Ace Black's List: The 10 Best Movies Of 2016

More than 85 movies from 2016 have been reviewed on the Ace Black Movie Blog. Here are the 10 Best:

Directed by Kenneth Lonergan.
Starring Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler.
A drama about re-engaging with life as ordinary people grapple with private battles in a world of broken families, broken dreams and lives drifting sideways. Full review.

Directed by Mel Gibson.
Starring Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Hugo Weaving and Vince Vaughn.
A war epic based on real events and the stunning story of a conscientious objector who found his purpose on a tortuous field of battle. Presents a harrowing close-up vision of war and its destructive impact on bodies and souls. Full review.

Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig.
Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, and Haley Lu Richardson.
A high school drama and comedy deftly exploring the world of teenagers where every emotion is heightened, friendships are sacrosanct, crises escalate quickly and viable options appear limited. Full review.

Directed by Colm McCarthy.
Starring Sennia Nanua, Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine and Glenn Close.
A zombie apocalypse thriller offering intellectual horror in a dystopian setting, progressing towards thought-provoking but blood-soaked territory and raising questions about who deserves to live, and why. Full review.

Directed by John Madden.
Starring Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Michael Stuhlbarg.
A spirited political thriller and electrifying talkfest featuring a classic battle for control over one of the most heated issues in politics. Full review.

Directed by David Mackenzie.
Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Gil Birmingham.
A rural heist drama with plenty of soul exploring an us-versus-them psyche where resentment justifies audacious lawlessness, and both good and evil can knowingly reside in the same hearts. Full review.

Directed by Sean Ellis.
Starring Cillian Murphy, Jamie Dornan, Charlotte Le Bon, and Anna Geislerová.
A World War Two action drama and a stellar retelling of the assassination attempt on Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich. Exquisitely constructed to capture the characters, emotions and frightful consequences of a seminal yet controversial mission. Full review.

Directed by Tom Ford.
Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
A social drama with an embedded crime and revenge thriller, the film features a complex narrative structure effortlessly unfolding through gripping interlinked stories. Full review.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, and Michael Stuhlbarg.
A low-key alien-contact film wielding enormous power, transcending the genre and transforming the mystery of communication into a private and yet monumental journey. Full review.

Directed by Damien Chazelle.
Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, and Rosemarie DeWitt.
A loving homage to the classic Hollywood musicals and the town that created them, combining pragmatism with an infusion of magic, grounded in the reality of modern careerism and a city that promises bright lights but at a price. Full review.