Review of 2016: Top 10 Favourite Films Of The Year

So, it's that time of year. The time when everyone starts looking forward to the potentially exciting films of 2017. And there is much to look forward too. However, before we get to them, a one final look back at 2016 and the films of the year.

So, how has it been?

Well, overall I think I've seen more good films than bad this year. It's true to say however, I think it's another year where the smaller films have been far, far better than the big Hollywood films. Unlike last year, when the brilliant Mad Max Fury Road blew everyone away, none of the big films really had the same impact. There were some that did very well both critically and commercially, Captain America: Civil War, Rogue One: A Star Wars story being two, while some of the other big films, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Suicide Squad, Warcraft and Ghostbusters, either did solid if unspectacular box office or got hammered by critics.

But a number of smaller films really made an impact. I'm not sure if it's a sign of my film taste changing, but my list of the years best is dominated by them.  It's also been mostly a good year for horror films. There were several that really made an impact, some of which are in the list below.

Worst Of The Year

But before we get to the best of the year, here are the worst three films I saw this year at the cinema:

3. Hardcore Henry

2. The Shallows

1. Don't Breathe

Whether writing an amateur writing a film Blog or a full time critic, occasionally a film will come along that everyone seems to love and you just don't get it. Don't Breathe was that for me this year. It received pretty good reviews and enjoyed by a lot by those who saw it. 

Apart from me it would seem. I found the characters terrible, the 'twist' nasty and not in a good way some thrillers or horror films often pull off. It got more ridiculous as the film progressed up to the ending.  I really hated the film.

Re-release Of The Year: Ran (1985)

There is one other film I want to mention before we get to my top 10 of the year. Often, older films get re-releases at the cinema, often a one off screening, occasionally the longer run. When I can, even if I own the DVD I will try to catch it on the cinema screen. And by a long way the best film I saw at the cinema this year was Akira Kurosawa's astonishing epic, Ran. It's a truly epic film, and in this 4K restoration print looked stunning. There are very few films this good and, I think, it might be the best film I have ever seen.

So, what are the films of the year? Well, below are my ten favourite films of the year.

My 10 Favourite Films Of The Year

10. Hell Or High Water

9. Room

8. Train To Busan

7. Bone Tomahawk

6. The Nice Guys

5. Sing Street

4. Green Room

3. The Witch

2. Spotlight

1. Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Simply put, Hunt For The Wilderpeople is funny, emotional, wonderful and as good a film as I have seen for many a year. Full review here.   

So there you have it. My favourite films of 2016. There were many that were considered, films like The Daughter, The Neon Demon, Under The Shadow, The Edge Of Seventeen, I, Daniel Blake, Nocturnal Animals to name a few. All these films are very good indeed and highly recommended. From the titles of these films and those that made the actual 10, you can see they cover many genres. It's as it should be.

I love going to the cinema and not only seeing the big films but finding smaller ones that otherwise might be overlooked in some ways and I look forward another year of cinema going.

Bring it on!