| Title |
Year |
Rating |
Rank |
Review |
| Room | 2015 | 93 | 1 | (full review) - One of the things that impressed me most about the film was it doesn't lose momentum or make a wrong turn once the pair are freed; nor does it feel like the confinement is just a build up to their freedom; instead, in my opinion, it's evenly paced and really good storytelling! Actually, the best thing I've seen all year! |
| Spotlight | 2015 | 88 | 2 | (full review) - It's another great role for Keaton following up last year's Oscar winning hit "Birdman" (click for T&T post). In "Spotlight" he plays a super likable guy with important contacts who treat him like he's a star quarterback. Except in this case he starts to hit too close to home and a couple of higher ups involved in the scandal try to convince him to "be a team player." |
| A Bigger Splash | 2015 | 84 | 3 | (full review) - Swinton plays Marianne Lane a famous female glam rock personality recovering from throat surgery. She not only can't speak above a whisper, she's been told to refrain from speaking while her vocal chords heal. What better place to recuperate than on a beautiful Mediterranean Island called Pantelleria in Italy. She's accompanied by her Photographer boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) the two of them seem to have a shorthand which requires few words; and you sense it was like this between them even before Marianne's surgery... |
| Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | 84 | 3 | (full review) - Most of the movie is very serious minded except for humorous battles scene which pits Avenger against Avenger, yet loving these characters as I do, it's actually the hardest part to take. |
| Hello, My Name Is Doris | 2016 | 84 | 3 | (full review) - If John were a balding, over-weight, lonely guy in his 40's, you'd be like, well, I don't think the age difference matters that much. But John is good looking, cool, and holds a key position in the company where she works in accounting, a left over from the previous company. He's just so far out of her league and yet... |
| Sicario | 2015 | 83 | 6 | (full review) |
| The Revenant | 2015 | 80 | 7 | (full review) - Unlike "The Hateful Eight", which relies on a complex network of masquerades to generate suspense, "The Revenant" is driven less by narrative than the pure thrill of immersion. |
| X-Men: Apocalypse | 2016 | 80 | 7 | (full review) - The make-up and costume on En Sabah Nur wasn't quite right, nor was Isaac's interpretation of the character - instead of menacing, intimidating and omnipotent ruler, I was getting grumpy, ill tempered Muppet. However, it doesn't ruin the movie for me, it may not be the strongest X-men feature, but still satisfying to me. That Night Crawler is a handy Mutant to have around! |
| Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - I was very engaged with the entire movie. Thought it was visually artistic, the philosophical and politically relevant plots were well written. Loved when Superman gave Batman the cut out the vigilante crap speech, accompanied by a menacing warning look, before shooting straight up like a rocket. Then we cut to Batman giving his signature under-eyed masked stare, which clearly said, Superman, you're not the boss of me. |
| La La Land | 2016 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - Seb & Mia are what really make this movie sing! This is Stone and Gosling's third movie together (Stupid Crazy Love and Gangster Squad) and you can totally see they understand how to sell that old Hollywood Duo appeal. Gosling is fantastic in most everything, but sometimes his roles are so sardonically off-putting, you have to love him from a distance. As Seb, he's still got edge, but he's also completely adorable. |
| Pitch Perfect 2 | 2015 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - We had a blast talking about this cameo packed sequel during our dinner and a movie video post! |
| The Hateful Eight | 2016 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - Jennifer Jason Leigh in particular, delivers a stand-out performance as Daisy Domergue, the coarse captive of bounty hunter John Ruth. She conveys an impressive range with body language, even blowing a big wad of snot out of her nose in one memorable moment. |
| Trainwreck | 2015 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - About 6 months ago I heard my sister cracking up and figured she was watching Comedy Central - which when the day that Comcast is finally forced to allow us the ability to pick and choose channels, CC will be one of her 10, although, without Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, it will no longer be her top choice. So anyway, I went to see what was so funny and it was an Amy Schumer standup special "Mostly Sex Stuff" (2012), but I didn't know that at the time cause I'd never heard of Amy Schumer. Next thing you know ... |
| Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | 2016 | 75 | 9 | (full review) - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is funny, the kind of comedy I like, where the tone is laced with the humor of the situation, rather than situational comedy. I didn't see the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler Christmas release Sisters; that to me looks like something I'd only watch on a Saturday at midnight on VH1, while flicking to reruns of Castle on the commercials. But I did see Admission (click for T&T post) and This is Where I Leave You (click for T&T post) and although neither of those movies did well at the box office, what they have in common with "WTF" is the fact that Tina Fey makes a very likable protagonist. |
| Ghostbusters | 2016 | 70 | 15 | (full review) - As a kid in 1984, I was as in love with the original Ghostbusters as the rest of the nation. And I'm sure at some point I watched it again in the 90's; but when I tried to watch it again this past weekend (had to pay $1.99, can't believe Netflix didn't have it for free) to prepare myself for the reboot, I didn't feel like it held up. Amusing, but not nearly as dear to me as I thought it was. Now after seeing this 2016 Ghostbusters, in comparison, it makes the original Ghostbusters pure genius. |
| The End of the Tour | 2015 | 70 | 15 | (full review) - So, where's the conflict? most of the conflict is internal. Lipsky is jealous of David's talent and success. He's also torn between falling into a friendship with a likable guy, and remaining an objective professional journalist... |
| Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | 2014 | 61 | 17 | (full review) - The beginning of the movie establishes Jack Ryan as a student working on his PhD in economics in the UK, when 911 hits, he switches paths and joins the Marine Corp, where he gets injured and has to learn to walk again, which is where he meets the love of his life, Cathy (Keira Knightley, whose quality I always like, despite the fact she acts with her mouth). At any rate, |
| Brooklyn | 2015 | 60 | 18 | (full review) - Screenwriter Nick Hornby observes: |
| The Nice Guys | 2016 | 60 | 18 | (full review) - The moral compass of the movie is 13 year-old Holly March played by young Australian actress Angourie Rice, she's got a really good presence in the movie, reminds me of Kristen Bell in |
| The Lobster | 2015 | 34 | 20 | (full review) - I had my mind completely open for THE LOBSTER. you don't approach such a film without knowing you're in for strange. But even a dystopian future, needs to be more clear on the rules of things. It all felt so willy nilly. |
