cheekanzoop

I'm not going to lie, 2016 has been a mixed bag for films in my opinion. I don't know whether I missed the good ones at the cinema or whether it was hard to beat 2015. A lot of the films I thought I was going to love didn't make it into my top 10, instead it's full of surprises, a real confusion of drama, romantic comedy, sci-fi and... Deadpool.

10 / Rogue One It might be controversial that Rogue One only just scraped into my top 10 when so many people adored it. While I can applaud it's merits (the focus on war and the regular human heroes of the galaxy, it's gorgeous multicultural cast, Alan Tudyk) it felt like there were too many characters and not enough time. Knowing very little about any of the group, it was difficult to form more than a surface connection with most of them. Their characterisation was neglected because of the heavy focus on filling in the missing story between Episode III and Episode IV.

9 / Warcraft Say what you want about this film, the fact is that it’s my most watched film this year. And you know why? Because it’s fun. Filled with lovable characters from top to bottom, I got really invested in their lives and the world that Blizzard created, leaving the cinema wanting the second film right away, and that hasn’t changed.

8 / How to be Single I’ll admit, I was a touch dubious when I popped the DVD in as to whether this film was going to be up there with my favourite comedies, but here it is, landing in at number eight on my top 10. If you want some female empowerment, this film serves it to you on a silver platter, with a side of hysterical laughter.

7 / Nocturnal Animals Without a doubt the most intelligent film I’ve seen this year, it’s dark and festering, eating away at you with its intensity and horror the longer you watch. All the cast are phenomenal, but Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams in particular stand out as the leads, they make you ache with sadness over the terrible decisions that have been made in their lives. A powerful piece by Tom Ford.

6 / The Nice Guys If Shane Black releases a film, almost guaranteed it’s going to be in my top 10. While it doesn’t quite live up to it’s predecessors (The Long Kiss Goodnight and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), The Nice Guys is full of intrigue and laugh out loud moments. The father daughter relationship between Ryan Gosling and Angourie Rice is wonderfully dysfunctional and Russell Crowe navigates the grey area of life well, still coming out a lovable character, if a little rough around the edges.

5 / A Bigger Splash I wasn’t sure what I was going to make of this film when I was to see at the cinema. A little bit in love with Matthias Schoenaerts at the time, I was curious. It’s a slow burner, gradually dissolving into madness as the reel turns on. When it ends, you breathe a sigh of a relief (in a good way).

4 / Bridget Jones’s Baby What better way to bring back Bridget than this? It isn’t perfect, I’m very frank about the fact that I don’t like the way things turn out, but the journey there is fabulously funny and I dare you not to be in love with Patrick Dempsey’s character by the time you are done. As my Mum kept yelling, “CHOOSE HIM!”

3 / Deadpool Of course it’s Deadpool. The fourth-wall breaking romantic murderer in a unitard had to be in here somewhere. It appeals to the sick sense of humour in those willing to admit that they have a crude side -- and perhaps those who don’t -- romping along like blood spewing from a gushing wound, witty rejoinders galore. I definitely felt the love on Valentine’s Day.

2 / Me Before You This was one of those films where they had you crying watching the trailer. I knew it was going to be a weepy, but I didn’t know that I was going to cackle as hard as I sobbed. Beautiful from start to end, I gave it top marks and I stand by that decision months later. Grab a box of tissues and prepare to fall head over heels.