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
The Founder, Office Christmas Party, La La Land, Land of Mine, Frank & Lola, Collateral Beauty, Neruda, Fences
|
| The Founder |
|
| Office Christmas Party |
|
| La La Land |
|
| Land of Mine |
|
| Frank & Lola |
|
| Collateral Beauty |
|
| Neruda |
|
| Fences |
Quick capsules from a mediocre to poor December to date:
Monday, December 5, 2016
Jackie, The Comedian, Things to Come
|
| Jackie |
|
| The Comedian |
|
| Things to Come (L'Avenir) |
Capsules on a light but truly terrible December week of movies:
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Bad Santa 2, Miss Sloane, Allied, Lion, Rules Don't Apply, On the Map, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened
|
| Bad Santa 2 |
|
| Miss Sloane |
|
| Allied |
|
| Lion |
|
| Rules Don't Apply |
|
| On the Map |
|
| Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened |
Quick capsules on a mostly quite good week of movies:
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Elle, Bleed for This, Manchester by the Sea, Nocturnal Animals, The Edge of Seventeen, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
|
| Elle |
|
| Bleed for This |
|
| Manchester by the Sea |
|
| Nocturnal Animals |
|
| The Edge of Seventeen |
|
| Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk |
Capsules on a mixed week of movies:
Friday, November 18, 2016
Hacksaw Ridge, Loving, Arrival, Don't Call Me Son, The Eagle Huntress, The Uncondemned, King Cobra
|
| Hacksaw Ridge |
|
| Loving |
|
| Arrival |
|
| Don't Call Me Son |
|
| The Eagle Huntress |
|
| The Uncondemned |
|
| King Cobra |
Quick capsules from a surprisingly light November at the movies:
Monday, October 24, 2016
American Pastoral, The Handmaiden, Christine, Moonlight, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, In a Valley of Violence
|
| American Pastoral |
|
| The Handmaiden |
|
| Christine |
|
| Moonlight |
|
| Jack Reacher: Never Go Back |
|
| In a Valley of Violence |
Quick capsules on a largely terrific week of movies:
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 |