I've tried to see a lot of the major films this year and I've been relatively impressed. Not the best year, but by no means a bad one.
I liked La La Land a lot! I left the theatre with a very feel-good vibe and I loved loved loved some of the songs. I don't think either of the actors were particularly amazing (love ryan gosling in almost anything, though). I think it brings something else to the table so I'd be okay with it winning best picture. Best original screenplay/ director at the GGs were a bit much for me. It deserves praise but maybe not as much as its been getting.
Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight are obvious standouts. Moonlight is soo00ooo00oo beautiful, aesthetically, and had something to it that I feel like I've never seen before. I was (shamefully) bored at parts of it, but I still look back at it fondly. Manchester by the Sea was very moving, Casey Affleck (despite being a creep irl) really had a flawless performance. Somehow it hasn't stuck with me like Moonlight or La La Land did, but it's hard to criticize such a powerful, raw story.
Underrated pic of the year: Lion!! Has anyone seen it? It was a bit Oscar-baitey and is pretty surface level in its complexity, but its a great movie. Makes you feel really good and had me captivated begin to end. I cried!! I'd seriously recommend it to anybody. Although Nicole Kidman gives me the creeps.
Bad movie of the year: Silence. I hope none of you have seen it.. I adore Scorsese flics, but this one did not do anything for me, despite my really wanting to like it. Painfully long with weak acting all around. Beautifully shot, admittedly, but the pro-christian overtones were too much to handle. I'm still weirded out by it.
I saw Lion and I didn't think it was Oscar baitey at all. I read the book first and the movie was exactly like the book, though the drama with Saroo's brother was made up in to create more drama.
I loved it. One of the more original and fun movies I've seen in years
I saw the Half in the Bag guys mention it during one of their videos and I think one of them really liked it and the other was indifferent but they both gave it big props for originality and absurdity. I meant to check it out on their half-recommendation, but like many things I forgot all about it. I'll have to watch it for sure now that you're giving it a push.
I watched that documentary HBO did on Slenderman and the two girls who stabbed their friend and blamed it on the story. It was okay I guess. The victim and her family didn't participate so it almost felt weirdly sympathetic towards the other two. Which I guess they were just kids but still. There was an "expert digital folklorist" that was on screen for five seconds and I will hate him for the rest of my life because of his job title. Slenderman is dumb.
