Shawn Eastridge's Favorite Films of 2016 Part 3: The Top 20

We made it!...this far. Now we come to it at last: the great 'Favorite Films' list of our time. Well, no, I wouldn't go that far, but these are the movies that I personally believe went above and beyond the call of duty in 2016. Let's push off, shall we?

THE ONES I MISSED

• ELLE
• FENCES
• THE HANDMAIDEN
• I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
• JACKIE
• LIFE, ANIMATED
• LOVING
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• SHIN GODZILLA
• SILENCE

TOP 20 FAVORITE FILMS OF 2016

First off, a special mention for a little diddy that got knocked off my list at the last second by another film. Let's take a moment to pour one out for...

DEADPOOL

After years and years of pushing for a film that did R-rated justice to this much-beloved character, Ryan Reynolds efforts have paid off in spades. Deadpool was some of the most fun I had in a theater in 2016. It’s hilarious, exciting and a welcome change of pace from the standard superhero fare, even if it ends up relying on the genre’s tried and true tropes more often than it would like to admit.

AND NOW ON TO THE MAIN EVENT

20. MOANA


Disney Animation continues to churn out the hits, and while Moana’s storybeats and characters are a little too familiar, it still succeeds overall thanks to incredible animation, a great soundtrack and wonderful voice performances.

19. ZOOTOPIA

Zootopia manages to tell a fun and engaging story while effectively slipping in a fitting social commentary in a way that doesn’t feel overtly preachy or obnoxious. Easily one of 2017’s best animated efforts.

18. POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING

No movie released in 2016 made me laugh as hard as Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Andy Samberg and the Lonely Island team have outdone themselves.

17. STAR TREK BEYOND

Star Trek Beyond is a wonderful homage to the Original Series and a fitting 50th anniversary tribute, regaining the sense of optimism and character building that has made this universe so special.

16. HIDDEN FIGURES

I was expecting this to be a simple, safe effort made exclusively for the day-time television crowd, but Hidden Figures is much, much better than that. Though, yes, it does carry many of the traits associated with that specific audience, it is a sincere effort that rings emotionally true. The trio of leading ladies - Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae - are marvelous.

15. THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

One of the funniest and most genuine films released in 2017, Kelly Fremon Craig’s coming-of-age effort has shades of Juno, but it’s far less obnoxious. Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson are a pure joy together.

14. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

Jeff Nichols’ excellent foray into the world of sci-fi may have been forgotten in the wake of his more Oscar friendly work Loving, but it is another worthy addition to his repertoire.

13. HELL OR HIGH WATER

Hell or High Water is just plain ol’ great moviemaking. On every level – technical, story, performance, etc. – it is a rousing success. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are spectacular - Jeff Bridges too, but, you know, that's pretty much a given by this point.

12. THE WITCH

Absorbing, hypnotizing and ridiculously terrifying, The Witch is gorgeous moviemaking and one of the best horror films of the decade.

11. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Perhaps the most underappreciated film of this bunch, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an expertly crafted thriller and a remarkable debut for first time feature director Dan Trachtenberg. Don’t even get me started on John Goodman – that man is a national treasure.

10. DON’T THINK TWICE

Hilarious and thoughtful, Mike Birbiglia’s latest effort takes a look at the world of improv comedy and what happens when you have to accept that success might not ever come your way.

9. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

An absolute delight. Taika Waititi’s superb comic and cinematic sensibilities combined with Julian Dennison and Sam Neill’s magical chemistry make this one of the finest efforts of 2016. Can’t wait to see what Waititi does with Thor: Ragnarok.

8. A MONSTER CALLS

An incredible film that deals with the power of storytelling as a means to process grief. A Monster Calls is further proof that director J.A. Bayona is a major rising talent. His greatest challenge will be in making me care about what happens in Jurassic World 2, but if this one is any indication, I have faith he can pull it off.

7. LA LA LAND

Who doesn’t love a good musical? Especially one starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone directed by Damien Chazelle, the man behind 2014’s brilliant Whiplash. La La Land harkens back to the good ol’ fashioned days of fun, heartfelt musical-making. I get people's complaints about it not having much going on beneath the surface, but it is so endearing and so lovable that only the most stonehearted cynic will walk away unimpressed.

6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

So many heroes, so many storylines, so much action, and yet the Russo Brothers, once again, deliver one of Marvel Studios’ best offerings yet. Civil War features some of the best action sequences and most poignant character moments of the entire series.

5. MOONLIGHT

I can only read so many reviews written by straight, white males about how Moonlight is one of the definitive statements on the black, queer experience before I want to jump off a bridge, but Moonlight rises above these pretentions. Barry Jenkins delivers a deeply felt, beautifully shot work of art.

4. THE NICE GUYS

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe make one of the best odd couples that have ever graced the silver screen, backed by the master of the ‘odd couple’ genre Shane Black.

3. ARRIVAL

Haunting and beautiful, Arrival is a stunning piece of work which further cements the reputation of Denis Villeneuve and one of Amy Adams' best performances yet. A science-fiction masterpiece.

2. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!

When it comes to celebrating all the ordinary moments that make life so special, Richard Linklater is without peer and his ‘spiritual sequel’ to Dazed & Confused is no exception. Everybody Wants Some!! perfectly captures that rush of freedom that comes with going off to college for the first time and the realization that every avenue offers a means to better discover who you truly are.

1. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

The fact that this one knocked a Richard Linklater movie out of my top spot should be enough of an indicator of how incredible it is. The best compliment I could pay any movie is that I didn't want it to end, and after 2 hours and 20 minutes, that's exactly how I felt about Manchester by the Sea. I would gladly have sat in the theater for another two hours just to make sure all the characters in this movie ended up okay. It is an extraordinary and beautiful work, brimming with optimism and hope despite its devastating subject matter. Casey Affleck delivers one of the best performances I’ve ever seen and Kenneth Lonergan’s screenplay and direction are masterful in their subtlety and nuance.