Best to Worst of 2016
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- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsRyan GoslingEmma StoneRosemarie DeWittWhile navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.A film that will be remembered for years to come, and rightfully so. "La La Land," from its music to its performances, manages to do what films should always do: sweep its audience off its feet, and take them to a world where you care about its characters and their story.
- DirectorAntonio CamposStarsRebecca HallMichael C. HallTracy LettsThe story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.As someone who has been battling depression for a few years now, this was one of the most haunting experiences that I've ever had in a movie theater. Rebecca Hall disappears into the image of the late Christine Chubbuck, and witnessing her descent to the bottom of the pit of depression, while performed brilliantly, was truly uncomfortable.
- DirectorTravis KnightStarsCharlize TheronArt ParkinsonMatthew McConaugheyA young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past.After the mediocre misfire that was "The Boxtrolls," Laika redeems themselves with arguably their best film to date.
- DirectorDavid MackenzieStarsChris PineBen FosterJeff BridgesToby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life. His brother is an ex-con with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch.David Mackenzie's work of cinema is slick and well crafted, accompanied by great performances and wonderful cinematography.
- DirectorByron HowardRich MooreJared BushStarsGinnifer GoodwinJason BatemanIdris ElbaIn a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.Disney Animation Studios really sells it with a clever film about prejudice, racism, and politics that even kids can get a proper understanding of. Really neat!
- DirectorBarry JenkinsStarsMahershala AliNaomie HarrisTrevante RhodesA young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.One of the most raw and captivating films of the year. Barry Jenkins delivers a really solid masterpiece.
- DirectorKelly Fremon CraigStarsHailee SteinfeldHaley Lu RichardsonBlake JennerHigh-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.It feels kind of nice to see an R rated coming-of-age story such as this in the theatre again.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsAmy AdamsJeremy RennerForest WhitakerA linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.Very smart and emotional film from Dennis Villeneuve.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRussell CroweRyan GoslingAngourie RiceIn 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.Really great to see Shane Black do another buddy crime film. Great action, great story, great comedy, and enjoyable chemistry between Gosling and Crowe.
- DirectorJohn CarneyStarsFerdia Walsh-PeeloAidan GillenMaria Doyle KennedyA young lad notices a beautiful girl who begins to occupy his thoughts. While struggling with poverty, personal relationships and life's woes, he starts a band, hoping to catch her attention.John Carney delivers another masterpiece, with the musical touch.
- DirectorHenry JoostAriel SchulmanStarsEmma RobertsDave FrancoEmily MeadeA high school senior finds herself immersed in an online game of truth or dare, where her every move starts to become manipulated by an anonymous community of "watchers."Fast paced, full of thrills, great humorous bits, likable performances, and an all around good time.
- DirectorMel GibsonStarsAndrew GarfieldSam WorthingtonLuke BraceyWorld War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, serving during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.Mel Gibson delivers a film that shows us that he has not lost one bit of his talent as a director, even after all the controversy revolving around him, and Andrew Garfield delivers both the best performance of his career and one of the best of 2016.
- DirectorTim MillerStarsRyan ReynoldsMorena BaccarinT.J. MillerA wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal yet hideously scarred, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.It's a *beep* insane film, and I loved every minute of it.
- DirectorLorene ScafariaStarsSusan SarandonRose ByrneJ.K. SimmonsAn aging widow from New York City follows her daughter to Los Angeles in hopes of starting a new life after her husband passes away.Very calming and enjoyable film, that was surprisingly funnier than I was expecting.
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonChris PrattEthan HawkeSeven gunmen from a variety of backgrounds are brought together by a vengeful young widow to protect her town from the private army of a destructive industrialist.I have to admit, Antoine Fuqua keeps impressing me.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAndrew GarfieldAdam DriverLiam NeesonIn the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.A long passion project that was worth every minute of it.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckElle FanningBrendan GleesonA group of Boston-bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan.Even if it is his weakest directed film, Ben Affleck still manages to prove that he is capable of delivering a worthwhile cinematic experience when he's in control. I still would gladly put this among his other works like "Argo" and "The Town."
- DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergKurt RussellDouglas M. GriffinA dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the Deepwater Horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in American history.Much like "Lone Survivor," Mark Wahlberg and director Peter Berg deliver yet another great film, about tragic events that could almost break a man's spirit, but still pull through to see another day.
- DirectorAlessandro CarloniJennifer Yuh NelsonStarsJack BlackBryan CranstonDustin HoffmanContinuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness", Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to home.While I do believe the 2nd film is better, I will say that Kung Fu Panda 3 delivers strongly as the finale to debatable Dreamworks Animation's best trilogy...at least, until "How to Train Your Dragon 3" comes out.
- DirectorDavid LoweryStarsBryce Dallas HowardRobert RedfordOakes FegleyThe adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who happens to be a dragon.Topping the original was an easy task (considering it wasn't that good to begin with), but to be this good was a big surprise.
- DirectorDenzel WashingtonStarsDenzel WashingtonViola DavisStephen McKinley HendersonA working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.This is worth recommending purely for the performances by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
- DirectorBen YoungerStarsMiles TellerAaron EckhartKatey SagalThe inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports' most incredible comebacks."Bleed For This" reminds me why I love Miles Teller so much.
- DirectorJustin LinStarsChris PineZachary QuintoKarl UrbanThe crew of the USS Enterprise explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy, who puts them, and everything the Federation stands for, to the test.Definitely a strong finish to the Star Trek reboot trilogy.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsAnya Taylor-JoyRalph InesonKate DickieA family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic and possession.Very atmospheric, creepy, and has satanic billy the goat murders. :D
- DirectorFede AlvarezStarsStephen LangJane LevyDylan MinnetteHoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who isn't as helpless as he seems.Fede Alvarez really impressed me with "Evil Dead (2013)," and this film is just as effective.