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joeygoeshollywood · 6 years

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My 25 Favorite Films of 2017

It’s hard to believe that 2017 is already coming to a close. Here’s my 25 favorite films from the year!

25. Girls Trip

Perhaps it’s the Bridesmaids or The Hangover of 2017, Girls Trip is a fun, buddy comedy about a group of women who try to rekindle their friendship during a trip to New Orleans. Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith are always reliable and Regina Hall is an underrated lead, but it’s breakout star Tiffany Haddish that gets the biggest laughs.

24. All The Money in the World

All The Money in the World is a good film on its own, but what makes it historic is what went on behind the scenes. Ridley Scott pulled off the impossible by replacing its disgraced star Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer with only roughly a month ahead of its original Christmas release. The film is based on the events of the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty’s grandson. All The Money is a highwire thriller, but it’s Plummer’s brilliant, cold-hearted performance that steals the show.

23. Okja

Korean director Bong Joon-ho behind such films as The Host and Snowpiercer debuted this gem. Okja follows a girl’s battle to protect her “superpig” from a juggernaut company that plans on turning her pet into food. This action adventure was easily one of Netflix’s strongest original films to date. The stellar cast includes Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, Lilly Collins, and newcomer Seo-hyeon Ahn.

22. Battle of the Sexes

Emma Stone and Steve Carrell face off as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in the most historic tennis match in history. Battle of the Sexes is a fun, empowering, nostalgic sports dramedy from Little Miss Sunshine’s Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

21. Stronger

Based on the incredible true story, Stronger follows Jeff Bauman and his struggle for normalcy after surviving the Boston Marathon bombing. Time and time again, Jake Gyllenhaal proves to be one of Hollywood’s most under-celebrated actors today as he arguably gives the most challenging performance of his career. Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) also deserves praise for her raw, emotional supporting role. Stronger is a powerful, moving biopic that reminds us that there’s always hope even in the darkest moments.

20. Split

After releasing numerous duds, it appears that M. Night Shyamalan is finally making a comeback. Split kicked off 2017 with a wild psychological thriller surrounding the kidnapping of three young women who’ve been imprisoned by a man with multiple personality disorder. James McAvoy gives a memorable performance as he channels well over a dozen personalities.

19. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman broke the glass ceiling on many fronts: one being the first female-lead superhero blockbuster and such a blockbuster was directed by a woman. Gal Gadot made her big-screen debut as the Amazon princess in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but she absolutely nails it in her first solo flick. Many have considered this film to be the strongest film in the DC Cinematic Universe yet.

18. Alien: Covenant

Ridley Scott certainly kept himself busy this year. In the latest chapter of this deep-space horror franchise, a colony ship makes a fatal detour on a planet filled with our favorite aliens. Accompanied by an all-star cast, Michael Fassbender is on double duty with two fantastic performances. While Prometheus settled the groundwork, Alien: Covenant returned to its heart-pounding roots that made these films such a big success.

17. It

Very rarely do remakes exceed its predecessors, but the 2017 remake of Stephen King’s It really deserves praising. Bill Skarsgård managed to make Pennywise his own with his terrifying interpretation of the murderous clown. That being said, the film heavily relies on the tremendous cast of young actors including Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor. Filled with good scares and disturbing imagery, It will have a new generation afraid of clowns.

16. Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman gives a transformative, Oscar-worthy performance as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. The film takes place during the chaotic transition period the United Kingdom face in the midst of WWII and gives a glimpse of Churchill’s bumpy start to his successful era of leadership. Darkest Hour is a captivating drama with sprinkled humor throughout.

15. Get Out

Part horror, part thriller, part social satire, Get Out marks the directorial debut of funnyman Jordan Peele. An interracial couple is put to the test when the black boyfriend visits the white girlfriend’s family, but once he gets there, he’ll learn that her family may have something sinister planned for him. While it’s sort of hard to explain it, Get Out is a unique, thought-provoking, movie-going experience unlike any other in 2017 that’s carried by a strong cast and an intriguing plot.

14. The Wedding Plan

Chances are you haven’t heard of The Wedding Plan, but it’s one of the most relatable films of the year. This Israeli romantic comedy follows an anxious bride-to-be who decides to keep her wedding date after her fiancé dumped her just weeks before and literally relies on faith in order to find a groom before she walks down the aisle. Yes, the plot’s that zany, but Noa Koler’s heartwarming and heartbreaking performance truly carries the film.

13. Dunkirk

It’s been three long years, but Christopher Nolan returned with an immersive war flick Dunkirk, which depicts the underdog WWII rescue effort of the British military that was surrounded by German troops. While there isn’t exactly a straight-forward plot, the incredible cinematography, editing, and sound design keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

12. War of the Planet of the Apes

An epic conclusion to one of the strongest trilogies in recent memory, War of the Planet of the Apes was a rare reboot that actually exceeded its predecessors. For three films, Andy Serkis brilliantly humanizes the lead ape Caesar as the climax escalates the brutal battle between human and ape.

11. The Shape of Water

If Beauty and the Beast and Creature From The Black Lagoon had a beautifully weird baby, it would be Guillermo del Toro’s latest film The Shape of Water. The story surrounds a mute janitor who forms a relationship with a creature trapped in the laboratory she works at and her personal mission to help him escape. She doesn’t even speak a word, yet Sally Hawkins gives one of the best performances of the year and she’s joined by a spectacular supporting cast including Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Stuhlberg. Visually stunning and emotionally enthralling, this is del Toro’s best film since Pan’s Labyrith.

10. Call Me By Your Name

An emotionally complex film, Call Me By Your Name tells the story of a romance that blossoms between a 17-year-old boy and his father’s 24-year-old research assistant. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, such an inappropriate relationship would/should be frowned upon, but as viewers, you sympathize with Elio and Oliver not just because they’re likable characters but for the powerful performances that came with them, particularly from breakout star Timothée Chalamet.

9. The Killing of a Sacred Deer

The closest thing to an Alfred Hitchcock film in 2017, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a suspenseful, psychological thriller that virtually no one saw. The film follows teenager who gets brutal revenge after a doctor failed to save his father’s life. Newcomer Barry Keoghan, who you’ve might have seen in Dunkirk, gives a unsettling, outstanding performance. Between this and his last film The Lobster, writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos is proving to be a filmmaker Hollywood should watch out for.

8. The Disaster Artist

If you haven’t seen The Room, it’s a 2003 film that has earned a cult following because it’s so incredibly bad, it became unintentionally hysterical. The Disaster Artist is about the making of that film with James Franco starring, producing and directing the film. Franco manages to earn big laughs and also give a transformative performance as the infamous Tommy Wiseau. With tons of A-list cameos and a brutal glimpse of the film industry, The Disaster Artist made the making of a painfully bad film painfully funny.

7. The LEGO Batman Movie

Not only was this a great animated movie, it was also a great Batman movie. The LEGO Batman Movie allows its self-awareness to drive the narrative that examines Batman’s relationship on a psychological level. Filled with tons of fun Easter eggs and references to previous Batman films, this LEGO movie will leave you nostalgic and laughing til it hurts.

6. Lady Bird

Actress Greta Gerwig makes a strong directorial debut with this down-to-earth coming of age comedy about a Sacramento teen transitioning into adulthood. In film after film, Soirse Ronan shows that she’s one of the best actresses in the millennial generation and Laurie Metcalf, who may win the Oscar playing her heartfelt but judgmental mother, shows that she’s one of the most under-celebrated actresses of our time.

5. The Big Sick

The greatest romantic comedy since Silver Linings Playbook, The Big Sick is a rare film because it feels authentic and real... and that’s probably due to the fact that it’s based on the stranger-than-fiction true story behind Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon’s relationship. Nanjiani essentially stars as himself (which he does a terrific job) and has great chemistry with his co-star Zoe Kazan. Ray Romano and Holly Hunter give hilarious, heartwarming performances as the parents who meet Nanjiani as their daughter is in a coma. From the culture clashes, the comedy industry, to the modern era of dating, The Big Sick feels more relevant than ever and can resonate with any audience.

4. Coco

Disney/Pixar has a gift of continuously melting people’s hearts. And they do so again with their beautifully-animated latest, Coco. Miguel is an aspiring musician in a family that has banned music after his great grandfather abandoned them for pursue stardom. And after being transported into the Land of the Dead, Miguel must track down his ancestor in order to return home. The importance of art is obviously a theme, but the heart of the film is about family, pursuing our dreams, and the significance of leaving a legacy. Coco is rich with a cast of lovable characters, great music, and a satisfying ending that may leave you in tears.

3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri may be a mouthful, but it’s also masterful work from writer/director Martin McDonagh. Frances McDormand gives an Oscar-bound performance as grieving, no-nonsense mother determined to pressure the police to solve the murder of her daughter. She is accompanied by a strong ensemble cast which include strong supporting performances from Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson. Three Billboards is the only film this year that will make you laugh, cringe, and anxious all at once. It’s the closest thing to Fargo since Fargo... and the Fargo TV series.

2. Baby Driver

Edgar Wright, the mastermind behind Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, finally found commercial success with Baby Driver, a terrifically-edited heist film with the greatest film soundtrack in recent memory. Aside from the uncomfortable fact this will go down as Kevin Spacey’s last great film, Ansel Elgort proves he’s got the chops for a leading role. With lots of well-choreographed action sequences and even some laugh, Baby Driver is absolute fun and is why we go to the movies.

1. I, Tonya

Who would have thought that it would take a dark comedy to make Tonya Harding look sympathetic? I, Tonya is a unique, Goodfellas-like biopic that gives multiple, not entirely reliable perspectives surrounding the infamous attack of Nancy Kerrigan. Margot Robbie offers a layered, grounded depiction of someone who was painted as a cultural villain. Allison Janney also knocks it out of the park as her cruel yet hilarious mother. The works of director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Steven Rogers have spanned decades, but their collaboration here is the best of their careers. Combined with great editing and an awesome soundtrack, I, Tonya is a rare film in 2017 that isn’t just another remake, sequel, or ripoff; it skates on its own.

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bestmovies0 · 6 years

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20 Oscar-Nominated Movies You Can Stream Right Now

From baby motorists to libidinous mermen, 2017 was a very good–and somewhat strange–year at the movies. And yet not even the pulse-pounding excitement of watching Daniel Day-Lewis consume yet another mushroom omelette could match the collective jaw-dropping that came in the final moments of last year’s Oscars ceremony, when the makers of La La Land handed their Best Video statuette over to the makers of Moonlight–the award’s actual winner–in what will likely go down as the weirdest instants and worst mix-ups in Academy Awards history. Could it happen again during this Sunday’s ceremony? Doubtful, but never say never.

Even still( or in cases where) you shouldn’t miss out on any of this year’s nominated films. For those of you planning to invest this week( and weekend) engaged in a non-stop Oscar marathon, here are 20 of this year’s nominated movies you can stream right now.

The Shape of Water

If you thought the merman sex was the most compelling thing about Guillermo del Toro’s fantastical fairy tale, you weren’t attaches great importance. The Shape of Water is much more brilliant than all the talk about its aquatic lovemaking let on. With its mingle of real-life and fantasy, it’s likewise pure del Toro. Sally Hawkins suns as Elisa Esposito, a mute cleaning woman at a top-secret government research center who one day stumbles upon an amphibious creature, falls in love, and smuggles him into her bathtub where their affair goes to the next degree.( It’s much more heartfelt and passionate than it sounds .) The film, which is nominated for 13 Oscars, might be most notable for its cast–most of whom, including Hawkins, Richard Jenkins( as Elisa’s BFF and neighbor ), and Octavia Spencer( as her coworker ), earned nominations for the performance of their duties.( Though Michael Shannon, amazingly, did not .) Folks “was talkin about a” Shape because of its more prurient aspects, but strip those away and it’s a narrative about adoration and otherness with a wonderfully humanist, if not entirely human, soul.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Though writer-director Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was met with a joyful standing ovation following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, it had now been gained as much backlash as it has accolades( largely because Sam Rockwell’s racist cop character is redeemed in the end ). Still, there’s no denying that it’s a film full of powerful performances–Rockwell, Frances McDormand, and Woody Harrelson are all vying for gold–and a story worth instruct: a young lady is raped and murdered in small-town Missouri. When it seems as if the local police have given up on ever observing the perpetrator, the young girl’s mom takes justice into her own hands, largely by shaming the local authorities. Though it would be easy to paint this kind of tale in broad-spectrum brush strokes–an angry woman gets even–playwright-turned-filmmaker Martin McDonagh doesn’t go for easy.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Lady Bird

Like most teens, Christine “Lady Bird” MacPherson( Saoirse Ronan) doesn’t ever feel like she quite fits in with her fellow classmates. Hankering for something more than what she has, the movie follows Lady Bird through her senior time of high school, where even the smallest aggravations( like, say, one’s mother) feeling immense. While with hour and distance, it’s easy to see that the interesting thing don’t matter so much, it doesn’t feel that style when they’re pas, which is part of what stimulates Lady Bird so unique. Writer-director Greta Gerwig, who is now one of a small handful of women to be nominated for Best Director, manages to capture the reality of the transition into adulthood with all the pain and humor that comes with it.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Call Me by Your Name

Though set in 1983, there’s something totally modern about Call Me By Your Name, director Luca Guadagnino’s dreamy modification of Andre Aciman’s acclaimed coming-of-age novel. A precocious teen( Timothee Chalamet) observes himself both embracing and fight with the universal awkwardness that comes with giving oneself over to a first love, which is stimulated even more difficult by the fact that it’s with a 24 -year-old grad student( Armie Hammer) who is living with his family and interning for his father. The film’s dreamy sensuality will stick with you long after the end credits roll, and you’ll never look at a pitted peach the same route again.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Darkest Hour

Though director Joe Wright may be best knows we attaining lush interval dramas starring Keira Knightley, his unwavering attention to detail and the past induce him a perfect fit to recount Winston Churchill’s earliest days as Prime Minister, and the history-altering decisions he was faced with inducing when it came to dealing with Adolf Hitler. As far as biopics or historical movies go, Darkest Hour is rather straightforward–which isn’t a knock on the movie. Yet where it truly stands out is in the acting. Though Gary Oldman is far from the only actor to ever play Winston Churchill( he’s not even the only person to play Churchill in the past time ), the quirky gravitas that has celebrated the actor’s job seems perfectly suited to the part.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Get Out

Having reached the “meet the parents” stage in its relations, Chris Washington( Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend Rose Armitage( Allison Williams) head off to an upper-class suburbium to expend the weekend with her folks( Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener ). But from the get-go, Chris senses that something’s not OK with the situation. He’s right. With Get Out, Jordan Peele managed to simultaneously redefine the modern horror movie, while making a statement on race in America–and the timing could not have been better.

Where to stream it: Amazon, HBO Go, iTunes

Dunkirk

Watching Dunkirk on your iPhone isn’t truly the behavior that Christopher Nolan envisaged audiences experiencing his IMAX-ready World War II thriller, which details the hectic evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France as Nazi armies began closing in all around them. So if you can at least watch this one on your TV, that’s preferrable. Like with his previous cinemas, Nolan once again demonstrates himself adept at blending action and nuance. But in the case of Dunkirk, it’s composer Hans Zimmer who is tasked with ratcheting up the nervousnes as the destiny of the film’s seemingly fated soldiers hangs in the balance.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Blade Runner 2049

While it may not have built the financial impact that Warner Bros. was hoping for, much like Mad Max: Fury Road before it, Blade Runner 2049 is only one of the few sequel/ reboot hybrids that isn’t simply cashing in on a cult following for instant brand-name acceptance. Whether you connect with Denis Villeneuve stark, dystopian vision of the future or not, there’s no denying he’s a natural born filmmaker( assure: Hostages, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival ). While it’s technically a sequel, it seems more like a spiritual comrade part. Ryan Gosling is perfectly cast as Agent K, a young blade runner urgently trying to track down Rick Deckard, Harrison Ford’s blade runner from the Ridley Scott original, who has been missing for 30 years. When they do satisfy, watching the two performers try to out-dry each other more than makes up for the two-hour-and-4 5-minute operating time–as does the brilliant camerawork of frequent Coen friends collaborator Roger Deakins who, with 14 Oscar nominations and zero wins, has become the Susan Lucci of cinematography.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

The Florida Project

While growing up mere minutes from Walt Disney World may sound like the dream of every child, for Moonee( Brooklynn Prince )– a profanity-spewing six-year-old who lives in a motel with her mommy( Bria Vinaite )– and her motley group of friends, the Sunshine State is still far from The Happiest Place on Earth. The Florida Project details a summer in the living standards of these children, who are often forced to grow up before their day. In a different time, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project might have been the Oscars’ favorite little indie movie that could, with its brutally honest depiction of life in Donald Trump’s America. For now, we’ll have to be satisfied with Willem Dafoe’s well-earned Best Supporting Actor nomination for playing Bobby, the motel manager who understands Moonee’s plight and does his best to look the other way.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Abacus: Small-scale Enough to Jail

Hoop Dreams director Steve James has dedicated much of his job to shining a light on the underdogs, and his newest documentary is no exception. While, in the wake of the 2008 fiscal meltdown, many of Wall Street’s biggest players were deemed “too big to fail” despite their many intentional misdeeds, person needed to be made an example of. And that someone was Abacus Federal Savings, a family-owned and operated community bank that was indicted for mortgage hoax by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. This engrossing documentary shows the truth of the matter( the bank’s 0.5 percent mortgage default rate was a tenth of the national median) and the personal toll that it takes for David to go up against Goliath.

Where to stream it: Amazon Prime, iTunes

The Big Sick

There’s something to be said about writing what you know, as husband-and-wife writing team Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon proved that with The Big Sick, a semi-autobiographical accounting of the evolution of their relationship. What started as a possible one-night-stand developing into a relationship, then a breakup, then a near-death experience that brought them back together, in part thanks to Emily’s( Zoe Kazan) parents, Beth and Terry( Holly Hunter and Ray Romano ). Just when you thought every romantic-comedy trope had been discovered and done to death( no pun aimed ), The Big Sick manages to avoid them all, yet still have some “aww…” moments.

Where to stream it: Amazon Prime, iTunes

Baby Driver

Somewhere between Drive and La La Land is Baby Driver, Edgar Wright’s car chase-filled heist flick that introduced The Fault in Our Stars star Ansel Elgort to the non-Y-Aloving world. Elgort holds his own and then some against much more seasoned performers, including Jon Hamm( getting as far away from Don Draper as he can) and Jamie Foxx( who channels a bit of his character from Horrible Boss, and then some ). Kevin Spacey also stars, which could explain why the movie didn’t get as much Oscar attention as some predicted.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Beauty and the Beast

When word came down that Disney was killing a live-action version of its beloved Beauty and the Beast, there were essentially two reactions: Yay! and Why? While, in the end, it may have all seemed a bit unnecessary to those who remain devoted to the animated version, there’s no denying the appeal of Emma Watson as Belle, a kind of anti-princess Disney princess. Even if you had no affinity for the original, or desire to watch its live-action offspring, witnessing what the actors–in particular, Dan Stevens as The Beast–had to endure in order to bring it to the screen at the least deserves a few minutes of your attention.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes, Netflix

Icarus

If there was an Oscar for Best Accidental Documentary, Bryan Fogel would be the only challenger. In his effort to make a little cinema about the growing issue of performance-enhancing medications in the sports world, Fogel ended up get in touch with Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Russia’s national anti-doping laboratory–and together, they slowly realized that their “research” has left them with clear proof that Russia had spent decades conspiring to game the Olympics. While its focus is on doping, the overarching themes speak loudly and clearly to the current state of disenchantment and propagandizing people are reading more and more about every day.

Where to stream it: Netflix

Last Men in Aleppo

At the 2017 Academy Awards, The White Helmets–a 41 -minute documentary about the brave men and women who volunteer as first responders in search and rescue efforts in portions of rebel-controlled Syria and Turkey–won Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara an Oscar for Best Short Documentary. This year, Feras Fayyad and Steen Johannessen’s feature documentary, Last Human in Aleppo, will once again shine a spotlight on the heroic organization, with boots-on-the-ground footage that was shot over two years, and immerses the spectator in what daily life is like for those living in the midst of the Syrian Civil War.

Where to stream it: Netflix, Amazon Video, iTunes

Logan

James Mangold has entered the realm of superhero filmmakers, by sheer morality of represent one of the few who has managed to not only craft a deep nuanced character drama that violates the shackles often associated with the genre–but by being recognized by the Academy( alongside co-writers Scott Frank and Michael Green) for doing just that. It’s a well-deserved tribute for Hugh Jackman’s last outing as a retractable-clawed mutant.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, HBO Go, iTunes

Loving Vincent

CGI is all well and good, but there’s something to be said for pushing the boundaries of centuries-old techniques, which is exactly what Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman have done with Loving Vincent. The movie pays the ultimate tribute to its protagonist, Vincent van Gogh, by recruiting a squad of 125 artist to tell the story of the lord painter’s life … with oil painting. 65,000 frames worth of them.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Mudbound

Netflix continues to show it can play with the the major studios with Dee Rees’ epic, post-WWII drama where class and race collide in rural areas in Mississippi. Accommodated by Rees and Virgil Williams from Hillary Jordan’s book of the same name, the movie depicts the unlikely friendship that develops between two soldiers–one white( Garrett Hedlund ), one black( Jason Mitchell )– as they resume their lives in the Jim Crow South, and are forced to deal with the PTSD that haunts them, and the racism that surrounds them. The film’s Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Rachel Morrison, had now been lent her eye to the year’s biggest movie in so far: Black Panther.

Where to stream it: Netflix

On Body and Soul

Director Ildiko Enyedi won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for this intense, albeit sometimes bizarre, Hungarian movie in which two shy coworkers at a slaughterhouse in Budapest forge a relationship in their daydreams( they keep having the same ones) and attempt to translate that to the waking world. Rating another win for Netflix.

Where to stream it: Netflix

The Disaster Artist

After spending more than a decade as a Hollywood punchline, Tommy Wiseau–the eccentric novelist/ administrator behind the so-bad-it’s-kind-of-amazing cult film The Room–finally got his critical due when James Franco decided to turn the construction of that movie into a movie all of its own, which is equal components funny, bizarre, and curiously moving. Eat your nerve out, Ed Wood.

Where to stream it: Amazon Video, iTunes

Oscars Overdrive

How Mudbound’s Rachel Morrison, the first woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for cinematography, took the world by cyclone with the stunning Black Panther

Dive deep behind the scenes of Blade Runner 2049, as told in our October 2016 cover story

Can a fish-man be emotionally appealing? The Shape of Water dares to find out

Catch up on reviews of Get Out, Logan, and Mudbound

from https://bestmovies.fun/2018/03/01/20-oscar-nominated-movies-you-can-stream-right-now/

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idontrememberthetitans · 6 years

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The Best Films of 2017

1. Call Me by Your Name

No individual can be attributed sole authorship of Call Me By Your Name. André Aciman’s psychologically astute novel chronicling a young savant’s coming-of-age is deftly translated into a cinematic language by James Ivory, the master director of the restrained British classics The Remains of the Day (1993) and Howards End (1992). In tandem with the screenplay, Luca Guadegnino’s erotically-charged direction explores the interplay between human emotions and the luminous physical spaces that envelope them; he has such affection for the characters and the beauty of Northern Italy. And then there’s Timothée Chalamet, a revelation who embodies a world of feeling and budding introspection. Chalamet elevates the film into a realm of tremendous importance. Call Me By Your Name is an empathetic mosaic of diverse artistic voices yearning to explore the delicacy and heartbreak of new love.

2. mother!

We are living in an ‘Age of Absurdity’ – especially as we experience our own Sisyphus-esque nightmare of historical and political repetition. Through its bizarre – often hilarious – scenarios, visuals, and themes, Aronofsky’s mother! successfully harnesses, exploits, and displaces our anger into something rather ineffable. That is not to suggest that mother! distracts us from the legitimate horrors and absurdities of today. Contrarily, mother! validates the power of our own incense, and as such, its deliberate assault on the audience demands a response from every single viewer. Indolence is simply unacceptable. mother! has given us a reason to shout; what a gift it is to be so intellectually and viscerally aroused. (For more…)

3. I, Tonya

Don’t waste your time with any other biopic this year… or any year, really. I, Tonya simultaneously works as a damning and hilarious critique of class inequality and an affectionate correction of a pariah’s reputation. The film interrogates the role of unreliable testimony while complicating the very notion of truth. With myriad filmic techniques, the film’s distinctive style is just as frenzied as the case on which it’s based. Set aglow by the extraordinary Margot Robbie and a most talented ensemble of character actors, I, Tonya is the one of the funniest, most challenging films in recent memory. The film subverts the cultural myth and subsequently lionizes Harding. Every beat along the way is exhilarating.

4. Phantom Thread

As the Harvey Weinsteins of the world are gradually dethroned, Phantom Thread is a sly companion to the commentary on gender politics and rightful disruption of power dynamics. The film’s production values are exquisite and the central performances impressively controlled, but it is P.T. Anderson’s perceptive writing that gives the film its diabolical bite. It’s kinky, witty, squirm-inducing, and deceptively weird. I walked out of the film with a sick grin; the film’s final twist crept up on me like a strong cocktail.

5. Lady Bird

Lady Bird emits a kind of authenticity often lacking in other quirky, angst-ridden female coming-of-age dramedies. Greta Gewig has found a lovely vessel to convey her personal history in Saorse Ronan, and in turn Ronan has (again) cemented her talent in the public consciousness. Gerwig – with the help of her cast – has made her own distinct experiences feel universal and relevant.

6. The Shape of Water

Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is anything but “original” and “unusual” as audiences and critics have proclaimed. Instead, it’s a sincere homage to gothic fairytales and paranoid thriller of the 1950s – which proves to be just as gratifying. As filmmakers increasingly mistake convolution for profundity, del Toro beautifully reaffirms the effectiveness of classic storytelling in the tradition of Spielberg and Hitchcock.

7. Personal Shopper

At once a taut ghost story and a high-fashion melodrama, Personal Shopper is an upsetting and carefully-calibrated meditation on loss and grief. While Kristen Stewart’s acting range is limited, her performance (not unlike her remarkable turn in Clouds of Sils Maria) is so deeply rooted in her character’s apprehensions and fixations that she gives meaning to the story’s confounding ambiguities. When the film closes, you can feel your blood run cold.

8. The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Even Yorgos’ usual deadpan antics and dark absurdity can’t provide enough of sedation to assuage The Killing of a Sacred Deer’s impenetrable misanthropy. The film begins with an obtuse scenario and quickly descends into one of the most disturbing predicaments. Yorgos’ other works (Dogtooth, The Lobster) have been inflammatory simply because their satirical elements are so contradictory, and this film is no exception. When the film wraps up, it isn’t exactly clear what specific attitudes Yorgos harbors toward humanity… and I suppose that’s part of its masochistic fun.

9. Dunkirk

“Brevity is the soul of wit,” and after a career of frustratingly longwinded and needlessly intricate romps, Christopher Nolan may have finally found his mantra. Dunkirk, as vast as it is intimate, elevates the war genre to new heights while tactfully evading any sentiment.

10. Lady Macbeth

In a year saturated with stellar debuts across directing, writing, and acting, this shocking British import is the most impressive of the bunch. Lady Macbeth is a wicked revenge tale told with the utmost precision and patience. Director William Oldroyd, Screenwriter Alice Birch, and star Florence Pugh deliver one of the year’s most compelling fictional characters. The injustices and abuses she endures spur a kind of sympathy and respect that almost justify her problematic actions. Additionally, the film is peppered with biting humor, and the static camera and prolonged takes make Lady Macbeth nearly unbearable to withstand.

Runners-Up

1. Get Out

2. A Fantastic Woman

3. Blade Runner 2049

4. The Beguiled

5. The Square

6. A Ghost Story

7. The Florida Project

8. The Disaster Artist

9. The Big Sick

10. Beach Rats

Best Direction

1. Darren Aronofsky for mother!

2. Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk

3. Olivier Assayas for Personal Shopper

4. Guillermo del Torro for The Shape of Water

5. Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled

Best Actor in a Leading Roll

1. Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name

2. Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread

3. Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out

4. James Franco in The Disaster Artist

5. James McAvoy in Split

Best Actress in a Leading Roll

1. Cynthia Nixon in A Quiet Passion

2. Margot Robbie in I, Tonya

3. Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird

4. Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water

5. Vicky Krieps in Phantom Thread

Best Actor in a Supporting Roll

1. Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water

2. Armie Hammer in Call Me by Your Name

3. Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project

4. Patrick Stewart in Logan

5. Barry Keoghan in The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Best Actress in a Supporting Roll

1. Hong Chau in Downsizing

2. Allison Janney in I, Tonya

3. Lesley Manville in Phantom Thread

4. Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird

5. Mary J. Blidge in Mudbound

Best Original Screenplay

1. Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread

2. Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird

3. Steven Rogers for I, Tonya

4. Jordan Peele for Get Out

5. Yorgos Lanthimos for The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. James Ivory for Call Me by Your Name

2. Scott Neusradter and Michael H. Weber for The Disaster Artist

3. Virgil Williams and Dee Rees for Mudbound

4. Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green for Logan

5. Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck

Best Foreign-Language Films

1. A Fantastic Woman (Chile)

2. The Square (Sweden)

3. Loveless (Russia)

4. Raw (France)

5. Happy End (Austria)

Best Acting Ensemble

1. Lady Bird

2. I, Tonya

3. Get Out

4. The Big Sick

5. The Disaster Artist

Best Cinematography

1. Blade Runner 2049

2. The Beguiled

3. The Shape of Water

4. mother!

5. Dunkirk

Best Film Editing

1. Dunkirk

2. I, Tonya

3. Blade Runner 2049

4. Baby Driver

5. Get Out

Best Production Design

1. Blade Runner 2049

2. The Shape of Water

3. Phantom Thread

4. mother!

5. The Beguiled

Best Original Score

1. Jonny Greenwood for Phantom Thread

2. Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Water

3. Hans Zimmer for Dunkirk

4. Jon Brion for Lady Bird

5. Carter Burwell for Wonderstruck

Best Original Song

1. “Mystery of Love” from Call Me by Your Name

2. “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman

3. “Remember Me” from Coco

4. “Evermore” from Beauty and the Beast

5. “Visions of Gideon” from Call Me by Your Name

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