Top Ripples 2016

Here’s a wrap of my experience for the year, not that the books or movies are necessarily new, some are, some aren’t, and some are rereads. All top ripples:

 

Movies

Arrival (A different kind of Sci-fi)

Things To Come (Isabelle Huppert)

Paterson (Celebration of Everyday by Everyman)

The Salesman (I won’t miss any film by Asghar Farhadi)

Our Little Sister (Koreeda’s quiet and moving work)

Love and Friendship (Binge watched Whit Stillman after this)

Happy Hour (Worth every of its 317 mins. )

A Better Summer Day (Edward Yang, a late discovery)

45 Years (From short story to film: Upcoming post)

National Theatre Live: The Deep Blue Sea (Impressive)

 

Books

Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Silence by Shusaku Endo

Culture Making by Andy Crouch

Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy

In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Words Without Music: A Memoir by Philip Glass

Short stories by Ted Chiang

 

Experience

Five Days in London

TIFF 2016: The Zhang Ziyi Encounter

Published by

Arti

If she’s not birding by the Pond, Arti’s likely watching a movie, reading, or writing a review. Creator of Ripple Effects, bylines in Asian American Press, Vague Visages, Curator Magazine.

26 thoughts on “Top Ripples 2016”

  1. Arti,

    I just had this discussion with my nephew that 2016 is the worst year for moviegoers in a long, long time. There were times when me and my wife wanted to go see a movie, looked at what’s there and did not go. Arrival was the only movie I really enjoyed and I didn’t understand the ending.

    In contrast, 2015 looked like one of the best years. Here are only the ones I liked:

    Mission Impossible
    Brooklyn
    Mad Max
    Bridge of Spies
    Spotlight
    Then Revenant
    Sicario
    Star War
    Martian

    Let’s hope 2017 will be better..

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    1. Bob,

      Two 2016 films I highly anticipate are not here in my city yet, and may not come at all. They are Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” and Kelly Reichardt’s “Certain Women”. I’ve read both books to prepare for them but they never show up here in Cowtown, which is a major disappointment. I’m sure I’d have included them in my Top Ripples if I had watched them. I agree with you, even at TIFF, I didn’t see any films that had deeply moved me. Agree with some of your choices of 2015. May 2017 be a rewarding year for you!

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    1. Claire,

      Thien needs prep to read I found. Do click on my review if you like. It can get complicated with all the characters and their backstories, but well worth our deciphering. Happy New Year to you!

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      1. Thanks, that was helpful, I will read it slowly for sure and hopefully keep up with all the characters, it’s often a challenge with unfamiliar names as well,it’s so much harder to remember foreign names, to create the character in the reader’s imagination.

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  3. You read much smarter books than I do — and see far more movies! I’m going to try to get to “Arrival” before it leaves. Good luck with that, I always say — but really going to try!

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    1. Jeanie,

      Far more movies, maybe, but much smarter books, uh, not sure. Anyway, I’m an extremely slow reader that I know. There are many more I’d like to read before 2016 ends but nah. Wait till next year. Lots piling up beside my bed.

      Happy New Year to you and yours!

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    1. JoAnn,

      I’m not a ‘current’ reader as you know, but Thien’s is an exception. Yes, make your character chart as you read along from the beginning. 🙂

      BTW, the audiobook of A Man Called Ove is very good. I listened to it while driving. Also, its movie adaptation (yes, there’s one already from Sweden) is now on the short list for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars come next Feb!

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  5. You introduced me to Jhumpa Lahiri. Wonderful writing…
    This year was a good year for binge watching alternative TV. Some excellent stuff on Netflix like Sense8, Rectify (Sundance) and many others. The sensibilities of good film making are being used in these series/miniseries. I’m finding them, on the whole, more impressive than movies. Better writing, better art direction. I’m a fan of the slow, character driven, well told story. I have yet to see the Alice Munro interpretation. I have to see that.

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    1. Michelle,

      You’re right about TV or online streaming is better in quality than some movies. That’s for sure. Many A-listers, actors and directors are crossing over to the small screens. I’ve enjoyed a few this year but haven’t for the ones you like. For me though, I still love the big screen, the dark and solitary experience inside a movie theatre. The films I usually watch are not popular, and quiet, enhancing the experience. Have a Happy and rewarding 2017! 🙂

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  7. Great round up Arti. I’m going to try to look at my list of films and come up with my faves for the year. For some reason, films are the only thing I keep an analog record for – I write them on my hanging calendar. Not sure why. Anyhow, I have to get it down and go through it in the next couple of days.

    I haven’t read any of your books, though I have read a couple of the authors – Meloy, Lahiri and of course that one story by Chiang. I’d be interested in the Glass memoir.

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    1. WG,

      I record my film watching exp. in a Moleskine. 🙂 So I have a clear record, for several years now. I look forward to your list, and if you’re lucky enough to have these films come by, do check them out: Silence, Certain Women, A Man Called Ove (nom for 2017 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, from Sweden). And, before you see the first sunrise of 2017 way ahead of me, I’d better say HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, WG!

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      1. Haha Arti, you’ve got me before sunrise as I’m a bit insomniac tonight and got up to do to NFSA rather than toss and turn. It’s 3am. Happy New Year to you too.

        A moleskins, lovely. I think I’d better get my old calendars a Nd transcribe the movie into something more lasting.

        BTW Saw Lion tonight. Great story.

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  8. I’m getting more into films now as I am streaming them from Amazon (albeit a bit out of date) at work during the holidays! I’m looking forward to Arrival, which divided my friends, who either thought it was deep and impressive, or shallow and cliched! Our Little Sister is on my LoveFilm list, as it is still one of the more expensive ones to stream, which I think is a good sign for it. And I watched 45 years a few months ago. I did think the Rampling character could have been written a tiny bit more sympathetically! I didn’t think it was understandable that she should be so judgemental of her husband’s reaction.

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    1. Denise,

      Good films never go out of date, in my opinion. Guess which is the first film I saw this New Year? Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. As for Arrival, I’ve heard that it lacks actions, for those who thought it would be something like Independence Day, blow them up kind of action flicks, etc., but never have I heard or read that it’s “shallow” or “clichéd”. It’s highly original, deep and very moving. As well, most relevant for our time, when we have to deal with “human aliens” arriving everyday. It is also an exploration into free will and predestination. Ah ha, I’m going into spoiler zone, so I better stop here. 45 Years? O I better put my thoughts into a post. Thanks for stopping by on the first few days of 2017. All best wishes to you, Denise, for the New Year, to you and yours.

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  10. I really am intrigued by Silence, and surely will have that read within the next few months. I’ve ordered it, so the first step has been taken! I’m still waiting for the film that will get me into the theater. A friend and I tried to get together to see “Arrival.’ I think we still may — that one does interest me, especially now that I’ve read enough about it to know a bit of the story line.

    One thing is certain: I’m looking forward to seeing what else you have for us in the coming year. I have a few projects in mind for myself, and a little more reading is included in the mix. Can you believe that I’ve already fulfilled my first New Year’s resolution? After eight years — nearly nine — I’ve changed my blog’s theme. The layout’s quite different, fresh and clean, and I’m eager to fill it up!

    Happy New Year to you, Arti. I hope it’s a good one for us all, with fewer personal difficulties and much less political wrangling. I’ve got my fingers crossed, believe me.
    On we go!

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    1. Linda,

      Happy New Year to you! And glad to know you’ve made a major “Makeover”. I will dash over soon after I’ve dropped you a few lines. First, I’m afraid here in Cowtown, we just might not get “Silence” to screen here, or some other quality indie films I’ve been hoping to see. Anyway, I’d like to hear your views about the book. Mind you, it’s a “controversial”, or, “divisive” book, so what’s new, eh? But just like to know what you think of it after you’ve read it.

      As for the new year, I’m afraid my (personality) constitution tends to slant towards the pessimistic side. Nevertheless, thanks for your well wishes, and I wish open doors will mark the year 2017 for you. Open doors for new adventures, new opportunities, new discoveries, new experiences! 🙂

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