Best Movies Of 2016

Best Movies Of 2016

REJOICE! We've made it. After trudging through the garbage of the year, we can be rewarded by celebrating the best of the year. Whilst on the grand scheme of things, 2016 wasn't the best year for big blockbusters, some of the smaller lesser-known films have shone. Some films on this list will be unexpected and there may even be some films that you predicted to appear that are nowhere to be found. Our of all of my lists that I've compiled this year, the Best of 2016 was certainly the most challenging to complete. There have just been so many great films this year that to find a common ground to judge them all on was difficult. Therefore, here are my rules for the Best Movies Of 2016:
- Any film featured on this list must have had its theatrical release in 2016 in the UK. That means, that some films that were big during Oscar season last year might feature on this list because the UK gets them slightly later. 
- This is MY list. It's personal. If a film that you love didn't feature on here that doesn't mean it's not good. It just means I, personally, didn't love it as much as you. That's the beauty of subjectivity.
- Something that's very important to understand with this list is that whilst it's entitled 'BEST Movies Of 2016', some of the films released this year have been impeccably made yet didn't manage to create an emotional response from me. The films featured on this list are the equivalent of my favourites of the year. They are films that just seemed to work on all cylinders and reminded me of my love of movies and other such things.

Before we begin the countdown, here are a few very honourable mentions that slightly missed out earning a place on my list...

Doctor Strange

Room

Moana

Star Trek Beyond

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème, the Best Movies Of 2016...





10. Everybody Wants Some!!

Kicking off this list was a film that I didn't even get a chance to review. Ultimately, I wish I had because if I could get even just a couple of readers to watch this film, I would be overjoyed. Everybody Wants Some is very simple but entirely effective. What this film boils down to is a look at the first weekend at college set in the 1980's. At face value, it sounds like an American Pie prequel reveling in the smutty jokes and reliance on T&A. Thankfully, with Richard Linklater at the helm, it's anything but typical. With very natural dialogue, stellar acting from everyone and a heartfelt and feel-good approach, Everybody Wants Some is not just a film that can appeal to everyone but one that is unique because there isn't a film like it out there (well, apart from its spiritual predecessor Dazed & Confused). Also, talk about a banging soundtrack, the music in this film is phenomenal.





9. Captain America: Civil War

Be honest, you expected this to be higher up on my list. At the beginning of the year, so did I but number 9 out of all the movies that came out this year is hardly a bad thing. What I loved about Civil War is that whilst it starred Iron Man, Black Widow, The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Falcon, Ant-Man and provided the perfect introductions of Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU, it still, at it's heart, was a Captain America film and that is due to the Russo Brothers and their sublime ability to balance the story out. It was a highly political film, unlike anything the Marvel universe has ever seen and from its conclusion, will have huge consequences for future movies in this universe. Not to mention, that Civil War provides the best action scene ever featured in a superhero, if not any, film ever. I am of course talking about the sheer beauty of the airport sequence. If your child is struggling to go through puberty or you yourself have not reached the adolescent stage, watch this scene. It'll sort you right out. 

Check out my review of Captain America: Civil War here.





8. Swiss Army Man

I've never done drugs, never will, but I imagine that the experience is similar to watching Swiss Army Man. It's completely bewildering and entirely addicting. Much like Everybody Wants Some, I never found the chance to review Swiss Army Man but now is the time to say that it's polarising. You will either love or hate Swiss Army Man and that was apparent during the film festival it premiered at when half of the critics left halfway through whilst the others gave it a standing ovation. Clearly as it's appearing on my best list, I fell on the positive side. The greatest strength of this film is that it's utterly unique. I highly doubt that I will ever see a film like this in my life. The movie focuses on Paul Dano's character who is stranded on an island, about to end his life until he finds Daniel Radcliffe's Manny, a corpse who washes up on the beach. Dano then escapes the island using Manny's body as a boat and his farts as the engine. See what I mean when I say unique? The rest of the film is a highly outrageous and a spiritual adventure that caught me off guard emotionally. Radcliffe gives the performance of his career and Swiss Army Man is a film that will stick with me for a long time to come.





7. Arrival

Moving on from the highly ridiculous onto the highly intelligent, Arrival is the epitome of everything I love about science fiction. Placing the audience in a realistic scenario of what would happen if aliens arrived on Earth, we are treated to a complex and compelling depiction on first contact that has zero reliance on any form of action whatsoever. Amy Adams might well earn herself a few awards for her role in Arrival because everything about her character is so careful and realistic that for most of the film, it felt like I was watching a documentary of first contact rather than a fictional movie. The effects are beautiful, the score is chilling and the cinematography is quite frankly, the best I've seen all year. Containing one of the most surprising twists in recent memory, Arrival is a film that I would suggest you know what you're getting yourself in for rather than just aiming for a casual watch. It isn't a typical science fiction movie but that's what makes it that extra bit special. Denis Villeneuve continues to have a 100% success rate and here's hoping that continues for Blade Runner 2049. And yes, I'm still deadly serious about learning Heptapod. I want to make that my life's goal.

Check out my review of Arrival here.





6. Creed

Again, another film I haven't reviewed (getting quite a habit now) but in my defence, I saw this film before I began this blog. Having only seen a handful of the Rocky films and admiring them, I was excited for Creed but not like I was for something like Civil War or Batman V Superman. Surprisingly, Creed ended up being better than both. This is sensational from the opening scene to the end credits. Sylvester Stallone, as much as I like Mark Rylance, was robbed of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He was the best he's ever been and returned to the character with such ease. It was quite heartbreaking to see his depiction of Rocky and how his illness was getting the better of him. Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed (Apollo's son) was just as great as Rocky's prodigy, proving that it is possible to put the disaster of Fant4stic behind you. He handles the fight scenes and dramatic moments with the utmost skill and let's just reference that middle boxing scene. Fight scenes in general are hard to shoot but Creed's middle boxing scene shot in only one take is jaw-droppong. Ryan Coogler as the director is a solidified genius and as a comic book geek, it's awesome to know that the director and main stars will all be featuring in the MCU at some point (Stallone in Guardians 2, Coogler and Jordan in Black Panther and Tessa Thompson in Thor: Ragnarock).





5. The Jungle Book

If I'm being truthful, the idea of Disney rebooting all of their classics is worrying. They're called classics for a reason. Alice In Wonderland was a mediocre effort, Maleficent was plain bad but Cinderella seemed to instill me with some hope. However, if Disney can remake their classics in the same way they did with The Jungle Book, then consider me no longer afraid. Jon Favreau is such an underrated director. He obviously has a love for the animated original but does his best not to tarnish it. Instead, he provides the love and care to make his own spin on the tale whilst still paying tribute. Each character is cast brilliantly especially Bill Murray as Baloo. Neel Sethi is a rising star who is easily the best live action actor in the film. That's meant as a compliment by the way. The reason I say that, is because apart from him and maybe a few blades of grass for him to really interact with, everything you see in this film is digitally created. The tree branches, the water, the rocks, the grass, the mud. The Jungle Book doesn't quite earn the title of being my favourite film of 2016 but it is rewarded with being the most technologically stunning film of all time.

Check out my review of The Jungle Book here.





4. Finding Dory

I know. I know. I know. With animated films released this year like Zootopia and Kubo & The Two Strings, how come I picked the one that seemed to be the most lukewarm for most critics? For me, the reason as to why Finding Dory is the best animated film of the year is for sentimental reasons. When I was younger, Finding Nemo, amongst other Pixar films were movies I watched repeatedly. I can quote them like crazy and adore them so much. Watching Finding Dory reminded me of that and gelled so well with the other Pixar greats. Is it the best Pixar film? No. Is it better than Finding Nemo? Not quite. But what Finding Dory succeeds in, is delivering joy and happiness to a guy who felt like he got to be a kid again. Dory is as wonderful as ever and Ellen as the voice is magnificent. I honestly cannot think of anyone else voicing her. We are introduced to even more fantastic characters that provide brilliant humour in the shape of Hank, Destiny and Bailey. The animation is stunning, the story is emotional and Pixar continue their untarnished record.

Check out my review of Finding Dory here.





3. The Witch

Proving that this year was one of the strongest for the lesser popular films, The Witch is an unconventional and experimental horror film that did something I never expected a horror film could. The Witch terrified me to my very core. Similar to Swiss Army Man, there will be people that see this and don't connect with it. It's a slow burn and the fact that the dialogue is written in the form of Ye Olde English can be off-putting to many. But for me, everything hit the way it intended to. Anya Taylor-Joy gives one of my top performances of the year and expect big things from her in the future. Her parents in the film are very intense but it's the direction by Robert Eggers is masterful. The constant building of tension had me on the edge of my seat and the colour scheme of the film being grey added to the haunting and chilling element. For crying out loud, The Witch made me scared of a goat. A GOAT! I can never go to a petting zoo again. Two absolute standout scenes of the film and subsequently the year, were the disturbing exorcism of the son by the family and the ending of The Witch. Most horror films fail to make me truly terrified but the conclusion of The Witch had me frozen to my seat in sheer terror with the disturbing imagery and events crawling under my skin.

Check out my review of The Witch here.





2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Did you really think that I could make a list of the best movies of the year and not include a Star Wars film that was released that year? Ok, maybe that can't be said about some of the prequels but let's face it, Rogue One was the prequel that we have all been looking for. Like I mentioned in my review, whilst I slightly prefer Force Awakens over Rogue One, The Force Awakens made me only want to watch that movie over and over again. After watching Rogue One, I had a similar feeling of wanting to watch it again but also to watch all the other Star Wars films specifically A New Hope. I've become obsessed with all of our main characters; Jyn, Cassian, K2, Chirrut, Baze, Bodhi and Krennic. Everyone is on the top of their game and Rogue One is everything I could have asked for regarding the story of stealing the Death Star plans. There is comedy, emotion, drama but above all else, it feels like Star Wars. I know that's a clichéd thing to say but it never once felt like a pale imitation of its relatives. The action scenes are frankly the strongest we've seen in Star Wars history. It expanded the universe in the best way possible and let's briefly mention that ending. Of course, Darth Vader rears his beautiful, helmeted and asthmatic head and the scenes that he appears in gave all Star Wars fans the biggest nerd boner. The ending of Rogue One is glorious and the four times that I've seen it have left me with goosebumps each and every time. It made me crave for a standalone Vader film.

Check out my review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.





So here we are. The moment I'm sure all of you have been waiting for. We've counted the bad. We counted the great. But now, to conclude this past year, I give you the best movie of 2016...





1. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice
I'M KIDDING! I'M KIDDING! I liked the film. I just wanted to see how many trolls I can piss off by putting this at the top of my list. In actual fact, the best and my favourite film of 2016 is obviously...





1. Deadpool

No shit, am I right? Cmon, if you know me at all, it should be no surprise that this is number one. It was the best experience I've ever had in the cinema this year. I can honestly state that Deadpool gave me the most laughs, thrills and happiness of any film in a long time. Sliding just underneath The Avengers and The Dark Knight, it is the third best superhero movie ever made and the best superhero origin movie. I've lost count how many times I've seen Deadpool now and I still cry laughing every time and even if I'm low and sad, I can count on this to bring a smile to my face. Needless to say, Ryan Reynolds was born for this role. If anyone else was cast, it wouldn't be half as convincing. His passion for the character and the struggle to get this movie made emanates through the screen giving the best depiction of a superhero alongside RDJ as Iron Man and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Did I mention this movie is also hilarious? Through the talent of Reynolds, the creative geniuses that are Paul Wernick and Rhett Resse and their perfect script and the sensational director that is Tim Miller, they all craft Deadpool to utter perfection. It doesn't put a foot wrong. Not a single joke doesn't land. As my favourite comic book character, seeing Deadpool come to life and given the depiction he deserves (F U 'Deadpool' from X-Men Origins: Wolverine) was the most satisfied I've ever been and I've been given a Domino's pizza for free. The action is off the charts incredible but they nailed what I thought was unnailable. That is the act of breaking the fourth wall. It's just outstanding. Usually when making my best of the year lists, I can interchange the top three but this year, Deadpool was in a league of its own and owns the top spot with room to spare. And that's saying something considering a Star Wars film is behind it.

Check out my review of Deadpool here.





So that's that. 2016 is officially complete. Deadpool earns the crown. There's one more list to go before we get back to business but I just want to have this chance to say thank you to the people that read this. I started this blog as a way to just talk about movies and whilst it's still that, my blog has helped me to decided what I want to do in the future. I might not get the most views on a review but that doesn't bother me. As long as I can write something, have fun doing it and maybe even influence someone to avoid or watch a film, then I can be happy. Again, thank you to everyone who reads these even if it just is to see the score at the bottom.

What was your favourite movie of 2016? Was there any films I left out? Any you disagree with? Sound off in the comments below.

If you like what you've seen here don't forget to share this list with everyone you know (even your milkman), comment below and check out my other reviews.