Howell's Films of 2016
A list of films that I have watched in 2016. Unfortunately, I started this list in June, so no information about the first half of the year sorry.
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26 titles
- DirectorDan TrachtenbergStarsJohn GoodmanMary Elizabeth WinsteadJohn Gallagher Jr.A young woman is held in an underground bunker by a man who insists that a hostile event has left the surface of the Earth uninhabitable.Thrilling horror / sci-fi film that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. However, in hindsight, I think I should have watched Cloverfield before hand... so that's now on my To Watch list.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsCatherine DeneuveDavid BowieSusan SarandonA love triangle develops between a beautiful yet dangerous vampire (Catherine Deneuve), her cellist companion (David Bowie), and a gerontologist (Susan Sarandon).A really dark, mysterious vampire film where the term "vampire" is never actually mentioned. David Bowie gives a very cool performance.
- DirectorShinsuke SatoStarsYô ÔizumiKasumi ArimuraMasami NagasawaA manga artist assistant is surprised by a zombie apocalypse.Great zombie film, lots of action, blood-thirsty zombies etc.
I read the entire Japanese comic series before going to see it, so of course, I had my preconceived ideas of how the characters should look, behave etc.
As always happens, things have to be adapted for the big screen... also, the story ends abruptly and doesn't actually continue to the story climax.
But overall, a big thumbs up for zombie fans. - DirectorByron HowardRich MooreJared BushStarsGinnifer GoodwinJason BatemanIdris ElbaIn a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.I cannot praise this film enough. Disney (the new name for Pixar, hehe) has done it again. A really nice fun-packed story for big kids and little kids alike.
One of the rare films that I would happily go to the cinema to watch a second time. - DirectorLenny AbrahamsonStarsBrie LarsonJacob TremblaySean BridgersA little boy is held captive in a room with his mother since his birth, so he has never known the world outside.Gripping, intense film, very enjoyable.
- DirectorEli RothStarsJay HernandezDerek RichardsonEythor GudjonssonThree backpackers head to a Slovak city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them.I enjoyed it, but it was quite gory!! I think recently I've been watching less gory, but more psychological / scary horror films.
- DirectorAlejandro G. IñárrituStarsLeonardo DiCaprioTom HardyWill PoulterA frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.Full-on, gruelling action film. Leonardo DiCaprio looks worn out and ravaged from start from finish. Very enjoyable though.
- DirectorMark BurtonRichard StarzakStarsJustin FletcherJohn SparkesOmid DjaliliWhen Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.Such a nice, feel-good film with funny moments, heart-warming moments, full of cinematic references (many of which I didn't get, but there were a number of clear set-pieces which must have been homages to other films). Great fun for all the family.
- DirectorRuben FleischerStarsJesse EisenbergEmma StoneWoody HarrelsonA shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, a gun-toting bruiser in search of the last Twinkie and a pair of sisters striving to get to an amusement park join forces in a trek across a zombie-filled America.Really funny, nerdy zombie comedy - Woody Harrelson is great in this!
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckHenry CavillAmy AdamsBatman is manipulated by Lex Luthor to fear Superman. Superman´s existence is meanwhile dividing the world and he is framed for murder during an international crisis. The heroes clash and force the neutral Wonder Woman to reemerge.Good action film, but I think overall I prefer Batman on his own, or Superman on his own.
- DirectorAaron M. KahnDouglas RouillardStarsDouglas RouillardBrian BanksForrest BoydInspired by actual events, Anything's Possible shadows the journey of a young boys dream to become an actor in the seemingly impossible industry to break into, Hollywood. Doug, played by: (Douglas Rouillard) will take his parents advice and push it to limits very few have achieved and against the odds to prove anything is possible if you try hard enough. From childhood through adulthood, he learns the hard way, but one thing is constant, never give up. His dreams of film making and finding the love of his life will keep you holding on tight. If you want something bad enough, stop at nothing to get it, just don't get mixed up with the wrong crowd along the way. This story delivers hope, passion and a will worth fighting for that is relatable to all. Life is a marathon of events; join him on the run of his life.Pleasant, simple film based on a simple premise. Harmless fun.
- DirectorKôji ShiraishiStarsMizuki YamamotoTina TamashiroAimi SatsukawaThe vengeful spirits of the Ring and Grudge series face off.Extremely entertaining film, merging the The Ring films with The Grudge films. Lots of moments to make you jump, and the fight scenes between Sadako and Kayako really put a smile on my face.
- DirectorDavid WnendtStarsOliver MasucciThomas M. KöpplMarc-Marvin IsraelAdolf Hitler wakes up in the 21st century. He quickly gains media attention, but while Germany finds him hilarious and charming, Hitler makes some serious observations about society.Rather surreal / absurd film in which Adolf Hitler wakes up in modern-day Berlin in 2014, and muddles his way around - constantly laughed at by people who think he's a comedian pretending to be Hitler. Rather serious black humour at times. I watched this in German with Japanese subtitles!
- DirectorJohn GillingStarsAndré MorellDiane ClareBrook WilliamsDuring a mysterious epidemic in a small Cornish village, the local doctor summons his professor friend for help.Fairly stereotypical Hammer 1960s film; all the characters have very proper British English accents etc. But good fun, and good to watch a Hammer film that isn't one of the really well-known ones.
- DirectorHiromasa YonebayashiStarsSara TakatsukiKasumi ArimuraNanako MatsushimaAnna, a shy 12-year-old girl, is sent to spend time with her aunt and uncle who live in the countryside, where she meets Marnie. The two become best friends. But Anna gradually discovers that Marnie is not quite who she appears to be.Really nice, peaceful film about a young girl who goes to live in the countryside... she finds inspiration and gets fascinated by a girl called Marnie who lives in a house just across the water. Nice film, which seems to have been overrated by British film critics.
- DirectorSharon MaguireStarsRenée ZellwegerGemma JonesJim BroadbentForty-something and single again, Bridget decides to focus on her job and surround herself with friends. Then she discovers that she is pregnant--but she is only 50% sure of the baby's father's identity.Amusing film, after a gap of over 10 years, it was fun to catch up with Bridget Jones's life etc. But it didn't have the same laugh-out-loud moments seen in the first two films. For die-hard fans only.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsMatt DamonTommy Lee JonesAlicia VikanderThe CIA's most dangerous former operative is drawn out of hiding to uncover more explosive truths about his past.An excellent new film in the series - lots of action etc., kept me on the edge of my seat. I've realized that there's so many of the early films that I still haven't seen though...
- DirectorTim MillerStarsRyan ReynoldsMorena BaccarinT.J. MillerA wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal yet hideously scarred, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.Really funny all-action film, really quite different (especially the humour) from what I expected!
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1980s the X-Men must defeat an ancient all-powerful mutant, En Sabah Nur, who intends to thrive through bringing destruction to the world.As usual, great X-Men film with lots of action and SFX, but it didn't make such an impression on me as some of the earlier films in the series.
- DirectorAndrew StantonAngus MacLaneStarsEllen DeGeneresAlbert BrooksEd O'NeillFriendly but forgetful blue tang Dory begins a search for her long-lost parents and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.Before going to see this film, I was worried that it was going to be a complete rehash of Finding Nemo, but I was pleasantly surprised - really enjoyable film, with some real laugh-out-loud moments thanks to Hank the Octopus!
- DirectorChris RenaudStarsLouis C.K.Eric StonestreetKevin HartThe quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.Enjoyable / harmless film, but I can't say it made a huge impression either way.
- DirectorConrad VernonGreg TiernanStarsSeth RogenKristen WiigJonah HillA sausage leads a group of supermarket products on a journey to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they are picked off the shelf.One of the weirdest films I have ever seen! I think I enjoyed it overall, but really out-there humour, full of double-entendres and downright filthy jokes / comments - this film is definitely not for the kids!
- DirectorCatherine HardwickeStarsDrew BarrymoreToni ColletteDominic CooperThe friendship between two life-long girlfriends is put to the test when one starts a family and the other falls ill.Really thought-provoking film about two women who go through their whole lives together, supporting each other through bad times and celebrating good times. The chemistry between the two lead characters is phenomenal, and I liked the subtle reference to "E.T." in one of the conversations with Drew Barrymore :) Highly recommended!
- DirectorDavid YatesStarsEddie RedmayneKatherine WaterstonAlison SudolIn 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York during his worldwide tour to research and rescue magical creatures as something mysterious leaves trails of destruction in the city, threatening to expose the wizarding world.I'm not at all familiar with the Harry Potter universe, so I think some of the detail may have been lost on me, but I cannot recommend this film enough. A really enjoyable, action-packed story filled with magic and strange creatures. Eddie Redmayne gives a superb performance from start to finish.
- DirectorPeter HarrisEric TillStarsFrank OzDave GoelzRichard HuntFozzie Bear surprises his mother on Christmas Eve by bringing the entire Muppet gang to her farm to celebrate the holidays.A must-watch on Christmas Day! Not only does it feature Muppet Show characters - it also features characters from Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. Fozzie Bear's mother also makes a rare appearance. Highly recommended! :)