The Best Films Of 2016
There again, the year 2016 has almost ended. It is the time when critics, people start to share their favourite films list. So, I decided to do mine. I saw a lot of films this year. I have been to theatre every Friday this year, and besides that I saw every film premiered at Cannes and it's parallel sections like Directors Fortnight. In the mid way of 2016, I thought this is turning out to be a bad year, but as the year went forward especially after Cannes, this came out to be a good year. I also think this has been a better year for foreign cinema, we have had lots of great films from around the world. So, let's start but sadly because of release dates in India, I have yet to see films like -
- Silence
- Manchester By Sea
- Moonlight
- Fences
- Allied
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Jackie
So, they won't be in the list, but when I do a review of them, I will mention, if they will take place. Though I can place bets on Silence that it may top my list. Also, I have mentioned about 12 films here instead of 10, just for the sake I loved all 12 of them, We have had some great women-centred films this year. So, Let's Start-
12. HELL OR HIGH WATER
Western
genre, has gone down since 1970’s, though we have had some great one’s in 21st
century, this film isn’t actually a western, but sort of neo-western film, for
example like No Country For Old Men, which I didn’t liked. Hell Or High Water
came out of no where, and surprised me. The way the film is directed, it is
beautiful to look at. The crime scene’s are so well executed, more then all,
this film let’s you care for the characters of the film. It is utterly fast-paced.
This film tells no person is all good or all bad. This reminded me of Bonnie
& Clyde look, with these brothers robbing banks. This film is one of the biggest suprises this
year, and one of the very best of this year
11. ALIGARH
I was looking forward to do a top 10, but then I really wanted Aligarh
in the list. This film is the film, that I loved, and very much. Hansal Mehta
did an astonishing work with his direction, and he came even upper on the list,
of the best directors working in Hollywood. This is one of the best Bollywood films
I’ve ever seen, such a powerful and path-breaking film. Manoj Bajpayee did an
off-beat role here and let me tell you this is his second best performance to
me after Gangs Of Wasseypur. To those who haven’t seen this beautiful film, I
highly suggest it. We want more of these kind of films in Bollywood.
10. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
I saw this
film, but I had to see it again. This film may have a simple plot, but it’s
narrative is pretty confusing, which worked very well. Most of the times, it
dosen’t but this time it really did, and it was great. I love Tom Ford’s
perfume, but here he made his second film,
and he really rocked his role as a director in it. This is one of the
most stylish looking films of this year. Amy Adams, sure she gave her best in
Arrival, but I can go and say she was fabulous in this one too. Jake Genyenhall is superb as well. He is
probably one of my favourite actors. This film surprised me, it was worth the
wait.
9. TONI ERDMANN
This is one of those rare films, which is a comedy, but also where it is
nearly flawless. Toni Erdmann is a film, that surprised me, I wasn’t expecting
much from it, but it some of most funniest scene I’ve ever seen. It features
some excellent writing and steller performances. I still cannot believe that
after a long we have a great comedy, which is excellent in just not making us
laugh, but overall a great film. Many sites, and polls of the year hailed it as
the best film, including my most trusted magazine Sight & Sound. Toni
Erdmann is one of the best comedy film I have seen in this century, not it
really is.
8. THE NEON DEMON
This was my
favourite film of the year, in the mid of 2016.
I almost didn’t liked any film that came, at that point of time, as I
thought 2016 would be a bad year, but second half of the year really took some
turn. The Neon Demon is from the director who love and adore. Nicholas Winding
Refn, his films are artistic and thoughtfull also deepfull. I’m not saying he
is Terrance Malick, he is complete opposite of him and no where near to him,
but he adds so many hidden details. The Neon Demon might his most f**ked up
film till date, in a good way. I really suggest you to watch this film, it is
worth it.
7. I, DANIEL BLAKE
Ken Loach, he is still making films today, that itself an accomplishment
within itself. I, Daniel Blake is the winner of Palm D’or award of Cannes
2016. This film is certainly one of
Loach’s best, it is extremely powerful and a beautiful dramatic film. It is one
of the best Palm D’or winning film of this century, It follows a story of a carpenter, it is a
film that can speak to anyone, who is facing the horrible world. Ken Loach is
till as powerful as he was before, nothing has changed in his masterful
filmmaking.
6. GRADUATION
Cristian Mungiu is one of my favourite non-hollywood
directors working today. His 4 Months, 3
Weeks and 2 Days is a masterpiece and I can easily say that. This might be his
best film since that, though I roughly enjoyed Beyond The Hills. This film is
brilliantly written and directed. It is on a very simple topic, but what Mungiu
does with this film really something else. I always look forward to the films
which went to Cannes, and this is one of the very best of them. Graduation is a
film that I would watch again anytime, and still love it. It is a beautiful
little film.
5. THE INNOCENTS
I would go
on and name this as the most underrated film of this year, very few people have
seen this, I highly suggest this film, it is probably the most beautiful film
of this year. This year had a lot of
women centered films, and even this was one. I can say that it might be the
second best as per ranking. I love French cinema, and this year we have had two
great one’s from there. It is a period film, and it managed to capture the period
profoundly. It is a powerful, brave film, that stayed with me even after
watching it.
4. ELLE
Elle is
arguably stated as the best foreign film of this year, and it truly deserves
that tag. It is one of the best drama-thriller I have seen in this decade so
far. Isabelle Huppert gives an astonishing performance, she is the person on which this film rests on.
Though it has a brilliantly written screenplay and directed brilliantly, Acting
of Huppert is the thing that takes it all. This is one of the most powerful and
impactful film of this decade, I love this film very much, and I highly suggest
it.
3. PSYCHO RAMAN (RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0)
My love for
serial killer films go as deep as ocean, but sadly we haven’t seen many great
in the past few years. This might be the one, I was expecting to be great, and
yet it did. Anurag Kashyap once again,
let this film to be his third at Cannes (Directors Fortnight). This film is
brilliantly acted, and the storytelling is a great. It is a complete film, a
character driven film, a complete blast from start to finish.
2. LA LA LAND
It is
already hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, and as not being a fan
of musicals, this film is the one that I really loved. It is very
cleverly written, directed and edited. It is one of the most beautiful
films I’ve seen in recent times. Damien
Chellaze, has back to back managed to make two great films. This is a film,
that was a wonderful experience, seeing it in IMAX. La La Land is definetly one of the best films
of 2016, and it deserves all the hype surrounding it. By the way I really hate musicals, but really loved this one.
1. ARRIVAL
Best science
fiction film of this century? Probably yes and also it is one of the most
intelligent films I’ve ever seen.
Arrival was one of most awaited films of this year, and it even
succeeded my expectation for the film.
This is one Denis Villuenve’s best work, Amy Adams gives her best. This
film is slow-paced as complaint by many, maybe Yes, but it had to be that way.
I have watched this film three times already, All I could say I have seen film
almost every Friday this year, and seen
a lot of stuff that wasn’t released in India as well, but none were able to
surpass except number two for my favourite film of the year.
So, that wraps up the list, here are some Honourable Mentions -
- DOG EAT DOG - Not a great film, but very enjoyable.
- EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT - I hate myself for not including this.
- LOVING - Another great film by Nicholas,
- THE SURVIVALIST - One of the best suprising films of this year.
- THE COMMUNE- Thomas Vinterbeg's weaker film but still good.
- TSCHICK - Fatih Akin's weaker film, but I personally liked it.
- THE LOBSTER - Probably one of the most original films of this decade so far.
- KRISHA - Another women centered great film.
- THE EDGE OF SEVEENTEN - One of the better coming of age films.
- THE NICE GUYS - Shane Black's best film since Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
- DEADPOOL - The only superhero flick, which I liked this year.
- RAW - Extra-ordinary horror film.
- THE HANDMAIDEN - From the epic director of Oldboy. This might be his best work.
- PATERSON - Beautiful little film.
- PERSONAL SHOPPER - Cannes film, and a great one.
- AMERICAN HONEY - A good coming of age film.
- KNIGHT OF CUPS - WHY? WHY? WHY? Is it in the Honourable Mention, I'm still asking my self that.
- THE UNKNOWN GIRL - Loved it very much, was pretty close for being on the list.
Thanks for reading!
So which is your favourite film of 2016?
Did I miss any? Don't forget to give a feedback!
More Stuff Coming Soon!
Happy New Year In Advance!
-VASTIK MISHRA
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