Top 10 Films of 2016 Part 1

This is our "end of the year" countdown of our favorite movies that came out in 2016.  This episode is the first part of the list.  We both count down our lists from 10 to 6 and explain why we want to single out these particular movies.  Next week is 5 through 1!  Josh also mentions a website that has dvd commentary tracks available as mp3s so you can listen to them like podcasts!  Here is the link: criterioncommentaries.com.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Hidden Figures and Captain Fantastic

This week we talk about two Oscar contenders.  Hidden Figures focuses on three African-American women in early 1960's Virginia that fight against racial and gender barriers and help our country to safely put men in space at the height of the space race.  The picture and screenplay were nominated as well as Octavia Spencer for her supporting performance.  Captain Fantastic looks at a family that is completely off the grid and all of the benefits and difficulties that come with that.  Viggo Mortensen was nominated for his leading performance.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Manchester By The Sea

This week we experience Kenneth Lonergan's vision of a man who is forced to return to his small hometown and face his past while dealing with his nephew's future.  Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges each give Oscar-nominated performances that have to be seen, even if just once.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Moonlight

This is a film in three parts about an African-American boy struggling with how society is telling him how to be a man.  Barry Jenkins (writer/director) brings us an Oscar-nominated coming of age film told in a unique way with great acting and a pitch perfect score.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Fences

This week we talk about the film adaptation of August Wilson's Tony Award-Winning play (that also won the two leads Tonys).  For the most part, the actors from the 2010 revival are the same and we get a third directorial effort from Denzel Washington.  Last week wet talked about our theater experiences, but this week we really get into the film as an adaptation, Denzel's emotional wobble and why Viola Davis may (should) get an Oscar.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Recent Movies and Theater Experiences

This episode is kind of a catch-up episode where we talk about what we have been watching as we get ready to reveal our top 10 films of the year for 2016.  We also begin our blood feud over the merits of Hell or High Water, specifically the screenplay.  We also talk about our experiences in our respective theaters while seeing Fences (which we will review in our next episode!)  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

La La Land

This week we talk about one of our most anticipated films of 2016.  This Golden Globe winning follow-up to Damien Chazelle's 2014 film, Whiplash, is a modern-day musical with new songs and two strong leading actors, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (co-stars in Crazy, Stupid Love).  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Rogue One with Special Guest Justin Arner

We finally get to go back to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!  This time we have a special guest, Emmy and ProMax award winning commercial and promotions producer (and huge Star Wars fan) Justin Arner!  We go through what makes this movie different from other Star Wars movies, talk about the score, special effects (good and bad), diversity in casting and much more!  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Nocturnal Animals

This week we analyze Tom Ford’s sophomore directorial and writing effort.  This is a movie based on a book about a woman reading a book written by her ex-husband about why you shouldn’t flip off Aaron Taylor-Johnson.  Not really.  But, kind of.  Let’s get through this together!  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Movies with Narration

This week we try to figure out when narration (or voice-over) works and why it isn't always a good idea.  We talk about unvreliable narrators, characters talking to other characters as voice-over, and characters breaking the fourth wall, among other uses of narration.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

After watching it for the first time, we discuss the 1938 film based on an old English legend starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.  This big-budget film done by Warner Brothers (in Technicolor!) was the feel-good summer blockbuster of it's time. Here is a link to the matte painting example we talk about in the episode.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Arrival

Amy Adams stars in this "alien" film that turns out to be so much more.  Denis Villeneuve (Enemy, Prisoners, Incindies, Sicario) directs this short story adaptation and incorporates amazing cinematography, score and sound design to tell this story in a new and relevant way.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Doctor Strange

This week we talk about the second film of 2016 from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  We talk about how they dealt with the muti-verses and astral planes and all of the things that we haven't seen before in a Marvel movie.  We spend just a little time on the "whitewashing" controversy and we also talk a little about the score.  In the show, Josh talks about a video comparing Marvel scores to the scores of other action/fantasy movies and here is the link: https://youtu.be/7vfqkvwW2fs  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Dark City

This week we revisit Alex Proyas' sci-fi entry "Dark City".  This came out in a pre-Matrix world, so it was interesting to watch the film in that light.  Does it hold up to the same scrutiny as other sci-fi classics or can we see the age of the film after 18 years?  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

The Birth of a Nation

This week we look at the debut film (with a reappropriated title) from writer/director/producer/star Nate Parker about the slave revolt in early 1800's Virginia led by Nat Turner.  We talk about performances and Parker's directing style, along with the haunting choice of music and imagery.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Primer

This week we attempt to wade through the many timelines of Shane Carruth's debut film.  This independent film (made for $7000) is one of the most complex and scientific time travel movies ever made.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.

Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven (1960)

This week we dig into the two movies that inspired the new Magnificent Seven that we talked about last week.  This was the first time that either of us have seen these movies, so we talk about our initial experiences with these films, how they relate to each other and to the new film.  Subscribe on iTunes:  https://itun.es/i6gB67Y  Check out our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/actorandengineer and follow us on twitter @actorengineer.