MY FAVORITE FILM EXPERIENCES OF 2016!

Article by Adam Mast

Another year is in the books, and you know what that means? That’s right folks! It’s time for the almighty (and completely subjective) “Best Films of 2016” list. Before I jump in and unveil my favorites, let it be known that there were plenty of films that, for whatever reason, I didn’t have an opportunity to see in 2016. Noteworthy titles like AMERICAN HONEY, ELLE, FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, THE HANDMAIDEN, THE LOBSTER, O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA, PATERSON, THE RED TURTLE, TONI ERDMANN, and 20TH CENTURY WOMEN just as easily could have made this list alongside countless others.

As it stands, here’s an alphabetical list of the 15 films that spoke to me most in 2016. I’ve also included a list of Honorable Mentions. I can only hope these movies affect you as much as they affected me.

ARRIVAL

Little time with a loved one is more important than no time at all. That’s one of the biggest takeaways from Denis Villeneuve‘s quietly haunting sci-fi film about a linguist who sets out to break the communication barrier between mankind and a visiting alien race. Once again, Villeneuve (INCENDIES, PRISONERS, ENEMY, SICARIO) proves to be a master of tone, and he’s aided here by a very capable cast including Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, and lead Amy Adams. Provocative and heartfelt, ARRIVAL is more INTERSTELLAR than INDEPENDENCE DAY, and it’s likely to stick with you long after you watch it.

HACKSAW RIDGE

After a decade-long hiatus, Mel Gibson the director (THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE, BRAVEHEART, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, APOCALYPTO)  is back with the true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who would save the lives of several men on a World War II battlefield without firing a single shot. Andrew Garfield is outstanding in the lead, but Gibson proves to be the real star here. The battle sequences in this picture are visceral and harrowing to be sure, but for the most part, HACKSAW RIDGE has an old-fashioned sensibility that we very seldom see in movies these days. And props to Gibson for casting Vince Vaughn and Hugo Weaving against type. The end result is some of the best work of their respective careers.

HAIL, CAESAR!

This latest effort from the Coen Brothers might be one of 2016’s most underappreciated movies. A joyful, satirical stab at old-school Hollywood, it tells the tale of a stressed movie producer (played by Josh Brolin) who sets out to find the whereabouts of an A-list movie star (played by George Clooney) after he goes missing while shooting a religious epic. The performances are spot-on here as is the typically sharp (and colorful) Coen Brothers’ wordplay. And if the big Channing Tatum sailor musical number doesn’t make you smile, you probably don’t have a pulse.

HELL OR HIGH WATER

HELL OR HIGH WATER might very well be the best-written movie of 2016. Taylor Sheridan‘s screenplay is superb. Granted, it helps that cast members Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, and Gil Birmingham all bring their A-games. At the heart of this movie are a pair of desperate brothers who engage in a bank-robbing spree across the state of Texas in an attempt to save the family ranch from foreclosure. HELL OR HIGH WATER is a sometimes brutal and always amusing modern Western that is as colorful as it is authentic.

HIDDEN FIGURES

Not simply content on delving into NASA’s race with Russia to put an American into space in 1961, the warm, heartfelt, and immensely entertaining HIDDEN FIGURES also touches on civil rights and women’s rights without completely beating you over the head.  With only his second feature, ST. VINCENT director Theodore Melfi has fashioned a lively, feel-good tale of unification bolstered by outstanding performances by Taraji B. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Kevin Costner. Inspired by a true story, HIDDEN FIGURES emerged as one of the most delightful surprises of 2016.

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

Taika Waititi (EAGLE VS. SHARK, BOY,  WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, and the soon-to-be-released THOR: RAGNAROK) directed one of the funniest films of the year in the form of this coming-of-age survivalist comedy. Featuring winning performances by young Julian Dennison as a lovable, trouble-making orphan and Sam Neill as the grizzled old codger who must look after him, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE is all at once righteously hilarious and undeniably touching. The chemistry between Dennison and Neill is spot on, and further props to an outstanding Rima Te Wiata who, in a very limited amount of screen time, adds weight to every scene in the movie, even when she’s not on camera.

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS is not only beautifully animated by the amazing storytellers at Laika (CORALINE, PARANORMAN), but it also offers up an undeniably creative (and fittingly eccentric) story to match the breathtaking visuals. At the heart of this tale of a young boy and a magical adventure is a wonderful message about the importance of storytelling itself. Be it through film, music, or any other form of artistic expression, KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS is a glorious piece of art about the power of art. Furthermore, this film doesn’t shy away from jumping head first into some pretty heady themes, including the grieving process. Great stuff! In fact, I was every bit as enchanted by this wonderful film as my kids were.

LA LA LAND

LA LA LAND is a magical movie experience. It’s pure smile-inducing joy. At the center of this stunning musical from “Whiplash” writer/director Damien Chazelle are two Los Angeles-based dreamers (beautifully played by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone) who set out to make it big in the city of angels. Of course, romance plays a part in the proceedings, too, as these aspiring artists encourage and inspire one another in a handful of immeasurable ways. LA LA LAND is certainly an ode to the musicals of the ’40s and ’50s, and like those pictures, it offers up a timeless, dreamlike feel. Gosling and Stone generate undeniable chemistry, and Chazelle brings a propulsive energy to a movie that doesn’t shy away for going in some pretty bittersweet directions. Yes, this is a magical cinematic experience, but it also speaks volumes about what it means to be an artist. One hundred percent commitment by all involved makes this ambitious, heartfelt movie one of 2016’s best films.

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is a devastating, honest, and emotionally resonant film about a broken man. Casey Affleck delivers a quietly powerful performance as an individual who has seen a fair share of tragedy in his life, and try as he might, he simply can’t seem to beat the issues that ail him. While this stunningly crafted film from the gifted Kenneth Lonergan (YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, MARGARET) sounds like a complete downer, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is punctuated by much needed bursts of humor and a heaping dose of hope. Michelle Williams, Lucas Hedges, Kyle Chandler, and Gretchen Mol round out a stellar supporting cast. With its Massachusetts setting and its core story of a complex man bottling up his emotions, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA feels a bit like a kindred spirit to GOOD WILL HUNTING and the only thing thing I can say here that might be perceived as a negative, is that it’s an absolute shame that Lonergan has only directed three movies since 2000. Here’s hoping we get another film from him sooner rather than later.

MOANA

There’s a reason Walt Disney Pictures made history with $7 billion in box-office revenue in 2016. MOANA might be the best film the studio had to offer in 2016, and that’s saying a lot, because we’re talking about a studio that released titles like THE JUNGLE BOOK,  ZOOTOPIA,  FINDING DORY, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY.  With MOANA,  the creative storytellers behind the likes of THE LITTLE MERMAID, ALADDIN, and THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE have fashioned an fantastical adventure about a fiercely independent young islander who teams with a mythical warrior in an effort to save her people from potential extinction. Stunning animation, outstanding songs, energetic vocal work, and a jaw-dropping final act propel MOANA to classic Disney animation status.

MOONLIGHT

Writer/director Barry Jenkins delivers a powerful, three chapter story of an African American and his turbulent life growing up in a tough Miami neighborhood. MOONLIGHT is a gritty, emotionally raw piece about redemption, forgiveness, and love.  Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders,  and Trevante Rhodes beautifully play the lead character, respectively, during three life-altering stages of a single individual’s life.  The performances, most notably a stellar Mahershella Ali as a conflicted drug dealer who finds himself serving as a most unlikely father figure, are outstanding right across the board. MOONLIGHT is a lyrical, restrained, exquisitely crafted look at the human experience as seen through the eyes of an individual who simply wants to be loved.

SILENCE

Martin Scorsese‘s latest masterwork SILENCE finds the famed director marrying two things he knows quite a bit about: Film and religion. Simply put, SILENCE is a stunning cinematic experience. It’s quiet, meditative restrained,  provocative, and brutal all in equal measure. Fueled by stellar Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver performances as Jesuit priests spreading their gospel throughout Japan, this gorgeous, hard hitting film emerges as a epic tale of faith and persecution from, arguably, our greatest living filmmaker.

SING STREET

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that two of my favorite films of 2016 would be musicals (three, if you count MOANA), I probably would have called you crazy. Yet here we are. While the dreamy, magical LA LA LAND is certainly ambitious and punctuated by a hard-hitting, reality-based look at what it means to be an artist, SING STREET serves as that film’s charming, coming-of-age, ’80s-set counterpart. John Carney‘s infectiously likable tale of a teen using the power of music to get through his parents’ breakup and win over the girl of his dreams is about as irresistible as movies come. Of course, I should have expected no less from the maker of the equally irresistible ONCE.

THE WAILING

THE WAILING is the kind of creative work of horror that truly defies description. This exquisite, expertly crafted Korean import finds a police officer trying to get to the bottom of a string of bizarre murders in a small town. When his own daughter becomes an unsuspecting piece in this compelling puzzle, this flawed man of the law will stop at nothing to protect his family. THE WAILING is epic! It’s sort of a throwback to the larger scale horror films of the ’70s and early ’80s (think THE EXORCIST, THE OMEN, and THE SHINING), but it still manages to carve out a path all its own. Hong-jin Na has crafted a gorgeous, patiently paced, truly unsettling movie experience that more than earns it’s final terrifying 15 minutes.

THE WITCH

This frightening 1630-set New England folktale from Robert Eggers is a horror show cut from a completely different cloth. THE WITCH is more about tone then cheap scares. Eggers generates real tension and an ominous sense of dread with this story of a teenage girl who is branded a witch by her Christian family after her infant sibling goes missing while under her care. Of course, with THE WITCH,  it’s all about the subtext. This is a slow build, and for all it’s worthy attributes, what’s most admirable about it is the authentic dialect with which all these characters speak. It makes for a truly transporting motion picture experience. There are several terrifying moments in this movie to speak of, and on a final note, Black Phillip is a character you’re not likely to forget.

Honorable Mention

A MONSTER CALLS, THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, DEEPWATER HORIZON, DON’T BREATHE, FENCES, GLEASON, I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER,  THE JUNGLE BOOK,  LION, LOVING, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING, SAUSAGE PARTY, SWISS ARMY MAN, WIENER-DOG, and ZOOTOPIA.