FILM PICKS OF 2016

1. SING STREET - John Carney's fantastic, Irish coming-of-age-in-the-80s charmer is more than just a let's-start-a-band story. It is the most joyful, uplifting movie of the year that poignantly celebrates the innocence and ambition of youth as well as the musical influences that speak to the creativity needed to broaden one's horizons in the pursuit of a dream. Watch the trailer here.

2. THE INVITATION - Simply put, Karyn Kusama's subtle nailbiter is the best psychological thriller in years (and a sly commentary on grief within the self-help culture of Los Angeles). It's an impeccably detailed portrait of a dinner party gone wrong, infused with a slow-burn tension and dread that culminates in a jaw-dropping third act. My heart was still pounding well after I left the theater, possibly due to that chilling final shot of the film -- the best on the big screen all year.

3. MOONLIGHT - This unforgettable and poetic coming-of-age saga works on a visceral, resonant level, tapping into emotions and ideas that transcend the screen. Moonlight, from writer-director Barry Jenkins, delicately observes the formative moments of a young man's life and refuses to spoon-feed audiences clear-cut resolutions. And therein lies the haunting brilliance of this intimate portrayal of a life forever in progress.

4. OTHER PEOPLE - Writer-director Chris Kelly (SNL) gets personal with his big-screen dramedy about a New York writer (Jesse Plemons) returning to his hometown to care for his cancer-stricken mother. But this isn't just a 90-minute-long weepie. Kelly recruits a capable cast (including a shocklingly good Molly Shannon) that manages to find the comedy in between moments of pain and heartache and celebrate the bonds between mothers and sons.

5.  TICKLED - David Farrier's rollercoaster ride of a documentary features one of the most shocking plot twists of the year while respectfully exploring the underground and mysterious world of competitive tickling (yep, that's a thing). It's also one of the most compelling true-crime stories of 2016.

6. THE LOBSTER - Standalone absurdist cinema is a rarity in today's franchise-obsessed world, so consider Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos's beautifully strange and challenging film a prized gem. Outstanding performances from Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and John C. Reilly highlight this haunting tale that brilliantly comments on the way society views unlucky-in-love singletons.

7. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE - This excellent exercise in suspense is three things: 1. The best popcorn flick in a year filled with big-budget letdowns. 2. A sly and clever installment in J.J. Abrams's puzzle box of a universe within a franchise-that's-not-a-franchise. 3. The birth of a new action heroine in Mary Elizabeth Winstead's resourceful damsel in distress.

8. DON'T THINK TWICE - Writer-director-star Mike Birbiglia's love letter to improv is also a sobering coming-of-age-in-your-30s dramedy that balances the laughs with sharply observed moments of disappointment and desire.

9. ARRIVAL - Consider this the anti-Independence Day, an intelligent, aliens-land-on-Earth story that is an exquisite study in human communication, thanks to Denis Villeneuve's thoughtful, meditative direction and twisty storytelling device.

10. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA - Kenneth Lonergan's emotionally devastating film is a gorgeously produced meditation on grief, guilt, masculinity, and family while its bone-deep performances bring the story to raw life.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Hello My Name is Doris, Don't Breathe, Hush, and... LA LA LAND - Damien Chazelle's much-hyped and romantic ode to the City of Angels is just what we needed at the end of a turbulent year. It could have gone insufferably wrong with its artsy, star-crossed Millennials-in-love plot, but it doesn't. It's an original (read: ORIGINAL) musical, a contemporary look at a world full of hopes and dreams that is both progressive and a nostalgic throwback at the same time. And that opening sequence on a traffic-clogged freeway overpass is a stunning achievement in itself.

HAVE YET TO SEE:

Lion and 20th Century Women