It's New Year's Eve! And with the turn of the year comes a new flock of movies that range from potential Oscar favourites to the biggest blockbusters out there, let's not forget some of the unforgettable work released this past year. But first, an honourable mention:
Honourable Mention - Eye in the Sky
A powerful look at the world of drone warfare, this intense debate about the risks and responsibilities taken by those thousands of miles away is a breathless experience which never really runs out of steam despite the entire film taking place over the single period. It may not be the easiest of viewings, but it's still an entry worth talking about.
10. Deadpool
Is it the game-changer everybody says it is? No. Does the middle slow down a bit too much? Yes. But
Deadpool is still a fun time at the movies which rarely fails to hit a punchline and who's meta humour allowed it to become a crowning achievement in what's been a pretty mixed bag for the superhero genre.
9. The Nice Guys
In the same vein as
Deadpool,
The Nice Guys is hardly anything new. Instead, it's a proper reinvention of the classic mystery injected with that
Shane Black comedy that we've all come to know and love. Again, it never fails to make you laugh, and the added benefit of some great screen chemistry and a proper mystery plot makes this a surefire hit - as long as you don't look at its box office numbers.
8. Captain America: Civil War
What is there left to be said about one of the biggest films of the year? It's a monumental achievement in the Marvel Studios run and has set itself up high in the rankings of the best superhero movies
period.
7. Hell or High Water
Another genre reviver, this modernised Western thriller may look on the outside like your run-of-the-mill Cops and Robbers chase, it instead proves itself to much more than that thanks largely to some stellar performances, a great screenplay and direction by
David McKenzie. With awards season underway, it's good timing to catch this one with its upcoming DVD release - you won't be disappointed.
6. Hunt for the Wilderpeople
A late viewing for me, director
Taika Waititi has quickly grown to become a favourite of mine, with both
What We Do In The Shadows and his latest effort both managing to cement some big laughs in a genre that rarely makes me do so. With a strong blend of heart and humour alongside a couple of strong lead performances by Neill and Dennison,
Thor: Ragnarok can't come soon enough.
5. Sing Street
An Irish-based musical outing about love in the 80s may not sound like worthwhile viewing on the outset, but
John Carney's latest feature proved everyone wrong with a stellar cast of characters despite a somewhat generic plot. With some killer songs throughout and some true hilarity going about,
Sing Street really is something to sing about.
4. Finding Dory
Let's get one thing clear -
Finding Dory is a flawed movie. It's not better than its
predecessor nor is it quite as imaginative. But that being said, it's also one of the best movies of the year because of what greatness it brings about. It features a truly heartwarming tale for a character previously seen as basic comic relief whilst bringing about technical improvements with the amusing Hank the septopus. It's a trip under the sea we didn't necessarily need, but it's one that we were more than happy to undergo.
3. Spotlight
This year;s Best Picture winner was a rightful choice - a harrowing look into the truly disgusting deeds being done within the Catholic Church and how the people who finally uncovered it went about doing so.
2. Zootropolis
In a post-election world where things have gone topsy-turvy, a film like
Zootropolis feels even more important than it did before, thanks largely to its obvious racial allegory. But with the additional of some instantly recognisable characters and top-notch script, this animal buddy comedy is Disney's best effort in years.
1. Room
So... the first film I saw this year also happened to be the best film, courtesy of a duo of incredible lead performances and a superb screenplay by original author
Emma Donoghue. A film of three easily-distinguishable parts, each aspect of the film is a gut-wrenching experience that presents parenthood and childhood in ways previously unseen by cinema. While there is still room for improvement, this Oscar-winning movie remains the best film of 2016.
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