2016 seems to be traveling at warp speed, and we’ve already reached the halfway point for this movie year. So far our films have ranged from alien invasions to being held captive in an underground bunker, internal conflict between the world’s greatest superheroes, and being attacked in a green room by a group of neo-nazis. One of toughest parts of being a film critic is creating these types of lists as they are of course highly subjective. The other issue with these lists stems from not seeing everything that has come out. So this list will be a very a fluid one (expect some changes). Okay, here we go –
10. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice was a tremendous film to launch the DC cinematic universe. This film received and unfair amount of critique because it wasn’t up to the standard that Marvel had previously set. How soon people forget that critics blasted the original Ironman film for being too slow in parts. This film was meant to be a launching pad DC and what a launch it was. Plus, Gal Gadot’s performance as Wonder Woman is truly worth the price of admission.
9. 10 Cloverfield Lane
A film that begins terribly and doesn’t relent. Quite possibly the best role of John Goodman’s career and set the bar early on for suspense in 2016. Just when the audience think that they have this film figured out, the twists will keep the audience the audience guessing to the very end.This film also boats some of the best writing of 2016 to date.
8. Popstar
A brilliant parody of our celebrity-driven culture, written by the boys from Lonely Island. It’s eighty minutes of nonstop laughs and well worth seeing in theaters. Seal’s cameo alone will have you in stitches.
7.Green Room
Green Room is the best horror film so far in 2016, and one of the more cleverly shot films as well. The film brought out a side in Patrick Stewart that scared me to my core. Shot on a very low budget, but the camera work gives it the feel of a bigger budget horror flick.
6.Everybody Wants Some
Just a fun look back at the 80’s with a relatively unknown cast that will leave you smiling well after the film. Everybody Wants Some is the most fun I’ve had at the movies so far this year.Everybody Wants Some is also cleverly written as well. This film is already out and is well worth your time.
5.The Jungle Book
Visually stunning and masterfully produced retelling of one of Disney’s most classic tales. Plus anytime you can have Christopher Walken doing a dance number; then that’s, of course, an automatic win.
4.Finding Dory
Finding Dory wasn’t quite finding Finding Nemo, but anytime you can take a popular Disney character and weave in a tale about acceptance of who you are then that’s a home run to me. Plus the animation was fantastic.
3.Captain America: Civil War
The Russo brothers had what seemed to be a monumental task of fitting all of those superheroes in one film and do it in such a way that appeared effortless, and man did they pull it off. They also found a very cool way to bring Spider-man into the Marvel cinematic universe. The action is relentless and the story-line is extremely relevant to boot.
2.The Neon Demon
A film unlike any other, shot in such a way that the audience is mesmerized, is the epitome of what a top film is. How seldom do you come across a film that has such little narrative but comes across so well? This film is special.
1.Deadpool
Nothing could have prepared me for just how wonderful Deadpool was to watch. The authenticity that the director insisted be throughout this film elevated the quality of this film. It shouldn’t be a shock that the fight sequences were just as rated “R” as the language in the film. Most importantly, Deadpool was just pure cinematic fun from start to finish.
