The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Hymyilevä mies) (2016)

I missed this one when I was at Cannes. It won the prize Un Certain Regard. While it is a very good movie, I do not think I would've awarded it top prize in that competition. It is a black-and-white boxing (a la Raging Bull?) movie that has a beautiful vintage look thanks to 16mm Kodak Tri-X film stock. I always thought it was kind of amazing that boxing is a film genre all its own. But I kind of understand. Boxing is an intense sport characterized by isolation, violence, and glory. Perhaps only tennis is more isolating. At least you have your coach in your corner of the ring, though Olli Maki doesn't always see eye-to-eye with him. The premise is simple, based on a true story of a boxer vying for the world championship while distracted by a love interest. The acting is restrained in a way that you don't expect in a boxing movie, but the quiet introspection is a thoughtful reflection on the sport.

Passengers (2016)

I was overall unimpressed by this movie. The coolest thing is the production design. There is a stunning anti-gravity scene in an infinity pool in space. The design of the bedrooms and the whole ship are imaginatively futuristic. The story is extremely unrealistic, even for a science fiction film. It is not believable at all. I know the tag line is "they woke up for a reason" but the reason is actually just not very compelling. The most interesting plot point is Chris Pratt's ethical dilemma. Though it does not actually fit into the "they woke up for a reason" motive of the film. This gap in the plot is inexcusable. This is not Jennifer Lawrence's best work. 

Oldboy (2003)

I finally got around to seeing Oldboy. Having already seen The Handmaiden, I think the Handmaiden is actually a stronger film. That being said, Oldboy is quintessential to understanding the evolution of Korean cinema. It's stylish, it's bloody violent, it's twisted and sick--it pushes cinematic boundaries. It's a brutally intense revenge thriller that is so ridiculous that it is comedic. And it's non-stop. The ending is so shocking and cringy it leaves you reeling. The whole movie you just can't look away because it's hypnotic. My favorite scene is a single shot fight scene; it looks like something out of Street Fighter in a 2D hallway. 

Julius Caesar (The Public Theater) (2017)

This year's Shakespeare in the Park production is very timely, a modern adaptation of Julius Caesar with Trump (fully in the nude!) as Caesar, Melania as Calpurnia (complete with the accent) and Jared Kushner as Octavian (identifiable by the bulletproof vest). Of course, that means that The Public Theater kills off Trump every night in Central Park. Call it gutsy, bold, even brilliant albeit a little obvious. It goes to show that Julius Caesar remains as relevant as two thousand years ago, as he was during Elizabethan times as he is today. It is reset in our modern America pitting protesters against police and people against dictator. The people are us. To really make us feel part of the people, there are actors hidden in the audience who are silent for 3 Acts and then erupt. They were right behind and in front of us! It was like we were part of the show, it was good fun. 

Moana (2016)

In Lin-Manuel Miranda's first post-Hamilton project, he pens some catchy songs that, for me, are the stars of the show. They are unmistakably his, with the unique cadence and clever wordy melodies. Even the Rock can sing, who knew? The animation is beautiful, including a very impressively realistic ocean. Just look at how far animation has come since Finding Nemo. Maui's body tattoos provided comedy but were themselves beautiful. They probably could've sustained their own short film. And let's not forget how important that the protagonist is a woman of color. She takes her destiny in her own hands and becomes a hero. She has real problems that do not revolve around a love interest. She is her own character, fully developed, likable and complex. She's not your typical Disney princess and here's to more characters like Moana.

Life, Animated (2016)

Life, Animated is a heartwarming documentary about the brilliant, funny and very likable Owen Suskind. Owen, an autistic boy, learned to contextualize his world through Disney animated films. It is about the whole family and how they grow and adapt and age. There are highs and there are lows; and the film is unflinching. It is an honest portrait. The story is told in an enchanting fashion, through talking head interviews, footage of Owen's day-to-day life, including some milestones, and beautifully crafted animated sequences. The animated sequences are visually stunning and what a brilliant way to use animation.

Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele, in his first solo project post-Key and Peele, holds up a mirror to liberal, middle class, suburban white society. Many reviewers have praised the film for capturing the modern zeitgeist of today, but they miss the point. And that is this: sixty years ago, Martin Luther King was saying the same thing (that the problem was and is moderate whites), and still the same holds true in 2017. Liberals may pat themselves on the back for electing Obama, but how much progress have we really made? Peele is simultaneously funny, scary, stylish, entertaining, clever and incisive. He astutely recognizes that horror is the perfect genre to represent the African-American experience. I don't typically watch horror movies, but this one is worth it.