Looking Back at 2016 - Top 10 and More

I saw nearly 70 films released in the U.S. during 2016. With my viewing of "Jackie" last night and the calendar turning to February, I'm ready to put a bow on the year and look back at some great films before moving on to 2017.


The Top 10 Films Release in 2016


1. La La Land - This was my clear favorite film from 2016, and with some added perspective, likely to stand up well among some of my all-time favorite movies. Writer/Director Damien Chazelle crafts a beautiful and poignant tale of love and hope in the form of a 1950s musical. Gosling and Stone aren't particular good singers or dancers, but under Chazelle's vision, the film elevates itself above genre stereotypes, allowing audiences to experience something genuinely special.

2. Fences - Denzel Washington, as director, keeps August Wilson's brilliant material at a distance, not allowing himself to interfere with the content as so many other filmmakers would feel compelled to do. It's a film with heavy dialogue and few settings, but it works largely because of Wilson's script and the powerhouse performances from Washington and Viola Davis.


3. Silence - The most powerful piece of filmmaking I saw all year, not surprisingly, came from the great Martin Scorsese. While I found his casting of English-speaking actors as Portuguese missionaries unforgiveable, I was able to move past that and become fully absorbed in an astonishingly gripping tale of dedication and faith.


4. Manchester by the Sea - Few films tackling profound loss have handled the subject matter with better tact and skill. Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan pens a flawless script, which viewers can watch unravel with devastating affect. Casey Affleck is brilliant in the lead, showing a new side and a great depth of range.


5. Allied - This is the most underrated and under-appreciated film I saw all year. Robert Zemeckis is in complete control of this taut suspense-thriller. He's Hitchcockian in his approach and deserves high praise for the best direction I've seen from him throughout his relatively impressive career.


6. O.J.: Made in America - At nearly eight hours long, this is a true deep-dive into the life of O.J. Simpson, with plenty of important context surrounding both his life and his infamous crime. I suspect with more time in post-production, the film could have been trimmed further, but that's not purely a complaint; the material is engrossing throughout.

7. Arrival - No one can tell director Denis Villeneuve that he didn't get to make the film his way -- he manages to avoid all contrivances and hit a homerun with incredibly deep and complex themes. Amy Adams is excellent in the lead, taking the viewer on a very personal journey.

8. Nocturnal Animals - Tom Ford's overtly symbolic tale of pain and suffering is composed with great craft and intensity. The always impressive Jake Gyllenhaal is on point as the jilted lover reimaging his decades old trauma. It's clever, and not typical of Hollywood-fare.

9. Eye in the Sky - A film that asks us to reevaluate our collective morale compass. Director Gavin Hood doesn't mask his feelings on drone strikes, but he presents the material sincerely. It's a film that despite the advanced technology involved, could easily work on the stage to great success.


10. Hell or High Water - Strong performances from Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges keep this film rolling. It's a well tread genre, but it doesn't fall into the many typical contrivances that so many other bank heist films are defeated by. Without question, it's a refreshing take on old material.

Honorable Mentions


In addition to the films in my top-10, I'll also list, in alphabetical order, some other very enjoyable movie experiences from 2016. I recommend any of these films in which the subject matter is of interest.

10 Cloverfield Lane
All the Way
Café Society
Captain Fantastic
Deadpool
Elvis and Nixon
Gleason
Ip Man 3
Jackie
Midnight Special
Neerja
Snowden
Weiner

Individual Accolades

Best Director:
1. Damien Chazelle, "La La Land"
2. Robert Zemeckis, "Allied"
3. Martin Scorsese, "Silence"
4. Denis Villeneuve, "Arrival"
5. Tom Ford, "Nocturnal Animals"

Best Performance by an Actor:
1. Denzel Washington, "Fences"
2. Casey Affleck, "Manchester by the Sea"
3. Andrew Garfield, "Silence"
4. Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nocturnal Animals"
5. Jake Gyllenhaal, "Demolition"

Best Performance by an Actress:
1. Viola Davis, "Fences"
2. Amy Adams, "Arrival"
3. Emma Stone, "La La Land"
4. Natalie Portman, "Jackie"
5. Sonam Kapoor, "Neerja"

Best Screenplay:
1. August Wilson, "Fences"
2. Kenneth Lonergan, "Manchester by the Sea"
3. Eric Heisserer, "Arrival"
4. Damien Chazelle, "La La Land"
5. Guy Hibbert, "Eye in the Sky"