The Panda

And now for my favorite movie of the year. You probably already know, and I'm not going to pull any troll tricks this time around, because it'd be way to obvious. The Golden Bamboo Stick Award Winner For Best Picture (Number 1) La La Land "This is the dream! It's conflict and it's compromise, and it's very, very exciting!" My Grade: A+ Most Valuable Player: I can't decide, so I'll give it to Damien Chazelle for his direction and writing, Justin Hurtwiz for the score, and Linus Sandgren for his direction of photography Box Office: 24.7m+ Tomatometer: 93% IMDb Synopsis: Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart. Critic Opinion: "Already, though, it is so easy to foresee those who would prefer to dismiss Chazelle’s achievement, to undercut his influences and belittle the fantasy he’s created. (You don’t have to go far online to encounter dissenters already tossing out snide jokes like, “Oh, so L.A. is the third character in La La Land, is it? Clever!”; yes, you know what? It is! And it works, damn it!). Ignore that chorus, and instead listen to what La La Land is trying to tell you: that there’s magic to be had in the movies, even still. One trip to the theatre" - Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail User Opinion: "I spent the last two hours jizzing over every inch of damien chazelle's god sent masterpiece." - Ethan Hunt Reasoning: La La Land is absolutely magical and it is the reason movies are made. This movie did just about everything I could ever want a movie to do, going into it. I was in a fairly dour mood when I first walked into the theater, maybe a bit less dour than when I went to see Arrival, and La La Land left me leaving the theater with a bigger grin on my face than when I went to see The Force Awakens for the first time in 70mm IMAX. La La Land is joyous, electric and emotionally moving, all at the same time. It's not only a celebration of why we go to the movies, but it's a celebration of why we pursue dreams and pursue each other, and how we balance all of that out. Damien Chazelle's directing is impeccable, every single frame is perfectly shot and gorgeous to look at, the score is infectious and I am still listening to it constantly, it is edited perfectly, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone give flawless performances. I was not able to find a single flaw in this movie. This is one of the best musicals ever made, hell it might even end up being one of the best movies ever made after I give it a few years to sit. La La Land is an absolutely perfect movie, and it is represents everything I love about cinema.

Now it's time to reveal my number 2! The Silver Bamboo Stick Award Winner for Best Picture (Number 2) Arrival "If you could see your whole life laid out in front of you, would you change things?" My Grade: A+ Most Valuable Player: Denis Villeneuve for his supreme directorial skills Box Office: 90.8m+ Tomatometer: 94% IMDb Synopsis: When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - led by expert linguist Louise Banks - is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers - and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. Critic Opinion: "“Arrival” may not be the sci-fi movie we deserve, but it’s the one we need right now...Its magnificent pacing gives way to a third act that is a mind-bending whirlwind that bombards the audience with ideas more than special effects. Here’s another one to file under just what we need in this moment." - Brad Keefe User Opinion: "What an amazing and thought-provoking movie. I had high expectations going into the movie, and the movie surpassed them. Denis Villeneuve did an outstanding job at handling the film. From tense scenes such as the first entry or restrained scenes like the opening, Villeneuve blends every element together to make a cohesive picture. Amy Adams gives a career best performance as Louise Banks. Her performance is never big or bombastic, yet it's human and contained. and provides a character everyone can relate to. Jeremy Renner is also very good as Ian Connolly, providing lightness in necessary moments but never distracting. Johan Johansson also composed his best score to date. Bradford Young's cinematography was beautiful, and I look forward to seeing how he handles Han Solo...Arrival is the rare film that I immediately want to watch again. The storytelling is rich, Villeneuve's directing is outstanding, and Amy Adams gives an amazing performance. I really could not have hoped for a better movie than this." Reasoning: Arrival was the movie that got me through the election results this year, and it was as if the great Villeneuve knew just what everybody would need at the time, and so he decided to release his latest masterpiece then. I was really close to putting this movie as my number one, but in terms of pure rewatchability, I don't know if this one will fare as strongly as that one will, so I went with it. However, that's absolutely no knock to this incredible movie that has a message the world desperately needs right now, more than ever. It's a harrowing experience that doesn't leave you. Amy Adams gives one of her best performances to date as well in this movie. Denis Villeneuve is a masterclass director, and is one of the best directors still working to date. I firmly believe he's as good as what all the Nolanites think Nolan is. I was down and this movie sobered me. It was a therapeutic work, and in the end isn't that the true purpose of art? To inspire and move the audience? That is what Arrival did for me.

The Honorary Golden Bamboo Stick For Artwork That is Not Film Game of Thrones (Season 6): Episode 9 - Battle of the Bastards, and Episode 10 - The Winds of Winter "Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear." My Grade: A+ Most Valuable Player: Miguel Sapochnik for his direction Ratings for Battle of the Bastards: 7.66m live viewers Ratings for The Winds of Winter: 8.89m live viewers Tomatometer for Battle of the Bastards: 98%, 9.2/10 avg rating Tomatometer for The Winds of Winter: 100%, 9.7/10 avg rating IMDb Synopsis for Battle of the Bastards: Jon and Sansa face Ramsay Bolton on the fields of Winterfell. Daenerys strikes back at her enemies. Theon and Yara arrive in Meereen. IMDb Synopsis for The Winds of Winter: Cersei and Loras Tyrell stand trial by the gods. Daenerys prepares to set sail for Westeros. Davos confronts Melisandre. Sam and Gilly arrive in The Citadel. Bran discovers a long kept secret. Lord Frey has an uninvited guest. Critic Opinion: "Still, at this point it's hard to second-guess producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who, working with Martin, have created a series for the ages. And while it's hard to predict when and how its Winter will end, if what remains rivals what has transpired, calling it "epic" won't fully do it justice." - Brian Lowry User Opinion: "Man. What a season. It will win the Emmy again this year, only this time, well deserved. The first KL sequence was the one of the best scenes in the history of television. Miguel Sapochnik for everything. Bring on the final 2 seasons." - Jayhawk Reasoning: Yeah, I literally just created this award because I wanted to gush about how jaw-droppingly spectacular these final two episodes to this years season of Game of Thrones were. But, it's my thread so I can do what I want. I've rewatched these two episodes a few times, and oh my gosh if these were actual a theatrically released movie this would be all over the number 1 spot (maybe number 2, I really like my number 1 pick). This series was already my favorite thing on television, and these two episodes made it my favorite thing to ever be put on the Television Screen. Somebody needs to give Miguel Sapochnik a full length movie (just after he gets to direct all of season 8 for GoT of course), because holy shit does this guy know how to direct some absolutely riveting scenes. I'd rank these two episodes as some of the best to ever be on television. I watched these back in July and I am still at a loss of words of how powerful and intense these were. (Game of Thrones Season 6 Spoilers for the video below, even in the title)

I'll give a little introduction to the last award I'm giving out before I announce what got the gold and the silver for Best Picture. I decided to make an award for my favorite piece of art, whether it be a play, a TV Show, a painting, a symphony, etc. that came out this year that was not a film. There was something in particular this year that had my jaw on the floor for a good two hours, and I just had to recognize it, so I made an award for it. Maybe I'll do this again next year, maybe I won't. For reference, if I had done this last year, I would have awarded this to Hamilton: An American Musical. Also for reference, if this was a film (I'm awarding it this year to two specific episodes of a TV Show), I would have ranked it either second or first. But it was not a film, so it does not actually get a ranking.

To put how much I liked Deadpool in Ethan's words, "I jizzed all over Ryan Reynolds masterpiece."

Just letting you know now, I'm not trolling. Honestly. This is my number 3 of the year. The Bronze Bamboo Award Winner for Best Picture (Number 3) Deadpool "Time to make the chimi-fuckin'-changas." My Grade: A+ Most Valuable Player: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool Box Office: 363.1m Tomatometer: 84% IMDb Synopsis: This is the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Critic Opinion: "“Deadpool” isn’t your dad’s super-hero movie. This R-rated, in-your-face flick aimed squarely at savvy movie-goers and fans of the Marvel Comics universe is sophisticated, furiously witty and as enjoyable off-kilter as “Kick-Ass.” As the anti-hero who is part criminal and part warrior, Ryan Reynolds has indeed found his niche." - Linda Cook, Quad-City Times User Opinion: "Breaking the fourth wall was not only brilliant but ripping on other Marvel properties was incredible. This might even be one of the ballsiest moves any studio has ever done. To make fun of yourselves really isn't all that smart and yet the fact that they do is brilliant. There are so many X-men jokes in here that you'd think a rival studio produced it. But nope, they let it rip. Timelines, actors, accents, it's all fair game...Deadpool is all kinds of awesome." - Baumer Reasoning: Okay, I've gone full pleb for this one, but I don't care at the slightest, Deadpool was one of (if not THE) most entertaining movies I've seen this year. In a world full of generic ass comic book movies, Ryan Reynolds comes in to save the day with this riot. Deadpool is not only easily the best tentpole to come out this year, it's right up there with The Dark Knight, Spider-Man, Superman 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy for my favorite comic book movie ever made. This film is easily rewatchable, I rented it with my friends, and it was even more entertaining watching it a second and third time than the first. The movie is riddled with gutbusting humor, clever or not it made me laugh more than any other movie released this year. The action is creatively executed, and the story is structured to be fast-paced, never ceasing to be a grimly fantastic time at the movies. Sue me, Deadpool is sensational and a perfect movie.

Better

I have quite the controversy coming up next. It might invalidate my entire list

I've seen Sing Street, it just didn't make the cut.

Number 4 Hunt for the Wilderpeople "I didn't choose the skuxx life, the skuxx life chose me." My Grade: A Most Valuable Player: Taika Waititi for his direction and writing Box Office: 5.2m Tomatometer: 97% IMDb Synopsis: "A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush." Critic Opinion: "Laugh-out-loud funny one minute, achingly sad the next, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” takes the audience on a rollicking yet poignant journey through the New Zealand backcountry in the company of a pair of engagingly eccentric characters." - Soren Anderson, The Seattle Times User Opinion: "Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a great movie. The cast work well together and the cinematography is beautiful (definitely enhanced by how beautiful New Zealand is). Sam Neil is great, and Julian Dennison does an excellent job as Ricky. The only character I wasn't huge on was Rhys Darby, but I don't think that was enough to drag the film down. He wasn't bad but I personally think he was a little bit out of place. I'm not sure how well this translates overseas, but it definitely felt very NZ-ish; which makes sense, since it was an NZ production through and through. The laid-back tone definitely reflects a lot of NZ culture. Taika Waititi is one of my favourite filmmakers, and this really continues his winning streak after Boy and What We Do In the Shadows. His sense of humor shines through the film, but it also deals with the more serious aspects in a touching way." - AABattery Reasoning: Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the most critically overlooked movie of the year, and it definitely does not deserve to be. Waititi's previous movie, What We Do in the Shadows was hilarious, and this is him stepping up his game even further. This is a Wes Anderson movie that out Wes Anderson's Wes Anderson. I couldn't get enough of it, and not only that, there is a surprising amount of heart and depth to the story that is being told. I could feel my heart melt a little bit at a few different moments throughout this quirky little stroke of genius. The performances never overdo it, yet they still resonate, and the chemistry between the two leads is hilarious. While I wish Waititi wasn't doing the new Thor movie next year, it gives me hope that maybe it'll help him get noticed for little gems like this one. Phenomenal little movie right here.

Here are my picks for Best Director! Best Director Number 6 Robert Eggers, The Witch Number 5 Taika Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople Number 4 Barry Jenkins, Moonlight Bronze Bamboo Stick Winner David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water Silver Bamboo Stick Winner Damien Chazelle, La La Land Golden Bamboo Stick Winner Denis Villeneuve (Hail Villeneuve), Arrival

Oh, I'm doing my whole list today! I see no reason to milk it out.

We're now getting into the Top 5, and no comic book movies or live-action tentpoles (not named Star Wars) in sight! I thought this was supposed to be a list plebs could relate to! Anyways, onto the top 5! Number 5 Hell or High Water "I've been poor my whole life, like a disease passing from generation to generation. But not my boys, not anymore." My Grade: A Most Valuable Player: David Mackenzie for his direction Box Office: 27m Tomatometer: 98% IMDb Synopsis: A divorced father and his ex-con older brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's ranch in West Texas. Critic Opinion: "Hell or High Water is punctuated with shocks of violence, and shots of billboards and graffiti announcing a state of dire times and debt (nobody's got any sympathy for the banks being robbed). Foster and Pine (out of his Star Trek Starfleet uniform, credibly ragged and cunning) are both solid - more than solid, in fact. And Birmingham, a veteran actor with a role in the Twilight franchise - he plays Jacob's dad - nails it. And Bridges? What's there to say about a man who makes it look so easy, and who - in one breathless, pivotal scene - runs through a range of emotion like a wild pony running across the land. Genius, any way you look at it." - Steven Rea, The Philadelphia Inquirer User Opinion: " The film finds strength in the execution and progression of the story. The first fifteen minutes throw the viewer right into the dilemma with little to no warning. After that initial introduction, things settle down, and what ultimately follows is a character-driven slow-burn Western cinema offering. It's very much a film that depends on dynamics among the characters above all else, and more specifically the dialogue and interactions held among the characters. It may be set in a modern setting, but this is classical Western material through and through. Texas culture is stereotyped by many, but in actuality the state is simply too damn big and diverse to lump all of its characteristics in a neat and tidy bag. As a Texan who lived in West Texas for about a decade, the magic of this film lies in its portrayal of West Texas culture. One of my favorite scenes in the film is that of brothers Tanner and Toby sharing a beer on a porch while basking in a sunset overlooking the plains. Incredibly simple, but absolutely epic if you allow it to take hold over you. In other words, it's West Texas." - mattmav45 Reasoning: This movie hit me close to home, quite possibly because I've lived (or am living) in the area that this movie takes place in it. All of the sentiments and thoughts in this character study ring true to how West Texas actually is. This could have been an incredibly easy for the movie to caricature West Texas and the people that live in it, but it doesn't at all. The film is a quiet one for the majority of the way through, but it keeps you engaged, and the screenplay is rich with wonderful lines. Hell or High Water is a modern western done right, and it re-stated for me just why I love the old school Westerns so much, while it also manages to be something entirely new. This film was a refreshing, realistic take and it's something I feel as if I could go back to re-watch and enjoy more every time I see it. This is a fantastic movie.

Number 6 Zootopia "But it is irresponsible to label all predators as savages. We cannot let fear divide us." My Grade: A+ Most Valuable Player: Jared Bush and Phil Johnston for the screenplay Box Office: 341.3m Tomatometer: 98% IMDb Synopsis: From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious case. Unfortunately, that means working with Nick Wilde, a wily fox who makes her job even harder. Critic Opinion: "The year’s best film so far, “Zootopia,” is a Walt Disney Animation Studios ’toon set in a brilliantly imagined animals-only city where the first bunny on the police force tries to solve a crime with the reluctant help of a con-artist fox. More like the best offerings from sister studio Pixar than recent WDA offerings (sorry, “Frozen’’ fans), this is very sophisticated entertainment that will appeal to a wide range of ages — a pointed parable about female empowerment and racial tolerance that makes its message go down with less than a spoonful of sugar." - Lou Lumenick, New York Post User Opinion: "Impeccable production supports the storytelling: The animation is top notch. Every breath, wince and gasp is articulated when Judy's drill sergeant informs her that she must master every ecosystem in Zootopia. The cinematography in that sequence is extraordinary as well. The desaturated colors and moody lighting brings to mind movies like The Silence of the Lambs. Cinematic flourishes set Zootopia apart from more typical animated features. Zootopia makes no bones about its didactic intent, but it also makes no bones that it will enthrall the audience. This is a classic that will continue to surprise new viewers for all times." - Cannastop Reasoning: I said when this film came out that it was a film the American audience really needed to see, and I double down on that now. Zootopia is an electric, buddy-cop parable about race relations, conformity, and leaders using fear of others as a method of control. All of that, not to mention, in a Disney movie. This is the most ambitious movie Walt Disney Animation Studios has made, as well as one of their most mature (yet still accessible to children). Beyond the movies, a bit on the nose (but necessary) message, the film provides excellent comedy, beyond the typical animated slapstick you'd see from a mediocre studio like Illumination. The characters are well fleshed out, the animation is gorgeous, and there is so much attention to detail that it's hard to catch it all. This is the highest ranked animated movie on my list, as it was the best one of the year.

Just because people pirate movies doesn't mean they'd buy them, especially if they had heard the movie wasn't all that good.

Now it's time for the last acting award! Best Ensemble Number 6 The Edge of Seventeen Number 5 Manchester by the Sea Number 4 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Bronze Bamboo Stick Winner Hell or High Water Silver Bamboo Stick Winner Fences The Golden Bamboo Stick Winner Moonlight

Number 7 Moonlight "At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you're going to be. Can't let nobody make that decision for you." My Grade: A Most Valuable Player: Barry Jenkins for his direction Box Office: 12.3m Tomatometer: 98% IMDb Synopsis: A timeless story of human self-discovery and connection, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Critic Opinion: "And perhaps the most beautiful thing about “Moonlight” is its open-endedness, its resistance to easy summary or categorization. I guess I’m back where I started, trying to decide what this movie is about. As with any original and challenging work, the answer may take a while to emerge, but what strikes me now is less the pain of Chiron’s circumstances than the sense that, in spite of everything, he is free. A bullied, neglected and all-but-silent child, he grows toward an understanding of himself and his world, and though it is agonizing to witness his progress, it is also thrilling. To be afforded a window into another consciousness is a gift that only art can give. To know Chiron is a privilege." - A.O. Scott, The New York Times User Opinion: "As dark as the film gets at certain points, I couldn't help but smile in the air of optimism that ultimately pervades the entire thing. By the final shot - which feels earned by the time we reach it - I couldn't wipe the wide grin from my face. Moonlight is a film that celebrates its protagonist's unconventional growth not as some sort of aberration, but rather as a natural progression toward discovering one's own identity. In that way, it's easily the most sublime film of the year to date, and sure to land a spot among my favorites of the year as a whole." - Webslinger Reasoning: Moonlight is another film that slowly grows on you, and encaptures you, if you let it. The movie is a subtle, powerful look at boy growing into a man. The film is fairly dark, and there are many tough moments to sit through. The performances are some of the most authentic that you will see this year, every actor is believable, it is truly an ensemble film. There are various haunting moments throughout the affair. The film also has powerful political and social themes throughout, but are never shoved into your face, just gently showing you, leaving you haunted. Moonlight is a poetic take at the harsh realities many people live through in this country.

Number 8 Kubo and the Two Strings "If you must blink, do it now." My Grade: A Most Valuable Player: The Animation Team Box Office: 48m Tomatometer: 97% IMDb Synopsis: Kubo lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta. This causes all sorts of havoc as gods and monsters chase Kubo who, in order to survive, must locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior. Critic Opinion: ""Magic was never meant to be easy," a character says to Kubo regarding his unique ability to bring inanimate things to life, and you don't need a master's degree in meta to see the double meaning. But while magical is a word that gets thrown around a lot about the movies, few actually deserve to be called that. Kubo and the Two Strings does, and in spades. Filmgoers who've suffered through a summer of superheroes, supervillains and sequels/snarky reboots, we now have something that genuinely casts a spell on viewers. We've earned this." - David Fear, Rolling Stone User Opinion: "I adored this. I don't need to remind all of you how amazing the visuals are, but I feel like the more straight forward, objective oriented story works better than it should here, especially as it mirrors the story Kubo tells at the beginning of the film. It takes Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey structure (which, admittedly, feels tired) and finds an ethos in it that makes Kubo's journey far more meaningful than just defeating a doomsday villain, and provides an ending of hope, even without true perfection. It runs with the idea of the Hero's Journey as a cultural touchstone (however problematic) and finds the heart to it." - Spaghetti Reasoning: And yet, another animated film makes it onto my list, this one really was a splendid treat. The animation in Kubo and the Two Strings is absolutely gorgeous, and watching the visual sequences play through is candy to the eye. The story is a little bit straightforward, but it plays some strong emotional beats to go with it, investing you into the movie. It was an adventure to watch, and it captured some of the excitement that you have when you play a great new Zelda game for the first time. I nearly put this higher, in fact I was swapping the places of the next few films quite a bit. Anyways, while Illumination delivers heartless slopfests that appeal to the masses, Laika provides an outlet of inspired artistry for the medium.

Another Acting category to announce! Best Actor Number 6 Sam Neill, Hunt for the Wilderpeople Number 5 Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool Number 4 Chris Pine, Hell or High Water Bronze Bamboo Stick Winner Ryan Gosling, La La Land and the Nice Guys Silver Bamboo Stick Winner Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Golden Bamboo Stick Winner Denzel Washington, Fences

I have a real exciting one in my top 5

Number 9 The Witch "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?" My Grade: A- Most Valuable Player: Jarin Blaschke for the Direction of Photography Box Office: 25.1m Tomatometer: 91% IMDb Synopsis: New England, 1630: William and Katherine try to lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassable wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. 'The Witch' is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own sins, leaving them prey for an inescapable evil. Critic Opinion: "Which is more nightmarish: the spectre of a child-stealing crone who lives in the woods, or everyday life as a Puritan? This remarkable feature debut grounds itself in painstaking period detail — you can almost smell the BO — while unspooling a folklore-inspired horror story that keeps you guessing about its intentions right through the explosive final scene. It’s a creepy little gem, and its imagery will stay with you long after you’ve left the theater." User Opinion: "The Witch is probably one of the best horror films I've seen. It's beautifully put together, the performances are amazing and, most importantly, it's absolutely terrifying. It's not a fun, "bring some popcorn and scream at the jump scares" type of horror film. It's grueling to watch. Not only because of the intensity and the supernatural stuff, but also the environment the films puts you in. Life fucking sucked in the 17th century and The Witch captures this with great eye for period detail. The way the characters act, speak and view the world.. it all feels authentic. And scary. The Devil is real, your daughter might be a witch and the fear of Damnation looms over everything you do. It's fucked up. " - Jack Nevada Reasoning: I was originally giving this film a B+, but the imagery and ideas haunt you long after you see it. The Witch sets an eerily terrifying atmosphere that sucks the life out of you and leaves you cold. It has a terrific blend of folklore, and making everything feel all the more real. It puts you into the mindset of people living in the 17th century, and you're able to understand the irrationality of the witch hunts by invoking terror and religious fervor that many of the Puritans of the time had. Anya Taylor-Joy is a marvel in this movie, and I nearly gave her the golden bamboo stick, I flip-flopped between her and Emma Stone a few times (and I may change my mind when I vote for the boffys, if she gets nominated). When the film gets to its ending, you're left feeling as if you've just witnessed a nightmare that had just transpired. It is fantastical, yet also leaves you with a slight quiver. This is likely a film that will slowly creep up my best of 2016 list, but I am placing it right here for now.

Number 10 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story "I'm one with the Force, and the Force is with me." My Grade: A- Most Valuable Player: The Reshoots The VFX Team/That Third Act Box Office: Irrelevant, because it's not an event 375.4m+ Tomatometer: 84% IMDb Synopsis: All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new super weapon, the Death Star. Once a possible weakness in its construction is uncovered, the Rebel Alliance must set out on a desperate mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. The future of the entire galaxy now rests upon its success. Critic Opinion: "And that's a balance, between originality and familiarity, at which Edwards largely succeeds from the opening frame to the closing credits. With its tendrils tying into the franchise's canon so tightly, it makes "Rogue One" makes George Lucas' Prequel Trilogy look that much worse in comparison. That certainly makes this prequel worth spying." User Opinion: "This shit is awesome. Probably the fastest my heart's ever beaten in a movie theater." - cannastop Reasoning: Had I not have gone to see this movie a second time, it probably would have been much lower on my list. The first viewing, the film was solid and quite enjoyable, but this is definitely a film that needs to sit to appreciate a little bit more. Obviously, the third act is something else, and probably some of the best 30-40 minutes of cinema that came out this year. Yes, the build up is a little slow, but the film progressively gets better as it goes along. The visual effects are astounding and it was the most immersed I've been watching a tentpole this year. 2016, in my opinion, has had quite a number of weak tentpoles, and not many great ones, Rogue One is one of the few blockbusters to come out this year that really excelled in my eyes.

And now for another acting category! Best Actress Number 6 Mary Elizabeth Winstead Number 5 Helen Mirren, Eye in the Sky Number 4 Hailee Steinfeld Bronze Bamboo Stick Winner Amy Adams, Arrival Silver Bamboo Stick Winner Anya Taylor-Joy, The Witch The Golden Bamboo Stick Winner Emma Stone, La La Land

Number 11 Fences "Some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep people in." My Grade: A Most Valuable Player: August Wilson for his screenplay Box Office: 17.4m+ Tomatometer: "Though every performance is splendid, it’s Washington and Davis who create a mesmerizing symphony of emotion, finding both love and tragedy in every look, every line. Watch them, eyes blazing, in a central scene in which Rose confronts Troy. “I took all my feelings and wants and needs and I buried them inside you,” she says, a lifetime of resignation wrapped in her voice, searing pain in her eyes. You can almost see the charged air between them; it’s like being in the front row at a performance for the ages. How lucky we are that a camera has captured these words and these moments, for always." IMDb Synopsis: An African-American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life. User Opinion: "I don't think I've ever seen a movie based on a play that wears its stage origins so heavily on its shoulders, but Fences nonetheless packs an emotional punch through strong writing and the sheer power of its performances (Denzel Washington and Viola Davis solidify their status as being among the most celebrated people in their profession with performances that stand among their very best work). Washington also directs with an attention to detail that elevates the movie to a higher level when it could've easily drowned in one of its many monologues throughout." - filmlover Reasoning: I really enjoyed Fences when I came out of the theaters, and the movie has just grown on me since then. The performances are so powerful, with Davis and Washington proving that they're some of the best actors working today. I also though Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo and Mykelti Williamson did a wonderful job in their supporting roles as well. The real star though is the words that August Wilson crafted, that the ensemble so carefully delivers. There isn't much to this movie beyond the acting and the words being said, but there doesn't need to be, because the script is lush and rich with powerful ideas and statements. There were numerous monologues where I had straight chills from the power of what had been said in the film. I was sad that I just barely had to keep this out of my top 10 for the year.

Number 12 The Edge of Seventeen "Nick, I like you. I want you to put your mouth on my tits. We can do it in the Petland stockroom." My Grade: A- Most Valuable Player: Hailee Steinfeld as Nadine Box Office: 14.3m Tomatometer: 94% IMDb Synopsis: High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother. Critic Opinion: "There is a short list of high school films that can grasp and accurately depict the pain, anguish and heartache of the teenage experience: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” the works of John Hughes, “Mean Girls,” “Easy A.” Add “The Edge of Seventeen” to that prestigious list. Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig and star Hailee Steinfeld team up for the decade’s best teenage movie, a funny, touching, gutting rumination on modern teenage life in America." - Adam Graham, The Detroit News User Opinion: "Put simply, The Edge of Seventeen is the best teen movie since Juno. It's frequently laugh-out-loud funny, but it also doesn't lose sight of its heart and authenticity. To that end, Hailee Steinfeld is terrific in the leading role. Her performance here rivals even her Oscar-nominated debut in True Grit in terms of polish and accomplishment. She communicates protagonist Nadine's feelings with acerbic wit, but never loses sight of the character's vulnerability. Despite Nadine's occasionally prickly sensibilities, Steinfeld is a joy to watch from start to finish, and she goes a long way toward making this film feel as poignant as it is hilarious." - Webslinger Reasoning: This movie has been criminally underrated and underwatched this year, and it definitely deserves more attention than it has gotten. The movie plays off like a classic coming-of-age story such as The Breakfast Club, is laugh-out-loud funny, and it also has many moments that tug at your heart. I really wanted to fit this movie into my top 10 of the year, if not for the fact that it deserves much more exposure than it has gotten, but I couldn't fit it in there. It has a wonderful ensemble cast, as well as a brilliant performance by Hailee Steinfeld, who proves that her performance in True Grit was no fluke. You should go watch this movie and support this movie, because the world needs more films like this one.