My top 15 movies of 2016
Even if some of the most high-profile films in 2016 failed to live up to the hype (things like Batman vs Superman, Warcraft, Suicide Squad and X-Men: Apocalypse), there’s been a lot of filmmaking to celebrate over the past 12 months. This has been a strong if uneven year for movies but it’s worth acknowledging that some true greats, from the bigger movies to those that have flown under the radar, have really shined on the big screen in 2016.
(Just a quick note, if you’re wondering why expected films like Moonlight, La La Land or Manchester By The Sea don’t feature on my list, it’s because I haven’t seen them yet and they haven’t been released in the UK; the way I do this list only allows for films released in the past year in the UK.)
So, here are my top 15 movies for 2016…
15. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
This is the dark, tragic and hopeful war drama in the Star Wars universe I was looking for. It’s not perfect in the first half, but it improves quickly and the climax is worth waiting for because it more than delivers on what the movie promises. Rogue One really does give audiences something new and different from the franchise.
14. Star Trek Beyond
Few blockbusters were as unashamedly lively and fun in 2016, especially during the lacklustre summer months. For the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, this movie aims to remind us what’s at the heart of this franchise in a stylish and exciting standalone adventure. Mission accomplished.
13. Pete’s Dragon
The unfairly ignored gem of 2016’s summer, Pete’s Dragon is a charming, beautiful and warm family film with depth and emotion. It keeps things simple but never loses sight of its heart and sense of humour. It’s well worth your time.
12. 10 Cloverfield Lane
As a moviegoing experience, 10 Cloverfield Lane is simply brilliant. If you can, try to go in knowing as little as possible and you’ll have a great time. The three central performances (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr and John Goodman) are superb, the mysteries are compelling and the atmosphere and pacing are perfect. An intense psychological thriller that has some really smart twists and turns.
11. The Shallows
Blake Lively vs Shark, what’s not to like? In all seriousness, The Shallows judges its tension well, keeps things at a small scale and makes for a well-crafted and exciting shark attack movie. Lively’s performance is strong, especially considering she’s the only real actor for most of the film, and the action is unpredictable and engaging.
10. Creed
It may follow a well-known formula, but Creed is the underdog story done right. In a continuation of the Rocky saga, the ageing boxer trains the son of Apollo Creed and passes on the lessons he’s learned while learning some lessons of his own from the younger fighter. It’s more nuanced than you’d expect, with a solid emotional core and some wonderful leading performances from Sylvester Stallone and Michael B Jordan.
9. Moana
This is just refreshing, and far from your typical Disney princess movie (even if it does follow the template of many films before it). Moana has a courageous and inspiring protagonist, and some of Disney’s best original songs in a while. There’s loads to enjoy here, and this film is special for all the subtle ways it subverts the usual clichés to become something that feels both new and familiar simultaneously.
8. Green Room
Green Room is one hell of a disgusting and brutal movie. This violent and gripping thriller sees a rock band trapped by ruthless neo-Nazis, delivering gory consequences and a masterful sense of unease and tension. In its efficient 94 minutes, this genuinely frightening film throws in a lot of unpredictability, disturbing violence and dark humour.
7. Captain America: Civil War
This is probably Marvel’s most ambitious project so far, and it somehow works fantastically. Putting so many characters, arcs and conflicts into one movie should result in mayhem, but Civil War holds up tremendously and earns a spot as one of the most important parts of the larger ongoing story.
6. Kubo And The Two Strings
2016’s best animated film, Kubo And The Two Strings, is bursting with imagination and wit. It takes risks and feels truly original, and it has a wonderfully captivating story at its core. The animation is gorgeous, and the emotion and darker themes are well-balanced, making for a movie that is as rewarding for adults as it is for kids. Kubo is a beautiful work of creativity and if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out.
5. The Edge of Seventeen
It’s no ordinary coming of age movie that gets instantly compared to the work of John Hughes and films like Clueless and Mean Girls. I’m certain The Edge of Seventeen is destined to be a modern classic, with its perfectly judged tone and the astounding central performance from Hailee Steinfeld. It’s lively, surprisingly emotional and sharply hilarious, displaying loads of confidence, self-awareness and a really distinctive voice.
4. Spotlight
2016 has been a year in which, more than ever, we’ve needed to be reminded of the necessity of detailed, rigorous journalism. Spotlight pulls together an incredible ensemble cast for a riveting tale of dedicated reporters putting in the work to tell a hugely important story.
3. Sing Street
Sing Street is John Carney’s masterpiece. The characters come to describe their music as “happy sad” and that’s exactly what this film is too. It captures something that is at once uplifting and depressing, with a sense of optimism only dampened by a knowledge of reality. Sing Street has a brilliant soundtrack, a top-notch ensemble cast and a moving coming of age narrative. I was just blown away by how great this is.
2. Arrival
I wish more sci-fi movies would strive to be as beautiful, thoughtful and intimate as Arrival. This has real ambition as a work of storytelling, and it’s a masterful piece of work from director Denis Villeneuve. The lead performance from Amy Adams is tremendous, and there’s a great deal of power behind its hopeful message about communication and our capacity to build a better world by working together.
1. Room
Room is just exceptional. I think I knew from the moment I saw it that it would be at the top of this list. Watching it had a profound effect on me, and it just reaches me on an emotional level that I was totally unprepared for. By the second time I watched it at the cinema, I knew exactly which moments would hit me. It’s a stunning achievement shouldered by so much excellent work, including two of the year’s most amazing performances. As I said when I first reviewed it, I don’t think I’ve ever watched something quite like this and I doubt I’ll see something quite like it again any time soon.
Honourable mentions
The Jungle Book, Zootropolis, Queen of Katwe, Doctor Strange, Swiss Army Man, Hell or High Water, Finding Dory, The Witch
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