“It’s not what a movie is about, it’s how it is about it.” – Roger Ebert

2016 has been a pretty good year for movies. I was truly hard pressed to pick just 10. So much so I had to set myself some rules of selection. I couldn’t chose a film that hadn’t yet been released in the UK (La La Land would have unquestionably been number one) and it had to be a film that I could watch again (Son Of Saul was the most powerful but I truly think I would be unable to watch it ever again). Without further ado… here are my ten choices for best of 2016.

10) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The film that puts in the ‘War’ in ‘Star Wars’. It a brutal and pounding epic unlike any other within the franchise. Spectacular performances telling a well-told story. Science Fiction at its finest. (Click here for my original review.)

9) The Edge of Seventeen

One of the year’s most underappreciated gems that revitalised the teen comedy genre. Hailee Steinfeld provides us with a lead that is somehow both likeable yet unlikable and Woody Harrelson gave me serious #TeacherGoals. (Click here for my original review.)

8) The Pass

This play-turned-film grabs you by the collar from the first minute and doesn’t relent until the final credit. Deceptively simple storytelling and cinematography allows the central performances, particularly that of Russell Tovey, to shine. (Click here for my original review.)

7) Your Name

A truly astonishing animated tale that is essentially ‘Freaky Friday’ meets ‘Armageddon’ except the result is a beautifully heartfelt tale. It’s now the second highest-grossing anime film of all time.  A must-see. (Click here for my original review.)

6) Moana

Disney at its absolute finest. A really lovely story with some fabulous performances. The soundtrack is my favourite of the year. Truthful admission: I have listened to it every single day since watching the film. It’s genius! (Click here for my original review.)

5) Queen of Katwe

I’d be unsurprised, albeit truly disappointed, if this gets forgotten about during awards season. A truly uplifting true story told with so much heart and joy. A true celebration of great talents. (Click here for my original review.)

4) Love & Friendship

Unquestionably the funniest film of the year. I saw it three times in a week and each time I ended up laughing harder, which really didn’t seem possible! Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett) is the greatest comedic creation of the decade. (Click here for my original review.)

3) Hunt For The Wilderpeople

‘What We Do In The Shadows’ was my favourite film of 2014. With this, director Taika Waititi’s follow-up, he has created another hilliarous comedy with a whole lot of heart. Following 13-year-old Ricky Baker is a fantastical joy of a journey. (Click here for my original review.)

2) Life, Animated

This is *the* documentary of the year. I laughed and I cried relentlessly throughout. If you need more encouragement than that I showed it to a class of year 10 girls who loved it so much they’ve written letters  of appreciation that I need to try and send to the Suskind family… (Click here for my original review.)

1) Arrival

I came out of ‘Arrival’ feeling like a changed person after it led me to have an existential crisis like no other. What inital appears to be just another sci-fi film takes on truly epic proportions. Beautiful. (Click here for my original review.)