2016 was a year that most people wish to forget. Movies offered a much needed escape from the real world this year. Luckily, Hollywood delivered with some fantastic films that scratched every itch we have as movie fans. Whether you wanted to be entertained with spectacle and action, to laugh so hard that your sides hurt, or be moved so deeply that you were “nearly” brought to tears. In my humble opinion, these are the 10 best (my favorite) movies from the past year.
Before I start, here are some movies that I haven’t seen yet or just missed the list and deserve some recognition:
Moonlight
Synopsis – “A timeless story of human self-discovery and connection, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami.”
I have heard many great things about this film; from its performances, structure, directing, and cinematography. This would have most likely made my list if what I’ve heard is true, so I look forward to seeing it and hope you will give it a chance as well.
The Invitation:
The less you know going into this movie the better. If you are put off by the opening 30 minutes or so please give it at least another 30 minutes before you turn it off. If you are a fan of thrillers like I am you will not regret giving this sweet indie gem a chance. Easily the most surprisingly enjoyable film of the year. It should still be on Netflix.
The Nice Guys
Synopsis – “In 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.”
This movie is on a lot of movie critics top 10 lists of the year. And for good reason, this was a well-crafted, entertaining ride. Buddy cop movies are either non-existent or sub-par at best these days. It is refreshing to see a classic detective story given the unique oddball touch of Shane Black (director). Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe’s performances and chemistry are the highlight of this movie.
Nocturnal Animals
Synopsis – “A wealthy art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale.”
To be honest I have kept myself in the dark about this movie for the most part, wanting to be able to enjoy it with as little expectations as possible. Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actors working today, Michael Shannon is a bankable actor in every movie he’s in, and the fact this movie was directed by Tom Ford means it could have a unique and interesting story to tell.
#10 Moana/Zootopia
Yes, I’m cheating on the first one but these 2 animated films deserved to make it on this list.
This is a return to the classic, musically inclined Disney films of my youth in the 90’s. While the story is somewhat cliched, it is told in a beautiful and entertaining way. It feels like a mashup between Lilo and Stitch and The Little Mermaid. The Hawaiian atmosphere for both the setting, characters and music is captivating and puts you in a much simpler, more peaceful place. Then enters Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, who oozes charisma, energy and charm as the demigod Maui. His entertainer limits know no bounds as he serves as singer for one of the catchier songs in the movie.
While the The Rock nearly steals the show, which he may in some eyes, Moana still has a great story to tell about a young woman ultimately proving to herself that her ambitions – which appear insane to others, including her father – are more than just dreams but actually the thing that will save her family and island. It’s refreshing to see a classic tale told through a new and interesting lens.
These days animated films are for adults just as much as they are for children. They tell stories with mature themes and subject matters masked in a colorful and imaginative setting with silly and joyful cartoon characters. I can’t think of a recent animated film that balanced both of those sides so well then Zootopia did this past year. It tackled a huge hot button issue (racial stereotypes) and delivered a message on both an adult and children’s level. While some of the comparisons across animals and humans are a tad bit extreme, they nonetheless illustrate the tensions and relationships between different races and socioeconomic classes. Along with a powerful message, the world building in this film is amazing and leaves you wanting to see sequels of the different climates within Zootopia’s city. From the deserts to the arctic to the rainforest, the adventures through each unique part of the city and its residents leaves you wanting more time to spend with the hilarious “bunny” (buddy) cop duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
#9 A Monster Calls
This is easily the most emotional movie I’ve seen this year, probably the past few years. Don’t let the fact that their is a 40 foot tall tree with Liam Neeson’s voice fool you, this is just as much a drama as it is a fantasy film. Conor O’Malley is a boy dealing with the emotional and mental troubles of his mother dying from cancer. This film gives one of the most honest and innocent stories of someone wrestling with watching a loved one die. In a world where cancer has almost become common and loved ones of ours are ill with varying diseases, this is a film that can be almost therapeutic and cathartic for those who are or have dealt with a loss of a loved one. In my opinion Lewis MacDougall is by far the best part of the film, and that isn’t an insult to the rest of cast or crew, he is just that good. The subtleties in his moments of fear and depression in contrast to his fits of rage and frustration are dazzling. If you have the emotional capacity to watch this movie, I highly recommend you do, just bring some tissues.
#8 Captain America: Civil War
I just got done talking about super hero movie fatigue and how they are becoming formulaic. Well sometimes the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” really does ring true. Marvel movies have made an effort to diversify their movies in tone and style over the past few years, attempting to be more original instead of just big and bombastic. Civil War is a perfect blend of the blockbuster abilities of Marvel along with the captivating story telling. It finds a way to tell a personal story about a man (Captain America) struggling to decide whether he should remain loyal to his new ally (Iron Man) or help his childhood friend (Bucky) find redemption for the wrongs he’s committed. Another story line runs through the film about whether these super humans should be allowed to “save the world” as they see fit or fall in line with much less powerful organizations in order to serve the greater good. It begs the question whether the good you do outweighs the bad that may come out of it. Holding superheroes accountable for the destruction of buildings, cities and even the death of humans is a new, more mature theme that tests the moral compass of both the heroes and the viewer. Along with all of these great themes is a handful of amazing set pieces and action sequences. The Black Panther and Bucky chase through the tunnel or the now iconic airport scene are marvels to watch. You can enjoy them just on entertainment value alone, but also on repeated viewings there is plenty to appreciate as far as choreography, cinematography, and acting goes.
#7 Swiss Army Man
Easily the most unique film I saw this year, Swiss Army Man is an insane, ridiculous piece of art. It does not attempt to appease the average movie goer with a standard, by the numbers story or humor. If you aren’t in after the first 30 minutes or so you may not like this film. It is unapologetically odd and baffling at times, in the best way possible. If you can enjoy the film with all its quirks and zaniness, you will see it is an extremely heartwarming and gut punching tale of a man who is on the ropes with life and finds an unlikely companion – understatement of the century – who teaches him how to appreciate the small things in life again. Their relationship mirrors that of a curious child and an impatient parent. Watching Paul Dano’s character attempt to explain different aspects of life, like masturbation, is some of the most hilarious dialogue in cinema this year. This movie is also very self-aware. When the tension and mood are becoming too deep or depressing it has impeccable comic relief peppered throughout the movie. If this movie has the longevity to remain a cult classic it could go down as one of the most quotable movies in recent memory. This movie also boasts one of the best soundtracks of the year. The ingenious use of a capella and drums creates a distinct style and sound that pairs phenomenally with the tone of the film.
#6 Hacksaw Ridge
First off, it must be acknowledged and pointed out that this is Mel Gibson‘s first directed movie in a decade. He was in Hollywood exile for some antisemitic comments he made in the past and is now making his comeback as one of the best directors in cinema. Here is one of his first interviews after returning with his new movie Hacksaw Ridge:
Now let’s talk about the movie. No one shoots action and combat quite like Mel Gibson does. As seen in Braveheart, Mel Gibson has an eye for making war beautifully horrific. He does not sugarcoat the violence or live’s lost out of respect for those who fought in the war and the maturity of his audience. Those who criticize him for “glorifying” war and violence are entitled to their opinion, but they seem to be missing the point of why he shows in such gruesome detail the trials and tribulation of what the soldiers wen through. It is impossible to fully appreciate what these veterans did by laying down their lives in such dreadful circumstances. However, Mel Gibson does his best to emphasize the primitive chaos of war, especially during the Battle of Okinawa. Outside of the battlefield, this films tells a powerful story of a man who fought hate with love. When we fight fire with fire the whole world burns. One of the powerful and most satisfying parts of the film was to learn why he does not use a weapon. The Christian beliefs and convictions in this film are very evident, but aren’t the sole driving force for why he chooses to abstain from the killing. Without spoiling the film, I thought it was great to see the film give a layered reasoning for his conscientious objection instead of just relying on the religious aspect to be suffice enough, even though this is a true story. My only real criticisms of the film are that Andrew Garfield’s accent was a bit jarring and distraction at the beginning of the movie and some of the moments seem to pull a little too intently on the heart strings. Besides those small nitpicks, this film is a powerful story of a man not losing his way amidst utter hell and mayhem.
#5 La La Land
I must preface my review of this film with the fact I’m not a musical expert or even fan, I am judging this piece of art as a movie. And boy was it good. The first thing I’ll say to someone if they ask me about La La Land is that it would’ve been fantastic even without the musical aspects. The musical numbers just enhance the tone and ambiance of the film set in Hollywood. The music feels well placed and extremely well done. The two stars of this film shine brightest when they are on screen together, not to say they aren’t blinding the entire film. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is electric. They could go down as one of the best romantic movie pairings in movie history. Both of these actors started out their careers in mediocre to average films and have both skyrocketed to the top in the past few years. Don’t be surprised to see these two dominating the Oscar ballots the next decade.
#4 Deepwater Horizon
Director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg are building an impressive track record as a director-actor duo. Their new film releasing across the country this weekend (1/13/17), Patriot’s Day, is already getting a lot of buzz as Berg’s best film. But as far as Deepwater Horizon goes, this was by far the most intense and pulse pounding movie I saw this year. From the opening 30 minutes the tensions slowly ratchets up until it erupts and the rest of the film deals with the catastrophic fallout of the disaster. The sequence in which the oil rig finally explodes is one of the most terrifyingly beautiful scenes in recent memory. The sheer scope and magnitude of the moment is jaw-dropping. Peter Berg’s level of detail leads me to believe he does his research and sticks to the truth the best he can. This movie does an awesome job of laying out the facts and science of the situation in an entertaining fashion that feeds into the intense tone of the film.
#3 Manchester By The Sea
Manchester by the Sea is a phenomenal story about a man and his struggle to cope with the loss of his brother, but more importantly how his past impacts his life and relationship with his nephew going forward. Casey Affleck delivers one of the most subtle and understated performances of the 21st century. Most “oscar” roles show a wide range of acting from crying to screaming. While there are moments of that in this film, some of the more impressive moments were in the minutia of each day as he deals with the aftermath of his brothers death. His ability to express so much pain and deep emotion in his subdued performance is a marvel to watch. The other star of this film is the writer/director Kenneth Lonergan. He wrote a heart wrenching story that is translated excellently onto the screen. Sometimes the choice to use flashbacks can be seen as gimmicky or can be poorly executed. Lonergan enhances both the story and the development of the characters with these carefully placed flashbacks. Though you may not want to watch it again for a while afterwards due to its emotionally draining story, you will not regret seeing this movie.
#2 Hell or High Water
I was super excited when I first watched the trailer for this movie when the trailer came out 7 months ago. Then I heard great early reviews for it and my expectations got higher. As I sat in the theater before the movie began I got a feeling that maybe I had hyped it a bit too much in my mind and it wasn’t going to live up to my idea of it. Boy, it blew away my expectations. The 4 main characters in this movie are amazing, and performed tremendously by each actor. The 2 standouts would be Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges, though they aren’t new to delivering notable performances. Both pairings have incredible chemistry and make you believe their relationships. Just as a modern western/drama, this movie succeeds with flying colors with its action and intense tone. If you look just a little deeper there is a great commentary on the dying of the west as we knew it and the people who are clinging to it and trying to survive. There are 2 different moments in the movie (the sheriffs outside the restaurant and Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges at the end) that were really powerful. The former being about how we are constantly moving forward and eventually the way of life we knew is just like the caves for the cave men, outdated and archaic. The latter is about generational poverty and how it infects families who never seem to break free. It can be easy to miss these powerful moments amidst all the action, but they still are gripping.
#1 Arrival
To anyone who hasn’t seen this yet, if you are not ready to be challenged mentally and as a movie watcher this may not be the movie for you. If you watch this movie purely on the surface it is probably a top 20 movie at best. But if you begin to think deeply about the ideas and themes in this movie you will be highly rewarded. I have only seen this movie once so far, but I plan to watch it multiple times to break it apart and discover all the nuances and concepts within it. Okay, so my first praise of the movie is that my favorite director right now Denis Villeneuve just continues to kill it. I have waited a long time for a ultra realistic alien movie. Obviously when I say realistic, I am talking about how grounded in logic, science, and reason the movie is. Villeneuve established a level of detail and reasoning throughout the film that held himself responsible for the rules and logic he had set in place. The movie stays firmly grounded in the rules he sets and the laws and logic of real science. In order to appreciate that you have to stay attentive and ready to recall ideas and concepts. This is not something that is detrimental to the viewing experience if you forget, but instead just enhances it each time you watch the film. The cast in this movie is so believable that at times it feels like you’re watching reenactments of real life events. Each choice made by each character, even if not rational, seems like something a real human being would do under the circumstances. The way individuals react differently to each situation really makes you think how you would feel and behave in the same situation. Amy Adams easily stands out in this film, showing a wide range of acting. Her ability to sell you on a linguistic theory one second to believably having a mental/emotional break down seconds later is remarkable. Jeremy Renner should also receive some notice for his work. He offers perfectly placed comic relief but also serves as a very capable partner to Amy Adams. I really don’t want to say much else because a lot of this movie is better when you go in blind. So if you are willing and ready to really engage in this movie for 2 hours, you may just find this to be the best movie of the past year.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my list. I don’t claim to be an expert on film, just a big fan. All I really hope is that you will find at least one movie on here you didn’t see and give it a chance. They’re all great, but watching at least one is worth it.
Arts And Farts Reviews 