1 - Get Out
Get Out was released in February, but has remained at the #1 spot of my favorite films of the year since then, so I see no reason to change that now. The film is a breath of fresh air and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything quite like it before. It’s also an incredibly timely film. What’s even more amazing is the fact that it’s directed by Jordan Peele, who is making his directorial debut. The film is a scathing satire on racial stereotypes and social perceptions. What sets Get Out apart from other films in the genre is the social commentary and the fact that it’s simply a memorable film. In a genre filled with forgettable films, Get Out shines and will stick with you long after the credits roll.
2 - Blade Runner 2049
It’s been months since I saw Blade Runner 2049. Let me try that again, it’s been months since I experienced Blade Runner 2049 in theaters. Experienced is the correct word. The film is an absolute masterpiece, but even with the benefit of time, I’m still not sure I can eloquently convey what an amazing film it truly is. I guess I can start in the most logical place when praising a great film and that is with the director. I’ve been touting Denis Villenueve’s work since I saw Prisoners. In the years that followed, he continued to pump out fantastic films like Enemy, Sicario, and Arrival. With the release of Blade Runner 2049, Villenueve has officially cemented himself as the greatest director working today. Villenueve took a Sci-fi classic in Blade Runner and surpassed it in every way imaginable. It’s a visually stunning film, thanks in large part to the greatest cinematographer to ever live, Roger Deakins. The story is deeper and more layered. The themes of what makes someone human have been on display in many a film, but it’s never been as fully realized as it is in Blade Runner 2049. It’s a shame more people didn’t see the film, but like the original, my hope is that people will eventually discover it and one day it will be praised for being a crowning achievement in filmmaking.
3 - Baby Driver
Baby Driver is easily the most fun I had at the movies all year. Edgar Wright continues to make highly entertaining films and Baby Driver might just be his best effort yet. All of his films have such a unique look and feel that few directors can match right now. I’m not sure I’ve seen a film so seamlessly incorporate music into a film. Baby Driver sometimes feels like a music video, with edits synced up with the cuts of each scene. If that’s all there was to Baby Driver, that would be enough, but it’s much more than just style. Ansel Elgort is fantastic as Baby, and the rest of the cast is all operating at the top of their games. Jon Hamm gives maybe his best big screen performance, along with Jamie Foxx who is simply magnetic. A pre-scandal Kevin Spacey is also great. Baby Driver is one of the best heist films in years and it’s also an easy watch for all audiences.
4 - The Disaster Artist
If you don’t know by now, The Disaster Artist is about the making of The Room, a film that has been hailed as the Citizen Kane of bad movies. For years I had heard of this terrible film called The Room, but didn’t have much desire to watch the movie just because it’s epically terrible. Then James Franco announced that he would be directing and starring in a film about its making. The Room is indeed laughably bad on a historic level, but I didn’t see anyway Franco could make a good film about it, let alone a great one. I was wrong. The Disaster Artist works on so many levels. At times it’s paying homage to the cult status of The Room, other times it’s a behind the scenes look at Hollywood types and what it means to be in the business. Most of all, it’s a film about dreamers. James Franco plays Tommy Wiseau to perfection. He’s an absolute enigma, but there’s also this childlike wonder to him. Seeing The Room before watching The Disaster Artist is not required, but you will certainly be able to appreciate certain aspects of the film even more.
5 - All the Money in the World
It’s not often that films fly under the radar with me, I read about movie news all year long, but All the Money in the World snuck up on me. What’s even more shocking is the fact that it’s not some indie film directed by some unknown director. This is a Ridley Scott film we are talking about here. The making of the film might be just as interesting as the actual film itself. Originally, the entire film was shot with Kevin Spacey playing J. Paul Getty. After Spacey’s scandal hit, Scott recast Christopher Plummer in the roll and reshot all of his scenes around Thanksgiving for 10 million dollars and reedited the final cut in less than a month. What could have been a complete failure ended up being a resounding success. Christopher Plummer is amazing as J. Paul Getty, the real-life multi-millionaire whose grandson was kidnapped in Italy and held for ransom. Michelle Williams also gives another amazing performance a year removed from her Oscar nomination for Manchester by the Sea. All the Money in the World is the rare thriller that Hollywood seems to have abandoned in recent years. The film keeps you on the edge or your seat the entire time. At the core of the film is the theme of greed and how it can consume us to the point that we forget what is truly important in life.
6 - Dunkirk
Every great director needs his epic war masterpiece. This is Christopher Nolan’s. Dunkirk is a triumph of the human spirit. A tale of survival against all odds. The film is also unconventional compared to other war films. In Dunkirk, Nolan tells 3 overlapping stories at once. It adds an intriguing layer, but could turn some off. Especially if you grew up watching more traditional war films like The Longest Day. Dunkirk is also different from a film like Saving Private Ryan where you are asked to invest in certain characters. Dunkirk doesn’t allow you to get to know any of the characters outside of their faces. We don’t even really get to hear the names of the soldiers. Unlike most war films, Dunkirk isn’t asking you to invest in these soldiers because they have a pregnant wife back home or a sullen mother nervously clutching her rosary beads. We’re asked to invest simply because they’re human. The other interesting thing Nolan does is we never see a German soldier’s face. Their threat is a looming presence, but we never actually see them. It’s pulled off perfectly, almost like how Spielberg didn’t show the shark in Jaws for most of the film. Dunkirk is a fantastic war film that rightly takes its place among the very best the genre has to offer.
7 - IT
Stephen King is my favorite writer. I’ve read many of his books, especially the most popular ones like IT. This year seemed to be the year of Stephen King. Netflix produced two films from his work; 1922 and Gerald's Game, Mr. Mercedes was turned into a TV show on some network nobody has ever heard of, The Dark Tower made its big screen debut (see My Top 5 Least Favorite Films of 2017 list) and then there’s IT, which surpasses them all. The film also bests the 1990 mini series starring Tim Curry. Director Andy Muschietti did a great job of bringing this beloved novel to the big screen, as well as reintroducing audiences to one of the most iconic characters ever created - Pennywise the Clown. Much of the credit also must be showered upon Bill Skarsgård, who is mesmerizing as Pennywise. It’s easily one of the more memorable performances of the year. The other important decision Muschietti made was to focus the story just on the children. The book is split between following the characters as children and as adults. This is another area where IT really shines, all of the children give outstanding performances, not an easy feat. I know a lot of people are creeped out by clowns, but you’re doing yourself a disservice by skipping this one. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch. Afterall, we all float down here.
8 - Logan
I love superhero films and they have certainly been elevated to a higher level than ever before, but most of them serve the purpose of being popcorn entertainment, nothing more. That’s not the case with Logan. What we have here isn’t a superhero film. It’s arthouse cinema that just so happens to have a superhero as the main character. Everything about Logan has a different feel than most superhero films. Even the look of the film is more cinematic than other superhero films. Because of this, Logan stands apart from every other film of its kind released in the last decade. If it truly is the end of Wolverine’s story on the big screen, I can’t think of a better way to send him off.
9 - Wonder Woman
I just want to get something out of the way before giving my thoughts on Wonder Woman. Gal Gadot is not human. I don’t have proof of this, but I don’t need any. Just look at her. This is what makes her perfect for the roll of Wonder Woman and boy was she perfect. DC has really struggled in recent years, but Wonder Woman finally gave them a win. It’s one of the best superhero films in years. The film plays a lot like a fish-out-of-water tale and is much funnier than I was expecting. Pine and Gadot have great chemistry and the film also features one of the better stand-up-and-cheer moments I’ve seen all year. Wonder Woman is also a very timely film. There will now be a whole generation of young girls who have their very own superhero role model to root for and pretend to be like.
10 - Wonder
Honestly, when I saw the trailer for Wonder, I rolled my eyes. I’ve seen films like this before. They’re super cheesy and lay the schmaltz on extra thick. Wonder has none of that. What it does have is a ton of heart and is easily the feel good film of the year. It’s also a film that should be required viewing for every child. Jacob Tremblay proved with 2015’s Room, a film he should have been nominated for, that he’s one of the best child actors working today. He might be even better in Wonder. Tremblay plays August Pullman, a boy born with facial deformities. Julia Roberts also gives one of her better performances in recent years and Owen Wilson is great as well as the fun-loving father that just wants his son to be happy. The true revelation for me was Izabela Vidovic, who plays August’s sister Via. One of the better mechanics of the film is the fact that it follows different characters. For Via, we get to see how her life has been impacted by having a brother with a disability, and who requires so much attention from his parents. Wonder is a heartwarming, inspiring film that is sure to make anyone feel good as the credits roll.