Best of: Films of 2017’s First Half
In terms of crappy sequels, reboots, sequel reboots, and soft threequel remakes, 2017’s movie lineup seemed to have them in spades. Yet in the first half of a year in which we were presented with a seventh Resident Evil movie, a CHiPs film adaptation, and another Diary of a Wimpy Kid flick that changed every single actor without remorse, there was a surprising amount of quality.
So to celebrate the fact that some of the films this year were not that bad — the highest praise possible — here’s a list of the top 5 movies of the first half of 2017, according to someone who has absolutely no authority or expertise.
5. Free Fire
Probably tied as my guilty pleasure movie of the year along with Going In Style (which stars a weed-smoking, law-breaking Michael Caine) Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire is an experimental take on classic 80s action films, set entirely in a warehouse in which a deal between arms dealer Vern (Sharlto Copley) and IRA members Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley) goes wrong. It starts off a little slow, and the beginning scuffle is a bit chaotic and awkward, but soon the film hits its stride as it goes into left-field territory. The constant shooting, the claustrophobic angles, and the character dynamics - particularly between the ever-entertaining Vern, Justine (Brie Larson) and Ord (Armie Hammer) - create an atmosphere of desperation that’s as gritty as it is almost comical. Wheatley’s scattergun approach does get a little heavy-handed in places, but one particularly memorable section in which Vern and Frank are scrambling to a phone - firing off shots at each other as saxophones and trumpets punctuate the panic - shows that High-Rise director has plenty of unconvential ideas left.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As Marvel’s mainline Avengers series gets more and more gritty, Guardians of the Galaxy 2’s oddball nature helps it stand out. Other than the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy is a Marvel property, this film is barely a superhero movie at all. What it is, however, is a fun romp through space packed with charismatic characters - arguably better than the first movie. There’s equal parts of comedy and crisis as Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) deals with his on-off relationship with Gamora (Zoe Saldana) his rivalry with Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and his first meeting with his father Ego (Kurt Russell). The diverse and colourful cast makes James Gunn’s second Marvel movie hugely entertaining, from Drax (Dave Bautista) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) all the way to the minor (but no less charismatic) characters of Yondu’s rival Taserface (Chris Sullivan) and his loyal second-in-command Kraglin (Sean Gunn).
3. John Wick: Chapter 2
Sure, it may seem a bit of a piss-take that I complain about sequels flooding the film industry before promptly including two in my list, and… well, that’s a totally fair criticism. Still, don’t let the “2” in Chad Stahlelski’s solo directiorial debut detract from the excellence of this Keanu Reeves-fronted picture. The action is the headline event here, and it ranges from stylish to brutal to outright comedic in places - but in a good way. After having a bounty set on his head by Italian mobster Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) John Wick is hunted down by assassin after assassin, leading to some gleefully gory fights in Rome and New York City. Whether its fighting off two hitmen with a pencil or stealthily fighting bodyguard Cassian (Common) in packed train station, the combat in John Wick 2 is punchy and weighty, often leaving you reeling as if you were fighting the man himself. This, coupled with the minimalistic (yet effective) dialogue, helps the John Wick series overcome the tricky sophomore movie hurdle, as well as building up to the cinematic crescendo that should be John Wick 3.
2. Logan
In comparison to the city-destroying tendencies of most superhero films, Logan is on a remarkably smaller scale, yet the stakes are higher, and the story more emotional than any superhero film previously released. Rivalling The Dark Knight as one of the best superhero movies of all time, Logan stars Hugh Jackman in his final portrayal as the titular mutant attempting to care for the ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Laura (Dafne Keen) a young mutant of unknown origin, as they are hunted down by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook). Stylistically, the film is ridiculously varied, going from depressing monotone to family road trip to hugely dark territory in an instant, yet everything feels perfectly paced and fitting. Though the presence of a child actor would usually be offputting, the combination of a lack of lines (in a good way) and some stellar acting on Jackman’s part (not to mention Dafne Keen herself) mitigates a problem that’s ruined many movies. It’s just weird how a film series that started off so campy and messily can finish in such a raw manner, yet feel like the perfect ending to a character at the same time.
- Get Out
Made all the more impressive by the fact that this was Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, Get Out is a near-masterpiece of the its genre - or genres. Offering cutting yet subtle social commentary and some inventive symbolism, horror and comedy are effortlessly and seamlessly blended together, contrasting the sinister goings-on during Chris’ (Daniel Kaluuya) visit to meet the parents of his girlfriend Rose (Alison Williams) with the funny relationship between Chris and his suspicious friend Rod (Lil Rel Howery). It’s almost masterful how the film cuts between the two dynamics without ever losing an inch of tension, and some clever twists on both sides of the story don’t just speak volumes of Peele’s ability as writer and director, but also about American society and liberalism’s relationship with race.
