2016: The Year in Film - Part Two

This time comes a fuller, more round discussion of 2016 in film. From indie to foreign to blockbusters, these are salt of the Earth titles. 

FLAWED FAVORITES

The Accountant

Ben Affleck portrays an Asperberger's-type. He's a brilliant mathematician/accountant operating a front for dangerous clients. He's highly trained in combat. Between the natural obsessions of his Autistic tendencies and his dad's unyielding tough love, the accountant comes to be. Regardless of the film's flaws, the existence of this character is a treasure (to someone with similar issues, sadly without the mathematical gifts, lucrative profession, or extensive combat training).

On his trail is a Treasury agent (J.K. Simmons) who is determined to figure him out for personal reasons. He also has some light relations with one of his client's female accountants (Anna Kendrick). All this comes together in a somewhat underwhelming way, but the ending is one that you probably won't see coming, and it reaffirms the feeling that this character's reality doesn't quite fit.

Midnight Special

2016 was a great year for Texas in film, including this one, Hell or High Water, and Nocturnal Animals. This one was my favorite with its focus on the paranormal. The ending left me a little cold, but I definitely preferred it to Knowing, another science fiction thriller with similar themes. 

FRANCHISE FAVORITES

Captain America: Civil War

I read someone say that this is the best Avengers film, even though it doesn't carry the title. I agree. For me, this film has one golden scene: the one with a royal rumble featuring Ant-Man, Spider-Man, and many more. Getting introduced to the Black Panther was pretty cool as well. Yet, there are still finer films in the Marvel filmography. 

X-Men: Apocalypse

Quicksilver saving lives in bullet time to the Eurythmics, (almost) enough said. It's a good continuation of the greatness started in the prior X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

I never got the chills from this film, which ranks it lower for me. I've gotten chills from five of the previous seven films. Nonetheless, there are so many winning points: Mads Mikkelsen as an estranged yet loving father, my favorite Felicity Jones appearance since Cemetery Junction and Chalet Girl, the most satisfying ending relative per body count, and a beautiful overall effort. The main problem is that it's a film lacking Jedi magic, which was always the crux of my favorite moments in the franchise. 

FORMULAIC FEEL-GOOD FAVORITES

Race

 

It's hard to go wrong where the historical and the optimistic coincide. This will make for great marathon viewing along other biographical sports favorites such as Miracle and Cool Runnings. The 1936 Berlin Olympics is a stunning event to recreate and Nazi Berlin is equally impossible to look away from. Carice van Houten makes a strong impression as Leni Riefenstahl. Civil rights and the larger issue of human rights are both solid issues making this film beyond mere entertainment. 

FOREIGN SPOTLIGHT

Elle

This is without a doubt the most bizarre film of the year, and it's all achieved with great subtlety and naturalism. This is far and away my favorite Isabelle Huppert film ever. Paul Verhoeven, known for Robocop, Total Recall, and Basic Instinct, has a long history of non-American classics, primarily Dutch. He is largely responsible for Rutger Hauer's early career in film. Like the salacious Black Book (my favorite of his foreign efforts), this film features a woman navigating a tough world. 

The main character is the owner of a gaming company that develops ultra-violent games (including sexual violence). She is raped one night and her first response when she is back at work the next day is to up the violence of the game they're developing. This is just the first odd behavior in what is to be a deadpan study in unconventional behavior.

This film is tremendously refreshing and likely to be just as alienating (be it through perceived offense or other means). 

INDIE SPOTLIGHT

The Hollars

  

I love films where young people return home and experience life changes, especially the good kind. There were a few like that this year and this was the best. Plenty of comedy, just enough sadness.

Dear Eleanor

 

I also love road movies, especially with cute girls, and I like them better with some fine retro ambience. Throw in a ridiculous subplot with the famed man who escaped from Alcatraz, Frank Morris, and this film has a definite cinematic first. This is just a fun ride (get it?). 

Miss Stevens

Did I say I love road movies? This time it's about a teacher chaperoning a group of drama students to a competition. I also love youth movies. American Horror Story thespian Lily Rabe is the good-natured teacher. This film could use a little more arc, but then again, what's the narrative arc requirements of a road trip? Point made. 

Blue Jay

Another American Horror Story thespian, Sarah Paulson, graces the screen as someone who returns home. Did I say I love these kinds of movies. This time, unlike most, she's not touching base with her family or a large group of friends, rather she is catching up with an ex-love. Mark Duplass wrote and starred in this, so this must have a huge personal significance. For a film primarily about two people, I was quite engrossed. 

Random But Cool Trivia: This film was shot in Crestline, California and generally in the San Bernardino Mountains, that's pretty cool! Oliver Stone shot in Crestline and Lake Arrowhead (and other mountain areas) for his 1980's horror outing The Hand!

2016: The Year In Television

This year was a magnificent ride. Some established shows returned, but this year brought many great new shows including some limited/event series. This year had me addicted to all sorts of unexpected gems and even gave birth to new life interests and goals.

This list will be roughly chronological, more or less in the order I viewed them.

So if you wanna be like me, here are my recommendations.

The X-Files

Episode: "Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster." 

One of the rare shows to spawn two major motion pictures. One of the shows that put Vancouver on the Hollywood map. A show that was at the forefront of bringing cinematic quality to the small screen. It was not perfect, but the series never was. What it was was an extraordinary adventure into the corners most of us dare not venture. Arguably, the season highlight was "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster", a horror comedy with an environmental message. 

Love

Judd Apatow's name is attached to this out of nowhere comedy gem, that is at times quite genuine. I only discovered it when I looked for shows and movies with Milana Vayntrub. This is one of many Los Angeles shows. Paul Rust is a male lead with that talkative, nervous quality that is just so riveting to watch. Gillian Jacobs is the female lead who struggles at life and tends not to trust herself. Claudia O'Doherty is a radiant revelation and she shined in the centerpiece episode "The Date." Dave Allen of Freaks and Geeks is another memorable presence. 

Daredevil

Not as fresh as the first season. Nonetheless, everyone was buzzing about The Punisher. Furthermore, there were some epic ninja battle sequences this time around. Elektra was the glaring weak point. Someone else stole the Netflix-Marvel thunder but this was still a riveting season. 

11.22.63

J.J. Abrams and Stephen King make a strong combination of storytellers. Stephen King's essence oozes from every scene. This is his strongest material to hit the screen in years. Moreover, the past is personified in a way that gave me chills. This was the most convincing time travel drama I have watched in a long time. Furthermore, this series had a sense of closure that is so rare in television. 11.22.63 is nothing short of a fantastic ride with an impeccable sense of beginning, middle, and end. 

Better Call Saul

It still boggles the mind how they followed up the epic Breaking Bad with another equally, yet completely distinct double character study. Steely-eyed Mike Ehrmantraut continues to be the highlight by a slim margin, yet Jimmy McGill continues to be irresistible, a true con-man and lawyer. 

Fear the Walking Dead

Strand from Fear the Walking Dead.

This season really opened up. I was mesmerized by the seafaring stuff complete with underwater zombies. The refreshing air of the beach was so welcome in this otherwise uncomfortable and stuffy franchise. I liked the Mexico stuff less but still found it compelling. P.S. Strand is the coolest name ever.

Game of Thrones

This was a magical season as the epic series nears the homestretch. Among the new faces is Ian McShane, whose appearance is brief yet unforgettable. Years of near-masochistic commitment to this show are now paying off. 

Murder in the First

Currie Graham as D.A. Mario Siletti.

This is one of two San Francisco crime thrillers on this list. Now past its third season, I was riveted by the study of a district attorney and how an accident puts him and his family through the wringer. The other crime is rather forgettable and overly convoluted. Not really in the same league as everything else on the list, but it was the best procedural of the year.

Shark Week 2016

This year featured particularly revealing insights into the world of sharks. "Sharks Among Us" was about shark deterrents and how powerful magnets appear to be the most promising way to prevent shark attacks as magnets interfere with (probably overwhelming) the shark's electromagnetic sense. This series also started my newfound love of dolphins with "Sharks vs. Dolphins: Face Off." And, to use a cliche, there's so much more. 

Ride with Norman Reedus

Another documentary/non-fiction series makes the list. This show reinvigorated my urge to visit Death Valley, Santa Cruz, Texas, and various other points in the United States. I can almost see myself getting a Zero Motorcycle. I can't wait for more friendly bike excursions with this guy. I also posted a separate review of the series.

Braindead

This was another out of nowhere gem. At its heart this is a very sweet story about the love and loyalty between a brother and a sister. Space bugs, mind control, cutthroat politics, and romance cast a squirmy hilarious spell. I've never been made so upset by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as I was in this series (mostly in a good way); I cared so much for what happened to her that every questionable decision she made was agonizing. Her character's heart is just so big. 

Luke Cage

This dude sort of stole Daredevil's thunder this year, and the Punisher for that matter. I was already falling in love from the get-go when the blaxploitation-style theme song played over the opening title sequence. Furthermore, great neo-funk songs permeated the soundtrack, especially during the club sequences. This series had much sentiment, a worthy and chilling final villain (not to mention a bunch of sick and twisted build-up villains), and, like 11.22.63, a great beginning, middle and end. It's shows like these that make me think: Who needs the movies? SPOILER: Perhaps the best part of the show was the appearance of Rosario Dawson whose character had great chemistry with Luke Cage. 

Scream Queens

This was yet another fun and wonderfully whiny season. Unfortunately, the radiance of Skyler Samuels was absent. Emma Roberts grew on me a little this season. This has to be the best party on television. Jamie Lee Curtis gets some of the most subversive scenes and lines ever, highly empowering. Indeed, this is a rare mix of the subversive and the crowd-pleasing. 


Stranger Things

It was a slow weekend when I discovered this. I went to Metacritic.com to check out what I was missing, and I noticed this. I love 1980's homages. I love paranormal thrillers. I love well-photographed small towns. I love Winona Ryder. All these things were just the tip of the iceberg. All the juvenile characters are compelling and I came to care about each of them (even the central girl who was a little annoying), quite deeply. The adult characters were similarly seductive. Along with 11.22.63 and  Braindead, this was a fantastic trip dripping with mesmerizing moments, both extraordinary and mundane. I binged this in a single day, not something I usually do. 

Ash vs. The Evil Dead

This is the gold standard of major motion pictures that moved to television. This continues to dazzle with stunning blood-soaked visuals and sizzling humor. 

Chance

This is the other San Francisco crime thriller on this list, and the first show I've watched Hugh Laurie in since House. I haven't seen The Night Manager. Gretchen Mol makes for a lovely femme fatale as the object of Chance's obsession. Ethan Suplee shines as a furniture restoration worker who has far more skills and quotable wisdom than expected. I just love seeing the edgy side of San Francisco on screen. 

The Man in the High Castle

I think I may be adding this series to my shelves after this terrific season, which was a season of pay-offs. I got chills from the final episodes, a preciously rare experience for me these days. The extraordinarily built up and titular man in the high castle was revealed this season and he mostly lived up to the expectations. This season does something I've never seen before, which is to make us sympathize with certain loyal Nazis. We also sympathize with the Japanese imperialists increasingly throughout. The main actress got a new, more flattering hairstyle and also gets something of a "double role" although not exactly. 

The connection between our reality and the reality of the show is clarified and with powerful emotional effect. Visually, it's hard to resist the visualizations of 1960's Nazi Berlin, especially the Hall of the People in the final episode. Let me not forget the gorgeous Bella Heathcoate who plays a young Berlin Nazi and represents an alternate version of an emerging counterculture. Indeed, the Nazis did develop LSD. I wondered if this world would have similar social issues as ours and it appears that it does.  

I also love that this guy...

is also this guy!

 ALSO ENJOYED:

Transparent
Halt and Catch Fire
The Strain
The Walking Dead 
Grimm
Teen Wolf
Scream: The Series
The Flash 
Agent Carter
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
New Girl
Good Girls Revolt 
Sleepy Hollow
Homeland 
Motive