Hacksaw Ridge (2016) ****

A realistic anti-violence war film, Hacksaw Ridge is both appealing and appalling. Directed by Mel Gibson to a screenplay by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss; a Seventh-day Adventist believer, who swore off violence due to his faith as well as early childhood traumas. Yet, despite Doss’ position as a conscientious objector, when his brother and others in community enlist to fight in WWII, Doss follows suit. What ensues is a fascinating tale of persistence, resilience and courage.

Weiner (2016) ****

In a well-balance documentary, Weiner’s filmmakers do a good job highlighting the layers of an onion called Anthony Weiner.
Weiner, the film, covers three main perspectives: Weiner the politician, his marriage, and the media blitz. Each aspect can likely be made into a full-lenght film as there is much to explore. Yet packed into one documentary, we, the audience, can watch these three panels interconnect, ultimately leading to Weiner’s demise.
Another interesting aspect of this film is how it is both amusing and sad; much like the troubled humor of laughing at a man slipping on a banana peel. We like, and may even feel for Weiner, yet his actions, interactions and what ensues are, well, funny.
As disturbing as it is, Weiner, the documentary is well worth seeing.

Sand Storm (“Sufat Chol‎‎”, Israel 2016) ****

The story focuses on traditions versus modernization at the world of the Bedouin; once fierce nomads of the desert, now permanently settled throughout the Southern desert region of Israel. Providing an insight into a culture foreign to most of us, Zexer’s tale follows a young woman on the verge of adulthood, whose forbidden love puts her at odds with her family and tribe. Sand Strom is about people trapped in circumstances larger than what they feel they can handle; namely placing emotions against ancient traditions. Simple yet haunting, Sand Storm is a film to watch and meditate on. Like all good stories, the subject matter is very specific, yet one can find in it a universal theme.

Come Hell or High Water (2016) ***

Directed by David Mackenzie to a screenplay by Taylor Sheridan, Come Hell or High Water is a Western-style crime action thriller, with an undertone of social commentary related to the 2008 recession. Come Hell or High Water is not a bad film, but I am afraid it is not the hype some critics made it to be. I did like that this film used the recession as the backdrop for the plot, and it handles it in its own very original manner.

The Tenth Man (2016, Argentina) ***

Written and directed by Daniel Burman, The Tenth Man is a low-budget Argentine film. It follows the homecoming of a son that spent years in New York, arriving back at the cradle of his Jewish-Argentinian community in Buenos Aires. The acting feels authentic, and even if the pace requires some patience on occasion, it is a curiosity to watch, especially for viewers with interest in other cultures.

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) *****

Kudus to Kubo, or, more precisely, to the storytellers behind this fine piece of animation. What sets Kubo and the Two Strings apart, aside of its extraordinary animation, is its story; a tale that feels at once ancient and original. While one will find in the film’s plot familiar elements that range from King Arthur to Indiana Jones’ Raiders of the Lost Ark, the subliminal context includes concepts pertaining to Eastern philosophy, and, of course, plenty of references to the Japanese culture, whereof the fable takes place.