The Solzy Awards for Film in 2016

The Solzy Awards

Just as in prior years, all movies released that I have seen during the calendar year are eligible for the Solzy Awards. Thankfully, I am in Chicago now so films that otherwise would not have opened up in Kentucky until after the new year starts have been seen such as Hidden Figures. Movies going wide after the new year, such as Patriots Day, Silence, Paterson, and 20th Century Women are not eligible for consideration.

In prior years, I’ve divided the acting categories into drama and film but so many movies this year have been harder to classify as a comedy or drama as they have aspects of both genres.

Top 10 Films of 2016

  • Arrival
  • Don’t Think Twice
  • The Edge of Seventeen
  • Fences
  • Hell or High Water
  • Hidden Figures
  • La La Land
  • Manchester by the Sea
  • Moonlight
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  • Sully

Some Bonus Films for 2016

  • Captain America: Civil War
  • Deadpool
  • Denial
  • Doctor Strange
  • Everybody Wants Some!
  • Jackie
  • The Jungle Book
  • Lion
  • Loving
  • Sing Street
  • Sully

Best Picture: La La Land

Best Drama: Manchester by the Sea

Best Comedy: Don’t Think Twice/The Edge of Seventeen

Best Musical: La La Land

Best Animated Feature: Zootopia

Best Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Original Screenplay: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Adapted Screenplay: Eric Heisserer, Arrival

Best Action Movie: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Comic Book Movie: Captain America: Civil War

Best Science Fiction Movie: Arrival

Best Sports Movie: Eddie The Eagle

Best Documentary (Tie): Fastball, For the Love of Spock, Ghostheads

Drama

Best Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Jackie

Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Breakthrough Performance in Drama: Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Comedy

Best Actor: Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys

Best Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen

Best Supporting Actor: Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Supporting Actress: Gillian Jacobs, Don’t Think Twice

Breakthrough Performance in Comedy: Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen

Most Likely To Be In Every Movie This Year: Keegan-Michael Key

Musical

Best Actor: Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Best Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Favorite Comedies of 2016

  • Deadpool
  • Don’t Think Twice
  • The Edge of Seventeen
  • Ghostbusters
  • Hail, Caesar!
  • The Nice Guys
  • Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

The next list consists only of the film(s) I saw this year and for a majority, that’s after checking Rotten Tomatoes unless they were an advanced screening

Worst Movies of 2016

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
  • Collateral Beauty
  • Independence Day: Resurgence

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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