Zootropolis
Financially, Disney have had the most successful year of any film studio, ever - thankfully, the quality of their output has not been impacted by the pure pursuit of financial gain. They started this year with this surprisingly deep but still highly entertaining animation. yes, it wears it's messages very blatantly on it's sleeve, but - aside from the usual 'believe in yourself and never give up' platitudes that the genre has in spades - the messages about division and fear are very timely. It's a visually dazzling and imaginative, fun film, populated with entertaining characters, that effectively draws from the buddy-cop and crime genres to tell its story. It's a film that young and older audiences will enjoy, on multiple levels.
Rogue One - A Star Wars Story
This was the Prequel we were waiting for; this was the true Star Wars experience that we wanted, that The Force Awakens almost delivered. Though not a perfect film (a couple of the expositional scenes don't work entirely, occasionally the CGI is distracting), this delivered an exciting and thrilling Star Wars experience. Perhaps Jyn Erso and Captain Andor's characterisation suffered slightly as a result of the much-debated re-shoots - but story wise this managed to be gripping and - despite the fact we know the outcome - it managed to throw some real surprises in there. And yes, there was one moment in this film that made me weep with joy - a real throw-back to being a child, watching the final act of 'A New Hope' over and over. This was a film made by people who truly love Star Wars, for people who truly love Star Wars. It bodes well for the future spin-off Star Wars anthology movies.
Arrival
On the surface, this is a serious sci-fi drama, an examination of how the world would genuinely react in a 'first contact' situation with an Alien race; what I wasn't expecting was how it is ultimately an emotional and meditative reflection on choice, the future, and loss. Anchored by a typically strong performance from Amy Adams, and imaginative designs, the premise is plausibly executed - so much so that it makes the finale even more effective, an unexpected gut-punch. Given the pedigree of this film (the director, the cast) I was expecting a well made and intelligent film, but I wasn't prepared for its emotional intelligence.
The Big Short
In a way, this was the most important film anyone will have seen this year. In the year of Brexit and Trump, when the real cause of the socio-political and economic problems of today have been forgotten by the majority, this film - about the run up to 2007's collapse of the banking sector - reminds us the real underlying (and unaddressed) cause. It might be too knowing for some, and others may find the financial jargon too hard going, but this film effectively - with wry humour, and no small amount of righteous anger - tells the truth: that the investment banking sector knowingly and deliberately sold worthless shares on the mortgages that were going to fail. If you don't watch this film, then you absolutely have to watch this one scene - it's the must watch scene of the entire film:
Finally, before the last of my favourite films this year, I just wanted to talk about the one that disappointed me the most. Suicide Squad is not a terrible film, it's not even a bad film; it's just merely OK - and that's the problem. The trailers sold a film that looked to be a truly edgy, mischievious and witty riposte to the usual dry, straight-laced super-hero/super team-up film. At one point, it may have actually delivered this. But then a nervous studio, disappointed by the critical, commercial and audience reaction to the film that was supposed to make their DC franchise rival Marvel Studios, took a hatchet to it, and delivered a product. A by-the-numbers, formulaic super-hero movie, that had some of the most-anticipated performances edited to near-incomprehensibility. Add in by-the-numbers mid-2000's alternative soundtrack (bit of White Stripes? Check! Bit of Emimen? Check!), some typically over-CGI'd action sequences - and some cheesy performances that come embarrassingly close to the campiness of Batman and Robin; you've got a film that could have done something brave and original, but plays it disappointingly safe. If I was Jared Leto, I'd be talking to my agent about who is editing the next film that Warner Bros employ him as the Joker - if it's the same person who butchered this, I'd pass.
That rant over, here's my final favourite:
Captain America: Civil War
Back when it was a rumour, I was doubtful it would work - but, my goodness, this was a compelling, thrilling, emotional and satisfying film. A true pay-off to a number of threads running through several previous Marvel Studios movies, this film is as close to perfect as a blockbuster can be. It delivers spectacle, solid characterisation, and a plot that presents no small amount of moral complexity to the audience. As well as that, it's a comic-book fan's delight, with the introduction of two important characters (Black Panther and a new Spiderman) superbly handled, contributing to a truly incredible action sequence. As well as being one of the best super-hero/comic-book movies of all time, it sets the bar high for other blockbusters with its intelligence, emotion and set-pieces.
