As always, this list is composed of what I have seen. Still a few out there I've yet to see, but gotta hit the deadlines!
10 - Columbus: A beautifully created film about loss and discovery, with some of the richest and deepest characters 2017 could muster.
9 - The Founder: The story of the man who took McDonalds from small town hangout to international powerhouse, and the lives he crushed to do so. Outstanding work from Michael Keaton.
8 - Thelma: This new take on ideas used in Carrie, amongst others, pack a hit in this Norwegian import of a strictly religious girl's sexual awakening and the unknown powers that lay within her that result.
7 - Blade Runner 2049: While it likely won't be held in as high regard as the original classic, this long awaited sequel more than lives up to the original's standards.
6 - Hidden Figures: This film was heavily praised at the 2016 Oscars, but got a national release in 2017, thus making it eligible for inclusion here. If you haven't seen it, you shouldn't toast the new year without doing so. A magnificent true story of the first black women to help man into space.
5 - Thor: Ragnarok: More light hearted and comical than most of its predecessors, this fall's MCU entry was the most fun I've had at the movies since the original Guardians of the Galaxy.
4 - Battle of the Sexes: Outstanding retelling of the story of the titular 1970's tennis match between feminist Billie Jean King and male chauvinist Bobby Riggs. Sure, some dramatic license taken but a great and fun watch.
3 - Dunkirk: A masterwork by Christopher Nolan as he retraces and recreates World War II's most heroic and least honored event...the rescue operation to save thousands of British soldiers from sure annihilation by German forces at the seaside city of Dunkirk. Outstanding.
2 - Wonder Woman: Not simply a great comic book film, but a fully realized and engrossing tale of someone so sure of themselves and their role in the world that they will not let the realities of life stand in the way of finding greatness. Not simply an empowering film for women, but a celebration of following your own path.
1 - The Disaster Artist: A film adaptation of the book chronicling the creation of the "Citizen Kane of Bad Movies", this career defining turn by James Franco becomes more a set piece that you are not observing. You are in the film, you are seeing the events unfold merely feet away, not projected on a 40 ft. screen. A good film pulls you into its world, but a great film makes you part of it, and that is why this is the hands down best film of the year.
Monday, December 25, 2017
Sunday, December 24, 2017
2017's 10 Worst Films!
As always, this list is limited to what I've seen this year.
10. Better Watch Out - An Xmas set home invasion thriller with a twist, this lump of coal was only good for a smart turn by lead actress Olivia DeJonge.
9. Justice League - Once again, the lead actress saves a shitty film, as Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is the only reason to watch this huge, steaming pile of dog squeeze.
8. The Emoji Movie - An even bigger steaming pile of Patrick Stewart('s character) than could have ever been imagined.
7. The Dark Tower - No shock here, too much source material to script it like they did.
6. Baywatch - Utterly talentless and clueless cast fails to improve on Z rate TV show.
5. The Snowman - Looked great, but a lead character named Harry Hole (ok, ho-lay) should have been my first tipoff.
4. 47 Meters Down - Should have been buried deeper.
3. T2: Trainspotting - Taking NO cues from the classic original, this was less necessary than Fuller House.
2. The Book of Henry - A film that dreams of being as clever as everyone making it thought it was.
1. Alien Covenant - Apparently the once great Ridley Scott thinks that incestuous robots are a great lead in to the legendary original film. Spoiler alert Rid, they're not.
10. Better Watch Out - An Xmas set home invasion thriller with a twist, this lump of coal was only good for a smart turn by lead actress Olivia DeJonge.
9. Justice League - Once again, the lead actress saves a shitty film, as Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is the only reason to watch this huge, steaming pile of dog squeeze.
8. The Emoji Movie - An even bigger steaming pile of Patrick Stewart('s character) than could have ever been imagined.
7. The Dark Tower - No shock here, too much source material to script it like they did.
6. Baywatch - Utterly talentless and clueless cast fails to improve on Z rate TV show.
5. The Snowman - Looked great, but a lead character named Harry Hole (ok, ho-lay) should have been my first tipoff.
4. 47 Meters Down - Should have been buried deeper.
3. T2: Trainspotting - Taking NO cues from the classic original, this was less necessary than Fuller House.
2. The Book of Henry - A film that dreams of being as clever as everyone making it thought it was.
1. Alien Covenant - Apparently the once great Ridley Scott thinks that incestuous robots are a great lead in to the legendary original film. Spoiler alert Rid, they're not.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Busted trying to make up for "Oscars So White"
So the new story is that they screwed up..which happens, granted. But....Warren Beatty says that the awkward little pause was because the card read "Emma Stone-La La Land"...which was the award given out two awards before (the order went actress, actor, picture)...so now we're supposed to believe they resealed the envelope with the card inside? I say that because if you watch the video we have a new, freshly opened envelope with the "Moonlight" card being shown.
Still dont buy it...admit it was the payback awards for OSW and you got caught. Beatty's pause could just as easily have been because they knew "Moonlight" was supposed to be the winner.
BTW, since I know most of you havent heard of, much less seen, the "best picture"...its about a young gay black man growing up with his addict prostitute mother and drug dealer friends, who grows up to become a dealer himself and reconciling with his first gay experience at the end. Nothing uplifting like "Hidden Figures" (the real best black headed film of the year. "Arrival" was my best picture overall, with HF coming a very close 2nd), nothing soul searching like "Fences" (where Denzel got screwed out of his Best Actor prize).
Nope...we get drug dealer/addict/whore stereotypes, but hey...at least this time the protagonist is gay.
Good work Oscar. I'm done with you.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
OSCAR NOMS AND SELECTIONS
As always, our choice is in bold and now italics too
BEST PICTURE
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
=============================
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences
=============================
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
=============================
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
=============================
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
=============================
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini
The Red Turtle
Zootopia
=============================
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Arrival
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Silence
=============================
COSTUME DESIGN
Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land
=============================
DIRECTING
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
=============================
DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
Fire at Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America
13th
=============================
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
Extremis
4.1 Miles
Joe’s Violin
Watani: My Homeland
The White Helmets
=============================
FILM EDITING
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Moonlight
=============================
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Land of Mine
A Man Called Ove
The Salesman
Tanna
Toni Erdmann
=============================
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
A Man Called Ove
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad
=============================
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Jackie
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Passengers
=============================
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
"Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" from La La Land
Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
"Can’t Stop The Feeling" from Trolls
Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl
Johan Schuster
"City Of Stars" from La La Land
Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
"The Empty Chair" from Jim: The James Foley Story
Music and Lyric by J. Ralph and Sting
"How Far I’ll Go" from Moana
Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
=============================
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers
=============================
SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper
=============================
SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
Ennemis Intérieurs
La Femme et le TGV
Silent Nights
Sing
Timecode
=============================
SOUND EDITING
Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully
=============================
SOUND MIXING
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
=============================
VISUAL EFFECTS
Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo and the Two Strings
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
=============================
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
=============================
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women
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