Saturday, December 31, 2016

The Ten Best Films of 2016: #10


Of the handful of three-star movies I could visualize in this spot, I'm giving it to the black-and-white, mumblecore two-hander "Blue Jay," a Netflix original in which Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass give a master class in acting. It's like a great short story that builds to a shattering climax.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Julieta, I, Daniel Blake, Passengers, Patriots Day, A Monster Calls, Live by Night, Toni Erdmann, Why Him?, Hidden Figures, Paterson, 20th Century Women



Julieta

I, Daniel Blake




Passengers

Patriots Day




A Monster Calls

Live by Night




Toni Erdmann

Why Him?




Hidden Figures

Paterson





20th Century Women










I judge the December releases a bit more strictly. Put a film out now, you’re telling the world you think it’s award material. Accordingly, close calls tend to get rounded down to the next lower star rating rather than rounded up to the next higher. Quick capsules on eleven Christmas offerings, none of which came close to penetrating my best list.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Monday, October 17, 2016

The Accountant, Amanda Knox, American Honey, Aquarius, Being 17, The Birth of a Nation, Blue Jay, Certain Women, Command and Control, Deepwater Horizon, Denial, The Girl on the Train, Kevin Hart: What Now?, A Man Called Owe, Mascots, Masterminds, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Sand Storm, Tower


The Accountant
Amanda Knox



American Honey
Aquarius



Being 17
The Birth of a Nation



Blue Jay
Certain Women



Command and Control
Deepwater Horizon



Denial
The Girl on the Train




Kevin Hart: What Now?
A Man Called Owe




Mascots
Masterminds




Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Sand Storm



Tower