Top 10 of (ahem) 2016

What, you were hoping for a 2017 list? In this year of a new baby, I've procrastinated big time. On the plus side, it's given me time to rewatch some 2016 movies, and let's me know what movies have lingered as time has gone by.

First, my #16-25 in alphabetical order, all of which I really enjoyed and are worth a viewing:

Everybody Wants Some!
Fences
Hell or High Water
Jackie
Silence
Sing Street
Southside with You
Toni Erdmann
Weiner
The Witch

And my 5 runners-up, which on another day any could have easily made my list:

Don't Think Twice
I Am Not Your Negro
Loving
Manchester by the Sea
Things to Come

10. Krisha: A super indie family movie that plays like a horror film. Totally unique and unforgettable.

9. Hail, Caesar!: I think this will live on as one of the Coen Brothers' most underrated films. Packed to the gills with old Hollywood love and delicious performances.











8. Certain Women: Kelly Reichardt's quiet trio of female lives in the vast American west. Beautifully done, especially the breathtakingly perfect third act with Kristen Stewart and Lily Gladstone.

7. American Honey: British director Andrea Arnold sees American culture with such fresh, non-condescending eyes. Vibrant and heartbreaking at the same time, much like 2017's The Florida Project.

6. OJ: Made in America: The Oscars said it's a movie, even many called this ESPN documentary a TV show, so I'll go with that. A relentlessly watchable 8-hour dive into celebrity, policing, America, and, race.

5. The Lobster: High-concept film at it's best. A deadpan satire that hilariously illuminates so much about modern culture.

4. La La Land: Forget the haters who framed this as some sort of run-of-the-mill Hollywood pap. Director Damien Chazelle had the bravery to go all in on an ORIGINAL Hollywood musical, playing with past influences while making the film his own.

3. 20th Century Women: A beautiful, big-hearted movie about an unconventional woman, her son, and the ragtag group who help raise him. Even more impressive on a second viewing.

2. Arrival: Wins as my most tears shed at a movie last year.  Haven't had a chance to see this again yet, but can't wait to see how it plays on a second viewing. The movie's structure is played for real emotion, not as a cheap gimmick.

1. Moonlight: It's a miracle that an indie movie this delicate, artfully made, and perfect could (infamously!) triumph at the Oscars. What else is there to say? It's destined to be a modern classic, and I can't wait to see what director Barry Jenkins does next.