By Mark Saldana
2016 may have been the craziest, strangest and one of the most tragic years in news, but in cinema, 2016 has to be one of the all time best in terms of quality, progression and relevance. Race relations may have suffered setbacks. Tolerance may be quite low with hate on the rise; however, with movies such as Moonlight, Fences, Arrival, Moana and Zootopia in theaters, it is not due to a lack of trying on the part of filmmakers. The top movies this year spread messages of love, communication, understanding, empowerment, and the filmmakers behind these movies have tried to quell prejudice. One can only hope that filmmakers will continue to promote these ideals for humanity and remain undaunted in their pursuits.
This year offered so many wonderful films, that I felt a top ten list alone would not do it any justice. Instead of my usual top ten I have extended my list to a top twenty five. Now, as I labeled in the title above, this is still a work in progress. I am just a humble film critic who doesn’t have complete access to all movies released in the year. Some of the films will be screened here in the coming weeks, closer to their Austin release dates. As I watch these movies, I will edit this list appropriately and will finalize it later next month. For now, here are my 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. Manchester By The Sea (My review)
5. Krisha (My review)
6. Arrival (My review)
7. Loving (My review)
8. The Lobster
9. Elle (My review)
10. Kubo and the Two Strings
11. Fences (My review)
12. Touched With Fire (My review)
13. Paterson
14. A Monster Calls
15. Zootopia (My review)
16. Captain America: Civil War (My review)
17. The Witch (My review)
18. Florence Foster Jenkins (My review)
19. Hello, My Name Is Doris (My review)
20. Moana (My review)
21. Jackie (My review)
22. Lion (My review)
23. Swiss Army Man (My review)
24. The Nice Guys (My review)
25. Hail, Caesar! (My review)
Honorable Mentions: 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 (My review)
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: Viola Davis, Fences
Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester By The Sea
Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris, Moonlight
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