The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Actor

Best Actor 2016
(SoN = Streaming on Netflix // SoA = Streaming on Amazon // SoH = Streaming on HBO)

Unlike the Best Actress category which contained a battle for the Top Two and a Top Six that could've won the category in any other given year, the winner of this category was the only true standout for me.  The other men on this list also gave solid performances, but there was no real competition for the top spot.

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order)

Adam Driver - Paterson

Ben Foster - The Program

Matthew McConaughey - Free State of Jones

Jack Reynor - Glassland

Johnny Simmons - The Phenom

And the Top Ten...

#10 - Charlie Plummer - King Jack

As mentioned when he topped the Best Younger Performer list, Charlie Plummer elevates this average film into something a bit more than the sum of its parts.  Portraying a bullied kid, Plummer's hardened exterior masks a melancholic nature that is palpably felt by the audience. (SoN)

#9 - Shahab Hosseini - The Salesman

As the husband of a woman who is brutally assaulted, Hosseini keeps the outward appearance of his character buttoned up, but displays a inner rage and anger towards his wife's assailant.  A third act narrative change pushes Hosseini into territory that sometimes seems unbelievable, but the Iranian actor still captivates. (SoA)

#8 - Christopher Plummer - Remember

As a Holocaust survivor suffering with dementia, the 87 year-old Plummer is in nearly every scene of Remember and his character's deterioration is incredibly sad to watch. (SoA)

#7 - David Oyelowo - Five Nights in Maine

Five Nights in Maine is not a good movie which makes it all the sadder that David Oyelowo gives such a great performance in it.  Oyelowo is riveting when his character is told in the opening moments of his wife's sudden death and he's equally compelling in the aftermath when depression rears its ugly head. (SoN)

#6 - Casey Affeck - Manchester by the Sea

Affleck is Lee, a thirtysomething janitor whose lonely present life is oppressed by a heartbreaking backstory that has weighed on his for years.  Revealed in spurts via flashbacks, the glimpses of his past add to the sullen man's characterization.  Affleck nicely balances Lee's past and present, creating two distinct personalities that evolve into one another believably. (SoA)

#5 - Ryan Gosling - La La Land

Much like his counterpart Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling brings an old school charm and panache to his role as a struggling jazz pianist in La La Land.  The chemistry between Stone and Gosling is lovely and it's impossible not to smile when they share the screen together. (SoH)

#4 - Michael Keaton - The Founder

The Founder was underrated when it was released very late in the awards season of 2016 which is a shame because Michael Keaton gives a great performance as Roy Kroc, the founder of McDonald's.  Keaton plays the sly, unethically egotistical Kroc with an outward, "aw shucks" cheeriness masking an underhanded though savvy business acumen that helped him create the biggest restaurant chain on the planet. (SoN)

#3 - Michael Fassbender - The Light Between Oceans

The Light Between Oceans is a film that wasn't loved by many, but should've been praised more in large part due to its two lead performances.  Michael Fassbender imbues his character of Tom - a loner WWII vet -- with an icy exterior that melts away when he meets the lovely Isabel, only to return once he realizes the gravity of the crime they've committed.

#2 - Tom Hanks - Sully

Tom Hanks really is the modern-day Jimmy Stewart -- cinema's everyman, cinema's "normal guy."  While there may be a simplicity to playing a regular joe character like hero airplane pilot Sully Sullenberger, Hanks creates an effortlessly humbling performance which really isn't easy to achieve.  Rather than just be portrayed as an outright hero, Hanks is allowed to layer his performance with humility, anger, confidence, weakness, and strength.  (SoH)

#1 - Denzel Washington - Fences

While I may not have loved Fences, its two leading performances by Viola Davis and Denzel Washington are more than enough to recommend a watch.  Some of said that Washington is too "actorly" or "stagy" in this flick, but I found him utterly captivating as a grizzled man who's done his share of wrong things, but wants nothing more than to create a life for his son better than the life he himself had.  This desire is palpable, showing itself in Washington's intense portrayal.  Washington plays exquisitely off of Davis in their characters' tender moments, but simply excels when the late August Wilson's script requires them to really explore their truest, basest, and fiercest emotions in the film's second half.  (SoA)

Previous RyMickey Award Winners
2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012
2011 -- 2010 -- 2009

The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Actress

Best Actress 2016

(SoN = Streaming on Netflix // SoA = Streaming on Amazon // SoH = Streaming on HBO)

There were some really great performances from leading ladies in 2016, many from movies you may have never heard of before.  Take the time and explore some of these lesser known flicks because most of them are pretty great and the performances listed below are worth your time.

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order)

Amy Adams - Arrival

Sally Field - Hello My Name Is Doris

Rebecca Hall - Christine

And the Top Ten...

#10 - Lily Rabe - Miss Stevens

Rabe gives a lovely performance as a high school English teacher who longs for an adult relationship, but also realizes the importance she plays in her students' lives and the pivotal role she plays in shaping their futures.  The natural way Rabe's title character interacts with the young actors playing her students elevates this simple film beyond the norm. (SoN)

#9 - Ruth Negga - Loving

Courtesy of an understated performance, Negga is captivating in the strong, yet subdued way she portrays Mildred, a 1950s black woman whose interracial marriage with her white husband set off a firestorm in her small Virginia town.  The film lacks oomph, but Negga's performance is lovely. (SoH)

#8 - Taraneh Alidoosti - The Salesman

The wonderful thing about director-writer Asghar Farhadi's films is that he always keys in to the slightly repressed Iranian culture and the stigmatization of women in the society.  Alidoosti plays Rana, an actress who is attacked and, rather than go to the police, lives in fear of retribution from her culture should she attempt to find the culprit of the crime.  This shameful societal notion is wonderfully conveyed by Alidoosti in a film that is buoyed by some great performances. (SoA)

#7 - Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

This is Meryl's fourth time on the RyMickey Awards Best Actress Top Ten list (plus one Supporting Actress Top Ten berth) so like the Oscars incessant obsession with her, I too appreciate her cinematic acting chops (although not always enough to place her in the Top Five).  Here, Streep imbues the titular terrible opera singer with heart, compassion, and a survivor-esque quality.  She's captivating as always. (SoA)

#6 - Krisha Fairchild - Krisha

The center of a very low budget indie piece, Fairchild makes her debut as the title character, a sixty-something woman who returns home to a family get-together after a ten-year absence.  Fairchild was the director's aunt, but this isn't a case of inappropriate casting simply to keep things in the family.  Instead, Fairchild brings heartbreak and pain to her character of Krisha as we witness a downward spiral that leads to a frightening and sad finale that despite its inevitability at its outset is still surprising as we see it unfold onscreen. (SoA)

#5 - Emma Stone - La La Land

Admittedly, Emma Stone probably has the least complicated role in this Top Ten list.  There aren't tremendously complicated depths that her aspiring actress Mia has to plumb.  What is present is undeniable chemistry with her costar Ryan Gosling and repartee between the duo that is utterly charming and often comedic, reminiscent of Katherine Hepburn/cary Grant flicks.  I couldn't help but smile as Stone danced across the screen.  (SoH)

#4 - Anna Gunn - Equity

Gunn of "Breaking Bad" fame is fantastic as Naomi, a senior investment banker at a swanky firm in New York City.  As she fights backstabbers of both genders, she struggles to make a name for herself in the competitive industry.  Strong and powerful, Gunn anchors the film with the shrewd notion that it's okay to like money...it's okay to want to have money...it's okay to want to be successful.

#3 - Natalie Portman - Jackie

Director Pablo Larraín rarely strays away from Natalie Portman's face in Jackie and this almost-claustrophobic atmosphere pulls the viewer into Jackie's plight, latching on to her strength wonderfully conveyed by Portman.  Portman puts on a steely demeanor which makes for an all the more emotional experience when the rigid exterior cracks when the beleaguered widow is finally able to break down behind closed doors and fully mourn her husband's death.  Portman is fantastic here and not just in a mimicry way. (SoH)

#2 - Annette Bening - 20th Century Women

Slots 1 and 2 on this chart were so close that I'd really rather have a tie.  Ask me on another day and Ms. Bening may have taken the top spot as Dorothea, a 1970s mom who so easily could have been turned into the stereotypical "flower-power" type, but instead is a wonderful balance between that laid-back West Coast demeanor and a headstrong mother who wants the best for her son.  Through simple mannerisms and looks, Bening creates one of the most natural performances I've seen this year. (SoA)

#1 - Alicia Vikander - The Light Between Oceans

As the film opens, Alicia Vikander's Isabel is full of youthful sassiness and a zest for life that doesn't exactly match the more subdued surroundings of her quiet coastal Australian town.  Capturing the joy of impending motherhood, Vikander also completely embodies the devastation of a woman who loses two children via miscarriage and her brooding pain is palpably felt.  Vikander conveys these varied emotions that take her character on a roller coaster ride, but never feel out of place.  This film failed to catch on in 2016, but it's a shame Vikander's performance didn't get recognized across any platform because this is an even better role than the one for which she won her Oscar in 2015.

Previous RyMickey Award Winners

2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012

2011 -- 2010 -- 2009

The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Supporting Actor/Actress

Best Supporting Actor/Actress 2016

(SoN = Streaming on Netflix // SoA = Streaming on Amazon // SoH = Streaming on HBO)

Frankly, 2016 was a HUGE disappointment when it came to Supporting Actors and Actresses.  In the over 125 movies I watched, I came across a whopping nine performances that really wowed me hence the combination of the two categories this year into one blog post and the Supporting Actor category failing to even warrant a numbered, ordered list.  And just so my few readers are aware, I keep an ongoing list of awards worthy performances throughout the year as I watch movies.  So it's not like I simply forgot some of the best supporting roles here...these were legitimately all I found truly awards worthy throughout the year.

Best Supporting Actor

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order)

Timothée Chalamet - Miss Stevens

The role as a troubled high school student is slightly underdeveloped, but Chalamet has a powerful moment in which he presents a powerfully potent soliloquy at a drama competition that was perhaps an indication that the young actor had potential as his 2017 Oscar nomination proves. (SoN)

Alden Ehrenreich - Hail, Caesar!

An absolutely heinous movie, but the one bright spot is Alden Ehrenreich who steals the show as an "aw shucks" Roy Rogers-esque singer who is desperately trying to make it in Hollywood.

Farid Sajjadi Hosseini - The Salesman

As a beleaguered, worn-down, elderly man, Hosseini has some emotionally wrenching scenes toward the end of this foreign flick that prove to be incredibly moving and impactful.  (SoA)

Dev Patel - Lion

Anchoring the second half of the film, Dev Patel is giving his best performance by far in Lion.  Patel does a fantastic job conveying his character's guilt for being adopted which gives a layered performance that we've yet to see from the actor. (SoN)

Kevin Spacey - Elvis & Nixon

Yes, I know it's uncouth to even mention the name of Kevin Spacey and I completely understand if his presence makes you have no desire to see this film.  However, Spacey's performance as Richard Nixon is spot-on and engaging. (SoA)

Best Supporting Actress

#4 - Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

In a very small role, Michelle Williams not only creates a well-rounded and emotionally resonant character herself, but also manages to add depth and gravitas to the characters that surround her. (SoA)

#3 - Toni Collette - Glassland

The film itself is a bit of a misfire, but Toni Collette's performance as an alcoholic is nearly worth the price of admission (or bandwidth since it's streaming on Netflix).  She embodies the harrowing downfall of an addict with such painful earnestness that it's almost difficult to watch sometimes. (SoN)

#2 - Viola Davis - Fences

Ms. Davis as a put-upon housewife plays fantastically off of her costar Denzel Washington and together their intense portrayals are equally ferocious.  She won an Oscar for this performance and I can't deny her talent, but I think she was just slightly edged out by the performance at the top of this list. (SoA)

#1 - Molly Shannon - Other People

Molly Shannon is obviously well known for being a comedienne, but this film gives her ample opportunity to display her dramatic chops to great effect.  The film creates a sense of melancholy from the get-go, but Shannon -- as a mother struggling with a cancer diagnosis -- is able to deftly mix in humor amidst the quieter, more dramatic moments when the heaviness of her situation rears its ugly head.  Kudos to Ms. Shannon as she shows us a completely different side to her talent which I hope we get to see more of in the future. (SoN)

Previous Supporting Actor Winners

2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012

2011 -- 2010 -- 2009

Previous Supporting Actress Winners

2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012

2011 -- 2010 -- 2009

The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Younger Actor/Actress

2016 Best Younger Actor/Actress

(SoN = Streaming on Netflix // SoA = Streaming on Amazon // SoH = Streaming on HBO)

For the purposes of this category, nominees must be under the age of 21 at the time of the film's release.  Placing in this category does not preclude placement in other categories.

As you'll notice in this abbreviated edition of the RyMickey Awards, I've found that my nearly two-year delay in viewing certain films has admittedly hampered my ability to adequately "order" certain categories.  Because of this, a few of the categories may feature simply lists of great performances as opposed to a fully ordered five or ten-long numerical "best" list as I've done in the past.  Don't dismiss this as me being any less enthusiastic about the performances, it's simply an unfortunate change due to the delay in the awards this year.

Honorable Mentions

Florence Clery - The Light Between Oceans

Lucas Hedges- Manchester by the Sea

Royalty Hightower - The Fits

Jaeden Lieberer - Midnight Special

Madina Nalwanga - Queen of Katwe

Neel Sethi - The Jungle Book

And the Top Four...

#4 - Ferdia Walsh-Peelo - Sing Street 

A joyful exuberance exudes from the young Walsh-Peelo as he embraces his character's newfound singing "talent" in Sing Street.  He brings a humor to the role that the kitschy 1980s aesthetic of the flick needs.  (SoN)

#3 - Hailee Steinfeld - The Edge of Seventeen

Hailee Steinfeld has already won this award before and this will be her last appearance on this particular list as she's reached the age cut-off.  However, here she is for one last hurrah.  Ms. Steinfeld nicely epitomizes the highs and lows of teenage living, aided by a screenplay that gives her opportunity to be both funny and heartfelt.

#2 - Sunny Pawar - Lion

In his first role, young Sunny Pawar carries the entire first half of Lion on his shoulders as Saroo.  Despite his poverty-stricken homelife in India, Saroo's initial wide-eyed innocence shifts to vividly emoted fear when he is essentially left orphaned and abandoned on the hectic, scary streets of India.  Pawar is essentially on his own for much of the film's first act and he's absolutely captivating. (SoN)

#1 - Charlie Plummer - King Jack

Thanks to a riveting performance by the young Charlie Plummer, the low budget indie King Jack is elevated to something better than the sum of its parts.  Jack's hardened exterior crafted by months of being bullied masks a melancholic nature that is palpably felt by the viewers thanks to Plummer's facial expressions and dialog.  Plummer has picked up some roles in some high profile movies since his appearance in King Jack, but this is my first time seeing his acting chops and I look forward to perusing his filmography in the future. (SoN)

Previous RyMickey Award Winners
2015 -- 2014 -- 2013 -- 2012
2011 -- 2010 -- 2009

Theater Review - Dial "M" for Murder

Dial "M" for Murder

Written by Frederick Knott

Directed by Steve Tague

Where: Thompson Theatre at the Roselle Center for the Arts

(University of Delaware, Newark, DE)

When:  Sunday, March 21, 2pm

Photo by the REP

Several years ago on this blog, I completed a quest to watch all of Alfred Hitchcock's talking pictures.  During this Hitchcock Fest, I naturally reviewed the thriller Dial M for Murder, a film that I thought I had enjoyed in prior years, but found disappointing when watching the flick for the fest.  So, admittedly, I was hesitant heading into the University of Delaware's Resident Ensemble Players' production of playwright Frederick Knott's 1952 play Dial "M" for Murder on which Hitchcock's film is based.  In my Hitchcock Fest review, I mention that the film is too talky, feeling almost as if I was watching a play rather than a cinematic experience.  However, rather pleasantly, what doesn't work in the film works incredibly well onstage.  Director Steve Tague plays up the 1950s melodrama and even injects a cinematic-type musical score by Lindsay Jones which while initially a little off-putting ends up elevating the tension and excitement of the large amount of expository verbiage which works on the stage much better than it did on the screen.

Dial "M" for Murder isn't really a whodunit.  Right from the opening act we know that the suave, yet smarmy ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice (REP's Michael Gotch) is planning to murder his rich wife Margot (REP's Elizabeth Heflin) in order to gain her inheritance.  The question the play poses is can he succeed and get away with it.  To assist him with the perfect murder, the devious Tony convinces former classmate Lesgate (REP's Mic Matarrese) to commit the act which ultimately takes a bit of an unexpected turn.  Two people -- a police inspector named Hubbard (REP's Stephen Pelinski) and Margot's former lover and television crime series writer Max (REP's Lee Ernst) -- suspect Tony's nefarious nature, but they may not be able to prevent a heinous act from occurring.  

The quintet of REP actors are all pros and they all sink right into their roles with ease.  Ms. Heflin is always a joy to watch, displaying an elegant charm reminiscent of Grace Kelly in the film, but carrying an aire of maturity and gravitas that I don't recall in Hitchcock's piece.  Kudos must also be doled out to Michael Gotch whose debonair looks mask a hideous and manipulative mastermind who proves to be a joy to watch.  Gotch turns from easygoing rich elite to underhanded deviance in mere seconds and seeing his nefarious machinations unfold onstage was a true treat.

As mentioned, director Steve Tague does a great job creating a tension-filled atmosphere particularly considering that this play is quite a talky one.  There's a lot of dialog and surprisingly little action, but Tague is able to take the script and make this an edge-of-your-seat adventure peppered with bits of humor and romance throughout.  While this doesn't quite reach the levels of the REP's fantastic Wait Until Dark two seasons ago, Dial "M" for Murder comes awfully close with all aspects of the production -- the costumes by Andrea Barrier, the set by Stefanie Hansen, and particularly the lighting by Matthew Richards -- adding to the fantastic 150 minutes that is currently unfolding onstage in Newark, Delaware.

The 2016 RyMickey Awards - Best Ensemble

Best Ensemble 2016

(SoN = Streaming on Netflix / SoA = Streaming on Amazon / SoH = Streaming on HBO)

A great ensemble adds immensely to the enjoyment of a film.  When all of the actors and actresses click with one another and click with the script, there's something special that happens as they draw you in to the story that's unfolding.  This year's list brings with it both comedy and drama and all of the movies listed below are worthy of a watch in large part due to the ensemble that helps bring the characters to life.

Honorable Mentions

(in alphabetical order)

Edge of Seventeen

Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Hayden Szeto

The Light Between Oceans

Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz, Florence Clery

Miss Stevens (SoN)

Lily Rabe, Timothée Chalamet, Lili Reinhart, Anthony Quintal, Rob Huebel

And the Top Five...

#5 - Moonlight

Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Jaden Piner, Janelle Monáe, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali

While Ali and Harris got the bulk of the awards season buzz in 2016 (with Ali winning the Oscar), I think they're the least successful in this tremendously talented bunch.  The trio of relatively unknown actors playing the young Chiron -- Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes -- take us on a harrowing journey of self-discovery. (SoA)

#4 - Fireworks Wednesday

Hedye Tehrani, Taraneh Alidoosti, Hamid Faroknezhad, Pantea Bahram

The layers of secrets unfold gradually in Fireworks Wednesday and the Iranian cast never makes them feel inserted for shock value.  Rather, the ensemble adds depth to the intense characters.

#3 - Lion

Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Nicole Kidmn, David Wenham, Abhishek Bharate, Priyanka Bose, Divian Ladwa, Rooney Mara

At the heart of Lion are two great performances by Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel who, much like the trio from Moonlight, play the same character across different moments in life.  Pawar's young Saroo brings a young innocence, while Patel's twentysomething Saroo begins to question his Australian upbringing.  Together, the two create a well-rounded character along with an ensemble that nicely rounds out the film. (SoN)

#2 - Don't Think Twice

Mike Bisbiglia, Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, Chris Gethard

The comedic sextet lists above create an atmosphere that feels improvisational, yet narratively flowing.  In addition to the laughs that are front and center, a gentle earnestness is also present, creating believable drama in everyday situations. (SoN)

#1 - 20th Century Women

Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, Billy Crudup

While Annette Bening is the heart of 20th Century Women, the ensemble that surrounds her creates an atmosphere that feels as if I've been dropped into 1979 hippie California.  Together, they effortlessly meld the humor and drama of the film's story and play off of one another with ease and naturalness. (SoA)

Previous RyMickey Award Winners
2015 --- 2014   ---   2013   ---   2012

2011   ---   2010   ---   2009

The 2016 RyMickey Awards

Well, it's 2018...so that must mean it's time for 2016's RyMickey Awards!

Yes, that's right...forget about 2017...pretend like the Harvey Weinstein takedown didn't happen...pretend like President Trump hasn't had a full year in office to rile up Hollywood...pretend like I'm not a year late with these awards, why don't you!

That said, as I mentioned way back in September, the RyMickey Ramblings blog is coming to a bit of an end as we know it.  Starting with any 2017 and 2018 reviews, things will look a little different, taking on a more diary-like tone as opposed to full-on reviews.

This will also likely be the final RyMickey Awards...at the very least, there will be a hiatus for 2017.  2017 is like a lost year for me when it comes to movies.  I've actively avoided the cinema for weirdly political reasons last year -- I'm tired of Hollywood being the moral high ground when they're obviously anything but.  That said, I'll get off my soapbox for now and instead take you on a journey through the movies of 2016.

Admittedly, this year's edition of the RyMickey Awards will be a bit abbreviated -- and also admittedly, seeing as how some of these movies were seen nearly two years ago for me, my enthusiasm and vigor for even some of my favorites has waned -- but sit back and enjoy what is forthcoming...and then add a bunch of these movies to your Netflix, Amazon Prime, or HBO queues.

Movie Review - Life, Animated

Life, Animated (2016)

Directed by Roger Ross Williams

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

At the age of three, Owen Suskind turned from an outgoing, talkative boy into a silent kid who withdrew from his family.  Diagnosed with autism, Owen's mother, father, and older brother were devastated.  Their one moment of ever seeing sparks of life from Owen was whenever they would watch an animated Disney movie together.  As time progressed, Owen became more talkative -- often repeating lines from Disney films in order to express his feelings -- and he eventually as able to go to a specialty school where he graduated at the age of twenty-three.  Upon his graduation, Owen is able to move out of his parents' home into his own apartment which brings with it a whole new set of difficulties that prove difficult to overcome.

Life, Animated is a documentary that tugs at the heartstrings and, as a self-proclaimed Disney lover, hits close to home for this reviewer.  As viewers, we long for Adam to succeed and the film inherently has us rooting for the young kid.  Unfortunately, the flick feels a bit manipulative and staged at times.  There are several scenes in particular that feel set up simply as a means to advance the story the film wants to push instead of feeling real.  Once again, all documentaries manipulate to push their agenda and Life, Animated is no exception.  Even with that, the film explores autism in a way I haven't experienced before and that, along with the Disney connection, makes it a worthwhile watch.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Movie Review - Denial

Denial (2016)

Starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, and Andrew Scott

Directed by Mick Jackson 

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

Based on a true story, Denial details the story of Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz), an American professor of Holocaust studies who is sued in Britain by renowned Holocaust denier David Irving (Timothy Spall) because of something she wrote about him in her recently released book.  British law differs from American law in that the burden of proof when it comes to libel falls to the defendant so Deborah and her legal team headed by Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson) must prove that Irving's denials of the Holocaust are false.  One would think that determining the legitimacy of the Holocaust would be an easy task, but in the court of law, one mustn't take anything for granted and Rampton  and his team find it a surprisingly more difficult job than they initially believed.

Denial is one of those interesting pieces of history that deserves to be told and is seemingly too crazy to actually be believed.  Would a Holocaust denier really sue a professor simply because she disparaged his crazed beliefs in a book?  Yep...and to think that the British legal system almost let him get away with his nutty lawsuit.  The film itself is rather straightforward, but it's well-paced and well-acted with a strong leading performance by Rachel Weisz who carries the film ably on her shoulders.

The RyMickey Rating:  B

Movie Review - Paterson

Paterson (2016)

Starring Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, and Barry Shabaka Henley

Directed by Jim Jarmusch

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

Paterson is very much a "day in the life" movie.  For a week, we follow the titular character (Adam Driver) as he wakes up at 6:15am, kisses his creative, yet overly ambitious wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani), walks to the Paterson, New Jersey, bus depot where he drives a city bus until 5pm when he walks home, eats dinner, and then walks his wife's dog to the local bar where he chats up the elderly owner Doc (Barry Shabaka Henley) as he drinks his singular beer and then goes home.  This same pattern unfolds across the movie's two hours with minor changes that create just enough change to make Paterson's life feel different despite falling into the same old routine day in-day out.  It's a wonder that the film can sustain the audience's attention, but somehow writer-director Jim Jarmusch succeeds as I never found myself bored despite the very obvious fact that I so easily could have been.

Initially, Adam Driver's Paterson did seem like a bit of an emotionless blank slate, tired of his day-to-day routine or perhaps a bit defeated that this is the life that he has been destined to live.  While that admittedly doesn't change a whole lot as the film progresses, we do see sparks of life in part thanks to Paterson's love of poetry which allows him (and the audience) to see his mundane world in a different, more nuanced light.  Driver has some subtle moments here that give his dry character spark and verve and it's in those moments that we appreciate Driver's decision to highlight the typically humdrum nature of Paterson even more -- when we see those pivotal emotional moments, they end up resonating even more.

Paterson will not be for everyone.  It is a rather mellow film that doesn't have big story or character arcs, but for some reason, at 1am in the morning, this one worked for me which, I must admit, was quite a surprise.  I was fully expecting to turn it off about thirty minutes in, but somehow, I found myself drawn in to the mundanity of it all which is quite a surprise for me.

The RyMickey Rating:  B

Movie Review - Miss Sloane

Miss Sloane (2016)

Starring Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alison Pill, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jake Lacy, David Wilson Barnes, Dylan Baker, Christine Baranski, Sam Waterston, and John Lithgow

Directed by John Madden

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

There's certainly an undeniable anti-gun tone that squirms its way through Miss Sloane, a seedy look at the art of lobbying in Washington, D.C., but even this conservative is okay with that as I tend to agree that we need some greater from of oversight when it comes to our firearms in this country.  So while I was personally able to look beyond the slant, others may be less inclined.  With that in mind, Miss Sloane does take us inside the cutthroat world of lobbying, but it's a tad too emotionally detaching to really succeed at sucking me in.

That lack of emotional connection comes from the sheer brittleness of its headstrong, ballsy, and determined titular character Elizabeth Sloane played by Jessica Chastain.  Sloane is emotionally attached only to her job -- every relationship is sidelined, every waking minute is spent trying to advance what she's lobbying for at the moment.  Chastain is an actress who has the strength to take on a role like this -- a role where emotions are waylaid for gritty steadfastness.  Yet, as is the case with many of Chastain's roles, the lack of warmth in the character of Miss Sloane makes it almost difficult to really become invested.  Chastain is always an admirable performer, but the brittleness she brings to Miss Sloane is a bit disarming and admittedly harmed the film a bit for me.

(Sidetrack:  Would I say this about a male in this role?  Is it unfair that I make this comment about a female performance?  Maybe it's time to be a bit introspective, because I'm honestly not sure.  Do I need a female lead to have a more emotionally resonant character because I'm used to females being a little more emotional onscreen?)

That isn't to say that Chastain isn't successful in creating an interesting character -- she, along with Jonathan Perera's screenplay do just that.  The problem is that Perera's screenplay has one too many manipulations and oneupmanships by Sloane and her adversaries to really feel truly believable despite a game cast doing their best.  Sure, I'm certain underhandedness runs rampant throughout our nation's capitol, but that doesn't mean it always translates into a believable cinematic experience.  There's a convoluted nature to the film that director John Madden isn't able to wrangle and the flick suffers from a lack of brevity.

The RyMickey Rating:  C+

Movie Review - 20th Century Women

20th Century Women (2016)

Starring Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, and Billy Crudup 

Directed by Mike Mills

***This films currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

Santa Barbara.  1979.  Fifteen year-old Jamie Fields (Lucas Jade Zumann) is in that awkward stage of a teenage boy's life where he's becoming more sexually cognizant of his surroundings, but he lacks a male role model to go to with any questions he may have.  He lives with his well-meaning mother Dorothea (Annette Bening) who rents out two rooms in her house to a twentysomething cancer survivor/budding photographer named Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and a fortysomething hippie carpenter/mechanic William (Billy Crudup) whose spare time is spent practicing yoga and other Zen-like things.  While Dorothea is a liberal, open-minded woman, she finds William a bit of a kook, so she asks Jamie's best friend, the sexually free Julie (Elle Fanning), and her boarder Abbie to help her help Jamie through these difficult stages of his pubescent years.

On the surface, 20th Century Women doesn't seem like much, but thanks to a rather brilliant ensemble of actors and a quick-witted and sharp script that creates characters and situations that feel legitimate and fully realized, the film by writer-director Mike Mills is one of the best of 2016.  At its heart is Annette Bening whose Dorothea could so easily have been turned into the "flower power"-type stereotypical California liberal, but instead is a wonderful balance between that laid-back West Coast demeanor mixed with a headstrong mother who wants the best for her son.  Bening deftly balances the humor and pathos necessary for her character and shines.  The rest of the ensemble also makes the most of Mills' screenplay by crafting likable, though flawed, characters who never once feel like caricatures.

While this review may be on the shorter side, don't mistake its brevity for a lack of appreciation for this fine film.  Seek out 20th Century Women as I don't think you'll regret the decision.

The RyMickey Rating:  B+

Movie Review - Mr. Church

Mr. Church (2016)

Starring Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry, Christian Madsen, Natalie Coughlin, McKenna Grace, and Natascha McElhone

Directed by Bruce Beresford

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

There's nothing wrong with sentimentality done right and Mr. Church has mushy sentiment in spades...now, whether it's done right is the question.  Based on a "true friendship" (as the title card at the beginning of the film relays to us), the film focuses on Marie Brooks (Natascha McElhone) and her daughter Charlie (played as a young girl by Natalie Coughlin and as a teen by Britt Robertson) and the secret that Marie is keeping from her daughter -- cancer is riddling Marie's body and doctors tell her she only six months to live.  Marie had been dating a rich entrepreneur, only to break up with him once she discovered he was married, but that didn't stop her former beau from hiring a chef -- Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy) -- to help Marie until she passes.  Marie, however, is a fighter and those six months come and go, allowing Mr. Church to become a permanent fixture in the Brooks household with Mr. Church becoming a father figure to the young Marie.

I'm going to be honest -- writing this summary, I had the most difficult time trying to make this film sound anything but boring.  I don't think I succeeded in the slightest, but it should be noted that Mr. Church is an okay flick that's unfortunately weighed down by treacly mushiness.  Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, and Natascha McElhone elevate the simplistic and typical material.  In the end, Mr. Church is like a really good Hallmark movie, but even really good Hallmark movies aren't that good.

The RyMickey Rating:  C

Movie Review - King Jack

King Jack (2016)

Starring Charlie Plummer, Cory Nichols, Christian Madsen, Daniel Flaherty, and Erin Davie

Directed by Felix Thompson

***This film is currently streaming via Netflix***

Jack (Charlie Plummer) is a fifteen year-old kid who is a bit of a loner.  His tough exterior can't help prevent him from getting bullied by Shane (Daniel Flaherty) or being hurt when he's rejected by his crush.  When Jack's younger cousin Ben (Cory Nichols) visits for the weekend, Jack's attempts at being more responsible don't exactly go as planned and he and Ben experience a weekend that's full of a few euphoric ups and several scary downs.

King Jack is a low budget indie that tells a simple story, but thanks to a riveting lead performance by the young Charlie Plummer, it's elevated to something that's a bit more than the sum of its parts.  First time writer-director Felix Thompson has crafted a film that feels strongly grounded in reality.  The young cast is engaging, but Plummer in particular is strikingly impressive.  Jack's hardened exterior masks a melancholic nature that is palpably felt by the audience thanks to Plummer's facial expressions and dialog.  The film itself isn't reinventing the wheel, but sometimes that's okay when it's trying to tell a realistic day-in-the-life type story and it's especially okay when your film is anchored by such an impressive younger actor who I hope has an opportunity to showcase his talent in the future.

The RyMickey Rating:  B

Movie Review - Goat

Goat (2016)

Starring Ben Schnetzer, Nick Jonas, Gus Halper, Daniel Flaherty, Virginia Gardner, Jake Picking, Brock Yurich, Will Pullen, and James Franco

Directed by Andrew Neal

I've never understood the concept of fraternities and sororities.  I mean, I guess there's this brotherhood/sisterhood thing going on, but this concept of having to be judged by complete strangers who act as if they're more important than their pledges simply to become part of some group so then those pledges can do the same thing to the next group of people seems almost like bullying to me and always has.  And then you add in the concept of Hell Week in which the frightened and excited rushes to the Greek society are forced to commit secretive acts in order to "belong" and I'm truly disturbed by the whole thing.  While I'm certain that not all fraternities and sororities enlist torturous acts for its pledges, Goat -- based on a true story -- details Phi Sigma Mu's horrid Hell Week which is filled with demeaning and abhorrent events that prove to be physically and psychologically damaging to its incoming young men.

A surprisingly decent Nick Jonas is Brett, a member of the Phi Sigma Mu fraternity, who is hoping that his younger brother Brad (Ben Schnetzer) will be chosen to be part of the group.  Brad has been through hell recently, viciously attacked by two unknown assailants after returning home from a college party during his senior year of high school.  Brett thinks the fraternity will do his brother good with the sense of camaraderie helping Brad to overcome his reclusiveness since the attack.  However, Brett soon realizes that Phi Sigma Mu's hazing initiations may be too similar to Brad's recent assault and may trigger some horrible memories.

Goat had the potential to be something really special.  There's a gritty realism on display that makes much of the film very difficult to watch.  Yet, by the time its conclusion rolls around, there's something a bit too convenient about the way things are wrapped up.  Good performances all around help the film feel lived in and real, but the screenplay's denouement feels a bit too convenient and ultimately too telegraphed from the film's onset.  Still, it's a horrifying look at an outdated concept that should be eradicated from college life.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-