My Top 10 Movies of 2016
2016 overall was a fairly disappointing year of movies. Out of the 62 films I saw that were released in 2016, I disliked more movies that I enjoyed. Despite this, there are still some amazing films that came out this year. Below is my Top 10 of the year, and you can click the movie titles to see a preview if you wish.:
The Little Prince is a film that I will never forget for one sole reason: it is the first film to make me cry adult, man tears. Unfortunately, The Little Prince was given a massive disservice. Slated to come out on March 18 of this year, Paramount Pictures pulled the film from release on March 11!!! A week before its wide release and the movie gets pulled. I remember seeing posters for it in my local theater, and I have never heard of this happening before. Well, luckily it was picked up by Netflix, where it is available to stream right now. The classic French story is animated beautifully throughout in an animation style that mirrors claymation, woven with a 3D-animated story of a young American girl and her crazy, old neighbor. The Little Prince is a gorgeous film, whose message hit an elementary school teacher hard. At its heart, the film is about letting kids be kids, but this is a mature, breathtaking film and I urge you to watch it.
Denis Villeneuve crafts a fantastic sci-fi film with Arrival. Amy Adams plays a linguist who must try to communicate with aliens, who have landed all over the world, before they either leave or attack. The shroud of uncertainty that clouds the characters in this film also captures the audience as Amy Adam's character rushes to find out why the aliens came here. While not without its flaws, Arrival is a breath of fresh air in the world of sequels and superheroes. It is not a sci-fi action film, it is strictly sci-fi, and these types of movies just don't come out much anymore. It was great seeing a film where the aliens don't come down and instantly start destroying everything. Check out this one if you enjoy sci-fi films that keep you thinking and guessing.
Starring the late Anton Yelchin, Green Room is the story of a punk band who play at a Neo-Nazi club, only to witness something terrible backstage. The Neo-Nazis, led by Patrick Stewart, then refuse to let the band leave, and what follows is an intense as hell thrill-ride. Do not watch this one if you get easily queasy, but if you can handle some gore and a heart-pounding, white-knuckling story, you need to watch this film. This film is directed by Jeremy Saulnier, a Virginian, and this is not his first time in my Top 10, as his film Blue Ruin made my list in 2014. This film is by far the most suspenseful and crazy film I saw in 2016, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Korean director Park Chan-wook, director of the infamous Oldboy, released The Handmaiden this year and it is one of the most beautiful films I saw all year. The story follows a young Korean woman who gets hired to be the handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, all the while trying to prove that she is crazy to inherit her money. The plot is much more complex than that, but I do not want to give anything away, as the story's dips and weaves and twists are what makes it so interesting. There are some graphic scenes of lesbianism, but honestly, they are tastefully shot. Sexuality is a major theme of this film, but it is not flaunted, rather restrained and honestly quite beautiful at times. If you have not delved into the world of Korean cinema, PLEASE do yourself a favor and check some out. Korea is my favorite foreign language film distributor right now. The films are westernized but still have their own distinct feel to them. The Handmaiden is not the best Korean film I've seen, nor is it even the best Korean film of this year, and it is still astounding. If you are interested in watching more Korean films, I'd be happy to recommend some, but for one recommendation, just keep reading this list.
Quietly released in early 2016 was Everybody Wants Some!, a film by master filmmaker Richard Linklater. Linklater described Everybody Wants Some! as Dazed and Confused's 80s sibling, and the film is just as fun as its predecessor. The film, which is based on Linklater's own life, follows a young man in his first weeks at college. Linklater's films are often about identity, and this one is no different. The lead character is a member of the baseball team, but he attends parties of tons of different groups, trying to find his social footing. He goes from a country bar to a theater party to a rock show, hanging out with different, interesting people. The film celebrates people's differences but shows how despite these, people are generally welcoming. Not to mention, the film can be really funny at times, especially when his baseball teammates are around. Everybody Wants Some! is a film about finding yourself that needs to be found by a bigger audience.
Laika Studios is the most underrated studio around right now. Their previous releases include Coraline and ParaNorman, which are both great animated films. Well, Kubo is easily their best and most accomplished film. Laika uses stop motion animation for their films and it looks phenomenal. Kubo is intriguing and new, funny and suspenseful and is everything an animated adventure film should be. The soundtrack is also incredible, really inviting you into the setting. It is not often an animated film will appear in my Top 10, let alone my Top 5, but that's how good Kubo and the Two Strings is. The film is one of the easiest for me to recommend this year, check it out and discover the magic of Laika.
Earlier I teased at the appearance of another Korean film on this list, and here it is. The Wailing is part mystery, part horror, part supernatural thriller, part comedy and although it carries many genres, it blends them masterfully. The movie sits at a long two-and-a-half hours, but it earns every second of its runtime, constantly dragging audiences in every direction. This movie can get intense at times, I found myself feeling stressed out, especially in the final 20 minutes. I would argue that the final 20 minutes of this film are among my favorite endings of all time. The film plays with you and leads you on, but they don't let you down in the climax, delivering a gut punch just before they roll the credits. The Wailing is one of the most entertaining films of the year, and it is streaming on Netflix, so go watch it right now.
Every year there is a movie that completely flies under the radar and I never understand why. Sing Street is that film this year. During the Golden Globes, this film got a nomination for Best Musical, and no one really cheered and no one who made the film was in the audience. This was heart-breaking, because this movie was so enjoyable. The film follows a boy who tries to impress a girl by saying he's in a band, although he is not. He then builds a band and they are actually really good, the music in this movie is so catchy, I still find the songs stuck in my head despite seeing it months ago. Just listen to this song for proof. My dad is hard to impress when it comes to movies and he saw this in theaters twice, on back-to-back days. It's that good. Sing Street is the most criminally underrated film of the year, so see it so you can spread the joy around.
If you follow award season, you've heard the buzz about this one, including it's recent Best Drama Film win at the Golden Globes. Well the hype exists for a reason: Moonlight is an incredible film. Taking place over three different time periods, the film follows a young, gay, black man named Chiron who is trying to find his place in the world. The thing that makes this film great is how real and raw it is, and the hardships that this young boy has to deal with are heartbreaking to watch. Chiron is played by three different actors who all look quite similar and who all were able to deliver outstanding performances. But the most commanding performance in the film comes from Mahershala Ali, who would get my vote for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. I was worried that the film would focus too much on his sexuality or his race, but it does neither, focusing solely on what shaped the boy into the man he became. Moonlight is easily the best drama to grace the screen this year.
I know some of you may be thinking..."C'mon, Moonlight and La La Land at #2 and #1? Those both won Best Picture at the Golden Globes and are heavy award favorites, that's a cop out." I know it may seem that way, but this year, the hype is real. La La Land is not only my favorite film of the year, but also in my Top 10 Films of All Time. I saw this film in early November at the Virginia Film Festival and loved it, but wanted to see it again to be sure it was deserving of my #1 spot. When I saw it again in December, I only loved it more. It is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. All you need to do is watch the opening freeway ensemble or the ending montage scene and it's obvious. Damien Chazelle has crafted a masterpiece, a love letter to Hollywood, both the movies and city. There is a line in the film spoken by John Legend along the lines of "How can you be a revolutionary when you're such a traditionalist?" Well, Chazelle managed to do both. He is a traditionalist by means of studying and recreating the musical that older generations grew to love, while being a revolutionary and building on those works, creating his own modern musical. The product is nothing short of astounding. Believe the hype, La La Land is a perfect film.
Thank you so much for reading! Below is a list of the 62 films in order of which I liked them, if you are curious.
The Little Prince is a film that I will never forget for one sole reason: it is the first film to make me cry adult, man tears. Unfortunately, The Little Prince was given a massive disservice. Slated to come out on March 18 of this year, Paramount Pictures pulled the film from release on March 11!!! A week before its wide release and the movie gets pulled. I remember seeing posters for it in my local theater, and I have never heard of this happening before. Well, luckily it was picked up by Netflix, where it is available to stream right now. The classic French story is animated beautifully throughout in an animation style that mirrors claymation, woven with a 3D-animated story of a young American girl and her crazy, old neighbor. The Little Prince is a gorgeous film, whose message hit an elementary school teacher hard. At its heart, the film is about letting kids be kids, but this is a mature, breathtaking film and I urge you to watch it.
Denis Villeneuve crafts a fantastic sci-fi film with Arrival. Amy Adams plays a linguist who must try to communicate with aliens, who have landed all over the world, before they either leave or attack. The shroud of uncertainty that clouds the characters in this film also captures the audience as Amy Adam's character rushes to find out why the aliens came here. While not without its flaws, Arrival is a breath of fresh air in the world of sequels and superheroes. It is not a sci-fi action film, it is strictly sci-fi, and these types of movies just don't come out much anymore. It was great seeing a film where the aliens don't come down and instantly start destroying everything. Check out this one if you enjoy sci-fi films that keep you thinking and guessing.
Starring the late Anton Yelchin, Green Room is the story of a punk band who play at a Neo-Nazi club, only to witness something terrible backstage. The Neo-Nazis, led by Patrick Stewart, then refuse to let the band leave, and what follows is an intense as hell thrill-ride. Do not watch this one if you get easily queasy, but if you can handle some gore and a heart-pounding, white-knuckling story, you need to watch this film. This film is directed by Jeremy Saulnier, a Virginian, and this is not his first time in my Top 10, as his film Blue Ruin made my list in 2014. This film is by far the most suspenseful and crazy film I saw in 2016, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Korean director Park Chan-wook, director of the infamous Oldboy, released The Handmaiden this year and it is one of the most beautiful films I saw all year. The story follows a young Korean woman who gets hired to be the handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, all the while trying to prove that she is crazy to inherit her money. The plot is much more complex than that, but I do not want to give anything away, as the story's dips and weaves and twists are what makes it so interesting. There are some graphic scenes of lesbianism, but honestly, they are tastefully shot. Sexuality is a major theme of this film, but it is not flaunted, rather restrained and honestly quite beautiful at times. If you have not delved into the world of Korean cinema, PLEASE do yourself a favor and check some out. Korea is my favorite foreign language film distributor right now. The films are westernized but still have their own distinct feel to them. The Handmaiden is not the best Korean film I've seen, nor is it even the best Korean film of this year, and it is still astounding. If you are interested in watching more Korean films, I'd be happy to recommend some, but for one recommendation, just keep reading this list.
Quietly released in early 2016 was Everybody Wants Some!, a film by master filmmaker Richard Linklater. Linklater described Everybody Wants Some! as Dazed and Confused's 80s sibling, and the film is just as fun as its predecessor. The film, which is based on Linklater's own life, follows a young man in his first weeks at college. Linklater's films are often about identity, and this one is no different. The lead character is a member of the baseball team, but he attends parties of tons of different groups, trying to find his social footing. He goes from a country bar to a theater party to a rock show, hanging out with different, interesting people. The film celebrates people's differences but shows how despite these, people are generally welcoming. Not to mention, the film can be really funny at times, especially when his baseball teammates are around. Everybody Wants Some! is a film about finding yourself that needs to be found by a bigger audience.
Laika Studios is the most underrated studio around right now. Their previous releases include Coraline and ParaNorman, which are both great animated films. Well, Kubo is easily their best and most accomplished film. Laika uses stop motion animation for their films and it looks phenomenal. Kubo is intriguing and new, funny and suspenseful and is everything an animated adventure film should be. The soundtrack is also incredible, really inviting you into the setting. It is not often an animated film will appear in my Top 10, let alone my Top 5, but that's how good Kubo and the Two Strings is. The film is one of the easiest for me to recommend this year, check it out and discover the magic of Laika.
Earlier I teased at the appearance of another Korean film on this list, and here it is. The Wailing is part mystery, part horror, part supernatural thriller, part comedy and although it carries many genres, it blends them masterfully. The movie sits at a long two-and-a-half hours, but it earns every second of its runtime, constantly dragging audiences in every direction. This movie can get intense at times, I found myself feeling stressed out, especially in the final 20 minutes. I would argue that the final 20 minutes of this film are among my favorite endings of all time. The film plays with you and leads you on, but they don't let you down in the climax, delivering a gut punch just before they roll the credits. The Wailing is one of the most entertaining films of the year, and it is streaming on Netflix, so go watch it right now.
Every year there is a movie that completely flies under the radar and I never understand why. Sing Street is that film this year. During the Golden Globes, this film got a nomination for Best Musical, and no one really cheered and no one who made the film was in the audience. This was heart-breaking, because this movie was so enjoyable. The film follows a boy who tries to impress a girl by saying he's in a band, although he is not. He then builds a band and they are actually really good, the music in this movie is so catchy, I still find the songs stuck in my head despite seeing it months ago. Just listen to this song for proof. My dad is hard to impress when it comes to movies and he saw this in theaters twice, on back-to-back days. It's that good. Sing Street is the most criminally underrated film of the year, so see it so you can spread the joy around.
If you follow award season, you've heard the buzz about this one, including it's recent Best Drama Film win at the Golden Globes. Well the hype exists for a reason: Moonlight is an incredible film. Taking place over three different time periods, the film follows a young, gay, black man named Chiron who is trying to find his place in the world. The thing that makes this film great is how real and raw it is, and the hardships that this young boy has to deal with are heartbreaking to watch. Chiron is played by three different actors who all look quite similar and who all were able to deliver outstanding performances. But the most commanding performance in the film comes from Mahershala Ali, who would get my vote for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. I was worried that the film would focus too much on his sexuality or his race, but it does neither, focusing solely on what shaped the boy into the man he became. Moonlight is easily the best drama to grace the screen this year.
I know some of you may be thinking..."C'mon, Moonlight and La La Land at #2 and #1? Those both won Best Picture at the Golden Globes and are heavy award favorites, that's a cop out." I know it may seem that way, but this year, the hype is real. La La Land is not only my favorite film of the year, but also in my Top 10 Films of All Time. I saw this film in early November at the Virginia Film Festival and loved it, but wanted to see it again to be sure it was deserving of my #1 spot. When I saw it again in December, I only loved it more. It is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. All you need to do is watch the opening freeway ensemble or the ending montage scene and it's obvious. Damien Chazelle has crafted a masterpiece, a love letter to Hollywood, both the movies and city. There is a line in the film spoken by John Legend along the lines of "How can you be a revolutionary when you're such a traditionalist?" Well, Chazelle managed to do both. He is a traditionalist by means of studying and recreating the musical that older generations grew to love, while being a revolutionary and building on those works, creating his own modern musical. The product is nothing short of astounding. Believe the hype, La La Land is a perfect film.
Thank you so much for reading! Below is a list of the 62 films in order of which I liked them, if you are curious.
62. Suicide Squad
61. Zoolander 2
60. Café Society
59. The Red Turtle
58. The Magnificent Seven
57. Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice
56. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
55. Captain America: Civil War
54. Hail Caesar
53. Manchester by the Sea
52. Shin Godzilla
51. Loving
50. Jason Bourne
49. Fences
48. Captain Fantastic
47. Midnight Special
46. Bleed for This
45. Wakefield
44. Don’t Think Twice
43. The Accountant
42. The Edge of Seventeen
41. Sully
40. Jackie
39. The Jungle Book
38. Keanu
37. Love and Friendship
36. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
35. Hardcore Henry
34. Raiders fan film doc
33. Kung Fu Panda 3
32. Finding Dory
31. Hush
30. Pete’s Dragon
29. Deadpool
28. Star Trek Beyond
27. Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday
26. Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
25. Star Wars: Rogue One
24. Lion
23. Moana
22. A Monster Calls
21. Swiss Army Man
20. Zootopia
19. Hacksaw Ridge
18. Train to Busan
17. Silence
16. 10 Cloverfield Lane
15. Nocturnal Animals
14. The Nice Guys
13. The VVitch
12. Hell or High Water
11. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
10. The Little Prince
9. Arrival
8. Green Room
7.The Handmaiden
6. Everybody Wants Some!
5. Kubo and the Two Strings
4. The Wailing
3. Sing Street
2. Moonlight
1. La La Land
1. La La Land
Comments
Post a Comment