Movie of the Week: Special Edition
Our Favorite Movies of 2017.
I only started doing these dorky semi-weekly movie reviews a couple months ago, so there was like 99% of the year in movies that I wasn’t able to give my brilliant commentary on. To make up for this, and to celebrate the coming of what appears to be a third consecutive hellscape of a year (a record in my lifetime), I got a few pals to gather some thoughts and list out our favorite movies of 2017. Hollywood came out with almost as many really good movies this year as sexual predators, which is… not ideal. BUT, it was cool as a movie-goer to see such a deep lineup of great releases during the calendar year.
What follows is our totally objective, correct, and genius ranking of the movies that we liked this year, in descending order. We are never wrong. There were a lot of good ones in 2017, so please don’t assume that if a movie you liked is not on this list that we hated it (we probably did hate it, but, you know, don’t assume we did). Also there are probably a number of deserving ones that, frankly, we haven’t seen yet. After all, this publication is very much in the red and we are three jobless 20-year-olds. It’s honestly astounding that we’ve seen as many as we have.
Okay. I think that’s it. Special thanks to Matt Thompson who made that badass image above and Adam Johnston for providing some of his thoughts on a lot of these movies.
Honorable Mentions:
All of these movies were good, but maybe not great. Worth mentioning here though:
Spider-Man: Homecoming, I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore, Annabelle: Creation, Atomic Blonde, Wonder Woman, John Wick: Chapter 2, Logan Lucky, Battle of the Sexes, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Coco.
The Countdown:
20. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Rapidly becoming the most divisive movie of the year, and already the most divisive film among Star Wars fans, this movie left me a little disappointed. Visually, the movie is stunning, and there are enough highs in the narrative for this to be considered no worse than a good movie. However, Rian Johnson (in my opinion) took a number of missteps with his usage and movement of the franchise’s best characters (both new and old) that ultimately hold this one back from being a truly great Star Wars movie. — Jake
#SaveThePorgs––Adam
19. It
I hate horror movies and loved IT. I admit it’s mostly because the kids in the movie acted like adults and cussed a lot but I think there were other good parts. I don’t remember though because, ya know, I was covering my eyes. — A
I’m not sure that there’s such a thing as a truly great film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel IT. This is probably true of a lot of King’s books. It’s just hard to match the level of detail and depth that he puts into most of the characters, and flat impossible to match the deep, dark fear that King stokes within his readers. That said, Andy Muschietti’s version of the story is about as good as you could hope for from one feature film. It’s as funny as it is scary, and it cemented the superstardom of the post-Millennial messiah, Finn Wolfhard. For that alone it should be at or near the top of anyone’s “Best of the Year” list. ––J
18. Logan
Too often, comic book movies are these bland narratives that all culminate in narrowly averting the apocalypse. Not Logan. The stakes are low, but an incredibly personal portrait is painted of a broken man at the end of his rope, looking for a reason to keep living. Combine that with violent children, Sir Patrick Stewart, and solid action sequences sprinkled in, and you’ve got yourself a comic book movie that even snobs like me will love.––J
17. The Lost City of Z
A slow-burning and drawn out story about the English explorer Percy Fawcett’s discoveries in the Amazon in the early part of the 20th century, The Lost City of Z strikes a delicate balance between “adventure in the jungle” and “intricate examination of a man consumed by his ambitions.” Good performances from Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson as the first and second leads, respectively, make it all the more entertaining.––J
16. Okja
Don’t watch this one before a barbecue. Meat-eater guilt notwithstanding, Okja is a strong follow-up to South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s previous directorial work, Snowpiercer (2013). Combining thoughtful commentary on industrial food production with Wes Anderson-esque comedy, Okja is a goofy glimpse at what the connection between man and animal can and probably should be. Animals are friends not food. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go meet a friend for a steak dinner.––J
15. Baby Driver
(A.K.A. The Last Spacey)––I’ll just say that I loved this movie so much initially I watched it over and over until I hated it. But that just means the movie is fantastic. Over twenty years in the making, Edgar Wright offers his signature stylistic touches and has you on the edge of your seat in this thrilling and musical crime film. Ansel Elgort plays “Baby,” a (roughly) twenty-year old man whose pastimes include making tunes, getting bossed around by Kevin Spacey, and driving fast and dangerously. Definitely the most fun movie of the year. ––A
Kevin D. Spacey jokes aside (the D. is for diddler), Baby Driver is amazing. It’s a shining beacon of hope for movies that aren’t for children or super low budget independent productions or about superheroes or evil spirits. It’s a great example of a movie that is just right down the middle and incredibly fun; we need more of those.––J
14. The Disaster Artist
Didn’t find this one quite as funny as advertised, but there is a lot of value in this movie beyond any laughs you get as a viewer. The Franco brothers both turn in excellent work, and the film provides an interesting look at the harsh truth behind following your dreams– and the self-delusion that is sometimes necessary to truly believe in yourself. — J
Even though I am not cultured enough to be a fan of The Room, the catchy marketing campaign and my unwavering love for the Franco brothers landed me in the theater to see just what The Disaster Artist was all about. Directed by James Franco, The Disaster Artist offers a look into the questionable but creative mind of Tommy Wiseau and the making of his cult classic. I found myself surprised by how much I enjoyed this and the message it leaves the viewer despite my having no connection to Wiseau’s infamous movie.––A
13. Good Time
A work of directorial brilliance on the part of the Safdie brothers. Some of the most distinctive lighting and cinematography of the year, and they spend almost the entire movie in a very tight angle on whoever is the focal point of the shot– driving home that sense of urgency and panic that the script drums up. The second great performance from Mr. Pattinson this year.––J
12. The Big Sick
Beyond being an emotional romantic story, The Big Sick also has something to say about family dynamics that is very poignant. Still, my favorite parts of the movie were the ones that were laugh-out-loud hilarious. Ray Romano is a national treasure, and this movie gives a great look at the “struggling comedian” social scene that hasn’t been seen since… well, nevermind.––J
11. Blade Runner 2049
A somewhat divisive movie, but no matter what you thought of the story, the technical aspects of Blade Runner 2049 were nearly flawless. The cinematography, as well as the accompanying score, provide a glimpse at the pinnacle of what the medium is capable of.––J
I came out of this movie with more questions than I had going into it. One thing I am sure of is that Jared Leto may actually be insane and that Roger Deakins can make anything look amazing. It’s a long one — but definitely worth a viewing if you’re a fan of stunning imagery, Denis Villenueve, the original Blade Runner, Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, or Sci-Fi in general. And if you’re not a fan of any of those things then you can get in line behind Leto because something is wrong with you.––A
10. Wind River
Taylor Sheridan is three-for-three thus far regarding movies that he’s written (Hell or High Water and Sicario are both must-watches of the last two years). This was his first attempt at simultaneously directing, and he showed that he has directing chops as well. A dark and efficient murder mystery/thriller that is very much NOT The Snowman. Also, it has 100% more Jeremy Renner than every other movie on this list. Seems worth mentioning.––J
9. Call Me By your Name
Aside from being the most compelling romance of the year, Call Me By Your Name presents a dreamy and idyllic depiction of Northern Italy in the early 1980’s. It perfectly captures the essence of the brief but intense connections that young adults are prone to experiencing at a very specific time and very specific place in their lives. It also hits the trifecta of brilliant writing, directing and acting that is often hard to come by.––J
8. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
A reminder that Adam Sandler is actually a great actor when separated from Rob Schneider and Kevin James– like the 8th grade kid who’s really quite a good student as long as you don’t sit him next to his two dumbass friends in class. Also a reminder that Ben Stiller is rarely ever not fantastic. A funny and touching (Not that kind of touching, Dustin) and quirky family drama.––J
7. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Between the grief and desperation of Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes and the brutality and idiotic charm of Sam Rockwell as Officer Jason Dixon, Three Billboards is a very worthy successor to Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and the black comedy genre as a whole. No other movie this year (or in recent years for that matter) has had me confused as to whether the lingering tears on my face were from the darkly hilarious jokes of the prior scene or the heart wrenching loss in the one prior to that. And that’s just how I like it. ––A
I did not like this movie as much as Adam did. ––J
6. Lady Bird
Writer-director Greta Gerwig breaks out of the gates at full speed, showing what she is capable of with Lady Bird, her directorial debut. Lady Bird offers a charming and sometimes difficult look at the life of seventeen-year old Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson in Sacramento, CA. Actress Saoirse Ronan captures the audience’s attention from the first scene with her endearing yet difficult personality and charms and annoys you all the way through it. I don’t know if it deserved the record-breaking ratings it received, but it was a perfect coming-of-age story nonetheless.––A
Lady Bird is probably the most well-rounded film of the year. Brilliant writing, directing, and acting set this one apart from most other movies. It’s funny, it’s emotional, and, most importantly, it nails the “teenager who’s mature for her age but not THAT mature dealing with the transition to adulthood” angle.––J
5. The Florida Project
The winner of the second annual “Moonlight Award For Movie that Consistently Punches You in the Gut.” A brilliant statement about innocence attempting to hold up against the onslaught of a harsh world. ––J
4. A Ghost Story
My *personal* favorite film of the year. No movie has attempted to say what A Ghost Story did and succeeded, let alone in such a unique and mesmerizing way. Considering the fact that roughly 10 people have seen this movie, though, it didn’t seem very fun to make it number one.––J
I did not like this movie as much as Jake did.––A
3. Columbus
The “dark horse” movie of the year for me. Columbus steals your heart early on and runs it past every gorgeous scene and structure in quaint Columbus, Indiana to drive home the point that beautifully simple stills, a person to confide in, and a strong sense of place are all that’s needed to tell a moving story. Columbus tackles some similar themes as Lady Bird but did so much more eloquently and uniquely. I think it beat Lady Bird at it’s own game. ––A
Each shot feels like a perfectly framed photograph. Subtle but powerful performances from John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson take Columbus into the upper echelon of films this year. A gorgeous portrait of a town and two people going through pivotal points in their lives within that town’s borders. ––J
2. Get Out
If not the best movie of the year, it’s the funniest. Nothing was as painfully hysterical as LilRel Howery’s TSA Agent Rod, and nothing was as subtly pleasing as Daniel Kaluuya’s series of facial contortions with every red flag he came across. Even without the layers of social commentary that take Get Out to the highest tier, this is a great example of a movie being both funny and also not-shitty, which is becoming rarer and rarer these days.––J
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut sent unexpected ripples through the movie industry as viewers and filmmakers alike attempted to make sense of the racial comedy/thriller mashup that is Get Out. Featuring breakout performances from Allison Williams and Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out is not your typical horror movie. Go see it.––A
1. Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan weaves yet another masterful and visceral tale with Dunkirk and frankly, he may have given me hearing damage as well. Dunkirk is often astoundingly gorgeous while still accurately and effectively portraying the ugly atrocities of World War II and the desperation and fear that was felt by the young men cornered on that infamous beach. With standout performances from the likes of Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy, and camera-shy Tom Hardy, Dunkirk is sure to give you just enough trauma to become your favorite movie of the year.––A
Dunkirk may be Nolan’s best work to date. There were few (if any) moments more exhilarating at the movies this year than the Tom Hardy piloting sequences. Hardy was apparently born to play badass dudes who have their faces obscured and don’t talk very much. Dunkirk was unmatched this year in its range of strengths: strong narrative, visually stunning, brilliant score, great acting. You name it, Dunkirk probably did it well. It is our favorite movie of 2017.––J