The Best of 2016

It’s that time of year for top ten lists. Here are my top ten picks for movies of 2016. (I’ve included the links to my reviews so I don’t have to repeat myself.)  I also have my top ten picks for TV shows of 2016.  Here we go:

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2016

1. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

I loved the action, the humour, the new characters, the cameos and the way it dovetails into A New Hope.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/12/film-rogue-one.html

2. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

Glad to have Paul Rudd as Ant-Man bringing in some much needed comic relief. Also Tom Holland is pretty fun as the new Spider-Man.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/05/film-captain-america-civil-war.html

3. HACKSAW RIDGE

This true story is simply amazing. It is hard not to be inspired by Desmond Doss. Honestly, this is one of the best films I’ve seen this year.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/11/film-hacksaw-ridge.html

4. POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING

I found myself laughing a lot during this film. The story is basically a pop update of Spinal Tap with fun mockumentary interviews and short segments.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/06/film-popstar-never-stop-never-stopping.html

5. FINDING DORY

DeGeneres kills it as Dory. But I also loved hearing Sloane Murray as Young Dory. Her voice was so cute. Also enjoyed hearing the voice of Ty Burrell.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/06/film-finding-dory.html

6. SULLY

Eastwood does not add too many bells and whistles. This is a straightforward film, which is pretty refreshing.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/09/film-sully.html

7. PASSENGERS

It’s a survivor story like Castaway but a lot lighter in tone. There was fun to be had and the romance was pretty sweet as well.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/12/film-passengers.html

8. LA LA LAND

That sure was whimsical. What a beautiful film to watch. I loved the use of colour, light, setting and camerawork.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/12/film-la-la-land.html

9. ARRIVAL

I love how this film mixed languages with science. As a teacher, it is cool to see cross-curricular scenarios actually work.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/12/film-arrival.html

10. THE JUNGLE BOOK

Glad I saw it on the big screen, the visuals are incredibly impressive. Animals and scenery are beautifully done.

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.ca/2016/06/film-jungle-book.html

TOP 10 TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2016

1. AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE V. OJ SIMPSON (FX)

Why: The famous trial is re-enacted with a stellar cast & filled with drama

MVP: Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer) – great conflicted character

Best Episode of 2016: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia (S01E06)

Marcia Clark takes risks and faces public scrutiny for her new hairdo

2. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

Why: Edge of your seat epic-ness. The battles went above and beyond.

MVP: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) – has come a long way from season one

Best Episode of 2016: Battle of the Bastards (S06E09)

A masterpiece of a battle between Jon Snow and Ramsay Bolton.

3. BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)

Why: More of that awesome Breaking Bad tension as Mike has more to do

MVP: Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) – love his transition as he gets darker

Best Episode of 2016: Klick (S02E10)

Jimmy comes clean to his brother whle Mike is given a warning

4. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (FOX)

Why: Consistently the funniest sitcom on television. The cast gels so well.

MVP: Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) – He plays so well against Samberg

Best Episode of 2016: Overnmining (S03E09)

Jake and Holt help the inept Captain CJ with a tough case

5. STRANGER THINGS (NETFLIX)

Why: The 80s nostalgia & mystery kept me hooked as we binge watched

MVP: Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) – the humour and the lisp

Best Episode of 2016: Chapter Three: Holly Jolly (S01E03)

Joyce uses lights to communicate with Will; Barbara is missing

6. THIS IS US (NBC)

Why: Like Parenthood, full of well-told stories, strong acting and emotion.

MVP: Toby (Chris Sullivan) – love his humour and how he feels about Kate

Best Episode of 2016: The Pool (S01E04)

The kids have unique struggles at the pool; Kate meets Toby’s ex

7. THE NIGHT OF (HBO)

Why: A captivating story of the justice system and a awesome whodunit.

MVP: Naz (Riz Ahmed) – watching the jail system change him is amazing

Best Episode of 2016: The Beach (S01E01)

Naz’ perfect night turns into a nightmare as he gets arrested

8. THE CROWN (NETFLIX)

Why: Interesting political drama and history lesson rolled into one.

MVP: Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) – love the voice and mannerism

Best Episode of 2016: Act of God (S01E04)

A dense fog in London causes health issue and Churchill may pay the price

9. THE AMERICANS (FX)

Why: It finally gets its due as a compelling spy thriller filled with great drama

MVP: Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) – she was so bad-ass this season

Best Episode of 2016: Dinner for Seven (S04E11)

Elizabeth has to do the unthinkable to end a personal operation

10. THE GOOD PLACE (NBC)

Why: An off-kilter comedy like nothing seen before with a fun cast.

MVP: Jianyu Li (Manny Jacinto) – he plays dumb so well

Best Episode of 2016: Jason Mendoza (S01E04)

Eleanor learns that she is not the only one lying in the good place

UPCOMING REVIEWS: 2017 Previews

Film: Passengers

GENRE: Sci-Fi, Romance

RATING: PG-13 for sexuality and Chris Pratt’s butt
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 8 minutes

STARRING: Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World)

Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook, Joy)

DIRECTOR: Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game)

WRITER: Jon Spaihts (Prometheus, Doctor Strange, upcoming Mummy)

PLOT: Sleep chambers in a spacecraft carrying thousands to a new planet malfunctions leaving a couple passengers awakened too early.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Love Pratt and Lawrence.

STORY STUFF: The top critics of Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a measly 17%. I, however, appreciate the acting talents of Pratt and Lawrence so I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The story was engaging enough, it’s a survivor story like Castaway but a lot lighter in tone. There was fun to be had and the romance was pretty sweet as well. Sure there are a bunch of plot holes and amazing coincidences but the fun trumped all that for me. Also got me thinking what would I do in a similar situation?

ACTING STUFF: Pratt is so accessible and a treat to watch. You can tell that he has fun making movies and he’s going to give it everything he’s got. Lawrence always brings it. They are very sweet together and work well with each other. I also enjoyed Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex) as the bartending android.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The interiors of the spaceship were gorgeous as was the space that surrounds it. I enjoyed the large spaces with only a couple people in them, it had this great epic quality. The 3D was alright.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You like Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Best of 2016, Television Preview 2017

Film: La La Land

GENRE: Musical, Drama

RATING: PG-13 for some language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 8 minutes

STARRING: Emma Stone (Crazy Stupid Love, The Help, Birdman)

Ryan Gosling (Crazy Stupid Love, Drive, Nice Guys, Half Nelson)

DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash)

WRITER: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, 10 Cloverfield Lane)

PLOT: A jazz pianist and aspiring actress try to live out their dreams in Los Angeles, and sing & dance while they do so.

FULL DISCLOSURE: High odds for upcoming Best Picture winner.

STORY STUFF: That sure was whimsical. As a drama person myself, I enjoy watching artists work hard to achieve their dreams. There are some cute industry jabs as well. The musical component was really fun at the beginning with the opening couple of numbers but then it really centered on Stone and Gosling and seemed to have more dance than song. I wish there were catchy ensemble numbers. I remember the central theme music but do not remember much lyrical content. As a musical, I unfortunately found it average.

ACTING STUFF: Gosling and Stone have great chemistry on screen. This is nothing new when you consider they have done a couple of films together already. Here they get to be even more sweet with their singing and dancing. Loved the quick JK Simmons (Whiplash) cameo.

ARTISTIC STUFF: What a beautiful film to watch. I loved the use of colour, light, setting and camerawork. There is a wonderful dream sequence where the backgrounds are just a magical as the actors in front of them. The production design is impeccable, almost Wes Anderson worthy.

VERDICT: Three and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You miss MGM musicals like Singing in the Rain

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Passengers

Film: Fences

GENRE: Drama

RATING: PG-13 for thematic elements and some language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 18 minutes

STARRING: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Flight, Man on Fire)

Viola Davis (The Help, Doubt), Stephen Henderson (Lincoln)

DIRECTOR: Denzel Washington (Great Debaters, Antwone Fisher)

WRITER: August Wilson (plays - Fences, The Piano Lesson)

PLOT: An African-American father raises his family while coming to terms with the events of his life.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The play got a lot of love from the Tony Awards.

STORY STUFF: This was a tough film to watch. The drama is at full tilt and makes you uncomfortable at times. I had a bit of a hard time as I could not relate to an angry father who takes out his shattered dreams on his family and loves the sound of his own voice. My father is awesome. As this was originally a play, there is a lot of dialogue coming at you. One of the opening scenes has Denzel carrying on for what felt like twenty minutes and I was tempted to yell ‘shut up’ at the screen. But I believe that’s the point and if I was watching all of this take place on a stage, I would be drawn in even further.

ACTING STUFF: Denzel does a great job and made me hate him. If he was hoping I would sympathize, that didn’t really happen. All my sympathy was for his son (Jovan Adepo) and his wife, played fantastically by Davis. She better get an Oscar nomination, if not a win, for her amazing performance. With a small cast, everyone gets great moments to shine. This really is an actor’s film.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The claustrophobic-ness of the back patio works well. With the exception of some interiors, it looks like it could just as easily be played on a stage. There is an oddly placed cross dissolve in the middle of the film which basically moves Mykelti William’s special needs brother Gabriel from the side of the house to the front steps. It took me out to the film for a moment. But that’s about all.

VERDICT: Three stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You like Denzel, Davis and uncomfortable drama

UPCOMING REVIEWS: La La Land

Film: Assassin's Creed

GENRE: Action, Fantasy

RATING: PG-13 for violence and some strong language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 20 minutes

STARRING: Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class; Macbeth-2015)

Marion Cotillard (Inception), Jeremy Irons (Die Hard 3, Lion King)

DIRECTOR: Justin Kurzel (Macbeth-2015)

WRITERS: Michael Lesslie (Macbeth-2015)

Adam Cooper & Bill Collage (Allegiant, Tower Heist)

PLOT: A death row convict learns he is a descendant of a secret assassins society.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I really enjoy playing their video games.

STORY STUFF: What a waste. There was so much potential for this film but it was squandered. Imagine being invited to take part in a role playing game but spending most of your time going over instructions, eating chips and being distracted by constant interruptions. That was this movie. There were a couple cool action scenes (especially the parkour stuff) but there was also a lot of standing around and staring seriously at each other. There was a scene that took place in a cathedral (it looked identical to the game). In the video game, you need to climb the walls, jump across chandeliers and tip toe across beams. It’s intense. In the movie, the bad guys walk in, grab a box and walk out. What a waste.

ACTING STUFF: Some really good staring. Not much else to report.

ARTISTIC STUFF: I just wish they spent 90% of the film in the past where the production values were pretty decent. There was way too much cutting between the past and the animus controlling Fassbender so they could show off their holograms. Also, the 3D was just a cash grab as it was pretty pointless.

VERDICT: One star out of five

SEE IT IF: You want to see Fassbender without a shirt for a few minutes

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Passengers

Film: Rogue One

GENRE: Sci-Fi, Action

RATING: PG-13 for sci-fi violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 14 minutes

STARRING: Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything)

Diego Luna (The Terminal), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline)

DIRECTOR: Gareth Edwards (Godzilla-2014)

WRITERS: Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass)

Tony Gilroy (the Bourne films, Armageddon, The Cutting Edge)

PLOT: The Rebel Alliance tries to steal the plans for the new Death Star.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Love all things Star Wars. High expectations.

STORY STUFF: That was a lot of fun. There is something refreshing about seeing a Star Wars story where I don’t have to wait for the next part. Even though we know the outcome, it was great watching it all go down. I loved the action, the humour, the new characters, the cameos and the way it dovetails into A New Hope.

ACTING STUFF: Such a great cast. While the leads did a bang-up job, I found myself drawn to the droid K-2S0 voice by Alan Tudyk (Firefly). I also really enjoyed Chirrut Imwe as the blind Jedi and Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) as Bodhi Rook. My least favourite would be Saw Gerrera but maybe that’s because I’m not really much of a Forest Whitaker fan. While no Oscars will be handed out to any of these actors for this film, I thought it was a top-notch ensemble.

ARTISTIC STUFF: I like that this film had both the old school designs of A New Hope and the CGI awesomeness of today. The battle scenes were incredible. The new planets had great characteristics. Some super fans are bothered by the planet title cards and the lack of the opening scroll, but I was fine with it as this film is meant to break free a little from the continuing saga. When it came to music, I liked all the John Williams throw-backs but some of the Rogue One themes were a little hokey at times. 

VERDICT: Four and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You have a pulse. Or enjoy Star Wars films.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Passengers

Film: Arrival

GENRE: Sci-Fi, Drama

RATING: PG-13 for some language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 56 minutes

STARRING: Amy Adams (American Hustle, The Fighter, Doubt)

Jeremy Renner (Avengers), Forest Whitaker (The Butler)

DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners)

WRITER: Eric Heisserer (Final Destination 5, Lights Out)

PLOT: A linguist is asked to assist in translating alien communication to determine if they are here for peace or war.

FULL DISCLOSURE: High expectations due to others praising the film.

STORY STUFF: This was not your typical alien invasion flick. For example, the ships don’t appear over major national landmarks. This film went the intelligent route. It made perfect sense that you would get a linguist to help determine alien language. Actually, I love how this film mixed languages with science. As a teacher, it is cool to see cross-curricular scenarios actually work. I did find that the pace was a little slow at times but the overall story had a fantastic pay-off.

ACTING STUFF: Amy Adams has the perfect mix of curiosity, confidence and emotion. I assume she will get some award recognition for this portrayal. And there’s something about Jeremy Renner. He’s just so down to earth and relatable. He has this sense of intelligent calm that makes you root for him every time; and I’m not only talking about this film.

ARTISTIC STUFF: There are some beautiful shots throughout this film. And I love the symmetry of shots between the two time periods. The other thing that stuck out for me was the sound. It plays such a huge role. I also assume it will be up for some Oscars for this audio work. Nicely done.  

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You enjoy intelligent science fiction.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Jackie

Film: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for fantasy violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 13 minutes

STARRING: Eddie Redmayne (Theory of Everything, Les Miserables)

Katherine Waterston (Steve Jobs), Dan Fogler (Fanboys, KungFu Panda)

DIRECTOR: David Yates (Harry Potter 5-8)

WRITER: J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter novels, first screenplay)

PLOT: Newt Scamander is a wizard trying to re-capture some of his escaped beasts in 1920’s New York. Magic ensues.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Haven’t read the book (or the Potter novels).

STORY STUFF: While there are some fun moments throughout the film, the story wasn’t as compelling as a Harry Potter tale. The re-capturing of the beasts was very well done but the other story centering on Graves (Colin Farrell) and Credence (Ezra Miller) was too cryptic and confusing for me to follow. By the time their motivations are revealed I had lost some interest. Maybe I might enjoy it more with a re-watch.

ACTING STUFF: Redmayne is intriguing with all of Newt idiosyncrasies, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from this Oscar winner. The big scene stealer though is Fogler’s Kowalski. He is simply wonderful as the Muggle (sorry, ‘no-Maj’) who gets messed up with these fantastical people and creatures. His wide eyes and blurting laughs are hysterical. I was not a fan of Waterston as Tina is not given much to do but look concerned all the time. I prefer her sister, Queenie, played with effervescence by Alison Sudol.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Obviously the special effects are top notch with amazing feats of magic and outrageous beasts. My favourite beast would have to be Niffler, a platypus-y creature who is addicted to shiny objects. I hope we get to see more of him in future installments.

VERDICT: Three stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You ‘re a Potter fan or enjoy zoology.
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Allied

Film: Hacksaw Ridge

GENRE: Biography, Drama

RATING: R for grisly war violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 11 minutes

STARRING: Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spiderman, Social Network)

Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball, Swingers), Hugo Weaving (Matrix, LOTR)

DIRECTOR: Mel Gibson (Braveheart, Apocalypto, Passion of the Christ)

WRITERS: Robert Schenkkan (All the Way, The Pacific)

Andrew Knight (UK TV shows)

PLOT: A true story about a religious medic who saves numerous lives in the Battle of Okinawa without firing a single bullet.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Didn’t know anything about Desmond Doss.

STORY STUFF: This true story is simply amazing. It is hard not to be inspired by the thoughts and actions of Desmond Doss. I really liked how it wasn't too overly patriotic with American flags and 'we'll save the world' attitude. The movie also bravely does not shy away from the religious aspects of the story. Honestly, this is one of the best films I’ve seen so far this year. Thank you Mel Gibson for directing again (it’s been 10 years). 

ACTING STUFF: Garfield is perfectly cast in this film. He has the cheesy and dopey stuff down pat for the beginning and then pulls you in with his earnestness and commitment. Wow! I also really enjoyed Vaughn’s role as Doss’ sergeant. He did seem a little too soft at times, but I did enjoy the humour and seriousness he brought to the role. Unlike Saving Private Ryan, I did not really feel connected to the rest of Doss’ company. Couldn’t really tell who was who in battle and therefore may have missed out on some great character stuff.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The battle sequences seem to be an homage to Saving Private Ryan’s storming of the beach and most of the fight sequences from Band of Brothers. Not bad company to be in. However, there are some pretty schmaltzy visuals both before the fighting begins (during the love story) and some near the end, much like Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor. I would almost say that if you changed five of the schmaltziest images (like the water pouring scene), you may have a near-perfect movie. I was impressed.

VERDICT: Four and half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You want to be inspired and can handle war films

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Fantastic Beasts, Arrival

Film: Doctor Strange

GENRE: Fantasy Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 55 minutes

STARRING: Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, The Hobbit)

Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls), Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal)

DIRECTOR: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

WRITERS: Derrickson & C Robert Cargill (Sinister)

Jon Spaihts (Prometheus)

PLOT: A talented neurosurgeon gets in an accident and learns about mystic arts and multi-universes.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Didn’t know anything about Doctor Strange.

STORY STUFF: It’s a pretty compelling story even though I didn’t understand everything. There’s a lot of mystic speak that lost me, but it was still a fun ride. The movie moves at a nice pace as well.

ACTING STUFF: Cumberbatch is very well cast as is the rest of the actors. He has the right amount of arrogance, humour and seriousness needed for this role. Although his American accent sometimes sounds like Dr. House. Mikkelsen is great as a very focused villain. McAdams is a fun love interest for Strange, such great interactions. Kudos all around.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The visuals alone were worth the admission price; some awesome Inception-type time bending. They make some good use of 3-D. I also love the cape, it reminded me of the carpet from Aladdin.

VERDICT: Three and half out of five
SEE IT IF: You like Inception mixed with your Marvel movies.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Hacksaw Ridge

Film: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

GENRE: Fantasy Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 7 minutes

STARRING: Asa Butterfield (Hugo, Ender’s Game)

Eva Green (Casino Royale), Ella Purnell (Kick-Ass 2, Maleficent)

DIRECTOR: Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Sweeny Todd)

WRITER: Jane Goldman (Kingsman, X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass)

PLOT: A boy visit Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children where the residents have special powers. Unfortunately, he is followed by danger.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Used to love Tim Burton films. Now they’re okay.

STORY STUFF: I haven’t read the book but it is an interesting tale. There are some fun fantastical elements to it but the plot kind of plodded along. I wish this film had a bit more energy and was streamlined.

ACTING STUFF: Some fun roles in this film. I liked pretty much all of the peculiar children and Butterfield is a great kid actor. I thought Green’s role need a bit more pizazz, but again, I haven’t read the book. With Kingsman and now this, Samuel L Jackson just doesn’t do it for me as a comical villain. I don’t know what it is. He was so much better in things like Unbreakable.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Very Tim Burton-y. Some entertaining special effects for many of the peculiar children and the art direction is classic Burton. It’s just chock-full of whimsy.

VERDICT: Two and half out of five

SEE IT IF: You really like Tim Burton films.
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Jack Reacher 2

Film: The Girl on the Train

GENRE: Mystery, Thriller

RATING: R for violence, sexual content, language & nudity
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 52 minutes

STARRING: Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario, Looper)

Haley Bennett (The Equalizer), Rebecca Ferguson (M:I5-Rogue Nation)

DIRECTOR: Tate Taylor (The Help, Get on Up)

WRITER: Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary, Men Women & Children)

PLOT: A drunk ex-wife stalks her ex and their nanny and gets involved in a missing person case.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Didn’t read the book. Definitely won’t now.

STORY STUFF: Maybe the book was riveting but the film was terrible. I found that I strongly disliked every major character in the story, so I didn’t really care what happened to any of them. The story just meandered all over the place. I find it insane that people who cheat on their spouse are surprised when that person cheats again. I also wonder why these people tend to leave their doors unlocked, you’re just asking for bad things to happen.

ACTING STUFF: I guess Blunt played an alcoholic well. Nice slurring. I did enjoy Allison Janney’s detective; I wish she had a bigger role in the film. The rest were pretty ho-hum.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Taylor tried to copy Fincher’s Gone Girl style but only managed to catch his color palette. The cinematography was pretty plain with the odd flickering of memory flashes. Been there, done that.

VERDICT: One star out of five

SEE IT IF: You want a much crappier Gone Girl

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Jack Reacher 2