Discussing
The Top Ten Movies of 2016

TC's Josh Larsen names his favorite films of the year.

I see a lot of movies but, unfortunately, I've only even heard of three of these (#5, #3 & #1) and haven't seen any. I will look for them.

In Reply to Charles Bame (comment #29738)
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Yeah, this is probably one of my more obscure top ten lists, for whatever reason. Glad you're willing to do some exploring!

Greetings! I am wondering...are you promoting these movies that I should watch?

In Reply to Angela (comment #29740)
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Hi Angela,

I wouldn't take these as personal recommendations; rather, they're the movies I found most compelling this year, in some cases because of their theological implications. I'd have to know you personally to know whether you might appreciate them too. For Christians, discernment also comes into play, which is best done amidst close community of family, church, and friends. I'd read further on some of these (there are links with each pick) to help you determine if viewing them might be wise for you.

Josh

Thanks for the recommendations Josh! Does this mean that Silence doesn't make the cut for your top ten?

In Reply to Jake Raabe (comment #30013)
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I appreciated Silence quite a bit, but I'm afraid it came in at #30: https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm/list/top-30-films-of-2016/

Thanks for the work you do here and on filmspotting. Refreshing to read perceptive film reviews filled with references to Paul's letters.

The ecstatic conclusion to The Fits, within the context of the rest of the film, was my favourite scene of the year. The use of bodily convulsions to depict the immanence of the transcendent in the body was very effective. These kinds of bodily effects are common in practitioners of centering prayer during deep moments of interior quiet, though we don't make any fuss over them.

I can't decide whether the conclusion to The Fits makes up for the eerie soundtrack which intrudes on its minimalist tracking shots throughout the rest of the film though, as it interrupts the effect such a filmmaking style can create, that of a non-judgemental, loving witnessing of people in motion, as was achieved in films like Moonlight, Enter The Void and Paranoid Park.

In Reply to Connor (comment #30276)
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Thanks Connor! I actually loved the eerie soundtrack to The Fits and found it worked well with the camera movements, suggesting something otherworldly at play in both sound and motion.