Top Ten Films of 2016

Having broken my personal record of annual cinema visits (115 so far in 2016), there are plenty of difficult decisions to make in narrowing them down to a top ten. So somewhat arbitrarily, here are my favourites.

10. High Rise - J.G.Ballards dystopian fable on society breaking down in one apartment building

9. The Witch - haunting and authentic, set in New England in the 1600s

8. The Limehouse Golem - entralling and atmospheric horror

7. Hell or High Water - moody Texas crime drama

6. Hacksaw Ridge - memorable true war story 

5. Nocturnal Animals - gripping noir story within a story

4. Where Am I Going - funniest film of the year, (Italian)

3. The Revenant - Leo vs various bears 

2. The Finest Hours -  an unbelievable but true shipwreck rescue

1. Carol - so poignant, fabulous cinematography  shot on low res Super 16 film

With honorable mentions to:

Miss Peregrine's House for Peculiar Children
Jason Bourne
Sisters
Spotlight
Steve Jobs
Anomalisa
Trumbo

I R E L A N D

Lost In Ireland

The photos (other than the first) were taken on Inish Oirr, one of the Aran Islands, off the rugged west coast.

Craggy Island transport

This shipwreck features in Father Ted's opening credits

More of the Same

Wildwowers

Because they make me say Wow !

More Wild West Coast

Sunny Surf School

This Irish beach in midsummer drizzle was the place to be. Yes it was 12 degrees and there was a howling gale, but if I'd had my bathers I'd have jumped in that frigid ocean in a second.

Cliffy Cliffs

The rugged cliffs were free of ragged rascals on this day.

Luke Skywalker's Island

This is Skellig Michael, better known as the island Luke Skywalker has hidden on for decades.

Father Ted Country

Did Father Ted and Dougal live here once?

More Unnamed Irish Destinations

A Random Lough

Which one?

One of these views was from my hotel window in South West Ireland.

Err, forgotten where this is

In the Forest

Bantry House

Cliff Clamber

Somewhere off the southwest corner of Ireland, this cliff walk led to wondrous views. There were even a few minutes of sunshine in between the rain showers.

What a Corker

Cork was a delightful city. More interestingly, I managed to drive there from Dublin without a GPS. It felt so retro to be navigating using a map and road signs, but it worked - I've not lost my sense of direction yet.

Cashel

As recently as a thousand years ago, the Kings of Munster (an early Goth Rock band) made this place their home. 

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