Sunday, February 25, 2018

Top 10 of 2017

1. Blade Runner 2049

It is absolutely astonishing that this movie turned out well. I mean, whose idea was it to make a sequel to a 35 year-old weird sci fi movie that totally bombed upon its initial release? Movies with ridiculously belated sequels have a tough enough time, but to come up with something to follow the original Blade Runner seemed impossible and borderline irresponsible. The original had such a unique style and such a satisfyingly vague ending that dredging it back up for a sequel would surely end in disaster. But lo and behold, it was pulled off so well I could have never even dreamed it (even if that dream contained a unicorn). Directed by Denis Villenueve and starring Ryan “on fire” Gosling, Blade Runner 2049 is my easy choice for the movie of 2017. First of all, it is an absolute visual feast. Ridley Scott created a stunning movie world in 1982 and it is beautifully expanded upon in the sequel. There’s a fight scene in front of an Elvis hologram that’s particularly mesmerizing. But visuals are not the only winning element of this film. There’s an emotional story that asks central questions about humanity itself, thus continuing the great work the first movie started. Even at its near 3 hour run time, Blade Runner 2049 flies by and keeps you guessing. I can not recommend this movie enough, especially for fans of science fiction. Once again the Academy forgot to nominate the ACTUAL best movie of the year for its Best Picture statue; but is should be primed for some well-deserved technical awards.

P.S. Harrison Ford has now reprised his three most famous film roles in the last 10 years. Harrison, a word from all of us: please stop while you’re ahead. Nobody needs more belated sequels like Witness 2: Amish Ascending, Air Force Two: He Told You to Get Off His Plane, Seven Days Eight Nights: Does Anyone Remember Anne Heche?, or Fugitives: Attack of the One Armed Men. We’re good Harrison, we're good.

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

I think my thoughts from when this movie first came out still sum up how I feel now. And it held up even better the second time. Now, we will all hold our breath as we wonder whether or not J.J. Abrams will go back to playing it safe.

3. Lady Bird

Behind a Blade Runner sequel actually working, how much I liked Lady Bird comes in a close second for the biggest surprise of 2017. It’s a coming of age story about a petulant  high school senior, self-named Lady Bird,  that is hell bent on getting out of her hometown of Sacramento. Every relationship in Lady Bird just feels authentic. This is especially true when it comes to Lady Bird and her mother. Nothing is belabored or over the top, the story just unfolds without bludgeoning you over the head about anything. Plus, it has an absolutely perfect ending, something most coming of age stories struggle with. Of the 9 nominees, Lady Bird is my pick for Best Picture.

4. 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

3 Billboards, despite its backlash, was not only a great film, but a very timely one for 2017. We now live in a world where you are defined only by your extremes. Even if you do something as benign as become a presidential election meme or something that's just a fun fixer upper show in your small town, the backlash will come swiftly and utterly unfairly. So what do you do with a mean spirited mother in grief, a racist cop, and a troubled police chief? That's the question that 3 Billboards wants you to wrestle with. Each character is angry for different reasons, and the movie shows us where that anger takes us. It also asks us to look at people for more than just their faults. Are people defined by their worst qualities? By their worst actions? Can bad people still do good actions, and can they change? Our society would answer those questions by those articles I linked above. But life is not about our worst. "Bad" people aren't just caricatures, and 3 Billboards makes us live with this. Our world is so swift to judge, it's good to have a film that asks us not to do so. And luckily for us, we have a Creator that has that patience with us (2 Peter 3:9).


5. War for the Planet of the Apes

The intelligent ape Caesar, finishes his Moses-esque journey in the final installment of a very underrated trilogy of films. The War from the title doesn't end up being what you expect, and in a very good way. Caesar's arc from lab monkey to grizzled leader is a great ride, and this move is its fitting end. I can't decide if War or Dawn (or whatever they called the second one, I seriously can't keep the names straight between the first two) is my favorite, so I'll just choose to love all three of these movies.



6. Baby Driver

Director Edgar Wright has made his career with Simon Pegg action-comedies (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End), and Baby Driver proves that he's got much more left to say. The movie plays like an awesome mix of Guy Ritchie and Martin Scorcese; quick cuts, fierce action, and a killer soundtrack. Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey all play slightly crazy bank robbers that use young "Baby" (Ansel Elgort) as their getaway driver. The driving scenes are particularly heart-pounding as you might imagine, but it's not just all action. Each character is three-dimensional and fleshed out. The romance between Elgort and his waitress girlfriend gives enough emotional weight to make the action interesting.

7. John Wick: Chapter 2

I saw the first John Wick on a guys trip and it was one of those situations where the movie lined up perfectly with the weekend. It was a complete blast, and had me saying "I'M THINKING I'M BACK" for months on end. Chapter 2 has every single thing that made the first movie great, and more. John Wick succeeds so well because of its world building. It gives you just enough insight into its underground of hit men and assassins that you keep wanting to learn more. But the draw of the film is the over the top Keanu Reeves action, and it is here in spades.

8. Dunkirk

Dunkirk is a technically flawless movie. It is expertly filmed in almost documentary-like fashion. We learn of the heroism of British citizens and soldiers as they evacuate from France in WWII. Dunkirk is also an incredible theater experience, the sound of every bullet and every plane flying overhead rattled my sternum in my seat. It's not necessarily a movie I'll ever watch again, akin to something like Schindler's List, but that doesn't underscore it's effectiveness as a movie experience.

9. The Big Sick

For me, this was a very pleasant surprise. I took a chance on The Big Sick as an in-flight movie a few months ago. I was somewhat expecting a dumb, raunchy comedy in the vein of 40 Year Old Virgin or Neighbors. I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead, I was treated to a delightfully funny drama about a guy (Kumail Nanjiani) who breaks up with a girl right before she goes into a coma. He then forms a relationship with her parents and learns to appreciate her even more, despite her illness. The Big Sick is a top-quality romantic comedy.

10. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Marvel did some work on me in 2017. I wrote back in 2013 that I was pretty much done with superheroes. It felt like they'd all become stale, effects-heavy, action bore-fests. But starting with Guardians Vol. 1, I decided to give Marvel another chance. Guardians Vol. 2, along with Thor: Ragnarok to a slightly lesser extent, reinvigorated my interest in Marvel movies for one reason: these movies do not take themselves seriously in the slightest. Guardians Vol. 2 is hilarious, crazy, and weird, and it doesn't try to be anything its not. It's got a killer soundtrack, pretty visuals, and quick one-liners, and not much else. And that's great! I'm not sure that all Marvel movies can get away with such a free-spirited vibe, but I enjoyed the heck out of the ride in this one.


Honorable Mention:

Molly's Game
Thor: Ragnarok
Logan
I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore
American Made
Jim & Andy
I, Tonya
Logan Lucky

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Top 10 of 2016

1. La La Land

Previous to seeing La La Land, here's the list of musicals that I'd seen in my entire life: Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Grease (on TV one time when I was like 8), and Mary Poppins (I think). Needless to say, I'm not a musical guy, and it is no small feat that La La Land ascended to my top spot for 2016. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone continue the chemistry they started in Crazy. Stupid. Love and sing their way through a sun-splashed classic Hollywood tale. There's a lot of conventional stuff about love, dreams, and happiness, all executed very well. But it's the music, the strong performances by Stone and Gosling, and the unexpected ending that elevate this film. Gosling is on an insane "Jim Carrey in the 90's" type run right now, totally on fire in everything he's in. I listened to the soundtrack for months after this movie came out, and I don't like musicals! Stone and Gosling don't necessarily have strong voices but it makes sense for the story. I didn't see Moonlight, but I have a suspicion that despite its Academy Award for Best Picture, La La Land will be the movie we're talking about 20 years from now.

2. Hell or High Water

A little bit No Country for Old Men, a little bit Heat, and a little bit Bonnie and Clyde, Hell or High Water hits all the right notes. It has some absolutely incredible bank robbery scenes. Chris Pine and Ben Foster play brothers trying to save their mother's farm, with Pine playing the level headed lead and Foster playing crazy in a way that he does so well (see 3:10 to Yuma and Lone Survivor). It's a Robin Hood type moral tale that has you questioning each character's motives that's also backed by some intense action and beautiful desert vistas. This is Pine's best performance of his career. You'll reluctantly root for his character and question your reasons for doing so.

3. Arrival

Arrival is a true science fiction movie. It has high concepts that make you think more deeply about our own world, with little in the way of action sequences. It reminded me a bit of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called "Darmok". Two completely foreign peoples struggle to learn to communicate despite having completely different methods of communication. What sets Arrival apart is its emotional stakes. I don't want to give all the twists and turns away, but there's so much to unpack about understanding others, the sanctity of life, and free will. Amy Adams is excellent as always, and gives a pretty gut-wrenching performance as a linguist attempting to communicate with aliens that have landed on earth. This a perfect example of how art can be God's way of seeing His beauty. There are numerous spiritual themes that director Denis Villenueve may or may not have intended to convey, but no matter the intent, they are there nonetheless.

4. The Nice Guys

Ryan Gosling, previously described as "on fire", only bolsters that description in an awesome buddy cop film. He and Russell Crowe have a lot of fun together here. The story is a tried and true murder mystery, but as with any good buddy cop movie, the real draw is the relationship between the two leads. Crowe and Gosling are funny and charming each time they're on screen, and there's enough mystery to keep the story moving at an effortless pace.

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Why do they feel to need to add "A Star Wars Story" to all of these movies? Is there anyone on earth that will be confused by Rogue One and Solo being anything but Star Wars movies? It's just an awkward title that I hate. With that out of the way, Rogue One is a great action movie. The ending was bold (not for normal movies, but for Star Wars), and greatly increased how much I left the theater liking this movie. The filmmakers decided to use CGI work to re-create young Carrie Fisher and Peter Cushing, a move I thought strayed too close to the uncanny valley. That was part of my biggest annoyances with Rogue One, the insistence up on the nudge-nudge, wink-wink "remember this is Star Wars" nods. Did we really need cameos by R2-D2, C-3P0, and the guy that gets his arm hacked off by Obi-Wan in Episode 4? Not really. Rogue One was good enough on its own. Here's to hoping this is toned down in Rian Johnson's new Star Wars movies.  Despite all of that, there's still a lot to like. Rogue One does an excellent job at explaining one of the most baffling plot holes in all of Star Wars history: the incredibly stupid "flaw" in the original Death Star. I wish that the movie had taken itself a tiny bit less seriously, but overall, I was a big fan of this first Star Wars spin-off.

6. War Dogs

I'd like to submit War Dogs as the most underrated movie of 2016. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill play morally questionable guys that game the federal government's military procurement system. Part of the reason why I liked this movie so much was that I actually did this job for a summer. Except for the, you know, super shady illegal stuff that they get involved with in the movie. But the insanity they describe of how the US government buys its weapons is actually that insane in real life. War Dogs has two great leads and a fantastic "too crazy to be true" type story that will easily keep you engaged for its run-time.

7. Hunt for The Wilder-People

This is the film that got Taika Waititi a chance to direct mega blockbuster Thor:Ragnarok, and you can see his talent here. Sam Neill plays a crusty old man that is left to care for a troubled New Zealand kid played by the hilarious Julian Dennison. Wilder-People hits all the right father-son notes with plenty of comedy and heart.  

8. Hacksaw Ridge

Mel Gibson makes his triumphant return to our consciousness with an emotional and beautiful(ly violent) war film. Ridge is about WWII pacifist Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) and how he became the first US veteran to win the Medal of Honor without ever firing a shot. Hacksaw Ridge has shades of We Were Soldiers with a little less melodrama (a little), and the same amount of war violence. But no matter the comparison, it's a great WWII film. 

9. The Founder

The story of McDonald's (semi) founder Ray Kroc is a worthy tale to be told. The Founder tells of how traveling salesman Ray Kroc built the biggest restaurant empire in the world. It straddles the line between a cautionary tale of capitalism and a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in a non-preachy way that's interesting for its whole run time. Michael Keaton is brilliant as Kroc, and it's likely the second best performance of his career, with his portrayal of Captain Mauch in The Other Guys a clear first (I'm only slightly kidding).

10. Star Trek Beyond

Now that I've completely given up on on these new Star Trek movies actually being Star Trek movies, I felt free to enjoy Beyond for exactly what is was; an action movie. I understand that it's not profitable to make Star Trek: TNG style science fiction movies, so there's no reason to be upset that this is really a Star Wars movie starring James T. Kirk (even the TNG movies went the action route- a much dumber choice with its cast becoming more and more ancient with each film). Beyond is just another solid entry in this franchise, nothing more, nothing less.

Honorable Mention:

Keanu
X-Men: Apocalypse 
The Lobster