Ranking December's Movies From Worst To Best

7. The Birth Of A Nation

Rogue One Passengers Why Him
Fox Searchlight

RottenTomatoes Score: 72% (6.7/10)

Box Office: Having nearly doubled its $8.5 million budget, The Birth of a Nation is nevertheless viewed as a box office disappointment for Fox Searchlight given the sizable Oscar campaign they launched. It's likely that Nate Parker's checkered past led to boycotts in many quarters.

Verdict: An impressively ambitious debut for writer-director-star Parker, this savage drama about Nat Turner's slave rebellion falls pretty damn short of all that Sundance awards hype, but it's still hard to argue with the bracing impact of Parker's vision.

Yes, it's heavy-handed as Hell, but the performances are searing, and it makes its point with sledgehammer force.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.