BEST FILMS OF 2016 (A Completed List In Time For The Academy Awards)

By Mark Saldana

At the end of last year, I came up with a top twenty-five list of what I feel are the best films of the year, along with my honorable mentions and selections for acting and filmmaking accolades.  I had hoped to finish this list last month, but some of last year’s movies were not screened until recently, while others were not screened at all.  I also don’t always have the privileged access to awards consideration screeners.  Well this week I finally reached a point where I am confident and comfortable with a finalized list of top films and achievements in film for 2016.

Though my top ten remains the same, there have been a few additions to the overall list. I also made a couple of changes in the acting accolades.  For the Best Actress category, I removed Viola Davis (Fences), as her role in the movie has been considered and established as a supporting one.  This opened the category for a new choice which is now in the updated list.  Though I wish I had been able to finish this piece last month, I am happy that I finished it in time for the 89th Annual Academy Awards, which is probably the final major awards ceremony to honor achievements in filmmaking.  The awards show will air this Sunday night (February 26), at 7:30 p.m. CST on ABC.  In the days after the awards ceremony I will be post a piece that recaps the results and the events of the evening.  So without any further ado, here is my final list of top films and my picks for acting and filmmaking in more specific categories.

  1. MOONLIGHT  (My Review)
  2. LA LA LAND   (My Review)
  3. THE HANDMAIDEN (My Review)
  4. SILENCE  (My Review)
  5. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA  (My Review)
  6. KRISHA  (My Review)
  7. ARRIVAL (My Review)
  8. LOVING (My Review)
  9. THE LOBSTER 
  10. ELLE  (My Review)
  11. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
  12. FENCES (My Review)
  13. TOUCHED WITH FIRE (My Review)
  14. PATERSON  (My Review)
  15. A MONSTER CALLS  (My Review)
  16. 20th CENTURY WOMEN  (My Review)
  17. ZOOTOPIA  (My Review)
  18. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (My Review)
  19. THE WITCH  (My Review)
  20. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS  (My Review)
  21. HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS  (My Review)
  22. MOANA  (My Review)
  23. JACKIE  (My Review)
  24. CHRISTINE
  25. LION  (My Review)

Honorable Mentions: The Nice Guys, Hail Caesar!, Toni Erdmann, The Invitation, The Birth of a Nation, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Sing Street, Love & Friendship, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, 10 Cloverfield Lane, American Honey, Nocturnal Animals

Best Animated Film: Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Foreign Language Film: The Handmaiden

Best Documentary Feature: Tower

Best Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Cinematography: James Laxton, Moonlight

Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By The Sea

Best Adapted Screenplay: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Best Actress: Rebecca Hall, Christine

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester By The Sea

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Best Supporting Actor: Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Score: Andy Hull and Robert McDowell, Swiss Army Man

Best Song: Audition (The Fools Who Dream) -Performed by Emma Stone, Music by Justin Hurwitz and Lyrics by Pasek and Paul, From La La Land

 

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