of the tasks ahead of DiCaprio's character, and the gritty hyperrealism of the action scenes depict the brutality of both nature and the time.
8.75/10
#27 - Dope
This movie was dripping with style, featuring a modern feel backed by a 90s Hip-Hop aesthetic. The plot wasn't anything special, and was a tad on the predictable side, but that didn't prevent this film from being a ton of fun.
9/10
#26 - Grandma
The two lead performances are fantastic, especially Lily Tomlin. The story was touching and genuine, and the journey the characters take is complicated and produces some incredibly heartfelt moments.
9/10
#25 - Kingsman: The Secret Service
Just a really fun spy/action movie that contains one of the single best action set-pieces in recent memory.
9/10
#24 - Turbo Kid
Turbo Kid is a perfect example of filmmakers who know exactly what they want their film to be, and who push that to its extreme. This film is pitch-perfect at every point, featuring bright colors on the backdrop of a drab wasteland, the amazing synth-pop soundtrack, and the comical, way-too-over-the-top Kill Bill-esque violence. Despite the absurdity of it all, everything felt natural and at home in this film. I guess 2015 is the year of the batshit insane post-apocalyptic films that are somehow incredible?
9/10
#23 - Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation
Pitch-perfect action and an intriguing plot that kept me guessing. I'm constantly impressed with Cruise's intensity and passion for these roles, and he keeps knocking them out of the park.
9/10
#22 - People Places Things
This film explored a messy relationship with grace and charm. Jemaine Clement was stupendous, delivering a performance that felt natural and effortless. The comic panels sprinkled throughout the film were beautiful touch, and they added quite a bit to the character development.
9/10
#21 - Victoria
Without getting too specific, as this is one of those movies that's exponentially better with less information, Victoria is gripping and visceral. The performances feel effortless and natural, and the camerawork is a thing of beauty.
9/10
#20 - Carol
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara both deliver phenomenal performances in this touching, raw, heartfelt character story.
9/10
#19 - The Hateful Eight
It's possible that I just love Tarantino's style; his aesthetics, dialogue, casting, camera work, etc. all seem to work to create such fun and engaging films. And this was no different. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that fans of Tarantino will be right at home with his latest piece.
9/10
#18 - The Martian
A tremendous adaptation of an excellent book, filled to the brim with great performances and beautiful cinematography. Oh, and it has a fantastic, life-affirming message as well.
9/10
#17 - Sicario
Sicario is one of the best-looking films I've ever seen. Roger Deakins, the cinematographer, is a genius, and Villeneuve's direction complimented that brilliance wonderfully.
Blunt and Del Toro both deliver incredible performances, and this cold, unrelentingly disturbing trip into darkness begins early in the film and never lets up, not for one second.
9/10
#16 - Creep
Learn as little as you can about this film, and watch it on the strength of my recommendation and Mark Duplass' track record, which includes last year's 9/10 The One I Love. This is a much different film, but no less incredible.
9/10
#15 - It Follows
Really incredible horror film. It does a lot with very little, and has an imaginative and fresh take on the genre.
9/10
#14 - Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Dripping with a quirky style and loaded with subtle nods to lots of different things, this movie feels like a labor of love. It didn't hurt that it was at the same time both devastatingly sweet and sad, beautiful and depressing.
I couldn't shake the feeling that this was the film I wanted The Fault in Our Stars to be.
9/10
#13 - Inside Out
Pixar movies are just a delight, every time.
*** I can't believe this is all I wrote at the time. This film is such an incredible work of art, and is redefining the way adults speak with children regarding the way they are feeling. It hands children the tools to convey their emotions simply and effectively. And it does all of this while being a fun, gorgeous, and charming film. It is films like this that keep Pixar so entrenched in the Pantheon of great animation.
9/10
#12 - Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Leading up to the release, I kept my exposure to trailers and news at a minimum, in an attempt to control my excitement a bit, lest I get tricked by a Star Wars film again. But in the final few days, I couldn't contain myself. I was excited. My expectations had been raised to an unrealistically high level. Imagine my surprise when they weren't only met, but surpassed!
This film is capital F-U-N fun. It's humorous, the characters are great, and the performances better. I'd note some of the more exceptional examples, but I'd end up listing most of the cast. The action beats were exhilarating. Essentially, I sat in my chair struck with childlike wonder for the duration of the runtime, and that's one of the best things I can think of to say about a film.
It isn't a perfect film;it isn't the best Star Wars film nor the best movie of the year. But it is really, really damn good, and I couldn't be happier or more excited for the future of the franchise. It truly feels like everyone involved was oozing passion and respect for the original trilogy. This is truly one of the best times I've had in the theater in a long time.
9.25/10
#11 - The Big Short
This film takes a complicated and intricate subject-matter and presents it in a wonderfully entertaining way. The faux-guerilla-documentary camerawork and characters constantly breaking the fourth wall help to keep the audience engaged, which is important when the subject matter is so depressing and scary. The performances are excellent, but Carell steals the show for me again.
9.25/10
#10 - 45 Years
In a film that depends so heavily on the series of conversations between the two leads, what stood out to me was the impressive duality on display. Every mundane, ordinary conversation was tinged with distrust or anger, and every argument was laced with a feeling of unending devotion to one another. Ultimately, the final product is a film that is heartfelt, raw, and utterly devastating.
9.25/10
#09 - Anomalisa
Visually, this film is transcendent. The stop-motion style is gorgeous and immersive; during several scenes I felt as if I weren't watching animation at all. Kaufman films tend to be slightly optimistic, but mostly crushingly depressing, and Anomalisa is no different. That said, it is an incredible piece of film making and storytelling, and easily one of the year's best.
9.25/10
#08 - When Marnie Was There
Not only does Studio Ghibli once again redefine how gorgeous animation can be, but they do so while telling an incredible, touching, and heartfelt tale.
9.25/10
#07 - Ex Machina
An incredible, tense, chilling look at the creation of AI. This is what Chappie should have been.
9.25/10
#06 - Goodnight Mommy
Altogether beautiful, chilling, and disturbing. This film gets the highest praise I can offer, in that at its conclusion, I found myself stunned, in awe of what I had just been a part of. I needed a minute before I could leave the theater, and as I sit outside typing this now, I'm still wholly unsettled.
9.25/10
#05 - Beasts of No Nation
A tremendous gut-punch of a film, headlined by two phenomenal performances from Idris Elba and Abraham Attah. It felt as if I were watching Full Metal Jacket, only through the eyes of a literal child instead of a young man.
9.5/10
#04 - Wild Tales
I'm quite enamored with this film. Essentially a feature-length Black Mirror without the sci-fi elements, Wild Tales is some of the most fun I've had with a film this year. Each story is expertly crafted and paced, and the film is littered with very interesting camera angles and techniques.
9.5/10
#03 - Spotlight
Incredibly powerful and impeccably acted, Spotlight is engrossing and at the same time difficult to watch. I was floored by this film. Some of the smallest moments and roles had tremendous impact, which is a testament to the stupendous filmmaking on display.
9.5/10
#02 - Mad Max: Fury Road
First Viewing: Just a top-tier action film, that happens to have phenomenally gorgeous cinematography to boot.
Second Viewing: Somehow even better the second time. At one point, my eyes started hurting, and I realized it was because I forgot to blink, as a result of my complete and total engrossment in the film.
9.5/10
#01 - Room
The story is expertly told in a manner that, although the trailer spoils some elements, still evokes significant response. The film is harrowing and hard to watch at parts, and then heartwarming and joyously beautiful. The two lead performances are on another level, especially the young Jacob Tremblay. Awards for everyone and everything in this film.
10/10
Honorable Mentions
There were so many other films I wanted to mention, but the already-tenuous premise of counting down my Top films one-a-day for an entire month was already stretched too thin. These are some other films that I loved quite a bit that just fell a tiny bit short of my list.
8.5s: Trumbo, The Visit, The Danish Girl, Tangerine, and Love and Mercy
8.75s: Southpaw, The Wolfpack, The Walk, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Hidden, Phoenix, and Straight Outta Compton.
The Finest Hours
The story is solid, but the acting and dialogue leave a lot to be desired. The camera work is erratic, which makes the action fairly hard to follow most of the time, and it is often obscured by the setting. There are glaring examples of those things that took me completely out of the experience.
4.5/10
4.5/10
Wild Tales
I'm quite enamored with this film. Essentially a feature-length Black Mirror without the sci-fi elements, Wild Tales is some of the most fun I've had with a film this year. Each story is expertly crafted and paced, and the film is littered with very interesting camera angles and techniques.
9.5/10
9.5/10
45 Years
In a film that depends so heavily on the series of conversations between the two leads, what stood out to me was the impressive duality on display. Every mundane, ordinary conversation was tinged with distrust or anger, and every argument was laced with a feeling of unending devotion to one another. Ultimately, the final product is a film that is heartfelt, raw, and utterly devastating.
9.25/10
9.25/10
The Keeping Room
Essentially a slasher film at its core, The Keeping Room's radically different setting shift the tone to that of a more nuanced and subtle thriller. The protagonist is strong, and the antagonists are quite terrifying.
8/10
8/10
Magic Mike XXL
This sequel takes the characters from the first and places them into a fairly standard road-trip film. But the charm and artistry from the first aren't lost, but rather magnified.
8.25/10
8.25/10
Magic Mike
On the scale of "adult-themed" movies, Magic Mike is much closer to Boogie Nights than 50 Shades of Gray. The plot is engaging and well-done, and Tatum is fantastic in this role. I loved that this movie is much less about stripping, and much more about artistry and pursuing your passions at any cost.
7.75/10
7.75/10
Brooklyn
I found Brooklyn to be a charming, heartwarming, and beautiful take on both an immigrant story and a romance. Saoirse Ronan was tremendous, and the film also features maybe the most significant marker of a great 2015 film: Domhnall Gleeson.
8.5/10
8.5/10
White God
A visually impressive film that is unfortunately bumped down by its heavy-handed themes as well as a jarring and odd tonal shift in the third act.
6.75/10
6.75/10
Pressure
A tense, claustrophobic tale featuring one of the most terrifying scenes I've witnessed in recent memory. I think it was intended to be a bit more visceral than I found the film, but it was a solid attempt at the genre.
6.75/10
6.75/10
When Marnie Was There
Not only does Studio Ghibli once again redefine how gorgeous animation can be, but they do so while telling an incredible, touching, and heartfelt tale.
9.25/10
9.25/10
Last Shift
Last Shift was a sufficiently weird and creepy horror film. It isn't special in any way, but the jump scares are solid and the lead performance and story are fine.
6/10
6/10
Pirates
The special effects are very noticeable, and the acting and dialogue are cheesy and over-the-top at times. That being said, if a "Pirates of the Caribbean meets Korean Wire-Fu" movie sounds awesome to you, you're going to love this film.
8/10
8/10
Phoenix
Nina Hoss carries this film on her back magnificently. The plot is not a complex one, but is expertly crafted and unfurled for the audience. On top of that, the cinematography was tremendously beautiful.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Slow Learners
Slow Learners is another rote romcom with little-to-no innovation. While slightly funnier than the average attempt, there are also plenty of jokes that fall flat. The two leads are merely acceptable, but pale in comparison to yesterday's Sleeping with Other People by quite a bit.
4.75/10
4.75/10
Sleeping With Other People
Sudeikis and Brie are endlessly charismatic, and Brie's role is also fairly dramatic at parts, allowing her to really show how great she is.
For a movie filled with so much comedic talent, though, there weren't a lot of hilarious moments. The banter between characters was amusing, but I expected a bit more 'com' from this romcom. And I guess that is my biggest complaint. This turned out to be a fairly generic romcom. There were a few moments that seemed to suggest veering off of that safe, paved highway onto an interesting dirt path, but those moments all ended rather quickly, back on the safe banality that is the modern romcom.
6/10
For a movie filled with so much comedic talent, though, there weren't a lot of hilarious moments. The banter between characters was amusing, but I expected a bit more 'com' from this romcom. And I guess that is my biggest complaint. This turned out to be a fairly generic romcom. There were a few moments that seemed to suggest veering off of that safe, paved highway onto an interesting dirt path, but those moments all ended rather quickly, back on the safe banality that is the modern romcom.
6/10
The Revenant
DiCaprio and Hardy are wonderful as always, and Iñárritu's long takes and breathtaking shot-composition combine to produce a gorgeous piece of art. There are a few scenes that really highlight the enormity of the tasks ahead of DiCaprio's character, and the gritty hyper-realism of the action scenes depict the brutality of both nature and the time.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Parallels
The concept here is really intriguing, but the 90-minute film asks too many questions and leaves too many things unresolved to be satisfying in any way. The acting and dialogue is fairly poor, as well. In fact, it felt very much like the pilot to a TV show...
Which is when I looked it up and discovered it was originally intended to be a pilot to a TV show. That explains quite a bit! Too bad, because I would definitely watch this as a TV show, but it just barely works as a film.
4.5/10
Which is when I looked it up and discovered it was originally intended to be a pilot to a TV show. That explains quite a bit! Too bad, because I would definitely watch this as a TV show, but it just barely works as a film.
4.5/10
Tangerine
Ah, the timeless Christmas tale of a transgender prostitute, fresh out of prison, on the trail of her cheating fiancee pimp.
Seriously, though, director Sean Baker manages some fairly incredible things with this film. The world he takes the audience to is so completely foreign, and the characters so large, but nothing ever feels dramatized or over-the-top. Nobody feels like a "movie character".
Somehow the film is gripping, energetic, and strangely relatable. Add to the fact the it's visually stunning, despite the "gimmick" of being shot entirely on an iPhone 5s.
8.5/10
Seriously, though, director Sean Baker manages some fairly incredible things with this film. The world he takes the audience to is so completely foreign, and the characters so large, but nothing ever feels dramatized or over-the-top. Nobody feels like a "movie character".
Somehow the film is gripping, energetic, and strangely relatable. Add to the fact the it's visually stunning, despite the "gimmick" of being shot entirely on an iPhone 5s.
8.5/10
Infinitely Polar Bear
Ruffalo is great here, but I found the film hard to watch. There are charming moments, to be sure, but the characters are all so grating. Which I think is the point, and in that case the film is successful, but that doesn't make it any more enjoyable to watch.
6/10
6/10
Hidden
This film was great at setting up an unsettling atmosphere, and then slowly unraveling the story for the audience. The story does drag a bit at times, but other than those small breaks, the tension just builds and builds.
8.75/10
8.75/10
Entourage
While fun, this film suffered from a lack of focus. It has been some time since I watched the TV show, but I remember it having more heart. In the film, lots of things happen to our characters, some of which should clearly feel important, but nothing really resonated in that way. Several of the subplots went unresolved and/or felt irrelevant. I have always found these characters entertaining, but I would've preferred a better foray onto the big screen.
5.25/10
5.25/10
Deathgasm
An Australian interpretation of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World meets Shaun of the Dead, all with a coat of death metal and the occult. There are copious amounts of fun, campy gore and black humor, but the poor production value and fairly basic plot held Deathgasm back.
6/10
6/10
Anomalisa
Visually, this film is transcendent. The stop-motion style is gorgeous and immersive; during several scenes I felt as if I weren't watching animation at all. Kaufman films tend to be slightly optimistic, but mostly crushingly depressing, and Anomalisa is no different. That said, it is an incredible piece of film making and storytelling, and easily one of the year's best.
9.25/10
9.25/10
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