The Best Movies of 2017

The Best Movies of the Year

1. Blade Runner 2049: Thrilling, beautiful, thought-provoking. Those are the adjectives that instill every frame of this masterpiece. I would never have imagined I’d say this but Blade Runner 2049 is equal to if not in some ways superior to the classic 1982 original. There were scenes in this film that were among the most unforgettable I have ever seen in the movies. While paying homage to and furthering the themes explored in the original movie, Blade Runner 2049 also pushes the boundaries in bold new directions in light of the breakneck technological and social changes in our world that have taken place over the last 30 years. While the chances that this film would be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar were always slim, it is criminal that Denis Villeneuve, one of the greatest directors working in the world today, was not even nominated for Best Director.

2. Coco: Pixar is probably the only movie studio in the world that can take adult themes usually explored in indie art films and portray them through fully realized worlds infused with imagination and heart. Who else can tell a story that muses about the finality of death and the life affirming powers of memories in such an entertaining, unforgettable way? Like Aesop and the Grimm Brothers did in ages past, Pixar’s storytellers transport us into worlds that stretches the imagination but whose emotional impact hits right at home and into our souls. In a world where a President heralds building walls and divisions, Coco is an essential film that reminds us of the importance of human connection and family bonds.

3. I, Tonya: On its surface, I, Tonya is the chronicle of a driven athlete and her dramatic rise and fall through events that are stranger than the most outrageous work of fiction. Look deeper, and this film reveals itself as a heartbreaking tragicomedy about the elusiveness of success, the pitfalls of the American dream and the curveballs that life throws our way. Margot Robbie’s performance is a force of nature, culminating in a scene near the end that is as shattering as it is moving. In my mind, the 2017 Best Actress Oscar should be engraved with Robbie’s name.

4. Dunkirk: Christopher Nolan belongs to a select category of directors whose name evokes a brand of quality. Dunkirk continues Nolan’s already incredible repertoire with a film that puts the audience inside one of the most inspiring stories of the Second World War. Dunkirk is a nail-bitingly intense, impeccably constructed cinematic experience that showcases Nolan’s chief talents. What sets Dunkirk apart from most other war movies though is its depiction of industrial warfare as an unrelenting force of terror whose faces are unseen but whose hellish power engulfs so many lives.

5. Get Out: Social commentary wrapped inside a parable wrapped inside a horror thriller. Get Out is a Russian doll kind of movie that is hard to describe and even harder to forget. The plot is full of surprising twists and turns that toy with audience expectations while slowly ingraining its timely themes. This is the kind of daring, original film that every young filmmaker in the world should aspire to.

6. A Fantastic Woman: An inspiring film about one woman’s quest to preserve her dignity amidst overwhelming prejudices. A Fantastic Woman puts us right in the shoes of its protagonist and invites us to walk in them, experiencing the emotions, anger and in a final moving scene, the perseverance of the human spirit that makes social progress possible.

7. Lady Bird: Lady Bird is dedicated to anyone who’s been through the life-changing phase known as adolescence, in particular hitting a nerve in those who went through that phase in the early 2000s. The witty script is one of the year’s best, with fully realized characters that take their time introduce the audience into their lives and ultimately, their vulnerabilities behind the facade. This film is destined to become a coming-of-age classic.

8. The Shape of Water: This is a film a master craftsman like Guillermo Del Toro was born to make. Gorgeous cinematography and production design frame this tale of love and empathy that echoes the fables we heard in our childhood. A Cold War era Beauty and the Beast (or in this case, fishman), The Shape of Water’s every scene is like a moving painting of America in a bygone era, but whose underlying message continues to resonate.

9. Phantom Thread: If Daniel-Day Lewis means it when he announced this would be his last film, there probably was no better last hurrah to a one of a kind acting career. This dark comedy from the master of unpredictability is best experienced rather than described. A fascinating tale of two enigmatic people whose relationship can at best be described as fencers trading blades but whose motivations keeps you pondering until the end (and possibly after that as well).

10. Maudie: Of the two Sally Hawkins performances in 2017, this was by far the more powerful and, if not for her performance in The Shape of Water, the one for which she should be nominated for Best Actress. This is not an “Oscar bait” performance of a historical figure we often see studios market during Oscar season, but one of the best actresses living in the world today inhabit the soul of a physically fragile, but emotionally Herculean woman. Ethan Hawke, often associated with playing romantic leading men, gives one of the best performances of his career portraying a tough talking brute who simultaneously engages our sympathy and understanding.

The Best Blockbuster of the year

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The backlash to this film has always been puzzling to me. The Last Jedi is one of the best Star Wars movies in the franchise. Aside from some of the most brilliant visuals and set pieces in the franchise, The Last Jedi is unafraid to push the saga into uncharted territory to explore themes of legacy and the idea that talent and innate gifts can be found in anyone. On top of it all, it features Carrie Fisher’s last appearance as Leia, an emotionally rich performance of a beloved character that has inspired generations of fans. Perhaps with the passing of time, this film will be re-evaluated and hailed as one of the crowning achievements in the Star Wars franchise.