Another year is done. Hard to believe this blog has been going for almost four years now. Each year it gets bigger and biggers, as 2016 saw me review almost 90 films, a personal best. Hopefully in 2017 I can go for 100, but that's later. Now, it's time to recap what I think are the best films of 2016. We all know what my number 1 is, but hopefully the rest of this list will be somewhat revelatory and insightful for you. So, without further ado, these are, in my opinion, the best films of 2016. Enjoy!
Honorable Mention: Jackie
Hard to believe that the very first film on this list is Jackie, but as you'll see the back-end of 2016 was very good in Hollywood. However, it was simply unjustifiable for me to leave this film off the list, because even though I wasn't fully sold on Natalie Portman's performance as the lead here, it was still an outstanding film featuring great costumes, great set design, a wonderful score, and a good cast, all set around a pretty unique way of telling a biopic in focusing on just two weeks of the character's life. Also, I should mention that that score is one of my favorites of the year, and it is certainly worthy of an Oscar nomination. While Jackie will likely not pull out any Oscars unless it upsets La La Land in the costume department, it is certainly deserving of a mention on this list.
Honorable Mention: The Purge: Election Year
When I wrote my review for this film, I really didn't think it was going to make this list. But then it turned into the best film of the summer, and arguably the best film of the year until the "important" films of Oscar season started rolling around, so I felt it deserved a spot on this list. This movie is absolutely awesome, and as much as I may still call this franchise a "guilty pleasure," they just keep getting better and better! This one had some great cinematography (and certainly the best for the year as far as action films are concerned) and they even added an established actress, Elizabeth Mitchell, to the mix. If you have even a slight soft spot for slasher flicks, The Purge: Election Year was by FAR the best one of 2016.
10) Hacksaw Ridge
The calling card of this film about a pacifist who refuses to touch a gun is exactly what you think it would be: the war sequences. The war sequences of Hacksaw Ridge are EASILY the best looking sequences since Saving Private Ryan, which is about as good a compliment as you can dish because Saving Private Ryan still is the standard-bearer for best war sequences ever put on film. However, there's no doubt that these sequences caught many off guard who went into this film, you know, expecting a story about pacifism. On top of these exhilarating war sequences you had a great performance from Andrew Garfield, the man who won the coveted (totally) "Feel-Good Comeback Story" award at the Third Annual Awesome Actors Awards on this blog. This performance also netted him an Oscar nomination, (though I think could've been better suited to receive that nomination for Silence) and the film also saw several more thanks to strong showings in the technical departments, highlighted by some great sound editing. Also, why were the visuals of this film not nominated for an Oscar? I mean, Deepwater Horizon? Really? Anyway, there are definitely things that keep this film at number 10, most notable the hilariously awful performance of Hugo Weaving and a rushed story-line, (since, you know, we had to get back to the war sequences) it is still an excellent movie, and if you're into WWII films this is definitely one that should not be missed.
9) Loving
This movie earns a spot on this list because it is quietly beautiful. The whole film is incredibly intimate and features two wonderful performances, one from Joel Edgerton and the other from the quiet Ruth Negga. While that's pretty much all this film is, I loved it as much as I did because....well because that's all it needed to be. The film slowly builds over the course of its runtime, and it does so in a way that you don't really realize that it's building. Then, suddenly, they win their case, and Negga's simple look just ruined me. That look alone is enough to warrant this film a place in my top 10. While there were some imperfections with this film, it's a hard one not to love, and is definitely worthy of your time if you like films about the silent heroes of the Civil Rights movement!
8) Hidden Figures
I really can't believe this film only made number 8 on the list. I absolutely loved this movie! It featured a strong ensemble cast, a great score from titans Hans Zimmer and Pharrell, and an amazing script. Ah! I can't get over Taraji P. Henson. She's so good in this film! And Janelle Monáe! And Octavia Spencer! And let's not forget Glen Powell is charismatic as heck as John Glenn! AH. While you are acutely aware that this film is plucking on your heart strings, I know at least I didn't care about that at all. It's just a fun, fun film. Easy to watch, easy to be inspired by it, and easy to adore it. The only thing really keeping it from being higher on this list is the standard execution of all the technical departments. They didn't need to be anything better than standard to make this one of the funnest movies of 2016, but those aspects do need to have a part to play in a film to be higher on this list. Either way, Hidden Figures is a great film that you will have a blast watching and dancing along to.
7) Love & Friendship
I guess you could say that it's time for a WILD CARD. YEEEEHAW. Well, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this film deserved a spot on this list. It's very rare for you to see a comedy turn into such a gut-wrenching drama on a dime, but that's exactly what happens here. One second I was laughing and having a good time, but then the next it was like OH CRAP I feel emotions! Where did those come from? Additionally this film honors it's period extremely well, with some awesome costumes, hairstyling, and a great set design. Finally, to top it all off, you have a wonderful performance from Kate Beckinsale that just narrowly missed my top 10 this year. Like it's right behind Natalie Portman's high-profile performance from Jackie kind of narrowly missed. Beckinsale carries this film, and I hope giving it a deserving place in my top 10 makes up for her not making my best performances of the year. If you like films set in Early Modern Britain, or comedies that have an emotional punch at the end, put Love & Friendship at the top of your list.
6) Hell Or High Water
There's a lot of good things happening in Hell or High Water. It's really hard to pinpoint a specific reason why it deserves a spot in the top 10, other than the fact that it's just an overall masterfully executed film. Director David Mackenzie did a terrific job here, and I'd say his achievement starts with the characters. All the main characters here are written beautifully and have terrific chemistry with each other. Despite the fact that he's devastatingly charismatic, Chris Pine manages to ground himself, and his counterpart Ben Foster is even better. On the flipside you have wonderful chemistry and a pretty unique storyline between Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham. But I think what really does it for me are the details. The set design, costumes, and cinematography all come together here to create a nitty, gritty, film. I mean, look at that picture! Look at the dirt on Pine's jeans. Who thought to put dirt on Chris Pine's jeans? Look at how rusted out those chairs are! That's what makes Hell or High Water as great as it was. Every detail was adhered to, and I really respect this film crew for taking the time to get everything right. If you like films about Texas, or a different way of looking at the 2008 financial crisis, check this one out.
5) Lion
So my top 5 films this year are in a world of their own. Obviously my number one towers above all of them, but these five films really were in a whole nother stratosphere. Kicking off the top 5 is Lion. A film that made me cry more than any other film in 2016, Lion features an emotionally devastating story, great performances from Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, and of course Nicole Kidman, who put in my second-best performance of 2016 in this film. I think one of the big reasons I love this film is because it doesn't hammer you over the head to feel, well, feelings. This film gets you with looks. Kidman's entire performance was second on my list primarily because of her eyes, and Sunny Pawar (Young Saroo) is asked to portray his feelings with just his face. On top of all this, you have a great score from composer Dustin O'Halloran, despite the similarity of its main theme to Ramin Djawadi's "Light of the Seven." I also really liked the mashup of Bollywood and Hollywood. You have actors and actresses that are on top of the world in Bollywood showing up here for some super minor roles, just because they wanted to be apart of this film and let the western audience see what they're capable of. All of this combines to make an awesome film, and given how emotional I got watching it, it's more than deserving of a top 5 spot. If you need a good cry, the buck stops at Lion.
4) 20th Century Women
I. Love. This. Film. I watched this film the day the orange menace was inaugurated, and it was the pick-me-up I needed then and there. It features three great performances from three wonderful women, (Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, and Elle Fanning) and it was (and still is) a beautiful remind of the power, strength, and influence women have in our lives. It features my second-favorite score of the year, and also has a STRONG soundtrack of musical selections outside just the score. Warner Brothers could really learn something from A24 when it comes to picking what songs should be in your film. Just saying. But I just absolutely adore this film. These women have so much depth to them, and they each have compelling story arcs. The rest of the film is beautiful in its simplicity, but you could still tell that every aspect of the set, costumes, and makeup were meticulously chosen. I'm really quite sad that this film didn't receive any more Oscar nominations than it did, because it did a better job in the technical departments than most films did in 2016. The film also has some great cinematography, even though I wasn't the biggest fan of the editing. That, and some of the more dubious voice-overs were the only things that kept this film from getting a perfect score. However, there's no doubt that this was the strongest 9 I handed out all year. It also happens to be, in my opinion, the best film A24 put out this year. That's saying something in a year of extremely strong films for the new king of Hollywood. If you're looking for the best pick-me-up film of 2016, check out 20th Century Women.
So, before we get into my top 3 favorite films, let's fly through a couple of genres and talk about what I felt were the best films to come out of each of them in 2016!
So, before we get into my top 3 favorite films, let's fly through a couple of genres and talk about what I felt were the best films to come out of each of them in 2016!
The Best Comedy Was.....
2016 was another bad year for comedy. However, we did get Central Intelligence, so it wasn't a total loss. One sentence is all you should need to be excited to see Central Intelligence: Dwayne Johnson wears a fanny pack. Do I really need to say anything more? I mean, don't get me wrong: Kevin Hart is one of the funniest people alive. And he's hilarious here. However, he ain't got nothin' on Dwayne. The Rock steals the show in this film, as he plays a character that actually struggles to be charismatic. And the entire time the film is almost winking at you because it's Dwayne Johnson! He walks into a room and his charisma has already been there for about 20 minutes. But he does things in this film, like wear a fanny pack, that makes his character absolutely hilarious, and of course he's a badass secret agent so he's also awesome. On top of that, there's actually an engaging story here! It's not just lightly edited improv. Amy Ryan is mysterious as the CIA agent and there's a cameo towards the end of the film that's out of this world. If you like to laugh, move this one to the top of your list.
The Best Summer Blockbuster Was....
Ok so 2016 was a terrible year for the summer blockbuster. There were really only two that made any sort of splash for me: The Purge (which you saw earlier) and Ghostbusters. I know a lot of people hated this film, but I think they hated it for the wrong reasons. They saw the terrible marketing campaign that proceeded it, and had their minds already made up about the film before they even saw it. But if you did try and see it with open eyes, you would've found yourself having a great time. I know the room I was in had a blast watching this film. Is it particularly meaningful? No. Do I wish they had actually incorporated the previous two Ghostbusters films rather than just try and pass this off as a new IP? Yes. But, all that aside, I laughed constantly. Even more than Central Intelligence. These two could've been swapped and no one would've blinked, but I always thought of Ghostbusters as more of a summer blockbuster than a comedy, so that's why it's here and Central Intelligence is in the comedy slot. But I laughed, had fun with the intentionally cheesy special effects, and even loved Chris Hemsworth. He had a performance very similar to The Rock's in Central Intelligence, and both of them were quite hilarious. Not to mention the four leads, all of which are fantastic. Heck Kate McKinnon won my (coveted, obviously) Best Actress of the Year award in part because of this film. I've watched it a couple times since it came out and I'm still having fun. Ultimately, that's what a summer blockbuster is about, right? You don't go into those films expecting some profound message or anything. You go in to find some A/C, turn the brain off, eat some popcorn, and have a good time. And if you went into Ghostbusters without any expectations, that's exactly what would've happened.
The Best Action Flick Outside the Top 10 Was....
So you knooooow it was a bad year for action flicks when the film I'm saying is the best of the year received a 5/10 on my blog. Yup. A FIVE. But ultimately I handed this award to Hardcore Henry because at least it tried to do something different. It may not have done this different thing in a super-effective manner, but the idea of a first-person action film shot entirely on GoPros is pretty cool. Not gonna lie. Hopefully in a few years we'll get a film that executes that idea better, but hey. This attempt is still better than any other crap we got out of this genre this year. (Outside of Hacksaw Ridge, obviously) Additionally, I did enjoy Sharlto Copley just being absolutely nuts in this movie. I mean he plays like 50 different characters, and is screen-hogging to no end, so that was pretty awesome. Oh! And Haley Bennett was good! And if you want guns and action sequences that's pretty much all this film is because the story is garbage. But, hey. In a year of crap action films, at least this one dared to be different, and I can respect that.
The Best Sci-Fi film Outside the top 10 was....
2016 was a pretty good year for the sci-fi genre, especially since some of the highest grossing films of the year were sci-fi films, so many may disagree with me when I call Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the sci-fi film of 2016 outside my top 10. But I did absolutely adore this film. It actually just narrowly missed being in the top 10 itself, which I'd say is a pretty strong statement. Heck if this list had been a top 15 it would've definitely found a place. But Fantastic Beasts, to me, recaptured the magic of one of my favorite series in Harry Potter. Sure there were problems, most notably the blatant and shameless sequel-baiting with Johnny Depp, but Eddie Redmayne to me was perfect for the role of Newt and Katherine Waterston showed off her diversity with her performance here. She's actually becoming one of the best character actresses in the business right now. Additionally, I just really enjoyed this premise. The lore as a whole here is really what did it for me. We got more world-building here than we did in any of the Harry Potter films, and this world-building was really quite cool. Additionally, this film had some of the best visual effects of 2016. (why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar in this category is beyond me. Deepwater Horizon.....c'mon....) So while many will probably pick Captain America: Civil War or Star Wars: Rogue One as their favorite sci-fi films of the year, I'm going with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Because we can all use a little more magic in our lives.
The Best Horror Film Was.....
My two big regrets from 2016 was not delivering reviews of 10 Cloverfield Lane (which I started, but never finished) and The Witch. Both of these films I loved, but life just got too busy at those times for me to deliver reviews when the stories were fresh in my mind. Someday I'll rewatch them and maybe then I'll finally write reviews of both of them. However, I will take a moment to highlight A24's The Witch, because it was ultimately the best horror film I saw in 2016. It tackled horror the way I want it to be tackled: with resonating scares versus simple jump scares. I mean I still get nightmares about that freaking goat, man. On top of that you have great dialogue from all these characters and a career-defining performance from the young Anya Taylor-Joy. Put all of this together on top of some absolutely haunting scares, and you have the best horror film of 2016. It's not It Follows levels of scary, but hey.... a masterful horror film only comes around once every couple of years, so I'm not too sad about that.
The Best Superhero Movie Was....
This one was easy. If there was any film that truly turned the powerhouse that is the superhero genre on its side more in 2016, it was Deadpool. The pet project years in the making from Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool finally showed the big studios that they could make an "R" rated superhero movie and sell loads of tickets. This concept is already being embraced by Fox (with Logan earning another hard "R" rating) and the DC cinematic universe, and I think sooner or later Marvel will throw out an "R" rated superhero movie as well. Maybe Black Panther? We'll see. It's definitely coming. But hey, on top of pushing the boundaries of the genre, Deadpool was also really, really funny. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew it was gonna find a place here it would've made a strong case for Best Comedy of the Year as well. And it films its action sequences right, which nowhere near enough movies managed to do in 2016. Put all of this together and sprinkle on some fun editing and fourth-wall-breaking, and you have the clear and obvious choice for Best Superhero Movie of 2016.
The Best Animated Film I Saw Was....
So I really didn't see many animated films in 2016. That's my buddy Peter Kosanovich's department. But of the ones that I did see, Finding Dory was my favorite. I think this definitely can be contributed to my love of the original film and Pixar successfully taping into that nostalgia factor, but I think it also has to do with some well-written characters from not just Dory herself but also the huge supporting cast of characters that help her along her journey. And of course, in true Pixar fashion, you get a good cry in before the end. It's a great film that's fun for the entire family, and it was certainly the best animated film I saw in 2016.
The Best Sequel We Weren't Expecting to Be Good Was.....
YES. I FINALLY get to talk about Ouija: Origin of Evil! The original Ouija from 2014 was, well, terrible. It was just another crappy horror film with nothing but lazy pop scares, so when they announced a sequel, everyone and their mother's was just like, "Oh boy. Not again." But holy CRAP did they turn this franchise around with the second installment, Ouija: Origin of Evil flew to the other side of the spectrum and was really the best horror film of 2016. Yes I took a cop-out by putting it here, but given the fact that the expectations were SO low, it was easily deserving of this spot as well. I mean, this is a film made by Hasbro Studios, for crying out loud! Champions of such classics as My Little Pony and Battleship. It's based off a freaking board game, for crying out loud! How can it be good? Well, it's not just good.... it's great. It's great because it focuses on being creepy versus trying to get a cheap pop scare in. Sequences like "Do you know what it feels like to be strangled?" which made my favorite movie moments of 2016, resonate with you, and are all told in ways that are trying to be innovative in the genre. There's good bits with the lighting, with the editing, and with the cinematography here that all add to the scares and the overall experience. Additionally, Lulu Wilson and Annalise Basso are excellent in this film and really hold everything together. Just.....man. If you're looking for something to scare the crap out of you from 2016, look no further than Ouija: Origin of Evil. I know a lot of people said "Hard pass," to this one because after all how could a sequel to the TERRIBLE Ouija be good, but trust me. It's not just good. It's fantastic. Move it to the top of your list with The Witch if you're into horror films.
The Best Film No One Saw Was....
Speaking of films no one saw, remember when I was really disappointed when The Nice Guys didn't reach nearly the level of publicity that it deserved and has failed to receive much recognition since? I mean, not a single nomination from the Academy. Really? Heck, outside of La La Land this film had, in my opinion, the best set design of 2016, and it didn't even get a nomination for it. This set has Wes Anderson-levels of attention to detail, and it was simply incredible to watch on screen. This film, to me, puts director Shane Black in the same realm as a Paul Thomas Anderson or a David O. Russell, and yet no one even blinked an eye at it. It featured great performances from Ryan Gosling and even Russell Crowe, and both of them were nearly outplayed by child-star Angourie Rice. It would've found itself in my top 10 if I didn't already know that I was going to call it "The Best Film No One Saw" for 2016. Sure, it made $50 million+, but for all that it didn't gain nearly the amount of traction it deserved. I guess Shane Black is just going to have to direct another great film to finally be held in the same regard as some of the greats, but I think when he inevitably does people will finally look back at The Nice Guys as his big breakout film. He had one hit in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang back in 2005, but he finally showed that he could follow it up with 2016's The Nice Guys.
Alright, so we're done with the genres and now it's time to hit my top 3 best films of the year! Nothing but 10s from here on out, too, so you know the competition is fierce!
Alright, so we're done with the genres and now it's time to hit my top 3 best films of the year! Nothing but 10s from here on out, too, so you know the competition is fierce!
3) Arrival
Kicking off the top 3 is Arrival. The best sci-fi film since Ex Machina, Arrival features an engaging and actually realistic storyline for how the human race would respond to the idea of the discovery of alien life, and I thought its story was executed brilliantly. In the middle of all of it is Amy Adams, who put in a performance that landed in my top 10 this year and should've netted her an Oscar nomination. This film also features some of the best sound design of the year, from both an editing and mixing standpoint, as the crew had to create an alien language using only sounds for Adams to decipher and did so beautifully. I also really enjoyed the global tension this film had. Too many sci-fi films go for an intimate atmosphere or fall flat on its face when they address their issue on a global scale, but not here. Not with Arrival. This global tension adds to the story and makes for one of the best final acts in cinema in all of 2016 as the global politics come to a head. This film also had a unique score from Johann Johansson, and also great, Oscar-worthy editing from Joe Walker. (Were it not for La La Land) Finally, there's a twist at the end of this film that was certainly the "best twist" of 2016. All of these elements come together for a perfect film with perfect execution, and the only thing that prevented it from being higher on the list was that it wasn't as perfect as the next two. However, whether you are a fan of sci-fi or not, this one is more than worthy of your time.
2) Moonlight
Alright. So this entire time I've been struggling to figure out how I would address these final two films, because I know a lot of people are complaining about La La Land and its inevitable sweep at the Oscars beating out Moonlight in every category where the two are going head to head in. It really is a damn shame that these two films came out in the same year as one another, because any other year Moonlight would be the clear and obvious winner of every Oscar imaginable. This movie is a career-defining film for director Barry Jenkins, and it features career-defining performances from the soon-to-be Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and the equally fantastic, but sadly not soon-to-be Oscar winner (just nominated) Naomie Harris. Both of these performances received recognition by me in my Third Annual Awesome Actor Awards. It also features the best story of 2016 hands-down, and if La La Land and Moonlight were going head-to-head in that category you better believe I'd be expecting Moonlight to win. This story is bold in its novelty as it tells the story of Chiron across three different actors. I really respect the challenge that brings to the director-each of these actors has to study each other and be able to play off each other so that the transition between them is flawless- and Barry Jenkins makes this look easy. This film also features the second-best cinematography of the year as a whole but does feature my single favorite moment for the cinematographer in 2016 at the very end of the film. The final exchange between Chiron and Kevin in the last moments of the film is shot better than anything else I saw all year, and it elicited an emotional response from yours truly simply because of the message the camera conveyed. Not to mention it had my third-favorite score of the year, this one from Nicholas Britell that did feature a wonderful theme for Chiron that changed keys each time we stepped into a new part of his life. This film will be studied at a molecular level for years to come, and will likely be studied and dissected far more than La La Land ever will. But more on that in a minute. Moonlight is a perfect film and is worthy of everyone's time. If it wasn't for La La Land, it would easily be my favorite movie of 2016.
1) La La Land
However La La Land happened, and so that hope for Moonlight is not the case. Never did a film take me through a roller coaster of emotion in 2016 like La La Land did. I hit every emotion throughout the film, culminating with an ugly cry courtesy of the single best moment of 2016 in the final moments. I think that, while this film isn't necessarily trying to make a grand statement about any specific issue, it's an inspiring film. It's not just dedicated to those trying to "make it" in Hollywood, it's dedicated to those pursuing a dream, whatever it may be. It may not feature the best story of 2016, but it does feature the best cinematography, editing, set design, costume design, lighting, musical score, and the performance of the year from Emma Stone. It's story was my second-favorite story of the year, and it also would land in my top 3 for sound design too. No other film is executed this brilliantly in every technical department, and it all falls into place thanks to director Damien Chazelle. He's already shown me that he can make a masterful film from a technical side with Whiplash, and in this film he's even better.
One of the smaller moments of this film is actually a really good example of why this is my top film of 2016. During the "Summer Montage" sequence, all of these technical departments come together to film a thrilling and brief 2-minute sequence. You have Gosling and Stone showcasing some wonderful choreography behind some great editing early on, and as the sequence goes on you have great lighting behind Gosling in a jazz club as he plays piano and Emma Stone dances off to the side. Not to mention there are some great pans between the two of them as Gosling gets a piano solo for a measure then the rest of the band comes in and we pan to Stone dancing just to pan back to Gosling getting another piano solo for a measure just to pan back to Stone dancing as the rest of the band plays just to do it all again! All behind a wonderful sequence from composer and soon-to-be Oscar winner Justin Hurwitz. And that little sequence would barely even crack the top 10 for best moments of this film. Then you add in incredible and masterfully choreographed and shot dance sequences during "Another Day in Sun," "Planetarium," "Someone in the Crowd," "A Lovely Night," and of course the exhilarating "Epilogue" sequence that combine every technical aspect of filmmaking to create the best moments in cinema in 2016. And I haven't even mentioned the "Audition" sequence which is more than enough to net Emma Stone an Oscar. And I STILL don't know how they pulled off the opening oner that is "Another Day in Sun." That 4-minute single take sequence shot on location on one of the most popular overpasses in LA is simply incredible, and the film just gets better after that.
While it may not feature a meaningful political statement on anything, it will still inevitably inspire thousands, if not millions of people to follow their dreams. So you can disagree with me all you want and say Moonlight is the best film of 2016, and that's fine. If you judge a film simply by the strength of its story, I'll agree with you. But here at Enter the Movies I do my best to respect every aspect of filmmaking, and if you look at these two films from these lens, it's pretty hard for Moonlight, or any other film in 2016 for that matter, to compete with La La Land. I said it when I first reviewed it and I will say it again: La La Land is the best film I have ever reviewed on Enter the Movies, and it is more than deserving of as many Oscars as the Academy can give it. La La Land is a perfect film and can be enjoyed by anyone who breathes air.
One of the smaller moments of this film is actually a really good example of why this is my top film of 2016. During the "Summer Montage" sequence, all of these technical departments come together to film a thrilling and brief 2-minute sequence. You have Gosling and Stone showcasing some wonderful choreography behind some great editing early on, and as the sequence goes on you have great lighting behind Gosling in a jazz club as he plays piano and Emma Stone dances off to the side. Not to mention there are some great pans between the two of them as Gosling gets a piano solo for a measure then the rest of the band comes in and we pan to Stone dancing just to pan back to Gosling getting another piano solo for a measure just to pan back to Stone dancing as the rest of the band plays just to do it all again! All behind a wonderful sequence from composer and soon-to-be Oscar winner Justin Hurwitz. And that little sequence would barely even crack the top 10 for best moments of this film. Then you add in incredible and masterfully choreographed and shot dance sequences during "Another Day in Sun," "Planetarium," "Someone in the Crowd," "A Lovely Night," and of course the exhilarating "Epilogue" sequence that combine every technical aspect of filmmaking to create the best moments in cinema in 2016. And I haven't even mentioned the "Audition" sequence which is more than enough to net Emma Stone an Oscar. And I STILL don't know how they pulled off the opening oner that is "Another Day in Sun." That 4-minute single take sequence shot on location on one of the most popular overpasses in LA is simply incredible, and the film just gets better after that.
While it may not feature a meaningful political statement on anything, it will still inevitably inspire thousands, if not millions of people to follow their dreams. So you can disagree with me all you want and say Moonlight is the best film of 2016, and that's fine. If you judge a film simply by the strength of its story, I'll agree with you. But here at Enter the Movies I do my best to respect every aspect of filmmaking, and if you look at these two films from these lens, it's pretty hard for Moonlight, or any other film in 2016 for that matter, to compete with La La Land. I said it when I first reviewed it and I will say it again: La La Land is the best film I have ever reviewed on Enter the Movies, and it is more than deserving of as many Oscars as the Academy can give it. La La Land is a perfect film and can be enjoyed by anyone who breathes air.
Well, there you have it: my best films of 2016! Thank you for joining me once more through another magical year here at Enter the Movies. I have had an absolute blast watching so many films in 2016, and I hope 2017 is even better. So, here's to the fools who dream, and here's to a wonderful 2017 for cinema! Thanks so much for reading, everyone. I love all of you! DEUCES!
Image Credits
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjIzNzIwMTY4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjI2Mzc2MDI@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1505,1000_AL_.jpg (La La Land Banner)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTUzOTU5NDk0N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTQwNDU0MDI@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Hacksaw Ridge)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA4NDU5NTI1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTg5NTc0MDI@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1502,1000_AL_.jpg (Loving)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzQ4MjY4NjYtYzNkNi00OTViLWIxMzYtNjMxM2YxYmIzYTljL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDg2MjUxNjM@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1497,1000_AL_.jpg (Hidden Figures)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ3NTY1ODMyNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzc2MjY5ODE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (The Purge: Election Year)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTUxMjcwNDc3N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODQ0MDMwOTE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Love & Friendship)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM1MTkxNjg1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzUzNjc3OTE@._V1_SY1000_SX1500_AL_.jpg (Hell or High Water)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDU4ZGI4YjgtYWZlNS00NTE2LTg1MmUtYTk2NjFlNzhjOTRjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTExNDQ2MTI@._V1_.jpg (Lion)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzUxZDY2YTEtMGZkMC00YWY3LTk5MDctZDcxMzliODJmMGRlL2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjI0Mjk2MTU@._V1_.jpg (20th Century Women)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzgxZGI4MzMtM2U0ZS00YWNhLTgxZmEtMzVjZjdkZTViMDIwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyNDQ2NjI@._V1_.jpg (Ghostbusters)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2NlYzQxMDktNDRmYS00ZTYzLTg3NDItMGI4NmZjMGI1ZmI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTI4MDA1MzI@._V1_.jpg (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5NjQyOTQ0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDcwODUwOTE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Central Intelligence)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZWNlNWMwOWUtMWZiZi00NmZiLTgyZjktZDUxN2Q3ZTA2MWJjL2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjEwNTUzNjI@._V1_.jpg (The Witch)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjE3MzI3NzAwOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc2Nzc5NzE@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,999_AL_.jpg (Deadpool)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA3NTYwODk2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODg5NjczMDI@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,754_AL_.jpg (Ouija: Origin of Evil)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc4MTY5NTMwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjcyODIyOTE@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,999_AL_.jpg (Finding Dory)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzAwMTY5OTY3M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTk0NTA3ODE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (The Nice Guys)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY1Nzk4ODc5OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjA0NDQ1MDI@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Arrival)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWFhZDNhNjktNGM0NS00Mjc2LTgxZGItMjQxZjdkMzIyOGUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDgwNDg1NzQ@._V1_.jpg (Moonlight)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDc0NDQ2OWYtZDg4NS00ZWVjLTk3MGEtOTA0Y2Q0OGE1YmEwL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjk3NTUyOTc@._V1_.jpg (La La Land)
Image Credits
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjIzNzIwMTY4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjI2Mzc2MDI@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1505,1000_AL_.jpg (La La Land Banner)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTUzOTU5NDk0N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTQwNDU0MDI@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Hacksaw Ridge)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA4NDU5NTI1MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMTg5NTc0MDI@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1502,1000_AL_.jpg (Loving)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzQ4MjY4NjYtYzNkNi00OTViLWIxMzYtNjMxM2YxYmIzYTljL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDg2MjUxNjM@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,1497,1000_AL_.jpg (Hidden Figures)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ3NTY1ODMyNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzc2MjY5ODE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (The Purge: Election Year)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTUxMjcwNDc3N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODQ0MDMwOTE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Love & Friendship)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjM1MTkxNjg1NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzUzNjc3OTE@._V1_SY1000_SX1500_AL_.jpg (Hell or High Water)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMDU4ZGI4YjgtYWZlNS00NTE2LTg1MmUtYTk2NjFlNzhjOTRjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTExNDQ2MTI@._V1_.jpg (Lion)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzUxZDY2YTEtMGZkMC00YWY3LTk5MDctZDcxMzliODJmMGRlL2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjI0Mjk2MTU@._V1_.jpg (20th Century Women)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzgxZGI4MzMtM2U0ZS00YWNhLTgxZmEtMzVjZjdkZTViMDIwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyNDQ2NjI@._V1_.jpg (Ghostbusters)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2NlYzQxMDktNDRmYS00ZTYzLTg3NDItMGI4NmZjMGI1ZmI2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTI4MDA1MzI@._V1_.jpg (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5NjQyOTQ0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDcwODUwOTE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Central Intelligence)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZWNlNWMwOWUtMWZiZi00NmZiLTgyZjktZDUxN2Q3ZTA2MWJjL2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjEwNTUzNjI@._V1_.jpg (The Witch)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjE3MzI3NzAwOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc2Nzc5NzE@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,999_AL_.jpg (Deadpool)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA3NTYwODk2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODg5NjczMDI@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,754_AL_.jpg (Ouija: Origin of Evil)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTc4MTY5NTMwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjcyODIyOTE@._V1_SX1777_CR0,0,1777,999_AL_.jpg (Finding Dory)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzAwMTY5OTY3M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTk0NTA3ODE@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (The Nice Guys)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTY1Nzk4ODc5OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjA0NDQ1MDI@._V1_SX1500_CR0,0,1500,999_AL_.jpg (Arrival)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYWFhZDNhNjktNGM0NS00Mjc2LTgxZGItMjQxZjdkMzIyOGUwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDgwNDg1NzQ@._V1_.jpg (Moonlight)
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDc0NDQ2OWYtZDg4NS00ZWVjLTk3MGEtOTA0Y2Q0OGE1YmEwL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjk3NTUyOTc@._V1_.jpg (La La Land)
