Vincent Abbatecola's Top Five
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"The Big Sick"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
5) The Big Sick - Although you could probably line up the DVDs of every romantic-comedy and have it go around the world three times, it’s amazing how there are still occasions where someone fines a new angle to explore in the genre. Such is what happens with director Michael Showalter’s film. Based on a true story, the movie follows Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani, playing himself), a Pakistani-American aspiring to be a standup comic, who falls in love with grad student Emily Gordon (Zoe Kazan). When she gets placed in a medically induced coma following a mysterious illness, Kumail must deal with the tension of her parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano), all while his own family pressures him into an arranged marriage. This isn’t only one of the best and funniest romantic comedies in years, but it also manages to shift between the hilarity and drama without it feeling jarring, thanks to Showalter’s direction and the screenplay from Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon. This may seem like a typically quirky indie-comedy on the surface, but it handles the characters’ situations and culture-clash aspect of the story with both hilarity and heart, and with terrific performance from the whole cast, this is the indie movie of the summer you can’t miss.
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"Colossal"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
4) Colossal - Much like how the director and screenwriters of “The Big Sick” found a new angle with which to present a romantic-comedy, writer-director Nacho Vigalondo does the same with the monster-movie genre for his latest film. The story focuses on Gloria (Anne Hathaway), an unemployed writer who moves back to her hometown following a break-up with her boyfriend (Dan Stevens). Soon after, a monster begins attacking Seoul, South Korea, and Gloria realizes she may have a mental connection to it. Hathaway is charming and fun to watch in the lead, while Jason Sudeikis provides an against-type performance that shows new depths for his acting abilities. But one of the prevailing aspects of this movie is how, even though it’s mostly a comedy, it’s not afraid to go into some pretty dark territory and deal with issues that offer much weight to its central premise. This is a movie that thrives on its unpredictability, as it presents such an enjoyably bizarre scenario that keeps us anticipating how it will unfold. “Colossal” is a subversive take on monster movies, and with its layered characters and sci-fi thrills, it deserves more attention than it was given in theaters.
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"It Comes at Night"
Photo Credit: A24Films.com |
3) It Comes at Night - Over the years, indie horror movies have shown that they can offer so much more than what we are given from the mainstream, and you couldn’t find a better film to do so than with writer-director Trey Edward Shults’ second directorial feature. The narrative takes place in the aftermath of an apocalyptic outbreak of a contagious disease, where a husband and father (Joel Edgerton) and his family protect themselves in a secluded home in the woods. When another family meets up with them, the two groups get along at first, but soon after, paranoia takes hold of everyone in the house. With the shattering performances and bleak atmosphere, this film isn’t afraid to go for the gut when putting us through the emotional wringer. It abandons the usual horror-movie tropes and instead relies on an expert use of sound, lighting, and cinematography to build a situation that’s seeped in dread and will make you want to bury yourself in your seat during certain moments. This is a movie that requires a discussion when it’s over, as there is a lot to analyze, and that helps in making this one of the best horror films of the last few years.
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"The Lost City of Z"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
2) The Lost City of Z - Going into this movie, I knew it was based on a true story, but I knew little about it, which made watching this film such an enriching experience. Written and directed by James Gray, the story takes place throughout the first quarter of the twentieth century and follows British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who ventures into the Amazon to follow clues to what he believes is a lost civilization. While I haven’t been a fan of Hunnam’s more recent film performances, his work in this is surprisingly great, with him displaying a full command of his character, while being backed up by a talented supporting cast that includes Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, and Tom Holland. Gray celebrates the power of worldly discovery in his film, and with stunning cinematography of the lush Amazonian landscape, the audience goes on one of the grandest journeys in cinema this year. This is an exploration epic that has a touch of old-school Hollywood running through its frames, offering an adventure that’s worth taking to learn about such a fascinating figure and all of the dangers he and his crew faced in order to make significant contributions to the world’s geography.
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"Get Out"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
1) Get Out - Despite what I said about mainstream horror movies when talking about “It Comes at Night,” there’s one every now and then that should be recognized for having more than just the usual bag of horror-movie tricks. Such is the case for the directorial debut of comedian Jordan Peele for his horror-comedy, which he also wrote. It tells the story of Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African-American man who’s caucasian girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), invites to a weekend at her family’s home. After a seemingly pleasant first encounter, Chris realizes his hosts may not be as welcome as they seem. Other than great performances and some memorable frights, what makes this the best film of the year so far is its clever approach to modern race relations and the tensions that are still prevalent today. With a social commentary that’s dark, funny, and always uncomfortable, Peele shows an abundance of talent in his first directorial feature and keeps us unnerved as the events of the film play out, with the sequence involving the family party being a major highlight of not only the film, but of all 2017 cinema as of now. Shortly after the film’s release, Peele announced that he has several more “social thrillers” in mind, and if they’re as inventive and smart as this movie, they can’t get here soon enough.
Shane Conto's Top Five - The following review is from a guest contributor who's a friend of mine and fellow movie buff whom I met in Rider University’s Alternative Film Club.
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"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
5) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - I’m a huge Marvel fan, and James Gunn’s film is the definition of fun, as the quips fly non-stop throughout and the Guardians have the freedom to be their outrageous selves. Does it have the most focused plot and smoothest storytelling? No, not exactly. Is it an interesting character piece about all of the members of the team with each of them getting a chance to shine? That’s a big affirmative, with the themes of fatherhood resonating throughout, thanks to the performances from and character relationships between Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Ego (Kurt Russell), and Yondu (Michael Rooker), all of which make this superhero film a refreshing change of pace as it focuses on the quest for family. The film is also one of the most emotional of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (second to “Captain America: Civil War”). Finally, can you speak about a “Guardians” film without mentioning the music? Not at all. The soundtrack once again is like its own character and a highlight.
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"John Wick: Chapter 2"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
4) John Wick: Chapter Two - I’ve been a huge fan of action films for most of my life, and I have developed a snobbish bias towards long takes and steady camerawork in action sequences. While many action films today utilize shaky cameras and too many quick edits, “John Wick” has personified everything I love about the action genre, as the fight choreography is intense, perfectly visualized, and provides a brutal grittiness to the violence. Not only is the action fully realized, but so is the mythology that fills out the world in which John Wick lives. The relationships between the characters, the societies that make up the crime world, and the actual rules of engagement that encompass this world are so interesting that you feel engrossed in this dark, yet honorable environment. The movie has an abundance of style in regard to the production design, cinematography, and Chad Stahelski’s direction, and the whole film comes together with a magnetic performance from Keanu Reeves.
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"It Comes at Night"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
3) It Comes at Night - Differing from my other picks, this film doesn’t rely on over-the-top characters and action to entertain its audience. Instead, you get a deep look at the dark side of humanity and the fear that can consume you. Every question this films asks will make you think about the meaning of each scene and what truly happened in the film. The paranoia that infuses the movie goes right through the screen and into the audience as you question every character and motive throughout. The atmosphere that’s created by writer-director Trey Edward Shults is tense to the point that you’re on edge from start to finish. The holding of long shots, the use of music, and the minimalism of the setting creates a thrilling environment throughout the film. The camerawork and the framing of shots by cinematographer Drew Daniels are breathtaking, as many of the shots can stand as art all on their own. The imagery and use of lighting are chilling in certain spots, including looking over the top of a dog barking into the mysterious woods. All of the performances are great, but Joel Edgerton and Kelvin Harrison, Jr. are standouts.
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"Colossal"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
2) Colossal - This film is based around Anne Hathaway’s character getting dumped, heading back to her hometown, dealing with her alcoholic tendencies, and a giant monster attacking Seoul, South Korea. Yes, you heard me correctly. The genre-bending of character drama and fantasy in this film works so well, and this is thanks to the creative powers of writer-director Nacho Vigalondo. The performances by Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis are top-notch and elevate the character-driven moments of this movie. I wasn't sure what to expect from this film and had high anticipation as I waited to figure out what was coming next. The story is so odd that it begs your attention, and the intensity of the human interactions does the same. The biggest takeaway from this film for me was the ability for it to intelligently and creatively tackle intense issues, such as alcoholism and abusive relationships, and Vigalondo utilizes the fantastical elements to help convey the deep human flaws of the characters.
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"Get Out"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
1) Get Out - Jordan Peele does a great job of integrating a thought-provoking social commentary on racial tensions and prejudice inside a horror-thriller. Not only does his screenplay successfully convey such themes, but it includes chilling tension and some great laughs as well. While balancing all of these topics and emotions, the film creates an interesting and engaging mystery as well that keeps you invested in the events of the story. There are moments that are frightening and unnerving that use imagery that’s both striking and creepy, and the twists and turns of the narrative make for an engaging experience all of the way up to the final resolution. The dialogue is so uncomfortable in the best way possible, helping it to hammer home the message. Between the scares, there’s some fantastic biting humor as well that makes you laugh out loud, many of which come from Lil Rel Howery. Along with Howery, Daniel Kaluuya gives a star-making lead performance, while supporting cast members, like Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener, deliver memorable work as well.
Matthew Williams' Top Five - The following review is from a guest contributor who's a friend of mine and fellow movie buff whom I met in Rider University’s Alternative Film Club.
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"Baby Driver"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
5) Baby Driver - Writer-director Edgar Wright’s latest film is a stylish action-comedy that will probably deliver the best soundtrack of the year, which includes funk, rap, rock, techno, reggae, and more. It can be argued that Wright has not yet made a bad film, and this entry solidifies that statement. The car chases are just as gripping as they are in the trailers. All of the actors in this film are top notch, especially when it comes time for them to do some scenery chewing that comes off as believable, funny, intimidating, or some combination of those three. I was afraid and sort-of cringed at the thought of there being a romantic subplot shoved into what looked like a great heist movie, but I wasn’t disappointed with what I saw in the end. All in all, please watch this movie. It was a gem to behold, and I can’t wait for Wright’s next project.
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"T2 Trainspotting"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
4) T2 Trainspotting - I have seen the first movie multiple times - among many other things, I saw it as a meditation on growing up and finding happiness in the monotony of what awaits you after you do so, how some people try to put off that mundane realization with drugs or relationships, and downright denial, but it catches up to everyone. When the age of accountability is met, what does life ask of you then? This movie answers that question through the bumbling and disgruntled mishaps of the cast of the first movie, just about 20 years older, but not wiser. Does this movie need to exist? Not really. Are there similar beats and callbacks. Indeed. Is it interesting to see what these people are up to? Very. I can appreciate some of the paralyzing aimlessness of being an adult but not having the definition down of what that means yet. I think what makes this movie stand out in terms of being one of this year’s best so far is that it tries to do a lot and hits all of the points that it tries to make. As a condemnation and celebration of modern society, it's a hard look at life that could have been a documentary on addiction, self-sabotage, and delusion in certain scenes. This movie is unflinching, angry, and painful, but if you watch this as a film fan, you’re likely to be satisfied.
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"John Wick: Chapter 2"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
3) John Wick: Chapter 2 - I haven't seen an action sequel this good since “The Raid 2.” This movie is action done right - it not only starts off angry and gritty, but its concept is very clean and precise, and our lead is mortal and outnumbered, but is determined and armed to the teeth, and the cinematography and locations are gorgeous. This is a movie that takes all of the shocked hype that rippled out from the success of the previous story and runs with it. Realizing how deep the rabbit hole goes, the world of assassins are revealed very quickly, and revenge and “last jobs” are carried out and crumbled, respectively. Who is this movie for? If you like the gritty Bourne-esque take that Daniel Craig took in his Bond movies, fans of the stoic-hero type, martial arts choreographed and recorded like it was just as important as the plot itself, and Common as an actor, watch this movie like it was homework. If you want to see a tortured soul seek out and quarrel with marksmen, gangsters, his past, and all sorts of other things, while at the same launching itself out from the cult-status shadow that has been cast by its predecessor, then I beg you to watch this movie.
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"Get Out:
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
2) Get Out - Though I won't get political here, this movie essentially begs everyone with any degree of social consciousness to get a little...well, political. A thriller where isolation creep and corner you and the main character into the most outlandish and insidious idea ever conceived: subjugate and murder minorities in order to profit on their labor and perceived ‘gifts,’ present it as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” as if it was directed by Hitchcock, and give it a sense of humor when necessary. The thing about this movie is that when you read articles and watch interviews with the cast and crew, there are so many meticulous and calculated deeper meanings embedded in this screenplay that I think that film students will regard this as required viewing for years to come. If this movie made you laugh, scared, and uncomfortable, good. If you thought it was going to be the date movie of the year, then (a) bad choice, and (b) still, good. Please, do not stop talking about this movie. It was a selfie of who we are as a country, a non-post-racial society trapped in an interplay of repentance for the past and an uncertain future. It scratches your horror itch, but even more, it will beg you to want to talk not only about how Jordan Peele, of all people, made this movie and what else can he has in mind for future projects.
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"Logan"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com |
1) Logan - This is one of the hardest films to watch that has come out this year that I have seen. If it has been a while for any of you since you last saw it, I recommend watching it once more and take note of all of the things that it tried to do. It was a deconstruction of the “X-Men” film universe that was started by Bryan Singer; it was a bleak depiction of obsolescence and aging; it was a father-daughter, road trip, action-drama that cursed like a Scorsese movie; it made you cheer like a small child; it made you cry like the preteen you still are when you first saw these characters 17 years ago; AND it will be (so they say) the last time that Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart will done the claws and wheelchair, respectively. This is my favorite film of the year so far because it took the source material that inspired it, made it for adults, and was able to balance the poignancy and brutality. I’m not sure what the future will hold in terms of quality of storytelling in the upcoming “X-Men” movies, but this one transcends all that has come before to the point that it stands alone in more ways than in just cinematic continuity. It was art on screen that was grim, unflinching, white-knuckled, and flirts with nihilism, but it never swerves off of the long and winding path of hope.
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