Playing the Hits for the First Time
Over the last few weeks mixed within moving apartments I still managed to catch up with my number of reviews from 2016 this year on Letterboxd. I watched Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press (2017), Okja (2017), GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012), Baby Driver (2017), I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2017), Mud (2012), If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast (2017), The Big Sick (2017), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press
This is a documentary about the politicization of private parties attempting to discredit and destroy journalistic outlets. A little too much of the story deals with the Hulk Hogan/Gawker trial which was just a little too tabloid-y for its own good. The second half of the movie is more compelling than the first.
Noms: none.
Okja
Bong Joon-ho doesn't quite succeed in his follow up to Snowpiercer, but he doesn't make a bad movie. The highlights of this movie come from the supporting actors diving into insane characters. Tilda Swinton plays a pair of feuding and quirky twins for two years in a row after 2016's Hail, Caesar!.
Noms: Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton for acting.
GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
Interesting documentary about show biz obscurity. The participants had brief fame, however it was a targeted fame even in their hay day because if they were to leave that target they were still obscure. When their wrestling show ended, most of them slipped back into a deep obscurity with only their memories to revel in.
Noms: none.
Baby Driver
Wow. What a year in film so far! This might be my favorite movie so far this year. The music isn't just incredible, it dictates the sound effects of syncopated bullet fire and choreography. The car stunts are nothing less than breathtaking. It's a complete feast for the theater seat.
Noms: Directing and Writing for Edgar Wright, Cinematography for Bill Pope, acting for Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx, Soundtrack of the film, Stunts and special effects for the film.
I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore
This was much funnier than I expected. I figured by it's title this would be a depressing movie about a depressive, not a dark comedy.
Noms: Melanie Lynskey for acting, Macon Blair for writing.
Mud
Oh boy did I miss out on this one five years ago. I was already a Jeff Nichols fan at the time so it's really my own fault I hadn't seen this until now. This really was the movie that jump-started Matthew McConaughey's career five years ago, and unfortunately I missed this one because I had prejudices about him based on his career before this movie came out.
Noms: Matthew McConaughey for acting, Jeff Nichols for writing and directing, Adam Stone for cinematography.
If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast
It's interesting to see a documentary about active noniginarians. Unfortunately, I felt like there were some stories that could have expanded upon so the movie feels a little incomplete, however enjoyable.
Noms: none.
The Big Sick
This was such a lucky couple of movie-going weeks for me. This is one of the best movies of the year, one of the best of the last few years, and has one of the biggest laughs I have experienced in a theater.
Noms: Writing for Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, acting for Nanjiani, Ray Romano, Holly Hunter and Zenobia Shroff, Directing for Michael Showalter, Ensemble Casting.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
And another movie that I loved to death making this such a good year for movies. There hasn't been a Spider-Man this compelling, fun, or with as many fun supporting characters. It probably succeeds more than any other Spider-Man because there are only two villains and they are affiliated with each other. This has such an engaging story and enjoyable action sequences.
Noms: Special Effects and stunts, Ensemble Casting, Michael Keaton for acting, and Jon Watts for directing.
