Top 20 Best Movies of 2016

Below are my picks for the Top 20 movies of 2016. When it gets to the Top 5, essentially all the films are perfect and it was extremely difficult to arrange them. However, there was a clear outlier for me that deserved to be #1. If I've reviewed the film in the past, clicking on the title will bring you to my full review of the film. Hope you enjoy!

#20. Captain America: Civil War
Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, William Hurt

I've seen Civil War multiple times since its release in May, and I'm impressed every time by its massive scope and its execution. However, it doesn't quiet soar to the heights of The Avengers or Marvel's best work in my opinion. I think too many characters were shoved into one film, and it makes me worried for the future of these movies as the characters increase. But it's still a well choreographed, action-packed, sophisticated superhero film that never disappoints.

#19. Finding Dory
Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Sigourney Weaver, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader

Finding Dory is a movie that is perfect for what it is. It lives up to expectations of what a Finding Nemo sequel should be, and it stands on its one as a great outing for Dory. However, it leaves a little to be lacking if you really analyze it. Notice it didn't get nominated for an Oscar, which is usually a Pixar staple. It's rehashing old themes, and playing with heartstrings. There really isn't a lot of new things on display in Finding Dory, but the nostalgia factor works, as evidenced time and time again.

#18. Me Before You
Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Steve Peacocke, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Brendan Coyle

Me Before You is another film that, like Finding Dory, is perfectly executed. We can see detail in every set and costume, and it has a really smart script. Unfortunately, it's a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. It's not really bringing anything new to the table, and is somewhat of an adult version of The Fault in Our Stars. Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin are charismatic leads, and they really make us believe in what seems at first an unbelievable romance. The film is charming and heartbreaking, and it is one that has stuck in my mind since June.

#17. Rogue One
Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, James Earl Jones, Genevieve O'Reilly, Peter Cushing, Carrie Fisher

I feel like I'm betraying myself. Star Wars is my thing, yet here I am placing Rogue One at #17 on my list. That is a true testament to all the good movies that came out this year. Rogue One is a very smart and very unique addition to the Star Wars franchise. It's really a Star Wars war movie, and its brilliant in its premise and its story. And who could forget that iconic ending with Darth Vader? And Carrie Fisher? While The Force Awakens was full of inside jokes and references, Rogue One had just the right amount for it to seem genuine, but to also remind us what galaxy we were in. I wish I could put it higher, but I have to go with my gut.

#16. 10 Cloverfield Lane
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr, Bradley Cooper, Suzanne Cryer

At this point, 10 Cloverfield Lane was released over a year ago. The film had essentially no background, no trailers, and no information on it when I went into the theater. Everything was new. It remains one of the smartest horror/thriller I've seen. John Goodman gives what is likely the performance of his film career as Howard, a man who has "saved" a woman from the apocalypse and trapped her in his doomsday shelter. The audience knows nothing. We have to guess whether Howard is telling the truth or not, and the twist still surprises us, showing that the drama below and above ground are two separate ideas. I thought the movie dropped off a cliff in the last twenty minutes, so that's why it isn't higher on my list.

#15. The Jungle Book
Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken, Garry Shandling, Brighton Rose, Jon Favreau

As Beauty and the Beast is captivating audiences right now, I invite you to to look back at The Jungle Book. The Jungle Book was one of the most acclaimed films of the year, and even took home an Oscar. Director Jon Favreau created an entire world out of visual effects, with Neet Sethi's Mowgli as the only human connection. Yet we fell into his lush and extravagant jungle, and believed every minute. With some of the best voice/motion capture work I've ever seen from actors like Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, and Idris Elba. It takes the few good aspects of the disjointed original film, and creates a magical 3D experience. It builds off of nostalgia, yet feels like an entirely new story.

#14. Elle
Isabelle Huppert, Christian Berkel, Anne Consigny, Virginie Efira, Laurent Leffite, Charles Berling

Elle is a French film, so there's a good chance you haven't heard of it. Isabelle Huppert won the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as a woman who has an interesting reaction to an assailant raping her. Rather than report it, she goes on with her life. Her attacker returns, raping her multiple times and she does nothing. Huppert plays a complicated woman with a complex past. The film draws off of themes of Catholicism and religious repression, and contrasts her upbringing full of scrutiny at her father's misdeeds with that of her religious attacker's life. She's unhappy in her life, and this gives her some feeling of excitement, while her attacker is lashing out at his repressed life. It's a sick and twisted film, made even more confusing by Huppert's character's final trick, in which she sets up a morbid trap to enact her revenge. It's a wild ride, albeit an uncomfortable one, that is headed by one of the strongest lead performances I've ever seen.

#13. Lion
Sunny Pawar, Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Priyanka Bose

Lion builds off what I've learned about Indian slums from Slumdog Millionaire (another Dev Patel film) and has convinced me of the horrors that occur in those areas. Lion broke my heart. It made me cringe, and it made me shift in my seat. Horrifying acts are one thing, but when it's small children, it's so much worse. But don't be deterred, Lion has the heart to deflect its horror. Patel and the child actor Sunny Pawar play Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy who lost his mother and was given up for adoption in Australia, where he still looks for his birth family. The film boasts fantastic performances from Patel, Pawar, Rooney Mara, and Nicole Kidman, and it's the feel-good tearjerker of the year.

#12. Jackie
Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, John Hurt, Max Casella

I wasn't alive when JFK was assassinated, but Jackie gives you what I would assess as a pretty accurate depiction. The film is sad. That's the only way I can describe it. It never brought me to tears, but a level of depression hangs over the film like a dark cloud. The haunting strings score adds to the feeling of gloominess. After all, this is a sad topic. After multiple descriptions of Kennedy's death, I thought the film was not going to attempt to show his murder, and I was content. Then, in a flashback, you see his head explode, and see Jackie trying to grab the pieces. It's shockingly realistic, and Natalie Portman sells it. She becomes Jackie, embodying her style and everything she stood for. It's a transformative performance that commands the screen, and makes Jackie a worthwhile history lesson.

#11. Hacksaw Ridge
Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Hugo Weaving, Teresa Palmer

It pains me a little to praise Hacksaw Ridge, because it's Mel Gibson. But Gibson has truly made his comeback this year. I believe that Hacksaw Ridge is the best war film since Saving Private Ryan, in that it really throws you into the trenches in an experience I've only felt while watching that 1998 classic. All of the technical aspects are so perfectly executed, and it is clear to me how this movie received a Best Picture nomination. Andrew Garfield gives the best performance of his career as a pacifist trying to do his part to save lives. It suffers from an extremely cheesy final ten minutes, with far too much slow motion and dramatics. But it's not enough to take away from the film's merit.

#10. Deadpool
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams

Where to start with Deadpool? It came out of nowhere and completely changed action movies forever. From a business standpoint, it proved that there is an audience for R-rated stylistic action, and that X-Men movies have the gravitas and technical talent that Marvel lacks (they've of course continued this with Logan). Deadpool is rude, it's dirty, and it's obscene. But its script is a brilliant combination of self-referential humor and satire that it truly felt like something fresh. The ad campaign was brilliant, and from the opening credits to Juice Newton's "Angel of the Morning", to the final dirty joke during George Michael's "Careless Whisper", Deadpool is a wild and brutally honest tale of what would happen if a regular weirdo became a superhero. There's no sugar coating or bumpers here.

#9. Hell or High Water
Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham, Marin Ireland, Margaret Bowman

Hell or High Water is the most honest film released this year. It doesn't rely on any dramatic themes, or heavy messages, and it's not really trying to convey any hidden meaning. It just is what it is: a modern Western. It centers around two brothers suffering from the recession who rob banks in Texas to save their family's ranch. Two comrade officers hunt them down. It's quite literally that simple: two vs two. It's very short, and there are not really any interwoven themes. It has a script that's brilliant in its ability to be blunt and simple, and a great performance from Jeff Bridges as the sheriff hunting the brothers down. Hell or High Water doesn't take a lot of effort to watch, and even less to enjoy.

#8. The Lobster
Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Coleman, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw

I will never recommend The Lobster unless I believe that person can enjoy it. It's perhaps the oddest film I have ever seen. In a futuristic society, single individuals must live in a hotel where they have a specific amount of time to find love. If they fail, they are turned into an animal of their choice. The foreign-produced indie film centers around Colin Farrell's journey to not be turned into a lobster. It's hard to explain the scope and events of The Lobster, but it is a movie that made me think for at least a week after I saw it. I love this movie and what it has to say about our culture. The Lobster presents a world in which we are obsessed with companionship, and a society in which marriage is the ultimate endgame, with punishments for the contrary. It depicts married people who turn their nose at the single insurgents who live on the outskirts, and hunt them for sport. Yet the single people are no better, and viciously abhor the married individuals. The film makes a heady argument for society's fascination on these themes, and lets the viewer decide where they stand.

#7. Hidden Figures
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons

It's a feat that movies like Hidden Figures are even being made. For the last two years, there has been an emphasis on the lack of films depicting African-Americans being honored at the Oscars. Sometimes this has been negligence on their part, but sadly, not enough quality movies are being made. Hidden Figures was one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed films of the year, gently taking a racial and feminist stance while not angering anyone. I expected biting commentary, and it's not there. It merely depicts events as they happened, and tries to make these "hidden figures" hidden no more. Judging by how deeply this film has been appreciated, I think it succeeded.

#6. Zootopia
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, Raymond S. Persi, Shakira

You'll see that the next two films are both Disney animated films. They really had a fantastic year. Zootopia came first in March, and featured some of the best world-building I've ever seen. If you're unfamiliar with that term, I mean that Zootopia created a fictional world where everything was explained brilliantly, and our attention was immediately captured. Sloths run the DMV. A bunny can't be on the police force. A fox works as a con man. Every detail is so well thought out. Then there is the underlying social messages that propelled Zooptopia to awards gold. The film centers around a conflict between predators acting violent, and the prey animals' fear of them. It all turns out to be a government plot to try and strip away the predators' rights so prey rule supreme. It isn't a coincidence that white supremacy just happens to be on the rise in America when this children's movie was released. The film boasts a phenomenal message about inclusion that is needed. It's great that kids can see a movie with wit and humor, and for it to also have an important message.

#5. Moana
Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jermaine Clement, Alan Tudyk

I'm a huge Disney fan. That being said, I know what they're capable of, so I hold them to a high standard. I was completely blown away by the craftsmanship, story, and music in Frozen, like most of the world. Then here comes Moana, which blows Frozen out of the water. If you're a fan of feminist messages, Moana is one of the strongest female characters in animation. She has no love interest, no dead parents, and no trusty animal sidekick (There's no way Hei Hei is trustworthy). Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame wrote beautiful Polynesian inspired tunes like "You're Welcome" and the Oscar-nominated "How Far I'll Go". The message is original, yet deeply ingrained in Polynesian culture and mythology. It's the most culturally fascinating Disney film since Mulan. With its ability to transcend Disney stereotypes, Moana is so much more than just Disney magic. It's pure movie magic, and it is sure to delight children and parents alike. There is simply no way you can dislike this.

#4. Moonlight
Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Alex Hibbert, Janelle Monáe, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris

As most of you know Moonlight won Best Picture, and it won in a pretty extraordinary fashion. With these last four entries, I shifted them around constantly before finally settling on this final ranking. At one point, Moonlight was ranked #2. I've sung Moonlight's praises multiple times over, especially to convince people that it did deserve to win Best Picture as much as La La Land did. It's a bleak depiction of a black man growing up gay. I described the plot to a friend, and he replied with "Wow his life must really suck." He immediately tried to correct his statement, but I assured him that was essentially the movie's message. Writer/Director Barry Jenkins and playwright Tarrell Alvin McCraney created a character that everyone can identify with. Whether you identify with growing up black, LGBT, in poverty, boyhood, or just growing up in general, there is some part of this movie that has connected with everyone I know that has seen it. It's a beautifully dark journey into what it is like for this protagonist to grow up uncomfortable in his own skin, and how he accepts himself in his own way. Bolstered by phenomenal standout performances from each actor, especially from Mahershala Ali (an Oscar winner) and Naomie Harris (a nominee), Moonlight is a movie that everyone needs to see.

#3. Arrival
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma, Mark O'Brien

I've seen Arrival twice, and I've been captivated by it both times. Science-fiction is a genre we've all been accustomed to. The evil aliens descend from the skies and we have to fight to save humanity. Arrival shares some of these tropes, but completely subverts most expectations of the genre. The aliens arrive on Earth cryptically, with no explanation. Instead of the aliens causing the problem, it is the paranoia and questionable methods by the world's leaders that could lead to war. Dr. Louise Banks, played wonderfully by Amy Adams, is a linguist the US Army sends to teach the aliens English and decipher their set of symbols. The film is a powerful statement on how we treat outsiders, and how we as a population communicate with each other. It won the Oscar for Sound Editing (its droning sounds are incredible), and its visual effects, cinematography, and direction are all perfect. I will admit, the massive twist ending went over my head the first time I saw it, but the way the twist reflects on both the past events and the future is truly a powerful message about life and love...and it barely has anything to do with the aliens. Yes, while at face-value this is a tale about extraterrestrials landing on Earth, it is so much more. Be prepared for some deep philosophy that requires undivided attention.

#2. Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Gretchen Mol, C.J. Wilson

When I first saw Manchester by the Sea, I named it "The 12 Years a Slave of regular life". If you've seen 12 Years a Slave, you know that it is a relentless assault on the emotions. However, it is an extremely specific situation. Manchester by the Sea, however, is a completely plausible situation that people live with today. Every instance I felt that I had recovered, Manchester by the Sea knocked me down again. While it is incredibly depressing, it has a really healthy balance of humor and wit that comes at the perfect times. This film deserved its Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay, as the script is truly masterful in its ability to go from moments of sadness to humor. Casey Affleck won the Oscar for his performance as a man destroyed by grief trying to be strong in the face of another loss. His performance is so subdued and so realistic, it's a little terrifying to watch. We are all just one horrible day from becoming Lee Chandler, a man so consumed by his grief it destroys his life. I believe that this film will be studied and endure the test of time, for it is the only accurate depiction of grief I have seen. It doesn't sugarcoat a single thing. The dialogue is presented with the sharpness and venom of those who are suffering, and the film's events perfectly mirror the process of trying to come to terms with loss. It just feels so authentic. We've all lost someone. Manchester by the Sea reminds us of those feelings, bringing forth the nasty truths while also reassuring that they are, in fact, normal.

#1. La La Land
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, J.K. Simmons

As soon as I saw La La Land, I just knew it would be here. From the stunning opening scene on an LA highway, to the beautiful yet somber ending, I was in love. La La Land is everything moves were, and should still be. It's a gorgeous throwback to a genre that's nearly dead, yet it still stays modern. It feels like a classic musical, yet it takes place in the present. There really are only two characters, and Mia and Sebastian's relationship is one of the most mature and realistic depictions of love I've seen. It's also a very stark portrayal of artistic success and its consequences, yet it doesn't ever feel sad. With memorable songs and a beautiful score, La La Land is one of the most mystifying, whimsical films I've ever seen. Every piece of it is crafted to perfection. Sure, the script is a little lackluster, but I believe it achieves absolutely everything that writer/director Damien Chazelle intended. If you haven't seen La La Land, I cannot recommend it enough. Hopefully it will captivate you in the same way.

Beauty and the Beast Review

Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've noticed that Beauty and the Beast has become a monster success. It's shattered record after record, and is well on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Beauty and the Beast comes seven years after Disney started their live action remakes with Alice in Wonderland (the biggest success so far) and followed with Maleficent, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, and Pete's Dragon. Aside from Maleficent, which I thought was absolutely terrible, all of them have been pretty great. You may have noticed something all those films have in common. They're all adapted from Disney's older properties that aren't as successful nowadays. Sure, Cinderella is iconic, but no one would rank it among Disney's best. Yet Beauty and the Beast is arguably their best animated movie ever, and the staple of their Renaissance. It was nominated for Best Picture in 1991, and remains the only Disney film to achieve this honor. When I heard they were remaking it, I was instantly skeptical. I criticized every photo and trailer that came out. I saw that the reviews were not as overwhelmingly positive as The Jungle Book (70% compared to 95%) but I hoped to be proven wrong. I went into Beauty and the Beast very concerned, and I was blown away. The sheer spectacle was enough to completely knock me off my feet. Alas, it's not a perfect film and it has some flaws. But I see it in the same lens as I see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It's not perfect, but the allure and nostalgia was enough to make me fall in love and forgive it for every single misstep (all of which are pretty small). While I will dissect these flaws, I stress that Beauty and the Beast is a must-see, and that this is just my opinion.

Instead of using two separate paragraphs to express what I like and didn't like, I'm going to do it a little differently this time. I'm going to go character by character, and then to discuss what I liked and disliked about each. As you would imagine, Emma Watson as Belle is first.

BELLE

As "Belle" began, I saw Emma Watson and couldn't get Hermione out of my head. I was convinced that it would ruin the movie for me. Then a switch flipped about one minute into the song, and I was hooked on Watson's Belle. She's so iconic of a princess that I'm sure many were skeptical. Watson isn't really known for her acting prowess nowadays. But she acts with the grace and wit that Belle had in the original, truly making her seem even more intelligent than in the animated film. The Stockholm Syndrome argument from the original is nonexistent because Watson and costar Dan Stevens have great chemistry, and their romance is believable. They really take you through the steps of their courtship and it isn't as sudden as in the original. As for Watson's singing, I'm not on board. Her soloversion of "Belle (Reprise)" is my third favorite song in the film, but I think she is way too autotuned. Her singing voice sounds unnatural and took me out of the experience every time she sang, which was thankfully not often after the first half hour.

THE BEAST
Dan Stevens is incredible as the Beast. In the opening scene, we see how he gets cursed and some brilliant stylistic choices are made. The Prince is caked in makeup, symbolizing his later transformation, and his guests are all dressed identically. The scene is very effective, and emphasizes his bitter heart rather than vanity. The Beast is given a new song, and "Evermore" is my favorite song in the film. I truly believe it has a good chance of a nomination for Best Song at the Oscars, maybe even a win. His acting ability had already been proven on Downton Abbey for me, so he's very one note, but it's a really sympathetic performance. And like I stated, their romance is much more believable, and that is in part because he's portrayed as a book nerd like Belle. There really wasn't anything I didn't like about Dan Stevens and his portrayal of The Beast.

GASTON
I hate what this movie did to Gaston. However, I cannot deny that Luke Evans does a great job as such a despicable and disgusting human being. There are many liberties taken from the 1991 film and I just didn't think they worked. Gaston is a self-absorbed narcissist, and aside from one mirror scene, that isn't even hinted at. He's much more evil. In the original, he treated Belle pretty kindly and was just so in love with himself that he didn't see the error of his ways. And then he transformed into a monster on the inside, contrasting the Beast and his transformation. But this Gaston is just a jerk. He and Belle have no relationship, and most of his bargaining over her is done with her father instead of Belle herself. I thought the song "Gaston" was pretty watered down from the original and they changed too many lyrics. It was too long, too boring, and lost my attention. Luke Evans does a great job, but he's simply not Gaston.

MAURICE
I can't put my finger on it, but I just wasn't a fan of Maurice. I loved how close he was with Belle, but that's a theme of the story. They made some enormous changes to the character, ridding him of his kookiness and stripping away what made him memorable to me. There wasn't as big of an emphasis on his inventions, and as I'll explain, I wasn't a fan of his backstory. Kevin Kline is a great actor, but Maurice was very bland.

LEFOU
There's been a huge controversy on turning LeFou gay. This is absolutely ridiculous. LeFou has one "gay" scene at the end and it's mostly played for laughs. While he isn't a progressive gay character, you shouldn't be looking for one in a remake of a Disney film. I thought he perfectly brought LeFou to life, and while his song was one of the weakest (I really didn't like "Gaston") his part was fine. He's really not "gay", and I think this was the fault of Gad and director Bill Condon trying to sell something that just isn't there.

LUMIERE, COGSWORTH, MRS. POTTS & PLUMETTE
When the first picture of Lumiere and Cogsworth came out, it was heavily scrutinized. They looked stupid, and it was impossible to tell where their face was. They have since updated their appearances, and I have no complaints. All of them look like their real appliances, with the exception of Lumiere, but he gets a pass because he's so charming. Ewan McGregor does a phenomenal job selling the accent and Lumiere's charm, but unfortunately, he butchers the song. "Be Our Guest" is my favorite song from Beauty and the Beast, and I actually hated what they did with it in this film. It's always been a simple song, where the servants simply feed Belle in a dinner theater style. But this was so over the top, likely to showcase 3D effects. Things were popping out all over the place, there was a Taj Mahal, spotlights, fireworks, and it was far too overstimulating. The entire group I went with thought it was awful. As for Cogsworth, we're just lucky Ian McKellen is somehow still alive and spritely, and he brings the perfect blend of awkwardness and lovability that Cogsworth needs. Emma Thompson perfectly fills in Angela Lansbury's shoes and really nails "Beauty and the Beast". She doesn't quite have the exuberance that Lansbury's teapot possessed, instead opting for a maternal glow. They changed Babette's name to Plumette (I'm not sure why?) as well as making her a bird (Another odd choice...) but Gugu Mbatha-Raw, one of my favorite underrated actresses, does an amazing job with her voicework. Her romance with Lumiere has the same platform as in the original, and it provides for some very funny and sweet scenes.

MADAME DE GARDEROBE AND CADENZA
One of the film's new songs is "Aria" sung by Audra McDonald before she's turned into a wardrobe. The song is short, but McDonald is without a doubt one of the greatest singers of all time, so it's certainly great to listen to. The song itself is very pretty, but again, feels like it's just an excuse to have her sing a ballad. She sings the opera version of "Beauty and the Beast" at the film's finale, and she does a better job than Emma Thompson or John Legend and Ariana Grande. They seemed to be giving Garderobe a subplot where she was narcoleptic, or falling asleep, and I didn't get that or see the need. As for Cadenza, he's really a small character who provides for a few laughs. I love Stanley Tucci and he does a great job, but it's an underdeveloped character.

THE LOOK
Every technical aspect of this film is impeccable. It's truly firing on all cylinders. The costumes, from Belle's dress to the white gowns in the opening, are all gorgeous. The effects for the enchantress and the Beast were fabulous. I predict the film will probably win the Oscar for Best Costume Design, and it has a good shot at Set Design as well. The sets are extravagant and enormous. The only issue is that the castle didn't seem real. I'm not sure what it was about the visual effects, but they were very poorly rendered. Every camera angle is shot as if by a professional Oscar-winner rather than the unknown cinematographer. It is the sets and and costumes that add to the allure that makes Beauty and the Beast so enticing.

PARIS
As I've previously expressed, I didn't like what they did to Gaston as a character. I didn't like Belle's singing. I hated "Be Our Guest" and didn't like "Gaston". I thought the effects were sometimes sloppy and I didn't love Maurice either. I also was left wanting some of the servants to have more screen time. But above all, I hated Paris. I appreciate trying to give Belle a backstory. But I believe it was just so unneeded. They give her a story in which her mother died of the plague in Paris, and she and her father had to leave her and move into their small town. It just made for some really sappy scenes between she and Maurice and for an absolutely ridiculous scene in which she and the Beast jump through time and space (Yes, this literally happens) in a storybook and visit her old house. I just found it so absolutely unneeded. The movie would do fine without it, and it was too unbelievable and wacky for me. Plus, if it's supposed to be sad, I should feel sad. And I just felt so disconnected from her in that moment.

So in conclusion, Beauty and the Beast is a fantastic film, but it isn't without its flaws. It's a truly magical adventure that is perfect for all ages. I really hope that this trend of adapting their Renaissance films continues to be as successful. Mulan comes out next year, and I'm a little worried about how they'll handle that, with Ghost in the Shell turning out to be an enormous disaster. Before I give my rating, I have also ranked the songs by how good I enjoyed them in the film, drawing from the visuals, the vocals, and the place in the story.

Sidenote: Don't bother staying for the credits, the Celine Dion song that plays is so awful and cheesy.

1. "Evermore"- The Beast
2. "Belle"- Belle
3. "Belle (Reprise)"- Belle
4. "Evermore"- Josh Groban
5. "Days in the Sun"- Cast
6. "Beauty and the Beast"- Ariana Grande & John Legend (I have my issues with this)
7. "Aria"- Audra McDonald
8. "Something There"- Belle & The Beast
9. "Beauty and the Beast"- Mrs. Potts
10. "The Mob Song"- Gaston
11. "Gaston"- Gaston & LeFou
12. "How Does a Moment Last Forever"- Celine Dion
13. "Be Our Guest"- Lumiere & Mrs. Potts
14. "How Does a Moment Last Forever- Maurice / Belle

Rating:

Best Male Performances of 2016

In this double feature, I will be counting down the best acting performances given by both male and female actors in 2016. Below you will find the top ten performances given by actors, with two honorable mentions. This is all leading up to my Top Movies of 2016, which will be published in the weeks to come.

HONORABLE MENTION: Hugh Grant- St. Clair Bayfield- Florence Foster Jenkins

Hugh Grant was the staple of romantic comedies in the 1990s. Aside from Love Actually, he's been absent from mainstream movies, but makes a triumphant return to form in Florence Foster Jenkins, playing the husband to Meryl Streep's terrible singer. While he has a mistress, you never question St. Clair's love for his wife. He does everything in his power to keep the truth from his wife's ears, whether that be buying every newspaper or paying venue guests. Grant's sweet performance was enough to warrant his comeback, but unfortunately not enough to get him an Oscar nomination.

Quote: "No mockers and no scoffers!"

HONORABLE MENTION: Dev Patel- Saroo Brierley- Lion

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Dev Patel was long overdue for an Oscar nomination after a bizarre snub for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008. He has a well-deserved first nomination for his work as an Australian man adopted as a child from India, who was actually a child separated from his family. The character of Saroo is the heart of Lion, but it was split between Sunny Pawar as a child and Patel as an adult, so I really struggled to include it on the actual list. Pawar has more screen time, but it's Patel's emotionally affecting verbose role as a man desperate to find his real mother, yet still grateful for the one who adopted him, that moves you as a viewer.

Quote: "We...we...weren't blank pages were we? Like your own would have been. You weren't just adopting us but our past as well."


#10. Andrew Garfield- Desmond T. Doss- Hacksaw Ridge

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Much like Dev Patel, Andrew Garfield was years overdue for his first Oscar nomination. He should have been rewarded for his work in 2010's The Social Network, but instead got his first for playing a conscientious objector in WWII. Desmond T. Doss saved over 70 individuals as a WWII medic, and while never carrying a gun. It's a fascinating role, and Garfield, a Brit, plays him with such Southern charm. You completely believe his performance as a faithful pacifist, and he really anchors a great film.

Quote: "With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to want to put a little bit of it back together."
 
#9. Lucas Hedges- Patrick Chandler- Manchester by the Sea

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Every year there is a young actor that just blows everyone away. Last year America was captivated by Jacob Tremblay, a 5-year-old in Room. In Manchester by the Sea, Lucas Hedges makes his mainstream debut as a 16-year-old boy grappling with his father's death. The film is centered around his relationship with his uncle, played by Casey Affleck. At first he is portrayed as a snotty and self-centered brat, but his walls slowly start to fall down. He has a sharp Boston tongue and a fierce attitude, but Hedges creates this facade where the audience actually starts to buy his performance, and then weeps as he reveals his true self. I'm so fascinated to see what Hedges does next, as it is possible he has a great future ahead of him.

Quote: "I just don't like the idea of him sitting in a freezer."
 
#8. Colin Farrell- David- The Lobster

The Lobster is a very underrated movie. If you haven't seen it, you should really check it out. Colin Farrell (a very underrated actor) is front and center in this film about a dystopian society in which single people live in a hotel where they find love in 30 days, or are turned into an animal. Farrel is the titular "lobster" and he plays a man who was cheated on and abandoned, and he's forced to join this sick and twisted program though he has yet to get over his ex-wife. He plays such a sad man, and he acts with such incredible nuance. The Lobster is often a bizarre film, but Farrell's performance feels as if he's playing an "Everyman" and it really works to ground the film in some reality.

"A lobster. Because lobsters live for over one hundred years, are blue-blooded like aristocrats, and stay fertile all their lives. I also like the sea very much."

#7. Jeff Bridges- Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton- Hell or High Water

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jeff Bridges has played this role with this accent a thousand times. But he displays time and time again that he can deliver a knockout performance with such little range. Hell or High Water is the most realistic of the films nominated at the Oscars, and Bridges plays a Texas Ranger out to catch two bank robbers before he's sent to retirement. It's a one-note character, yet he gives it depth. He teases his Native American partner with racist jokes to the point in which you find him insensitive. Yet when his partner falls in battle, we see a complex array of emotions come from this character. This southern caricature is actually deeper than what you originally presumed.

Quote: "He wouldn't know God if he crawled up his pant leg and bit him on the pecker."
 
#6. Michael Shannon- Det. Bobby Andes- Nocturnal Animals

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
I didn't review Nocturnal Animals because I found it polarizing. Many critics have expressed confusion, and some hate it. Everyone can agree that the strongest part of Nocturnal Animals is Michael Shannon's amazing performance as a corrupt detective in Jake Gyllenhaal's character's fantasy world. In Nocturnal Animals, Gyllenhaal's character writes a manuscript based on his relationship with Amy Adams that has her brutally murdered, and Shannon plays the detective working on the case. He's dying of lung cancer, so he really wants to get the guys who did this. He's a hardened veteran, but he cares immensely for humanity. That's why he's corrupt and goes the extra mile to get information. He feels like Gyllenhaal has been wronged and he believes he has the power to correct that wrong. It's an intense performance with perfect comedic timing, as Shannon weaves between viciously interrogating a victim to suddenly throwing up from his cancer and blushing in shame.

Quote: "It's a question of how serious you are about seeing justice done."
 
#5. Ryan Reynolds- Wade Wilson / Deadpool- Deadpool

Ryan Gosling is Deadpool. There's no better way to put it. He completely disappears into this complicated character. Wade Wilson wants to save himself from the cancer killing his body, and accidentally gets wrapped up in a plot that gives him superpowers, but an ugly appearance. He's never been a nice guy, so he doesn't become a superhero. He's never been a bad guy, so he's not a villain. It's so unlike the heroes and villains we're used to because there is so much grey area. His wit is undeniable, and even though he's raunchy and completely inappropriate, he knows when to be serious. Deadpool just looks at life with a little more humor than most. It's the role that will never get Reynolds any awards, but one that certainly cements him in history.

Quote: "Well, I may be super, but I'm no hero. And yeah, technically, this is a murder. But some of the best love stories start with a murder. And that's exactly what this is: a love story."

#4. Ryan Gosling- Sebastian Wilder- La La Land

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
Just barely edging out Ryan Reynolds is Hollywood's other Ryan. Ryan Gosling is a love him/hate him actor. For some reason, my mother cannot stand him, and thought he was awful in La La Land. His Oscar nomination begs to differ. In La La Land, he has such passion and charisma. He's gotten some criticism for "white-splaining" jazz, but I don't fault him for that. He gives brilliant exposition about jazz, which is his passion, and he just happens to be white. While Emma Stone may have won the Oscar, it is her scene partner that motivates her. The two of them act in unison, and their performances rise and fall together. If you saw my list of female actors, you'd notice Stone was also my #4 for women. Both of them are essentially the same, and they work best off of each other.

Quote: "I'm letting life hits me until it gets tired. Then I'll hit back. It's a classic rope-a-dope."
 
#3. Denzel Washington- Troy Maxson- Fences

NOMINEE: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
The sheer weight of Denzel Washington's performance was outstanding. I couldn't wrap my head around the opening scene because he was saying so many lines. The mass of his acting is so great, I understand why he almost won his third Oscar this year. As Troy Maxson, you hate him. He's emotionally abusive to his wife and son. He is, for lack of a better word, a bastard. There is no redemption for his character. Yet just as Troy stands as a giant to his family, Denzel stands as a giant of acting. No other actor working today could do this role justice as he does. He directed himself, and creates such a larger than life monster of a human. What is even more terrifying is Troy's backstory. He's a villain so real that I hesitate to even call him a villain. It is so easy to see how he became so twisted. Denzel delivers probably a million lines in Fences and he truly solidifies himself as one of the greats, as if he hadn't already.
 
Quote: "I ain't got to like you! Now, I gave everything I got to give you! I gave you your life. Me and your Mama worked out between us and liking your black ass wasn't part of the bargain."

#2. Mahershala Ali- Juan- Moonlight

WINNER: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali is in Moonlight for about thirty minutes. In the three parts Moonlight is divided into, Mahershala only appears in the first. He has no meaty scenes, and no big lines. Yet he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and leaves an enormous mark in his short time. He plays a drug dealer named Juan. Our preconceived ideas of black drug dealers in ghettos are shattered. Juan has a kind heart, and takes Chiron under his wing when he sees his hopelessness. He teaches him how to swim in a scene that is more symbolic than literal. One of the best scenes is when Chiron asks him "What's a faggot?" followed by "Am I a faggot?", to which Juan replies "No. You may be gay. But you don't gotta let no one call you a faggot." By the time we reach the second part of Moonlight, Juan is gone. His death is never expanded upon, nor does Chiron give any indication of his passing. But given his profession and the message the movie has about growing up black and poor, it's not hard to piece together that Juan's work has probably gotten him killed. The complexities of his work break you, because he's a drug dealer who actually has a heart. When he discovers Chiron's mother is smoking crack that he deals, he confronts her. She taunts him, and he cannot do anything. Drugs are how he makes a living. He's fueling her addiction, and supplying her with the materials that make his home life a living hell. But he has to do it. He has to survive. Mahershala Ali has acted in numerous small roles before, and this would seem to be no different. It's a small role. But with the nuances and complexities he is able to give to a character we barely get to know, he gives a truly "supporting" performance.

Quote: "At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you're gonna be. Can't let nobody make that decision for you."

#1. Casey Affleck- Lee Chandler- Manchester by the Sea

WINNER: ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR
There was never a doubt in my mind that Casey Affleck would be my #1. He gives, in my opinion, the greatest performance of the year (and deservedly won an Oscar) as a man suffering from grief. Looking for character development? You won't find any here. Lee Chandler has no arc. Through the course of Manchester by the Sea's brutal two and a half hours, Lee doesn't have any revelations, nor does he grow. So how is this a good performance? It's real. The plot of Manchester by the Sea revolves around Lee losing his brother and having to travel back home to assume custody of his nephew. He's expected to move back into the town he left behind and confront the wife he divorced. Without spoiling a key twist, Lee has suffered extreme loss in his past, and this loss is the reason he packed up everything and left. By the end of the movie, he's still dealing with his grief. He's still not over that loss from years ago. He can't make sacrifices for everyone else, even if he loved his brother. Mentally, he simply cannot do it. Affleck portrays this suffering man as accurately as I've ever seen. He knows when to explode and when to stay quiet. His performance is loud and subtle, and weaves in a fashion as unstable as the man himself. It's the relentless cycle of grief, summed up brilliantly by Affleck's most memorable line:

Quote: "I can't beat it."