Now with the Oscars upon us, and having just finished watching all nine of the Best Picture nominees at AMC's annual marathon, here's my Top 10 Films of 2016. And as I always say: Not your Top 10. Mine. Here we go.
10. Zootopia
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore
Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Idris Elba
Like I said, Disney added two great animated films to their catalog this year, and while I loved Moana, Zootopia definitely was the better crafted and more impactful film. A cute and very comical film with a powerful message at its core, and a message very important in this day and age. Its two leads are a perfect match, the script is more than solid, and the animation is Disney at its best. Zootopia stands as one of Disney's and one of the year's best.
(Original Review)
9. Deadpool
Directed by Tim Miller
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarain and TJ Miller
I never thought I'd see the day a Ryan Reynolds film would appear on a Top 10 list for me, but 2016 started off with the gift of Deadpool. While it's very much a basic superhero origin story, it's all elevated by his performance as the Merc with a Mouth. The film was a longtime passion project of his, and it shows in the final product. While it's a raunchy R-Rated superhero film, it has plenty of heart to keep it balanced. Full of great one-liners and gags, Deadpool is one of the finest films out of last year.
(Original Review)
8. Hacksaw Ridge
Directed by Mel Gibson
Starring Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, and Hugo Weaving
Mel Gibson is who he is, but that doesn't mean he can't make a great film, and Hacksaw Ridge is a great film. While the first third is strong with Christian overtones and the blood and violence gets to be a little much (Classic Mel) it's a captivating story about beliefs and heroism. Andrew Garfield gives a not-Spider-Man career defining performance, backed up by the (surprising) talent of Vince Vaughn and Sam Worthington. It's heartfelt, it's thrilling, Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of an almost real-life Captain America, so based on that sentiment you can see why it's in my Top 10.
7. Moonlight
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Starring Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Mahershala Ali
Moonlight is such a bold, unique film. There's nothing like it, which is sad because more stories of self-acceptance and identity like this one are needed in this time in history. The scenery and lighting is so eye-catching, and the three actors they got to play the main character through the three stages of his life mesh together so well (for the most part). I guess what keeps the film lower on my list opposed to others' lists, is it hit a wall for me in the third act. The pacing slowed to a crawl and we seemed to rush to an abrupt but still logical conclusion. That aside, its a remarkable, passionate film and still one of the year's best.
6. Arrival
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forrest Whittaker
Arrival is such a different take on the usual alien-invasion film. Not to get into spoilers, but it reaches a Christopher Nolan-level of storytelling that resonates on an emotional and mind-rattling level. You'll approach the film with one mindset, and have it completely turned upside down by the time the credits role. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner both give some solid performances, but I'm not sure what Forrest Whittaker's accent is all about...might be Boston. It's eerie, it's captivating, it's a mind trip. Arrival will definitely stick with you as you leave the theater.
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, and Ben Mendelson
Well we had a thought-provoking sci-fi film, now here's a fun popcorn sci-fi film! Rogue One is definitely one of the better Star Wars film, despite the fact that it's not perfectly made. It does a great job of taking a couple sentences from A New Hope's opening crawl and crafting a story you actually care about. The characters and performances are delightful, although you'll wish for more interaction with/development of them. It's got stunning visuals, and plenty of fan service. Gareth Edwards did the impossible...he made a Star Wars prequel you can love (Shots fired.).
(Original Review)
4. Manchester by The Sea
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Starring Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, and Michelle Williams
You're going to need a serious hug after seeing this film, but that doesn't mean Manchester By The Sea is a film you should avoid. It's an powerhouse drama about family, grief and sacrifice, and at its core is the relationship between an estranged uncle and nephew. Casey Affleck gives a subtle but heavyweight performance in the lead role of Lee Chandler, and newcomer Lucas Hedges plays his nephew Patrick. His performance is spot-on but nothing special (I mean a teenager playing a teenager, not hard to do.) I'm a resident Masshole, so I loved the humor specific to the area, but on top of that the look of Manchester and the New England area is captured perfectly. It's a beautifully shot film. Manchester By The Sea might be a tough watch, and it's not a feel good film, but it's an emotional character study that will jump rope with your heartstrings.
3. Hell or High Water
Directed by David Mackenzie
Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, and Ben Foster
I've got a secret passion for westerns, and Hell or High Water is exactly that. A modern-day western. It's like The Town in Texas. It's unique in that sense, though some would argue it's got a few storytelling cliches. But Chris Pine and Ben Foster are a perfect pair as are two leads, and Jeff Bridges is hilarious and a real scene-stealer as the Texas Ranger hunting them down. You're not quite sure how it's all going to go down, but it's awesome and it keeps your eyes glued to the screen until the last second. Lastly, the cinematography of the Texas landscape really helps overstate the scale of this small story. It's amazing a film like Hell or High Water got nominated for Best Picture this year. It definitely won't get an Oscar but it's still a winning film.
2. Captain America: Civil War
Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo
Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Sebastian Stan
You knew this was coming. Hell you know what's coming after this. I am who I am, and I loved Captain America: Civil War, and I know a lot of you did too! It's one of Marvel's best, and it's one of the genre's best. It works as a Captain America film, and an Avengers film, but our lead is still centerstage, brining his trilogy to a logical...conclusion? Tipping point? Talk to Feige...Members of the MCU ensemble give some of their best performances, the fight scenes are so impressive, and it raises plenty of questions on morality. Explosive, emotional, and to no surprise, Captain America: Civil War is my second favorite film of 2016.
(Original Review)
What's my favorite? Well before we get to the expected conclusion of this list and you can all roll your eyes at me, here's some other films I really loved from this year but not as much as these ten (In order of release):
The Jungle Book: Another unnecessary remake from Disney that ended up being incredibly well made, and dare I say, better written than the animated original.
The Nice Guys: Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe make a great pair in this funny and compelling neo-noir.
Moana: Beautifully animated and packed with plenty of catchy Lin-Manuel Miranda music, it's another great Disney film with a simple by-the-numbers story.
Doctor Strange: The MCU goes to bold, fantastical new places in one of its finer origin stories, pulled together by an amazing cast, visuals, and score.
Fences: August Wilson's play comes to life with amazing performances. Coming off much more a play being filmed than an actual film, it's got some truly wonderful work from its cast.
Alright here we go. You know it. My top film of 2016 is...
1. La La Land
Directed by Damien Chapelle
Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and that charming fiend named John Legend
Honestly how could a MUSICAL featuring BUCKETS OF SINGING AND DANCING be CHRIS FLAHERTY'S favorite film of the year?? Yes I'm in the majority, and I see many on the inter webs hating on La La Land, but I digress. It's a heartfelt story about dreams and dreamers, not just show business. Making dreams come true is never an easy task. Challenges and adversity left and right, and many people saying no or slamming doors in your face. La La Land doesn't shy away from the harshness of Hollywood, it's not all sugar-coated song and dance. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are as captivating as they've ever been, and you'll fall in love with their characters and their stories. There's some gorgeous sets and visuals in the film, the songs are unforgettable, and yes buckets of lovely, captivating, dancing.
As Emma Stone sings, "Here's to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem" and here's to La La Land. My favorite film of 2016.
Now I can focus on what's coming up this year, like that Beauty & The Beast remake that's either going to make or break-oh crap I forgot to watch Hail, Caesar...
....Happy Oscar Night!!!
