2016 was an impressive year for films and festivals.  While some of my favorite films (“Maudie,” “Katie Says Goodbye,” “Tramps,” and “Colossal”) won’t be out until next year, there’s a great array of films that you can see in theaters and VOD/DVD right now that have made my top list for 2016.  You’re going to see a few titles that aren’t on any other film critic’s list (and that’s a good thing), as I try to seek out the hidden independent gems in film.  Be sure to read the full reviews of each of these films as not every film is going to be for everyone.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2016:

1.  FENCES (review)

2.  INDIGNATION

3.  MANCHESTER BY THE SEA (review)

4.  LION (review)

5.  HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (review)

6.  DON’T THINK TWICE (review) (link to interviews)

7.  ARRIVAL  (review)

8.  CAPTAIN FANTASTIC (review)

9.  LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (review)

10.  THE DRESSMAKER (review)

Honorable Mentions Include:  “Morris From America” (review), “The Infiltrator” (review), and “Hell or High Water” (review),”La La Land” (review), “Nocturnal Animals,” “Jackie,” “Loving,” “Little Men,” “Hidden Figures” and “Midnight Special” (review) (interview with Jeff Nichols)

TOP 10 HIDDEN INDIE GEMS of 2016

1.  WELCOME TO HAPPINESS (review)

2.  PUSHING DEAD  (review)

3.  BFFs (review)

4.  HONEYBUDDIES/BUDDYMOON (review)

5.  GRAND UNIFIED THEORY (review)

6.  THE TAIL JOB (interview)

7.  DO OVER (review) (NOT the Adam Sandler one…the Gina Field film!)

8.  THE FATHER AND THE BEAR (review)

9.  THE AMERICAN SIDE (review)

10.  HOW TO TELL YOU’RE A DOUCHEBAG

Honorable Mentions Include:  “Stevie D,” “Bear With Us (review),” “Where We’re Meant to Be (review),” “The Arbalest” (review) “Jessica”  (review)“Dating Daisy” (review) “Red Christmas”  (review), “Comfort” (review) , “Honeyglue” (review), and “Career Oportunities in Organized Crime” (review)

TOP 10 DOCUMENTARIES of 2016:

1.  COMMAND AND CONTROL  (review)

2.  RESILIENCE (review)

3.  CIRCLE OF POISON ((review)

4.  SOUTHWEST OF SALEM: THE STORY OF THE SAN ANTONIO 4 (review)

5.  LIFE, ANIMATED

6. NUTS!

7.  CITY OF GOLD (interview) (review)

8.  WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (review)

9.  HOW TO LET GO OF THE WORLD AND LOVE ALL THE THINGS CLIMATE CAN’T CHANGE  (review)

10.  THE SYNDROME (review)

Honorable Mentions Include:  “Bugs” (review), “Do Not Resist” (review),”Visitor’s Day,” “Women He’s Undressed” (review) “Love Thy Nature”  (review), “Bugs,” “Rwanda & Juliet” (review)“I Am Bolt,” “Denial” (review)“Packed in a Trunk” (review) “I am the Blues” (review) “Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story” (review) “Hope for All,” and “Sonita”

TOP 10 FOREIGN FILMS OF 2016

1.  PERFECT STRANGERS (PERFETTI SCONOSCIUTI) (review)

2.  TONI ERDMAN

3.  AFTER THE STORM (review)

4.  THE WAILING (review)

5.  MOTHER (review)

6.  THE UNKNOWN GIRL

7.  JULIETA

8.  THE CLAN

9. L’ATTESA (review)

10. PARCHED (review)

Thanks to everyone for checking out this list and for reading my reviews throughout the year.  2017 looks to be quite promising!  I’ll be covering Sundance, SXSW, Phoenix, Tribeca, and Toronto again this coming year to keep you abreast of all the great films coming out.  And the Waterfront Film Festival returns in South Haven, MI which always finds wonderfully amazing indie gems that I’ll be able to share with you.

Cheers and Happy (Healthy) New Year to everyone!

Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel star as Saroo, the young and older version, in the new film “Lion,” based on the book “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley.  This true story depicts a young Indian boy, separated from his family by thousands of miles.  Now in Calcutta and not speaking the language,  Saroo has no way to locate them.  His street smarts enable him to survive and eventually be adopted by a loving Australian family.  His quest, as a young adult, is to find his biological family.  This is an emotionally raw, gritty, and beautiful demonstration of the need for family and identity that will surely capture Oscar’s attention early in 2017.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Saroo (Pawar) is a ragamuffin, living in an extremely remote and poverty stricken area of India.  His mother picks up rocks for a living.  The family relies on the older brother, Guddu (Abhishek Bharate), and Saroo to steal coal from

moving trains to trade for the bare necessities of food.  It’s dangerous, but Saroo idolizes his older brother who teaches (and tolerates) his little sidekick. Although the children must fend for themselves much of the time, the love among the family is unmistakable.  As Saroo tags along with Guddu for a night job, the two are separated and Saroo is stuck on a train for days, traveling to a distant and foreign part of India.  Saroo fends off would-be human traffickers, thieves, and finally lands in a place of relative safety.  But his journey isn’t over.

Now a young man, Saroo feels a sense of loss of identity.  It isn’t until he is in college, discussing his background, that he realizes his desparate need to belong and know his roots.  With the advent of Google Earth and some bright friends, Saroo begins his journey of identity.  This all-consuming task has its consequences, not only on Saroo, but his adoptive family as well.

The story strikes every emotional chord possible.  As a mother and someone who has been adopted, this film resonates with me on the same level as “Philomena.”  As a viewer, you are pulled into this story as the young Saroo captures your heart with his sweet little voice and mischievous yet angelic big, brown eyes.  Watching this little guy not only survive, but fend off people with ill will, is a gut-wrenching experience.  Knowing that this is based on a true story, brings an even deeper level of care and love for this young boy whose intelligence brings him success.  Never have I watched a film where the younger version of a character was equally skilled as the adult version.  Pawar, somehow in his young mind, understood the character perfectly and gave us an impassioned and simply outstanding portrayal of a lost child with the tenacity to live.

Patel seamlessly takes over the part of Saroo as the adopted son of Sue and John Brierley (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham).  Patel creates a witty, charming, and bright Saroo, exactly what we would have predicted, under the care and love of this Australian couple.  The subtleties needed to believably portray a young man struggling with his love of his adoptive parents and his need to know is simply extraordinary.  Within this second half of the film, it is actually Kidman’s small, but exceptionally evocative scene that brings the film to an even higher level as she explains her decisions about adopting not only Saroo, but his “brother” as well.  Perhaps there is a part of Kidman in this scene that makes this such an emotionally eloquent conversation, but whatever it is, it is a lasting impression that you will never forget.  The only weak spot to this film is Rooney Mara’s role as Saroo’s girlfriend, Lucy.  Her character seems unnecessary and adds nothing to the plot or interest of the story.  However, this small hiccup in the film doesn’t take away from the power of the story.

“Lion” is an exceptional screenplay adapted from the book “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley.  Extraordinary performances, particularly from young Pawar and Kidman create a memorable and emotional story of family, identity, and the need we all have to not only be loved, but to belong.  Be sure to stick around for the credits as you will see actual footage from Saroo’s life—not to be missed!

4/4 Stars

10/10 Reels