Top 10 Films of 2011

Listen if you know me and do your research, you know very well where this is all going to land. But it's not about the journey, sometimes it's about the destination? That's how the saying goes right?

Here's my Top 10 Films of 2011!! Today we continue a look back on the years in this decade I didn't do "Top 10 Films" lists for, in hopes of making my eventual Top 10 Films of 2018 list look not so late. If you haven't checked out my Top 10 Films of 2010 yet, click here. On with the show.


10. Winnie The Pooh
Directed by Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall
Starring Jim Cummings, Bud Luckey, and Tom Kenny

Not a lot of people saw this one. Why? Because in one of Disney's most brilliant marketing moves, released this film the same weekend as Harry Potter & The Deathy Hallows - Part 2. Then, when the film performed poorly at the box office, they decided to blame it on the notion that "No one wants to see hand-drawn animation anymore". So right after The Princess & The Frog brought it back to the studio, it was killed again just two years later...

....oh right, I need to provide an opinion on the actual film. This film is classic Winnie The Pooh. If you're still riding the "high" of Christopher Robin, I suggest you give this film a watch. It has the same charm and cleverness of the original 1977 classic. There's an unusual amount of slapstick and physical humor here for Winnie The Pooh, but it works. There's jokes I think kids and adults will laugh at. Where the 1977 film told three stories in a row, this one tells two (arguably three) and tries to tie them together into one fluid narrative. For the most part it works, but not all story lines receive equal attention. The animation is great. Jim Cummings continues to be great as Pooh and Tigger. The new additions to the voice cast are great, including Tom Kenny (SpongeBob) as Rabbit, Craig Ferguson as Owl, and John Cleese as the narrator. The songs are quite catchy, and reminiscent of the classic Sherman Brothers tunes (They're done by Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the duo behind the songs of Frozen and Coco, and many are sung by Zooey Deschanel, who's sweet and soothing voice fits well for Winnie The Pooh). If you or your family like these characters and have a free hour (It's actually a 63-minute film), I suggest you check this one out.


9. The Artist
Directed by Michael Hazanavicius
Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, and John Goodman

Some would say The Artist relies too much on nostalgia as a gimmick. I think that's pretty rude, man. Producing a silent film, in a time that's evolved a lot as far as visual storytelling, is kind of brave when you think about it. It's a clever homage and commentary on the silent film era, and how the transition to "talkies" affected Hollywood icons of the time. When you're limiting yourself as far as dialogue, you need to "show not tell" as best you can, and this film certainly does. I will say as much as I enjoy it, The Artist does drag at times. It's a very charming, enjoyable film that evokes real movie magic. While I'm talking about The Artist, I wish Jean Dujardin got more work stateside after this film went big.


8. Rio
Directed by Carlos Saldanha
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, and Jermaine Clement

Rio's pretty underrated in my opinion. Objectively, it's an average film. It's a touching but cliche' love story, and the animation is gorgeous for the time, literally bringing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to life  (This is from Blue Sky, the folks behind Ice Age). The voice cast is a fun group, and you can tell they're having too. There's some real good songs throughout the film too, one of which has become one my regular "jams". It's a very entertaining 82 minutes I think kids and adults can really enjoy, and you know what? I bet it's better than the last three Ice Age sequels.

Also my original review of Rio from 2011 still exists, and if anyone saw the sequel let me know if it's worth giving a watch.

7. Horrible Bosses
Directed by Seth Gordon
Starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day

This was one funny film. I can still remember and recite a lot of the best moments from the film. It's a pretty outrageous story (and a relatable one? Because I'm sure we've all experienced a horrible boss at one point in our life?) and because of that the humor arising from the script is even better. The cast is also hilarious and fires on all cylinders (OK maybe not Kevin Spacey...) from beginning to end. Charlie Day and Jaimie Foxx steal all the scenes. Horrible Bosses is one of the most creative, hilarious comedies in recent years, and I just want to let everyone to know that murder is wrong and you should never kill your boss or anyone as a solution to your problems. Communication is key.


6. Crazy, Stupid Love
Directed by Glen Ficarra & John Requa
Starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone

The best romantic comedies, at least to me, are the ones that switch things up a bit. Crazy, Stupid, Love does that by looking at the rougher side of love/modern romance. It doesn't wrap everything up in a "happily ever after" ending but it's an upbeat, heartwarming, and funny film. Also, the way it ties all the story-lines together before the third act is CLASSIC. This film stars three of my favorite actors (Carell, Gosling, and Stone). As we know, Ryan and Emma are amazing and have perfect chemistry. Micheal Scott himself, Steve Carell, can be hilarious and sincere, and he delivers one of my favorite monologues in film. Even if you're not a romantic comedy person, there's a lot to love, about Crazy, Stupid Love.


5. Kung Fu Panda 2
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Starring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Dustin Hoffman

Sequels are hard to do. Animated sequels for some reason, seem even harder to do. If you don't believe me look what Disney was up to on home-video from the early nineties 'til about 2009. Kung Fu Panda 2 is one of those rare animated sequels that works, and arguably surpasses the original. Personally it's my favorite of the trilogy. It builds so well off of the original in this touching chapter of Po's (Black) story. The animation is again superb, and the music is epic. The fight scenes are awesome (Yeah I know they're animated but they are awesome, just like in the first film) There's a lot of power in the voice cast, and Gary Oldman is the best as the villain, Lord Shen. Epic and emotional, Kung Fu Panda 2 is a superb sequel.

My original review from 2011 for this film also still exists.

4. Thor
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Hiddelston

This year we really started to see the MCU take shape, with the introduction of two key Avengers. Eight years and about seventeen films later, I still consider the first Thor film to be one of their best, and one of their stronger origin films. I mean, it's really hard to rank all the films in MCU. I'll do it someday when I'm braver but this is my opinion on Thor. The Thor trilogy is a hodge-podge of sorts, when you look from here to Ragnarok, but there's a solid narrative thread throughout, and it starts here. Hemsworth does a great job in his first round with the character. Hopkins commands scenes as Odin. Hiddelston as Loki is still one of the best villains of the franchise. The script is tight, although the "fish out of water" bits on Earth are a mixed bag. The characters are memorable (Except Kat Dennings as Darcy, and you probably forgot Zachary Levi wasn't the first Fandral). I originally thought that Thor's arc felt rushed in this film, and I've sort of backed away from that criticism. Partially from now seeing it as part of a bigger picture, and partially from more viewings. There's drama, action, and humor. It's a perfect Marvel film, and a great start to Thor's life on screen.

Again, original review from 2011 is still existing.

3. The Muppets
Directed by James Bobin
Starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams, and Kermit The Frog

If you didn't love The Muppets, chances are you did and you just forgot, or you did subconsciously and never realized, and this film awakened those feelings inside you like a piercing alarm clock of emotions. The second one is what happened for me. This film, like Toy Story 3, uses nostalgia as a weapon, beautifully. The Muppets is a labor of love, from writer and star Jason Segel. There's a lot at play here. The power of nostalgia, the frailty of fame, following your dreams, and facing failure. It'll make you cry sad and happy tears. The songs and humor are spot-on in traditional Muppet-style, and you already know how wonderful these characters are. Segel and Adams are wonderful, and Walter is a welcome new addition the Muppet family. There's plenty of cameos to enjoy, as you would expect. The Muppets came back in a big way with...well, The Muppets. The world can always use more Muppets.


2. Drive
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Albert Brooks

This is the year I started to recognize Ryan Gosling as one of my favorite actors. Drive is a gripping crime drama with a mysterious and compelling protagonist. Gosling is subtle but masterful as The Driver, who in my opinion is one of the most iconic heroes in recent film history. The cast all around is very likable, and all the characters are well-fleshed out. Albert Brooks as the villain Bernie is a particular stand-out. Drive is cool, it's intense, but it's a story about what it means to be human and to give part of yourself to something bigger. It's almost like a western discussed as a modern action film. I could talk about how much I love Drive more but I got to wrap this up...


1. Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by Joe Johnston
Starring Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, and Sebastian Stan

Surprised? I knew you wouldn't be. This quickly became one of my favorite films of all time, as did Captain America become my favorite superhero of all time. Steve Rogers isn't motivated by say, revenge for a lost loved one, or some foretold prophecy. He's doing it because he knows what's right. He sees evil in the world, and as a person, feels compelled to do something about it. How can you not fall in love with a character like that, especially when he's played perfectly by my man Chris Evans? Honestly this is one of the best batch of supporting players in the MCU. Hayley Atwell is lovely and dynamic as Agent Peggy Carter. Sebastian Stan is too cool for school as Bucky. Hugo Weaving is deliciously evil as Red Skull, and by God can we please get more of Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Phillips in the MCU?? The film is not so much a superhero film, but a WWII action-adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones, which I love. I could keep going but you already knew Captain America: The First Avenger is my favorite film from this year, one of my favorite films of all time, and starring one of my favorite characters of all time.


And those are my Top 10 Films of 2011. Up next is the year 2012, so assemble with your thunder buddies because it's about to go off the chain...

Top 10 Films of 2010

Whoa, man. It's been awhile since I've written any sort of film review or commentary. My Top 10 Films of 2018 is late…I mean normally my "Top 10 Films of the Year" lists come out around the Oscars so technically they're always late. But for me, this really, really late.

But I have an idea, gang. I've been writing/posting film reviews and commentaries since, like, 2011. The better part of this decade. But I didn't do a "Top 10 Films of the Year" list until 2013. So if I do Top 10 lists for those missing years first ('cause they're really, really, really late), and then I'll post my Top 10 Films of 2018, it won't look as late compared to those others lists!!

Cool? Cool…here's my Top 10 Films of 2010.

10. Black Swan
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassell

I recently rewatched this, and I almost took it out of the Top 10 but...GOD, what a chilling, suspenseful mindf**k of a film. It's not the type of film I normally go for but this left a hell of an impression on me. Not only does it keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly asking "What the hell is going on??" it's actually a very intelligent film. The journey of protagonist Nina (Played amazingly by Portman) speaks a lot to the fickle nature of the arts, what one must sacrifice to achieve perfection in the arts, and the duality of man. I'm surprised this didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars this year, but the Academy have never been big horror fans, and this is very horror in nature. If you can get squeamish like me, there are a lot of uncomfortable, taboo…one might even see gross, moments. Somehow that doesn't stop me from watching though. Black Swan leaves its mark on the viewer.


9. The Fighter
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Mark Whalberg, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo

I might hold this film (and another one on the list) in higher regard just because they're Massachusetts set…The Fighter doesn't turn a spotlight on the best section of Massachusetts, or said section's troubled past but…anyway. The Fighter is a wonderful story, not so much about boxing, but about family and the conflicts and dynamics within family, specifically the Ward-Eklund family. What I love about David O. Russell films, is he always seems to bring out the very best in his cast. This is probably one of Mark Whalberg's best roles. Christian Bale, again, completely transforming mind and body for his character. Melissa Leo, hilarious, tough but heartwarming. Seriously it's always gold when Hollywood attempts some Boston/Massachusetts accents. The Fighter's a really enjoyable film.


8. Despicable Me
Directed by Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud
Starring Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, and Miranda Cosgrove

So like Shrek, Despicable Me probably hasn't aged too well in the eyes of the public, due to the savage nature of pop culture, and the studio's (Illumination Entertainment's) own greed to franchise the hell out of it. I mean, the Minions are just annoying nowadays. But the original Despicable Me is still a very good film. It does have a lot of funny moments (not all of them coming from Minons) and it's a creative, heartwarming story. It's just a shame they franchise'd the hell out of it. Steve Carrell is wonderful as Gru, really all the voice cast is, from Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario, to Julie Andrews as Gru's mother. Despicable Me is a sweet, charming film that has stood the test the time, wether you want it to or not.

Also I find it weird that two animated films about super villains turning good for personal reasons came out in 2010 but only one of them got any real traction…any MegaMind fans out there? Did the right one win the hearts of Hollywood? A question for another day perhaps...


7. Kick Ass
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

I guess you could say I've grown to enjoy Kick-Ass more since I first publicized my opinions on it years ago. Is Kick-Ass himself still not the greatest protagonist? Yeah, kinda. Is Nic Cage still freaking amazing? Yes of course. Does Vaughn know how to do action scenes? You bet he does. There's cliche' bits but there's plenty to enjoy here. When it comes to shock value, Matthew Vaughn has more restraint here than he does in say, the sequel* or the second Kingsman, and I appreciate that. Kick-Ass takes everyone's fantasy of wanting to become a superhero, and slaps it in the face with a cold-towel of reality. I've still yet to read the graphic novel but it's an interesting concept to watch on screen. I've become a much bigger superhero fan since 2010, so that could partially be why I've come to enjoy Kick-Ass more these days.

*I was really nice to the sequel back in the day…but wasn't it crap? Do I have to rewatch Kick-Ass 2? I don't want to.

6. Inception
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Inception is one of the most original heist/action films to come out in recent years. Its blend with science-fiction (can we consider this science fiction?) makes it so. The concept is truly inspired, which should come as no surprise when Christopher Nolan's writing and directing. The set-pieces are awesome, the world-building is top-notch, and there's a lot of heart in the heist. Cobb (DiCaprio, this is probably one of his best roles) has a lot at stake personally in making sure this job goes well, and many other characters do as well, but not as much as Cobb. This is his story. Also, this is a great cast, particularly Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, and Marion Cotillard. Hey, remember that this film is also where we got the typical, iconic Han Zimmer-type score (You know what I mean)? Inception is a prime example of Christopher Nolan at his very best, as far as filmmaking and storytelling.


Alright it's going to start to get hard, here…there's like two really great dramas and three awesome animated films in the top 5. Let's forge ahead...

5. The Social Network
Directed by David Fincher
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake

I'm not sure there's a more important drama to today's generation than The Social Network. Does that make sense? Is it even an agreeable statement? Oh well. It is super-compelling to learn the story behind literally the biggest social media platform in existence, which has become so ingrained in our day-to-day culture. What could just be a simple "rise/fall of a company" tale is elevated by themes of friendship, partnership, and betrayal. Facebook itself isn't taking center stage, it's the people who made it and their relationships, which makes for a more interesting watch. There's a lot at play here. The film turns a lens on how we value social media as a society, how people work with or hide behind it, and the inner-workings of college community or "youth culture". Jesse Eisenberg gave a career-defining performance in this film, removing himself from the "Diet Michael Cera" shackles society had placed upon him. Andrew Garfield is a real standout, and who knew Justin Timberlake could act so well?
Heh, a film about social media destroying friendships, wonder if there's more meaning to that…


4. The Town
Directed by Ben Affleck
Starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Rebecca Hall

Once again, Boston-set film, Hollywood attempting Boston accents, and I can't get enough of it. I'm going to say it. I miss the old days of Ben Affleck. Before being Batman in the DCEU broke him (I'll always mourn the loss of an Affleck-led Batman film). The Town is some of Affleck's best work, because he's working in his turf. A heist film set in the geography of Boston is really fun to watch, even if you're not from here. A car chase through the North End and a robbery at Fenway are some of the film's highlights. Affleck's joined by some of the most talented character actors in the business (Is it fair to call them that?) like Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Cooper, and watching them all do a Boston accent is pure perfection. The film is also like a modern-day, Boston-set Robin Hood, which just sounds fun, right? There's real emotional stakes for Doug (Affleck), so audiences can invest beyond "Will they pull the job off?" The Town is a cornerstone of Ben Affleck's career, and it's shame it went through the awards season mostly unnoticed.

Alright…I'm going to start pissing people off now...

3. Toy Story 3
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack

Toy Story 3 is a really great film and a perfect conclusion to the trilogy (I know what's coming in June! Leave me alone, I'm focusing on what we got right now!) There's a lot of heart, and it's a great story about growing up, the changes we face as a result, and how it affects us and those around us. At the center of it are a cast of characters audiences have loved and grown up with for years, which makes it a much more emotional watch. Pixar has always known to tackle mature themes in their films, and Toy Story 3 is like, the gold standard.
Nine years later, I find myself not enjoying the sections of the film where the toys are at Sunnyside as much. The escape sequence is top-notch, and Lotso is superb, but everything else is just ok to me. I don't want to say it's filler, because it does hold narrative value, but it just doesn't land as well as the rest of the film. Overall the film still packs a punch, because it aims for the nostalgia factor. I myself had just finished my first year in college when this came out so this did hit a little close to home. Toy Story 3 caps off the original Toy Story trilogy in a masterful way that will resonate with kids and adults for years to come.


2. Tangled
Directed by Byron Howard & Nathon Greno
Starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy

What makes Tangled so great is it's classic Disney updated for modern times…and it did that before Frozen. Maybe we give Frozen too much credit, and forget to remember Tangled paved the way for Frozen-but I digress. All the elements of a great Disney film are here: superb animation, wonderful music and lyrics from Alan Menken, and wonderful characters. There's also plenty of action and slapstick humor. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi have wonderful chemistry as Rapunzel and Flynn (also Zachary Levi is my hero and because he's in Tangled that makes it one of Disney's best films), Donna Murphy is another great Disney villain, and Pascal and Maximus are some of the best Disney sidekicks in years. At a time where many people thought the classic Disney formula wouldn't work anymore, Tangled dared to prove them wrong, and prove them wrong it did. If not for Tangled, films like Frozen and Moana, films that stay true to Disney but also tweak their classic formula, probably wouldn't have been made…and you know what? Tangled deserves more than a fancied up restroom area in DisneyWorld, dammit…also why was it nominated for Best Animated Feature???


1. How To Train Your Dragon
Directed by Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and Craig Ferguson 

I've grown to love the How To Train Your Dragon films more and more as time goes on. The animation has always been breathtaking. The voice cast is low-key one of the best ever assembled. The music...do I even need to say it? But I love the story and messages this entire trilogy tells. It's a coming-of-age story that deals with growing up, sacrifice, loss, and staying true to yourself. Most importantly though the friendships, the relationships that define us. All of this is on display right in the first film, where Hiccup (Baruchel) and Toothless' journey begins. It's well-told from beginning to end, and really what's so great is much of their bonding is told without dialogue. The filmmakers just let them interact and let the animation and the music do the storytelling. Its' not just a bunch of Hiccup talking to someone who won't talk back. It's actually brilliant. And the father/son dynamic between Hiccup and Stoick (Butler) is also very touching, and both Baruchel and Butler are giving it their all. Anyway, have I convinced you enough why this is my Top Film of 2010? Because I could keep going…

Revisiting all these films from 2010 made me realize what a strong year for animated films it was, and probably one of the strongest we've had in recent years. It's why I confidently put three of them as my top 3. I enjoyed revisiting a lot of these films. It made me realize a lot of patterns in my taste of films, and how much my tastes have and haven't changed. Next up is The Top 10 Films of 2011.

Also I really need to do a review of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World...

Top 10 Films of 2016

Another year of film comes to a close this weekend with the 89th Annual Academy Awards, and what a year it's been. It was a make-or-break period for superhero films (Marvel did the making, DC did the breaking. Shots fired.). After a few years of backlash, filmmakers seemed to have responded to the "Oscars So White" rally cry, and we had a much more diverse library of films (Four of the nine Best Picture Nominees predominantly star actors and actresses of color.). Disney churned out not one but two incredible animated films, while Pixar gave us another sequel in Finding Dory, that wasn't spectacular but still worlds better than Cars 2. But most importantly, Ryan Gosling gave us even more reasons to be in awe of him…anyway…

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!!!