fifth
So here were are. The end of such a divisive year.
Everyone was right and everyone was wrong and with all that was wrong with the world, we sought out even more entertainment. 2017 was a weird year for the blockbusters, a lot of flops and underperfomances and it has been a great year for smaller films. Yet there are several blockbusters on this list that made the cut….Star Wars: The Last Jedi sadly did not…I enjoyed it like Fast & Furious 8 and Guardians Vol 2, but they did not have the special moments or qualities I saw in films this year…
Yet here is my list….
22: Atomic Blonde
For one scene and one scene alone. The one take action sequence directed by David Leith is one for the fucking ages. Probably the best action sequence of the year. The film itself (if directed in such a manner) would be top five for sure, but alas it has it weak points, but my god when it works, it works and Charlize Theron and James McAvoy are great value as always…
21: Good Time
If you were to tell me that Robert Pattinson would provide two of the best performances of the year, both so vibrant and different I would have never believed you. Yet here his best performance of the lot, one of the best performances of the year, Pattinson fucking disappears in front of you with a pitch perfect New York accent, he should be winning awards here, but there won’t be a push for these types of performances. This film crackles with energy which flies off the screen. It’s never boring, quite simply has one of the best opening acts to a film in any year and feels fresh, exciting and just original as hell. Please, please seek this one out. Good Time is a great time.
20: Mudbound
If there was any justice, Dee Rees would be competing for the best director Oscar race in a few months, alas there has not been much of a push for her, but there has been a push for a fearless Mary J Blige who not only shows her talent with dealing with pain in wax, but we see it across her face here, she’s one of the best performances in a cast full of great actors, Jason Mitchell, Carey Mulligan, Garrett Headlund, Jason Clarke and Rob Morgan all contribute to perhaps the best ensemble film of the year. This is a film that is complex and at times very tough to watch, but it is worth it.
19: The Lost City Of Z
This film is old fashioned and a real throwback. Based on a true story, I don’t know what it is about this film, but I only watched it yesterday and it has really stuck with me. Again like a lot of films on this list, this is a great character drama with a fantastic performance by Charlie Hunnam. Seriously I feel sorry for Hunnam because if this was released with out King Arthur following he would bge in serious awards contention. The director James Gray crafts beautiful wide, paranoramic images that own the screen and take you along this journey and the music is pretty good for this film. Hunnam is ably assited by Sienna Miller who does a whole lot with very little scenes, Robert Pattinson (him again!) and Tom “Spider-Man” Holland. It’s a pure and future Sunday afternoon classic. Seek it out.
18: Girls Trip
One of the funniest comedies of the year. The cast itself was fantastic with Tiffany Haddish being a particular standout. Haddish is a scene stealer from the moment she appears and talks. She has gusto, timing and is so animated you can’t help but watch her. I do want to talk about the rest of the flossie posse which is Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith. Tiffany Haddish is a comet blasting through the cosmos, but really shines around the other three actress who ALL GET THEIR MOMENTS. I loved watching the quartet and I cannot wait for the sequel.
17: Manchester By The Sea
If the year was only six months old, Manchester By The Sea would’ve been my number two. It is brutal, tragic, heartbreaking and incredibly heartwarming. This story of Lee Chandler is one of the ages and is quietly devestating, ably assisted by Lucas Hedges and Michelle Williams it is a film that affects you with the unease, an open fucking wound of a life is just wondering around and people want to help, but Lee cannot let go. Let me tell you something. For a while Denzel Washington was my favourite to win Best Actor at the academy awards this year. Then came the police station scene and Casey Affleck became Lee Chandler I did not see Casey. I saw this broken man going through the worst moment of his life and the camera captures all of it. It is well written and won the oscar for it’s script. Brutal and Beautiful….
16: Split
For as many years as I’ve known of the actor, James McAvoy has provided the best performance of the year which the awards guild always ignore. Honestly. Again Split gives a masterclass in acting playing several roles and creating individual personalities within one sublime film. This is M Night Shyamalan’s proper come back film and the one with quite honestly is his best twist. Yes it is THAT GOOD.
15: Justice League
There is a lot of bad press for this film, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. This is a film that clearly needs to be more not less and the film studio’s mandate that the film had to be under two hours was ridiculous. All the behind the scenes drama was also hard to ignore, but Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon did their best and there was scenes that only appeared in my dreams in front of me. The action was great, Danny Elfman’s score is wonderful, the cast has great chemistry and it’s exciting and screw it I enjoyed it!!!!
14: Hacksaw Ridge
Mel Gibson. War Film. Two things that fit together so well. The real life story of a real superhero. Desmond Doss, Doss played by the incredible Andrew Garfield who absolutely deserved his Oscar nomination. Hacksaw Ridge is a film of two halves. The first half is all character building with excellent supporting performances by Hugo Weaving and a never better Teresa Palmer. The second half is an action blockbuster of the highest order with great performances by Luke Bracey, Sam Worthington and yes Vince Vaughn. Again if the year was six months old, top 5 for sure….
13: Hidden Figures
The best thing about this film is that after watching it, you want to find out about these women. These heroes who played a huge part in getting America into space. Tarji P Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae are fantastic as the three leads who are sassy, funny, entertaining and real. All three face adversity and face it head on with gusto and intelligence. The film is full of real heart and is unbelieavbly entertaining. This I think will be a christmas hit (despite not being set in Christmas) as it brings people together and inspires…
13: Sleight
I really liked this film and still think about it many months later . There’s a lot going for it and got little to no press. It should been a sleeper hit. JD Dillard is going to be a world class filmmaker, Jacob Lattimore, Syechelle Gabriel, Dule Hill and Storm Reid are all fantastic in a film that starts off small and becomes larger in scope. The storytelling in Sleight is tight and focused and deserves to be seen a whole lot more people. SEEK THIS FILM OUT.
12: Logan Lucky
Funny. This film is so funny. There’s a bit in the prison involving a negotiation that seriously the FUNNIEST SCENE OF THE YEAR. I loved Logan Lucky from moment one until the last. Yes it is the Hillbilly Ocean’s Eleven, but with Channing Tatum, Adam Driver and Daniel Craig firing on all cylinders, plus the king of the heist film; Steven Soderburgh coming back. This should’ve been a big hit. Find it. Discover it.
12: The Florida Project
For most of this film, it was not going to be on this list. This was because of the first half of the film. Where there are scenes where not a lot seems to happen. You wonder where it’s going….Then the second half of the film happens and it all comes together and the genius of Sean Baker’s film takes shape and hits an emotional wallop that I’d never seen before. The opening and well the whole film feels so real that it feels like a documentary, but when that second half kicks and the film becomes more personal and volitile. Man…The last half of this film is so heartbreaking, powerful and yet wonderous…THAT LAST SCENE. So poetic. So beautiful. Wilem Defoe has never been better (it’s between Defoe and Sam Rockwell for Best Supporting Actor for me) and the finds of the year are Brooklynn Prince (who is seven years old and is INCREDIBLE) and Bria Vinaite are breathtaking. They awere acting for the first time and I have no clue how Sean Baker got them to hit those emotional notes. I saw this too late to go any higher, but my god FIND THIS FILM.
11: John Wick Chapter 2
Awesome. Just awesome. I loved John Wick and this film actually surpasses the first film by expanded the world John Wick inhabits. Keanu Reeves is again doing what he does best kicking ass and looking good doing it. From the first moment the action doesn’t let up and is so well shot (take a bow Chad Stahelski and his stunt team) that you are immediately drawn in and ready for an excitiing ride, the only ride that a great franchise can take you on.
11: Detriot
The best horror film of the year. It was not sold as a horror film, but it really, truly is. This film is horror and tension is the most uncomfortable I’ve felt since United 93. It was horrible. This was 50 years ago. This STILL HAPPENS NOW in such a great country. Go into this knowing nothing and it will hit you like a ton of bricks. It’s the best film you’ll ever want to watch once.
10: Call Me By Your Name
I know for a lot of you this film is not the film you will watch. It’s long, it’s beautiful, not a lot happens and oh yes, it’s about two men who fall in love over one summer (stop calling me a f-word). This film is truly, truly wonderful and the film takes you on this emotional journey. This film is so intimate that it beggers belief that a) it works and b) it feels that your intruding into these characters lives. Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet’s performances are so perfect and real. You don’t see the actors. You see the characters and Michael Stulbarg’s monologue at the end is one of the best solo scenes of the year. Wonderful film and sticks with you well after the film ends.
10: Wind River
As thrillers go, this is the best of the year. As writers go, Taylor Sheridan is three for three. As performances go, Jeremy Renner and Elisabeth Olsen are the best they have ever been. The dialogue, the location. The powerful story. Wind River hits you hard and in all the right places. This is a thriller, but also a drama. This is also a great character story and a cautionary tale about how America has treated it’s indigenous people, that it needs to improve. This film needs more love. Seriously. It never boring. Please seek this out.
9: Spider-Man Homecoming
Tom Holland is the best Peter Parker. Tom Holland is also the best Spider-Man. When Sony decided to work with Marvel to reboot Spider-Man (again!) it was the best possible decision they made. Plus Michael Keaton. FUCKING AWESOME. One of the best villians they have ever had. I liked the diverse nature of the cast(fitting in with New York and Queens itself) Jon Watts directed the action like a veteran and not like a 35 year old doing his first blockbuster and Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr bring all the class required. Superhero films dominate the next few spots.
9: Thor Ragnarok
Taika Watiti has made a frigging classic here. I watched Spider-Man more, but Thor Ragnarok was in my opinion, the better film. There is so much energy and colour and this is the funniest film that Marvel has ever done (and that includes Guardians 1). This was the reboot that Thor needed, it felt so original and fun, this film is pure entertainment, withTessa Thompson the standout with Chris Hemsworth (in one of the funniest perfomances of the year) providing one of the best leads and experiences of the year.
8: Baby Driver
For a while this was my number two. There is so many wonderful exciitng things about this film, it’s really hard to articulate, but like Thor, Baby Driver is entertainment in the highest maxmium. This film has high energy, great breakneck action sequences, an amazing soundtrack and one of the best casts of the year anchored by a wonderful lead performance by Ansel Elgort who owns the screen from moment one until the end. Edgar Wright has always been one of my favorite filmmakers and Baby Driver may just be his best film. That’s high praise.
8: War Of The Planet Of The Apes
History will state that the new Planet Of The Apes trilogy (Rise, Dawn and War from 2011-2017) will be regarded as one of the best franchise trilogies ever. Each film is better than the last. This is no joke. I actually think this is the best one of the lot further proving that the storytelling and filmmaking have merged into near complete perfection. A lot has been said about Andy Serkis and his portrayal of Caeser (one of the best characters in recent history) and there is not much I can add to this. Serkis and the WETA digital team should win some sort of award as this is some of the best CGI I have ever seen with Serkis’s best performance. Caeser goes through the whole spectrum here crafting a spectacular arc of a hero’s journey with Matt Reeves directing the hell out of this film and Michael Giacchino’s score being with of his best. The ending is perfect.
7: IT
I really, really loved it IT. For minute one until the last minute, I was enthralled, entertained and yearned to be part of the losers club. Seriously these group of young actors were so great and had fantastic chemistry, it is a shame we won’t see them again in a future adventures. That is what this film was to me; An adventure, not a horror. There is horrific scenes that revel in your primal fears, but this has a Stand By Me/Stranger Things feel that works, so, so well. Honestly I could watch the losers club just hanging out chatting shit and I would love it. Bill Skarsgard crafts a thrilling and terrifying villian that stays with you. I wanted to stay in Derry and it reminded me of how I felt as child with those long summers and trying to find some adventure in my life. That’s how much I loved IT. This was Stephen King done right.
7: Wonder Woman
The risk was high. This film had to be good, not just be a blockbuster hit, but a good film. The odds in all honest was stacked againist it and then the reviews came out. That the film was not just a good film, but a great one, featuring one of the very best origin stories that Hollywood has ever made. Patty Jenkins proved how good of a filmmaker she really is and that female directors that craft spectale as good as their male counterparts. The action is great and exciting seeing Wonder Woman in action, but where Jenkins truly excels is the heart and intimacy of the film. This is where Gal Gadot and Chris Pine come in. Truly you fall in love with both of them. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. Plain and simple and she is so loveable you buy EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. She is never false and her character is given such a powerful arc it actually makes Batman v Superman better when Gadot is on the screen. You see and feel her history. Her emotion. A hero for everyone. You would think that Chris Pine would have the thankless role of guy in distress, but no his Steve Trevor may not be WW’s equal physically, but in terms of character development and heart he is and Pine is as good as he’s ever been. The last act has it over the top fault, but the last scenes between Gadot and Pine as some of the ages and the epilogue is as heartbreaking as it is rousing. More please…
6: The Big Sick
The Big Sick has so much to offer, in any other year, this would have been my number one. This is the type of film I would try to write, but would never finish because I have never been through anything like Kumali Nanijani’s character goes through, yet this works because this did happen to him. The screenplay by Emily V Gordon and Nanjiani has so many layers, so many great moments, so many true moments because this was based on real life. This is a film that will make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time and the couple of Kumali and Emily (Zoe Kazan) are people who feel so real and their realtionship feels good for the viewer. You want them to make it. Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. Fantastic, Hunter will get the best supporting actress nomination, but Romano should get some awards love as well. He was incredible and to hang in there with a world class Holly Hunter, that takes skill. Please, please seek out this film. It is wonderful in so many ways.
6: Three Billboards Outside Ebbings, Missouri
Man THIS FILM. Again any other year this would be my number one. In fact I only saw it last week and I couldn’t shift my top 5 (despite other late entries), but this film is a flat out masterpiece. I could not figure out where this film was going to go. The unpredicablity of this film is one of its major strengths as is the writing and directing by Martin McDonaugh, the film is quite beautiful in fact mixing in the elegant locale with the tightness of the small town. This film has a great sense of place. You feel like you are there. Much like Manchester By The Sea this blends in tragedy with some of the best and most subtle comedy of the year. This film has another great ensemble, but also armed with three of the best performances you’ll likely to see this year from Frances Mc Dormand, Woody Harrelson and the best of the lot Sam Rockwell who I hope gets nominated and wins for Best Supporting Actor next Feb. This is a masterpiece and this will make a mark during awards season.
5: Logan
17 years. 17 years is how long Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart have played Wolverine and Professor X. Hard to believe huh? 18 when I first saw them and 35 when this masterpeice came out. There is so much to say about this film. Honestly it could be released without the 17 previous years of history and still be a classic, but of course with those 17 years and seeing these characters grow throughout those years adds the emotional resonance to the story. This is a downbeat, human story of the final years of those heroes and recognising this James Mangold, provides a greek tragedy, a superhero fable and a rousing introduction for a new character X-23 played by Dafne Keen and an emotional goodbye to Jackman and Stewart’s characters. This feels like a western and in a lot of ways it is. It features all the attributes that all the great westerns have; mythic, tragic, exciting and human. Jackman and Stewart have never been better and there was no better way to end it. A classic.
4: The Disaster Artist
First things first. The book is better than the film. Please seek out the book and then watch The Room. Secondly. You don’t have to watch The Room to enjoy the hell out of this film. This film is a great film and lastly, James Franco gives quite possibly the best performance of the year. He becomes Tommy Wiseau and the impression just stops. You just see him. My god, this film is funny, but also has a lot of heart. There’s tense moments and heartbreaking moments, but at the end you come out with such a big smile with this film and actually you’ll want to watch it again since there are so many great moments in this film, you want to revist over and over….and watch The Room.
3: Blade Runner 2049
If I was to judge this on pure visual filmmaking, Blade Runner 2049 would be my film of the year hands down. This is cinematic art at its finest. That the film turns out to be one of the finest tales about what is it to be human, about being lonely, about memories, about technology and it’s dangers, about how love and our yearning for it dominates our emotional landscape….This is a film that means a whole lot to me and I can barely talk about the plot, because I think fan of the first Blade Runner or not, going in you go in fresh and have no clue. because you need to let this film surprise you and take you in. It takes hold of you. This is a film that takes it’s time and becomes something truly, awe-inspiring. Ryan Gosling continues to make all the right choices in his career, these films are not hits that he decides to make (La La Land is the exception), but the films he makes are going to remembered and studied for the rest of time because he only works with the best. He anchors the film, but just at times being there and within the cold exterior he exhibits, inhabits a truly beating heart. It’s a wonderful performance. Harrison Ford is quite incredible here as well. I haven’t seen Ford this vulnerable since The Fugitive and he reminds us how much he’s willing to give for the right story and director. He should be in awards contention as should Denis Villeneuve, who may just be the best director working in Hollywood right now. It’s between Villeneuve and Nolan right now. Speaking of Nolan…
2: Dunkirk
If anything, Dunkirk proves that Christopher Nolan can inject smarts, tension and an original story structure in one of the oldest of genres. The War Film. That Nolan makes this film feel fresh. That this film feels as intense and exciting and you care about the characters without any once of character development is staggering. I cannot tell you how he did it. My guess is that Dunkirk is about the event itself.
The event is the character which gets progressively worse as the film goes. The character development itself is subtle as it done with no dialogue (all the stuff you heard about Dunkirk being a great silent film is true). This is the marvel of the film. The ticking clock score by Hans Zimmer increases the intensity, the more the film moves the more the dangers increase. You don’t even see any Nazis for the most part, but they are there. The enemy is not seen, but their presence is around. The cast is phenomenal and the script is fantastic, but the editing it out of this world good. I don’t know how they did it, but Nolan has made another slam-dunk masterpiece. Dunkirk is a triumpth of blockbuster filmmaking.
2: Get Out
It must be a special feeling for your first film to hit the cultural zeitgeist. That’s what Jordan Peele did with his debut. Never has a film been released in which the timing has never been so perfect. The atmosphere with any nation with a diverse society is always fraught with tension, unspoken truths and that America, the largest diverse canvas in the world, the true melting pot needed this film. In the UK, we needed this film. I needed this film.
For me, any other year this would be my number one because it a genre film with a black lead, that everyone can understand and feel for. Now why is that important? Of course as a black man it is hard to articulate to anyone who isn’t black the happiness that this film and my number one exhibits, complex black leads who have a universal cinematic scope that their race is their definition, but there is a whole lot more to them. This is about the platform to have everyone be shown as the hero and the villian. To be reflective of our modern society. That racism can come in many forms. The villians in this film are not moustache twirling or rednecks as they usually come in these films.
The racism is subtle and liberal and moments happen in this film that have happened to me in my life. Things that are noticed, but not mentioned and may never be mentioned again, but is still there. I was Chris, have been Chris and this was important. That this is entertainment of the highest order, an effective horror and funny as hell (Take a bow Lil Rel Howery as Rod). This is all the more impressive.
This is a film that works. Plus Daniel Kaluuya gives a star making performance. He is SOOOOO GOOD. This is a smart, smart film that takes a lot of chances and they fucking pay off. Jordan Peele though is the true star. This is his first film and I can’t wait to see what he does next….
1: Moonlight
Of course this was going to be my number one. I knew Moonlight was my number one from the moment it finished. I was left in Miami. My soul was there. I was supposed to write an essay about Moonlight. The way I felt about it, the way it moved me and took me to place I wasn’t prepared to go, but I was so glad I took the journey and as a film, fuck as a story it is the best of the year. It does not have the narrative trickery of Dunkirk, the dialogue of Three Ebbings or the visual of Blade Runner. It does not have the history that Logan brings to the table or the high entertainment value of the The Disaster Artist and Get Out.
So what does it have?
It has Chiron. It has Liberty Square. It has Juan. It has Kevin. It has Paula. It has Miami. It has this….feeling, this story has an epic quality (it spans 16 years) and yet is the most initmate film of the year full of silences and looks that stare into your soul. This film is dreamlike shot beautifullly by James Laxton, yet features a terrain as harsh and as uncompromising as anything you have ever seen. If you let it, you feel the heat of Miami, feel the wind passing the palm trees, the softness of the sand and the power of the ocean. You can look up and see the moonlight shining above you and that transcendence….is a big part of why Moonlight is my film of the year, but the fact that Barry Jenkins’s film is so well executed, that any other year he would have won best director too. The film is paced just right, the three acts are near enough equal length and the character development at times is just outstanding.
Three different actors play Chiron. Three. They don’t even look alike and yet thanks to the direction of Barry Jenkins and the performances of Alex Hibbert (Little). Ashton Sanders (Chiron) and Trevante Rhodes (Black) take you there. They all feel like one person. One character. That character who breaks your heart with a look, but the hope he has gives you licence to put your heart together – The three names Chiron is given are also the titles of the three distinct chapters, each wonderful and as emotional as you possibly could get.
If I had to pick a favourite chapter it would be the second called Chiron. Ashton Sanders is just fucking AMAZING as Chiron as it is all there in front of you. The pain, the desire, the hope and the loss. This chapter actually has the most going on in terms of story, despite the fact that Mahershala Ali’s character who dominates the first act is not there (his character is felt throughout the WHOLE FILM and that’s why Ali won the Oscar), Sanders, Naomie Harris and Jharrel Jerome hold firm, take you in and break your heart all at the same time.
Yet I have to bring it to the end. Moonlight’s third act, the best third act of the year. Papers could be written about this. Not much happens if your looking for action, but the encapsulation of the whole story is boiled down to the third act, which is memorising, affecting. wonderful and so fucking intimate….It boils down to three long conversations between two characters that is some of the best dialogue, best acting, best framing/editing of shots and directing I have ever seen. Much like Manchester By The Sea, these scenes are so personal, so intimate, you feel like you’re intruding on these characters. but you cannot look away, you cannot walk away. Your eyes are on them and they take hold of you. The looks, pauses and subtle gestures are just huge when you really think about it and the revelatory moment right near the end is earned and as wonderful as the story has built up to.
Every shot in Moonlight is considered, every line is important and every look is powerful. Moonlight tells a story of a young black man growing up in America, trying to figure out who is he, what he is, scared of who is is and how his neighbourhood, how the world would see him. That you can go on this journey with Chiron, being from any race, social and financial class. This is the true genius of Moonlight. It took me on a journey I was not prepared for. It took me on a journey I never knew I needed. It took me on a journey that was as emotionally satisfying as it needed to be and will resonate in my soul for the rest of my life.
Moonlight is cinematic perfection.
Eternal Distance Of The Passionate Mind 