We Got This Covered’s Top 10 Movies Of 2016

As we head into the final days of 2016, it's time to look back on the past 12 months in film and reflect on the hits and the misses, the surprises and the disappointments. While this year hasn't been particularly strong, at least in our opinion, there were still a handful of notable efforts that moved us, brought us to tears, had us rolling in our seats laughing or standing on our chairs pumping our fists in the air. From stunning animated efforts that had no business being as good as they were, to intense, nail-biting affairs that had us on the edge of our seats, these 10 films left We Got This Covered critics feeling very impressed. We did have to leave a few fantastic titles off the list, as there was only room for 10 (honorable mentions go out to Moonlight, The Jungle Book and Moana, among others), but we feel that this selection of movies represents the very best of what the past 12 months had to offer. And so, without further ado, we present to you We Got This Covered's Top 10 Movies of 2016. Enjoy, and be sure to leave a comment down below letting us know what your favorite films were this year. 10) Nocturnal Animals Fashion icon Tom Ford bravely stepped into the cinematic spotlight with his 2009 drama A Single Man, which earned Colin Firth his first Oscar nomination and Ford towering praise as a filmmaker, a seamless transition between two polar opposite arts that was no small feat. Fast-forward to 2016 and finally, we get a follow-up film from Ford in the form of Nocturnal Animals, which definitively proved that the man is no fluke. The movie has earned him two Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay, in addition to a supporting role nomination for Aaron Taylor-Johnson, which could’ve easily been parlayed with co-star Michael Shannon. Co-leads Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal violently orbit one another like a binary star in this sleek thriller, delivering a pair of powerhouse performances driven by strength and deepened by vulnerability. Carrying a sultry silkiness throughout and Ford’s attentive visual flair, there’s no denying that Nocturnal Animals is one of 2016's must-see films. 9) La La Land The musical isn't exactly what it used to be, but with La La Land, Damien Chazelle gives it the kick in the behind it so desperately needs and delivers one of 2016's most enjoyable and irresistible films in the process - one that will have you skipping and singing your way out of the theater. The saying "they just don't make them like this anymore" might be cliche, but it truly does apply to La La Land. Of course, the absolutely impeccable chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone helps things tremendously, but in a movie like this, every single thing shines. Beautifully shot, perfectly executed, phenomenally acted and full of exuberant joy in each and every frame, it's hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this film. Next time someone tries to tell you the musical is dead, just show them La La Land. 8) Deadpool Of all the success stories in 2016, Deadpool ranks right near the top. Comic book fans will know full well what a difficult road it was to get the film off the ground and into production, not to mention what a huge gamble it was for all involved. Thankfully, then, 20th Century Fox made all the right moves and finally gave the Merc with a Mouth the movie he deserves, in the process bringing superhero redemption to Mr. Ryan Reynolds - who so desperately needed it. Funny, over the top and twisted in all the right ways, Deadpool is a blast from start to finish. It's quite unlike any other superhero movie out there and with its staggering box office gross of $783 million, it easily became the highest grossing R-rated movie of all-time. A success on all fronts, Deadpool broke down barriers, took just about everyone by surprise and showed that sometimes, passion and resilience is all you need to create an excellent movie. 7) 10 Cloverfield Lane It arrived when we least expected it – sneaking in while nobody was paying attention. But, after a brief publicity campaign featuring weirdly toned trailers and strange websites, 10 Cloverfield Lane arrived in theaters and staked its claim as one of the best, most astonishing films of 2016. The feature-length directorial debut of Dan Trachtenberg was acquired, in script form, by J.J. Abrams and was slightly altered to form part of what the producer hopes will become a ‘Cloverfield Universe’ – spun off from the phenomenally successful Cloverfield movie of 2008. But, 10 Cloverfield Lane – at this point – has nothing to do with Cloverfield, other than the use of that word. It's entirely its own, deeply disturbing thing. There's no point at which 10 Cloverfield Lane ever becomes predictable (and it easily could have), as it builds its claustrophobia and sense of intense panic. The constantly shifting conclusions we reach, along with Michelle as each new piece of information is revealed, serves to keep us unnerved and off-kilter – never knowing what might happen next, and never quite knowing which character to root for. Until the third act, that is – because by the time the end comes, we're fully accepting of whatever the remainder of the ride holds. That is, without a doubt, storytelling at its finest. 6) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story The fact that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story turned out to be as good as it did is satisfying for so many reasons. Not least because, quite honestly, fans were pretty worried about it in the months leading up to its release. As the first of Disney's planned Anthology films, skepticism abound about whether the idea could be executed well enough to make Rogue One feel like an essential piece of the Star Wars puzzle and not just a cash in. Furthermore, the summer was full of rumors regarding heavy reshoots that the film underwent, with reports claiming that the studio made significant changes and took over control from director Gareth Edwards. It all painted a rather grim picture. All the worrying turned out to be for nothing, though. While not quite as good as The Force Awakens, at least not in our opinion, Rogue One still stands tall as a crowning achievement for the franchise, giving us some brand new characters to fall in love with and an exhilarating third act that rivals anything we've seen thus far from that galaxy far, far away. 5) Hacksaw Ridge When Mel Gibson became persona non grata in Hollywood, many discounted the once great director, writing him off as washed up and crazy, and rightfully so. Over the years, however, Gibson's gone a long way to redeeming himself and his comeback is now in full swing thanks to Hacksaw Ridge. A clear awards contender and one of the director's better efforts, it's a gripping, visceral and bold war film, one that would probably be guaranteed to take home at least a few Oscars if it wasn't Gibson sitting behind the camera. It's not only him though who makes Hacksaw Ridge work, as he's aided by a truly fantastic cast, with Andrew Garfield in particular giving a career best performance. Say what you will about Gibson, but this film is a triumph in every sense of the word and one of the very best of 2016. 4) Zootopia Disney and animation are so inextricably linked that it’s no surprise when one of the studio’s releases hits a home run (e.g., this year’s Moana). However, even in an era that many have deemed the second Disney Renaissance, what no one expected from Zootopia is just how sharp and intelligent a social commentary it would feature. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, the film - led by Ginnifer Goodwin’s headstrong rabbit cop Judy Hopps - features all the imagination and humor one would associate with recent Disney efforts like Wreck-It Ralph and Big Hero 6. However, amidst the sloth jokes and animal puns lies a story with something very powerful to say about prejudice and discrimination. Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore (as well as co-director Jared Bush) create an allegorical tale here that feels more relevant than 90 percent of Hollywood blockbusters released this year. The fact that Zootopia managed to send such a valuable sentiment to audiences the world over is a miraculous feat, one that's only heartened further by the film’s $1 billion box office gross. 3) Captain America: Civil War Thirteen films in and the Marvel Cinematic Universe pulled off the impossible with this eminently re-watchable landmark. Captain America: Civil War - which marks the triumphant return of Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo - delivers an energetic, thoughtful adaptation of the titular Mark Millar/Steve McNiven comic book. Pitting Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) against each other and dividing the Avengers, the film left audiences the world over debating which superhero was in the right (“Team Cap!” “Team Iron Man!”). Moreover, it managed to usher both Black Panther and Spider-Man into the MCU in one fell swoop through memorable performances by Chadwick Boseman and Tom Holland, respectively. That epic airport smackdown has already been christened as a classic, but what truly makes Civil War so memorable (and one of the best MCU efforts to date) is the way in which it subverts the character dynamics and tantalizes us with the possibility of what the future may hold. Certainly, fans can rest easy knowing that the Russos are shepherding both Avengers: Infinity War and its untitled sequel. 2) Manchester By The Sea Kenneth Lonergan's third film, Manchester by the Sea, is an unremarkable piece of work. It's slow, methodic, lingering, dreary, and that's what makes it all so very rich and so hauntingly beautiful. Touching in its intimacy and compassionate in its sorrow, yet never one draped in melodrama or excessive self-pitying, Lonergan's near-masterful triumph in exploring grief, guilt, masculinity and patchy redemption is, at once, a lumbering, listless character drama built upon misery and heartache, and an attentive, softly-humming contemporary cinematic tone poem, one that's as relatable as it is emotionally distant. That it centres on a perfectly-cast Casey Affleck, in the role that will ultimately define his mumbling, decidedly jagged and unkempt on-screen persona as The Assassination of Jesse James by the Crowd Robert Ford once did, gives this mood piece an even more haunting, cutting rugged edge — one that won't be shaken at the end of this year, nor any year. Manchester by the Sea is 2016's most unremarkably remarkable film. It's a quiet one, but it's not one that's going to go away quietly. 1) Arrival Unfurling like a beautifully rendered map to an unexpected and exotic locale, Arrival rolls in disguised as a standard alien invasion tale, but soon sheds its skin to reveal something else entirely. That something is at once vast and intimate; impressively complex and incredibly simple – and these contrasts are housed within a narrative that is perfectly paced, and brilliantly performed. There are some familiar motifs in the story – a token woman, a race against time, a lesson about the importance of nations working together, a slow and unspoken falling in love – but, make no mistake, Arrival is a work of extreme originality. The script takes the simplest of questions and spins out an exercise in ‘thinking outside the box’ until the consequences and ramifications of that question are, frankly, mind-bending. Arrival is an example of what's possible when each department – from writing, to cinematography, to production design, to sound – is working in a cohesive fashion, at the top of their game. It's an outstanding achievement in both filmmaking and storytelling and is absolutely the best film of 2016.