Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2016 (Second Half)

Hon. Mentions: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Doctor Strange, Bad Santa 2, A Monster Calls, Birth of a Nation, The Zookeeper's Wife, Birth of a Nation, The Promise, The Light Between the Oceans

Hon. Mention: Jason Bourne

I suppose it helps that I'm a massive Matt Damon fan and also love all three Bourne films, but I'm pretty darn excited at the prospect of a new Bourne adventure. Having said that I am a bit worried it'll just not feel as fresh and dynamic as it did back in the day, with years divided between this and the last installment, The Bourne Ultimatum. Here's hoping that it's all just unfounded worries and that this fourth outing of Bourne will prove to be another masterclass in action filmmaking (also Alicia Vikander is in it).

10. La La Land

I'm always up for an original movie musical (waiting on the next Moulin Rouge) and am quite eagerly awaiting the release of this one.  Speaking of Moulin Rouge this film seems like it'll be going for a similar storyline dynamic through its depiction of the relationship between two artists, a pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an actress (Emma Stone). Gosling and Stone had excellent chemistry in the fun and breezy Crazy Stupid Love so I'm sure they'll have no problems generating sparks, and though I've been less than forgiving for some of the two actor's less than stellar recent efforts. More importantly though it's directed by Damien Chazzelle who did the fantastic Whiplash and is reunited with his spellbinding star of that film, J.K. Simmons. Not my tempo? I doubt it.

9. Manchester by the Sea

I had actually heard absolutely nothing about this film till the recent raving reviews from Sundance and suffice to say, I'm won over. Affleck's always been a really good actor who when given the right role (i.e. Jesse James) has had the ability to be absolutely amazing. This seems to be the first time though, he's being given a whole film as a showcase for his talents. Excpecting an emotionally resonant, powerful performance that plumbs all the depths and if the reviews account for anything I expect the film that packages it to be equally as great.

8. The Founder

Looks like Michael Keaton will have the opportunity to once again compete for Best Actor, if the first trailer for The Founder is anything to go by. Telling the story of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc (Keaton), it seems like it has potential to be as fun, incisive and biting a biography-cum-entertainment fest in the vein of a more understated The Wolf of Wall Street which is the sort of vibe I got from the trailer. Add in some fascinating casting (Laura Dern, Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch? I'm sold) and the potential for John Lee Hancock of all people to explore some new stomping ground, and I'm really really anticipating this film.

7. The Nice Guys

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was one of my favourite films of the 2000's and early indications for this film seem to be that director/writer Shane Black is going for a similar sort of vibe and concept for his latest film. Gosling and Russell Crowe seem like they'll make an intriguing comedic duo, and even if it retreads on the same sort of territory as Black's last venture into dark comedic mystery genre, as long as it's well done, I'm fine with that.

6. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

I'm always a sucker for big ensemble pieces, and with Ang Lee at the helm I feel this could be something truly special. The trailer gave away very little but given the satirical nature of the source material, an anti-war work if I'm no mistaken, coupled with Lee's unique and versatile vision as a director, could bring about something very special. It could of course end up being a disappointment, as can easily happen for films with such large casts and lofty expectations, but it's definitely intriguing at the very least.

5. Sully

After Captain Philips, Saving Mr Banks and Bridge of Spies I think I'm beginning to fanboy over Tom Hanks all over again. This latest venture is particularly intriguing because he'll be working with the great Clint Eastwood for the first time in this cinematic depiction of the life of pilot Chelsey 'Sully' Sullenberger, who saved all 155 of his passengers by gliding his plane along the Hudson river. Now I was a bit wary about how a film could be just made around this, but apparently it will also deal with the aftereffects and post-accident procedurals/investigations into the incident. Which would make this similar to something like Flight which I really, really took to.

4. Rogue One

I'm so intrigued by this film. We all know how things will turn out in the end, but what about in between? What sort of characters will this fantastic underrated and unique cast (Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Jiang Wen) play? How will it all tie into A New Hope? Will Darth Vader appear? Those effects look cool and it seems visually stunning, but how does it all come together? WHAT IS FOREST WHITAKER DOING?

I'm so hyped.

3. Silence

A new Martin Scorcese film is always a source of anticipation for me. Add in the casting of Andrew Garfield (being released from the Spider-Man films was the best thing that could've happened for his career), Adam Driver and Liam Neeson as respectively, two Portugese missionaries traveling to Japan to minister Christianity in a place where it has been outlawed, and their mentor (add in Tadanobu Asano and Benicio del Toro), and I have myself something to greatly anticipate as the grand cinematic Oscar bait event of 2016, and I mean that in the best possible way.

2. Hacksaw Ridge

Andrew Garfield again! Anyway, here Garfield teams up with Mel Gibson, yes Mel Gibson, to tell the story of Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector and army medic in WWII, who nevertheless received the American Medal of Honor for saving the lives of 75 comrades in the Battle of Okinawa. The film looks so incredibly promising from having Gibson once again at the helm of a biopic (I don't love Braveheart as much as some people but it is an incredibly rousing film). some fascinating casting, most importantly the real life story seems has the potential for a great film about bravery and valour, but also raises important questions about the Just War dilemma. Food for thought and great viscreal impact is all I'm expecting.

1. The BFG

Each and every trailer for this film gets me more and more excited for it. I love the Roald Dahl book, I love Mark Rylance, Steven Speilberg is on a roll, it seems like it'll be a delightful fun watch at the very least and seems to tick all the boxes in terms of my taste in films. Take my money Mr Speilberg, say no more.