Members of the Boston Online Film Critics Association celebrate the end of 2016 with an extended-length breakdown of our Top Ten movies of the year!
BEST PICTURE:
MOONLIGHT
BEST DIRECTOR:
Damien Chazelle – LA LA LAND
BEST ACTOR:
Casey Affleck – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
BEST ACTRESS:
Isabelle Huppert – ELLE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Mahershala Ali – MOONLIGHT
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Michelle Williams – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
BEST ENSEMBLE:
MOONLIGHT
BEST SCREENPLAY:
Kenneth Lonergan – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
THE HANDMAIDEN
BEST DOCUMENTARY:
CAMERAPERSON
BEST ANIMATED FILM:
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Natasha Braier – THE NEON DEMON
BEST EDITING:
Nels Bangerter – CAMERAPERSON
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
Mica Levi – JACKIE
THE TEN BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR:
MOONLIGHT
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
LA LA LAND
PATERSON
HELL OR HIGH WATER
GREEN ROOM
SILENCE
CERTAIN WOMEN
THE HANDMAIDEN
ELLE
Andrew Crump breaks down The Ten Best Movies In Theaters Right Now
Spoilerpiece Theatre talks ORIGIN OF VIOLENCE, ARRIVAL, MOONLIGHT and LOVING
Bob Chipman talks GHOSTBUSTERS and The Election
Sean Burns looks at DOG EAT DOG
Kristofer Jenson’s Boston Reel has Repertory Picks
DR. STRANGE
“Through outstanding casting, splashy visuals, and some unexpected (and welcome) wit, DOCTOR STRANGE is easily the best of comic book movie of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“Doesn’t this stuff ever get stale to you people?” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality
“Though not without its flaws, DOCTOR STRANGE turns out to be another solid addition to the Marvel library that’s able to fit comfortably with everything else they’ve had to offer so far.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
“…if you enjoy these Marvel movies, the addition of magic to the MCU is just enough to add some new fizz to the formula.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian
HACKSAW RIDGE
“HACKSAW RIDGE works in the same way THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and APOCALYPTO worked, beating the crap out of the audience with a ferocious sadism that the ardent religious convictions of the filmmaker seem to be either enabling or only barely keeping at bay.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality
“I’m a sucker for films about good people, and Desmond Doss is one of the great ones.” – Greg Vellante, Forces Of Geek
“HACKSAW RIDGE will satisfy Garfield fans, Gibson supporters or war movie connoisseurs, but little more.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day
“Garfield gives an Oscar-worthy performance, showing the medic to be a simple man of conviction and courage.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“This is filmmaking of a fine and effective order, but with both faith-based pacifism and balls-out warfare being given such hard scrutiny you might be forgiven for not being entirely certain what Gibson’s intent is or what he wants you to take away from the film.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston
“A truly delicate and animalistic story about one of the U.S.’s greatest heroes.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine
“Gibson brings Doss’ story to screen with his own firm conviction, telling the story without factual nor fictional embellishment according to research.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston
“HACKSAW RIDGE is by no means a perfect film, but what’s included gives the people who want to see it an opportunity to leave the theaters satisfied with what they’ve just watched.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
MOONLIGHT
“Each chapter of this story would function as a strong short film if viewed independently. But the cumulative effect might just blindside you.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian
“As demonstrated in Jenkins’ first feature, 2008’s winning, morning-after-a-one-night-stand comedy MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY, he’s got a knack for letting his characters talk their way around one other’s defense mechanisms and insecurities.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality
“The film encourages self-reflection, but not at the expense of either its narrative or the viewing experience. ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
“Both as a work of art and a social statement, MOONLIGHT is required viewing. It is easily one of the best films of 2016 and the most quietly powerful film in recent memory.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly
TROLLS
“At once a fantastic opportunity to get the kids out of the house, a catalyst for spending 50 dollars on popcorn and candy, and a film that holds its weight in similar sugary stuffing, there are countless things worse to do than TROLLS on a Saturday afternoon.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston
GIMME DANGER
“Overall it’s a bit slack with the indulgences you see sometimes when people make movies about their friends, but there are worse ways to spend two hours than in “the streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm’s” laundry room.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery