The great escape from reality
Big screen still holds sway and the year brought us some classics
THE magic of the movies continues to cast a spell over us, despite the rise of new mediums like online streaming and virtual reality.
Going to the cinema has always been a chance to escape reality for a few hours and with the troubling and tragic events of this year the silver screen has been a much-needed outlet of entertainment.
Larger-than-life superheroes continued to be a strong theme this year thanks to Disney’s Marvel franchises and Warner Bros’ renewed investment in DC Comics characters.
In terms of box office hauls, 2016 undoubtedly goes to Disney, which had five of the top 10 highest grossing films of the year thanks to its ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe and three big animated hits.
But that didn’t stop a few underdogs breaking through the hype of the blockbusters to achieve cult-like status.
There were even a few reboots that managed to rise above expectations and do their predecessors proud.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
DIRECTOR Taika Waititi’s darkly funny coming-of-age story charmed audiences and critics around the world and became the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time. Set against New Zealand’s stunning forests and backed by a synth-laden, 1980s soundtrack, the quirky adventure film follows juvenile delinquent Ricky Baker as he gets one last shot with a new foster family. Things spiral out of the control after his foster mother’s death when he and his “uncle’’ go missing in the bush, sparking a national manhunt. Empire magazine’s staff declared it the best film of 2016 and I agree with them. It will be interesting to see what stamp Waititi makes on the upcoming third Thor film, which he directed on the
Gold Coast for Marvel.
Hacksaw Ridge
NO MATTER how you feel about Mel Gibson off-set, there’s no denying his wartime drama Hacksaw Ridge is a masterpiece. A shoe-in for next month’s Oscars nominations announcement, the AACTA Award-winning film stars Andrew Garfield as conscientious objector Desmond T Doss, who served as an Army medic during the Battle of Okinawa in the Second World War and became the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot. The cinematography of the battle scenes is a particular highlight.
Deadpool
RYAN Reynold’s foul-mouthed anti-hero was the perfect antidote to all of the earnest superhero films cinema-goers have been bombarded with over the past five years. Rude, raunchy and unapologetic, Deadpool poked fun at everything and everyone, including its own star and his previous comic book-inspired flop The Green Lantern. A sequel to the highest grossing R-rated film of all time has been ordered.
Zootopia
INVENTIVE and jam-packed with voice talent, Zootopia is set in a bustling animal metropolis and follows a rookie bunny cop who is forced to team up with a cynical con artist fox to solve a crime which is part of a larger conspiracy. Praised for its humour and deft handling of themes about discrimination and social stereotypes, this Disney animation offers just as much to adults as children.
Ghostbusters
DESPITE bucket loads of negative press before it even hit cinemas, this all-female remake of the popular ’80s franchise rose above the hate to carve out its own free-wheeling personality thanks to its hilarious leading ladies. Ghostbusters gave Aussie heartthrob Chris Hemsworth the chance to show off his comedic chops. The film also introduced international audiences to the talents of Kate McKinnon, who has since given us her brilliant impersonation of Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live.
The Nice Guys
ONE of the unexpected hits of the year, this buddy cop comedy features the unlikely pairing of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, with screenwriter Shane Black, who penned the 1987 script for Lethal Weapon, in the director’s chair. Set against the debauchery of 1970s Los Angeles, it follows a mismatched pair of private eyes who investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star. Somehow, Crowe and Gosling make their despicable characters engaging and likeable. Irreverent and cynical, The Nice Guys revels in the political incorrectness of a bygone era.
The Jungle Book
HOLLYWOOD doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to remakes, reboots, long-awaited sequels or whatever you want to call them. Many fans, including myself, of the 1967 animated classic went into director
Jon Favreau’s remake with trepidation but came out pleasantly surprised with his visually ground-breaking, yet faithful treatment of the story about a man-cub raised in the Indian jungle by its resident animals. Mixing live acting, by charismatic young star Neel Sethi, with dazzlingly detailed CGI animation, this version manages to capture the charm and thrilling action of the original.
Captain America: Civil War
THE highest-grossing film of the year, Captain America: Civil War set a new standard in terms of epic scope for Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Despite being a superhero mash-up of blockbuster proportions, this film didn’t rest on its long A-list cast, instead choosing to explore thought-provoking themes of global law enforcement and the accountability of vigilante crime fighters. Somehow the film also found time to introduce a new member to the gang: Tom Holland’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Sing Street
DIRECTOR John Carney took cinema-goers to the streets of 1980s Dublin in this feel-good musical with a huge heart and optimism. Told through the eyes of 14-year-old Connor, the film follows the teen’s efforts to impress a girl from school by forming a band so she can star in their music video. For anyone older than 25 the film evokes the days when you were 15 years old, falling in love at the drop of a hat and discovering music as an art form. If you loved The Commitments then Sing Street is the 2016 equivalent.
Arrival
SCI-FI is more popular than ever, both on the big and small screens, but the genre is riddled with cliches and well-worn-out tropes. Director Denis Villeneuve’s Golden Globe-nominated Arrival manages to break the mould with its more subtle approach to the classic invading aliens storyline. Amy Adams almost single handedly carries the film as linguist Louise Banks, who is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications. Between Arrival and Nocturnal Animals, Adams is another likely Oscars contender.
Deadpool poked fun at everything and everyone