Best Films of 2016

6.7/10

6.7/10

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
His 3rd Movie
My 4th movie watched from the director

Two of the biggest stars at the time (likely still up there) hit all the right notes and have strong chemistry in this very average movie. The two stars are really the only reason to watch this (plus a Jason Bateman scene), and I'm okay with that.

Added to Lists:
Top Ten Performances - Dwayne Johnson
Top Ten Performances - Kevin Hart
Best One-Scene-Only Performances - Jason Bateman

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Locations: Atlanta, GA, USA

6.8/10

6.9/10

6.9/10

7.0/10

7.0/10

Director: Robert Eggers
His 1st movie
My 2nd movie watched from the director

Well, this was a fun one! Said nobody. Obviously going into it I wasn't expecting 'fun', but holy Hell this one was rough. A movie that just gets worse and worse for the characters. Still, that doesn't diminish the filmmaking. The story is well done, the acting is spot on, cinematography notable, and pacing perfect. Such an affective tone Eggers created, too.

Added to Lists:

Help!
Top 25 Predictions of Future Stars - 2015 - Anya Taylor-Joy

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Location: Rural Massachusetts, USA

7.0/10

7.0/10

Director: Jeff Nichols
His 5th movie
My 3rd movie watched from the director

This is a beautiful story and the performances are outstanding. The actors tell us so much without words. It's the best put-together movie I've seen from Nichols, a director I come back to but am never really sure why he is acclaimed. He's a very dry filmmaker. I'm thankful for him making this movie and getting their important story out, putting yet another small piece to the overall story and puzzle of the U.S.'s history.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Performances - Joel Edgerton
Top Ten Performances - Ruth Negga
The Beauty and Evolution of Interracial relationships in Movies
Movie Titles with Double Meanings

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Location: Caroline County, VA, USA

7.1/10

7.3/10

7.3/10

Director: Andrea Arnold
Her 4th movie
My 2nd movie watched from the director

This is an enjoyable aimless story about a rag tag group who seem to be aimless as well, but enjoy that way of life thoroughly.

Added to Lists:

Best Plot-Free Movies
Best Performances - Shia Lebeouf
Non-Actor Casts

7.3/10

Director: Jason Bateman
His 2nd Movie
My 2nd movie watched from the director.

Bateman's second directorial effort is not as fun and entertaining as "Bad Words" but is certainly proof he isn't a one and done kind of actor-turned-director. The concept is great, the performances are solid even if the overall execution isn't anything special.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Performances - Jason Bateman
Chris Walken is the best supporting actor of all time?

7.4/10

7.4/10

7.4/10

Director: Werner Herzog
His 37th movie
My 12th movie watched from the director

The incredible documented life of interesting people and Werner Herzog continues. This is such a feast for the eyes and the development of the story of our earth is impressive. The North Korea section overall makes sense yet it seems to veer off in a direction that seems unnecessary, taking too long to bring it back to its relevance.
I love the references to three previous Herzog documentaries and the way Herzog continues to include himself in them, still unusual for a doc director.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Documentaries of Werner Herzog
Lava Love: A Dozen Great Movies about Volcanoes


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