Our resident movie reviewers look back at 2016's best releases.
Tim Byrnes
1. Tickled. A brilliantly made documentary by New Zealand journalist David Farrier. ‘Tickled’ investigates the world of online competitive tickling videos. As David digs deeper into the origins of this ridiculous sport, he finds some truly shocking and disturbing dirt.2. Arrival. A science-fiction film filled with an amazing amount of depth. Amy Adams plays a linguist attempting to communicate with alien life who have recently landed on Earth. A stunning piece of work which brings humanity and emotion to a genre that usually lacks it.
3. Sausage Party. I went into this one expecting a barrage of food and sex double entendres, but what I also got was a surprise as to how clever it is. Witty, vulgar and a message of tolerance, ‘Sausage Party’ lived up to the party in its title.
4. The Nice Guys. Writer-director Shane Black creates another buddy-cop comedy. Having regularly made films within this style since his breakout with ‘Lethal Weapon’, ‘The Nice Guys’ shows Black created a perfect formula that’s still fresh.
5. Green Room. The recently-departed Anton Yelchin gives an intense performance as a punk rocker trying to escape a gang of Neo Nazis led by a threatening Patrick Stewart. ‘Green Room’ is the tensest thriller I’ve seen all year.
6. Zootopia. Another animated feature with a message of tolerance. However, ‘Zootopia’ is filled with a lot of heart that’s been missing from recent Disney films.
7. Hell Or High Water. A Texan bank-robber film featuring brilliant performances from Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges. It’s a gripping ride following the different stories up until its violent conclusion.
8. The Witch. Horror film set in 17th Century New England focusing more on tension and atmosphere over jump-scares. Terror creeps in as a pilgrim family suspects a witch is among them. Also features the most frightening goat to ever grace the screen.
9. Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds plays the role he was born to fill, completely ripping up the comic-book movie rule book to deliver a delightful romp of sass and violence.
10. High-Rise. Rising filmmaker Ben Wheatley adapts the clinical prose of author J. G. Ballard to the screen, keeping much of the tone and shock intact in this tale of class-warfare turned savage.
Best Performance
Ryan Gosling, 'The Nice Guys'. A wonderful performance from the Puppy-Eyed One as he trips, slips and fumbles his way through car chases and gunfights. Ryan Gosling delivers a great Philip Marlowe by the way of Buster Keaton.Favourite Scene
The ending of 'Sausage Party'. The single most memorable scene to grace cinema screens. Saying too much would spoil it. Bonus points for disgusting a couple of dudes – who talked throughout the film – to the point of making them walk out.Favourite Australian Film: Red Curtain Hell
A bit of conflict of interest with this as I’m in it. But, ‘Red Curtain Hell’ is a film which deserves to be seen. A cast of egomaniacal amateur theatre-makers stage a production of 'Hamlet', which goes horribly wrong both on and off stage: with big helpings of sex, violence and political incorrectness.Worst Film
'Miss Peregrine’s School For Peculiar Children'. It’s hard to say which is becoming more tiring: young adult novel adaptations or Tim Burton. ‘Miss Peregrine’ shows Hollywood needs to take a break from both.Kylie Thompson
1. Moana. Yes, it’s a kid’s movie, but don’t let that fool you. This is the Disney movie you didn’t know you needed in your life. No princesses, all snark, with adventure and hat-tips galore.2. Spin Out. The story of a boy in love with his ute and his bestie, trying to win her over after screwing it all up. If you want your romance with a side of hilarity and stunt driving, this is your ideal date night flick.
3. Captain America: Civil War. A movie that made an entire fandom lose it over fruit and short sentences, and finally introduced the glory of T’Challa to the adoring masses.
4. Deadpool. Hot guy turned hot mess wages war against a guy called Francis. There’s gore, violence and a running commentary of smart-arsey to keep you amused. A love story drenched in blood.
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. A new adventure in the original Star Wars ‘verse with a kick-ass female lead and an abundance of action-y goodness.
6. Ghostbusters. Though there are some flaws here, ‘Ghostbusters’ kicked a lot of ass in terms of flipping the traditional tropes of action flicks.
7. Doctor Strange. Another Marvel addition, with inter-dimensional Sherlock sassing an all new range of apparently inferior beings for his own amusement. Also? There’s violence.
8. The Magnificent Seven. Chris Pratt. Guns. Horse riding in tight pants. Do I really need to say more?
9. Underworld. A vampire with a leather fetish travels the world killing people in epic, sometimes hilarious, ways.
10. Suicide Squad. AKA Harley Quinn’s very odd day. There’s other stuff in the movie, sure, but let’s be honest, it’s Harley’s movie, and everyone else needs to make their peace with it.
