We're only a few short days into 2017, but yet I am still in awe of 2016 as a year in cinema. 2016 delivered some of the best films in not only recent history but all of film history. Many of these films I have already gotten to review (La La Land, Moonlight, The Nice Guys), etc... What I wanted to do was write about some of the hidden gems of this year. Many of these movies, especially the independent releases, get lost in the hype of awards season. These are all movies I haven't gotten to write a full review on but still deserve your attention. Here we go!
This movie started picking up heat at the Sundance Film Festival. The film kept getting called the "farting corpse movie." Swiss Army Man is probably the weirdest film you will see not only this year, but maybe ever. That being said, somewhere in the bizarre plot is charm and wit that make this move so incredibly hard to hate. Daniel Radcliffe and Paul dano give some of the most underrated performances of the year in this oddball tale of romance.
Another Sundance release, Captain Fantastic follows a father, (Viggo Mortensen), who tries to raise his children incredibly unconventionally. What he finds is that his way may not be the only way of parenting. This film is a touching look at what it means to be a parent, as writer/director Matt Ross was reflecting on his new fatherhood. In some scenes in this movie, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be weeping, or laughing hysterically, which shows how well this comedy/drama does its job.
Taika Waititi burst onto the scene in 2014 with his hilarious vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. Hunt for the Wilderpeople cements Waititi as one of the best comedic directors in the entire world. The film has the madcap humor that is reminiscent of Wes Anderson. You can never guess what will happen next in this hilarious take on growing up. The success of this movie makes me confident in Waititi's next project, which happens to be Thor: Ragnarok, which is to be released later this year
Since the time of my generation has not nearly ended, how can there be a film to reflect on it? American Honey is a perfect reflection of the confusion of millennial misfits as they find their way in America. The best part is, that the film is made by a 55-year-old British woman who somehow understands this plight. Maybe not as intelligent as it is visceral, American Honey is an Easy Rider, but for this generation. Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf give knockout performances as they went looking for America, but couldn't find it anywhere. This is aa patient viewing, as American Honey clocks in at 2 hours and 43 minutes, but is worth the whole viewing.
10. Green Room
Local filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier recently caught my attention with his jarring revenge tale Blue Ruin, which I named one of my favorite films of 2014. Whereas Blue Ruin was a rough cut, Green Room is a refined horror and thriller made by a much more seasoned director. Featuring on of the last brilliant performances of Anton Yelchin before his tragic death at 27, Green Room keeps you on the edge of your seat, in its violent horror narrative.
9. All the Way
HBO is putting out some of the smartest political movies of today. All the Way, which is adapted from the stage play, with Bryan Cranston reprising his Tony-winning portrayal of Lyndon Baines Johnson is so very relevant for our times. The film shows how race relations are still so incredibly problematic in America. Basically, this film is a Lincoln, but for Johnson. It is well executed, and a shame that it was kept on HBO, and not a theatrical release.
8. Weiner
Anthony Weiner is perhaps the biggest farce in American politics at this moment in time. What this documentary portrays is Weiner as the tragic hero of the people, who is continually brought down by his past transgressions. Originally slated to be the film that would follow Wiener's triumphant return as mayor of New York City, the film slowly breaks down Weiner's decline in the view of the public. though the film is a short viewing, it is a slow, painful watch.
7. Everybody Wants Some!!
Richard Linklater understands human interaction. Over his career, he has made a variety of films that so incredibly depict a certain sense of humanity. One of the aspects he has an unbelievable knowledge of is the complex process of growing up. Everybody Wants Some!! is in the same vein of his previous coming of age films. The film follows a college baseball team as they try their hand with girls, all while dealing with the confusion of the 1980s. It is humorous, touching, and charming, as Linklater delivers another hit.
6. Sing Street
Speaking of directors who understand a certain genre, John Carney knows how to make movies about music. Making exclusively music centered movies over the past 10 years, Carney may have crafted his seminal masterpiece. This is another coming of age tale that follows a young Irish rock band that is trying to be cool. It is witty, fun, and will keep a grin on your face from beginning to end.
5. Swiss Army Man
This movie started picking up heat at the Sundance Film Festival. The film kept getting called the "farting corpse movie." Swiss Army Man is probably the weirdest film you will see not only this year, but maybe ever. That being said, somewhere in the bizarre plot is charm and wit that make this move so incredibly hard to hate. Daniel Radcliffe and Paul dano give some of the most underrated performances of the year in this oddball tale of romance.
4. Captain Fantastic
Another Sundance release, Captain Fantastic follows a father, (Viggo Mortensen), who tries to raise his children incredibly unconventionally. What he finds is that his way may not be the only way of parenting. This film is a touching look at what it means to be a parent, as writer/director Matt Ross was reflecting on his new fatherhood. In some scenes in this movie, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be weeping, or laughing hysterically, which shows how well this comedy/drama does its job.
3. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi burst onto the scene in 2014 with his hilarious vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. Hunt for the Wilderpeople cements Waititi as one of the best comedic directors in the entire world. The film has the madcap humor that is reminiscent of Wes Anderson. You can never guess what will happen next in this hilarious take on growing up. The success of this movie makes me confident in Waititi's next project, which happens to be Thor: Ragnarok, which is to be released later this year
2. American Honey
Since the time of my generation has not nearly ended, how can there be a film to reflect on it? American Honey is a perfect reflection of the confusion of millennial misfits as they find their way in America. The best part is, that the film is made by a 55-year-old British woman who somehow understands this plight. Maybe not as intelligent as it is visceral, American Honey is an Easy Rider, but for this generation. Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf give knockout performances as they went looking for America, but couldn't find it anywhere. This is aa patient viewing, as American Honey clocks in at 2 hours and 43 minutes, but is worth the whole viewing.
1. O.J.: Made in America
If you think American Honey is long, O.J.: Made in America will kill you. The five-part documentary comes to nearly 8 hours. Why is this an essential viewing? Because this documentary sinks its teeth into the surrounding culture and surroundings of Los Angeles during the OJ Simpson murder trial. By the end of Part 2, the viewer is hooked like no other documentary has ever done. I do not understand why this case continues to capture and fascinate the American public, but Ezra Edelmen's epic tale of race and its relationship to the American legal system is an amazing sight to see.
And this ends my list! After seeing some of the final movies I missed in 2016, I will be publishing a list of the best movies I saw in 2016 in rank order! Thanks for reading, and see you at the movies!
And this ends my list! After seeing some of the final movies I missed in 2016, I will be publishing a list of the best movies I saw in 2016 in rank order! Thanks for reading, and see you at the movies!
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