34 films from 2016, Part II: The Highs
2016 was a strange year. I saw enough good films not to call it a wasted year. But although there were highlights, I don’t see myself picking many (or any?) movies for my Catch 22 of the 2010’s.
Not included on the list that follows are some pleasant pictures (DOCTOR STRANGE, CAFÉ SOCIETY, PETE’S DRAGON, THE INFILTRATOR) – they just weren’t good enough for my Top 20. Other works (SULLY, THE HATEFUL 8, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, ROOM, THE ASSASSIN, FINDING DORY, PASSENGERS, STAR TREK BEYOND) under-performed because I had (even) higher hopes for them. Several interesting films (AMERICAN HONEY, ELLE, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS) just didn’t move me the way they should have in order to climb higher.
I have to say that two of the most acclaimed productions of the year failed to catch my breath: Ken Loach’s I, DANIEL BLAKE is without a doubt an important and well-meant film, and I sincerely respect the director’s anger. But the film felt heavy-handed in a way that Loach’s MY NAME IS JOE wasn’t. The formidable scene with the mother breaking down in the welfare facility made clear to me what the rest of the film lacked: something unexpected.
Finally I’m almost afraid to confess that everybody’s darling – TONI ERDMANN – is not among my top choices as well. I see what so many loved about it, and the film deserves extra credit for provoking so many damn fine ideas and articles. But watching the movie didn’t give me the pleasure I had hoped for. It felt way too long and redundant. (I got the joke and the concept the first time, and repeating it didn’t do the trick for me.) In the end, I always waited for the screw to be turned one final notch, in a way Blake Edwards’s best films treated you to an equivalent of comical torture.
So what films could have topped TONI ERDMANN? I dare to name 23 titles, the final mention being my favorite. Some of them aren’t „better“, but they played much closer to my heart. Or my brain.
Not included on the list that follows are some pleasant pictures (DOCTOR STRANGE, CAFÉ SOCIETY, PETE’S DRAGON, THE INFILTRATOR) – they just weren’t good enough for my Top 20. Other works (SULLY, THE HATEFUL 8, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, ROOM, THE ASSASSIN, FINDING DORY, PASSENGERS, STAR TREK BEYOND) under-performed because I had (even) higher hopes for them. Several interesting films (AMERICAN HONEY, ELLE, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS) just didn’t move me the way they should have in order to climb higher.
I have to say that two of the most acclaimed productions of the year failed to catch my breath: Ken Loach’s I, DANIEL BLAKE is without a doubt an important and well-meant film, and I sincerely respect the director’s anger. But the film felt heavy-handed in a way that Loach’s MY NAME IS JOE wasn’t. The formidable scene with the mother breaking down in the welfare facility made clear to me what the rest of the film lacked: something unexpected.
Finally I’m almost afraid to confess that everybody’s darling – TONI ERDMANN – is not among my top choices as well. I see what so many loved about it, and the film deserves extra credit for provoking so many damn fine ideas and articles. But watching the movie didn’t give me the pleasure I had hoped for. It felt way too long and redundant. (I got the joke and the concept the first time, and repeating it didn’t do the trick for me.) In the end, I always waited for the screw to be turned one final notch, in a way Blake Edwards’s best films treated you to an equivalent of comical torture.
So what films could have topped TONI ERDMANN? I dare to name 23 titles, the final mention being my favorite. Some of them aren’t „better“, but they played much closer to my heart. Or my brain.
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23 titles
- DirectorKenneth LonerganStarsCasey AffleckMichelle WilliamsKyle ChandlerA depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.No. 23
A fully realized story of loss and the (dis)ability to go on, of finding the courage of re-adjusting one’s life. I’m not the biggest fan of the Casey-Affleck-technique, but this is his best performance, and even if his style drives you bonkers, there are a lot of other interesting actors doing great work. - DirectorMel GibsonStarsAndrew GarfieldSam WorthingtonLuke BraceyWorld War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, serving during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.No. 22
Comparable to the experience I had watching APOCALYPTO: I didn’t expect anything, found myself even trying to find reasons not to like the film – but finally succumbed to the force of the story and Mel Gibson’s direction. I still have problems with several scenes, the bombastic religious aspects and the pathos that goes way over the top in the final reel. But then this is a unique story of an extraordinary man with the strongest of beliefs. And it is a strong statement on war and the utter destruction of human bodies. I even considered taking my 12-year-old-son to see this film – hoping it might annihilate any desire in him for war stories and combat. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsNeel SethiBill MurrayBen KingsleyAfter a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of panther Bagheera and free-spirited bear Baloo.No. 21
The remake of the beloved Disney-toon worked quite splendidly. No, it doesn’t come close to matching that legendary feature, but it’s stunning how leisurely director Jon Favreau unfolds Mowgli’s story and gets lively performances from CGI-creatures. In that sense it is even better than FANTASTIC BEASTS, the other pleasant big-movie-surprise of 2016. - DirectorHenry JoostAriel SchulmanStarsEmma RobertsDave FrancoEmily MeadeA high school senior finds herself immersed in an online game of truth or dare, where her every move starts to become manipulated by an anonymous community of "watchers."No. 20
Part I of an unexpected trio of spectacular straight US-genre fare. NERVE is a film mainly for young people, but it grants “older” viewers an insight into a world that might seem strange and tragically shallow. The two leads are very catchy, with Emma Roberts and Dave Franco finally stepping out of the huge shadows of their better known relatives Julia and James. - DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsFrank GrilloElizabeth MitchellMykelti WilliamsonFormer Police Sergeant Barnes becomes head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.No. 19
Part II. I can’t remember a third part of an exploitation series coming up with such a new political force, while not neglecting the needs of a hefty B-picture. Meanwhile Elizabeth Mitchell lifts the acting quality-wise immediately, and Mykelti Williamson joins in nicely. Everything that felt (a little) forced in the first two films is served hard in this feature. Of course, in the year of the Trump it gave you even more goosebumps. - DirectorFede AlvarezStarsStephen LangJane LevyDylan MinnetteHoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who isn't as helpless as he seems.No. 18
Part III of the US-triptych: a no-holds-barred shocker that tells you more about America’s state of mind than almost every other (genre) movie of 2016. (The one exception being my No. 2.) The thrills come early and are paced with great sense of storytelling. You get in a groove with the three principal characters very soon, with Stephen Lang giving the blind victim a sense of justification for his actions. It takes quite some time for that feeling to evaporate. Near the end the film turns another page in the cellar, which is almost too much to take. But then again, director Fede Alvarez comes up with the goods to get the movie back on track. Powerful stuff! - DirectorStefan RuzowitzkyStarsVioletta SchurawlowTobias MorettiSammy SheikA vicious serial killer is targeting prostitutes in Vienna, Austria. A tough young woman from Turkey who works as a taxi driver witnesses one of the murders and becomes a target. The police are of no help, so she must stop him herself.No. 17
Only Austrians could come up with a shocker like this one: a mesmerizingly tough take on the life of a stubborn woman fighter who doesn’t like to be put in the victim’s corner. That attitude – that makes her everyday life hell – comes in handy when Özge (a great discovery: Violetta Schurawlow) has to deal with a sadistic serial killer who loves torturing women in the name of religion before killing them.
There are inconsistencies and some nonsensical scenes. But the force of Stefan Ruzowitzky’s mise en scène is striking, almost as stunning as in his overlooked beauty DEADFALL, back in 2012. And there’s some much-needed cynical relief with the casting of Tobias Moretti in the unconventional role of a police officer who has to come to terms with Özge and with the dwindling condition of his father. - DirectorOliver StoneStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittShailene WoodleyMelissa LeoThe NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the public by one of the agency's employees, Edward Snowden, in the form of thousands of classified documents distributed to the press.No. 16
You have to be a Martian in order to NOT know the Edward-Snowden-story. Still, Oliver Stone manages to come up with a facts-mainly thriller that allows new perspectives on an often-told case. Testament to that is the chilly feeling you get watching people being watched. All the performances hit the sweet spot – and you wonder how blind people (especially Americans) can be in order NOT to realize who’s the hero and the true American here. - DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsJake GyllenhaalNaomi WattsChris CooperA successful investment banker struggles after losing his wife in a tragic car crash. With the help of a customer service rep and her young son, he starts to rebuild, beginning with the demolition of the life he once knew.No. 15
Jake Gyllenhaal smashes things as a widower, and Naomi Watts is too beautiful for her role of an ordinary woman helping him to get back on his feet. But their chemistry is undeniable, and the mise-en-scène is gripping, confirming the talent of Jean-Marc Vallée. After DALLAS BUYERS CLUB and WILD this is his third topnotch work in a row, and – albeit the usual Hollywood third-act problems of finishing up – proof that he can handle bigger budgets. - DirectorGlenn FicarraJohn RequaStarsTina FeyMargot RobbieMartin FreemanA journalist recounts her wartime coverage in Afghanistan.No. 14
A woman reporter in the war zone? Well, Kim (Tina Fey) wanted it, and she gets it. Badly, at first. But this odd, faschinating studio film shows us convincingly how she turns into a pro – and then soon enough into a cynic. For the directing duo Glenn Ficara/John Requa this is the third extraordinary feature in a row: CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. is one of the brightest lights of the decade, and FOCUS was undeservedly ignored. (I have to admit, I was not that fond of their debut I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS.) On top of that they wrote BAD SANTA! Makes you even more curious what their next endeavor will be. (Speaking of BAD SANTA: Billy Bob Thornton has a meaty supporting role in WTF.) - DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerDon HallStarsAuli'i CravalhoDwayne JohnsonRachel HouseIn ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out Maui to set things right.No. 13
Finally on to feel-good movies with happy ends. While Pixar’s FINDING DORY played too nicely in well-known territories, Disney’s MOANA charmingly told yet another princess story confidently while making fun of itself at the right moments. Dealing with a demi-god, the sweet (but tough) Vaiana is very much in the tradition of Disney’s recent heroines. It’s not a great movie, but not every new animation feature has to be a wonder. Sometimes a demi-wonder is just fine. - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsBlake JennerTyler HoechlinRyan GuzmanIn 1980 Texas, a college freshman meets his new baseball teammates, an unruly group of disco-dancing, skirt-chasing, and they navigate their wayNo. 12
How do you follow up BEFORE MIDNIGHT and BOYHOOD? With yet another unconventional setup: Richard Linklater dives into the early 80’s, looking at a bunch of more or less intelligent college kids on the last day of summer vacation. Baseball, booze, broad-talk and not the brightest ideas go hand in hand, giving us plenty of moments to laugh or cringe about. Probably this is more telling (and emotional) for boys. - DirectorDeniz Gamze ErgüvenStarsGünes SensoyDoga Zeynep DogusluTugba SungurogluWhen five orphan girls are seen innocently playing with boys on a beach, their scandalized conservative guardians confine them while forced marriages are arranged.No. 11
An emotional story from Turkey about the rebellion of girls against their arranged weddings. Being a movie playing in summer adds to the tone by underlining the notion that they are held prisoners by their own family. On the other hand, there are a lot of funny and loose moments. - DirectorMatt RossStarsViggo MortensenGeorge MacKaySamantha IslerIn the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.No. 10
The fantastic Viggo Mortensen plays a father raising his SIX kids on his own after the demise of his wife, far away from civilization. He’s raising an army of little intellectuals, and so far almost everything went smoothly. But then the mother’s parents want their share, and the oldest son is longing for another way of life – and Ben (Viggo) has to cope with that. He does it in his own way, giving us all the reasons to love and hate him. The last act involves a rather far-fetched gimmick, but aside from that this film is dandy. - DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsRyan GoslingEmma StoneRosemarie DeWittWhile navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.No. 9
This should be the dream movie of every movie lover. But although there are a lot of wonderful moments, although Emma & Ryan are loveable, and although all in all I like the movie well enough to put it in my Top 10, I am still hesitant to call it a great film. (Just a reminder: I had WHIPLASH as my No. 1 of 2014.) What was lacking for me here were the sour notes of the relationship, when things fall apart between Mia (Emma) and Sebastian (Ryan). No, I didn’t want any Ingmar-Bergman-catastrophies. But there isn’t enough friction. Sometimes I was thinking back to Martin Scorsese’s hugely underrated NEW YORK, NEW YORK, with which LA LA LAND shares some similarities. There you have a film that doesn’t shy away from extremes. And comes up big in the silent final scene, which is even more beautiful than the one in LA LA LAND. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsJosh BrolinGeorge ClooneyAlden EhrenreichA Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.No. 8
George Clooney is back at making fun of himself in a Coen-film. It is another Coen-Brothers-marvel with so many hilarious scenes and throwaway gags that you can’t get them all on the first (and most probably even the second) tour of laughter. So far, I’ve seen it only once, so it might climb higher post-listingly. - DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsLewis MacDougallSigourney WeaverFelicity JonesConor, a twelve-year-old boy, encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.No. 7
Juan Antonio Bayona has a peculiar way of dealing with family tragedies. In EL ORFANATO he dug up demons from the past. In LO IMPOSIBLE he unleashed a tsunami like you had never seen before in order to tear up a family in Thailand. And in the mesmerizing A MONSTER CALLS he watches a schoolboy come to terms with the slow death of his mother (Felicity Jones, much better than in ROGUE ONE). Well, Conor (formidable: Lewis MacDougall) does not really master this on his own – an old tree (yes: a tree) comes to him at night, menacingly at first, and tells him three stories. Very slowly Conor realizes that the tree is not there to hurt him – he’s there to help the boy, who moves to his grandmother (touching: Sigourney Weaver) against his will.
At first, the idea of the tree as the oddest shrink in the world seems a little pretentious (and over the edge crazy), but then the Spanish director finds just the right words and images to move you. Bayona is currently in pre-production for the new JURASSIC PARK movie. Now that’s what I call a promise! - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa ThompsonThe former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.No. 6
It used to be, once upon a time, that growing old with characters in the movies was a topic for documentaries. Michael Apted’s UP-series comes to mind immediately, where he followed the same characters every seven years. But nowadays feature films do much the same. And I’m not talking about reboots like BATMAN or the incredible MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, or those new beginnings as with James Bond or the JURASSIC-adventures. I’m talking about films like Richard Linklater’s BEFORE-trilogy. Or two movies from the last days of 2015 that go back to the mid-70’s, whose protagonists – two of the biggest heroes of film history – have grown old without the support of makeup wizards. The fate of Han Solo in STAR WARS VII as well as the fate of Rocky Balboa in CREED demonstrate in an unusual way the vulnerability (and mortality) of humans. Curious enough: You’ve seen thousands of people suffer (and die) on the big canvas, but being confronted with the fragility of beloved made-upcharacters hurts like hell, as though you’d experienced it for the first time.
Ryan Coogler’s previous film, FRUITVALE STATION, was thrilling, but it didn’t prepare you for the drive of CREED. He was a fan of the original, but just like J.J. Abrams with STAR WARS VII that didn’t make him nervous to try his luck. He reminds us of Rocky’s past in a way that brings long forgotten memories and feelings back. The gorgeous, gritty look of the film was achieved by the veteran French d.p. Maryse Alberti, and several scenes – like the fight scene that was shot in one take – provoke you to stand up and applaud. - DirectorFatih AkinStarsTristan GöbelAniya WendelJustina HumpfTwo young teenage boys steal a car and embark on a road trip that will probably change their lives.No. 5
My favorite German movie of 2016: a wonderful teenage road movie about the shy 14-year-old Maik being dragged along on a trip in a stolen car (if you can still call a Lada a car). His “partner” in crime is the totally unorthodox Andrej Tschichatschow. (No wonder he prefers Tschick.) Based on a beloved novel by the late Wolfgang Herrndorf, the film hits all the right notes, being funny, unique, daring and pensive at the same time. For the director Fatih Akin it is a return to form – and the irresistible, gentle flow of his early work, which I still like the most. If you enjoy TSCHICK, you should definitely check out IM JULI with the wonderful Christiane Paul. - DirectorTom TykwerStarsTom HanksOmar ElbaSarita ChoudhuryA failed American sales rep looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his company's product to a wealthy monarch.No. 4
The Saudi Arabian adventure of a luckless American business man (Tom Hanks) wasn’t liked by many spectators, probably because it doesn’t manipulate you to like it in the manner of most modern movies. (The loudest moments come straight in the beginning, when Tom Hanks sings Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime”.) I thought the film was insightful, elegant, funny, and splendidly acted. It has a laid-back quality and a sense of wisdom that’s rare these days, most likely to be achieved by an experienced director like Tom Tykwer, who is 51 years old by now. Tom Hanks is a rock, and Sarita Choudhury a welcome discovery as a leading actress. - 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.No. 3
How is it possible that Pixar and Disney come up with the goods so often? Would this story (about tolerance and the moral awakening of a seemingly shady character) be as touching if it weren’t animated? Probably not, but that’s one more reason to love modern toons. Whereas the agreeable Illumination movies (MINIONS, PETS) are gunning for a young audience, films like MOANA and ZOOTOPIA speak to grown-ups as well. The jokes are hilarious and more subtle at the same time. And you discover small treasures every time you go back. A rainbow of colors and incredibly complex lighting make this a marvel to watch. - DirectorDavid MackenzieStarsChris PineBen FosterJeff BridgesToby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life. His brother is an ex-con with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch.No. 2
Who is Taylor Sheridan? One of today’s best writers. Because you can come up with a script with SICARIO once, but to follow it up with a script like HELL OR HIGH WATER is incredible. It is a story of two very diverse pairs of brothers. While the two Texan young guns, who rob banks in order to save a piece of land, share the same bloodline, the two Texas Rangers who hunt them are a different kind of brand: an Indian and his mumbling, rambling, grumbling partner, who chews his words like a gum. Gil Birmingham and Jeff Bridges are amazing together, but Ben Foster and Chris Pine are right up there with them – Foster being the ruthless kind of guy, Pine the thinker who is more brainy than he’d ever guess, trying to make up for the things he has done when he was irresponsible.
The film has a wonderfully relaxed rhythm that leads you to believe that Sheridan doesn’t take anything too serious, but then he comes up with a third act that leaves you positively flabbergasted. And with a final showdown that plays out differently from everything you’ve ever seen.
Additionally, it is also a story about modern America, telling you a lot about the state of mind of the country – without blunt moralizing or undeserved finger-pointing. It makes you feel differently about America. Now who would have thought that David Mackenzie could deliver something like this? I certainly didn’t. - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsAmy AdamsJeremy RennerForest WhitakerA linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.No. 1
I’ve always loved movies that don’t need too many words to explain themselves. Those works rely on images and what’s in between them. ARRIVAL is a film that could have gone wrong almost every second – with over-explanations and/or a troublesome overdose of pathos. But wait, why so negative? After all, part of the beauty of ARRIVAL lies in the fact that for all the skepticism surrounding the aliens and the trigger-happy humans it is a highly optimistic movie, allowing you to hope that our species is not lost. (Amy Adams is just breathtaking in the role of the scientist, who was eager and clever enough to learn.)
On top of that, the film puts life in perspective and mankind in relation not only to the world but the whole galaxy. Here lie other dangers, of course: The creators could have been too fond of their ideas and the structure, but Denis Villeneuve is so sure of the story and of himself, that he doesn’t dwell on his achievements but rather invites us to see and feel for ourselves. Boy, how we get rewarded!
I had heard a lot about the Canadian director Denis Villeneuve in 1999 when UN 32 AOUT SUR TERRE drew a lot of favorable remarks. But it took me another eleven years in order to see my first Villeneuve: the strong INCENDIES. Later I had reservations about PRISONERS (too fond of itself) and ENEMY (too fond of itself). But SICARIO blew me away in 2015. And now, after ARRIVAL, Denis Villeneuve is one of the very, very few people on earth (or elsewhere) who might pull it off to produce a worthwhile sequel to BLADE RUNNER, one of the monoliths of film history. Well, we’ll see about that in October!