Best Movies of 2016 – Halfway Through

We are officially halfway through 2016!  Crazy how time flies.  Instead of making a long, long list of my favorite movies and performances from the first half of the year and explaining why, I am going to break it down like the Oscars.  I’m going to list my five (or 10 in the Best Picture) nominees, which are my favorite performances thus far, and then name a winner, which is the equivalent to my number one performance or movie, with a brief snippet as to why.  I’ll come up with a catchy name later for these awards, but until then, here are the best performances and best movies of 2016.

 

 

BEST SCREENPLAY 

NOMINEES:

• 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
• THE BIRTH OF A NATION
• MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
• THE NICE GUYS
• ZOOTOPIA

WINNER: 

THE NICE GUYS 

The Nice Guys writer Shane Black wrote a similar comedy-noir back in 2005 with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  The Nice Guys is a more polished version of that film.  It’s a perfect film noir, with a plot filled with plenty of mystery and action.  But best of all, the movie is absolutely hilarious, and its the perfect combination of mystery and comedy that make this 2016’s best screenplay.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

NOMINEES:

• SCARLETT JOHANSSON – HAIL, CAESAR!
• JENNA MALONE – THE NEON DEMON
• ANNA LYNN MCCORD – TRASH FIRE
• JULIA ROBERTS – MONEY MONSTER
• MICHELLE WILLIAMS – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

WINNER:

MICHELLE WILLIAMS in MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Manchester by the Sea is a slow burning, powerhouse of a movie.  A lot of that power comes from two of its performances.  You’ll see more on one of the performances later down the list, but Michelle Williams gives her best performance in a long time in this film.  In a performance that should garner her awards attention, Williams is heartbreakingly cold, especially during one scene in particular where she encounters her ex-husband.  It’s a brief performance, but an effective one.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 

NOMINEES:

• JOHN GOODMAN – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
• NICK JONAS – GOAT
• DANIEL RADCLIFFE – SWISS ARMY MAN 
• CRAIG ROBINSON – MORRIS FROM AMERICA
• PATRICK STEWART – THE GREEN ROOM

WINNER:

 

CRAIG ROBINSON in MORRIS FROM AMERICA  

A lot of strong contenders here, particularly Goodman, who is sensational.  But Craig Robinson surprised the hell out of me in Morris from America.  Playing the father of the only black kid in Germany, Robinson is heartwarming, sweet, and funny.  He even gives a great, single take monolog while driving that is very impressive.  It is the far and away the best performance of his career and shows that he is more than just a comedic actor.

 

BEST ACTRESS

NOMINESS: 

• EMILIA CLARKE – ME BEFORE YOU
• ELLEN DEGENERES – FINDING DORY
• ELLE FANNING – THE NEON DEMON
• KATIE HOLMES – TOUCHED WITH FIRE
• MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

WINNER:

 

MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD in 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has been doing steady work in Hollywood for over a decade now.  She should have broken out with her 2012 performance in the indie hit Smashed, but has instead been one of Hollywood’s hidden gems.  Well, not anymore.  Winstead’s performance in 10 Cloverfield Lane is extraordinary and one that should make her a bonafide star.  Channeling her inner Ripley, Winstead gives a smart, strong, impressive performance that carries this chilling thriller.

 

BEST ACTOR

NOMINEES:

• CASEY AFFLECK – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
• RYAN GOSLING – THE NICE GUYS
• JAKE GYLLENHAAL – DEMOLITION
• NATE PARKER – THE BIRTH OF A NATION
• RYAN REYNOLDS – DEADPOOL 

WINNER: 

 

CASEY AFFLECK in MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

I already talked about Michelle Williams’ performance in Manchester by the Sea and how good it is.  But, the real star of the movie is Casey Affleck, as he gives the best performance of 2016 thus far by any actor.  Affleck, who always gives great performances, gives arguably the best of his career as a tortured man living with regret who is given a new chance on life.  It is a strong, emotional performance that stayed with me for days after I saw it.

 

BEST DIRECTOR

NOMINEES:

• JEFF NICHOLS – MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
• NATE PARKER – THE BIRTH OF A NATION
• NICOLAS WINDING REFN – THE NEON DEMON
• DAN TRACHTENBERG – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
• JAMES WIN – THE CONJURING 2

WINNER:

 

NATE PARKER for THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Nate Parker’s directorial debut is one of the great debuts in cinematic history.  His vision for telling the story of Nat Turner and the largest slave revolt in United State history is one of a great artist.  The film looks beautiful, the performances are all great, and Parker handles the source material like a pro.  This is the start of something great for talented Parker.

 

BEST PICTURE

NOMINEES:

• 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
• THE BIRTH OF A NATION
• CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
• THE CONJURING 2
• DEADPOOL
• EVERYBODY WANTS SOME
• FINDING DORY
• MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
• THE NICE GUYS
• ZOOTOPIA

WINNER: 

 

THE BIRTH OF A NATION (Nate Parker)

As soon as the credits started rolling for The Birth of a Nation, I knew it would be the film to beat in 2016 and no film has even come close.  This is a powerful, passionate, gripping movie that doesn’t pull its punches.  Nate Parker has crafted an indie masterpiece that looks like it was made for $50 million.  Everything about this movie is perfect.  It is one of the best films I have ever seen at Sundance, it is one of the best directorial debuts of all-time from Parker, and it is far and away the best movie of 2016 so far.

 

 

BEST OF THE REST:

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – FINDING DORY

BEST COMIC BOOK MOVIE – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

BEST COMEDY – THE NICE GUYS

BEST SCI-FI MOVIE – MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

BEST HORROR MOVIE – THE CONJURING 2

BEST INDIE MOVIE – THE BIRTH OF A NATION

BEST DOCUMENTARY – LIFE, ANIMATED

BIGGEST SURPRISE – ME BEFORE YOU

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

 

 

 

TOP 10 IN ORDER

1 – THE BIRTH OF A NATION 

2 – THE NICE GUYS

3 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

4 – FINDING DORY 

5 – THE CONJURING 2

6 – MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

7 – ZOOTOPIA

8 – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

9 – DEADPOOL

10 – EVERYBODY WANTS SOME

 

10 WORST MOVIES OF 2016 SO FAR

1 – MEET THE BLACKS – It’s a comedy that has zero laughs.

2 – KNIGHT OF CUPS – Terrance Malick once again succeeds in making a film that looks beautiful, but is painfully boring.

3 – ZOOLANDER 2 – I wish there were as many laughs as there were random celebrity cameos.

4 – FREE STATE OF JONES – A lifeless tale about an incredible man.

5 – BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE – Bloated, ridiculous, and it demolishes a lot of the Batman and Superman mythos.

6 – NOW YOU SEE ME 2 – Should really be called Now You See Coincidences.

7 – RIDE ALONG 2 – A bad sequel to a less than mediocre first film.

8 – ANITBIRTH – A Midnight Sundance movie that felt like an 18 year old college freshman made it.

9 – CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE – Dwayne Johnson, you’re better than this.

10 –  THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR – I actually forgot I saw this movie, so that can’t be good.

 

 

What do you think are the best movies of  2016 so far?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @kevflix or on Facebook at Kevflix.