10. Star Trek: Beyond
Director: Justin Lin Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana I'm not a huge Trekkie, but I've really enjoyed this new reboot. Even Into Darkness, which has really taken a beating online, I appreciated. Whatever your thoughts on that film, Beyond was definitely a step up. Simon Pegg did a great job with the script, and splitting the crew up into pairs was a really intelligent move. The villain is a little misguided, and the MacGuffin is a little boring, but the movie as a whole is engaging enough to overcome those flaws. Also, "Sabotage." Holy crap, it's our heroes space-surfing an explosion set to the Beastie Boys. "CAN'T STAND IT! I KNOW YOU PLANNED IT!" That's definitely one of my favorite scenes of the year, & Star Trek Beyond opens this list strong as my tenth favorite film of 2016. |
9. The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio First off, I don't really like westerns. Nothing against anyone who does, it's just not a genre that has ever appealed to me. But this movie had me in the theater from just the first trailer. And while the critical response was a little more tapered than mine (63% Rotten Tomatoes), I really like this film. The action is engaging, I cared about the characters, & I even thought the villain, portrayed by Peter Sarsgaard, was decent. Take note, Hollywood: this is how you do a remake properly. You take a film that most audiences haven't seen today & tell a different story with it. 2016's The Magnificent Seven takes the cake as my ninth favorite film of the year. |
8. Doctor Strange
Director: Scott Derrickson Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong There's nothing revolutionary from Marvel here; Doctor Strange is just a really enjoyable movie. The cast was all excellent: I thought Cumberbatch did a great job as Strange (although he felt a little too similar to Tony Stark at times), Tilda Swinton was amazing, & I thought Mads's villain was actually very interesting. Also, the complexities of the Mordo/Strange relationship are something I'm really looking forward to seeing developed in the sequel (which I'll call my shot right now, it's gonna be titled Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme). This film suffers from being too much in the Marvel origin story mold, but it's a very serviceable film overall. Doctor Strange is definitely my eighth favorite film of 2016. |
7. rogue one: A Star Wars Story
Director: Gareth Edwards Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen All right, I’m a Star Wars junkie. This movie did a great job of throwing back to the original trilogy while still providing new material. The film’s mood, Donnie Yen’s performance, and the Darth Vader scene (you know which one!) were some highlights for me. And of course, the third act was incredible. I do have minor issues with the pacing of Star Wars - Rogue One: A Star Wars Rogue One Story and some of the character development, and CGI Tarkin was a little off-putting. Nevertheless, Rogue One is a welcome addition to the Star Wars canon and my seventh favorite film of the year. |
6. arrival
Director: Denis Villeneuve Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker I need to watch this movie again. I know it was good, I know Amy Adams gave a great performance, and I know it had several profound things to say about the real world. But honestly, leaving this film, I couldn’t help but think “Well that was kinda weird & unsettling.” However, the more I think about it, the more I like Arrival & the more eager I am to rewatch it. Or maybe I’m just hopping on the bandwagon. Either way, Arrival has earned the title of my sixth favorite film of 2016. |
5. Hell or high water
Director: David Mackenzie Starring: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges Again, I don't like westerns. No Country was no biggie to me, & Tombstone is a mess (but how good is Val Kilmer, amiright?) But anyway, this modern take on the western is fun as hell. I love how Ben Foster's character, the most likable guy in the film, is also a really bad dude. Chris Pine is great, & Jeff Bridges may be better. Lastly, this movie does a great job of presenting two opposing forces, making you root for both, & then leaving you torn when they finally clash. Either way, I'm happy to say that Hell or High Water is my fifth favorite film of 2016. |
4. The accountant
Director: Gavin O'Connor Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons, Jon Berenthal This movie didn’t get as much love as I think it deserved. It’s currently only at 51% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, although it did fare better with audiences (80%). And they don’t call this "Everyman Film Reviews" for nothing. I thought The Accountant was a smart, engaging action film with an amazing twist in the finale. It was certainly the best Bourne film of the year (cop that Jason Bourne!) Maybe upon rewatching it, this one will slip off my list, but for now, The Accountant ranks as my fourth favorite film this past year. |
3. deadpool
Director: Tim Miller Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Although I only saw Deadpool once in theaters, I’ve since purchased it on DVD & seen it another two or three times this year. This is a fantastic superhero origin film that I believe will remain popular for years to come. Most of the comedy still lands for me, and I can’t wait to see this character again. Heck, I’m writing this as I drink out of my Deadpool mug, purchased at Target! (Not an advertisement) Admittedly, the plot was a bit generic, but the story’s nonlinear structure and the riffs on the superhero genre mask this flaw. For these reasons, Deadpool definitely deserves to be my third favorite film of the year. |
2. sing street
Director: John Carney Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Jack Reynor Holy crap, this movie is capital-A Amazing! Just some quick backstory: I was only gonna make a Top 5 list for 2016, but then I saw Hell or High Water & Sing Street at home, & I knew this would have to be a Top 10 list. I love everything about this movie. Well, maybe not everything. More like 98%. I don't wanna say too much here because I think I'll be writing a full review for this one, but if you're on the fence about watching Sing Street, watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuWTcmjnEGY. It's the best song from the film, "Drive It Like You Stole It," & if it doesn't sell you on Sing Street, I don't know what will. Give it a go, because Sing Street is absolutely my second favorite film of 2016. |
1. Captain america: Civil war
Directors: Joe & Anthony Russo Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, & so. many. others. Of course, as a Marvel fanboy, this was my favorite film of the year. A beautifully told, powerful story, Civil War met or exceeded most of my expectations. While some complain about Daniel Bruhl’s portrayal of Zemo, I find the character refreshing, as he’s not a twisted, maniacal megalomaniac bent on world destruction. (Try saying that five times fast…) Despite all the superhero shenanigans, Civil War is a very heartfelt, down-to-earth story about a family unit having disagreements. Kinda like Home Alone. But with more super-heroics. Despite that half-baked comparison, Civil War is undoubtedly my favorite film of 2016. |
honorable mentions!
- The Nice Guys
Director: Shane Black Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling I don't know, guys. This is a good movie, don't get me wrong. It just didn't connect with me the way it seems to have with everyone else. I loved seeing Russell & the Goz together, the comedy is on point, and the script is as Shane Black as they come. But the story is all over the shop & the film just didn't always work for me. Would I watch a sequel? Absolutely. I thought this was an enjoyable way to spend two hours on my basement couch. It just doesn't quite make the Top 10 for EFR, which is why I'm happy to give The Nice Guys an Honorable Mention for 2016. |
- X-Men: Apocalypse
Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Micael Fassbender, Sophie Turner This should maybe be a Dishonorable Mention before anything else. Apocalypse was the first X-Men film I saw in theaters, discounting Deadpool, & I had blazed through the entire X-Men film franchise in the two weeks leading up to this one. And I loved it. The humor was great, & for better or worse, it felt like one of the Marvel movies I enjoy so much. It didn't bring anything new to the genre, it was just an enjoyable two hours that I spent getting sucked in to the grandiose nonsense the film presented. Now, rewatching it on Blu-Ray (yes, I sprung for it), it doesn't hit me the way it did the first time. But I loved it when I saw it, and for that it deserves an Honorable Mention this year. Sidenote: I don't know why, but every time I see the scene where Jean Grey steps up & saves Professor X in the weird dream world, it hits me right in the feels and I don't know why... |
Feel like this list is missing something? Check out the 2016 Bucket List, where I discuss some of the notable releases I missed from this year!
photo credits!
cdn3-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/star-trek-beyond/startrekbeyondposter.jpg
The Magnificent Seven (2016) poster:
www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiThsOBhL7RAhVH54MKHQ9ZA9YQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2404435%2F&psig=AFQjCNFHfkKCZn3rFclMqskXX4IqFITYRg&ust=1484359439060591
Doctor Strange poster:
images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM2ODA4MTM0M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzE5OTYxMDI@._V1_UY268_CR0,0,182,268_AL_.jpg
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story poster:
a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/10/rogueone_onesheetA.jpg
Arrival poster:
cdn3-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/arrival/arrivalposter.jpg
The Accountant poster:
cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/gallery/the-accountant/unnamed.jpg
Deadpool poster:
www.xfdrmag.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/deadpool-thumbnail.jpg
Sing Street poster:
www.impawards.com/2016/posters/sing_street.jpg
Captain America: Civil War poster:
www.budaorskonyvtar.hu/kepek/friss/civil%20war.jpg
The Nice Guys poster:
www.impawards.com/2016/posters/nice_guys_ver2_xlg.jpg
X-Men: Apocalypse poster:
img.cinemablend.com/cb/c/3/3/9/8/6/c3398667f2175155aafa3cda77866bccbe21796adb96771f3643e99c01064919.jpg