Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Hacksaw Ridge
Hardcore Henry
Hell or High Water
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Now You See Me 2
10.Arrival: While it clearly wasn't intentional, the dramatic movies released in 2016 largely served as a reflection of the cynicism and overwhelming darkness that have consumed the real world over the past year. One of the handful of noteworthy films that went against that recurring theme was Arrival. In a year where going to the movies often ended in suffocating sadness or rage, it was so refreshing to see a film that featured a positive and compassionate worldview while remaining an enthralling, thought-provoking piece of science fiction. There's little doubt in my mind that Arrival will be meticulously dissected and celebrated by sci-fi fans across the globe for years to come.
9.10 Cloverfield Lane: If it wasn't for the frustrating ending, 10 Cloverfield Lane would've easily been in my top 5. The loose spin-off of the infamous 2008 found-footage alien invasion movie is a flawlessly-acted exercise in suspense with a riveting central mystery that kept me dialed in until that awful forced connection to the original Cloverfield emerges in the final 15 minutes.
8.Sausage Party: Seth Rogen is the only person on the planet that would make a movie about swearing cartoon food items that doubles as a religious allegory. Sausage Party is a deranged, frequently hilarious ride that somehow manages to drop dick jokes and argue for the non-existence of God with equal proficiency.
7.Keanu: Celebrated sketch comedy duo Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele's debut feature film was easily one of the strongest projects to come out of this banner year for the comedy genre. The wit and winning rapport that made their Comedy Central series Key & Peele such a runaway success is on full display in this gleefully over-the-top film about a man (Peele) who goes to absurd length to get his beloved cat Keanu back from the gang leader (Method Man) that kidnapped him. Keanu is full of insane, unpredictable situations, the action sequences are really well-done for a comedy and most importantly, the laughs hold up on repeat viewings.
6.The Magnificent Seven: The Magnificent Seven is a reminder of why remakes can't ever be written off, regardless of how well-respected the original is. This reboot of the classic 1960 western is a crackling, high-energy film full of colorful characters, well-choreographed shootouts and non-stop entertainment that pretty much blew the doors off of every other action movie released in 2016.
5.Don't Think Twice: Is there anything Mike Birbiglia can't do? The sophomore directorial output from the veteran stand-up comedian is a smart, potent and ultimately heartbreaking look at how individual success effects the familial-esque bonds that exist within an improv comedy group and the harsh reality of realizing that some goals in life can't be attained, regardless of how much you work at it. This film flew really under-the-radar when it was released back in July and I can't possibly urge you enough to track it down on Blu-Ray, On Demand, etc.
4.Green Room: American independent cinema doesn't get much more fearless, exciting or flat-out better than Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room. Saulnier builds upon the promise he showed with his 2014 directorial debut Blue Ruin with a brutal gut punch of a film that features a unique, well-constructed premise (a DIY punk band is held hostage after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi-run club in rural Oregon), phenomenal acting from its ensemble cast and a level of unrelenting tension that makes 2016's other excellent pulse-pounding thrillers (Don't Breathe, the aforementioned 10 Cloverfield Lane) look like breezy romantic comedies.
3.Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping: The Lonely Island's first film project since their 2007 cult favorite Hot Rod is a near-perfect return to the big screen for the comedy trio. Andy Samberg and co. are at their clever, irreverent best spoofing the superficial, often ridiculous nature of the modern music industry as well as the parade of self-indulgent concert documentaries (Justin Bieber's Never Say Never, Katy Perry's Part of Me) that have hit theaters over the past several years. Here's hoping that we don't have to wait another 9 years for another project from these vastly underrated absurdist comedy virtuosos.
2.The Nice Guys: No film from the past year was as purely enjoyable to watch as Shane Black's sleazy, '70-set detective tale The Nice Guys. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are an unexpectedly well-matched comedy duo and Black's writing is still as sharp, immersive and darkly hilarious as ever.
1.Manchester by the Sea: This choice couldn't have possibly been any easier. This film is so far above and beyond everything else I saw in 2016 that it's almost comical. Manchester by the Sea is a devastating, alarmingly authentic character study anchored by a trio of gut-wrenching performances from Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and newcomer Lucas Hedges about the different ways in which people handle grief. Kenneth Lonergan's outstanding script expertly lays out the reasons for each character's behavior in the wake of a loss and like real life, the film provides no tidy resolutions for any of the mourning parties. This film has haunted me since I saw it in early December and I don't expect it to fade from my memory anytime soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment