Putting the "list" in "miserablist"! (or, the films of David Fincher ranked, no. 3)

For going on twenty years now—my how time flies—David Fincher has been our preeminent auteur of gross, depressing tales of murder and mayhem.  Almost uniquely, Fincher has mastered a high-wire balancing act in the thriller genre, crafting films that are formally pristine, morally bracing, thematically insidious, emotionally devastating, and—most important of all—highly entertaining.  Though chiefly noted for this selfsame prediliction toward the pleasantly unpleasant, Fincher has tried his hand at other things, too—one time it was good, one time it was the worst thing ever.  On this episode: murder, murder, murder, murder, murder, murder, and murder (with about five, ten minutes of what I would feel comfortable calling mayhem).

Spoiler alert: I think we all know what's in the box

Putting the "list" in "miserablist"! (or, the films of David Fincher ranked, no. 4)

For going on twenty years now—my how time flies—David Fincher has been our preeminent auteur of gross, depressing tales of murder and mayhem.  Almost uniquely, Fincher has mastered a high-wire balancing act in the thriller genre, crafting films that are formally pristine, morally bracing, thematically insidious, emotionally devastating, and—most important of all—highly entertaining.  Though chiefly noted for this selfsame prediliction toward the pleasantly unpleasant, Fincher has tried his hand at other things, too—one time it was good, one time it was the worst thing ever.  On this episode: a lot less murder in this than our last entry, but—as if in compensation—it brings the most mayhem of them all.

Spoiler alert: I am Jack's review of a widely-seen zeitgeist hit now approaching sixteen years old

Putting the "list" in "miserablist"! (or, the films of David Fincher ranked, no. 5)

For going on twenty years now—my how time flies—David Fincher has been our preeminent auteur of gross, depressing tales of murder and mayhem.  Almost uniquely, Fincher has mastered a high-wire balancing act in the thriller genre, crafting films that are formally pristine, morally bracing, thematically insidious, emotionally devastating, and—most important of all—highly entertaining.  Though chiefly noted for this selfsame prediliction toward the pleasantly unpleasant, Fincher has tried his hand at other things, too—one time it was good, one time it was the worst thing ever.  On this episode: there's enough murder, but it's a little light on the mayhem.

Spoiler alert: turns out the Zodiac wasn't the surgeon general after all

Putting the "list" in "miserablist"! (or, the films of David Fincher ranked, no. 6)

For going on twenty years now—my how time flies—David Fincher has been our preeminent auteur of gross, depressing tales of murder and mayhem.  Almost uniquely, Fincher has mastered a high-wire balancing act in the thriller genre, crafting films that are formally pristine, morally bracing, thematically insidious, emotionally devastating, and—most important of all—highly entertaining.  Though chiefly noted for this selfsame prediliction toward the pleasantly unpleasant, Fincher has tried his hand at other things, too—one time it was good, one time it was the worst thing ever.  On this episode: maybe emotional murder? technological mayhem?  Well, we like it anyway.

Spoiler alert: I describe the climactic scene, where the Facebook litigants all duel to the death with maces, but I do not say who wins

Putting the "list" in "miserablist"! (or, the films of David Fincher ranked, nos. 8-7)

For going on twenty years now—my how time flies—David Fincher has been our preeminent auteur of gross, depressing tales of murder and mayhem.  Almost uniquely, Fincher has mastered a high-wire balancing act in the thriller genre, crafting films that are formally pristine, morally bracing, thematically insidious, emotionally devastating, and—most important of all—highly entertaining.  Though chiefly noted for this selfsame prediliction toward the pleasantly unpleasant, Fincher has tried his hand at other things, too—one time it was good, one time it was the worst thing ever.  On this episode: just because Fincher's good at thrillers, doesn't mean he's always good at thrillers.

Spoiler alert: mild

Pros with cons

FOCUS

Focus is a world-traveling caper that is enjoyable throughout its every single moment, from the opening shot till the roll of the credits, and it leaves you wanting more—albeit, somewhat unfortunately, in both the good and bad meanings of that phrase.  But, I should add, mostly the good.

2015
Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
With Will Smith (Nicky), Margot Robbie (Jess), Adrian Martinez (Farhad), Brennan Brown (Horst), BD Wong (Liyuan), Rodrigo Santoro (Garriga), and Gerald McRaney (Owens)

Spoiler alert: moderate

A million ways to die in the West

THE HOMESMAN

The Homesman is an uncompromising vision of human nature that, nonetheless, seems a little too selective in what it wants to look at.  Even so, it's as good a Western that came out in 2014 (and since that's a bar that basically does not exist, let's also say it's very good in its own right, too).

2014
Directed by Tommy Lee Jones
Written by Kieran Fitzgerald, Wesley A. Oliver, and Tommy Lee Jones (based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout)
With Hillary Swank (Mary Bee Cuddy) and Tommy Lee Jones (the homesman d/b/a "George Briggs")

Spoiler alert: moderate