Excerpt via Bloomberg View – below is a list followed by descriptions from Amazon. Interestingly, the biggest finance film of the year – The Big Short did not make the cut.. for the Becons a term coined by Cass Susenstein
Behavioral Economics – Best Director: Jon Favreau – The Jungle Book
Favreau’s “The Jungle Book,” a remake of Walt Disney’s wondrous 1967 tale, is not merely gorgeous, sweet and improbably moving. It also a case study in how a commitment to fairness, and a willingness to sacrifice one’s own comfort and safety, can produce a virtuous circle. For example, Mowgli’s decision to save a baby elephant is rewarded big-time. “For the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” Truer words were never spoken. Favreau, forget about your worries and your strife; you’ve won the Becon.
Behavioral Economics – Best Documentary: “Weiner“
One of the documentary’s great achievements is that it depicts Weiner not as a demon but as an immensely talented politician, and in many ways a resourceful, resilient, and even likeable person capable of astounding self-deception (and helpless in the face of a serious self-control problem). The movie shouldn’t be terrific, but it is. Voters agree: It wins the Becon.
Sexts, lies & Carlos Danger. Get an inside peek at one of the biggest political scandals ever: Anthony Weiner’s wild “comeback” mayoral run. Winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize.
Behavioral Economics – Best actor: Ryan Gosling – La La Land
“La La Land” is full of such counterfactual thinking: dreams abandoned, dreams deferred and connections lost. Gosling, always great, has terrific chemistry with Emma Stone, and he’s also restrained and heartbreakingly wistful (and — who knew? — the man can sing). No near-miss for him: He dances away with the Becon.
Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz musician, are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts.
Behavioral Economics – Best actress: Isabelle Huppert – Elle
In the first scene of “Elle,” Huppert portrays a rape victim — but from that point, the narrative, and the actress, defy the audience’s expectations. She makes the whole question of political correctness seem stupid; hers is a different and deeper game. This unforgettable movie may be amoral, but the staggering Ms. Huppert knows some things. The Becon is all hers, and she can do whatever she likes with it.
Behavioral Economics – Best picture: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story“
“Rogue One” has a strong claim to ranking with the beloved original trilogy — and unlike last year’s “The Force Awakens,” this latest film works on its own and has no need for the crutch of nostalgia. Without fanfare or heavy-handedness, or a single Jedi Knight, it manages to highlight the essential Star Wars themes: freedom of choice, the bond between parents and children, and the ever-present possibility of redemption.
From Lucasfilm comes an epic adventure – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.
By Cass R. Sunstein – Bloomberg, read the full article here.
