Tyler Christian’s Top 5:
5. De Palma
An immensely entertaining documentary about one of the most fascinating directors of the New Hollywood era, De Palma is an early Christmas present for die-hard fans of his work and also an insightful lecture for aspiring filmmakers that want to work in Hollywood.
Not all movies need to have the audience knowing more than the characters. Jeff Nichols proves it with a restrained, but beautifully moving sci-fi thriller that features stirring performances and a smart plot that I’ll still be interpreting at the end of the year.
3. Green Room
A white-knuckle thriller that puts a brilliant, backwoods spin on John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13, Green Room is a relentlessly intense ride that proves director Jeremy Saulnier should be on every independent film fan’s radar. Also, RIP Anton Yelchin, who was unsurprisingly amazing in his role.
2. Everybody Wants Some!!
Richard Linklater’s spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused is an all around fun romp that glistens with glorious nostalgia for the 1980s. The characters are an absolute delight to watch and the meandering story is executed so well in showing an honest depiction of the exuberant student lifestyle coming to head with looming adulthood.
Advertisement
1. OJ: Made in America
Without a doubt the most riveting documentary I’ve seen in years. A poignant portrait of a complex, controversial figure whose life was shaped by America’s deeply split morals on race, gender, celebrity culture, and criminal justice systems.
Advertisement
