Top Ten Best Films of 2016

2017 is well under way, and it is high time for me announce my picks for the ten best films of 2016. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to miss several stinkers, so my movie-going experience this past year was pretty great (except for last January's The Boy). I should preface this by saying that, while this was a record year for me in terms of seeing movies the year they came out (over 20, including those I did not review), there were several well-acclaimed ones I did not see and could not include on this list. For example, I did not have the chance to see Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups, or Oscar nominees like Arrival or Moonlight before making this list, nor did I get to see some films I wanted to see like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them or Hacksaw Ridge. I am sure I will see them before too long, but for now, they must stay off the list in all fairness--I did not see them! With that out of the way, let's get into this!

Honorable Mentions

There are three films that I want to mention before I go into the top 10 since they deserve some recognition. In no particular order, those films are:

Zootopia. This was the last 2016 film I saw, and I greatly admire what it tries to do. Unlike many Disney animated films, the creators took a chance and decided to tell a relevant story about discrimination. The film does not come off as preachy, and it presents strong characters through bunny cop Judy Hopps and fugitive fox Nick Wilde. It was not my favorite animated film of the year, but it was a darn good one!

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. This is Michael Bay's best film. Choosing to eschew the politics of the Benghazi attack and focus on the stories of the soldiers, he lets the harrowing drama shine through in a respectful way. Furthermore, David Denham and John Krasinski prove that they are more than just their characters from The Office. It is a war film worth seeing.

Deadpool. I saw this back in March but I could not figure out how to best tackle it. Time has since passed, and I can't pass up including it in my honorable mentions. The main reason it didn't quite crack the top 10 is because of some tonal issues: it goes from high-energy comedy to brutal drama, and I'm not sure it hit its highest highs again once the dramatic sequences got tough with Wade Wilson's cancer arc. That said, the movie's an absolute blast. It is crude, but in a smart way, like Robin Williams's stand-up. It justifies its sexual content as purposes of character, and gave us some top-notch action sequences. It even got a few digs in on Fox's X-Men franchise. I greatly enjoyed the film, and if you can stand a hard R (and are older than 17), you probably will, too.

10. The Fundamentals of Caring

I'm not sure how many people actually got to see this road-trip dramedy on Netflix, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The main cast delivers some great performances: the woman who plays Peaches (Megan Ferguson) deserves greater recognition for her hilarious show-stealing performance as a quirky pregnant Army wife. I was moved by this indie story, and I laughed a lot, glad that I saw a film the type of which is just not made that often anymore.

9. Finding Dory

Was my perfect score a bit hyperbolic back in June? Perhaps. That said, a sequel like this deserves to be applauded for feeling so organic despite some of its more crazy set pieces. The film was emotional, funny, and beautifully animated. I really enjoyed being back with Nemo, Dory, and Marlin, and the new cast of characters, especially Gerald, fit right in with the old gang.

8. Captain America: Civil War

I saw this one late so I didn't review it. Since its release in May, though, Captain America: Civil War has been in the conversation for best superhero movie of all-time, and there's good reason for that. Civil War feels not only like a vital chapter in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it is an excellent Captain America film, giving enough balance to the large cast of characters to let Steve and Bucky's story breathe and take the forefront. It also raises political questions of oversight to which it does not present a clear answer. A fitting conclusion to the Captain America trilogy and an exciting introduction to the MCU's next chapter, this film deserves to also be among the best of the year.

7. 10 Cloverfield Lane

No other film shocked me this year like 10 Cloverfield Lane did. Served with an intense feeling of unease, the film features standout performances by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher, Jr., and John Goodman, who is extremely unnerving as the enigmatic doomsday prepper and War vet Howard. This all leads up to a disturbing and surprising finale. Even though the film leaves several questions unanswered, I was never frustrated because none of it feels cheap. All in all, the film establishes the Cloverfield franchise as one of the most mysterious but excitingly great properties in the film industry today. My hope is that 2017's God Particle ties everything together; if not, 10 Cloverfield Lane is still one of the best thrillers of the year.

6. The Conjuring 2

I never considered myself a huge horror guy, but I loved The Conjuring. Thankfully, The Conjuring 2 is almost as great as its predecessor. While not as oppressively disturbing as the first one, The Conjuring 2 continues to develop the characters of the Warrens and has great moments of drama. More importantly, though, it introduces an effectively scary character through the Demon Nun who fits rather well into the whole affair. With continued great chemistry by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga and the fantastic performance by Madison Wolfe, The Conjuring 2 once again establishes the series as one of the best horror series today. I even had a "Hallelujah Jesus!" moment in the theater, so that says something about the cathartic appeal of the film!

5. The Jungle Book

I didn't like that Kaa had so little screen time; I absolutely loved everything else about the film. Seamlessly blending revolutionary animation with a live actor, The Jungle Book is the owner of the Best Visual Effects Oscar next month. But the film is more than just a $175 million special effects exposition by Jon Favreau. Surprisingly, this is a remake that gets it right, improving upon Walt Disney's final film in almost every way and in spades. Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, and Idris Elba give great performances, and only one of them isn't animated! It is this film's greatness that makes me most excited about the potential of March's Beauty and the Beast.

4. Sing Street

Easily the most underrated film of the year, Sing Street is director John Carney's third music film and perhaps his best. It's the best 80s film that never came out in the 80s. It's a fun movie about friendship, love, and brotherhood. The music exemplifies why this year was the year of the movie musical. It's a crying shame not one of the songs in here got nominated for Best Original Song, but that doesn't change the fact that Sing Street is one of my favorite movies of the year. Please: go watch this on Netflix as soon as you can. If you don't have Netflix, then just buy it. Buy it wherever and however you can. It's such a special film you can't miss!

3. Moana

The best animated film of the year, Moana perfects the Disney formula and introduces a fantastic and inspiring female lead. While it doesn't try to have the social commentary that Zootopia has or really does anything all that new in the genre, it still is a very special film. Lin-Manuel Miranda's debut as a film songwriter elevates the film, providing not only some of the best songs in Disney history, but the most powerful. The greatest testament to this film is that I saw it twice in one day and loved it just the same; I'm still talking about it today.


2. Patriots Day

Patriots Day is the most important film of the year, even more so than the relevant but flawed Snowden. Though coming fresh off the heels of the disaster that it's based on, the movie suitably justifies itself, delivering a tense, emotional thriller that proves the importance of love and unity in the face of terrorism and hate. Furthermore, the film is not content with cardboard cutouts and succeeds in giving us three-dimensional, developed portrayals of the people connected to the Boston Marathon bombing. The film is currently in wide release. If you get a chance to see it, take it.

1. La La Land

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise to much anybody who reads my stuff. I loved La La Land, but not just because it was an enjoyable musical. Damien Chazelle puts so much detail in every frame of the film and makes the simple love story of dreamers something that needs to be experienced several times to fully appreciate the greatness of it. That's not to say the first time is disappointing: not at all! The film is strong, and it only gets better the more you watch. The best way to describe is like a great book, with layers that demand analysis and when that analysis is done, the book is rightfully heralded as a book of art. Lovingly blending music with what only film can do, La La Land is a poignant film that everyone can relate to because we're all fools that dream. The way it's told, though, makes it my favorite film of the year.

That's my list, friends! As tends to happen, my list probably isn't the same as yours. That doesn't make your list more right or more wrong than mine. Let me know your favorite films of 2016 and let's talk about it. I really enjoyed this year in film--from the songs to the scenes to the shots and the drama--and I look forward to what 2017 has to offer. Now, as always, whatever you have to say about me or the movies, comment below!