Daniel's Top 10 Movies of 2017
Honorable Mentions: The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Big Sick, The Beguiled, Logan, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Get Out
10. The Lost City of Z
One of the more under-the-radar films of 2017, The Lost City of Z is based on the true story of explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest to find a city simply known as “Zed” deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Directed by James Gray, the films spans decades and shows a man dedicated to going deeper and deeper into the heart of the jungle, and himself. Charlie Hunnam is fantastic, but the real star is Sienna Miller who plays the strong wife of Fawcett. Miller delivers a great performance, and her character shines in the midst of the stuffy, early 20th century upper class.
9. Dunkirk
The true blockbuster of the summer did not disappoint. Dunkirk is an epic tale of the evacuation of 400,000 men from the beaches of France at the outset of World War II. We all know how the story ends, but that doesn’t leave Dunkirk without drama. The film is unrelenting, with a score that ebbs and flows, but constantly holds the tension throughout. The performances are great, the cinematography stellar, and the story dramatic. Christopher Nolan knows how to make a blockbuster and stay original at the same time.
8. Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut is a wonderful coming-of-age story set in Sacramento, California about a girl who prefers to be called “Lady Bird”. As she tries to navigate her senior year of high school, she faces pressure from all sides: her family, school, friends, as well as a college decision. Lady Bird is an emotional story about love and the bond between a mother and daughter.
7. 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
One of the more surprising movies of the year was Three Billboards. Frances McDormand plays a grieving mother a year removed from the rape and murder of her daughter. Still seeking answers and justice, she begins a campaign against the town sheriff (played by Woody Harrelson). Tensions rise in Ebbing, which sets the stage for a great drama. McDormand shines in her role, and so does Harrelson. Three Billboards is a great journey full of great performances.
6. mother!
Abstract. Disturbing. Apocalyptic. Unique. These are some of the words that properly describe mother!, Darren Aronofsky’s parable of a film. Set in a house in the countryside, mother! depicts a person, house, marriage, and lives falling apart before our eyes. It is hard to watch, and yet hard to turn away, while deep enough that I still think about it months later. It is a film that is well worth your time.
5. Baby Driver
Edgar Wright brought us one of the best films of the year with Baby Driver. The action/comedy/musical is a thoroughly unique experience with great characters and an interesting story. It is filled with great action set pieces, witty dialogue, and Wright's trademark editing flair, which breathes life into what could otherwise become incredibly stale. The music selection is wide-ranging and wonderful, and to top it all, much of the action is cut to the songs themselves, with police sirens, tire squeals, and whooshes all timed precisely with the music. But don't let the extreme craft of the film fool you, Baby Driver is just plain fun. It's an easily-accessible, exciting flick as well that anyone would enjoy, with something to please everyone.
4. Good Time
Robert Pattinson is completely unrecognizable in Good Time, a movie about a man trying to free his deaf brother from prison after a robbery gone wrong. Despite the worn-out trope of antihero main characters, Pattinson’s Connie is an interesting take that presents real, sympathetic stakes. The journey that Good Time takes is unexpected and dark, but is a great story, and one of the best movies of the year.
3. Logan Lucky
The film that has been described as “Oceans 7/11” is not only a great heist movie, but a fun showing by Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and especially Daniel Craig. The story of two brothers trying to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway is incredibly-- and unexpectedly-- funny. The humor is paced perfectly, and Soderbergh does a great job mixing it in with solid character development. Logan Lucky embodies what is great about Oceans 11, but with a deep Southern twist.
2. Wind River
The conclusion to Taylor Sheridan’s trilogy about the American Frontier (including Sicario and Hell or High Water) is a moving meditation on the plight of the First Nation People living on the Wind River reservation in Wyoming. It deals with difficult topics in a powerful way, while also being respectful of its subject matter. Wind River is a beautiful film that went under the radar in 2017, but is well worth your time.
1. Blade Runner 2049
One of this year’s most technically stunning films was also one of its best. Blade Runner 2049 is a visual feast coupled with incredible sound, great acting, and a vibrant story and world that questions what it means to be human. Could it be shorter? Yes. Is Jared Leto a bland villain? Absolutely. But those are minor in comparison to the accomplishment that this film is. It expands on a world created 35 years ago, and asks new questions that audiences will be considering for years to come.