Living Up to Expectations: The Good, the Better, and the Best of 2016
This is my annual effort to filter the good, the better, and the best from the rest that cinema has to offer every year. It's an initiative I began back in 2010, and I hope that this year, too, the list will be enjoyable, informative, and up-to-the-mark.
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- DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsFelicity JonesDiego LunaAlan TudykIn a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction.After a year of anticipation (and some trepidation on account of it being a stand-alone entry, which could be a ruse for milking the cash cow), it fills me with inexpressible pleasure to say that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story lives up to every bit of its hype, and then some. As a lifelong Star Wars aficionado, I must say that it's the best film from a galaxy far, far away since the original trilogy. It's even better than Episode 7: The Force Awakens, which released last year, and I loved that film. Perhaps, the best aspect of Rogue one is how it feels so fresh yet retains the essence of everything that we love about Star Wars.
As an unbiased reviewer, I have to say that it's the greatest space adventure of the new millennium bar none hitherto. Also, a word for the production design, color scheme, and lighting - it's the best I've seen so far in a Star Wars film. One more thing: I never thought that I'd see the day Ip Man goes all Wing Chun on a bunch of Storm Troopers. That scene alone is worth the price of admission.
'The Force' was strong with me when I was exiting the theater, and it remained so long after I had made my way home. Star Wars fan or not, Rogue One is unmissable.
5/5 stars - DirectorAnurag KashyapStarsNawazuddin SiddiquiVicky KaushalSobhita DhulipalaRamanna, a maniac murderer, finds a soulmate in Raghavan, a policeman, who inspects his murder cases. He tries to make Raghavan realize how they both are similar.With Raman Raghav 2.0, Anurag Kashyap comes roaring back into form after the commercial and critical debacle that was Bombay Velvet. He delves deep into the psyche of a bona-fide psycho – clearly defining the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath – and comes up with a film that’s as cinematically thrilling as it’s psychologically haunting. You’re literally made to feel Raman’s madness regardless how much it scares you. And credit for this has to go as much to the Nawazuddin as its owed to Kashyap and his team. The actor, who has enthralled us with many a gut-wrenching performance in the past, has arguably delivered his finest yet. Vicky Kaushal plays the perfect foil to Nawaz’s devilry and kudos to Kashyap for once again using his keen eye to spot a fresh talent like Sobhita Dhulipala.
Kashyap ensures that we get as up close and personal, with the evil mayhem, as could be possible through the medium of cinema. He literally directs the heck out of Raman Raghav 2.0. Scenes are palpably tense, emotions are stripped bare, and you have no clue about what could come next. Just like in the mind of a true psycho, anything and everything is fair game in this movie. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen in Indian cinema before because while we’ve had great thrillers, we’ve never seen a no-holds-barred, blood-soaked spectacle of this kind. Raman Raghav 2.0 is in the league of darkly demented suspense films like Psycho, Se7en, and The Silence of the Lambs and Nawaz’s character is up there with the greatest psychos ever seen in the history of cinema.
5/5 stars - DirectorNitesh TiwariStarsAamir KhanSakshi TanwarFatima Sana ShaikhMahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler, decides to fulfill his dream of winning a gold medal for his country by training his daughters for the Commonwealth Games despite the existing social stigmas.Dangal packs a 100-pound punch, evokes multiple emotions, inspires us, motivates us, fills us with patriotic fervor, and gives a beautiful message ever so subtly. If you want a film that’s high on both art and entertainment, then it’d be hard to find a better candidate than Dangal. And kudos to Aamir Khan to letting the newbies shine at the expense of him taking a backseat, yet still doing enough in the background to remind us why he's a national treasure.
4.9/5 stars - DirectorByron HowardRich MooreJared BushStarsGinnifer GoodwinJason BatemanIdris ElbaIn a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.The ingeniously conceived and brilliantly executed “Zootopia” offers a subtly delivered, thought-provoking message that’s as timely and topical as its gorgeous visual splendor is immersive and delightful. And, it does all this and more while being fast-paced, extremely witty, at times rib-tickling hilarious, and wholly exciting. It’s the kind of matured entertainment that doesn’t alienate adults but also ensures that it refrains from talking down to kids.
On the surface, this Disney venture is quite conventional on many levels, but as the layers begin to peel off, there’s so much wit, flair, and subtle hints at societal woes that it outperforms many a deeply themed, adult-driven drama. This is dressed as nothing but a buddy-cop movie aimed at kids that slowly and unexpectedly metamorphoses into a political thriller, with underlying social and racial themes. A la, George Orwell’s Animal Farm with a sweet, modern-day Disneyfied twist – “Zootopia” almost plays like an LA film noir that delivers a feel-good message about being non-prejudiced to folks, who’re different to us in race, and the need for tolerance in an increasingly fearful and diverse world. “Zootopia” just scores on so many home runs on so many fronts that it instantly finds itself right up there with the cremè-de-la-crème of Disney classics like “The Lion King”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Aladdin”. So entertaining, so satisfying, so introspective.
4.9/5 stars - DirectorRaja MenonStarsAkshay KumarNimrat KaurKumud MishraWhen Iraq invades Kuwait in August 1990, a callous Indian businessman becomes the spokesperson for more than 170,000 stranded countrymen.“Airlift” is Akshay Kumar’s best movie since “Khakee” (yes, it’s even better than “Baby”) and his best performance bar none. Period! Gut-wrenching scenes, high-intensity shots, crackerjack dialogues, realistic tension, and patriotic without ever skirting jingoistic shores – the movie has all this, and then some. Based on the world’s largest civilian evacuation, director Raja Krishna Menon takes on the challenge of turning a story known to all into a compelling watch and pens a nail-biting screenplay along with cowriters Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair, and Rahul Nangia, which will keep you fearful, hopeful and yet, unsure and uncomfortable.
Personally, I haven’t enjoyed nor taken away so much from a Bollywood movie since “Detective Byomkesh Bakshi” released some ten months ago. You are filled with immense pride as the narrative arc of these everyday characters with indomitable spirits unfold, and a sea of emotions well up within you without ever spilling into melodramatic territory. A few brave souls saved the lives of 170,000 Indians at great personal risk, and it’s time more Indian directors started telling stories like these that highlight heroic deeds of our countrymen amid both global and national scenarios. “Airlift” is just a brilliant movie overall, and no amount of accolades would suffice in bestowing praise on it. What a time to release it as well, coinciding with India’s Republic Day. If you are in the mood to be entertained, watch “Airlift”. If you are in the mood to be educated, watch “Airlift”. If you are in a patriotic mood, watch “Airlift”. You know what? Just watch “Airlift”.
4.8/5 stars - DirectorGavin HoodStarsHelen MirrenAaron PaulAlan RickmanCol. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone, triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare.Exceptionally taut, nerve-wrackingly tense, and extremely timely, “Eye in the Sky” is backed by brilliant direction from Gavin Hood and all-round powerful performances to deliver a rivetingly cerebral and grippingly topical spin on the modern, wartime political thriller. It can get quite disturbing upon first viewing, but as the dust settles down, quite literally at certain points, you realize just how balanced and ambivalent it is in separating right from wrong. Thankfully, this is also one of those rare movies that doesn’t make any excuse for the terrorists, and shows them for the scumbags they really are while also reasoning with the west’s stance of eradicating them by any means necessary.
Yet, “Eye in the Sky” provides no easy answers, only tough questions about the harsh necessity of following orders and the bitter yet unavoidable reality of the cost of war, particularly in times such as these, and therein lies the brilliance of this wartime thriller – in making us think as much as it makes us chew our nails while delivering edge-of-the-seat suspense. It’s an ethical and immersive film about the collateral damage and complexities of drone warfare.
4.8/5 stars - DirectorJaume Collet-SerraStarsBlake LivelyÓscar JaenadaAngelo Josue Lozano CorzoA mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.Gripping, nail-biting, and terrifying from start to finish. Simple plot that's effectively visualized, tensely directed, and carried brilliantly on the slender shoulders of Blake Lively, whose range is as vast as the ocean and its dangers she's facing. Also, it has some of the best shots, which I've witnessed in a motion picture, of the havoc a shark could wreak – a couple of which could even rival Jaws, its sequel, and Deep Blue Sea. It's a touch over four decades since Jaws made us petrified of venturing into open waters. The Shallows comes quite near to having that same effect.
4.8/5 stars - DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonChris PrattEthan HawkeSeven gunmen from a variety of backgrounds are brought together by a vengeful young widow to protect her town from the private army of a destructive industrialist.The chances of a remake being better than the original (yes, I said it) are so rare that when it does happen, you need to pinch a tender portion of your skin hard to remind yourself that you've not been transported to a blissful dreamland of endless cinematic wonder. Antoine Fuqua's retelling of the classic gunmen vs outlaws tale is more truer to the Kurosawa's original than the John Sturges one ever was; retains the harrowing essence of what the tale really was all about; while also keeping things immensely more lively, fun, action-packed, and character-driven. Yup, this one actually has better narrative and character arcs than the 1960 version, where many motivations and decisions of the characters were left unexplained. And the shootouts not only happen all guns blazing, with the body-count piling more faster than anyone could keep track of, but they draw you in, and actually keep you concerned about who'll survive and who'll bite the bullet, providing some interesting twists and unpredictable plot-points along the way. Thank you, Fuqua, Denzel, Pratt, and the rest of the gang for offering up a holly-jolly-smoky-gritty-raw-violent-fun western. This one is truly 'magnificent' in every sense of the word.
4.8/5 stars - DirectorMel GibsonStarsAndrew GarfieldSam WorthingtonLuke BraceyWorld War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, serving during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.Almost hypnotic in its depiction of a largely unknown war hero, and devastating in reminding us of how brutal war is; Hacksaw Ridge - buoyed by an endearing central performance from Andrew Garfield - plays out like the Rocky of war movies. It's no Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan, but it never intends nor needs to be because what it excels at is being an eye-opener of how extreme valor can be found in the most-unexpected forms while also never forgetting the hell that war is. Along the way, we're also reminded of how Mel Gibson's talents behind a camera supercedes his already impressive skills before it, even if the man can't help himself over waving his religion around or slipping in some not-too-subtle Christian allegories now and then.
4.7/5 stars - DirectorBryan SingerStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1980s, the X-Men must defeat an ancient all-powerful mutant, En Sabah Nur, who intends to thrive by bringing destruction to the world.A brilliant adaptation of one of the greatest comic-book story-lines out there, and way, way better than so many of the hodgepodge superhero film this year flying high on franchise goodwill and a glossy sheen (I'm talking about you, Civil War). The plot flows seamlessly, the greatest villain in the whole X-Men universe is introduced brilliantly (and made to look as diabolical, intimidating, and frightening as could be for a PG film), and the entire ensemble is right on the money. Most of all, Bryan Singer give another rousing account of why the X-Men franchise is his baby and what high-quality entertainment can be created in the hands of someone whose skills extend way beyond helming popcorn fixtures.
X-Men: Apocalypse is like crack cocaine for comic-book junkies, it's an adrenaline high for action-movie buffs, and it's an exhilarating adventure for viewers merely looking for a jolly good time at the movies. All in all, another stunning entry in the franchise (that's replete with great installments barring one or two), and I, for one, have no quibbles over the series not merging with the Marvel universe. They both are immensely entertaining on their own. And, when dug deeper, the X-Men films have a bit more to offer at times.
4.7/5 stars - DirectorStephen HopkinsStarsStephan JamesJason SudeikisEli GoreeJesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.A stirring biopic, rich in period detail, Race is an inspiring depiction of multiple Olympian gold-medalist Jesse Owens' beleif in his abilities and triumph over several race-related issues that almost derailed his position in the annals of sporting history. The film pleasingly plays to its old-fashioned strengths of paying reverence to determination and perseverance, and they work big time in presenting one of the best feel-good film to emerge in recent times. It also offers a telling medley of sports, politics, racism, adversity, tenacity, and history, delivered with as much fluidity as its protagonists' swift and agile strides. And, if the movie manages to be the uplifting human drama that it is along with being a pumping sports biopic, then much of that is owed to Stephan James, Jason Sudekis (surprisingly one and all in his first serious dramatic turn), and the veteran, Jeremy Irons, who contribute as much vigor and verve to proceedings with their fantastic performances as Stephen Hopkins does with his thoughtful direction, and writers Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel manage with their sharp, effervescent script. In short, Race is one highly engaging and thoroughly rewarding biopic that you need to run and see as fast as you can.
4.7/5 stars - DirectorTheodore MelfiStarsTaraji P. HensonOctavia SpencerJanelle MonáeThree female African-American mathematicians play a pivotal role in astronaut John Glenn's launch into orbit. Meanwhile, they also have to deal with racial and gender discrimination at work.As far as feel-good films go, very few can come as close to engulfing us in an overall feeling of warmth, hope, positivity, and leave us as jubilant as Hidden Figures does. It's a true celebration of triumph against all odds and victory of the human spirit, backed up by sterling performances from an ensemble cast, not the least by Taraji P. Henson, whose career-defining act certainly merited a nod over one, if not two, of this year's Oscar-nominated leading actresses. Regardless of your current state-of-mind or natural outlook towards things, Hidden Figures will do you plenty of favors in seeing the world for how it can be rather than how it is. The fact that it reminds you to have faith in humanity and instills so much optimism in you on the basis of an exceptional and scarcely believable true story, makes the film all the more remarkable than it already is.
4.6/5 stars - DirectorShane BlackStarsRussell CroweRyan GoslingAngourie RiceIn 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.Washing away all the sour aftertaste left by the shambolic "Iron Man 3", Shane Black is back to doing what he's best at – making buddy-cop action-comedies, and he whacks a whole home run with "The Nice Guys", aided in no small part by the infectiously crackling chemistry of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Delicious dialogues, adrenaline-pumping action, frantic fun, a pulsating plot shrouded in murky mystery, and an overall vile vibe come seamlessly together in this tangy throwback to sleazy LA noir told with lavish period detail and an outrageously gonzo approach.
4.6/5 stars - DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsTeresa PalmerGabriel BatemanMaria BelloRebecca must unlock the terror behind her little brother's experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.Dexterously and at times gleefully exploiting supernatural horror tropes, “Lights Out” delivers an unnerving, highly disturbing, and hauntingly good time on the back of some crackerjack performances, particularly by Teresa Palmer, Maria Bello, and young Gabriel Bateman. In the crowd of supernatural spook-fests, “Lights Out” stands out for how it keeps you engrossed in a well-planned narrative while making frightfully good use of jump-scares and inescapable genre staples. It reinforces that age-old fear of the dark everyone has experienced in varying degrees at some point or another, and ends up playing tricks with your mind long after the lights come on in your cinema hall.
4.6/5 stars - DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsBen AffleckAnna KendrickJ.K. SimmonsAs a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities, and the body count starts to rise.A stylish, uber-cool concoction of brains, brawn, and Ben Affleck – what more do you need in an action movie. If James Bond and Ethan Hunt are all about cool action flicks, and Jason Bourne is the thinking-man's action hero, then The Accountant is a fluid combination of them put together. You'll be stimulated to think with Affleck as he puts the pieces together; you'll be thrilled when he makes narrow escapes with Anna Kendrick in tow; and you'll feel a rush every time he knocks over a bad guy. The denouement springs a couple of neat little twists, which sets the film up beautifully for a sequel. Bring it on, because I, for one, would love to see what more Affleck's Accountant has in store for us.
4.6/5 stars - DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsFrank GrilloElizabeth MitchellMykelti WilliamsonFormer Police Sergeant Barnes becomes head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.The Purge franchise keeps getting better and better; pity that they've hinted this one to be the last of the lot,what with a new government making some changes and all – hence, the title. Election Year is darker, tenser, more action-packed, way more brutal, and offers a deeper, scarier, uglier look into the window of humanity's soul should it ever be given a free reign to anarchy. Frank Grillo is bad-ass as ever; Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, and Betty Gabriel are all welcome additions to the series; and Jason Blum once again proves how he can whip up some heavy-duty, slick-looking entertainment, within the most constrained of budgets. Most of all, the film lends further credence to James DeMonaco's standing as a Director to watch out for. With this diabolically delicious franchise probably come to an end, we're very keen on seeing what Mr. DeMonaco has to offer next.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorDavid YatesStarsEddie RedmayneKatherine WaterstonAlison SudolIn 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York during his worldwide tour to research and rescue magical creatures as something mysterious leaves trails of destruction in the city, threatening to expose the wizarding world.4.5/5 stars
- DirectorDavid LoweryStarsBryce Dallas HowardRobert RedfordOakes FegleyThe adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who happens to be a dragon.Best family film in years – Pete's Dragon harks back to a time when family films were simpler, more fun, yet richer for story, characters, and narration; before everything became loud, flashy, and in your face. Each scene, each plot point is almost an experience in itself, and every little detail is well nuanced. One of Disney's best ever hitherto. More importantly, it continues Disney's winning streak of overhauling its animated products into polished, live-action versions for a modern-day audience, without compromising on any of the soulful charm that made them instantly likable in the first place. Pete's Dragon may get a tad corny and stretched toward the end, but that takes nothing away from its heartfelt message and warm embrace.
4.5/5 stars - DirectorHannes HolmStarsRolf LassgårdBahar ParsFilip BergOve, an ill-tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules and visiting his wife's grave, has finally given up on life just as an unlikely friendship develops with his boisterous new neighbors.Delicately proving that familial bonds can be created between any two individuals given the right circumstances; A Man Called Ove uses winsome sarcasm, deadpan humor, and rooted emotions to hit all the right notes of a modern-age human dramedy without once threatening to skirt the contours of schmaltz. Most of all, it reverberates the age-old adage of appearances being deceptive - sometimes in the most-welcome way - through an endearingly eponymous performance by Rolf Lassgard as a grouchy sexagenarian with a well-guarded heart of gold.
4.4/5 stars - DirectorMathur GoswamiNeeraj PandeyStarsSushant Singh RajputKiara AdvaniDisha PataniThe untold story of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's journey from ticket collector to trophy collector - the world-cup-winning captain of the Indian Cricket Team.M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story is rooted in reality, tempered down with subtlety, and brimming with inspiration and emotions – factors that are achieved primarily due to Neeraj Pandey's ever-reliable direction and Sushant Singh Rajput's star-making performance. Apart from the flaws in the second romantic track between Dhoni and his future wife – which gets too mushy – and the climax – which is a bit rushed – the film stimulates you, moves you, wraps you in real emotions, leaves you moist-eyed, and takes you along Dhoni’s journey every step of the way till the culmination of the 2011 World Cup victory. Every detail of one of India’s favorite sons and most-loved sportsmen till that famous six is meticulously presented, with impressive planning, and clear foresight. Do yourself a favor, and don't miss this gem of a biopic under any circumstances.
4.3/5 stars - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsJun KunimuraHwang Jung-minKwak Do-wonSoon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.A brooding, haunting canvas that doesn't need jump-scares (not that I've ever had a problem with them if done well) to get under your skin and leave you completely unnerved. The Wailing is a good enough horrific yarn on the back of its intricately woven screenplay – sometime loose but mostly balanced despite its elaborate ambitions – and nuanced performances, but its last twenty or so minutes elevates it to classic territory on the back of some of the finest, craftiest, and wickedly shrewdest direction hitherto ever seen in a horror film. Take a bow, Korean cinema and writer/Director Hong-jin Na, for reminding us how a solitary masterful sequence can rapidly transform a film's stature.
4.2/5 stars - DirectorAniruddha Roy ChowdhuryStarsAmitabh BachchanTaapsee PannuKirti KulhariWhen three young women are implicated in a crime, a retired lawyer steps forward to help them clear their names.Timely as ever, thoughtful forever, and resonant for Indian society at large – Pink hits you like a ton of bricks either because you'll feel squeamish about being somewhere, probably remotely guilty, of one of the many pertinent points the film throws at you, or some of the misogynistic ideologies and chauvinistic tendencies displayed by one of the many characters in the film are too close for comfort with what you see all around you in real life. Brilliantly acted by everyone from Taapse Pannu to Piyush Mishra, and elevated further by yet another reinvented, transformative performance by the doyen who's been surprising us for over four decades – Amitabh Bachchan – this socially provocative legal drama holds a scathing mirror to our regressive culture and closed-minded outlook toward women in our society, while also weaving an engrossing courtroom tapestry in the bargain.
4.2/5 stars - DirectorLiza JohnsonStarsMichael ShannonKevin SpaceyAlex PettyferThe untold true story behind the meeting between Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n Roll, and President Richard Nixon, resulting in this revealing, yet humorous moment immortalized in the most requested photograph in the National Archives.While its existence may be as perplexing as that of the iconic status of its source material, it cannot be denied that “Elvis & Nixon” is every bit as captivating and holds its own idiosyncratic charm just like that of its source material. Helped considerable by the wholehearted commitment and chameleon-esque performances of its two leads – Michael Shanon as Elvix and Kevin Spacey as disgraced ex-US President, Richard Nixon – this quirky, inherently charming, oddball comedy harks back to simpler times, and is peppered with copious historical allusions, sparkling dialogues, subtle wit, and moments of outrageous humor. Perhaps, the best aspect of “Elvis & Nixon” is in how it gently yet entertainingly decodes the absurd popularity of an impromptu photo of a rockstar at the peak of his stardom with a political leader at the cusp of his dishonor.
4.2/5 stars - DirectorJames WanStarsVera FarmigaPatrick WilsonMadison WolfeEd and Lorraine Warren travel to North London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by a supernatural spirit.“The Conjuring 2” can’t help but feel a tad familiar to the first installment at different junctures in its narrative, which has more to do with how well that film has stayed with us than through any fault of its own. However, that should take nothing away from just how chillingly impactful and delightfully scary an entrant it is in the realm of supernatural horror, proving yet again the dexterity of James Wan at artfully framing jump-scares and genre jolts, without making them look generic while also retaining their sting (much easier said than done). Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are as effective as ever, as is Frances O’Connor as the desperate mother, who’s at her wits ends trying to save her kids from all kinds of paranormal activities. What makes this one of the best ghost stories out there is how skillfully Wan and his writers make us believe that the famous spirit-hunting couple, the Warrens, may have bitten off more than they can chew this time – a remarkable feat to achieve among the cluster of umpteen spook-fests thrown at us annually, and something that makes “The Conjuring 2” truly stand out.
4/5 stars - DirectorGary RossStarsMatthew McConaugheyGugu Mbatha-RawMahershala AliA disillusioned Confederate army deserter returns to Mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the corrupt local Confederate government.Aided by haunting cinematography and arresting historical set pieces, Free State of Jones offers a telling account of the talent Gary Ross possesses in carving out poignant human drams. However, unlike Seabiscuit and Pleasantville, this time he has the added responsibility of moving us through equal measures of nobility and agony, sympathy and suffering, courage and contempt – exposing both the virtues and rotten underbelly of humanity – and by jove, does he come out on tops.
Free State of Jones is is a deserving, informative, and wholly sincere retelling of one man's gumption and unshakable belief of standing against all odds, and mobilizing the oppressed into a fighting unit to claim what's was rightfully their right as human beings. And if Ross succeeds in painting such an incisive canvas of one of the most-harrowing yet triumphant phases of American history, then it's largely in part to that American gem of a performer, Matthew McConaughey, who comes up with one of his career best acts. Miss this one only if you don't have the patience for serious, slow-burning, highly dramatic cinema, or if you're prejudiced against facts and human plight.
4/5 stars