Top 10 Movies of 2016
Well my friends, the time has come at last. I won’t lie, 2016 for many was not a good year. Many icons of music and entertainment were taken from us and many bad people were empowered in ways that still has many scared. However, if nothing else, we can always count on the motion picture industry to provide a welcome distraction from the harshness of reality. Fortunately, for whatever else this year may have brought, it gave us no shortage of great films. And so, as promised, today I will be counting down the top ten films of 2016 in hopes that I am able to help some people remember the positives of the year.
10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
I already wrote a full-length article on this film which you can check out here, so I’ll keep this one brief. In what I hope to be the first of many spin-off Star Wars movies, we follow the tail of the group who stole the plans to the Death Star, therefore leading to the destruction of the deadly space station. While it was certainly not without its flaws, it was nonetheless a fine entry in the Star Wars mythos that allowed us to see the “Wars” half of the title from a much different and darker perspective. Plus, we got to see Darth Vader kicking ass for the first time since Return of the Jedi, that’s pretty cool too.
9. Star Trek Beyond
Here’s an interesting statistic. This was only the second time in history that a Star Wars and a Star Trek movie were released in the same year. The first was way back in 2002 with Attack of the Clones and Star Trek Nemesis respectively. (Ironically, many have argued that those two films are the worst in their respective franchises.)
With that little tangent out of the way, I must now announce that, despite it being a close call, in the ongoing Wars vs. Trek debate, the overall winner in 2016 was Star Trek. While Rogue one was excellent, it had the issue of not always feeling like a Star Wars film. Star Trek beyond was the opposite. While still maintaining its originality, Star Trek Beyond felt more like a Star Trek film than the two reboot films that came before them.
Kirk and the crew are back once again, now three years into their five year mission and having matured a great deal, feeling much more like the crew we all remember while still keeping the charm that set them apart from the originals. This time, the crew is sent to respond to a distress signal from a planet in an uncharted part of space. However, the whole thing is actually a trap by a group of space pirates and their brutal leader, Krall, played by the always awesome Idris Elba. When the advanced weapons of the bad guys turn the Enterprise into a pile of scrap, the crew is separated and needs to overcome the harsh terrain of the planet and, with the help of resourceful alien named Jayla, save their ship-mates who have been taken captive. What Star Trek Beyond was able to do that the previous Star Trek films did not was give equal time and equal development to the entire crew. Obviously a great deal of focus is given to Kirk and Spock, they are the two most popular characters after all, but there is still plenty of time given to Sulu, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov and best of all, McCoy. Speaking of, Karl Urban, who has been the highlight of all three of these films, gives his best performance as the character to date and his scenes alongside Zachary Quinto’s Spock are among the best in the film. Top it all off with a tasteful tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy and a dedication to Anton Yelchin, Star Trek Beyond went beyond my expectations.
8. Hail Caesar!
From the Coen brothers, the same individuals who gave us my favorite comedy of all time, The Big Lebowski, comes a glorious comedic homage to 1950’s Hollywood that’s loaded with as many stars as laughs.
While containing many intersecting plot threads, the primary character of the film is Josh Brolin’s Eddie Manix, a tough but spiritual man whose job is to keep the various scandals of big name Hollywood actors out of the press. Eddie likes, or at least tolerates his job, but is often conflicted over whether or not he’s meant for bigger and better things. Things gets harder when he has to simultaneously deal with a pregnancy scandal from one of his clients, two competitive journalists trying to squeeze him for a story and worst yet, the lead actor on the studio’s latest big budget picture, has been kidnapped by communists.
As I said, the movie has a fantastic cast. Josh Brolin is joined by such big names as George Clooney, Scarlett Johansen, Clancy Brown, Tilda Swinton (who pulls double duty as twin journalists), Channing Tatum, Ralph Fiennes and my personal favorite, in a very entertaining cameo in which he plays a rabbi, Robert Picardo. But more than just the cast, it’s the quick and unpredictable humor of the film that truly makes it memorable. There’s the subtle humor, like the actor best known for singing cowboy movies struggling to act in artistic dramas or the more over the top moments, like the image of Channing Tatum standing up in a canoe like he’s George Washington crossing the Delaware holding a tiny Paris Hilton dog and then leaping aboard a Russian Submarine. If you appreciate the aesthetic of classic Hollywood and are looking for a fun comedy that both homages and pokes fun at that era, give Hail Caesar a watch. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It’s a great entry in the Coen brothers’ filmography to be sure.
7. Captain America: Civil War
I feel like no year-end movie list of mine is truly complete without the inclusion of at least one entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Doctor Strange came dangerously close to earning a spot, ultimately, this was the better of the two.
Adapting the 2007 Marvel Comics crossover event for the MCU, Civil War blows the original story completely out of the water.
After a mission by the Avengers goes awry, resulting in many casualties, the United Nations draws up the Super Human Registration Act, an act that would essentially put the Avengers and others like them at the back and call of the government. Soon, the Avengers start taking sides. While Iron Man believes that this new act will help to prevent more unnecessary casualties, Captain America believes that the restrictions placed on them will prevent the Avengers from dealing with real threats. Once the Winter Soldier, Captain America’s old friend turned Hydra Super Soldier, resurfaces and is implicated in an terrorist attack, the disagreement between the heroes erupts into all out war. However, while the heroes are focused on fighting amongst themselves, a much more sinister plot is being put into motion.
While the original Civil War was an exercise in pretention that only served to prove that Tony Stark was the biggest jackass in all of comics, the film adaptation took the idea and turned it into something great. In this story, the issue is treated like it always should have been. Neither side is right, but neither side is wrong. You can easily understand why both teams take the stances that they do, even if you don’t necessarily agree with them. More than that however, this movie also managed to introduce two major players to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First up, there’s Black Panther, played by the very talented Chadwick Boseman, fresh from nailing the role of James Brown in 2014’s Get On Up. Boesman is a great actor and a perfect choice to play Black Panther. Second, and perhaps even more significant is Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland. While Andrew Garfield remains my favorite Spidey, this new kid did a great job and I look forward to seeing him later this year in Spider-Man homecoming. However, the thing most people remember about this film is the incredible fight scenes. The fight between the two sides in the airport is one of the best superhero fights I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s so good, it truly needs to be seen to be believed. This movie shook up the status quo of the MCU and left the audience incredibly satisfied. Who could ask for more?
6. The Nice Guys
Here’s a decent gem of a film that flew under a lot of people’s radar this year. Taking place in Los Angeles in the late 70’s, The Nice Guys centers around two private invesitagors, Russel Crowe’s Jackson Healy, a tough as nails sort who’d sooner break your nose than look at you, and Ryan Gosling’s Holland March, a sleazy drunk who’s a constant disappointment to his eleven year old daughter, who are brought together when they find out that the cases that they’re working are both connected to the recent death of a porn star named Misty Mountains, which itself is part of a much bigger conspiracy.
Essentially, this is your typically buddy cop movie, but it’s one with a lot of heart to it. Gosling and Crowe have great chemistry with one another and that chemistry is what drives much of the film. Crowe’s more rough demeanor mixes nicely with Gosling’s cowardly drunken antics so well, that I’d love to see more from these two characters in a potential sequel or sequels. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this movie features my favorite actor of all time, Goliath himself, Mr. Keith David as an enforcer for the bad guys. Sadly, his role isn’t as big as I would have liked, but I’m always happy to see the guy.
The film is loaded with laugh out loud moment, like Gosling falling asleep at the wheel and hallucinating a casual conversation with a giant bee, or two thugs breaking into Crowe’s apartment and trying to get information out of him by killing his goldfish. It’s a comedy with a feel to it that’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a while. It was a breath of fresh air and I loved every second of it.
5. Hacksaw Ridge
Before we get into the film itself, I need to address the elephant in the room that is its director, Mel Gibson. I want to go on record and say that I do not care for Mr. Gibson as a human being. However, say what you will about the man, lord knows there’s plenty that can be said, the man is, and always has been an excellent filmmaker. Hell, I will maintain to my dying day that Braveheart is one of the best-made films of all time. Is Hacksaw Ridge as good as Braveheart? Well… no, but it is still a very powerful film.
Based on the incredible true story, Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of Desmond Doss, played in this film by Andrew Garfield. Doss was a deeply religious pacifist who signed up for the army as a combat medic during World War II. Because of his pacifist beliefs, Doss refused to carry a gun or take another human life, which caused him to face many hardships and obstacles during basic training. However, during a battle at Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa Japan, Doss, without a single weapon on him, managed to rescue seventy-five soldiers from behind enemy lines.
Earlier I mentioned that Andrew Garfield is my favorite Spider-Man. While I was sad when he wouldn’t be reprising his role in the MCU, if he continues to give us films like this, I can get over it pretty quick. Garfield is phenomenal in this movie. Here’s something ironic. My first introduction to Andrew Garfield wasn’t in Spider-Man or The Social Network, but rather, a guest appearance in on of the goofier episodes of Doctor Who in which he putting on a southern accent very similar to the one he uses in Hacksaw Ridge. Garfield was often ridiculed for his performance in that episode, but here he is, almost a decade later, giving an Oscar worthy performance. What really makes Hacksaw Ridge stand out is its approach to the horrors of war. There is nothing glorified here. The battle is intense, disturbing, and makes one sick to their stomach, exactly how war is supposed to be. Out of all the films I put on this list, Hacksaw Ridge probably the only one with any chance of winning awards come Oscar season. Will it win? No idea, but I know I’ll be rooting for it.
4. The Magnificent 7
Good Western’s seem few and far between these days, but fortunately, this year gave us a remake of the 1960 classic that was more than enough to scratch that itch.
The small town of Rose Creek is being taken over by a corrupt robber baron named Bart Bogue and any who resist are killed. One woman who lost her husband is no longer willing to stand for it and sets out to recruit a team of individuals to help train the town fight back against Bogue’s army. Among these seven brave souls are Denzel Washington’s Sam Chisolm, a straight-laced bounty hunter who becomes the leader of the group, Chris Pratt’s Joshua Faraday, a wise-cracking gambler who’s as quick with his wits as he is with his guns, Ethan Hawke’s Goodnight Robieaux, a Cajun sharpshooter and war veteran who’s haunted by his past, Byung-hun Lee’s Billy Rocks, an Asian knife expert who has a history with Goodnight, Vasquez, a Mexican Outlaw who’s been on the run from bounty hunters, Red Harvest, a Native American warrior who joins the team because he believes their cause is just and last but not least, my favorite member of the team, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Jack Horne, a deeply religious mountain man with the strength and ferocity of a grizzly bear. Seriously, D’Onofrio owns every single moment he’s one screen. He wanders around in a haze delivering one-liners in his goofy voice before flying off the handle and attacking one of the bad guys. It’s damn near perfect.
This movie has some great action to be sure, the best scene in the movie being the first time you see the seven fighting together, but my favorite moments in the movie were the ones where the seven are just sitting around talking to each other. All seven of these actors have great on-screen chemistry and the relationships they form amongst their group feel really believable. This is a movie that would not be half as good as it is if not for the strength of its characters. The film understands that in order for the stakes to feel real, you have to develop an attachment to these characters, that way, you feel the appropriate impact when not all of them make it out alive.
As someone who hasn’t seen the original Magnificent 7, I can’t say for sure whether or not this one compares or not, but I can confidently say that it was one of the most fun movies I saw the entire year and I’m proud to have it on my list.
3. Deadpool
Oh, like there was any chance this wasn’t going to be on my list.
I feel as though if you follow my blog, then you already have a pretty good idea as to who Deadpool is, so we’ll skip that part. All you need to know that everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth finally got his own movie and it was every bit as gloriously messed up as a Deadpool movie deserves to be. Mercenary Wade Wilson has finally found happiness in the love of his life, Vanessa, who’s just as loveably sick in the head as he is. However, life would never be that nice to ol’ Wade and he soon learns that he has terminal cancer. Desperate, Wade volunteers for a program that was supposed to not only cure him but turn him into a superhero in the process, but instead ends up torturing him until he turns into an immortal psychopath with a face that looks like Freddy Krueger if he face-f*cked a topographical map of Utah. The rest is comic book history.
Let’s take things back to 2009, and the much-maligned film, X-Men Origins Wolverine. Much of the hype generated around that particular film was centered around finally seeing the cinematic debut of Deadpool, made all the better when Ryan Reynolds was cast in the roll. When we finally saw the film, not only was Deadpool given less screen time than Wonder Woman in Batman v. Superman, but they also turned him into an unrecognizable abomination that betrayed everything that the character is known for. Naturally, fans were outraged beyond belief. Deadpool deserved better than this garbage. So, when the Deadpool movie was officially announced with Ryan Reynolds once again playing the part, it was like our prayers had been answered. This movie needed to be good. And not only was it good, it exceeded all expectations. There’s just something about this movie that transcends cynicism. Any problems the film may or may not have are deflected by the film’s self-aware humor. Hell, one of Deadpool’s most famous traits is his ability to break the fourth wall. Hell, he’s become so popular for it that he now breaks the fourth wall while he’s breaking the fourth wall, and that’s like… sixteen walls! I honestly cannot find a single flaw with this movie. Every joke, every fight scene and every amazingly twisted act of sexual perversity is a joy to watch and feels perfectly in character for Deadpool. I’m sure if I looked hard enough I might be able to find a flaw, but I don’t think I want to. I just want to leave this movie as the perfect little ball of messed-up awesome that it is. 2. Hardcore Henry
Until our eventual number one entry came along, this movie was in an all out war with Deadpool over the number one spot. Actually, Deadpool vs. Hardcore Henry sounds like an amazing idea. MAKE IT HAPPEN HOLLYWOOD!! Anywho, while I maintain that Deadpool is a damn near perfect film, Harcore Henry ultimately won out due to how much fun it was and the novelty of it’s concept.
In a movie that’s filmed entirely from a first person point of view, we follow Henry, a man who wakes up with amnesia only to learn that he’s been in a horrific accident. Fortunately, his Wife Estelle is a brilliant scientist and engineer and managed to rebuild him a la Robocop, meaning that he’ll now have extraordinary abilities. However, before they’re able to install Henry’s voice modulator, the laboratory is raided by Akan, the project’s unhinged super-human benefactor who looks like if Jareth the Goblin King had a baby with Raiden from Metal Gear Solid. Akan wants to use Henry as the first in an army of cybernetic slaves. Henry escapes but Akan manages to kidnap Estelle. Confused, disoriented and having no idea where he is or how his new body works, Henry goes on a mission to find his Wife, and chaos ensues.
At first, I thought the first person point of view concept was a silly idea, but once I actually saw the movie, I found that it really worked. This whole movie pays homage to video game tropes and as you watch it, you really do feel like you’re part of the action. Just make sure you’re not prone to motion sickness, then this movie will really mess with you.
Henry’s only ally on his journey is a scientist who once worked for Akan named Jimmy. Jimmy is wheelchair bound, but gets around that by creating avatar bodies that he is able to control from his chair. Again, paying homage to video game tropes by having one of the characters have multiple lives. The twist is, each body has its own distinct personality, be it an unhinged drug addict, an old-timey British soldier, a stereotypical punk-rocker or a crazy homeless person. There was one scene in the movie where he reveals his multiple bodies and says, “You won’t believe what we get up to when we’re alone.” I turned to my friend and said, “Please tell me he’s not about to show us a sex tape of him literally f*cking himself.” What we got was ten times more awesome: A fully choreographed musical number where the various bodies sing I Got you Under my Skin. Amazing!
Finally, this movie has one of the most well, hardcore climaxes I’ve seen in years. Henry finally catches up to Akan, but now has to fight an entire army of super-soldiers just like him. What follows are some of the most brutal instances of movie violence I’ve ever seen accompanied by the wonderful sound of Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. It’s the best action scene his the church scene from Kingsman, last years number one film and it left me feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Exactly how a good action movie is supposed to feel.
Honorable Mentions:
I’ve been doing lists like this in one form or another for six years now, and this was without a doubt the hardest time I’ve ever had narrowing down the list. There were films that had the potential to top the list in other years that had to be left off the list entirely, just because there were so many great films to choose from. As such, there are quite a few honorable mentions this year, so before we finish this list off, let’s count them off.
Eddie the Eagle: An uplifting underdog tale about an Olympic ski jumper starring Taron Edgerton and Hugh Jackman that had me crying in the theatre by the end.
War Dogs: The story of two incredibly successful war profiteers that features one of Jonah Hills best performances to date.
Doctor Strange: Benedict Cumberbatch brings to life Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme in a film that will make you feel like your on drugs the entire time you watch it
Sausage Party: Seth Rogan brings us a surprisingly intelligent, witty and provocative satire on organized religion cleverly disguised as a shamelessly raunchy animated comedy about talking grocery store items.
10 Cloverfield Lane:
An amazingly intense thriller featuring a haunting performance from John Goodman that’s only detriment is it’s inexplicable connection to what is, in my opinion, a much worse film.
The Jungle Book: A surprisingly fun retelling of the classic story with a great voice cast and a scene in which Christopher Walken sings “I Wanna Be Like You.”
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: In the movie that I found to be the most difficult to keep off the list, we see the Harry Potter Universe in a way we’ve never seen it before, making for a much darker and heavier tale that still managed to fit in some light-hearted moments.
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. 1. The Resurrection of Jake the Snake
I believe by now I’ve made it abundantly clear that I have a great passion for professional wrestling. So, naturally, when I saw this documentary pop up on Netflix, I knew I had to check it out. What I saw was one of the most powerful and emotional films I’ve ever seen, and as such, it instantly climbed to the number one spot.
For those who don’t know, Jake “The Snake” Roberts is a professional wrestler who was famous around the era of Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. While Jake’s pears were often known for being boisterous and intense, as was the trend for wrestlers in the 80’s and early 90’s, Jake the Snake had different approach: Speak softly, and carry a big snake. Jake’s legacy as one of the greatest villains in all of professional wrestling is without question, but this film is not about his wrestling career, but instead about his struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism.
In October of 2012, Roberts found himself in dire straights financially, weighing over 300 pounds, hopelessly addicted to drugs and alcohol and struggling to perform simple tasks without becoming short of breath. It seemed as though the wrestling legend had hit rock bottom, that was until he moved in with fellow professional wrestler turned fitness guru, Diamond Dallas Page, in hopes that Dallas could help him get clean and healthy.
Now, since this film documents a real-life event as opposed to telling a through acting and cinematography, there isn’t much to critique here. All I can really say is that watching Jake struggle, fight, and ultimately overcome is both heartbreaking and uplifting. I’ve always respected the man and his work, and was always aware that he had issues with substance abuse, but it wasn’t until I saw this film that I realized the extent of what he went through. God bless Diamond Dallas Page for helping not only Jake, but also Scott Hall aka Razor Ramon, through their journey. That DDP Yoga truly is something else. The film culminates in both Jake Roberts and Scott Hall being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, now clean, healthy, and looking better than ever, but I’d like to talk about something that happened before that. On January 6th, 2014, WWE Monday Night RAW had what is known as “Old School Night”, a show in which several retired WWE wrestlers would make cameo appearances throughout the show. I was watching RAW that night. The main event was CM Punk and the New Age Outlaws vs. The Shield. After the match, Jake Robert’s music hit and The Snake made his surprising return to the WWE, laying a python over the face of an unconscious Dean Ambrose. Two things stood out to me about that moment. First was how Jake looked. At this point, I was aware that he had been working with Diamond Dallas Page, but I never imagined that his time with DDP would make such a significant difference. Jake walked out to the ring look better than he did in the 80’s. I remember thinking to myself, “Either DDP is the greatest Yoga Master of all time, or he invented a freaking time machine.” The second was Dean Ambrose. I looked closely while he lay on the ground with the python on his face and the now former WWE Champion could not hold back a smile. I will repeat that: The guy has a live snake on his face, and yet he can’t stop smiling because he knows how cool it is to see this living legend in the ring once again, and you know what, he wasn’t wrong. Today, Roberts remains drug and alcohol free, but the documentary makes it clear that the fight against addiction is one that never truly ends. Well, in any case, I hope Mr. Roberts continues to overcome. As for Diamond Dallas Page, to him I say, thank you, not only for a great film, but for the part you played in helping Jake Roberts, Scott Hall and countless others improve their lives through DDP Yoga. And so, we close the door on this countdown as well as 2016 itself. As I said, 2016 was not a great year, but instead of dwelling on the past, I instead look to the future. I have no idea what 2017 will bring, but hope that all of you reading this have a great one. Thank you all for following my blog in 2016 and join me for many more great articles in 2017, and meet me back here in 2018 for next year’s top ten list.