The year is about done at the movies and even though when I was looking back at the slate of films for this eventful year, I was going down throughout the list of the films during the summer and I thought: "Wow, this is the one of the worst years ever." But, now I have to clarify: "It was one of the worst summer movie seasons ever." It is because there were a lot of surprises and also solid films throughout the year besides the middle of the year.
Now, I have to say that this is going to be a shocking stat: Excluding documentaries, I have only given 4 stars to only six movies. That is one of my all-time lows since 2008 and I have only given 4 stars to five movies that year. It was a good year in terms of what the indie and some of the Hollywood studios had to offer. But, in terms of expectations, most of the movies I have anticipated were disappointments: bad or not to the level of greatness. However, let's get that out of the way and celebrate the best movies of 2016:
Here are the Honorable Mentions:
(tie) 13th/O.J.: Made in America
Captain America: Civil War
The Edge of Seventeen
(tie) Finding Dory/Kubo and the Two Strings/Moana
The Handmaiden
The Jungle Book
A Monster Calls (review coming soon)
Nocturnal Animals
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Sully
10. Zootopia
I had to fight also what is the best animated year. I jumped to conclusions saying Moana was the one but then I watched Kubo and Zootopia again. And, I have to say the story is very clever into blending society into a world full of animals. But, this is one of the vibrant and funniest animated movies of recent years that children and adults can enjoy, getting some of the slapstick, childish humor but also the social themes surrounding how predators and their prey live in the town. Mainly, it is the chemistry between Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde that keep the movie going.
9. Silence
Boy, this movie and two other movies in the honorable mentions list were fighting for that #9 spot and it was very close with Nocturnal Animals or The Handmaiden but I have chosen this movie because this is a deeply challenging film about religion and how the wealth of Christianity can gain strength for one group of villagers from two priests but suffering from Japanese law. It is a frustrating watch at times because of its time length and certain disturbing sequences. But, this a patient and personal story from legendary director Martin Scorsese that gets you to witness the disturbing images but to be contemplated with faith in the end.
8. Deadpool
I really liked Captain America: Civil War but Deadpool beats it by a slight edge because it combines comedy especially meta-humor and dark violence into a superhero movie that is so dynamic and funny that you cannot bare to not like this. Ryan Reynolds is the star of this whole project and his charisma and his volatile commitment onto the superhero genre is well worth my time and it may be the most flashy superhero performance since Robert Downey Jr. introduced himself to Iron Man.
7. Hacksaw Ridge
We have Andrew Garfield back again and boy what a year he has had with working with Martin Scorsese and now Mel Gibson in two different stories about the topic of faith and religion. But, that topic is on the battlefield as we are immersed into a inspiring and well-told story about a man who refuses to carry a rifle on the battlefield but wants to be a savior to rescue his comrades played by Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn amongst others. And, also, it has some of the most brutal battle sequences since Saving Private Ryan. Mr. Gibson, welcome back into the director's chair.
6. Sing Street
I have seen this movie three times and I cannot resist director John Carney's passionate film about his optimism about music and people who have an affinity for music. The movie centers on a group of kids whose fantasy and imagination soars with creativity that you cannot resist the magic as to how Carney projects these characters. It has a familiar plot, yes, but the movie's heart was in the right place.
5. Manchester By The Sea
Even though I cannot take my eye from the performances by Casey Affeck, Lucas Hedges and Michelle Williams, director Kenneth Lonergan's film is a truly tough watch and it falls into one of those categories as "this is a movie that is great but I am not sure if I want to watch it again anytime soon." It is a realistic tale of a person from Boston who does not want to return a town because of a hidden secret but his obligations after a tragedy permits him to take care of a brother's young adult. This drama is heartbreaking and a tough sit-through but you'll be rewarded by the experience.
4. Moonlight
This is a mesmerizing and personal look of one person's life in sunny Miami as he questions his life and also his loyalty regarding his personality and also his sexuality. Director Barry Jenkins' film is so compassionate in his filmmaking, his composition and his characters as we observe a boy growing up to a man that is more confused than ever due to his questioning. There are great performances all around from Trevante Rhodes, Andre Holland, Janelle Moane, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali. It is a poetic film that is vibrant and metaphorical that the film illustrates that it says everything about one's journey.
3. Arrival
Director Denis Villeneuve is on a hot streak and has made one of the most cerebral science fiction films in a long while. But, there is more to this sci-fi story that meets the eye because this is a more of personal story about Amy Adams' character, who is a linguist that has flashbacks of her lost daughter. Adams is truly great in her performance in which she should garner some nominations. But, the movie is truly under appreciated by the voters of some awards circuits because this is more engaging and more emotional when you find out the payoff.
2. Hell or High Water
This is an awesome movie about two brothers trying to meet their ends as they rob banks with a marshal on their tail. However, it makes sense as we find out why they are doing it. It is a great rural Western story about how the Old West meets the New West and also a portrait of how lower-class citizens live in poverty outside of the main characters and also within the main characters in West Texas. It is a haunting and action-packed film that will keep you guessing until the last minute. Director David McKenzie and writer Taylor Sheridan does a great job orchestrating the characters in a very complex plot. And, Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster give some of their best work of their careers.
1. La La Land
I am shocked as I am typing this saying that a musical, that's right, a genre that I don't love, is my favorite movie of 2016. Now, why is that? It incorporate modern technology and modern filmmaking into a homage of old age Hollywood that you cannot resist grinning and smiling after the movie is over. Another thing is that director Damien Chazelle's joy of filmmaking is observed in each frame of the film as it is incorporated in the vibrant cinematography, camerawork, music (by the way, all the songs are good), editing, production, performances by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone and the choreography. He loves making films about music. One more is that I have not seen a great romance in a long time as I think most of them in certain movies are corny but their relationship is key throughout the movie as it is mostly played on a fantasy and fun level but (and this is why I loved it the most) reality hits their dreams so hard as they strive for their dreams of becoming an actress and a jazz musician. It is a fantasy but also a tragedy to Hollywood as we observe how hard it is to get into that world. It seems like a dream come true but it could be a haunted nightmare to most of you. This strikes great chords and notes to title it as The Best Movie of 2016.
Well, that's it. The year is finished. I have seen a few films that I will post next year and some films that I have to wait but I'm glad that this year is done so here's to more great material in the movies in 2017!
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