Top 10 Movies of 2017
2017 was a hell of a year for movies, and since I have way too much time I my hands, I saw almost sixty movies (Ugh...so...much...money). There was plenty of fantastic movies this year, so many that 9 of my top 10 movies all received 10 stars out of 10! So, what made my list? Let's find out.
10: Colossal
Colossal is a weird-ass movie, and I've never seen anything like it. It's a monster-movie/drama about a woman (Anne Hathaway) who discovers she is connected to a series of attacks on Seoul, South Korea, by a colossal monster. Hathaway is great in the role, but the real star of the show is her childhood friend (Jason Sudekis) who gives one of the best and most underrated performances of the year. The pure originality combined with the excellent execution gives Colossal a spot in the Top 10.
9: IT
IT is the scariest book I have ever read, and while this is not the scariest movie I have ever seen, it certainly does the book justice. IT is about a group of kids, called The Losers Club, who decide to investigate the series of child disappearances playing their small town. They are forced to face a creature that can take on the shape of whatever they fear, but mostly IT appears as Pennywise, the dancing clown (Bill Skarsgard). IT is a terrifying movie and a great throwback to classic eighties films like The Goonies and E.T. IT is not only scary, but a genuinely good story about friendship and childhood, and it absolutely earns its spot at number 9.
8: The Disaster Artist
The Room is one of the most notoriously bad movie's ever made. The Disaster Artist is about the making of The Room, and it ends up being the best comedy of the year. James Franco plays the mysterious weirdo, Tommy Wiseau, who directed and starred in The Room, and Franco's performance is brilliant. He absolutely nails Wiseau's eccentricities. But we can't forget about Dave Franco's performance as Greg Sestero, Tommy's friend who helps make The Room, and is the audience's eyes into the madness. James Franco gives the best performance of the year, and if he doesn't win Best Actor, it's a travesty. But, watch The Room before you see The Disaster Artist, or you won't be able to fully appreciate it.
7: The Shape of Water
This is another weird one. The Shape of Water is about a mute woman (Sally Hawkins) who is a janitor at a government facility. She meets a fish monster (Doug Jones), who is imprisoned in the facility and being experimented on. They fall in love, and she vows to help hm escape. This is easily one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. It's fantastically directed by Guillermo del Toro, and works as a blending of genres as well as a throwback to classic monster movies. Throw in some beautiful cinematography and some excellent performances, particularly Michael Shannon, and you have yourself the 7th best film of the year.
And now, without further ado...the best movie of the year is...
1: Raw
Unless you have me rave about how great this film is in person, you probably haven't heard of Raw. It's horror/drama from France. It got a tiny release here in the States, and hardly anybody saw it. I have made it my life's mission to change that. Raw is about a Justine, a college freshman (Garance Marillier) who is just starting her first year at veterinarian school. She happens to be a vegetarian. During a hazing ritual, she is forced to consume raw meet, and develops a liking for it, which quickly dissolves into a obsession that spirals out of control and may or may not involve cannibalism.
Ok, yes, I know Raw sounds weird and horrible, but trust me on this, it's not. It's beautifully shot, and has some powerful performances. It's not just a horror movie, it's also a drama. It's about the relationship between Justine, and her older sister, who attends the same school. I have never seen a movie like this before, and probably never will again. It's so disgustingly unique, and so utterly fascinating to watch, that although you be utterly grossed out, but you won't be able to look away.
10: Colossal
Colossal is a weird-ass movie, and I've never seen anything like it. It's a monster-movie/drama about a woman (Anne Hathaway) who discovers she is connected to a series of attacks on Seoul, South Korea, by a colossal monster. Hathaway is great in the role, but the real star of the show is her childhood friend (Jason Sudekis) who gives one of the best and most underrated performances of the year. The pure originality combined with the excellent execution gives Colossal a spot in the Top 10.
IT is the scariest book I have ever read, and while this is not the scariest movie I have ever seen, it certainly does the book justice. IT is about a group of kids, called The Losers Club, who decide to investigate the series of child disappearances playing their small town. They are forced to face a creature that can take on the shape of whatever they fear, but mostly IT appears as Pennywise, the dancing clown (Bill Skarsgard). IT is a terrifying movie and a great throwback to classic eighties films like The Goonies and E.T. IT is not only scary, but a genuinely good story about friendship and childhood, and it absolutely earns its spot at number 9.
8: The Disaster Artist
The Room is one of the most notoriously bad movie's ever made. The Disaster Artist is about the making of The Room, and it ends up being the best comedy of the year. James Franco plays the mysterious weirdo, Tommy Wiseau, who directed and starred in The Room, and Franco's performance is brilliant. He absolutely nails Wiseau's eccentricities. But we can't forget about Dave Franco's performance as Greg Sestero, Tommy's friend who helps make The Room, and is the audience's eyes into the madness. James Franco gives the best performance of the year, and if he doesn't win Best Actor, it's a travesty. But, watch The Room before you see The Disaster Artist, or you won't be able to fully appreciate it.
7: The Shape of Water
This is another weird one. The Shape of Water is about a mute woman (Sally Hawkins) who is a janitor at a government facility. She meets a fish monster (Doug Jones), who is imprisoned in the facility and being experimented on. They fall in love, and she vows to help hm escape. This is easily one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. It's fantastically directed by Guillermo del Toro, and works as a blending of genres as well as a throwback to classic monster movies. Throw in some beautiful cinematography and some excellent performances, particularly Michael Shannon, and you have yourself the 7th best film of the year.
6: Blade Runner 2049
I am not a fan of the original Blade Runner. The effects are amazing, but the story is very boring. I think I can safely say that Blade Runner 2049 is one of the best sequels ever made. The effects and the cinematography are spectacularly dazzling, but it also boasts an intriguing story, full of twists and turns. Add in some well done (and surprisingly subdued) action scenes, and a powerful performance from Ryan Gosling, and you have a sequel that is superior to the original in every way.
5: Dunkirk
I wasn't a fan of Interstellar, so it's awesome to see Christopher Nolan bounce back with one of his best films to date. Dunkirk is about the real historical event that happened during World War II, about the evacuation of the British military from Dunkirk, France, as the German troops close in on them. It's a tense, frantic film, almost as much a horror movie as it is a war movie. The directing, editing, and cinematography is all brilliant, but the score is something magical. It incorporates the sound of ticking clock, never letting us forget that time is running out. Apart from Inception and The Dark Knight, this is Nolan's finest work.
4: War for the Planet of the Apes
The best film in the, surprisingly amazing, Rise of the Planet of the Apes trilogy. War for the Planet of the Apes is not so much a war movie, but a Holocaust film. It follows the leader of the apes, Ceasar (Andy Serkis), as he faces off against an insane military leader (Woody Harrelson). This whole trilogy has been incredibly strong, but War finishes the series on a high note, and Serkis gives one of the most powerful performances of the year.
3: Mother!
Mother! is another weird movie. Actually, weird doesn't do justice to Mother! Totally f***ed up is a much better description. Mother follows a young couple (Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem) who live in a house in the middle of nowhere, but strange things begin to happen when mysterious strangers begin to arrive at their house. Mother! is certainly one of the most controversial movies of they year. There were people walking out of the film at my theater, and I can admit, it is certainly not for everyone, but it's ballsy and bizarre enough that, despite what you have heard, I urge you to watch this one for yourself and form your own opinion. You will either love it or hate it. There's no middle ground.
2: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Martin McDonagh is one of my favorite filmmakers, and he has outdone himself with Three Billboards. Several months after the brutal murder of her daughter, a woman (Frances McDormand) is fed up with the lack of progress is the investigation. So, she buys three billboards outside of town, calling out the town sheriff (Woody Harrelson). Chaos ensues. Three Billboards is a phenomenal drama about coping with tragedy, and has some of the best performances of the year. McDormand and Harrelson are great, but best of all is Sam Rockwell, who plays a racist cop. Rockwell has the best character story of the year, and if he doesn't win Best Supporting Actor, it would be a crime.
Honorable Mentions:
Before I get into my best film of the year, I want to mention some other great films from this year that just didn't make the cut.
Gerald's Game
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong: Skull Island
Get Out
The Lego Batman Movie
A Cure for Wellness
Happy Death Day
Logan
Baby Driver
John Wick: Chapter 2
1: Raw
Unless you have me rave about how great this film is in person, you probably haven't heard of Raw. It's horror/drama from France. It got a tiny release here in the States, and hardly anybody saw it. I have made it my life's mission to change that. Raw is about a Justine, a college freshman (Garance Marillier) who is just starting her first year at veterinarian school. She happens to be a vegetarian. During a hazing ritual, she is forced to consume raw meet, and develops a liking for it, which quickly dissolves into a obsession that spirals out of control and may or may not involve cannibalism.
Ok, yes, I know Raw sounds weird and horrible, but trust me on this, it's not. It's beautifully shot, and has some powerful performances. It's not just a horror movie, it's also a drama. It's about the relationship between Justine, and her older sister, who attends the same school. I have never seen a movie like this before, and probably never will again. It's so disgustingly unique, and so utterly fascinating to watch, that although you be utterly grossed out, but you won't be able to look away.
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