So, I decided to do my end of the year lists a little different this year. This one's my top ten 2016 films I saw in 2016 and five honorable mentions. I saw a whopping 53 2016 releases last year; these are the best fifteen. I’m going to do a brief pull-quote from my previously published review of each of these films; if you want to read the whole review, click on the movie title. This is, I think, the most aesthetically pleasing way to do this.
The true, tragic story of young newswoman Christine Chubbuck and her brief career . . . it’s a gripping & consistently compelling film . . . really nails the experience of depression, paranoia, rage & social anxiety.
A terrifying exercise in suspense cranked to the maximum . . . creepy moments, serious scares, great performances & a well-written emotionally resonant script.
Deadpool is firing on all cylinders . . . the most purely entertaining movie to come out of the Marvel franchise . . . relentless, gleefully offensive & brutal . . . unbelievably compelling.
Striking, startlingly beautiful . . . the film . . . spirals off into a strange, compelling, haunting world . . . a more elegant, psychological kind of thrill.
An exhilarating experience; roars of laughter . . . near constant throughout . . . a comedy classic . . . seek it out, however you must.
A dark character study of a man crippled by grief, guilt & fear. It’s an unflinching movie . . . adds up to a really wrenching experience, deeply sorrowful, deeply suffering, deeply funny . . . just right.
Filled with moments of incredible power . . . among some of the truly great film scenes . . . a moie of undeniable, powerful humanity . . . Moonlight isn’t a movie you’ll soon forget.
Pure gold . . . hilarious . . . nail-biting . . . brilliant . . . poignant . . . never disappoints, as purely enjoyable as any I’ve seen this year . . . a real buzz of happiness.
It’s painful & cringe-inducing . . . often hilariously funny in dark and twisted ways as you watch Weiner’s campaign . . . a documentary you’ll watch on the edge of your seat . . . strange, fascinating, complicated.
A triumph of epic proportions . . . a brilliant, imaginative world . . . wonderfully imagined characters . . . the animation is startlingly beautiful . . . a movie of the moment that will stand the test of time.
Honorable Mentions
Incredibly emotional & psychological . . . complex on both an ethical & emotional level . . . brilliantly written . . . performances are nothing short of excellent.
Cast is brilliant . . . what matters here is the story, well & simply told . . . atmosphere is one of decay & emptiness . . . incredibly bleak . . .a classic of its own kind.
Magical movie in many ways . . . astounding visuals . . . some of the best adventure filmmaking in ages . . . really wonderful characters.
A palpable atmosphere . . . transcendent awe . . . a really strong emotional drive . . . a lot of thematic stuff going on under the surface . . . sharply written . . . go in knowing as little as possible.
Ambiguous, super-smart screenplay . . . visually stunning direction . . . atmosphere to burn . . . upsetting in all the best ways . . . a brilliant, disturbing film.
Next time, best performances!