Best Films of 2016 Hell or High Water. Throwback to the great gritty ‘70s thrillers about brothers robbing banks and the about-to-retire Texas Ranger who’s chasing them, with a subtle satisfying twist at the end. Tower. Documentary about Charles Whitman, the sniper who opened fire on the University of Texas campus in 1966. A moving … Read more
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Ralph Fiennes is the concierge of a European hotel who takes young Tony Revolori under his wing. Writer/director Wes Anderson’s quirky sensibility finds a perfect match in this funny and surprisingly touching story. The Homesman – Tommy Lee Jones’ Western is austere, brutal, touching and surprisingly funny at the most … Read more
Best Movies of 2012 Technological changes finally caught up with the movie business in 2012. Several of the best films actually made their debut on DVD and pay-per-view. After minimal theatrical releases, they went directly to cable pay-per-view, DVD and other formats. I downloaded one of the year’s best, Bernie, to a handheld device, and … Read more
Mike’s Seven Top-Ten movies of 2011 (in no particular order) The Artist – Jean Dujardin channels Peter Sellers as a silent film star facing the introduction of sound. The Muppets – Kermit and company attempt a comeback. Terrific humor and songs. Super 8 – Kids making movies and a monster on the loose in 1978. … Read more
Mike Mayo’s Seven Top‐Ten Movies of 2010 Inception. Thoughtful, ambitious, challenging, entertaining, and, most important, original—not a sequel, not a remake. This is what big‐budget Hollywood escapism can be. The King’s Speech. Anchored by a brilliant performance by Colin Firth, and in the end, a story that is surprisingly moving. True Grit. The Coen brothers’ … Read more
Mike’s Eight Top‐Ten films of 2009 Inglorious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino’s audacious approach to the war film refuses to follow any rules and ends up being thoroughly engrossing and original. Avatar. Despite its flaws, James Cameron’s s‐f adventure creates a beautiful, richly detailed world that’s a joy to discover. Along with Tarantino, he reminds us what … Read more
Mike’s Eight Top Ten Movies of 2008 Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle’s Dickensian epic about a kid who grows up in the slums of Mumbai and competes on the Indian “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” is the year’s best pure crowd‐pleaser. Iron Man. Everything I want to see in a big summer special effects movie: … Read more
Mike’s Seven Top‐Ten Movies of 2007 Michael Clayton. A multi‐million dollar product liability case drives one lawyer (Tom Wilkinson) insane and forces another (George Clooney) to question everything about his life. Complicated in all the right ways with brilliant dialog, legitimate surprises and great characters. Best film of the year. Hairspray. Pound for pound, … Read more
Mike’s Seven Top-Ten Movies of 2006 Children of Men. An adventure with an unheroic hero (Clive Owen) and a grim look at a possible near future, this one has stayed with me more than any other movie of the year. United 93.Perhaps the most unconventional film of the year is also the best, to date, … Read more
Mike’s Seven Top-Ten Films of 2005 King Kong. An impressive, if overlong remake of a masterpiece. Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Tommy Lee Jones tells a fine complicated story of contemporary western violence. Good Night and Good Luck. Nicely nuanced view of a complicated piece of history and superb black and white cinematography. Capote. Phillip … Read more