Year in Review: Terry's Top Ten Films of 2016

It is that time of year once again.  Finally, I have found enough time to watch enough films to compile a top ten list from the year before.  My rule is I need to at least make it through the year's Best Picture nominees before I can say my top ten list is complete.

2016 was an interesting year in film.  The Oscars are no longer as white as everyone thought they were, with three Best Picture nominees featuring African-American leads as well as Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress going to African-Americans.  There were films that were throwbacks to past glory years of cinema (La La Land, Hell or High Water) while you had other films addressing very current and modern topics (Moonlight, Lion).  Comic book movies made bank at the box office, while Star Wars and Harry Potter resurfaced once again.  No matter which genre you were looking at, there was quality to be found if you looked hard enough.  This led to a compilation of films at the top of my list that are as varied as they are excellent.

Honorable Mentions

Finding Dory

(dir. by Andrew Stanton & Angus MacLane)

Swiss Army Man

(dir. by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)

Zootopia

(dir. by Jared Bush, Byron Howard, & Rich Moore)

Hell or High Water

(dir. by David Mackenzie)

10.  Hidden Figures

(dir. by Theodore Melfi)

The first film on my list is a film that deals with a subject I love.  The Space Race is one of my favorite parts of history, and Hidden Figures discusses an otherwise untold story of a group of African American women who were essential to the work NASA did in getting men in space and on the moon.  The film was made to appeal to a family audience and so was made a little more vanilla than it could have been, but the impact is still there.  Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae have inspired performances as the three leaders of this movement.  It is a great combination of all the aspects of American history during that time: Space Race and Civil Rights movement.  I loved this film and all it stood for.

9.  Nocturnal Animals

(dir. by Tom Ford)

This fascinating film is one of those experiences that gets stuck in your head in a way you can't shake.  Amy Adams plays an art gallery owner that seems to be distracted and haunted by several things.  She is haunted by her past, which soon gets combined with being haunted by a novel sent to her by her ex-husband.  As the parallel stories of present day, flashbacks, and narrative from the novel are told, you begin to lose track of what is actually real, but I think that's the point.  All the stories seem to complement each other in this twisted thriller unravels into a fascinating piece of art worthy of Tom Ford's reputation.  Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson also provide award-worthy performances in supporting roles as a killer and the man out to find justice.

8.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

(dir. by David Yates)

I became a late fan of the Harry Potter series, but a very quick fan.  When I heard they were starting up a spin-off series, I was about as skeptical as I was when I first heard about Harry Potter.  Spin-offs almost never go well.  However, I was amazed at what they developed.  The Harry Potter universe is as rich and fascinating as any cinematic universe that has ever been developed.  Newt Scamander's trunk of fantastic beasts just continues to explore more aspects of this universe.  What I loved most about this film is it has everything you love about Harry Potter, but it is all adults.  This is not the little kid movie that started this whole magical ride.  This is a film that starts a new era of new stories and new characters for us all to fall in love with.  I hope they never stop expanding on what this universe can be.

7.  Lion

(dir. by Garth Davis)

Dev Patel became a breakout star in 2008 with Slumdog Millionaire playing the grown-up version of a boy that had a rough childhood in India.  I loved that movie.  Last year, Dev Petel received his first Oscar nomination for playing the grown-up version of a boy that had a rough childhood in India.  I loved this movie too!  There are definitely some similarities between Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, but they are different enough to make the two experiences vastly different.  Lion is a true story about Saroo, a young boy who finds himself separated from his family and thousands of miles from home.  Eventually, he finds himself in an orphanage and gets adopted by an Australian family.  As an adult, Saroo decides to use Google Earth to try and find his way back home.  This film breaks your heart and spends the whole movie putting it back together again.  You know how it is going to end, but it doesn't make the payoff any less powerful.  Dev Petel validates that he is a quality actor that we need to see on screen much more often than we do.

6.  Silence

(dir. by Martin Scorsese)

Two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan to look for their mentor in the 1600's.  Sounds like a terrible movie that would never get made.  Oh, Martin Scorsese made it?  Nevermind, this will be a masterpiece.  And that is exactly what it is.  Scorsese is one of the greatest storytellers of our time as he brings to life this world we had no clue would be so fascinating.  Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver solidify their place with some of the best young actors working today.  Liam Neeson resurrects his career in a beautiful performance as a tortured priest.  However, this film does not get made without Scorsese.  There are few directors that draw the attention of the entire industry simply for making a film.  Scorsese is one of those directors, and Silence will go down as just another masterpiece in a career filled with them.

5.  La La Land

(dir. by Damien Chazelle)

By the time I saw La La Land, the hype had been built up to monumental levels.  I wish I had seen it without any expectations or knowing as much as I knew.  If that had happened, I am sure I would have loved it even more than I did.  This throwback to classic original movie musicals of the 50's and 60's touches a sentimental nerve in a similar way 2011's The Artist did.  Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were perfect in their starring roles as the film dazzled through song and wonderful visual images.  It was probably the prettiest movie of the year, which is impressive considering there was a Scorsese film and a Tom Ford film.  It is one of those films that makes you happy from start to finish.  With our world where it is, having an escape like this is so needed from time to time.

4.  Deadpool

(dir. by Tim Miller)

From possibly the most innocent and feel-good movie of the year to a film that just punches you in the face.  Deadpool took advantage of the current craze of superhero movies and flipped it on its head to redefine the what the genre could be.  Ryan Reynolds is to Deadpool as Robert Downey, Jr. is to Iron Man.  He just is.  It is one of the most naturally played roles I have ever seen.  He is crass, self-deprecating, self-aware, and ridiculously entertaining.  It also redefined the genre in a similar way to Downey's first turn as Iron Man.  For someone who loves comic book movies to begin with, Deadpool is a deformed head and shoulders above the rest.

3.  Manchester by the Sea

(dir. by Kenneth Lonergan)

Like I said, this list has a wide variety of films.  With this installment, we have a film about grief, loss, and living with one's past.  Casey Affleck plays the lead, haunted by his past while trying to mourn his brother's death with his nephew.  I haven't seen many movies more real than this.  Every scene feels completely genuine as you forget you are watching actors and not people just living out their lives.  That is a testament to the performances by Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, and Kyle Chandler.  It also shows the skill of Kenneth Lonergan, an accomplished screenwriter that picks his directed movies very carefully and sparingly (only his third directed film).  This film will have you crying one minute, laughing the next, and fascinated from start to finish.

2.  Arrival

(dir. by Denis Villeneuve)

This is a film that becomes an obsession much like the aliens become to Amy Adams.  In an era of big budget blockbusters, here you have a subtle and quiet sci-fi movie that could only be compared to the recent Christopher Nolan films.  Several spacecraft land on earth quietly and mysteriously.  The US military entrusts Louise Banks, a linguistics professor played by Adams, to find a way to communicate with the aliens and discover what they want.  The quiet intensity draws you in more and more every minute as it all builds to the ending that brings clarity to it all.  It is as shocking as it is quiet and understated.  I loved every minute of it and would have been perfectly content to name this my top film of the year.

1.  O.J.: Made in America

(dir. by Ezra Edelman)

To show just how much variety this year's top films have, my number one is an 8 hour documentary.  However, I rarely become so engrossed in something as I was in this twisted story that no one would believe unless it were true.  O.J.: Made in America tells of the meteoric rise and fall of football star and actor O.J. Simpson, including his very public trial for the murder of his wife.  However, it is so much more than just a story of one man.  It is the story of an entire race and an entire city.  Without knowing the whole story, you would never fully grasp everything that happened in this one man's life.  I watched this, like most did, as a miniseries that aired on ESPN.  It did get a limited cinematic release as one complete saga, which qualifies it as one film.  I somewhat feel like I'm cheating putting this as my top film of the year, but when it is considered as a complete 8 hour saga, nothing else even comes close to being as good as this.

A Year in Review: Adam's Top Ten Films of 2016

It's been a crazy start to 2017, one that inevitably delayed me from working on this list. But fear not, I'm finally ready to reveal my Top Ten of 2016!

Unlike previous years, I was more selective of the films I watched. This was a really good year to be a fan of film.  We will be talking about a lot of these films for years to come.  But there are always two side to every coin. Even though I was more selective, the bad films I watched made me question why I ever had a fragment of hope for them.  I'm talking about you, Independence Day 2!!

This year's trend was that the big blockbuster films were just good-to-average.  There were exceptions like Captain America: Civil War and Star Trek: Beyond.  Unfortunately, a lot of the bigger films were overhyped and/or disappointed me (X-men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Ghostbusters, Batman v Superman, and Rouge One)

The smaller indie films made me more emotional than any other year in recent memory.  Fences, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, and La La Land were a few of the culprits that moved me to tears.

While we are on the subject of tears, let's take a brief moment and remember some of the actors and actresses we lost this last year:
Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, Alan Thicke, Florence Henderson, Gene Wilder, Kenny Baker, Garry Marshall, Anton Yelchin, Patty Duke, Garry Shandling, and Alan Rickman.

Now, lets move on to some awards:

Total films seen: 147
Thumbs up Percentage: 70% (up from 64% in 2015)

Actor of the Year:

Adam Driver

Film: Midnight Special, Paterson, Silence

T.V.: Girls

Video Games: Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Actress of the Year:

Amy Adams

Films: Arrival, Nocturnal Animals, Batman v Superman

Best Actor: Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea, Chris Pine - Hell or High Water, Denzel Washington - Fences, Andrew Garfield - Silence, Adam Driver - Paterson

Best Actress: Amy Adams - Arrival, Viola Davis - Fences, Rebecca Hall - Christine, Emma Stone - La La Land, Ruth Negga - Loving 

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali - Moonlight, Stephen Lang - Don't Breathe, Ben Foster - Hell or High Water, Shia LeBeouf - American Honey, Aaron Taylor-Johnson - Nocturnal Animals 

Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea, Naomie Harris - Moonlight, Jena Malone - The Neon Demon, Soo-an Kim - Train to Busan, Lupita Nyong'o - Queen of Katwe

Best Break-Out Performance: Ruth Negga - Loving, Auli'i Cravalho - Moana, Anya Taylor-Joy - The Witch, Angourie Rice - The Nice Guys, Noel Sethi - The Jungle Book

Best Director: Denis Villeneuve - Arrival, Martin Scorsese - Silence, Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea, Ezra Edelman - O.J.: Made in America, Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

Best Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea, Hell or High Water, Swiss Army Man, The Nice Guys, La La Land

Best Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight, Arrival, The Neon Demon, Fences, Nocturnal Animals

Most Underrated Films: The Nice Guys, The Neon Demon, Hush, The Edge of Seventeen, Midnight Special 

Most Overrated Films: Deadpool, The Birth of a Nation, Florence Foster Jenkins, Ghostbusters, Rogue One

Biggest Surprise: Don't Breathe, The Invitation, Barbershop 3, Eddie the Eagle, Hello, My Name is Doris

Biggest Disappointment: X-men: Apocalypse, Batman v Superman

Best Sequel: 10 Cloverfield Lane

Best Laughs: The Nice Guys, The Bronze, The Edge of Seventeen, Popstar, Keanu

Best Scares: Don't Breathe, Hush, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Witch, The Conjuring 2, Lights Out

Bottom Five of the Year (from Bad to Awful): Boo! A Madea Halloween, Hardcore Henry, The Darkness, The Other Side of the Door, Independence Day 2

Movies that I haven't seen, that could make my list:  The Handmaiden, Shin Godzilla, Toni Erdmann, The Salesman, 20th Century Women, Neeja, Live by Night, Kicks, Captain Fantastic, Morris from America, A Monster Calls, The Monster, The Eyes of My Mother

 Honorable Mentions:

Fences

(Denzel Washington)

La La Land

(Damien Chazelle)

Nocturnal Animals

(Tom Ford)

Moana

(John Musker, Ron Clements, Don Hall, Chris Williams)

Christine

(Antonio Campos)

10.

Paterson

(Jim Jarmusch)

What a pleasant surprise this film was.  Adam Driver plays Paterson, a normal guy who lives in Paterson, NJ.  Patersons adheres to a simple routine: he drives his bus route, he writes poems in his secret notebook, he walks Marvin his dog, stops by the bar for exactly one drink; he then goes home to his wife Laura.  Golshiefteh Farahani plays his wife Laura, a woman who has new dreams for life daily and encourages Paterson's poetry. It's a simple observation of the ups and downs of everyday life.  This film doesn't have any action scenes and there isn't a bomb on his bus, but it does however celebrate the life of the normal man.  The chemistry that the two leads have - Driver and Farahani - shines and they are quite charming together.  It also is very funny and captures the little moments in our lives.  It's also worth noting that Rizwan Manji constantly made me laugh each time he was on screen.

9.

Hell or High Water

(David Mackenzie)

From the first trailer I watched I was hooked.  We follow as a divorced father and his ex-con brother resort to robbing banks to save their family farm.  This is one of the few films I have ever re-watched immediately after my first viewing.  It's an indie film, but feels a lot bigger than it actually is.  I love how real the characters were.  They are relatable, and we're able to put ourselves in their shoes and care for them.  Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham, Ben Foster, and Chris Pine all stepped up their games and delivered great performances.  Chris Pine gave the best performance of his career and I'll remember it for years to come.  Even though I'm a fan of Jeff Bridges, I would have loved to see Ben Foster nominated instead.  I also suspect writer Taylor Sheridan is going to have an amazing career,considering he recieved an Oscar nomination for this film and he wrote Sicario as well.

8.

Moonlight

(Barry Jenkins)

Arguably, the most important film that came out last year.  Moonlight, tells the story of Chiron at three different stages in his life, when he is a young boy, a young man in high school, and when he is a grown man.  We witness the struggles of Chiron as he try's to find his place in the world and battle with who he is.  Barry Jenkins, follows up, Medicine for Melancholy, with another extraordinary film.  Jenkins was able to get amazing performances out of his actors, with the standouts being Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris.  This film isn't easy to watch but it's worth it.  I have seen this film a few times now and it gets better and better and I seem to cry with each viewing.  The only reason it's not higher is that the third act wasn't the strongest as the previous two.

7.

The Neon Demon

(Nicholas Winding Refn)

 Nicholas Winding Refn has made one of the weirdest and arguably the most disturbing films of this year.  It's about a young up-and coming model who gets tangled in a web of behavior and a lifestyle that doesn't reflect her character at all.  Jealousy and greed saturate her contemporaries in the industry.  It is so bizarre and really hard to describe with any detail.  I have watched this several times and with each viewing I got something different out of it.  The one thing for sure, the cinematography, costumes, makeup, score, and acting are some of the best of the year.  Elle Fanning and Jena Malone prove that they are amazing actresses that need to be in more stuff.  The ending will leave you speechless and make your stomach turn.

6.

Don't Breathe 

(Fede Alvares)

&

Hush

(Mike Flanagan)

I hate ties as much as the next guy but there was no possible way I could split these two films up.  For starters, they both are home invasion films that have characters that are without certain senses: I.e Don't Breathe - has a blind ex military type man. Hush - has a mute and deaf female writer.  Watching both of these films with the lights off made my senses more heightened and me nervous for what was about to happen next.  Now any other year you wouldn't see a horror film even close to my top ten list but 2016 was special for the horror genre.  These two films were even more special because they were scary but had characters that we're believable and vulnerable and limited the horror cliques that I hate.  Both films cast were top notch as well.  Stephen Lang from Don't Breath and Kate Siegel from Hush showed us that horror films can have great acting in there films and become the exception not the rule.  I strongly recommend these films, they will make you feel uneasy, scared, and put you on the edge of your seat.

5.

Train to Busan

(Sang-ho Yeon)

It's funny the places you hear about films.  Everyday when I drive to work I listen to NPR, and one day they were talking about Korea's first zombie film.  So when I finally watched it, I was surprised by how awesome and intense it is.  This films follows several passengers as they travel from Seoul to Busan while trying to survive a deadly zombie virus outbreak.  I enjoyed this film so much - my heart was beating non stop.  But it isn't just a zombie film.  It has character you both come to believe in and despise as well.  This would be a very fun character study on how the world handles tragedy and horrible situations.  Aside from character development, the technical aspects are also well done.  The effects, sound, makeup, and editing are some of my favorites of the year.  Fun little side note: this movie was my number one for most of the year until recently.  If you don't mind subtitles and want to see a very fun, entertaining, and suspenseful film, check this out.

4.

O.J.: Made in America

(Ezra Edelman)

You know a documentary has to be great to make my top ten list.  This is the first documentary to crack my list since my number one film of 2005, Earthlings.  Originally this was a TV documentary series, but I'm so glad that it's being considered a film by the academy.  It is a real, detailed look at the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, but also covers what was happening with the LAPD and in the country at that time.  It is very interesting and frustrating to watch.  Even with a total  run time close to nine hours, you want to know more right away.  I knew very little about O.J. going in and after watching this I felt very upset and disgusted by the man he was.  This film also sheds light on issues that are as relevant today as they ever were.  To quote my friend and fellow film critic, Todd Plucknett: "This isa film about race, the justice system, Los Angeles, celebrity, and most of all - America."

3.

Silence

(Martin Scorsese)

So, one of the main reason this list was delayed was I wanted to watch the next Scorsese film.  Scorsese is my favorite director of all time.  The Departed, Taxi Driver, and Goodfellas are some of my favorite films of all time.  Silence, in time, could join the ranks of the greatest Scorsese films.  This film follows two Jesuit priests and their journey through Japan to find their mentor and friend.  It takes place in 17th century Japan, where the simple acknowledgement of being a Christian resulted in torture and the ultimate price: death.  Ultimately, this film is about true faith and being a martyr for what you believe in.  Even with a long run time it never feels as long as it actually is.  Some of the imagery on screen is hard to watch, so be prepared.  It is criminal that this film was almost enitely snubbed at the Oscars outside of cinematography.

  

2.

Arrival

(Denis Villeneuve)

Denis Villeneuve has finally started becoming a household name.  He is quickly moving up my favorite directors with each film I see.  Arrival, is his third film in the last four years to make my top ten list; the others being Sicario (2015), and Prisoners (2013).  What I enjoy about this film is that we are in a time of alien/science fiction films having a lot of explosions and action, but Villeneuve scales everything back to make a more human story.  Another thing he does well is that he isn't afraid to make strong female characters in his films.  Don't be fooled - Arrival does have aliens, but this film is really about communication and humanity.  It's beautifully filmed and the score is amazing.  Amy Adams gives one of my favorite performances of the year and her lack of nomination is a glaring Oscar snub.  Even with eight nominations at this years Oscars, I feel Arrival, was snubbed for visual effects, score (Passengers and Lion don't even come close), and Amy Adams.  This film will leave you with questions, so multiple viewings are a must.  I have seen it twice so far and I'm still in awe of everything I witness on screen.  

1.

Manchester by the Sea

(Kenneth Lonergan)

There was no film experience of 2016 quite like this one.  Manchester by the Sea is an emotional roller coaster that will be hard to shake well after the credits rolls.  Casey Affleck plays an apartment handyman who receives custody of his nephew after his brother passes away.  We've seen this premise in a lot of other films before, but as the story moves along and the layers of Affleck's character are peeled back to reveal a grief like no other.  Casey Affleck gave us his best performance as well as the best of the year.  He and fellow costar, Michelle Williams, broke my heart as I watched the relationships and pain reveal themselves.  I put myself in his shoes and I never want to feel the pain he felt.  Manchester by the Sea is not just a film - it's the closest experience to actual life that might have ever been put on screen.  It will make you laugh, cry, but most important of all - it will make you appreciate the little things in life and not take them for granted.  I recently just rewatched this and I walked away liking it even more, it truly is a work of cinema mastery.  I feel that Arrival and Manchester by the Sea will forever be locked in a back and fourth death match for my number one film of this year.  

Well that's my list!!  Did I surprise you?  What did I leave off?  Let me know your top ten and your opinions on mine!

Thank you again

ADAM

Year in Review: Todd’s Top 10 Films of 2016

I feel like this is becoming a trend, but 2016 was a very mediocre year at the movies. It took until almost the new year for me to see a couple films that I really felt comfortable giving 4 stars to, which is very unusual for me. Even the major Oscar players were underwhelming in a lot of ways. La La Land is likely going to sweep awards season, but that movie makes no appearance on my list. The Birth of a Nation took Sundance by storm a year ago, but personally I cannot figure out why. It is fairly lousy movie with minimal emotional depth. The Pixar movie was not their finest effort, the superhero movies ranged from average to awful, and a few of my most anticipated movies got delayed until 2017. However, I did see a host of independent and foreign films (well represented on this list) that were fulfilling; they just weren’t necessarily All-Decade worthy. Check out my top 10 below, right after some awards and a brief year in review…

Films seen: 125

Thumbs Up percentage: 56.80% (55.56% in 2015)

Actor of the Year: Michael Shannon (Elvis & Nixon, Frank & Lola, Loving, Midnight Special, Nocturnal Animals)

Actress of the Year: Isabelle Huppert (Elle, Louder Than Bombs, Things to Come)

Best Actor: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea, Nicolas Cage – Army of One, Oliver Masucci – Look Who’s Back, Cliff Curtis – The Dark Horse, Denzel Washington – Fences

Best Actress: Krisha Fairchild – Krisha, Viola Davis – Fences, Morgan Saylor – White Girl, Alicia Vikander – The Light Between Oceans, Janay Raluy – A Monster with a Thousand Heads

Best Supporting Actor: Shia LaBeouf – American Honey, Craig Robinson – Morris from America, Devin Druid – Louder Than Bombs, Jesse Plemons – The Program, Yôsuke Kubozuka – Silence

Best Supporting Actress: Angeliki Papoulia – The Lobster, Kristen Stewart – Café Society, Mihaela Sirbu – Aferim!, Chloe Sevingy – Love & Friendship, Jena Malone – The Neon Demon

Best Original Screenplay: Louder Than Bombs, Blue Jay, American Honey, Manchester by the Sea, Don’t Think Twice

Best Adapted Screenplay: Fences, Silence, Indignation, Nocturnal Animals, Arrival

Best Ensemble Cast: Fences, American Honey, Joshy, The Handmaiden, Manchester by the Sea

Most underrated film: Being Charlie

Most overrated film: Deadpool

Biggest surprise: Don’t Breathe

Biggest disappointment: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best sequel: 10 Cloverfield Lane

Worst sequel: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Great indie films that no one saw: Bleed for This, The Childhood of a Leader, The Fits, Joshy, Krisha, Men Go to Battle, Riphagen, White Girl

Bottom five of the year (from bad to worst): The Accountant, Deadpool, The Sea of Trees, The Forest, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Films I still need to see: 20^th Century Women, Certain Women, Christine, Elle, Hidden Figures, I, Daniel Blake, Lion, Live by Night, Loving, Neruda, Paterson, The Salesman, Things to Come, Toni Erdmann

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

15. Arrival (directed by Denis Villeneuve)

14. April and the Extraordinary World (directed by Christian Desmares & Franck Ekinci)

13. Nuts! (directed by Penny Lane)

12. Joshy (directed by Jeff Baena)

11. Don’t Think Twice (directed by Mike Birbiglia)

10. Manchester by the Sea (directed by Kenneth Lonergan)

There was no 2016 movie that provided an emotional experience as profound as Manchester by the Sea. The film stars Casey Affleck as an apartment handyman who is tasked with taking care of his nephew when his brother suddenly dies. It may sound like any other movie where a father figure is in over his head, but this one is different. There is always something lurking under the surface that we don’t really understand until we see the flashback on screen. In one of the most unforgettable scenes of the year, we see the most horribly unthinkable tragedy imaginable. It is this type of bluntness, coupled with the authenticity of the borderline offensive comedic timing, that make this movie into something special and one that will burn in the memory. While Kenneth Lonergan was able to achieve near perfection with his subtle and simple You Can Count on Me and achieve masterpiece status with his hot mess three hour Margaret, his 2016 effort is a flawless blend of the two. It is difficult to let go of and an absolute wonder to watch.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Actor (#1), Best Original Screenplay (#4; Louder Than Bombs), Best Ensemble Cast (#5; Fences)

9. O.J.: Made in America (directed by Ezra Edelman)

It was difficult to place this film on my list because I did not watch it as one film. I watched it as a TV documentary series, the way most people did. However, it qualifies as a movie, so it cannot be ignored. It was one of (or several of) the best films I saw in 2016. It is the fascinating story of O.J. Simpson, the football legend turned Hollywood personality who was very publically charged and acquitted of the murder of his wife and another man in 1994. This film, unlike the equally fascinating miniseries The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, focuses on several other aspects of Simpson’s rise to fame and demise, as well as sheds light on issues that are as relevant today as ever. It is a movie about race, the justice system, Los Angeles, celebrity, and most of all America. In a similar way to Hoop Dreams, it uses an interesting story to convey to the audience something greater and show what it is like to live in America at the current time. This film is as timely as any in 2016, and one that will be considered a documentary classic in time. It is currently available on Hulu.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Editing (#1), Best Documentary Feature (#1)

8. Divines (directed by Houda Benyamina)

Every once in a while you stumble across a movie that just sweeps you off your feet unexpectedly. Divines was one of those movies for me in 2016. It is an indie French coming-of-age hood movie about a young girl who makes money for her mother by swindling and shoplifting before selling those goods back. The movie moves along quite quickly, and the final couple scenes are some of the best of the year. What struck me most about this movie was how feministic it was. In that way, it was much more refreshing than a movie that could have just been another Chop Shop or any other hood movie about a young boy. Seeing female principal characters in those types of predicaments made the film more absorbing and gave it much more depth. It is a tragic, thrilling, and furious little film that lingers in ways you won’t expect. It is currently available on Netflix.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Director – Houda Benyamina (#5; Martin Scorsese – Silence), Best Editing (#4; O.J.: Made in America), Best Foreign Language Film (#1)

7. The Neon Demon (directed by Nicolas Winding Refn)

The Neon Demon reminded me why I was once so optimistic about the future of auteur Nicolas Winding Refn. It is a sensory experience. It is about a young aspiring model who gets wrapped up in the devious lifestyles and jealousies of her contemporaries in the industry. The movie has some of the most bizarre images I have ever seen on screen. Yet, the movie spins a web of intrigue, sexiness, and violence that is impossible to shake. It is hypnotic like Refn’s masterpiece Drive, yet it has a way of haunting you in ways that are hard to explain, much like my 2012 top film Holy Motors. It has shades of Black Swan and David Cronenberg’s Crash. It is something that is probably best to go into without knowing much of the details. The shock value that is exemplified in the third act is what gives the movie its longstanding impact. It is a movie with images and ideas that will never fully leave your thoughts. It is currently available on Amazon Prime.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Supporting Actress – Jena Malone (#5; Angeliki Papoulia – The Lobster), Best Director (#4; Martin Scorsese – Silence), Best Cinematography (#2; Silence), Best Makeup (#2; Silence), Best Original Score (#2; La La Land)

6. Kubo and the Two Strings (directed by Travis Knight)

Kubo was the newest animation venture from the talented Laika Productions that previous brought us ParaNorman, Coraline, and The Boxtrolls. This movie, however, surpasses each of those previous critical darlings almost immediately. The movie plays a bit like a video game or a Ghibli movie. Kubo is a young boy who goes on a quest to find an armor worn by his legendary samurai father in order to defeat a spirit out for revenge. The movie is beautiful, magical, and just bursting with imagination. It is the Crouching Tiger of animated films, the most mature kids movie since Where the Wild Things Are, and features the best voice acting in several years. It is something to behold and treasure.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Sound Mixing (#4; Knight of Cups), Best Editing (#2; O.J.: Made in America), Best Sound Editing (#5; Bleed for This), Best Original Score (#5; La La Land), Best Animated Feature (#1)

5. Louder Than Bombs (directed by Joachim Trier)

This is an example of a little movie I came across randomly and got completely absorbed in. I’ve been a fan of Joachim Trier since his debut film Reprise a decade ago. This is certainly his most accomplished movie, as well as his first venture into American film. Louder Than Bombs centers on a family whose matriarch just died. The husband and two sons have complicated encounters and conflicting feelings toward the deceased. Gabriel Byrne, Jesse Eisenberg, and the young Devin Druid give performances that rank among the best of the year in this complex, rich, and melancholic indie marvel. It is not the easiest movie to take in because of its sensibilities and directness, but it is well worth the watch for anyone into adult drama. It is currently available on Amazon Prime.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Picture (#5), Best Supporting Actor – Devin Druid (#3; Shia LaBeouf – American Honey), Best Director – Joachim Trier (#3; Martin Scorsese – Silence), Best Original Screenplay (#1)

4. Blue Jay (directed by Alex Lehmann)

There was no movie in 2016 that was more guaranteed to appear on my list and only my list than Blue Jay. It is written by and starring one of my favorite actors/filmmakers Mark Duplass, playing alongside Sarah Paulson. They are essentially the only two credit characters in the film. They play former high school lovers who randomly run into each other in their hometown several years later. They spend some time together and reminisce on old times, but unspoken secrets are hiding in their interactions. The setup is a bit like Before Sunset, but it is much more in the vein of Richard Linklater’s Tape. It is shot in beautiful black and white, and there was supposedly no real script. This makes the characters seem almost like they are not acting and just living. All of their actions and reactions are completely genuine and really make the audience feel connected to them as their past is unfolded and the movie reaches its climax. It is currently available on Netflix.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Picture (#4), Best Original Screenplay (#2; Louder Than Bombs)

3. Fences (directed by Denzel Washington)

These are the types of movies that I usually enjoy more than 99% of other moviegoers. It is an adaptation of a play that does not try to over cinematize it. This film, adapted by August Wilson from his own stage production and maintaining most of its most recent Broadway cast, is about an African American former pro baseball player/current garbage man in the 1950s who struggles with perceived racism and in keeping his messy family life under his control. Denzel Washington gives one of the best performances ever by someone directing themselves, but it is Viola Davis who steals the movie as his committed wife. It has the best ensemble cast chemistry in years. The way the actors play off each other and the feelings that all of them express create one of the most unavoidable emotional experiences of 2016. Even though most of the movie takes place just within the house and backyard of one small home, it feels much bigger, much more vital, and undeniably alive.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Picture (#3), Best Actor – Denzel Washington (Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea), Best Actress – Viola Davis (#2; Krisha Fairchild – Krisha), Best Adapted Screenplay (#1), Best Ensemble Cast (#1)

2. American Honey (directed by Andrea Arnold)

On paper, this has to be one of the least appealing movies of the year. It’s about a group of unbearable Midwest teenagers selling bogus magazine subscriptions to those who are most easily manipulated by their fast talking and willingness to do anything to make a buck. Andrea Arnold, whose previous most notable movie was 2009’s Fish Tank, reportedly searched the streets in low income towns in the Midwest for drunken teens to find her cast for this movie, giving the movie an extraordinarily authentic feel. What the 163 minute runtime amounts to is the most disturbingly realistic movie about young people since Kids and the coolest, most current soundtrack since Spring Breakers. The movie is way too long and meanders, but that is part of the charm. It is hypnotic in its indulgence and gratuitousness. And at the center of it all, it has a fierce and mesmerizing performance by Shia LaBeouf that blew almost everyone else off the screen in 2016. It is a stunning and energetic movie that ranks with the most compelling and haunting movies in the past couple years.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Picture (#2), Best Supporting Actor – Shia LaBeouf (#1), Best Director – Andrea Arnold (#2; Martin Scorsese – Silence), Best Original Screenplay (#3; Louder Than Bombs), Best Ensemble Cast (#2; Fences)

1. Silence (directed by Martin Scorsese)

Oh, how great it feels to actually have a movie live up to its hype! Scorsese has been trying to make this religious epic for about 20 years, and finally after years of post-production, we get a thought-provoking experience that is every bit worth the wait. The movie is about two Jesuit priests who go on a mission through the wilderness in Japan to find their mentor. It takes place in the 17^th century at a time when the sheer acknowledgment of being a Christian resulted in torture and hanging to death. The movie digs deep into a lot of difficult subjects, most of which are not discussed with such bluntness and realism in modern religious movies. It is a film about martyrdom and apostasy, but most importantly what a life of faith truly looks like when you are willing to take your convictions to the grave. This is undeniably Scorsese’s finest religious epic (above both The Last Temptation of Christ and his underrated Kundun), and it ranks with the all time greats in its genre. In particular, it has an unmistakable similarity with the likes of Ingmar Bergman and others. It may wear on the patience of some audiences being 161 minutes long and not featuring a lot of traditionally exciting scenes, but the movie is quietly very intense and is absolutely mesmerizing in its commitment to Scorsese’s vision. It is a movie that will spark conversations after the film is over and will cause the audience to leave in absolute astonishment. It is the best movie of 2016, surpassing everything else with relative ease.

Personal nominations/wins: Best Picture (#1), Best Supporting Actor - Yôsuke Kubozuka (#5; Shia LaBeouf – American Honey), Best Director – Martin Scorsese (#1), Best Adapted Screenplay (#2; Fences), Best Cinematography (#1), Best Art Direction (#5; The Handmaiden), Best Sound Mixing (#2; Knight of Cups), Best Makeup (#1),

That’s my top 10…What makes yours? Comment below!