Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched for My Challenge (2016)

My last top 5 of the year is of course dedicated to the last month of my 100 Movie Challenge. I ranked the five best movies I saw this month. (Stay on the lookout for the best movies of the year 2016, best films I watched for my 2016 challenge and the worst of my 2016 challenge. )

5. Captain Fantastic
I love movies like this. A feel good mix of drama and comedy. It’s such an unconventional story, yet so heartwarming and endearing. This film has a lot of heart. And Viggo Mortensen is sublime.

4. Creed
A spin-off Rocky movie, that’s what this is called. But it’s so much more. What a fabulous film! Michael B. Jordan is so good and Sylvester Stallone should really have won that Oscar.

3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
I didn’t expect to love this move as much as I did. The build up to “Star Wars: A New Hope” is great and that last scene with Carrie Fisher has an extra load now that she has passed. And the return of Darth Vader to the big screen is just epic. Thoses were the best moments for me.

2. Some Like It Hot
My mom loves this movie and I was so ashamed that I have never seen it before. And this movie was so funny. Especially because the men dressed as women are obviously men, but nobody sees it. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are a hilarious duo.

1. La La Land
I’m in love with this movie. Sometimes you just want to see a movie, you know you’re going to love it and you actually do. That’s what happened with “La La Land”. It’s been a while that I walked out of the theaters with such a big smile on my face. It’s a joy for every classic musical movie lover.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Nocturnal Animals, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Ghost World

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 170: Captain Fantastic

Director: Matt Ross
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks, Charlie Shotwell, Trin Miller, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Elijah Stevenson, Teddy Van Ee, Erin Moriarty, Missi Pyle, Frank Langella, Ann Dowd, Galen Osier, Hannah Horton, Res Young, Thomas Brophy, Mike Miller, Greg Crooks, Louis Hobson

Description: In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father (Viggo Mortensen) devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.

Review: In a time that superheroes rule cinema, the title of the tragi comedic road movie “Captain Fantastic” can be a bit misleading. Director Matt Ross delivers a heartwarming comedy and family drama. A film that pretty much flew under the radar, but has to be watched by lovers of Indie films.
Ben and his wife Leslie turned their back on modern society and moved into the North American nature. They passed their ideals to their six children, all with a unique name, together with crucial skills to survive in the wilderness. They get lessons in philosophy, history, physics, biology and literature, on a level that is far above their age category. When Leslie is haven’t health issues, she is admitted to a hospital far away from mother nature.
The plot reminded me of a mix between “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Into the Wild”. “Captain Fantastic” manages to create a good balance between comedy and drama.
The center of this film is the amazing performance by Viggo Mortensen, as father Ben. His way of raising his kids may look like a commune, but at the same time his children are much smarter and more fit than the kids that go to school or play videogames all day. The question is: is Ben crazy or is it the world around him?
The film gives you a lot to think about. “Captain Fantastic” is such an endearing film, a film with a lot of heart. And that conclusion, with the song “Sweet Child O’Mine” is simply beautiful.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (236)

Here are this week's trailers.

Cell
Director: Tod Williams
Description: When a mysterious cell phone signal causes apocalyptic chaos, an artist (John Cusack) is determined to reunite with his young son in New England.
Starring: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Stacy Keach, Isabelle Fuhrman
Trailer: Trailer "Cell"
Comment: Based on a Stephen King novel. It looks pretty cool.

Snowden
Director: Oliver Stone
Description: CIA employee Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) leaks thousands of classified documents to the press.
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Scott Eastwood, Nicolas Cage, Timothy Olyphant, Zachary Quinto, Rhys Ifans, Joely RIchardson, Melissa Leo, Tom Wilkinson
Trailer: Trailer "Snowden"
Comment: I'm looking forward to this, it's an interesting story. Can't wait to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt shine.

Captain Fantastic
Director: Matt Ross
Description: In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father (Viggo Mortensen) devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Missi Pyle
Trailer: Trailer "Captain Fantastic"
Comment: It reminds me a bit of Wes Anderson, but this movie looks amazing. Want to see!!!

The Duel
Director: Kieran Darcy-Smith
Description: A Texas Ranger investigates a series of unexplained deaths in a town called Helena.
Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Alice Braga, William Hurt, William Sadler
Trailer: Trailer "The Duel"
Comment: Looks pretty mediocre, but I like to watch Liam Hemsworth.

Southside With You
Director: Richard Tanne
Description: Chronicles the summer 1989 afternoon when the future President of the United States of America, Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers), wooed his future First Lady (Tika SUmpter) on an epic first date across Chicago's South Side.
Starring: Parker Sawyers, Tika Sumpter
Trailer: Trailer "Southside With You"
Comment: The story of Michelle and Bark Obama, looks interesting.