Well 2016, you tested my patience, you delivered one mediocre
movie after another with only brief glimpses into anything better. From one of
the most disappointing summers in recent memory we now arrive at the awards
season, and after waiting so long for this year to deliver it has finally done
so. During November it feels as if we have been spoiled for quality cinema,
with not just three but several amazing movies, any one of which could easily
have ended up amongst the best of this month and are very likely to be making
an appearance on my final top ten of the year.
While the month was not free of disappointments in the form
of ‘Snowden’ and ‘Birth of a Nation’ that could not help but fall short of
their ambitious goals, we saw such an abundance of amazing films with such a
variety of style and genre that I have to give a few honourable mentions. Mel
Gibson returned in full force with the powerful ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, a war film of striking
ambition that remained surprisingly intimate. But if one speaks of intimacy
they cannot go without mentioning Jeff Nichols poignant historical drama ‘Loving’
that will likely pick up a slew of award nominations over the coming months.
Last but not least is Ken Loach’s social realist drama ‘I, Daniel Blake’, a
work that could be shatteringly depressing with its political undertones and
true to life atmosphere, but contains such a sense of warmth and humanity that
it is endlessly endearing.
But now for the top three.
3: The Edge of
Seventeen
John Hughes may no longer be with us, but his legacy and
lasting influence is keenly captured in Kelly Fremon Craig’s truthful and
wonderfully empathetic view of adolescence. Boasting a career best performance
from Hailee Steinfeld as well as a host of supporting actors who are no less
talented, Craig’s smart script contains such a superb blend of comedy and drama
that it is difficult to distinguish the two. It presents its characters as
fully realised individuals and makes the audience sympathise with their plights
as often as they are made to laugh at them. It captures the pain, hope, joy and
sheer complexity of high school life better than any film I can think of in
modern memory and may be the strongest directorial debut of the year.
2: Arrival
Denis Villeneuve might just be the greatest director of this
decade, the consistent quality and variety of his work continues to astound me
to the point where to say ‘Arrival’ is the best yet is almost irrelevant. Every
one of his movies are masterworks and to rank them is an exercise in futility.
With ‘Arrival’ Villeneuve has delivered us a science fiction masterpiece for
the ages, one of such grand ambition and intimate emotion that it is likely to
resonate on every conceivable level. Amy Adams delivers magnificent performance
that ensures that for all its stunning set pieces, existential minefields and
visual eye candy the film has a beating and deeply emotional heart. It is the
kind of film that demands to be seen and discussed, not just for its big questions
but also its personal ones.
1: Nocturnal
Animals
Part two of the Amy Adams appreciation passage, the only
film that could beat the sweeping grandness of ‘Arrival’ is the provoking and
uncompromising mastery of Tom Ford’s ‘Nocturnal Animals’. Boasting an all-star
cast who are all working at the top of their game , from the cold eeriness of
Michael Shannon to the unpredictable temperament of an unrecognizable Aaron Taylor
Johnson and Jake Gyllenhaal’s amazing ability to craft numerous roles each with
their own distinct personality and depth of feel, as well as the aforementioned
Adams who is just as amazing. But the true star is Ford, whose screenplay weaves
multiple stories to create a layered and complex tale of betrayal, grief and
guilt. It is hard to know which is more impressive, Ford’s talent as a writer
or his skill as a director, as his own screenplay is brought to life within a
dark and twisted world that seems to be a combination of Hitchcock, Kubrick and
Lynch. Gorgeously stylistic and awe-inspiringly realised, Ford’s vision is
unsettling and unnerving, as well as utterly masterful.
And the worst…..
The Accountant
I do feel slightly guilty by
declaring ‘The Accountant’ to be the worst film of the month because in
all honesty there is a lot to like about it, such as the strong performances
from Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick and JK Simmons as well as half of an intriguing
character study and some inspired direction by Gavin O’Connor. In fact had it
come out during the summer it may well have ended up amongst the best of the
month selection. However it’s jumbled screenplay, poor structure and ludicrous
plot twists ruin what started out as a surprisingly strong action/thriller, in
which the plot becomes overly complex and under developed to a point where
Simmons’ character literally sits the audience down and explains it to them. 
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