Although it has been a banner year for Hollywood blockbusters, so many movies are released each year that it is almost impossible to see them all. While certain films will get a much needed visibility boost during Oscar season, let’s attempt to shed light of some smaller movies of the year that you might benefit from seeing.
1. "Room"
Starting off the list is a film that has proven to be an award contender already. “Room,” based on the book of the same name by Emma Donoghue, tells the story of a young woman who has been held in captivity for seven years and the 5-year old son who she gave birth to during this time. The two struggle to maintain a normal existence while stuck in one single room every day. As expected, the film is intense, raw, and heart wrenching. The film’s leads (Brie Larson, the mother, and Jacob Tremblay, the son) portray their characters fearlessly--especially Tremblay, who gives a performance far beyond his years.
2. "Dope"
This Forest Whitaker-produced Sundance hit, written and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, is a '90s-style tale about an African-American “nerd” (Shameik Moore) who unwittingly gets caught up in a scandal involving a bag of highly sought after drugs. The film is refreshingly colorful and introduces us to character types that we have rarely seen represented on screen, despite their intense realism. Famuyiwa previously directed successful films like “Brown Sugar” and “The Wood” and his streak of powerful, but enjoyable storytelling continues here.
3. "Amy"
In a year of incredible documentaries, the unanimous standout has been Asif Karpadia’s “Amy,” which acts as a eulogy of sorts to the late Amy Winehouse. The film is more than a simple music documentary, as Amy’s friends and family are interviewed and only stock footage is used (meaning that there are no people sitting in chairs and giving interviews). The film delves into her music and, of course, her personal struggle with drugs, alcohol, and bulimia. It feels like so much more than a documentary and even the casual Winehouse fan will leave with a better understanding of why she's so iconic in life and in death.
4. "Bessie"
If you haven’t seen this one it’s probably because it’s only on HBO. However, I highly suggest borrowing a friend’s HBO Go password and checking out this biopic about the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith. Between period-specific costumes, a script that is full of laughs and humor, and an incredible cast (including a memorable supporting turn from Academy Award-winner Mo’Nique), the film is more than a simple history lesson: it is a celebration of an incredible woman who dared to stand up for herself in the racist America of the 1920s and 1930s. Also, one has to mention the film’s perfectly period soundtrack, led by the incredible voice of the film’s lead, Queen Latifah.
5. "Ex Machina"
“Ex Machina” is the tale of a young man who wins a sweepstakes that allows him to visit the home of his mysterious employer for a week. Once he arrives, he discovers the true meaning of his trip is to test the intelligence and consciousness of his employer’s new artificially intelligent android. The film is a science fiction character study. It's very quiet and slow, but equally as compelling. The film’s trio of leads all give knockout performances. Domnhall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac shine as the nerdy protagonist and his emotionally complex boss, but the real MVP of the film is Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, who plays the android in question. She has the difficult job of playing a robot who desperately wants to be a human and she walks the fine line flawlessly in her performance. Vikander has since been nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
6. "Spotlight"
A fictionalized account of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, “Spotlight” is a fast-paced, engrossing tale of journalists following their story under any circumstances. The film follows a special team of journalists, the “Spotlight team,” who–under new management–are assigned to dig up the truth on the accusations against Catholic priests in Boston. They later come to find that over 80 priests in the city have been accused of sexual misconduct towards young boys and stop at nothing to bring justice to the victims. The story, despite taking place in 2001, is timely and compelling and the film’s cast is full of riches, including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams. The film is currently considered an Oscar frontrunner for Best Picture.
Honorable Mentions (Other Great Overlooked Films This Year)
“It Follows”
“Carol”
“Pentatonix: On the Way Home”
“The Danish Girl”
“Brooklyn"
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
“Going Clear: Scientology and the Church of Belief”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“What Happened Miss Simone?”
“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck”
“Nightingale”
