Ah, 2016. In some ways, we're all ready to kick it to the curb. It went around killing beloved artists, screaming divisive and foul political rhetoric, and forcing the world to reconsider Justin Bieber. To paraphrase A Christmas Story, "2016! What a rotten name! We were trapped. It stared out at us with its yellow eyes. It had yellow eyes!"
OK, let's all take a breath. Yeah, there were some lousy things that happened this year, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, while much of the world was trying to find scapegoats for all of our problems, the movie industry actually put out quite a few wonderfully poignant films that encouraged us to work together, be compassionate, and, if the occasion arose, turn bumper to bumper traffic jams into rousing and meticulously choreographed musical numbers.
As I looked back on the year in film, the theme that seemed to jump out was hope. Hope for the future, hope for our own potential, hope for the humanity of others....even the giant blockbuster ending the year literally leads us to the beginning of "A New Hope." What a wonderful thing for us to all latch on to as we face an uncertain future. Let us hope and let us be a source of hope for those around us.
Before I get to my top movies of the year, there are a few other categories I'd like to look at.
Most Underrated Movies of the Year
The Little Prince
Premiered and lauded at the Cannes Film Festival and quick to find an international audience, this gem of an animated film inexplicably struggled to find a U.S. distributor. In fact, it was intended to be released in the U.S. in 2015, but no one would touch it, perhaps because of the esoteric nature of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's, book upon which the movie is based. No one, that is, until Netflix stepped in. Receiving a very limited theatrical run in August before its streaming debut, The Little Prince was hardly a blip on the radar, which is a shame because this beautiful, poetic, and at times startling film deserved to be a huge hit. If you've got a Netflix account, I highly recommend you check out this movie.
Ghostbusters
When I heaped praise on this movie last summer, some people kind of slammed me for it, but I stand by my praise. I know it's no classic, but far from being a blemish on the reputation of the original, it proudly stands as a genetic relative that is distinctly its own thing. A film that could have been a callous cash-making scheme is elevated by a fantastic cast that takes OK material and energizes it to some of the most laugh-out-loud comedy of the year. The performances of Kate McKinnon (mad-scientist with impeccable comic timing) and Chris Hemsworth (the world's greatest horrible secretary) alone make this memorable, but every other cast member gives it there all at every turn. It may not be art, but I watched this multiple times in theaters and in its subsequent home video released and have loved it every viewing. If anything, the only thing holding this one back was its unnecessary call-backs to the original.
Star Trek Beyond
We Star Trek fans can be a fickle bunch. With the coming of the Abrams films, there were cries of "Too much action!" and "This isn't Star Wars!" and "Why did you ever pretend he wasn't Khan?!?" (that last one is a legitimate criticism). Well, Star Trek Beyond attempted to answer these concerns with the first of the new series that felt like one of the old movies......and the box-office went down. That's a shame because, while lacking the immediacy of the 2009 reboot and Star Trek Into Darkness, Beyond is a perfectly enjoyable space romp and easily rises to the upper ranks of the series. Personally, I've loved the reboot series. The cast is great, the writing is sharp (some may argue this point in regards to Into Darkness, but I have many counter-arguments as to how that has some of the best writing of the series), and the visual aesthetics have been consistently top-notch, and Star Trek Beyond fits in quite nicely.
Most Overrated Movies of the Year
Hail, Caesar!
This is not a bad movie in any way. It's actually quite an enjoyable film. George Clooney was funny, Josh Brolin was imminently likeable, and Alden Ehrenreich turned in a star-making performance. However, the writing was a bit weak, which is very odd for a Coen Bros. film. Not the dialogue necessarily, although even that is a bit uneven, but the plotting itself was labored and fell below their standards. I was looking forward to this because I have a soft-spot for Coen Bros. comedies (The Hudsucker Proxy is an all-time favorite), but I left this movie strangely unsatisfied.
Cafe Society
Midnight in Paris is an absolute masterpiece and, when I heard people compare this favorably to that film, I was excited. Unfortunately, Cafe Society is NO Midnight in Paris. The movie holds its audience at a distance, cold when it should be warm, warm when it should be cold. In fact, the most notable thing about this film is that, in a cast that includes Hollywood heavyweights like Corey Stoll, Jesse Eisenberg, and Steve Carrell, it's actually Kristen Stewart who shines. Her performance is the most praiseworthy thing about this ultimately forgettable bit of froth.
Deadpool
Yep, I'm saying it's overrated. Let the hate mail commence. I hate to say it, but ultimately, this movie is a gimmick powered by one high-energy actor having the time of his life, and saddled with a plot, writing, and supporting cast that makes X-Men: The Last Stand (the most reviled of the X-Men films) look positively cerebral. Let's be honest, if this film weren't wildly crass, would it have gotten out of the "Ben Affleck as Daredevil" din of superhero movies? I really don't think it could have.
Worst Movies of the Year
Every year, this one is very hard for me because, well, I don't waste money on movies I think will be terrible. So, here is the list of movies that I haven't seen because they either looked horrible or looked good, but got horrible word of mouth: The Huntsman: Winter's War, Warcraft, Passengers, Mother's Day, Collateral Beauty, Masterminds, Norm of the North, Keeping Up with the Jonses. If I'm wrong and one of these is great, let me know. I like good movies.
Most Disappointing Movies of the Year
Anything from the DC Cinematic Universe. No, it's not just that I'm a die hard Marvel fanboy. I consider Nolan's Dark Knight films to be some of the best crime dramas in movie history. I loved Richard Donner's Superman and Bryan Singer's reverential tribute to it. Heck, I didn't even think Green Lantern was the worst thing ever. However, it has been profoundly disheartening to see DC try to emulate the success of the MCU, but disregard everything that made the MCU great. No, it's not that DC is gritty and Marvel is bright. The problems with Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad have nothing to do with their lack of humor and harsher plot elements. It has to do with the complete and utter disdain with which the filmmakers treat the characters. Marvel has tended to character arcs for their characters over the past decade. They've done it carefully because they clearly love these characters and want them well-represented. DC and Warner Bros. have said, "Hey, we want that kind of money!" and rushed production with half-baked stories that completely disregard the very nature of iconic characters. Wonder Woman looks good, but so did Suicide Squad. I'm starting to lose hope that DC will ever approach their films with the rich and thoughtful forethought found over at Marvel. Sigh.
Independence Day: Resurgence - The first one wasn't art, but it was fun and popular. This one isn't as horrible as some may say, but it is just a giant magnifying glass over the original and, in making every bigger, simply amplifies its flaws.
Great Performances of the Year (performers listed alphabetically):
Amy Adams - Arrival; Tom Bennett - Love & Friendship and Mascots; Sofia Boutella - Star Trek Beyond; Josh Brolin - Hail, Caesar!; Viola Davis - Fences; Julian Dennison - Hunt for the Wilderpeople; Taron Egerton - Eddie the Eagle; Alden Ehrenreich - Hail, Caesar!; Dan Folger - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them; John Goodman - 10 Cloverfield Lane; Ryan Gosling - La La Land; Tom Hanks - Sully; Tom Holland - Captain America: Civil War; Chris Hemsworth - Ghostbusters; Kate McKinnon - Ghostbusters; Lupita Nyongo'o - Queen of Katwe; Eddie Redmayne - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them; Mark Rylance - The BFG; Michael Shannon - Midnight Special; Kristen Stewart - Cafe Society; Emma Stone - La La Land; Maryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins; Denzel Washington - Fences; Mary Elizabeth Winstead - 10 Cloverfield Lane
Best Musical Moments:
La La Land: The entire movie - I'll get into this more later on, but La La Land is a "they don't make them like that anymore" kind of movie and the music plays a huge part in that. Opening on a typical L.A. traffic jam and then transforming that into a musical jam that slowly melts into full-out musical extravaganza, the opening number, "Another Day of Sun," perfectly sets the mood for the movie, a bright, buoyant, and surprisingly layered throwback to the glory days of the MGM movie musical.
Eddie the Eagle: 80's stars unite! - The music (both score and songs) in Eddie the Eagle is a pure joy. Upon first watching the film, you assume the songs are lesser-known gems from recognizable 80's new wave artists. Alas, they are NEW gems from recognizable 80's new wave artists, including Howard Jones, OMD, ABC, Go West, and Paul Young. Plus, the vocals on the OMD track (an energetic synth-pop throwback called "Thrill Me") are terrifically handled by Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman, the stars of the film. Any fan of 80's music will be justifiably thrilled with the results.
Trolls: "Can't Stop the Feeling" and "True Colors" - This movie had a few nice musical moments (it's always great to hear Anna Kendrick sing), but "Feeling's" infectious hook transcends the movie to stand as one of the most fun songs of the year and "Colors" gives the movie its much needed, and unexpected, heart.
Sing Street: "Drive It Like You Stole It" - In high school, I was a songwriter and this moment in this terrific movie shows so powerfully the disconnect between an artist's imagination and the sometimes harsh reality of execution. The lead singer envisions a Back to the Future-themed music video with amazing costumes, choreography, and production values. In reality, it's cheesy with about six people desperately trying to snap to the beat, but in the moments when we see how the lead sees it, we're treated to a wonderful tribute to the 80's music video movement and to the act of creativity itself.
Arrival: The entire score - Johann Johannsson's music for this deeply emotional sci-fi movie is not something that you can just listen to apart from the movie. It's not particularly melodic and has a Reich-esque minimalism to it. However, when paired with the film, it becomes another character and creates an atmosphere that wholly separates what you're witnessing from any previous film-going experience. It's a masterpiece that elevates an already masterful film.
Best Scenes of the Year (spoilers: If you haven't seen the movie, you might not want to read the description):
Ghostbusters: Kevin's interview - I haven't laughed harder during any moment of any movie this year than I did during this hilariously awkward and odd five minutes of comic gold. From Kristin Wiig's character's unsubtle and inappropriate attraction to the applicant to Chris Hemsworth's Kevin asking if he could bring "my cat" to work (an animal that is actually a dog named Mike Hat), this scene is a great example of the comic prowess displayed by this cast that elevates the film.
Rogue One: Vader Unleashed - There is a moment toward the end of this very well-made movie that shows, possibly more explicitly than ever before in the Star Wars series, why Darth Vader is feared by all in the galaxy. A group of rebels are trapped in a room with him and, what starts as a typical Star Wars battle, quickly turns into something out of a horror movie. Imagine Michael Myers with a lightsaber and a mastery of the dark side of the force. Truly chilling.
Doctor Strange: The Rebuilding of Tokyo - If you haven't seen this movie, this one's hard to visualize using just words. As director Scott Derrickson explained, he knew that many comic book movies end with the destruction of a major city while the characters are trying to shut a portal. He thought it might be fun if the climactic battle in Strange involved a city rebuilding itself while characters try to open portals. He's right, it was a great deal of fun. Watching the characters fight in real time while the world around them goes in reverse was a trip and a great way to play with the tropes of the genre.
Captain America: Civil War: Tarmac Fight - Hands down, my favorite scene from any movie this year. The promise of every MCU "it's all connected" moment since Nick Fury first showed up in Tony Stark's living room realized in a thrilling, hilarious, heartfelt, character-driven battle royale. Starting ominously, expertly blending humor and action, and ending with a jolt, this scene is, quite simply, one of the best action sequences ever put on film.
Best of the Year:
Quantifying movies is hard. Just saying. Recognizing quality isn't necessarily difficult, but what qualities are more important? If a popcorn movie sets out to entertain and it does so spectacularly, is it of a lesser quality than a drama that sets out to showcase great writing? How do you compare a Schindler's List (powerful, important, but low on the re-watchablity scale) to a Star Wars (revolutionary, exciting, endlessly re-watchable, but ultimately not as historically vital)? I decided to give movies scores in three areas: Overall Quality (direction, acting, writing, production values, etc.), Re-watchability, and Thematic Importance (Are the messages vital? Universal? Important? Timely?). Keeping in mind, of course, that even with these criteria, it's a matter of taste and timing. A movie that is high in all three areas to me may be very low in one of those areas to another, and, indeed, low to me in one of those areas with more or fewer viewings.
Also, it should be noted that there are many great films I haven't seen yet (it's killing me to write this before the wide-releases of Hidden Figures and A Monster Calls, but I have time now that I won't have after I see them). If you know of a movie that you loved that isn't on the list, it doesn't mean I'm dissing it, I just may not have seen it. Of course, I may be dissing it too. ;)
Honorable Mentions:
Moana, Sing, Florence Foster Jenkins, The BFG, Midnight Special, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Eddie the Eagle - Any one of these films could have easily slipped in my top twenty and they all stand among my favorites of the year.
20. Ghostbusters - Propelled by fun special effects and an incredibly talented cast loaded with chemistry, this could've been a dud and, in all honesty, the screenplay is really just OK, but the cast give it a gonzo, go-for-broke energy that makes it one of the funniest comedies of the year.
19. Star Trek Beyond - Good, old-school Trek with eye-popping, new-school effects and acting.
18. The Jungle Book - On one hand, Disney is clearly just harvesting its animated classics to make more money. On the other, the results are truly spectacular. This time, it's not like like the similarly notioned 90's-era live-action 101 Dalmatians and Jungle Book, neither of which were horrible, but both of which were forgettable. This time, we've gotten Cinderella and 2016's take on The Jungle Book, both of which, in many ways, actually improve upon the classics with stronger character arcs, beautiful production values, and clearly defined, yet more complex, thematic material. Plus, The Jungle Book is one of the year's most stunning visual accomplishments. All of which leads to.....
17. Pete's Dragon - Far and away removed from the broad comedy and bright, cartoony original, this remake is a simple, subtle, and often heartbreaking examination of love and creating familial bonds in the face of great loss. It feels like an independent family film and takes risks like one.
16. Kung Fu Panda 3 - Before I made my little scoring system, I actually had this one down in the "honorable mentions" section, but in looking at the three distinct areas, I couldn't deny the beautiful quality in the animation and vocal performances, the undeniable re-watchability, and the simple, but universally applicable theme of embracing who we are while simultaneously pushing ourselves to be more. It's a primal and, ultimately, important message that this animated comedy about a kung fu fighting panda presents with thought and grace.
15. Hunt for the Wilderpeople - It would be easy, and not entirely inappropriate, to simplify this movie as "Napoleon Dynamite meets Up meets Midnight Run," as it most certainly has pronounced plot elements and atmosphere of all three of these films. However, to do so would dismiss that wacko originality of this comedy from independent director Taika Waititi, as well as the memorable lead performances from Sam Neill and Julian Dennison as a grizzled New Zealand-bushman and the juvenile delinquent he's saddled with.
14. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - This one has, at times, been much higher on the list. It's a beautiful extension of J.K. Rowling's rich imagination and it's truly a delight to see the familiar tropes of the Harry Potter world play out in 1920's New York City. Plus, it gives us the visualization of the previously mentioned niffler, an adorable fluff-ball that steals any shiny thing it can gets its mitts on, which must include the film itself, because the little guy walks off with that too.
13. Love & Friendship - I think that Jane Austen sometimes is viewed incorrectly by much of the world. Many see her as a creator of fluffy, somewhat inconsequential, stories about aristocratic manners in the 1800's, when she was truly a brilliantly sharp-witted satirist. Perhaps no filmed adaptation of her works gets this better than Love & Friendship, an adaptation of her novella Lady Susan, which plays almost like a spoof of other Austen adaptations. Director Whit Stillman uses music and editing as technical punchlines to the humor to wonderful effect. Plus, Tom Bennett's absolutely hilarious turn as the genial, but wildly dim-witted Sir James Martin, is one of the most delightful of the year. Moments when he pontificates about the twelve commandments, or how accomplished someone is because they enjoy "both poetry and verse", or how confusing the name Churchhill is ("I was looking for a church or a hill, but all I saw was this big house!") are uproarious and patently memorable.
12. The Little Prince - For many of the reasons I mentioned before, this undervalued gem stands high among the year's animated films. It's poetic, beautiful, and filled to the brim with truth. This is the kind of movie that elevates family films from simply appropriate for all ages to vital and inspiring to all ages. Also, if I could have listed a silent, animated performance to my "Great Performances" section, the stuffed fox from this movie would have topped the list.
11. Sully - I have not been a huge fan of Clint Eastwood as a director in the past. I believe that, much as he seems to view the world as a whole, he sees protagonists as always simple, virtuous, and noble, while antagonists are always mindless, hateful, and soulless. This is one of the reasons I consider Million Dollar Baby to be one of the most wildly overrated movies in history. However, he doesn't completely fall into that trap with Sully, a beautifully acted examination of the events taking place after the "Miracle on the Hudson" airplane landing of 2009. Yes, Captain Sullenberger, as portrayed by the fantastic Tom Hanks, is noble and kind-hearted, but the antagonists, who consist of the hearing committee trying to determine if he acted wrongly, are just people trying to get their job done and ultimately are relieved to be proven wrong. Plus, this movie does the impossible in creating absolute suspense surrounding an event so well recorded and publicized. You know how it's going to end, but the journey is poignant, thoughtful, and, at times, harrowing.
10. Fences - Definitely not the most re-watchable film ever made, but certainly a powerfully transportative one, Fences boasts some amazing dialogue (from August Wilson's lauded stage play) and two of the hands-down best performances of the year. There's a reason that Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are considered the best in their field. It's a two hour acting and writing masterclass, but it's also a heartfelt examination of family and the unwillingness to allow the world around us to change.
9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Rogue One, while a visceral movie-going experience, didn't excite and energize me the way The Force Awakens did, but that was never its goal. Rogue One is a war movie, frankly the first in the series, taking place in the Star Wars timeline. It's "The Dirty Dozen in Space" and the grit from the story is tactile and omnipresent. Much has been made of how simply defined the characters are, but this is a mission movie. It's less about complex character arcs that are designed to grow and reach over several films than it is about people willing to do what needs to be done, even in the face of death. It's complexity lies not in its characterizations, but in its examination of war itself. The good guys are good, but sometimes do horrific things and justify it for "the cause." Whether the ends of war truly justify the means has been a subject of debate for years and Rogue One addresses the topic with a thoughtful solemnity, all while loading the screen with some of the best action sequences in the series history.
8. Sing Street - Taking place in 1985 Dublin, Sing Street is the spiritual relative of the best John Hughes films. Like those movies, it checks off the archetypes (Awkward teen romance? check. Disfunctional, yet ultimately loving family? check. Powerfully clueless authority figure? check.) and like the best of those movies it layers in unforgettable characters, tons of heart, and a fantastic soundtrack, including the above mentioned "Drive It Like You Stole It," a song that sums up the film's central themes of embracing life, taking control of your own destiny, and not looking back.
7. Queen of Katwe - Rapturously embraced by critics, but largely ignored by audiences, Queen of Katwe tells the story of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl from Uganda living in extreme poverty who discovers chess and uses it as a way to pull herself and her family out of the ghetto. It simultaneously plays as a sports movie and a family drama and succeeds greatly in both areas. Filled with wonderful performances and direction from acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair that is unflinching in how it presents the truth of poverty, it's a movie that deserves a bigger audience. A family film that is enlightening and inspiring in equal measure.
6. Doctor Strange - I have heard people dismiss this as just a trippy remake of Iron Man, but other than the fact that the central character is a wealthy jerk who learns to be less of a jerk (and really, if your protagonist starts as a wealthy jerk, there are only so many ways that arc is going to bend), it is completely and thrillingly its own creature. Director Scott Derrickson is actually best known for his work in horror films and, while Strange is certainly not a horror film, it shares a similar visual and rhythmic palette. To call the aesthetics of this movie "trippy" is a profound understatement. It throws us into the mystical corners of the Marvel universe head first with a cornucopia of visuals unlike anything I've ever seen on screen. Of course, this would be worth little if the movie weren't as good as it is. Taking a simple, but profound message extolling the virtues of selfless empathy, it expertly uses the best in effects, acting, music, and direction to weave a truly memorable tale and one of the best comic book origin stories ever put on film.
5. Zootopia - I was surprised this one was as high as it is and, in any other year, it may have been lower. However, this bright, quickly paced, animated blockbuster is a pure winner with one of the most timely and needed messages of any film this year. Instead of populating the story with animals because they're cute and cuddly, it uses the animal kingdom as a metaphor for prejudice and the danger of living life in fear instead of love. The messages, while not particularly subtle, are well-executed and so important in learning to understand one another. Plus, Flash the sloth is awesome.
4. Captain America: Civil War - Look past the sheen of yet another Marvel blockbuster in the marketplace and you see the thoughtful heart beating not only at the center of Civil War, but the center of the MCU as a whole. Character motivations that lead to the titular skirmish have been carefully cultivated for years as we've not only gotten to know the characters, but understand the dynamics of their relationships with one another. Seeing the other MCU films is certainly not a requirement to enjoy Civil War, but it absolutely makes the experience richer. Technically, the movie is an unqualified winner with great performances, dialogue, and action (including the aforementioned Tarmac scene, which is fantastic). Add to that the movie's thoughtful take on political manipulation and the complexities of diplomacy and you get what is arguably the best the MCU has yet to offer.
3. Arrival - The best sci-fi films use the fantastic to reflect the simple and immediate nature of humanity and, in this, Arrival stands as one of the great sci-fi films of the decade. Deeply emotional and profoundly personal, this film uses the very act of communication as a way to examine the best and the worst that humanity has to offer. In addition, the finale explores the intricate nature of relationships and life choices in a way so surprising and moving that one leaves the film better for having experienced it.
2. La La Land - A few years ago, the film The Artist won over critics and audiences alike. The Artist was a highly artistic tribute to silent films and it used the power of silence to draw the watcher in to the story. However, I always thought it was just the smallest bit overrated. It was very well made and very well acted, but it felt a bit gimmicky. Other than the punchline use of sound at the end, making it a silent movie didn't seem vital to the story. Similarly La La Land pays tribute to a film genre of the past, specifically MGM-style movie musicals, however the use of music, and specifically this style of music, is integral to the story. La La Land uses the inherent artifice of grand movie musicals as a metaphor about the stages of romance and setting it in modern times just makes it more powerful. In addition, it takes one of the most annoying tendencies of those old movies (to stop the story dead for a huge and completely cheesy dance number on a Hollywood soundstage) and finally, FINALLY makes it necessary to the story with a surprisingly thoughtful finale that simultaneously exhilarates and devastates.
1. Kubo and the Two Strings - Speaking of overrated, I've not quite gotten the critical fervor for the films of Laika Studios until this one. I mean, they're clearly masterclasses in stop-motion animation and have amazing art coming out of their ears, but ultimately they have felt a bit cold and distant, so afraid of being sentimental that they forget to have a heart. That ended with Kubo, which stands as one of the great animated films of the decade, easily at home with the best of Pixar studios. This is the most striking, original, and moving film I've seen this year, which is why it lands at the top.
Fifteen Most Anticipated of 2017
So, with that, it's time for my most anticipated movies of the new year. Anticipation is a funny thing. Sometimes it proves to be wildly misplaced (*cough cough* Batman v Superman *cough*), but when the end product matches your level of pre-conceived enthusiasm, the experience can be transcendent. These are the films that I'm hoping will give me the euphoria of met expectations (Note: Hidden Figures and A Monster Calls would likely be on this list, as they are receiving their wide-releases this Friday, however they are, technically 2016 releases because of their initial limited runs):
15. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets - Could be a spectacular disaster or a surprising success, but from the commercials it really doesn't look like there will be any middle ground.
14. Justice League - DC, I've been burned by you before, but I'm cautiously hopeful that you'll pull this one off.
13. The Story of Ferdinand - The original story and subsequent Disney short about the bull with the heart of a lamb is one of my childhood favorites. Here's hoping that a feature-length expansion and the fact that it's from the very hit-and-miss Blue Sky Studios won't diminish its charms.
12. 2017 Cloverfield Movie - Scheduled for an October release, the next film in the Cloverfield franchise is intriguing, even with no fore-knowledge of what it's about.
11. Thor: Ragnarok - A buddy action movie with this cast starring Thor and the Hulk? Yeah, I'm in.
10. Murder on the Orient Express - A remake of the classic directed by Kenneth Brannagh and starring Brannagh, Johnny Depp, Dame Judi Dench, Michelle Pfieffer, Daisy Ridley, Michael Pena, Josh Gad, and Leslie Odom Jr. 'Nuff said.
9. Wonder Woman - Honestly, if I weren't so disheartened by the DCCU thus far, this would be higher. I just hope it's good.
8. The LEGO Batman Movie - The LEGO Movie was a fantasmagorium of laughs and imagination and the Batman character (played hilariously by Will Arnett) was an integral part of that film's humor. While I don't expect this to have the heart of The LEGO Movie, I expect it will be a lot of fun.
7. The Greatest Showman on Earth - I know little about this film other than it's a musical based on the life of P.T. Barnum starring Hugh Jackman and that it's being released at the end of the year for award consideration. Also the screenplay is by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) and the music is from the composers behind La La Land. Those elements are enough to make this highly intriguing.
6. Beauty and the Beast - Disney is on a roll with the live-action versions of their animated classics. This one looks to take it's cue equally from the stage version and the original fairy tale, so it should feel fresh even as we're singing familiar songs.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming - No, the world doesn't need another Spider-Man movie. It needs one with Tom Holland riffing off of Robert Downey Jr in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
4. Dunkirk - Christopher Nolan is a master at building excitement for his films. The little bits of this film, a war film set during WWII, that we've seen have been taut, tense, and utterly spellbinding.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Baby Groot! Also, the promise of more fun from the great makers of the original. But, BABY GROOT!!!
2. Coco - Pixar has been less consistent over the last six years, but they seem to be the best when they're making originals rather than sequels that don't contain the words "Toy Story." This film, a musical from the director of Toy Story 3 dealing with The Day of the Dead, seems as separated from the rest of the studios canon as can be, which could be a good thing.
1. Star Wars: Episode VIII - Besides the fact that, until five years ago, I never thought I'd live to see a movie called Star Wars: Episode VIII, we need some clarity. Rey Skywalker? Rey Solo? Rey Kenobi? Rey the Hutt?!? Give us answers!
OK, that's the end of my ramblings. Happy 2017! May the force be with you and be excellent to each other!
