The Best Movies of 2016

As 2016 rolls to a close it's time to review the movies which have come out this year and conclude what the top five are. Please bear in mind that I was not privileged enough to see every release of the year, so there may be some phenomenal films from 2016 which I haven't been able to see quite yet that probably belong on this last. That being said, I humbly present my five favorite films from this year.

5. Swiss Army Man

Swiss Army Man is a compelling yet strange film which is built around the concept of a man on a deserted island who befriends a strange corpse which helps him escape his isolation (both literally and psychologically). The film centers heavily around crude humor and the main premise behind its trailer alone was that of fart jokes, so I cannot recommend this film for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. However, those who are capable of enduring some humor which borders on that of a high school student's jokes will find themselves in the company of two endearing characters performed by extremely talented and dynamic actors Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, as well as contemplating life, death, love, and perhaps delving into a bit of an existential crisis. It's a difficult film to recommend to others because of the way it fluctuates freely between being exceedingly deep as it questions the world around us and then flips back into making immature jokes about the normal functions of the human body, but that doesn't make it any less of a fantastic film to those who are capable of keeping up with its highs and lows.

4. The Edge of Seventeen

With humor reminiscent of old episodes of The Simpsons, The Edge of Seventeen brings about a sometimes uncomfortably realistic portrayal of what it's like to be a teenage girl enduring puberty and the confusing dynamics of high school hierarchy. It refrains from sugar coating the teenage experience like the majority of other films which center around high school often do, but it also avoids becoming too dark due to its fantastic humor and the wonderful chemistry of its actors. Even at the film's crudest instances it still comes across as sincere and never seems to be pandering to a specific demographic or aiming to prove other films in the same genre wrong, instead it modestly makes an effort to present a realistic depiction of the struggles of puberty and feeling like an adult while still being a child.

3. Arrival

Visually stunning and with a deep plot which only seems more sprawling and detailed upon repeated viewings (without being too convoluted), Arrival presents a realistic depiction of what might really happen if beings from another world were to visit earth. It is humble in the imagery it presents, instead opting for sweeping beautiful landscapes and fantastic overhead shots rather than focusing on the science fiction elements other films in the same genre might have. The film is a slow burn and brings back memories of old science fiction novels or movies such as Interstellar which focus more on humanity's ties to the universe than it does explosions and loud obnoxious action sequences.

2. La La Land

While the majority of films attempt to be grim, gritty, and serious, La La Land offers the same sort of lighthearted escapism as The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang all once did. It explores the struggles of those who attempt to thrive in creative industries without sugar coating the difficulties faced by actors, writers, and musicians, but while also managing to keep the tone light enough so that audience members won't find themselves slipping into depression as they watch these characters grapple with their longing for the spotlight. The music is catchy, the acting is phenomenal, and the film is breathtakingly beautiful from beginning to end.

1. Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals is art, plain and simple. Flicking gracefully back and forth between reality and a fictional story written by one of the characters, the film unfolds the tragic unravelling of a bitter and toxic relationship, displaying parallels between the two worlds through clever use of objects, color, and plot devices. It's an extremely uncomfortable film to watch, but intentionally so, and it is by far the most poignant and meaningful release of 2016.