- The Edge of Seventeen
High school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.
Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick
R for sexual content, language and some drinking – all involving teens
These days teen coming-of-age movies fall in either one of two categories – they either consist of melodramatic stories with pop music-infused soundtracks paralleled with an abundance of slow-motion shots, nearly romanticizing the high school experience; or they end up being serious, heartfelt infusions of comedy and drama featuring relatable characters, resulting in a more believable plot and execution. “The Edge of Seventeen” easily falls in with the latter category. Nadine, expertly portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld, finds herself in an awkward situation when her older brother stars dating her best friend. However, the film does not solely focus on this event. We catch a glimpse of the surprisingly relatable character’s life in this comedic drama. While Seinfeld’s performance is worthy of praise, Woody Harrelson steals the show as her cynically humorous teacher, Mr. Bruner. Be prepared, however, as “The Edge of Seventeen” doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and the movie packs a powerful punch in this manner.
2. Moana
In ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches an impetuous chieftain’s daughter’s island, she answers the ocean’s call to seek out the demigod to set things right.
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House
PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements
In a year arguably dominated by Disney, “Moana” stands out. Its lush visuals, presentation of Polynesian culture, and resonant themes are some of the film’s most notable qualities. But its scene-stealing characters and the strong voice performance from Auli’i Cravalho as the titular Moana push the film toward Disney’s upper echelon of classics. “Moana” doesn’t come up short on any level. This is yet another instant classic from Disney and ranks among one of their best films to date. Easily one of the finest films of the year, and even of the decade – both for animated pictures and movies overall – “Moana” addresses several complex issues with ease, most notably the complexity of life, and in flawless fashion. The film will transport viewers to another world, where they will be immersed by striking visuals and a seemingly simple, yet ultimately rewarding, story.
3. La La Land
A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles.
Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt
PG-13 for some language
They don’t make movies like this anymore. Where has the grandeur of Hollywood gone? Damien Chazelle is bringing it back with “La La Land.” His third directorial effort following the surprise indie hit “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench” and “Whiplash,” “La La Land” features fantastic musical numbers you’ll be tapping your feet along to as you watch this tuneful film. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who appeared together in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “Gangster Squad,” have a truly great chemistry. They both deserve nominations. This film takes place in the modern day, so the “grandeur” mentioned above transitions nicely from the ‘50s and ‘60s into the 2010s. Are we witnessing the revival of a bygone era? Quite possibly so, and Chazelle is doing a fine job of resurrecting the magic in movies.
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Rebel Alliance makes a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk
PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, on the planet Earth, George Lucas brought to life one of the most captivating and endearing film franchises of all time. The most recent entry in that saga, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” arrived in 2015 and set the stage for several films to follow. “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is due this December, but before we see the continuation of the series, filmmaker Gareth Edwards, who had previously directed “Monsters” and the “Godzilla” remake in 2014, has brought us a behind-the-scenes story, so to speak, at just how the Alliance from “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” retrieved the plans for the Death Star that set the rest of the series in motion. While it’s not the grand spectacle that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is certainly more nostalgic and features several surprise “cameos,” if you will. Much like what Harry Potter fans got with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” studios are planning spinoffs like never before. For instance, we will soon see a standalone Han Solo film next year, starring Alden Ehrenreich as Solo, alongside Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson. Given just how great this film is, fans of the Star Wars universe and moviegoers in general should be in for a cinematic treat.
5. Silence
Two priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor and propagate Catholicism.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson
R for some disturbing violent content
Leave it to director Martin Scorsese to make some of the most astounding, complex and downright entertaining films of all time. “Silence,” his long-awaited dream project, is finally here. Is this a masterpiece that will go down in history as a cinematic marvel? Probably not, but it’s certainly worth seeing. “Silence” is incredibly engaging, and it’s performances by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver are Oscar-worthy, as is the cinematography. The historical drama is set in Japan and has its fair share of violence. The biggest problem I had with the film was that it met my expectations, something Scorsese films usually mute out in some aspect for me. However, if you’re a fan of Martin Scorsese, or long epic stories in general, this is one you do not want to miss. That being said, there are some truly great moments in this film, as with every Scorsese picture.