It's the end of the year! So, like I did last year, I compiled a list of my 10 favorite movies that were released this year in hopes that you may find some enjoyable, resonant ones that leave a mark on your life the way they did mine.
I didn't get to see every 2016 release I would have liked to (primarily "20th Century Women," "Silence," "Elle," and "A Monster Calls"), but that's because those movies don't get wider distribution (aka they don't come to the Midwest) until 2017.
I saw nearly 90 films that were released in 2016 (nearly 200 films in total this year), so this was a tough list to make! 3 films specifically -- "Other People," "Manchester-by-the-Sea," and "The Lobster" -- slid on and off my list for a while, so you should definitely check those out if you can...but these 10 are musts from me.
10. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS -- the only animated film that makes my list, and probably my favorite animated film since "The Incredibles." I love when an animated film can use its illustrations to be just as compelling as the story it tells, and KUBO really stunned me with how it was able to do so. It combines its talented voice cast (Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew McConaughey) with gorgeous nods to the importance of storytelling and impeccable stop-motion design. Other animated films this year like "Zootopia" and "Finding Dory" were great, but KUBO made me cry, so.
9. JACKIE -- "movies that made me cry" is probably a solid subtitle for this list, as JACKIE managed to do so three times (as further explained in the review on my facebook). It would have been easy to dismiss a biopic like this as exploitative and to dismiss a performance like Natalie Portman's as an impression had JACKIE been a poorly-made film, but thanks to a real vision from director Pablo Larraín and true conviction and heft from Portman, this movie ends up as a real technical and visual triumph.
8. CHRISTINE -- I really wish more people had seen this movie! In fact, it was only in Kansas City for one week and at one theater. CHRISTINE actually grossed just under $300,000 nationwide. But box office is no indication of how good a movie is (2016 is a good example of how true that is), and CHRISTINE is a damn great movie!!!!!!!!!!! It is an examination of the transition of journalism from "meaningful" stories to sensationalism; it is a very raw depiction of mental illness; it is a character study of a very ruthless, broken, and complicated woman. It is also on iTunes, so please watch it. (Got teary-eyed in this one, as well)
7. CERTAIN WOMEN -- very muted and not at all showy of what it has to offer. Told in vignettes, CERTAIN WOMEN is really a quiet and intimate little movie about 4 women living their daily lives. Granted, those 4 women happen to be Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart, and Lily Gladstone (all in character, of course), but the movie pulls itself off as a realistic and engaging portrait of life in the state of Montana. Didn't know I needed it, but I guess I did!
6. A BIGGER SPLASH -- I'm so obsessed with this movie, and it's the only one on this list released before the summertime, so it's really stuck with me. This one's directed by Luca Guadagnino, who directed "I Am Love," so I knew I was in for a visual treat, but the high energy and sexiness were a pleasant surprise. A BIGGER SPLASH features one of my favorite acting ensembles of recent memory (Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts), all of whom deliver fantastic turns, but Ralph Fiennes truly electrifies here. The movie is melodramatic and operatic and one big orgy and I love it.
5. MOONLIGHT -- similar to CERTAIN WOMEN, this movie is quiet and finds it strength in how the story builds up over time. The way this film balances its themes of masculinity and race and sexuality is so moving, and heartrending performances from Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, and a sweet one from Janelle Monae add a great deal of grounding and depth. The third act of the movie is one of the greatest cinematic experiences I've ever seen. Really, the whole movie is. (Cried in this one, too)
4. THE NEON DEMON -- for the longest time, this was my favorite fucking movie of this year because holy (!) shit (!) this (!) movie (!). It is obscene and absurd and campy and decadent and twisted. It is a runway from hell brought to life. I usually like to latch on to a rich story or intriguing characters, but THE NEON DEMON is mostly enthralling because of its gloss and its glamor. And its last 20 minutes. Damn.
3. ARRIVAL -- I will entertain assertions that Meryl Streep is the greatest actress of all time, and comments that Cate Blanchett or Julianne Moore or Isabelle Huppert are next in line for such a superlative, but you will see me sitting curtly in the corner ready to pounce with my case for Amy Adams. This movie has been rightfully described as palindromic, and there is really no better way to explain the front-to-back punch this movie -- and Amy's performance -- packs. It is a brilliant sci-fi flick, but it is also a story of grief and of motherhood and, interestingly, language. I find it hard to believe any other performer could have pulled off what Amy Adams does in this movie, and although she carries it, the film is amazing enough in its other aspects. Duh, I cried here.
2. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS -- stylish and eery and gripping and artful, to think that NOCTURNAL ANIMALS is only Tom Ford's 2nd film is nearly impossible. The way he is able to tell (at least) three different stories that all seamlessly intertwine is masterful. Every minute of the movie is impactful, whether it be through the gorgeous costumes or the stunning production design or the shocking script or great performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Amy Adams. This movie just lands immediately and drives its head and heart home. Another one this year I really have a huge obsession with.
1. LA LA LAND -- plainly put, this is the best movie of the year. Technically, it dazzles from start to finish. The costumes are impeccable; the score and soundtrack are infectious ("City of Stars" and "Audition" move me to tears every time); the cinematography (shot by one of my favorite DPs, Linus Sandgren) is luminescent. But apart from the fact that this film is perfect on a technical level, there is something about it that just feels infallible. Its heart is its biggest strength, and its ability to grab its audience and inject life into a story you think you've seen before is unmatched. The whole movie is breathtaking, but its final 20 minutes will truly stop your heart. This movie transcends expectations and standards to become a truly great film. I can't sing its praises enough. It's quickly become one of my favorite movies of all time, and I didn't think a movie could do so as quick as this one did.
And for fun, my 10 favorite performances of the year (not ranked):
- Amy Adams, ARRIVAL
- Emma Stone, LA LA LAND
- Michelle Williams, MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA
- Molly Shannon, OTHER PEOPLE
- Naomie Harris, MOONLIGHT
- Ralph Fiennes, A BIGGER SPLASH
- Rebecca Hall, CHRISTINE
- Natalie Portman, JACKIE
- Lily Gladstone, CERTAIN WOMEN
- Nicole Kidman, LION
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