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Exploring our favourite films in the year 2016
In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2016 on Facebook and Twitter!
Hell or High Water - George's Top Pick
Dir: David Mackenzie | Lionsgate & CBS Films
Set in West Texas, two brothers carry out a set of daring and desperate bank robberies, in this heist thriller from director David Mackenzie.
Trying to make a better life for his sons, Toby (Chris Pine) has resorted to robbing banks, alongside his ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster). Despite successfully robbing two branches of the Texas Midlands Bank, they don’t take a huge amount. Toby is behind the meticulously planned heists, but his brother’s violent behaviour threatens to expose them.
They bury their getaway car in a pit on the family ranch, which has been left to them by their mother, who recently died of a long illness. The motivation behind them robbing the Texas Midlands Bank is clear, as we learn that they are threatening to foreclose their property, due to debt, caused by a reverse mortgage. Between that and the oil found on the ranch, it's clear Toby has a plan to ensure that his estranged sons live the comfortable life he was never afforded. Whilst eating at a diner, Tanner robs a nearby bank, as Texas Rangers Marcus (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto (Gil Birmingham) are assigned their case and start to close in. The brothers launder the money through a casino and send a check to the bank. As Marcus determines the brother’s next target, the final heist takes place. After Tanner kills a security guard and armed civilian, local townspeople pursue them. As Toby takes the money in a separate vehicle, Tanner creates a diversion to allow him to escape, hiding in a desert mountain ridge. Following a shootout, Tanner kills Alberto, before Marcus gets his revenge.
Toby manages to launder the money, paying the bank and putting the deed of the ranch into the family trust. Although Marcus is not able to prove it, he visits Toby on his ranch to tell him he knows he was responsible. Despite a brief standoff, Marcus has no choice but to leave.
Situated in a harsh landscape, this neo-Western action-thriller from Mackenzie is extremely well balanced. With complex characters and a haunting score, Hell or High Water is a truly compelling watch.
Hidden Figures - Matt's Top Pick
Dir: Theodore Melfi | 20th Century Studios
Director Theodore Melfi tells the untold story of the black female mathematicians who helped the US to achieve spaceflight capability.
In Hampton, Virginia, at the famous Langley Research Center, three African-American women are very much seen but not heard at NASA. Already segregated by race and sex, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) supervises a team of mathematicians, which include Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), a human computer and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), an aspiring engineer.
The Space Race is very much on, following the Soviet Union’s successful launch, as Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space. As the US become desperate to launch American’s into space, Katherine’s skills in analytic geometry lead to her being promoted to the Space Task Group. The heat shield team bring Mary into their team, who immediately gives a good impression, spotting a flaw with the space capsule design. Mary files a petition for permission to attend the all-white Hampton High School, in order for her to train and become a NASA engineer. Katherine continues to impress, solving a complex mathematical equation set by Al Harrison, the director of the Space Task Group. Harrison first abolishes the bathroom segregation and then includes Katherine in the all-male team meetings, where she soon figures out a calculation for the safe re-entry of their space capsule. Despite this, head engineer Paul Stafford is provided with the credit, due to Katherine’s position. When IBM computers are introduced, Mary’s fears that the human computers are being replaced are allayed, when she is promoted to supervise the Programming Department.
The day of John Glenn's launch into space arrives. When the IBM’s calculations are deemed to be incorrect, Katherine is called to provide the correct landing coordinates. Katherine finally becomes a report co-author as a NASA engineer and goes on to contribute to Apollo 11, later being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Not only a fascinating story, Hidden Figures is also an important one. These three intersecting stories are uplifting and inspirational, with strong performances all round, in this captivating biographical drama.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Gareth Edwards | Walt Disney Motion Pictures
In this prequel to Episode IV, director Gareth Edwards brought us this visual epic, with the story set just a few days before A New Hope.
As the Death Star, a super weapon capable of destroying entire planets, is being built, its developer Orson (Ben Mendelsohn) requires assistance from a research scientist, who is based on the planet Lah'mu. As imperials soldiers arrive to take Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) away, his wife is killed, but his daughter Jyn escapes and is rescued by a rebel named Gerrera (Forest Whitaker).
Fifteen years later, a holographic message is recorded by Galen to give to Gerrera. Cargo pilot Rook (Riz Ahmed) defects from the Empire and sets out to the desert moon of Jedha to give Gerrera the message. Jyn (Felicity Jones) is freed from an Imperial camp at Wobani, after Rebel Alliance officer Cassian (Diego Luna) learns about the Death Star. Jyn agrees to rescue her father, but Cassian is tasked with killing Galen. The Empire is removing crystals from the city of Jedha to power the Death Star. As Jyn, Cassian and K-2SO arrive, a battle ensues. A blind warrior named Îmwe, alongside his friend Malbus, helps Jyn to make contact with Gerrera, who is holding Rook captive. In Galen’s message, he reveals he has secretly built an exhaust port, which could trigger a reaction that would destroy the Death Star if shot precisely. The schematics needed to destroy the ship are on the planet Scarif. As the Death Star destroys Jedha's capital, Gerrera remains, but the group flee. As Rebel bombers attack the Imperial research facility, Galen dies in his daughter's arms. Despite the Alliance Council’s orders, Jyn's group move to steal the schematics. On Scarif, K-2SO sacrifices himself as Îmwe, Malbus and Rook are all killed fighting Imperial forces. Jyn and Cassian obtain the schematics, transmitting them to a Rebel command ship. As the Death Star enters orbit, it fires, killing everyone on the base.
Vader's Star Destroyer intercepts many of the Rebel’s fleet, but a small starship escapes with the plans as Princess Leia declares that the schematics will provide hope for the Rebellion.
This spin-off doesn’t require character development, but it excels in capturing the gritty atmosphere of the originals. A wonderfully action packed story and for me, the best Star Wars film since Return of the Jedi.
Fences
Dir: Denzel Washington | Paramount Pictures
This emotional and intimate period drama, from director and lead Denzel Washington, is based on the play of the same name.
In 1956, the Maxson household sits in a big-city neighbourhood in Pittsburgh, as we follow garbage collectors Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) alongside his best friend and neighbour Jim Bono (Stephen McKinley Henderson).
Living with his wife Rose (Viola Davis) and son Cory (Jovan Adepo), Troy is often visited by his son Lyons (Russell Hornsby), a musician, and younger brother, Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson) a war veteran. As Troy begins to build a fence around their house, Cory defies his father’s instruction to work during the week. Troy’s relationship with Corey is already strained, but it escalates when he dismisses his sons’ chances of playing professional football and refuses to sign a college permission slip. Cory believes his own fathers failure to become a baseball player in his youth has led to this. Troy has good news when a complaint about racist employment practices leads to a promotion, as he becomes the first African-American in Pittsburgh to become a driver for the garbage company. Bono discovers that Troy has been seeing a woman named Alberta and after a long discussion, he realised he must make a choice. After a further argument with Cory about college, he comes clean to Rose and reveals that Alberta is pregnant. After months of uncertainty, Troy refuses to come home, as Gabriel is institutionalised due to his erratic behaviour and Bono drifts apart from Troy. After Alberta dies in childbirth, Troy brings Raynell, his baby daughter home, as Rose agrees to look after her, but refuses to see Troy. Cory and Troy fight and come to blows, not able to tell him he is signing up to the Marines.
We find out that six years later, Troy has died of a heart attack. As Cory returns home, now a corporal, Rose persuades him to attend his father’s funeral. Alongside Rose and Cory, Raynell, Lyons and Gabriel all say their goodbyes.
Set in one location, the incredible dialogue and gritty monologues were captivating. With passionate and inspired performances, Washington stayed true to the play, providing just the right tone and depth.
Manchester by the Sea
Dir: Kenneth Lonergan | Amazon Studios & Roadside Attractions
This deeply poignant drama from director Kenneth Lonergan tells the story of a man struggling to cope with his grief after a family tragedy.
Set in Quincy, we follow a lonely janitor called Lee (Casey Affleck), working in a run-down apartment building. He receives a phone call whilst on a job, informing him that his brother Joe has suffered a cardiac arrest. Upon arriving at the hospital, he’s too late.
The burial is planned for spring, as Lee makes plans to relocate to Manchester-by-the-Sea to look after Joe’s son Patrick until the funeral. Joe's attorney tells Lee that he is Patrick's legal guardian and money has been set aside by Joe to look after him. We soon have an understanding of Lee’s grief, as a flashback reveals a tragic house fire that killed his three children. At the police station, Lee is consoled, but is temporarily detained after stealing an officer's gun and attempting to kill himself. After he and his wife Randi got divorced, he left town. Unwilling to move back, due to the pain of losing his children, he is initially reluctant to accept guardianship. The locals steal harbour anger toward Lee, as although no criminal charges were filed, it was Lee’s negligence, while intoxicated, which led to the fire. Patrick objects to leaving the town with Lee and over time, despite struggling to live together, they begin to bond. We are shown flashbacks of Patrick's mother Elise, who abandoned him after substance abuse problems. Now clean, her and her fiancé Jeffrey meet Patrick, despite Lee being opposed to the idea. Lee agrees to extend his stay and spend more time with Patrick, having seen that Elise isn’t a positive influence in his life. When Lee’s ex-wife Randi and her new-born child Dylan run into Lee, a heart to heart leads to Randi apologising for the way she treated him. Distressed from the encounter, Lee wakes the night after bar brawl and breaks down. Patrick starts to understand his emotional state and comforts him.
After the Chandlers’ family friends adopt Patrick, Lee moves back to Boston, but visits regularly to fish with Patrick on his father’s old boat.
A truly visceral experience, Manchester by the Sea is depressing but powerful, with an incredible character study. Lonergan leads us through a wide range of emotions and delivers this haunting story with grace.
Hacksaw Ridge
Dir: Mel Gibson | Lionsgate
Based on a true story, this biographical epic from director Mel Gibson follows a combat medic in World War 2 who refused to carry a firearm.
Through his Seventh-day Adventist upbringing, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) lives his life based on the commandment of "Thou shalt not kill." After a flashback of his youth in Virginia, Doss meets Dorothy, a nurse, after helping an injured man to the hospital.
Whilst becoming romantically involved, Doss enlists in the US Army to serve as a combat medic, after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. He soon becomes an outcast, whilst carrying out basic training, for refusing to handle a rifle. As Doss's religious beliefs do not constitute mental illness, attempts to discharge him are unsuccessful. Despite daily torment and beatings, Doss refuses to quit and continues to train. Doss refuses to compromise his beliefs and despite an arrest for insubordination, Doss pleads not guilty at his court-martial. This leads his father, a former commanding officer, to defend his son arguing its against US Constitution. This leads to the charges being dropped, as Doss marries Dorothy, he prepares for the Battle of Okinawa. His unit is tasked with ascending and securing Hacksaw Ridge. Without his weapon, the unit suffers heavy losses, as Doss saves the life of many of his squad mates. A flashback reveals Doss nearly shot his father one evening, after he assaulted his mother, which led to his loathing of firearms. After being driven off the Ridge, the Americans fall back as the Japanese take charge. Doss decides to return during the night and stealthily begins to help his wounded squad mates to safety, by lowering them down using rope.
The unit is in shock, as medics see to many that were presumed dead. Doss rescues 75 soldiers, including Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn), as Captain Glover (Sam Worthington) praises his efforts and apologises for doubting his courage. Doss is wounded by a grenade blast but survives as the Americans defeat the Japanese and retake the Ridge.
With a pulsating account of the WWII Battle of Okinawa, Gibson provides a wonderful portrayal of a brave man, who was the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honour.
Hush
Dir: Mike Flanagan | Netflix
This cat and mouse film from director Mike Flanagan doesn't break new ground, but provides a simple story of a terrifying home invasion.
After a bout of bacterial meningitis when she was just 13 years old, Maddie Young (Kate Siegel) is deaf, following botched corrective surgery and is unable to speak. Living in a house in the woods, with her cat, Maddie is an author, writing horror novels.
Maddie’s neighbour Sarah (Samantha Sloyan), often visits her and one afternoon brings over a copy of her book, as Maddie discusses her writing process. That evening, an unknown man (John Gallagher Jr.), hiding in the woods, attacks Sarah with a crossbow. Severely injured, Sarah frantically bangs on Maddie’s door. When her cries for help go unnoticed, Sarah is stabbed to death. As the man patrols her house, he soon realises Maddie is deaf. After entering, he steals her phone, takes photos and proceeds to send them to her. As Maddie leaves a message for the man on a mirror telling him that she hasn’t seen his face and wont tell the police, the man cuts the power and disables her car, to ensure she can't escape. He removes his mask and reveals himself to Maddie, as she unsuccessfully attempts to grab Sarah’s phone. As the man takes the phone from Sarah’s blood soaked body, Maddie attempts to escape. As the man reaches the roof, he catches Maddie, but despite being shot in the leg with a crossbow bolt, she keeps the weapon, after knocking the man off the roof. Sarah’s boyfriend (John Michael Trucco) arrives, but doesn’t believe the man’s story that he is a police officer. After a scuffle, the man fatally stabs him. Despite his injuries, he holds onto the man, but Maddie decides not to leave the house, out of fear.
Maddie’s hand is crushed, after she attempts to retrieve the last bolt for the crossbow. With the door locked, Maddie sends a description of the man and a message to her family, before arming herself with a knife. After a fight, which leaves the man with a wound in his knee, Maddie uses insecticide and sets off her visual smoke alarm. Maddie finally kills him, using a corkscrew, before stumbling outside and calling police.
Unlike so many home invasion horrors, Hush stands out, with Flanagan offering a creepy and tense thriller, which moves at lightning pace.
La La Land
Dir: Damien Chazelle | Lionsgate
This colourful love-letter to Hollywood’s golden age musicals of the 1940s, from director Damien Chazelle, is a treat for the eyes and ears.
After an alternation with struggling jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) in a traffic jam, aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) hopes to meet somebody at a house party who could jump-start her career after failed auditions. After her car is towed outside, she walks home stumbling upon Sebastian playing jazz improvisation music in a restaurant, but is subsequently fired as he was supposed to be playing Christmas music.
Months later, Mia runs into Sebastian at a party his band was playing. They leave the party together in a sequence that shows the chemistry between the couple. Sebastian turns up at Mia’s workplace in a coffee shop in the Warner Bros. backlot, showing him around she explains her passion for acting and Sebastian also explains his dream of opening his own jazz club. After more failed auditions, Sebastian encourages Mia to write and perform a one-woman play. Sebastian is given the opportunity to join a band and signs on even though he doesn’t like the pop style. When the band goes on tour, Mia accuses Sebastian of selling out and abandoning his dreams. Mia performs her play, though Sebastian can’t make it, it doesn’t go over well and the couple break up.
Sebastian receives a call from a prominent casting director interested in Mia’s work, he convinces her to audition and she lands the role. They both decide that they love each other but to go separate ways. Years later, Mia is famous and married to another man. They stumble upon a jazz bar and realises that it belongs to Sebastian. As Sebastian plays their signature song, they imagine a life together with their career success.
Dripping in classic Hollywood style, La La Land marked a renaissance in the modern musical film.
Nocturnal Animals
Dir: Tom Ford | Focus Features
Lavishly stylish, Nocturnal Animals is a compelling thriller from fashion designer Tom Ford.
Susan (Amy Adams), an art gallery owner receives a mysterious novel manuscript from her ex-husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal), along with an invitation for dinner. With his current marriage deteriorating, she becomes consumed by the novel.
In the novel, family man Tony runs afoul of three local trouble makers, Ray, Lou and Turk, during a road trip through Texas. After being forced off the road, the men kidnap his wife and daughter. Tony manages to get to a phone and calls the police. Police detective Roberto Andes discovers the bodies of his wife and daughter in a nearby shack, but are unsuccessful in finding the killers. Tony is contacted a year later to identify Lou, who is charged as an accomplice to the murders. Turk is fatally shot during a robbery, leaving Ray as the final culprit to be brought to justice. He is arrested but released due to not having enough evidence. Dying of lung cancer, Andes arranges with Tony to abduct the two killers, however Lou is shot dead when he attempts to escape. Tony chases Ray back to the shack where his wife and daughter were found and fatally shoots Ray. However, Ray manages to hit Tony in the head with an iron bar, killing him as well. Shocked by the content of the novel, Susan reminisces about her relationship with Edward, and her affair with her current husband. Edward attempts to repair their relationship, but cuts ties after finding out that Susan terminated the pregnancy of their child.
In the present day, Susan finishes the novel and arranges to meet Edward at the restaurant, however he doesn’t show up.
With plenty of sub-text, Nocturnal Animals is another success from Tom Ford.
Jackie
Dir: Pablo Larraín | Searchlight Pictures
This poignant biographical drama following the aftermath of the assassination of her husband, Jackie peeks behind the veil of the former First Lady’s life after the president’s death.
In the week after the assassination of US President John F Kennedy, a journalist visits his widow Jackie (Natalie Portman) for an interview in her home. She reflects on her televised tour of The White House a year prior, before speaking about how the assassination has affected her and her family.
Her life gets upended, as a new president is sworn in and she departs from The White House. Whilst planning his funeral, she struggles to sleep, becoming reliant on medication and alcohol.
After the state funeral, she tells the priest how she contemplated suicide, admitting feeling a terrible guilt for not being able to protect her husband.
With an incredible portrayal by Natalie Portman, Jackie is a heart-breaking reveal of one of history’s most famous women.
Honorable Mentions:
The Nice Guys
Dir: Shane Black | Warner Bros. Pictures
Lion
Dir: Garth Davis | Entertainment Film Distributors
Deadpool
Dir: Tim Miller | 20th Century Studios
10 Cloverfield Lane
Dir: Dan Trachtenberg | Paramount Pictures
Arrival
Dir: Denis Villeneuve | Entertainment One
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