Essays/Features

Nick's Top 12 Films of 2016

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by Nick Arno

The great thing about film that is one of my favorites is that it never disappoints. Contrary to saying that every film that is made shows quality, there will always be a new film that inspires and delights audiences, and that is a true gift. Aside from the never ending craziness of this year, 2016 has been yet another great year in film history. From the Hollywood blockbusters to the incomparable indie classics, there is a lot that we can take away from this year, and films that we will remember forever. Since we’ve entered into a new age of film where anything goes, I’ve added a Sensitivity Meter to assist those with delicate sensibilities. 

12. Denial (Mick Jackson)

Just when we thought Spotlight might’ve been the most important film we’d see in a while, along came this one. With a delicate hand, Mick Jackson spins a web of lies, truth and overwhelming bigotry in this shocking tale of a woman attempting to prove that the Holocaust actually happened. Rachel Weisz plays the unmovable force that is Deborah Lipstadt, alongside riveting performances by Tom Wilkinson and Timothy Spall, that might actually earn them all Oscar Nominations this year. The film shows the world how the people who appear to have the most power and authority can fall under the hammer of good. With original pacing and cinematography, this film climbs the wall of tyranny and breaks it down.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

11. Moonlight (Barry Jenkins)

If you were ever concerned about the Academy’s diversity, this film will surly be up for several awards this season. The film takes place in three parts of a young gay man’s life, starting from his childhood, into his adolescence, and finally into adulthood. Although the last part of the film does an impeccable job bringing the story to a close, the first two parts are the core of this film. Growing up as a gay black man in a poor family has finally been brought to life in a shocking and intensely moving way.

Sensitivity Meter: 4/5

10. Nocturnal Animals (Tom Ford)

Tom Ford’s second film was a wild ride of triumph. After the success of his beautifully directed first film, A Single Man, the expectations were through the roof for this one, including it’s memorable ensemble cast lead by Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. The story behind this film was a brilliant rendition of two stories merged into one, with Amy Adams’ character living a life of doubt involving her second marriage and her talent as a failing artist, her ex husband Edward (Gyllenhaal), sends her a proof of his newest novel, dedicated to her. The story is reenacted as she reads, and the main character of the man who loses his family in a shocking turn of events is also played by Gyllenhaal, leading to an interesting crossover that makes you think hard about Edwards motivations for writing the story. The impeccable acting of the two leads is followed by the outstanding performances of Michael Shannon, who never seems to disappoint, playing the detective assisting the main character in the novel. The other stand-out performance was that of Laura Linney, who surprising plays Amy Adams’ mother, however being only ten years older than Adams in real life. Even though she is only in one five minute scene, her performance adds a the great flare that this film represents. There is sure to be a saying in the future referring to this film as being very “Tom Ford.”

Sensitivity Meter: 4/5

9. Arrival (Dennis Villeneuve)

Amy Adams has made it into another film on this list. As “out there” as can be, this Sci Fi flick takes the audience to a new level of paradox that seemed to start with Cristopher Nolan’s Interstellar. With Adams and Jeremy Renner leading the cast in this gloriously profound look into the universe, this film has made a mark on this year in a surprising way. After being released at Telluride this year, people began to understand why this wasn’t just another Hollywood alien flick. The style of the film is so enticing to it’s audience that it is hard to not feel as if you are there with the characters in the situation. This film is a great example of how odd flashbacks that seem to have no reason come full circle. Imagine a Hitchcock twist in a Christopher Nolan movie. There was no doubt with a director like Villeneuve that this would be a hit, after his dynamite thriller Sicario in 2015 that blew us all away.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

8. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Taika Waititi)

If there was a movie that could have you leave perfectly satisfied, this is it. With fabulous humor, sadness and heartwarming exposition, this film has truly made Waititi a legend. With Sam Neill playing the unwilling adopted father of a criminal foster child, what could go wrong? With references to the continuing sadistic manor in which technology is taking over all of us, this film takes you into nature in a way that you never expected. Original, suspenseful and nostalgic, Wilderpeople will be on the minds of everyone for years to come.

Sensitivity Meter: 2/5

7. Hell or High Water (David Mackenzie)

A movie perfectly suiting a spot on this list. David Mackenzie’s breakout hit film is one of the most spot-on modern westerns of the age. With characters developed with grace and integrity, you could not find a better film this year with more grit and promise. Completed with stunning performances by Chris Pine and Ben Foster as two brothers finding they're place in a world that has wrong their family, as well as a type-cast role by Jeff Bridges, who actually pulls off an incredible feat. The screenplay is no less than genius, with dialogue that tugs at the heart strings and fills the audience with the emotions of it’s characters. There is no other film this year with a more epic and transcending finale.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

6. Jackie (Pablo Laurain)

It is difficult to re-create such a tragic moment in history and make it believable in a creative way, and this film goes above and beyond in that respect. From the immaculate production design to the impeccable Oscar-worthy performance by Natalie Portman, this film holds a solid rank on this list. The assassination of John F. Kennedy has never felt so real, and the writing of this piece brings it to the screen in such a delicate and sensitive way that it is hard to believe, and the woman who lived through it all comes closer than she ever has before. Portman’s performance is so raw and striking that you might forget that it is her and not the real woman. A must see for Portman fans and movie fans.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

5. Elle (Paul Verhoeven)

How sophisticated can you make sexual violence? In this twisted, over the top and meticulously crafted film by Paul Verhoeven, the audience comes up close and personal with the reality of humanity, sexuality and power. For Michèle, a character magnificently played by the gorgeous Isabelle Huppert, her life has kicked her ass for the last time, and she's ready to kick back. It takes guts to play such a complex and unique character, and man does Huppert pull it off swimmingly. With so many details to put together, this film has twists and turns and hilarious dark humor around every corner, and just when you think it doesn’t have anything else to throw at you, there’s the next punch. A static french film that shows without a doubt that woman have triumphed in film this year.

Sensitivity Meter: 5/5

4. The Neon Demon (Nicolas Winding Refn)

“No Holds Bared” earns it’s new eye candy in a film that transcends the idea of in-your-face human existence. Viewed as a combination of his first two films, Refn creates a world of mischief and magic that sends the audience into a trance, with stunning visuals and a subtle but equally groundbreaking style that can only be found in Refn’s films. With intoxicating performances by Elle Fanning and Jena Malone alongside the models Abbey Lee and Bella Heathcote, the film is a girl power movie like you’ve never seen it done before. In a world where beauty truly seems to lie only in the young, Refn concocts a story that tragically descends into madness amongst the four main woman.

Sensitivity Meter: 5/5

3. The Handmaiden (Park Chan-wook)

Scandalous and wildly thrilling, this film grants the audience a glimpse into the minds of two woman forced into the clutches of the dark and powerful men that suppress them. Played out in two parts in time, this story takes the audience on the ride of lifetime, delving into the realms of dramatic sexual desire and emotional torment. With a style that combines dark humor with the intoxicating beauty of intrigue, the film demonstrates a new voice to Korean cinema that brings woman into the eyes of the beholder, but in the case of these characters, the woman are the true voice to the strange but seemingly wonderful damage that has befallen them.

Sensitivity Meter: 5/5

2. Certain Women (Kelly Reichardt)

Of all the films on this list, none is more true to human existence than Kelly Reichardt’s most recent masterpiece. Starring a few of the greats such as Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams (who happens to be in the top two films on this list), three stories intertwine amongst the beauty of Northern Montana’s natural scenery. Highly subtle but equally emotional, the screenplay takes the most underlying physiological turmoils of women and exploits them on screen in a very sensitive way. With a color palette that emulates the plains and snow fall surrounding the characters, the cinematography speaks volumes to the unorthodox characters who must fight to keep themselves at bay. The film reveals an explosive breakout performance by Native American actress Lily Gladstone, who makes it painful to look at her face as she experiences the deep emotions of a lonely woman. The experience is aided by the silence that is only broken by small inserts of enticing music towards the end of the film. A fantastic piece of cinema that will be remembered long after its time.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

1. Manchester by the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan)

A true look into life that has never been represented more passionately on screen. Kenneth Lonergan’s first film in ten years takes us back to his beautifully rendered style that displays the crushing tragedy and turmoil of human existence. One of the most interesting things about modern cinema is that a lot of films are being created like paintings, and some are being written truer to life than they have been in many years. Lonergan’s writing and directing aid to an outstanding performance by Casey Affleck, who proves once again that he can surpass his brother with pure unadulterated talent. His performance may be the best of the year, and is one of the better representations of true pain that you will see in a long time. His character is utterly broken, and has become numb to the world, only to find himself lashing out at things he cannot control. Another piece of this movie not to be missed is Michelle Williams. With only about ten minutes of total screen time, her performance stands out more than most this year. Even the young man who plays Affleck’s struggling nephew, Lucas Hedges, proves his worth in a film that will no doubt launch his career to the next level. The screenplay is filled with heart wrenching detail and dialogue that has no boundaries in terms of true human connection. With a heartbreaking score by Lesley Barber, Lonergan’s go-to composer, and true artistry in the cinematography, this film makes it clear to the world that pain is real, and cannot always be beaten. Do not miss this film!

Sensitivity Meter: 4/5

Honorable Mentions" The ones that missed it by that much...

La La Land (Damien Chazelle)

This film is one that will leave you in a state of wonderment. Class-act performances by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone combine with the beautiful cinematography that Chazelle brings to the table, along with music that fills you with love, laughter and pain. Many think that this film was one of the best of the year, but there are a couple reasons it did not make my list. I believe that the film’s storyline took a toll on its success, because of its cliché narrative and tough pacing. I also didn’t really feel it could decide if it was a musical or a regular movie. I think if you’re going to make a movie musical, you should go all in, and it felt forced at some points, and sometimes fell short. However, the film did have it’s redeeming qualities, which included the ending. Everything fell into place in the ending. It made you truly feel the statement about life that the film represented. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, and in a way, perfect.

Sensitivity Meter: 2/5

The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos)

Is “weird” or “shocking” a film genre? This black comedy takes the cake for most original film of 2016. Another terrific ensemble cast aids to this belligerent tale of a world where being single is actually illegal. The turbulent screenwriting adds a droll dialogue that creates a mischievous and gray atmosphere around the films story. The humor is the film is also fairly bland, but the dark side of the story is what really captures our attention, as well as an ending that adds new meaning to the phrase “up to interpretation.” Alongside Rachel Weisz, who has truly had an epically successful year, Colin Farrell comes back to the roots he developed in one of his crowning acting achievements In Bruges, and reminds us all that isn’t the douchebag that some of us thought he was.

Sensitivity Meter: 5/5

Ouija: Origin of Evil

There have been lots of horror films this year, and not all of them are necessarily gold. This one however has to be one of the most original Hollywood-style horror films I’ve seen in many years. Contrary to the flop that was Ouija, the film which this one is the prequel too, this one ultimately reigns supreme in style, production design and all around impressive scare tactics, that don’t rely entirely on the jump scares (finally), even though the jump scares actually do scare the shit out of you. For those who enjoy a great background story, this one is one for the books. The film is also very well put together in terms of dialogue and character development. There is also a tug at the supernatural that any classic horror fan would enjoy.

Sensitivity Meter: 4/5

Miss Sloane (John Madden)

A film filled with more intrigue and style than most this year, the director of Shakespeare in Love brings his smarts to the screen in this mind-blowing political thriller. The screenplay by first time screenwriter Jonathan Perera is very “Sorkin-esque,” and seems to take it’s rapid style of dialogue from that of The West Wing or The Social Network. It plays to all the strengths of the style, while still allowing for the actor’s interpretation. Speaking of acting…Jessica Chastain, anyone? Her stelar talent never seems to dissipate in any role she plays. Her leading role in this film is one of her best, and truly displays her ability to play the field in terms of emotion, triumph and loss by her own hand. With a story that sets the bar fairly low for politicians in terms of their worth, the impact of this film is perfect for this time in our history.

Sensitivity Meter: 3/5

10 Cloverfield Lane (Dan Trachtenberg)

The perfect combination of claustrophobia and crushing human emotion, this horror flick combines the creativity of it’s found-footage precursor Cloverfield, and applies it to a real-life post apocalyptic scenario. With only three characters in the film, the story harkens back to the era of horror that carries the claustrophobia and suspense to a new level. And with new versions of the aliens that we know and love from the first film of the franchise, what’s not to love? A true surprise that emulates the nature of hysteria and paranoia served beside a tasty twist.

Sensitivity Meter: 4/5