Hunt for the Wilderpeople

— I’m not sure why I knew next to nothing about this upbeat film because it is really fun. A troublesome kid and his salty foster uncle are tracked across the New Zealand bush by an overly zealous child services’ caseworker. It’s something of a farcical chase film, but with relationships that are all too real and bring out the need for love and family. The idiosyncratic characters may be a little flawed, but they have plenty of depth to them. Sure, the film has a few weaknesses but overall it’s filled with memorable scenes and lovely moments.

---

[2016. 101 min. Directed by Taika Waititi. Starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, and Rima Te Wiata.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-2016

Top 20 of 2016

— Here are the 20 films I've liked from 2016.

• The Arrival
• A Bigger Splash
• Deadpool
• Florence Foster Jenkins
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Hail, Caesar!
• Hell or High Water
• Hidden Figures
• Jackie
• La La Land
• Lion
• The Lobster
• Loving
• A Man Called Ove
• Manchester by the Sea
• The Meddler
• Miss Sloane
• Moonlight
• Nocturnal Animals
• Swiss Army Man

Eleven other films almost made the list: "Deepwater Horizon", "Dr. Strange", "Genius", "Hello, My Name Is Doris", "Fences", "Hunt for the Wilderpeople", "The Infiltrator", "Maggie’s Plan", "Sing Street", "Sully”, and "20th Century Women”,

Documentaries aren't included in my list, but these were my favorites during the year: "The Beatles: Eight Days a Week", "City of Gold", "Fire at Sea", "Harry & Snowman", "Kate Plays Christine", "Life, Animated", "Tickled", "The Music of Strangers", "Sherpa", and "Weiner".