So far I’ve seen 116 movies that came out in 2016. I spent a lot of time in movie theaters this year yelling, “turn your phone off!” Ah, memories. Considering the amount of movies I watched, it was surprising how easy a time I had narrowing the field down to my top ten list. I will say, it was a good year for Horror movies and Animated features.
Here’s the list: (Order changes depending on my mood)
11. Hidden Figures
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Credit: Hopper Stone/20th Century Fox
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There is an argument out there that there are few roles for men and women of color in historic films because there aren't any stories to be told. But that's flat out wrong. There are tons of these stories of extraordinary men and women that are being hidden from us for some reason. The story of Katherine Johnson should have been told a long time ago and I'm glad we finally got to see it. The story presented in this film is inspiring and beautiful and it's told well, despite being a bit fluffy at points. Taraji P. Henson (center), along with her costars Janelle Monae (left) & Octavia Spencer (right) were perfectly cast in each of their roles. It was a joy to watch and I'm hoping to see more stories like this in the future.
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| Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount Pictures |
When most sci-fi movies involving aliens asks the question, "When and how will they attack and what sort of devastation will they cause?" Arrival asks a different kind of question, "How they hell do we even communicate on the most basic of levels?" While the answer to that question (or even the question itself) might seem like a boring concept, director Denis Villeneuve amazes us with beautiful visuals and storytelling while Amy Adams invites us into her mind to see first-hand what an alien encounter might feel like. From a guest starring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer to being a five-time Oscar nominee, Amy Adams never fails to amaze me. Her performances are always subtle, yet you know and feel everything she knows and feels. You're always there with her.
9. Other People
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| Jesse Plemons & Molly Shannon |
I was worried about this one going in. I get weary of ex-SNL stars trying to take dramatic turns. I usually find their praise to be overrated. Molly Shannon was way better than expected and while I'm not necessarily rooting for her in awards season, she held her own with the other fine actors of Other People. The real break-out star here is Jesse Plemons (of Friday Night Lights fame), who made me cry & laugh (sometimes both at the same time). His chemistry with Molly Shannon was fantastic. The story about a parent's impending death could have been cliche, but writer/director Chris Kelly's film is smart and different and dark and funny.
8. Zootopia
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| Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps & Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde (Disney) |
Zootopia is one of three animated films on my list this year. It's an epic tale set in a city of anthropomorphic animals (because Disney). Like most Disney films, it's got the gorgeous animation and funny gags/chase scenes to satisfy the kids while painting a more complicated world to challenge the adults in the crowd. In an intense year, we needed a reminder that we can be anyone we want to be despite our backgrounds and history and expectations. Zootopia does that for us while entertaining us.
7. Sing
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| Illumination Entertainment |
Every year there's one movie that just makes me happy. It's not necessarily deep or thought-provoking; it's just fun and brings me joy. This is that film. Sing, like Zootopia, is also set in a city of anthropomorphic animals and focuses on a group of artists that just want to do their thing. My favorite individualized story was that of Meena, the shy teenage Elephant (Tori Kelly). She wants to sing so badly, but her stage fright gets the best of her. The best part is how encouraging and supportive her family is. They look at her with such awe when she sings and the animators catch that look perfectly.
6. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
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| Brian Cox & (the never-aging) Emile Hirsch |
Jumping genres and moods here - Autopsy is truly one of the most original and scary movies I've seen this year. It was a great year for horror: (Conjuring 2, Don't Breathe, Lights Out, Ouija), this one shares parallels with another great horror film this year: The Witch. It's amazingly haunting and well paced. While most horror movies, like to startle you with jump-scares, Autopsy builds suspense until you feel fully immersed in the creepy morgue setting. You travel with these characters instead of simply being shown them.
5. Kubo and the Two Strings
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| Laika Entertainment |
Third animated film on the list: this one comes from Laika Entertainment - creators of The Corpse Bride, Coraline and Paranoman - a company known for putting a spooky edge on animated entertainment. It's grittier and scarier than most animated films yet still a great story for children. The animation (stop-motion) is flawless and absolutely gorgeous.
4. La La Land
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DALE ROBINETTE/LIONSGATE |
I accidentally applauded after the first scene of La La Land and the girl next to me turned to me and said, "I know, right?" The film is fun from the start. It combines old Hollywood with new ideas. It's visually spectacular and a lot of fun to watch. The music is original and grand. The story is simple yet it avoids tropes. "Here's to the ones who dream..."
3. Deadpool
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| Ryan Reynolds really wants you to see Deadpool. Credit: Foxmovies.com |
Yep. A Marvel Superhero movie made the list. I like Marvel as much as the next guy, but there are so many of them that they tend to bleed into each other. Not Deadpool. From its opening credits, this movie wants you to know it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's hilarious, often breaking the fourth wall while still being a kick-ass superhero action movie. While it's written and directed well, Ryan Reynolds is the one who sells it and brings everything together.
2. The Lobster
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| Colin Farrell makes his choice. |
This one definitely falls into the "love it or hate it" category. I've heard both but no one has ever said, "eh, it's okay." I am obviously on team 'love it'. The entire film is an allegory for single life/relationships and the pressures of being in either group. It's not subtle but it's such an ingenious way of looking at our world and the metaphor never fails. Everyone gives a completely deadpan performance which makes it all the funnier. It's sad and it's funny and it's raw and it's real.
1. 20th Century Women
Never have I seen a group of characters who are so vulnerable and flawed, yet so well rounded and likable and deep and real. It's written by Mike Mills (Beginners), and acted by a superb cast led by Annette Bening.
It's the story of a woman (Dorothea) who had a child at forty and is seeking the help of her tenants to raise her now teenage son in suburban California in 1979. The rest of the cast is just as phenomenal: Billy Crudup, Elle Fanning, newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann and a great performance by Greta Gerwig who admittedly I haven't loved in the past. Each character is explored and even acts as narrator at least once. There's a really great fleshed out story here and it's the best dramedy of the season.
Honorable
Mentions: Moonlight, 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Conjuring 2, Lights Out, Captain
Fantastic, Hell or High Water, Don’t Think Twice, Jackie, Swiss Army Man, Edge of Seventeen, Moana, Manchester by the Sea, The Witch
And just for measure, here are the 116 movies I saw this year that came out in 2016:
2016 Movies
1.
The Boy
2.
Hail, Ceasar!
3.
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
4.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2
5.
Deadpool
6.
The Brothers Grimsby
7.
The Witch
8.
Eddie the Eagle
9.
Zootopia
10.
The Other Side of the Door
11. 10 Cloverfield Lane
12.
Eye in the Sky
13.
Hello, My Name is Doris
14.
Midnight Special
15.
Everybody Wants Some!!
16.
The Boss
17.
The Invitation
18.
The Green Room
19.
The Jungle Book
20.
Sing Street
21.
Elvis and Nixon
22.
Keanu
23.
April and the Bizarre World
24.
Captain America: Civil War
25. Moonlight
26. The Lobster
27.
The Darkness
28.
High-Rise
29.
The Nice Guys
30.
Neighbors 2
31.
Love and Friendship
32. The Conjuring 2
33.
Hush
34.
Finding Dory
35.
The Shallows
36.
Central Intelligence
37.
The Forest
38.
The Purge 3
39. Swiss Army Man
40.
BFG
41.
London Has Fallen
42.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
43.
Ghostbusters
44.
The Secret Life of Pets
45.
The Infiltrator
46. Lights Out
47.
Star Trek Beyond
48.
Bad Moms
49.
Nerve
50. Captain Fantastic
51.
Absolutely Fabulous
52.
Florence Foster Jenkins
53.
Sausage Party
54. Hell or High Water
55.
Pete’s Dragon
56. Kubo and the Two Strings
57.
Little Men
58.
Don’t Breathe
59.
Born to Be Blue
60.
Maggie’s Plan
61.
The Light Between Oceans
62.
Southside with You
63.
Sully
64.
Demon
65.
Blair Witch
66. Other People
67. Don’t Think Twice
68.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
69.
Deepwater Horizon
70.
Neon Demon
71.
The Girl on the Train
72.
The Birth of a Nation
73.
Denial
74.
The Accountant
75.
Queen of Katwe
76.
Ouija
77.
Aquarius
78.
Creepy
79.
Hackshaw Ridge
80.
Loving
81.
Dr. Strange
82. Arrival
83.
Shut in
84.
Elle
85.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
86.
Manchester by the Sea
87.
The Edge of Seventeen
88.
Moana
89.
Lion
90.
Jackie
91.
Incarnate
92.
Nocturnal Animals
93.
Allied
94. La La Land
95.
Café Society
96.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
97.
Miss Sloane
98.
Indignation
99.
A Bigger Splash
100. Rogue
One
101. From
Afar
102. Fences
103. Sing
104. Passengers
105. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
106. The
Man Who Knew Infinity
107. Those
People
108. Chevalier
109. What
We Become
110. A
Monster Calls
111. Hidden Figures
112. 20th Century Women
113. Silence
114. I, Daniel Blake
115. Storks
116. American Honey
114. I, Daniel Blake
115. Storks
116. American Honey
