My top ten will not be the same as the critics. I am not here to tell you how smart I am. My main criteria for my top ten is, do I want to see it again and was I entertained and/or did I learn something. Did the film deliver what it promised in ads or trailers.
So here are my top ten:
10
THE END OF THE TOUR
Directed by James Ponsoldt
Screenplay by Donald Margulies
Based on the book by David Lipsky
Starring Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg
The true story of a five day road trip following David Wallace (Segel) and Rolling Stone writer David Lipsky (Eisenberg) as Wallace finishes up his book tour for his 1000+ page novel Infinite Jest.
I went back and forth on putting The Revenant here. It came down to...do I want to see The Revenant again? No. It is beautiful to watch but hard to watch at the same time. So I am saying The Revenant was 11.
So The End Of The Tour. I love a good road trip movie. This one is really good. It is so quiet and so simple.
It does not touch on the life of Wallace but it touches on the relationship and conversation between the two writers.
Segel as Wallace, gives a fantastic performance. He is so relaxed and at the same time nervous. He has awful social skills and relates with his dogs better than he does with people. He says so much with his ticks and stares, and when he talks he sucks you into every word. Often you wonder who is interviewing who on the road trip because he asks as many questions as Lipsky.
Eisenberg is also wonderful, stepping back just enough to let Segel command the screen.
The film captures a moment in time, watching Wallace, who is aware of all going on around him ( a great speech about TV screens is almost seeing into the future). He is kind but not a pushover. He does not lecture he just suggests and he is almost embarrassed by the attention and at the same time a little proud. Almost rude. Still, after all the success of this book, which he seems to not understand, he still fights with depression. He talks about his history with depression in one heart breaking scene. It is so honest and raw.
At the end we realize for Lipsky it was more than an interview on a road trip. As Wallace says at one point "This is nice". It may have started out as just an interview but looking back I think he sees, it was two friends enjoying, laughing, arguing during a moment of time that was captured on tape.
The film is so different, so interesting, so relaxed, and so sad. The End Of The Tour. It is available now for Rent. Watch during the credits. It will make you smile.
9
CREED
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Screenplay by Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington
Starring Michael B Jordan and Sylvester Stallone
The 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.
It is wonderful. Close to perfect. How does it work?
Well you have to have Sylvester Stallone be willing to take a backseat. Not only to Jordan but also letting Coogler direct and Coogler and Covington do the writing. By stepping back, Stallone gives an Oscar worthy performance. Maybe his best performance since the original Rocky.
Michael B Jordan here reteams with Coogler after they did Fruitvale Station together, like Stallone, is perfect in this film. He may not get the recognition that Stallone gets in this film just because his character is angry and seems to always keep his head down and almost growls. He just does not get the funny and touching lines that Stallone gets.
It is a sports film but it is more of a film about two characters finding out who they are at different stages of their lives and finding purpose. So do not get caught up in it being a boxing film. Far from it. As Jordan says as Creed, he just wants to prove he was not a mistake.
Exciting (The boxing match), Funny (Cloud), even touching (The last scene on the art museum steps). Finally the city!! The city looks beautiful. Philadelphia the city I love. "If You Look Hard Enough You Can See Your Whole Life From Up Here".
Close to perfect (That damn silly bike scene??!!). What a great surprise! Still available in theaters.
8
ROOM
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
Screenplay and Novel by Emma Donahue
Starring: Brie Larson; Jacob Trembley; Joan Allen; and William H Macy
TRUCK...WIGGLE OUT..JUMP...RUN!!!
Mom (Larson) has been locked away in a shed for 6 years. Kidnapped. Jack (Trembley) has been with his mom for 5 years in the shed in which he calls ROOM. After Jacks fifth birthday, Ma decides it is time to make a dangerous move to break away from their capture.
It is far from depressing, which is what I feared (at times it can make you feel almost claustrophobic). It is full on inspiring. It shows you the power of never giving up, and nothing is as powerful as a mother fighting for her child and trying to keep him safe physically and emotionally.
For Ma, there is the guilt and fear for what happens in ROOM and what is to come outside of ROOM. A great performance by Larson. Sans makeup. Raw. Just the fear and love in her eyes.
Then I come to Jacob Trembley who plays Jack. The film is on his shoulders, his little shoulders, and he is amazing. He is in almost every scene. Watching him see WORLD and trying to deal with it (including stairs) is heartbreaking and exhilarating. He was wrongly snubbed for an Oscar Nomination.
If there is a negative I wanted it to be longer. I felt the second half was rushed. I wanted to slow down because I cared so much about the leads.
Trust me...it is not as depressing as it sounds. Yes it can be sad, but it has you cheering and tearing and sometimes laughing. Wiggle out...jump...run... see it. It will be released for home viewing March 1. However it will be rereleased in limited theatres between now and the Oscars.
Tomorrow 7-6-5
As always from the shadows thanks for your time.
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