We are joined this week by Variety’s Chief Film Critic Peter Debruge and just in time to talk top 10s. There was a lot of crossover with both of our lists, but even when we agreed it got…interesting. But, don’t worry. We’re still friends. It’s just a passionate debate between two friends who probably know way to much about what they are talking about.
But, it’s fun.
READ MORE: Gregory Ellwood’s Top 10 Movies Of 2016
Couple of quick corrections since this was recorded last week.
- The filmmaker who helped out on ‘Rogue One‘ was Tony Gilroy, not Doug Liman.
- The sister who visits in “It’s Not The Time Of My Life” is the sister of the wife, not the husband (played by the director).
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For more from Peter Debruge follow him on twitter @AskDebruge and for more from Gregory Ellwood follow him @TheGregoryE.
Greg it strikes me as very selective criticism that you’re railing on the dinner scene in La La Land as Damien forcing conflict in the screenplay when Moonlight has a far more forced and inorganic piece of writing in Act 2 between Chiron/Kevin’s scene on the beach and then immediately jumping to the bully forcing Kevin to beat up Chiron. It’s a completely jarring sequence that rings false in its setup and character motivations, as well as being extremely stereotypical in the way it plunges the protagonist back into misery and manipulates the audience. I love the film and would agree that Barry’s screenplay is very strong otherwise but let’s be honest that La La Land is no greater offender when it comes to “forcing conflict” than your #1 film of the year.
I cannot tell you how much I disagree with that. Each part of Moonlight is a snapshot at moments of his life. La La Land is not that whatsoever in tone, style or structure. And, I am one of many who has voiced criticism about La La Land’s flimsy screenplay.