Top 20 of 2017
I have distilled my twenty top movies from 2017 from a long list, and again, a lot of darlings had to be killed. Unfortunately, some high-profile movies did not made it. Moonlight just didn't move me as much as it did most critics, and The Last Jedi just had a few too many dead ends and cheap plot device characters. It hurt not to include Logan, which I thought was great, but also a bit nihilistic. There was stuff that would never make the list (Atomic Blonde, an exercise in unintelligible sensationalism) and I tried to avoid the ones that seemed doomed anyway (Emoji Movie, 50 Shades Darker). There were some guilty pleasures along the way (Valerian and the City of 1000 Planets, The Great Wall), some genuinely good sequels (Pirates of the Caribbean 5, John Wick 2, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Fast & Furious 8), as well as engaging drama (Wonder, Hidden Figures, Detroit) that would have looked great on the list. Unfortunately, there's only place for the best 20, and it's not necessarily the critics' choice. So without further ado and apology, here's my list:
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- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHarrison FordRyan GoslingAna de ArmasYoung Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.The sequel that so many hoped for, and dreaded, because how could it ever match the classic status of its much-rehabilitated predecessor? Well, leave it to Mr Denis Villeneuve to create a visual and cerebral feast that has something that most sequels are somewhat lacking (yes, you too, Last Jedi): the feeling that it is a natural continuation of its original, instead of a rehash or something altogether different. Sadly its target audience was somewhat smaller than hoped for, and if the Globes are an indication, the Oscars will largely snub it. But could there please be some recognition for the art direction, special effects and finally an Oscar for Roger Deakins' cinematography?
- DirectorKenneth LonerganStarsCasey AffleckMichelle WilliamsKyle ChandlerA depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.As the critics would have it, the battle for Best Picture Oscar was between Moonlight and LaLa Land, but sorry folks.... neither of them moved me to the extent that this sensitive family drama did. Casey Affleck is at his best as a difficult man to read in this emotional tale where he reluctantly takes the care of his nephew, but Kenneth Lonergan helps us bond with them through sincere drama and surprising humor (of the cynical kind, that is). An unexpected revelation of a tearful family history hits the viewer like a sledgehammer, but the emotional centerpiece comes from Michelle Williams (who deservedly earned an Oscar nomination, despite her short role). Life goes on after tragedy, and time cannot always heal all wounds completely, but family is forever. Best Picture was out of reach, but I hoped for Best Actor and Best Screenplay, which is what happened.
- DirectorMartin KoolhovenStarsGuy PearceDakota FanningEmilia JonesFrom the moment the new Reverend climbs the pulpit, Liz knows that she and her family are in great danger.A Dutch "stamppot (mashed potatoe) western", that's something we hadn't seen yet. It could have turned out ridiculous, but Martin Koolhoven has some valid additions to an old genre with this tale of suffocating religious terror and misogyny in a lawless country. Directed with a steady hand, the reversed chronology and violence demands attention and a firm stomach, but this is one descent into hell that is worth all the misery. You probably won't be visiting a church any time soon after this.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsFionn WhiteheadBarry KeoghanMark RylanceAllied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.The war movie of the year technically isn't a war movie, but an experiment in storytelling where time has never been more relative. Although the film follows three different stories that first seem unrelated, they eventually cross over and become inseparable parts of one major narrative, where time and pacing become less relevant than the actual way the characters (and viewer) experience war. Independent of that, Dunkirk is a nailbiter that takes us to a place where no victory is possible, and survival is simply the best alternative to losing. Some of the most intense scenes of the year, a great Hans Zimmer soundtrack, and another masterpiece on Nolan's long and decorated resumé.
- DirectorChris McKayStarsWill ArnettMichael CeraRosario DawsonA cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.Batman was never known for his warm and funny character, but we never knew how deep his personal problems went, and how complex his relationships with both Robin and the Joker were until this colorful fun-feast. It took a while, but someone finally dared to have some fun with the Caped Crusader, by re-imagining him as a self-absorbed loner/playboy with serious commitment issues. Of course, this would only be acceptable in an animated movie, but the amazing feat is that they manage to make Batman both cool and funny, yet they never completely ridicule the basic fact that Bruce Wayne/Batman is a traumatized character who secretly longs for company. Lego characters with a heart: now that is what you call art of the brick.
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaAllison WilliamsBradley WhitfordA young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.No 2017 list would be complete without one of the smartest comedy-thrillers in years, which goes to show that sometimes a satire can be just as effective as a full-frontal attack, like Detroit (which sadly didn't make my list). Some call it horror, but I prefer the term social thriller, where we are pleasantly reminded that despite decades of emancipation, unintentional racism is still there, and black and white people still have both fear and admiration for one another. It is great how this film takes that premise to almost grotesque lengths, but with the current wave of civil and racial unrest, the timing of this movie couldn't have been better.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsAndy SerkisWoody HarrelsonSteve ZahnAfter the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.It is no surprise that the third installment in the rebooted series has special effects that border on perfect, but it is good to see that it retains the substance of its two predecessors. It even manages to improve on Dawn, by placing the focus back on the apes instead of a random group of humans. The human threat is still there, very convincingly portrayed by Woody Harrelson, who gets rid of his good-guy image once and for all. What has also remained is the bleak message that humanity's final undoing may be in its need to feel superior over everything, but that nature will always prevail.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsEwan McGregorEwen BremnerJonny Lee MillerAfter 20 years abroad, Mark Renton returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy, Spud, and Begbie.Another great sequel where our fear over the long passing of time since its original turned out to be largely unfounded. In fact, T2 makes great use of the fact that 20 years have gone by to show that some things change, and some never will, to great comic effect (with probably the best impromptu stage performance by Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller one could hope for). The world has modernized, some people have moved on, but Renton will always try to earn easy money, Sick Boy will always find ways to scam overybody, Spud remains a lovable idiot, and it is best to stay clear of Begby. Whether they like their past or not, these lovable losers are probably sentenced to each other for the future. And it's probably for the best.
- DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsJennifer LawrenceJavier BardemEd HarrisA couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.The most polarizing movie of 2017 has probably ended up on as many 'best of' as 'worst of' lists. This is an allegory of the most bizarre category where the darkest parts of the Bible meet the darkest sins of men, resulting in a frenzied cocktail of creation myth, environmental damage, human conflict, celebrity worship, social media hype and violence. The climax is arguably the best scene of the year, a nightmarish sequence that keeps increasing in mood, intensity and symbolism, evoking feelings of a fever dream and the best reason to either love or hate the movie.
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsBill SkarsgårdJaeden MartellFinn WolfhardIn the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.Every now and then, Hollywood's tendencies to recycle and to pamper to our hunger for nostalgia collide, and combine in the best possible way. Although the effective Bill Skarsgard cannot entirely compete with Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise, the rest of this movie is an improvement on the 90s miniseries, one that delivers heart-pounding shocks and nerve-wrecking tension, but also portrays the friendship and teenage angsts of its young cast in a convincing way. It would almost be worth waiting with the sequel until the cast has aged enough.
- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsLewis MacDougallSigourney WeaverFelicity JonesConor, a twelve-year-old boy, encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.Not every fairy tale ends the way we like, and some of its characters and morals may be ambiguous. But isn't that like real life? That is the message in and from this movie, a beautiful story about the tough journey to accepting loss and coming to grips with the inevitable. Told with imaginative visuals and the most tear-jerking finale of the year. And who better than Liam Neeson to provide the voice of one of the best but most unlikely spirit guides in recent history?
- DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghPenélope CruzWillem DafoeWhen a murder occurs on the train on which he's travelling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.One of the most adapted thrillers of all time may not have necessarily needed a new version (this would be the sixth), but this one is certainly a welcome addition. What this iteration has over the 1974 Lumet version is that Kenneth Branagh is a director who knows how to make a period piece. There is no shortage of details in the lush landscapes and art direction, which provide a great stage for the stellar cast to shine. Plot-wise, no large deviations have been made from earlier incarnations, so no big surprises, but sir Ken infuses his Hercule Poirot persona with a humanism that transcends the quirkiness that usually defines this character.
- DirectorBill CondonStarsEmma WatsonDan StevensLuke EvansA brave, beautiful, and brilliant young woman is imprisoned by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she learns to see beyond the beast's hideous exterior and realize the gentle heart of the true prince within him.You can have long and meaningful discussions about the sense and nonsense of remaking beloved Disney classics as life action movies, but as long as it gives us great movies like The Jungle Book, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, why complain? And most musicals tend to be reimagined once in a while anyway. The makers were smart enough not to deviate too much from the animated source material, so all the magic that was in the art direction and songs remains fully intact. Rendering Belle's dilemma in real-life may even make the enchantment somewhat greater, thanks to the great cast as well.
- DirectorLee UnkrichAdrian MolinaStarsAnthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.Leave it to Pixar to make a great family film about death. The afterlife looks spectacularly detailed, as could be expected, and there is plenty of dark humor. But the animators also manage to put in meaningful messages about the importance of family, remembering the dearly departed and following your dream without it becoming obtrusive or overly moralistic. And can we please stop all the negativity about that preceding not-so-short Frozen movie? Learn to appreciate a bonus, even if you didn't ask for it, people.
- DirectorPablo LarraínStarsNatalie PortmanPeter SarsgaardGreta GerwigFollowing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband's historic legacy.Sometimes, it is necessary to deviate from the hard facts to obtain historic truth. A lot of what we see (like the length yconversation between Jackie Kennedy and the interviewer) probably didn't happen exactly as this movie presents it, but it is the right way to tell the story of a woman in mourning about her husband, who is not only fighting to preserve her husband's legacy, but also to defend her right to be more than someone's wife. It's unique for a movie to put the iconic John F. Kennedy far into the background, giving Natalie Portman every opportunity to humanize her character beyond the fashion icon and First Lady that she will always be remembered for.
- DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseDomhnall GleesonSarah WrightThe story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s in a clandestine operation that would be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair.You could view American Made as criticism directed at the duplicity of the US government, for using its citizens for its needs, but abandoning them when times get tough; for condoning crime when it suits them, and condemning it when they no longer profit from it. But it works best as a great black comedy where Tom Cruise shows he is still at the top of his game as a charmer/opportunist who we instantly forgive all his immoral deals (since the government is the real bad guy). Granted, it is a bit of a light version of Wolf of Wall Street, but the idea that crime pays off to the extent that storage runs out for all the money, so a small town is bought up until it consists only of banks, is satire at its best.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyAnya Taylor-JoyHaley Lu RichardsonThree girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.A return to form for M. Night Shyamalan, where he manages to make a popcorn thriller seem intelligent by infusing it with an unexpected internal logic. Greatly helped by a stellar and Oscar-worthy performance of James McAvoy (no doubt another snub), who makes the idea of multiple personality disorder as an unexpected source of power believable instead of ridiculous. Kudos for Anya Taylor-Joy as well, for not being the easy victim, and for the traditional twist at the end, where we learn that we have been in this universe before.
- DirectorPatty JenkinsStarsGal GadotChris PineRobin WrightWhen a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.Wonder Woman already stole the show in Batman vs Superman, so everybody hoped that her first solo adventure would be just as good. It was even better, showing that a female superhero and a female director can deliver one of the best action-adventure movies of the year, as well as rake in the big bucks. Gal Gadot may not have the greatest range of subtle emotions, but she manages to convincingly play a ferocious warrior, and at the same time, her character is quite endearing in her naivete and sense of wide-eyed wonder.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.It was a busy year for Marvel, and regrettably, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol II didn't make the list (too many daddy issues), nor did Spiderman Homecoming (the stakes didn't feel high enough yet). But Thor, often called the most boring Avenger (not by me), finally found his full comedic potential under the direction of Taika Waititi, and therefore a deserved place in my list. Not everthing works (Karl Urban, Korg), and the plot sometimes hinges on a few too many coincidences, but the sibling rivalry between Thor and Loki is the hilarious heart of the film. Add a a wonderfully scenery-chewing villain in the pleasant form of Cate Blanchett, an Earth-shaking ending, as well as an inspired Hulk performance, and you have a superhero comedy that nicely balances the grimmness of some of its recent predecessors.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichael FassbenderKatherine WaterstonBilly CrudupThe crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.Both praised and derided, but I find myself in the supporting camp of Ridley Scott's second prequel to his Alien classic. Like with Prometheus, those who expected alien creatures decimating a crew in close quarters were mostly disappointed. Instead, there is more focus on artificial lifeforms in general, and Michael Fassbender's David/Walter in particular, which provides a great Frankenstein plot that would not feel out of place in the Westworld TV series. There are some inherent weaknesses: the characters make some dubious decisions (but to be fair, they have never seen an Alien movie and are not familiar with the tropes of the series), and the third act feels like a rushed rehash of Alien to please the fans. But if one can accept that sir Scott is definitely taking this intended trilogy into its own new direction (although the Fox purchase by Disney may change such plans), then Alien Covenant is a worthy addition to a series that is already widely known for its shifts in tone.
