The Best Movies of 2016 (so far)

Now that 2016 is more than half way through, there's no better time to reflect back on my favorite films of the year so far and movies I highly recommend checking out. In no particular order, may I present to you:

Deadpool
FOX's unlikely superhero has turned out to be quite the little engine that could, as it went on to become the highest grossing R-rated movie ever. Of course it helps that this little engine has a huge personality, which is the reason for its longevity and box office success. Ryan Reynolds headlines this hysterical superhero send-up that (un?) surprisingly packs just as much heart as it does punch.


The Neon Demon
I recently reviewed this Nicholas Winding Refn film, so if you'd like to get my beefier take, feel free to check out my review. This horror film is rich with subtext and arresting in visual style. Add to that a hauntingly afflicting climax and you've got a recipe for one of the best films of 2016.

Zootopia

Disney has pretty much owned the box office this year, from Marvel's Captain America: Civil War to Pixar's Finding Dory, which broke the record for highest grossing animated movie ever; to this unsuspecting fur ball hit, which had legs of its own thanks to some highly positive word of mouth and rightfully so. Zootopia is a fun tail (pun intended) of breaking from expectations to accomplish greatness. An inspiring message combines with some cute critters and a sense of human spanning many ages to reproduce one of the most profitable and most delightful films of the year.

The Lobster
The Lobster is a quiet masterpiece from Greek Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. It's an obvious but clever metaphor for the social stigma of being single. It's brimming with smart, subtle humor of the dark sort and great performances from Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, and star Collin Farrell. If you get a chance to see The Lobster, I highly recommend taking that up. It's a highly unique film and should be applauded for its creativity and originality.

10 Cloverfield Lane
This film quite literally came out of nowhere. A trailer dropped and a month later it was in theaters across the world. A secret project from Producer J. J. Abrams, 10 Cloverfield Lane is a "blood relative" to the original Cloverfield but stands on its own completely. Where the first film chronicled an alien invasion via found footage, this quasi-sequel plays more like a traditional narrative but one as equally gripping. This intense thriller takes place almost entirely in one location so it is up to the cast to deliver the goods and they do. Special honors go to John Goodman for perfectly playing the line of this mysterious story.

Swiss Army Man
I also recently reviewed this flick, so if you're interested in my bigger picture ideas, feel free to hit up my review. My more condensed thoughts are this: Swiss Army Man is one of the most unique and creative films I have ever seen. It's dramatic, consistently funny, and for a movie co-starring a corpse, surprisingly heartfelt. It masterfully touches on universal ideas of acceptance, not just of others but of the self. Its two leads, Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, play perfectly off one another and nicely tie this quirky film together.

The Jungle Book 
Like Disney's other films mentioned earlier, The Jungle Book is printing money and rightfully so. Director Jon Favreau has put to film one of the most visually impressive worlds to date and filled it with beloved personalities from the Disney lore. From Bill Murray as Baloo, Christopher Walken as King Louie, and Idris Elba as the terrifying Shere Khan, everyone gives a great performance and nobody steps on Neel Sethi, the centerpiece. The Jungle Book is entrenching from start to finish.


Krisha
Krisha is a film I had the honor of seeing once and if I should be so fortunate in the future, I never have to see it again. Don't get me wrong it's a one of the year's best films, it also just happens to be one of the year's most depressing. First-time Filmmaker Trey Edward Shults zeroes in on some fresh albeit unsettling certainties of familial relations using a deceptively simple story. I could easily picture a world where Krisha Fairchild is nominated for her engrossing performance in this dark drama.

Captain America: Civil War
The Russo Brothers somehow improve upon their work in Captain America: The Winter Soldier to simultaneously give us the best 'Avengers' film and 'Captain America' film yet. The Russos have mastered the art of filling their movies with lots of lovable, unique characters and giving everybody their respected dues. They've also mastered the art of storytelling on massive scale. Though 'Civil War' is arguably Marvel's darkest film to date, it's also one of their funniest. The matchmaking between hard-hitting, emotional drama and levity has been insanely fine-tuned with this entry. There is also the added bonus of having such talent in front of the screen. Captain America: Civil War even finds a way to make its predecessor, Avengers: Age of Ultron, a better film. This film truly is a marvel.

Eye in the Sky
It is a shame Eye in the Sky didn't see a wider release. It's a gripping film that boasts an impressive ensemble, including Helen Mirren; Aaron Paul; and the last screen performance from the late, great Allan Rickman. Each plays a different role in the joint assassination attempt of one of the world's most wanted terrorists and each brings his or her baggage to the mission as well. Whether it be the clashing political ideologies between experienced vets or opposing moral views on the potential collateral damage, Director Gavin Hood never eases up on the conflicts that make Eye in the Sky such a potent and timely moral examination of wartime politics.

Well there it is. My favorite films of the year so far. What do you think? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Let me know your thoughts and feel free to follow me on Twitter or Instagram @MuppetyMan or on YouTube at Movie Minutes. Just click the follow button at the front page of my blog and thanks for reading!