Gene’s Top 10 Films of 2016

Two weeks ago I challenged the generally accepted notion that 2016 was a bad year in film, and described why I thought children were something of a savior for the year overall. If you read that you won’t be surprised by some of my picks for top ten. Many of these are pretty standard for most 2016 top lists, but I’m hoping a few cause you to stop and rethink your list, or give one or two of these a shot that you haven’t yet.

10) Sing Street

I feel like Sing Street is one of those movies that can be easily dismissed at the beginning as another “tragedies of the good life” kind of teen drama. But if you hold on for just a bit it becomes a very interesting arrangement of friendships, brotherhood, and budding love told with the expressive power of song. It really captures a lot of the rebellious and non-conforming tendencies of 70’s and 80’s rock and 90’s grunge. All in all this is a surprisingly interesting story told very well at a meditative pace.

9) Star Trek Beyond

This was probably the most fun I had in the theaters in all of 2016. It’s a wonderful installment to the new Trek-verse, and rather thoughtful on how what we love can become what drags us down. With both Kirk and Spock seeking different phases in their lives, we get a chance to see them genuinely discover why they need each other and, by extension, rediscover their love for what they’re doing with the mission of the Enterprise. Also, probably the single best on-screen musical drop with “Sabatoge” in the last few years.

8) The Fundamentals of Caring

The content of this film may not have as much of an impact on me as WHEN I watched it. It was late August, after a very unfulfilling summer movie season, and I needed something I wasn’t getting at the theater. This was a breath of fresh air. Paul Rudd is heartfelt and hilarious in this story of a struggling writer caring for Trevor, a boy with muscular dystrophy, and helping him see the world – or at least western America – and fulfilling Trevor’s simple dreams while he figures out where he is in life. I found this unexpectedly funny with very strong relationships.

7) La La Land

I can’t say much about this that hasn’t been said already. Gosling and Stone are oozing with chemistry. The script plays to their strengths emotionally and in their own unique quirkiness. There is something incredible about the relatability of a film centered around a specific musical genre even to those among us with no musical talent but just an ear to hear and a foot to tap. Between this and Whiplash (2014), Damien Chazelle is carving his own niche in telling stories through music.

6) The Edge of Seventeen

It’s funny how happy I am for Haley Steinfeld and her excelling in this role. While I didn’t say it at the time for fear of being laughed out of social media, something about her stood out in Pitch Perfect 2. Here she displays terrific emotional range and really long stretches of dialogue with no cuts, highlighting her ability to maintain and largely become her character. It’s a good film overall, but she is the reason it has risen above just another angsty teen drama.

5) Captain America: Civil War

From the introduction of Spiderman and Black Panther, to the boldness of actually doing Giant-Man, to the thoughtful debate between Stark and Rogers on the issue at-hand, this movie does a solid job of telling its story while showcasing its characters. This brings to a head the inner turmoil that Stark has been experiencing since the end of Avengers (2012) and into Iron Man 3 and Age of Ultron. DC take notice, this is what the culmination of a character arc looks like in a universe of movies.

4) Fences

This is a film that puts the entirety of its weight on the shoulders of the actors and their dialogue. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis took on that weight, bench pressed it 100 times, and threw it over the fence! Get it? The story itself is also quite compelling. What struck me as a father son drama actually turned out to be just one part of it, and not even the best part. There is so much to be said in this film about marriage and companionship. About loyalty, earning your way, responsibility, fatherhood, forgiveness… The list goes on. This is a terrific film.

3) A Monster Calls

I can’t imagine a more beautifully accurate way to describe to a boy losing his mother that things in life aren’t fair, showing your anger is okay, you’ll inevitably do something you’ll regret, but everything will be fine. Conor (Lewis MacDougal) is just the right age for effectiveness. The method of using stories within a story about dealing with pain and loss is pretty genius. The unpredictability of the stories both disarms and informs Conor in a way only stories can do. They embrace his feelings and allow him to express his anger. Because we know what he’s going through we’re empathetic to such outbursts and we learn from them along with Conor, who still isn’t receiving the punishment (attention) he desires. This film has us hoping for the emotional health of Conor while also begging for his punishment. It’s amazing.

2) Silence

One of the most complicated and frustratingly honest examinations of faith I have ever watched. Probably THE most. It’s also the most thought-provoking film this year for anyone willing to spend the time engaging the material. I keep coming back to this work ‘honest’. The story, the people, the circumstances, they are all laid bare in all their ugliness, glory, pride and perseverance. Andrew Garfield was unflinching and I believed every moment of struggle and hope he portrayed.

 1) Arrival

Until I saw Silence (just last week), this was the only film from 2016 that received 5-stars from me. I was so completely mesmerized that I didn’t realize I had finished my popcorn until my hand came up empty from the bag. Villenueve creates such intrigue with every aspect of this movie; the reveal, the language barrier breaking, the twist, the political and international disagreements, etc. The most clear theme is that of the importance of language, but the thing which impressed me most was the time spent toward the end with contentment and moving forward on a path despite known hardships and travesties on the way.