My top 10 films seen/made in 2016
My best 10 films are based on the evaluation of direction, screenplay, acting, cinematography, and editing. The films that narrowly missed out being included here are Paul Verhoeven's "Elle" (2016) (France/Germany); the lovely Egyptian film "Clash" (2016), which opened Cannes' Un Certain Regarde section; Alex Garland's "Ex Machina" (2015)(UK); Andrzej Wajda's swansong "Afterimage" (2016); Cristi Puiu's "Sieranevada"(2016) (Romania); Thomas Vinterberg's "The Commune" (2016) (Denmark); and Kim Ki Duk's "The Net" (2016) (South Korea).
The list is in order of quality as perceived by me. Five of the top 10 films are from European countries. Two are from Iran.
The list is in order of quality as perceived by me. Five of the top 10 films are from European countries. Two are from Iran.
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- DirectorKen LoachStarsDave JohnsHayley SquiresSharon PercyAfter surviving a heart-attack, a 59-year-old carpenter must fight bureaucratic forces to receive Employment and Support Allowance.A brilliant outcome of the long-term collaboration of director Ken Loach and screenplay-writer Peter Laverty. It deservedly won the Cannes' top honour--the Golden Palm. and audience awards at Locarno, San Sebastian, Stockholm and Vancouver film festivals. My full review is at http://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com/2017/01/200-british-director-ken-loachs-film-i.html
- DirectorAndrey KonchalovskiyStarsJakob DiehlPeter KurthYuliya KhlyninaFollows three people whose paths cross during a terrible time of war: Olga, a Russian aristocratic emigrant and member of the French Resistance; Jules, a French collaborator; and Helmut, a high-ranking German SS officer.There have been many films on the Nazi concentration camp horrors but this film is the most sophisticated take on the subject. Konchalovsky never ceases to surprise the viewer with new cinematic flourishes. Deservedly won the Best Director award at the Venice film festival. My full review is at http://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com/2016/12/199-russian-director-andrei.html
- DirectorReza MirkarimiStarsFarhad AslaniMerila Zare'iMahoor AlvandA young girl leaves her hometown in south of Iran for a half day trip without permission of her strict father to attend a close friend's goodbye party. In her way back home hazy weather changes all she had planned.An amazing film from Iran on how a well-meaning father is protective of his daughter in a male-dominated world. Winner of the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India at Goa, and Best Actor award at the Moscow International Film Festival. My detailed review is at http://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com/2017/01/201-iranian-director-reza-mirkarimis.html
- DirectorEmir KusturicaStarsEmir KusturicaMonica BellucciSloboda MicalovicA story that stretches across war, blossoming love and living as a recluse.When comedy, surrealism, fantasy, and real events combine you get such marvelous entertainment. Winner of the Little Golden Lion at the Venice Film festival. With the beautiful Monica Bellucci looking as gorgeous at ever.
- DirectorKristina GrozevaPetar ValchanovStarsStefan DenolyubovMargita GoshevaAlexandra AngelovaA reclusive Bulgarian railway trackman finds millions of cash spilled on the tracks and turns them in to the police. When the transport ministry's head of PR Julia Staikova decides to use him as a diversion from a corruption scandal, his simple life falls victim to the grinder of bureaucracy.Every chord rings true in this brilliant Bulgarian film. The end might not arguably appeal to some. Winner of the highest honor at Kolkata International Film Festival and Hamptons Film Festival (USA)
- DirectorCristian MungiuStarsAdrian TitieniMaria DragusLia BugnarA film about compromises and the implications of the parent's role.Like Iran's "Daughter" mentioned earlier on this list, this is Romania's take on the protective father and his daughter relationship. Here the daughter is more emancipated. Yet another brilliant work of director Cristian Mungiu, who gave us "Beyond the Hills" (2012). "Graduation" won the Best Director award at the Cannes film festival, the awards for Best Screenplay and Actor at the Chicago Film festival, and the critics' award at the Hamburg film festival. My full review is at http://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com/2017/02/202-romanian-director-cristian-mungius.html
- DirectorXavier DolanStarsGaspard UllielMarion CotillardLéa SeydouxLouis (Gaspard Ulliel), a terminally ill writer, returns home after a long absence to tell his family that he is dying.27 year old Xavier Dolan, the director, is amazing. This is my first Dolan film. Absolutely stunning. Winner of the Grand Jury and the Ecumenical Jury prizes at the Cannes film festival. A great screenplay and great acting ensemble. And what an unforgettable end-sequence!
- DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsShahab HosseiniTaraneh AlidoostiSahra AsadollahiWhile Ranaa and Emad, a married couple, are participating in a production of "Death of a Salesman," she is assaulted in their new home, which leaves him determined to find the perpetrator over his wife's traumatized objections.The last four Farhadi films have been stunning. Iran proves it can make entertaining cinema without on-screen sex and nudity yet again. It won the Best Actor and Best Screenplay awards at the Cannes film festival, the Best Foreign Language film Oscar, the Special Jury Prize at the Chicago film festival, the audience award at the Mumbai international film festival, and the best film award at the Munich and the Valladolid film festivals.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsChristian BaleCate BlanchettNatalie PortmanA writer indulging in all that Los Angeles and Las Vegas have to offer, undertakes a search for love and self via a series of adventures with six different women.A personal and intense theological statement pushing the envelope of theism. Malick ought to have won the best director award at the Berlin film festival, 2015. My detailed review is at http://moviessansfrontiers.blogspot.com/2016/10/197-us-director-terrence-malicks-knight.html
- DirectorPablo LarraínStarsGael García BernalLuis GneccoMercedes MoránAn inspector hunts down Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who becomes a fugitive in his home country in the late 1940s for joining the Communist Party.Director Pablo Larrain is on a roll--"The Club," "Jackie," and "Neruda." "Neruda" is wonderful as it combines history, literature and comedy in a unique manner.