Alas, 2017 is coming to an end, and so it’s time for me to list my best films of the year. The world at large might still be in disarray, but cinema is always a bright light in the darkness, and 2017 has been no different. So, here are my top 20 films of the year.
As always, this list represents the films I was able to see and actually review. They are certainly plenty of great films out there that did not make the list, simply as I was not in a position to watch and review them.
Anyway, I hope this list is reasonably representative of this year’s best films.
20. Split
I said …
“Returning to the model of his early successes, M. Night Shyamalan has crafted a tense, unconventional thriller that really requires a second viewing, to look for all the clues to the twists and turns. McAvoy is immense and Taylor-Joy is a rising talent. There will still be no forgiveness for The Happening though …”
19. The Big Sick
I said …
“Strongly written, heartbreakingly honest and incredibly endearing, The Big Sick is one of the best comedies to come out of the Judd Apatow staple. The tears in the audience won’t just be tears of laughter.”
18. Thor – Ragnarok
I said …
“Dazzlingly bright and quick witted, Thor – Ragnarok is by far the best Thor outing to date. Bringing Taika Waititi in as a director was a stroke of genius, because it’s given the MCU a fresh sense of risk taking.”
I said …
“Perhaps sharing too many thematic parallels with Dawn to surpass it, War for the Planet of the Apes is an introspective, but elegant deconstruction of the consequences of vengeance. It’s a fitting end to one of the best trilogies that Hollywood has ever produced.”
I said …
“The Last Jedi is bold, in that it breaks from a lot of the established formula seen in previous Star Wars films. Some elements might rile hardcore Star Wars fans, but as a piece of cinema and writing, The Last Jedi is excellent. It’s a welcome edition to the franchise, and a signpost for the direction that the Star Wars universe may take in the future, even beyond Episode IX …”
15. Wonder Woman
I said …
“Wonder Woman is a bit unsteady in the first act, but the film gains more confidence the longer it goes on. Heartfelt and fun, Wonder Woman finds the right approach to its titular character and, as a result, the film is a joy to watch. The DCCU was on the ropes, but Diana Prince has pulled it back on its feet.”
14. Hacksaw Ridge
I said …
“There is a certain sentimentality to Hacksaw Ridge that could easily be mistaken for naivety, particular towards the beginning of the film. However, when it really counts, Hacksaw Ridge is fierce, profound and unyielding in both its optimism and brutality.”
13. Colossal
I said …
“Colossal, like the best independent films that tap into a particular genre, is incredibly character driven and its darker themes of alcoholism and domestic abuse mesh remarkably well with the lighter elements. This is by the virtue of an intelligent script, and some rather realistic (and sometimes uncomfortable) performances from Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis.”
12. Raw
I said …
“Cleverly written, and shot with an impressive confidence for a debut director, Julia Ducournau toes a fine line between teenage drama and body horror, to create a unique and blackly comic coming-of-age story. Vegans should probably avoids this like most things containing protein.”
11. Free Fire
I said …
“Ben Wheatley seems to be at his best when dealing in black comedy, rather than simple bleakness, and in Free Fire this really shows. Not only is the script razor sharp, the film is directed with so much confidence in its concept. The sound of gunfire has never felt so rhythmic.”
10. Logan
I said …
“A couple of minor scripting issues aside, Logan is an emotional tour de force about growing old, which also just happens to be a ‘superhero’ film. If this is truly the end of Jackman’s tenure as the Wolverine, it’s a fitting crescendo to his character, and the X-Men franchise as a whole.”
9. Paddington 2
I said …
“While maybe as not structurally sublime as the 2014 film, Paddington 2 is still delightfully warm, smartly written and remarkably faithful to the essence of Michael Bond’s books. Paddington 2 is yet another prime example of how to make an entertaining, multi-layered family film, with little evidence of corporate cynicism.”
8. It
I said …
“As much a coming-of-age film as it is a horror, Andy Muschietti’s take on half of Stephen King’s gargantuan novel is heart-warming, funny, and utterly disturbing during the right moments. Frankly, it’s the best Stephen King adaptation in over a decade.”
I said …
“Manchester By The Sea is a film that needs patience, but the rewards for that patience are plentiful. Sombre when it needs to be, and blackly comic in other places, it’s a film hosting some powerful, yet subtle performances from its core cast. The plot may be thin, but the emotional crescendo is sublime.”
I said …
“With an extraordinary performance from Lewis MacDougall at the centre of everything, J.A. Bayona weaves together an emotionally riveting story about storytelling itself, and the nature of grief. Expect to hear loud sobbing in the cinema.”
I said …
“Thematically rich and visually stunning, Blade Runner 2049 takes the world of the 1982 classic and expands it for the better. Much like the famous ‘Final Cut’ of Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049 needs patience and an open mind, but ultimately it might actually surpass its predecessor, due to how elegantly the film unfolds.”
4. Baby Driver
I said …
“Effortless stylish, and with a soundtrack so toe-tap inducing that it could cause repetitive strain injury, Baby Driver is something really rather special. It’s a crime caper like many have seen before, but the approach is so unique, and the execution is so well structured that it feels like something completely fresh and exciting.”
3. Dunkirk
I said …
“Tense, taut and utterly haunting, Dunkirk is an experimental blockbuster that defies most conventional logic for a film of this size. Between some sublime editing and raw, realistic performances from a cast of unknowns (peppered with the occasional Oscar winner/ex-boyband member), this is a new, visceral type of war film experience. It feels as important as Saving Private Ryan, without being as bloody.”
2. Get Out
I said …
“Sharply written and tautly directed, Get Out is an astonishing debut for comedian-turned filmmaker, Jordan Peele. The social satire is biting and Daniel Kaluuya is excellent, but most importantly, Get Out is just a great horror film, on top of its many other layers.”
1. Moonlight
I said …
“Beautifully scripted, and shot with an almost ethereal quality at times, Moonlight is powerful storytelling at its most impactful. Given how the film deals with themes of masculinity and homosexuality, there’s a real sense that this is going to be a culturally important piece of cinema in the future.”
Honourable Mentions
The Disaster Artist, La La Land, Lego Batman, John Wick – Chapter 2, Mother!
Cinema and silliness 