It’s January, which means Armond White is here for his annual bit for momentary, contrarian relevancy before he disappears for the rest of the year. The cranky critic has long stood proudly outside of the critical consensus; essentially, whatever most people like, he’ll hate. And so it goes for 2016, and at National Review, he once again unleashes his yearly better-than list, which offers a string of hot takes which are simultaneously hilarious and eye-rolling. Here are just a few choice cuts:
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Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk > La La Land
Ang Lee’s moving 3-D vision of post-9/11 stress shows Americans loving one another as citizens and as soul mates — unlike Damien Chazelle’s childish ode to showbiz vanity. Lee transcends genre to remind Americans of what connects them; Chazelle distorts genre into idiotic escapism then deadens it.
Batman v Superman > Deadpool
Zack Snyder continues to find depth in pop myths, making comic-book archetypes reveal our souls. But Tim Miller’s Edgar Wright–lite comic-book sarcasm defies and denies serious fun.
Sully > Rogue One
Clint Eastwood celebrates true American heroism while reevaluating the cynical disbelief that has infected post-9/11 culture; Garth Edwards depicts the miasma of war as a dull Star Wars episode. An edifying entertainment for adults vs. ends-justifies-the-means propaganda for children of all ages.
Much more at National Review. See you next year, Armond!