As 2016 has ended, the time to look back on the year in movies has come. Some were great, some were not. Some divided people while others brought people together. As the Golden Globes have passed and nominations for the Academy Awards are around the corner, The Rotunda's arts and entertainment section brings to you our list of the Top 10 Best Films of 2016:
10) “Arrival”
This is a movie that must be seen this year, as it is a film about how humanity communicates with itself. It shows why we keep ourselves closed off and why we have this natural hostility towards things we don't understand. Amy Adams delivers the best acting performance I have seen all year, and the rest of the cast is outstanding. If you like "Arrival," I highly recommend reading some of the explanations to what you didn't understand, and you'll probably like it even more.
9) “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
After “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” shocked the world by bringing quality back to the Star Wars universe, a spinoff prequel didn't seem so unlikely. Thus, dare I say it, "Rogue One" is better than "The Force Awakens." Because while “The Force Awakens” showed us why we love Star Wars, “Rogue One” showed us that we can love Star Wars in a whole new way. It showed us even the good guys must get their hands dirty, that not all rebellions are black and white, that Star Wars can have incredible villains again. It showed us why we love these stories from a galaxy far, far away.
8) “10 Cloverfield Lane”
While the original “Cloverfield” was a good film, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is a great film. Pushed forward by three stellar performances, it manages to be a great sci-fi film, but also a great movie about abuse and trust. Go into this movie knowing as little as possible though. Like the original, “10 Cloverfield Lane” thrives on giving minimal information and letting you learn with the characters.
7) “Sing”
Continuing what has been incredible year for animated films, "Sing" defied expectations. A simple plot about the love of the performing arts was improved tenfold by its characters development. "Sing" didn't need to be animated, but through the animation, the creativity and the audience grew. It's the definition of a film that shows if you truly put effort into your characters, then it doesn’t matter if your story is isn’t very new. Keep this up, Illumination, you may one day rise to the levels of Pixar.
6) “Zootopia”
While not every element works, the reason that “Zootopia” is in this list is because of its willingness and raw inventiveness. Anthropomorphic animals have been done to death, but a city where they all live together in their real-world environments hasn’t been done before. Putting a buddy cop story in that world, and pairing up two incredibly charming characters helps to create a family-friendly detective story with some great messages and an overall inventive style throughout the entire film. This is the most visually engaging film Disney has made in years, and one of the best of their modern filmography.
5) “Deadpool”
From the very first moments with "God's Perfect Idiot," the biggest thing “Deadpool” got right is the tone and characters. Surprisingly beneath all the anatomy jokes and gore, there was a movie about cancer. The film delivered a story about pride, yet even with those seemingly deep themes, it managed to be fun while remaining in the spirit of its characters. By the end of this Marvel hit, you'll be in love with the bloody, but sure-hearted character of Deadpool.
4) “Moana”
For their newest animated film, Disney has done something unanticipated: made a film that surprised its audience. The best way to describe this movie, with it's almost photorealistic animation and instant classic songs from Lin Manuel Miranda- is that it defied the audience’s expectations. From beginning to end, the script is flipped on what a typical Disney film is. Princess is used almost as a curse word, and there is never a suitor or a marriage for Moana. The movie is never about becoming a bride, but about becoming a chief. This film easily sailed right into our hearts.
3) “The Nice Guys”
Welcome to the 21st century, where nostalgia is the name of the game. But can an action comedy set in the '70s, based around the porn industry, and from the director of movies that created the buddy cop genre be any good? Yes. It can also be the best written, and funniest movie of the year. With Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling's Oscar-worthy performances and instant chemistry, not only is the film funny, but the audience is never ahead of the characters. This isn't a movie where you can guess the ending; it's a mystery film with legitimate suspense, leaving you smiling and satisfied.
2) “Kubo & The Two Strings”
Kubo is the best animated film seen all year. A straightforward plot becomes a deep story about storytelling and emotions. Kubo himself is a great character brimming with personality and charm, despite hardships. The film shows people coming together for the greater good, and how friendships can be forged and become closer through adversity. Not all stories have happy endings, but Kubo shows why we still love them.
1) “La La Land”
Not since the 2011 black and white film, "The Artist" has a movie so effortlessly captured the feeling and style of classic films. Even with the incredible art direction and toe-tapping original numbers, the movie succeeds where few other 'tribute' films have by being an inspired film in its own right. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s performances are reminiscent of actors from a bygone era. "La La Land" feels like a musical that could have come out with the 1952 musical film, "Singin' in the Rain." Simply put, "La La Land"- with its artistry and classic film tones- is the best movie of the year. See it immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Photo Courtesy of Summit Entertainment, Black Label Media, TIK Films, Impostor Pictures, Gilbert Films, and Marc Platt Productions.
