Review – Wind River

Wind River, written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, is a film with a haunting, quiet rage pulsating throughout it. With a vast, chilling landscape, some deeply nuanced characters and a plot that slowly hollows you out; Wind River is a film that makes its way into your bones and leaves you thinking about it, long after the credits have rolled. But what it is specifically about this film that makes it so memorable? I plan to answer that question and explore as much of this film as possible, through my review. So, let’s get to it.

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The 2017 Oscars – Best Picture Nominations: Watched, Reviewed and Ranked

In my opinion, this is the best selection of films nominated for ‘Best Picture’ in quite a few years. That’s not to say that the previous years have been lacking, as there have been some outstanding films nominated. It’s just that this year is near enough a clean sweep in terms of the overall deservingness and quality, when all the films are considered.

But let’s stop waffling on about the quality of the overall list, and actually talk about each film individually – giving them the time and the praise they deserve. I’ll be ranking these films from my least favourite one to the one that I thought was the best. But if I’m being honest, only 1 of the films on this list is out-of-place when compared to the rest – anyway, on with the list.

The Films That Stood Out to Me in 2016

So 2016 has been a mixed year in terms of films; the summer blockbuster season was… well a bust, and there have been a lot of films that haven’t fully hit the mark (for me). But, there have also been some real treasures – some films that have been absolutely exceptional; ones that I didn’t see coming. Now of course this is all about the films that for me, just couldn’t escape my head. The ones that burrowed themselves into my memory banks, set up shop, and politely – or sometimes quite forcefully – told me that they planned on being there for the long-haul. This was something I was completely okay with.

I suppose I should lay what you can expect from this piece, as I’m not intending for it to be the usual ‘Top 10’ lists that you’re going to be seeing around this time of year. What I want to do with this is not necessarily focus on what might be considered the absolute best-of-the best from 2016; the films that were perfect in their every effort and deserve to be recognised as the next masterpieces. This is more about me shining a light on some films that, for one reason or another (those reasons will be laid out in detail when I talk about each film) just had an effect on me, made it so that they stuck around and kept me thinking about them. The films are in no particular order, but my favourite film of 2016 will be in there somewhere. But don’t worry, you’ll know when that comes up.

I also want to point out that this list only contains films released in the UK in 2016. So films like, La La Land, Midnight, Manchester by the Sea, etc. films which everyone is singing the praises of, will not be contenders for this list. I want to keep it contained to only films released in UK cinemas in 2016. That way I can give everything a fair shot from this year.

So yeah, that’s what I intend to do with this piece. You’ll definitely recognise a lot of these films, and many other people will assuredly be talking about them, but I’m also hoping there will be 1-or-2 that slipped under your radar, and reading about them here gives you that little nudge to go watch them. So without further-a-due, let’s get into the films that stood out to me, and made their presence known, in 2016.

Review – Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water, directed by Scott Mackenzie, is a film filled with so much character; from the landscape, to the little side characters in nowhere towns, and of course the characters who lead the film. This is a film that offers up so much to the audience, and it all feels to enjoyably watchable. It was a film that I could have happily watched another hour of, and that’s always a good response to have to a film. So let’s get this review on the move, and see how Hell or High Water shapes up.