36) The Lobster
Perhaps one of the most divisive, if not overlooked films of the year, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos makes his first foray into the land of Hollywood with a motion picture revolving around a dystopian earth, wherein single individuals are taken to a fancy hotel, and given forty-five days to find a mate. If they fail to do so, they will be turned into an animal of their choice. Colin Farrell (In Bruges, Daredevil, Minority Report) plays David, a recently-single man who attempts to form a relationship with a number of women, including a nameless Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener, The Mummy). While it is certainly not going to be for everyone (this has all the distinguishing characteristics of a French and/or "art" piece), I had to admire the testicular fortitude of everyone involved with the production and distribution of The Lobster. It stands out like a sore thumb in a sea of releases that attempt to dissect what companionship (or a lack thereof) really is. It also sports some deceptively good acting from the previously-mentioned two leads, who seem fully on board with the absurd concept. Experienced and open-minded film fans may want to track this one down.
35) Bad Moms
My only real prior knowledge of this flick's existence came from seeing the trailer before what I believe was Deadpool of all pictures. Though the premise is certainly nothing out of the ordinary (take Mike Judge's Office Space and replace your leads with fed-up mothers), it looked like a promising romp for a very niche audience that I could never find myself being fully comfortable around (i.e. I'm not a parent). As luck would have it, finding the time to catch it during a quieter evening during the week proved to be a good choice. The protagonists and their adversaries are played to near perfection, and the cast (which includes Family Guy's Mila Kunis and Married...with Children alum Christina Applegate) seem to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Bad Moms sported a much higher LPM (laugh per minute) ratio than other similar projects like Bridesmaids, but with a far more likeable cast of characters and an extremely vulgar sense of humor (Kathryn Hahn delivers a good 70% of the movie's best gags and quips). Of course, it does fall victim to the typical "sappy third act" cliché that just drives me up the wall these days, but it manages to pick itself back up before it falls down for the count. Considering how mediocre this past summer was in terms of wider releases, a pleasant surprise such as Bad Moms was a nice distraction for those suffering from a mundane, stress-filled life.
34) Ghostbusters
OH BOY. I SURE DO LOVE TALKING ABOUT, DEFENDING, AND EVEN BRINGING UP THIS MOVIE. I NEVER GET TIRED OF HEARING BOTH SIDES ARGUE OVER EVERYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT.
In all seriousness, every person on the planet is sick to death of discussing this reboot/remake of the beloved 1980s classic, and to save you (and myself) the trouble, here's my review that I finalized quite a while ago when it first popped into theaters. It's amassed a surprising amount of hits (up there with older entries such as Man of Steel), and I would consider it to be one of my more passionate, prouder write-ups that I've churned out to date.
33) The Conjuring 2
Upon its initial announcement, no one seemed to be quite sure of what to expect from director James Wan's follow-up to 2013's surprisingly great story about the tales of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who investigated stories dealing with the paranormal side of life. The argument for sequels almost always disappointing the masses has never quite subsided, and in the realm of horror cinema, it is far too frequently seen. As stated in a number of my own reviews throughout the years, however, you need to trust in Wan. The Malaysian-Australian filmmaker has gotten slowly, progressively better with each project of his choice, and has a real masterful ability to suck even the most hardened/stuck-up (i.e. those who absolutely refuse to be scared) into his twisted, dark world of events purportedly based in real life. There are some truly uncomfortable moments scattered throughout, and leads Vera Farmiga (The Departed) and Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) are in fine form. Keep an eye out for the especially creepy Crooked Man, whose most impressive feat comes from being portrayed by an actual human being and not through the easier method of CGI.
32) Star Trek Beyond
This is sure to make me look like a bad nerd, but I've never been the world's biggest Star Trek fan. True, I did casually tune in and catch the occasional episode of The Next Generation whenever I wasn't stuffing my brain with X-Men or Batman episodes, and I did manage to catch Star Trek: Insurrection when it first came to theaters, but that's about the extent of my dealings with the Enterprise and its crew. I have, however, enjoyed this new franchise far more than I ever expected to, and I would attribute that to new series head J.J. Abrams and his crew's yearning to try something different. There is true, genuine passion permeating throughout these last three projects, and the fact that new writer Simon Pegg (yes, the star of Shaun of the Dead and the prior two franchise entries) is willing to take new risks such as destroying the iconic Enterprise in a glorious, shocking first act, is pretty ballsy. Unfortunately, it does suffer from some tiny problems here and there, including a weak villain and the tendency to venture into "long episode" territory, but the love that is put into Star Trek Beyond in front of and behind the camera ensure that everyone on board, be they fans or not, should just relax and enjoy the ride. And at the very least, it is miles ahead of X-Men: Apocalypse.
31) Don't Think Twice
Respected standup comedian Mike Birbiglia sits down in the director's chair for the second time, giving us a look into the lives of an improv group whose own individuals have a variety of ambitions and dreams that may yet become a reality. Some hope to make it onto television (Key & Peele's Keegan-Michael Key), some have been slowly working on ventures outside of the troupe that will finally be finished and help them achieve a level of success (Garfunkel and Oates' Kate Micucci), and others have more personal, if not slightly pained reasons for staying in this risky field (Chris Gethard, Birbiglia himself). On the surface, this could seen as simply a light-hearted, if not slightly quirky look into a realm that you and I know very little about (even if you are longtime watchers of Whose Line is it Anyway?), but the writer/director/actor weaves a very heartfelt, all-too-human look into the realization that not everyone in a group, be they in this line of work or just a general group of friends, will be able to get what they want out of life. The acting is superb, the characters are very easy to relate to (including those who are written to be more arrogant or regretfully selfish), and even beneath the sadness, there is still a lot of heart.
30) Do Not Resist
I truly regret not posting a full review for Craig Atkinson's frightening, eye-opening, and all-too-real look into the militarization of the police throughout these darker times. It provides vital information to those who still may have their heads in the ground in regards to the ludicrous stances and actions that have been taken over these past....actually, I've lost count over how many years that this has been going on. We follow and investigate a number of individuals and groups who go about their now "daily routines," including a South Carolina-based SWAT group who bust up and destroy a small house just to obtain a paltry amount of marijuana. Hell, we're even privy to speeches given by retired colonel-turned-nutjob Dave Grossman, whose past history of crusading against video game violence is sure to make him a beloved figure in this day and age. Sadly, this important, underrated documentary did not receive wide distribution, but can be purchased on a number of sites such as YouTube and viewed for free on Amazon Prime.
29) Sully
Honestly, I'm surprised that director Clint Eastwood's newest outing in the realm of cinema hasn't garnered more attention on these "best of the year" lists, or even from the major award ceremonies. Given that Hollywood seems to have relaxed a bit on "conservative" performers like the Dirty Harry veteran or Hacksaw Ridge's Mel Gibson (which will not be appearing on this list) and their personal views and decided to focus on their actual techniques behind the camera, a movie based on the real life incident known as the "Miracle on the Hudson" seemed like surefire Oscar bait. Add in screen giant Tom Hanks as the titular "hero" of the story and the underrated Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking, The Dark Knight) as his first officer, and you've got even more of a chance for success. So, why does Sully just barely make into the top half of Into The Hive's list? Well, because it doesn't really merit any replays. It's a very well-crafted film, and the performances are expectedly great. There's even a dream sequence that is so intensely real, fans of horror franchises such as Final Destination may find themselves cringing a bit. Still, once you've seen it, there is a sincere amount of doubt over whether you will find yourself willing to watch it again in the foreseeable future. It's an exceptional motion picture, but there were a number of releases this year that had more to offer for someone like myself.
28) Doctor Strange
Why yes, a Marvel Studios movie did not make it into my own top ten or top fifteen for once (okay, that will be proven to be a lie if you come back later). Still, Doctor Strange, which is centered around a cocky, celebrated surgeon who strives to learn the mystic arts after suffering a career-ending injury, is the furthest thing from a bad movie, and a necessary addition to the (admittedly) overcrowded Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though it is the first real foray into the realm of sorcery and magic for fans normally accustomed to the previously technological-based films of the past eight years, it is also one of the first whose true wonder comes from the imagination brought forth by writers C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson (who also directs), whose prior experience lies in the realm of horror. Their own flair is unlike anything previously seen in a Marvel movie, and lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness) manages to take a protagonist often perceived as being "B-level" into the same playing fields as his other contemporaries, but manages to help ground this as something that could honorably sit outside of the MCU as a great standalone picture. It is a visually stunning, fascinating treasure that will warrant more than a couple of viewings, especially if you have access to 3D glasses, a large screen, or substances of a more....psychedelic kind.
27) Finding Dory
The fact that Pixar's Finding Nemo has officially seen a sequel before The Incredibles still baffles me to this day. Yet here we are, with the gorgeously-animated, charming, and quite funny Finding Dory, which explores the search for the titular character's own family. Mind you, this follow-up does sport a far more juvenile sense of humor than some of Disney's other projects released during 2016 (more on that later), but it does tackle a number of important issues that could go over the heads of younger viewers, including Alzheimer's and the fear of being forgotten. In an attempt to keep things more positive, the introduction of new aquatic life such as a cantankerous octopus (Ed O'Neill) and a captive Whale Shark (Kaitlin Olson) do give this story a bit more life, though the latter is sadly underutilized. Dory does have a tendency to cram too many "feels" moments into its brisk ninety-seven minute-long running time (the opening five minutes feel like an attempt to recreate the complete depression of Up), and the story is overall something that you've experienced before, but I'll be damned if it doesn't make you smile even just a tiny bit or cause you to hug a loved one once the end credits have begun (Norm of the North caused this as well, only with a bottle of sleeping pills and two bottles of Jack Daniels).
26) Don't Breathe
Fede Alvarez rules. This movie ruled. Go read my review here. It....doesn't rule as much, but I would appreciate any views and feedback related to this new horror gem.
25) The Jungle Book
So, let me get this straight: you want to make a live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's beloved, highly influential, and globally recognized story about the man-cub Mowgli and his adventure of self-discovery, and you want to do it with a combination of computer-generated effects and the occasional human performance? Well hell, there isn't any way that you can do a worse job at adapting an older property than what they tried to do with that other human-among-animals tale, right? Thankfully (and luckily) director Jon Favreau (Chef, Iron Man) knocks it out of the friggin' park, managing to balance just the right amount of heart, humor, and action that is necessary to please old and new fans alike. Though it might be a slightly controversial thing to say here, I am of the belief that no other film from 2016 was casted as brilliantly as The Jungle Book was. Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Caddyshack) and Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Sexy Beast) turn in outstanding performances as Baloo and Bagheera, while Idris Elba (The Wire, Pacific Rim) is utterly diabolical and heartless as legendary villain Shere Khan. Even Scarlett Johansson gets in on the action as Kaa, giving off a sleek and enchanting vibe that could seduce men and women alike, and makes you forget all about the slightly silly lisp that Sterling Holloway gave the character back in 1967. The effects are also gorgeous to boot, and explore the potential of what CGI can be when it's done right.
And if all of that isn't enough to convince you to watch this fine piece of entertainment, then I shall also mention the scene involving Christopher Walken singing "I Wanna Be Like You."
And by "mention," I mean post below.
Well, now that we've managed to finally wrap up the third part in this overly long multipart list, tune in tomorrow (I swear!) for part four. Perhaps we'll be taking a trip of the Polynesian sort? Or witness the emergence of a destructive deity? Heck, maybe we'll even see the beloved John Goodman make an appearance on here...
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