The Rest of 2016, Part 3

In closing the door on 2016, I realize that there are a lot of films that I have seen that unfortunately I was unable to review for one reason or another. That doesn't mean, however, that I don't want you guys to know what I think of most of these films, so just like the last couple of years I will be doing a few posts over the next month or so wrapping up all of the films I got a chance to see from this past year. This time around, I've got an unexpected sequel that's not really a sequel, a weird but stellar indie flick, and Natalie Portman...

10 Cloverfield Lane - Buy it. 

 10 Cloverfield Lane is one of the best thrillers I've seen in the past several years. It builds tension incredibly well between good and bad, truth and lies, and character vs. character. John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are fantastic and give very believable performances in their respective roles. Dan Trachtenberg's direction is stunningly good for a first-timer as well. Just don't expect Cloverfield 2; expect a tightly-paced, intense contained thriller, and you'll be extremely happy. Grade: 90
The Lobster - Buy it, but it's not for everyone. 

 This is one of the weirdest films I've ever liked. The Lobster is incredibly deadpan and dark in its humor, and its premise is one of the most unique dystopian setups I've seen. The performances from all match the film's tone well, especially Colin Farrell's and the direction from Giorgos Lanthimos is very artistic but not to the point of inaccessibility. It might not be the most watchable film ever, but The Lobster is well-acted and visually stunning with a very clever premise. Grade: 87
Jane Got a Gun - Skip it. 

 Jane Got a Gun is not a bad movie. The performances from Edgerton and Portman especially are decent, and the script doesn't have any horrendous dialogue. There are even some great directorial moments from Gavin O'Connor, and there's definitely no terrible ones. The biggest problem is the plot. It relies too heavily on flashbacks and adds unnecessary backstory towards the end of the film, as well as turning the ending way too bright too fast. It's not good, but it sure ain't bad either. Grade: 36

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