Stanko's Stance

As of my writing this reaction, I have seen 81 movies that were released in the year of 2016. This is a rather low number. Don’t know what was happening to me in 2015 and 2016, but there is a lull.

As we head into my ninth reflection on The Big Picture’s draft, I have Sean Fennessey with three wins (2010, 2011 and 2018), Chris Ryan with three (90s Oscars, 2012 and 2015), Amanda Dobbins with one (2017) and guest Joanna Robinson with one (2003).

Now let’s head into the 2016 movie draft of The Big Picture.

Drama

• I have a confession. I have not seen Moonlight. Yes, I know. Shame. So let’s get that out of the way. I can’t watch everything. But I know that I need to see it.
• It is really hard to choose between Hell Or High Water and Manchester By The Sea. I have a small inkling to lean toward the movie that surprised everyone: Hell Or High Water. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are remarkable, and Jeff Bridges always brings the heat when he gets to play the ugly grump.
• Chris Ryan wins the first point of this reflection.

Comedy/Horror

• Chris Ryan is going to jump out to a two point lead on everyone. Green Room is the only one of these movies I have not seen. I have not seen Everybody Wants Some!! (I haven’t heard of it before…) but I have heard of The Invitation and it is on my Letterboxd watchlist.
• Green Room is a bonkers movie. Just absolutely crazy. There are very few things that are as crazy as it. Patrick Stewart plays a NASTY WHITE-POWER SKINHEAD?? Good lord! If you have not seen

Blockbuster

• Arrival wins the blockbuster category. My first take from this category was: Arrival was a blockbuster?? Amanda Dobbins gets the point for Denis Velleneuve’s science-fiction drama. The movie looks stunning and is very slow and plotting…but man does it bring out the gut punches in the finale.
• Confession time again. I have not seen Sully. A worse confession is that I really don’t have a desire to. It is Tom Hanks being Tom Hanks, right? And in terms of Captain America: Civil War, I never was a big fan. Some people say that this is the best Marvel movie, and have to disagree.

Animated Foreign/Language

• Train To Busan!!! Respect the best zombie movie since 28 Days Later (2003). I have not seen Toni Erdman or The Handmaiden, but it would be hard pressed to imagine them getting in front of the Train To Busan.
• Chris Ryan has two points while Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey have one each. There are two categories left. It is anyone’s game.

Sequel

• Each one of these selections are good. Credit to the trio. Jason Bourne being selected by Amanda Dobbins and not Chris Ryan was surprising. The movie is not at the top tier level as the original trilogy, but damn if it isn’t good to see Jason Bourne back and kicking ass on the silver screen. I am a bit lower on The Conjuring 2 than most, but I can still acknowledge it is an above average sequel.
• Neither of those two movies match up to Star Wars: A Rogue One Story. This is the best Star Wars media made since the original trilogy. MAYBE you can include The Mandalorian, but in terms of movies it is not even REMOTELY CLOSE. Has anyone had a moment like when Darth Vader emerged from the dark tunnel after all the rebels died??
• Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan and tied at two apiece. Amanda is trying trying to play spoiler with one point.

Wild card

• I have not seen A Bigger Splash, so Amanda is not playing spoiler.
• It comes down to Fennessey’s OJ: Made In America and Ryan’s Hail, Caesar! I may be biased, but I just watched Hail, Caesar! and I did not finish OJ: Made In American when I watched it.

Therefore Chris Ryan gets the last points and he takes the title of my reflection on The Big Picture’s 2016 Movie Draft. The final total is Chris 3, Sean 2 and Amanda 1

My Draft

Drama

• I love La La Land. I get into stupid arguments with my sisters about this movie because they didn’t like it. I would honestly put La La Land‘s ending as one of the best I have ever seen. I have rewatched it over a dozen times. It is top notch acting and a wonderfully realistic. I am an absolute sucker for movies and screenplays that communicate to the audience without any dialogue. Damien Chazelle perfected the ending to this movie. I love it.

Comedy/Horror

• Green Room was such a good pick by Chris Ryan that I have to respect it here.
• Is The Nice Guys the most universally recommended movie when someone asks: “What’s something to watch we haven’t seen before?” Everyone who has seen The Nice Guys loves it. Also what a year for Gosling. You have an Oscar winner and a beloved critical hit and you have a cult comedy where you surprised everyone with your timing and wit. Gosling just doing a bit of everything.

Blockbuster

• I remember the exact day, theater, time and moments seeing Deadpool for the first time. I went with my youngest sister who at that time was still in high school. It was our first rated R movie together in theaters. The movie started, the hilarious credits started and the first rated R joke is delivered and I suddenly hear my sister cackling. It was at this moment that I realized my little sister wasn’t so young anymore. She got the jokes, her brain and humor had developed. Was just a cool older brother moment.

Animated/Foreign

• Train To Busan is such a good movie. It might be the horror movie version of The Nice Guys. Recommend it to anyone who likes horror movies and they will have a fantastic time.
• This movie counts! Yes it does! In Order Of Disappearance was released in the USA in 2016!! Sure, it was released overseas in 2014, but we count American release dates in my neck of the woods! In Order Of Disappearance stars Stellan Skarsgård as a father avenging his son who was caught up in a little drug ring. It was remade into Cold Pursuit (2019) staring Liam Neeson. The remake is fine, but it is not nearly as funny and wacky as In Order Of Disappearance.

Sequel

• I have sung my praises of Star Wars: A Rogue One and I will continue to do so. Thank you for this movie because it is the only Star Wars movie that is giving me hope for the future…even thought it is six years ago.
• If I did not choose 10 Cloverfield Lane, or had I not seen it, I would have a really hard time picking a movie that’d be okay for myself mentally. London Has Fallen is bad, The Huntsman: Winter’s War was something I appreciated that critics didn’t like. I could go on and on with the bad sequels, but 10 Cloverfield Lane is a level above all else I have seen. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, this sequel to Cloverfield (2008) is an entirely different type of vibe from the original. It is incredibly tense. I had no idea that John Goodman had that in him. On a selfish level I am excited to see what Trachtenberg does with Prey.

Wild Card

• Hell Or High Water has to be one of the best western movies of the last decade. It is often forgotten in those conversations, including by myself. But we can not forget it. Let’s start recommending this movie to random folks who are asking for something to watch.
• The Witch introduced me to Anya Taylor-Joy and was one of, if not the first A24 movie that I saw. For that, I am eternally grateful. The Witch is also my type of horror; it has a defined vibe and environmental feeling. It is not about what is obvious, but rather what is subtle. The limited assets at their farm home forces you to pay attention to all the small things because there is a magnifying glass of everything and everyone.

Reflection On “The Big Picture” 1990s Oscar Winners Movie Draft – Chris Ryan Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2003 Movie Draft – Joanna Robinson Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2010 Movie Draft – Sean Fennessey Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2011 Movie Draft – Sean Fennessey Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2012 Movie Draft – Chris Ryan Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2015 Movie Draft – Chris Ryan Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2016 Movie Draft – Chris Ryan Victory
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2017 Movie Draft – Amanda Dobbins
Reflection On “The Big Picture” 2018 Movie Draft – Sean Fennessey Victory

Chris Ryan – 4 Wins
Sean Fennessey – 3 Wins
Amanda Dobbins – 1 Win
Joanna Robinson – 1 Win

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