This year has been a whirlwind. Plenty of bad things have happened - Net Neutrality, Donald Trumps rise and (possible?) fall — but fortunately, 2017 has been a great year for cinema. It’s also been an incredibly diverse year for it, with a lot of new exciting voices emerging on the cinematic landscape. So, let’s not waste any more time - let’s get into the best movies of the year.
10. 'Paddington 2'
Kids usually get a pretty bad wrap when it comes to cinema. Usually, the offerings are pretty lackluster. This year, we had "The Emoji Movie," which was a very low point.
It’s films like that which make ones like "Paddington 2" that much more refreshing. Paul King and Simon Farnaby’s script is incredibly funny and treats its characters very generously. On top of all that, it has a very positive message about the importance of a multicultural society. Kids films don’t get better than "Paddington 2."
9. 'My Cousin Rachel'
"My Cousin Rachel" is actually a pretty unique film among 2017’s offerings. Based on Daphne Du Maurier’s novel of the same name, this is a very atmospheric performance absolutely dripping with ambiguity and intrigue. It’s all tied together with an absolutely brilliant performance by Rachel Weisz as the titular Rachel. Mike Eley’s great cinematography is all snuffed-out candles and claustrophobic moments in locked rooms after dark, and it adds so much to the film.
This is the rare gothic horror that really works.
8. 'Mother!'
"Mother!" Is the latest offering from surreal horror aficionado Darren Aronofsky. It’s a very hard film to explain and an even harder one to decipher. There’s a lot of religious symbolism here, and it truly has to be seen to be believed. There are very few films as wildly experimental as this, and Aronofsky hasn’t skimped on his incredibly singular vision.
Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, and Michelle Pfeiffer are brilliant in their respective roles, and this film should be seen simply because there’s nothing else like it.
7. 'Okja'
"Okja" is the latest offering from Bong Joon-ho, most famous for 2006’s "The Host." "Okja" is very similar in style - the juxtaposition between horror and comedy is back, but it has very different themes to "The Host." "Okja" is a takedown of capitalism and the way it treats animals.
It also has a reliably good cast, including Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, and Jake Gyllenhaal. "Okja" is an incredibly fun and brainy watch.
6. 'Get Out'
"Get Out" is by far the most timely film on this list. It’s an absolutely scathing criticism of America’s liberal elite, and it’s comedian Jordan Peele’s first foray into the horror genre. It’s an extremely confident and sophisticated debut film, and although it’s heavily influenced by horrors of the past, Peele has an incredibly singular vision. This is an extremely brainy film, and doesn’t skimp on what fans love about the horror genre either.
5. 'The Red Turtle'
"The Red Turtle" is a Studio Ghibli co-production, and you can tell. Although it only clocks in at around 75 minutes, it’s absolutely packed with meaning.
It was directed by Michael Dudok de Wit, and it’s an incredibly surreal and unique film that tells a beautiful story about man living hand-in-hand with the natural world, but also explores what it means to be a human. This is the best animated film of the year.
4. 'Baby Driver'
"Baby Driver" was directed by genre fanboy, Edgar Wright, and is the most purely entertaining film of the year. The script is absolutely crackling with energy, and the cinematography and and editing are geared to make this film as fast-paced and exciting as is physically possible. It has an extremely well-chosen soundtrack, and the two hour run-time absolutely flies by. As soon as it was over, I wanted to walk right back in and watch it all over again.
3. 'Blade Runner 2049'
When I heard there was going to be a sequel to Ridley Scott’s science-fiction masterpiece, I was a little worried. How could someone top the brilliance of that film? Enter Denis Villeneuve. You can tell he has a lot of love for the original because here he’s stayed extremely faithful to the atmosphere and themes of the original, all the while expanding on them. Ryan Gosling’s performance in "Blade Runner 2049" is a career-best, and Roger Deakins’ cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. The pulsating soundtrack also works incredibly well. I loved this film.
2. 'Raw'
"Raw" is by far the best horror of 2017. Directed by French newcomer Julia Ducournau, it’s a film about the ethics (or lack of them) involved with meat consumption but is also a feminist film about a young woman discovering her sexuality.
"Raw" is also incredibly visceral and meaty (pun not intended), and Ducournau knows exactly why people watch horror films. Considering how good this film is, I can’t wait to see what she does next.
1. 'Moonlight'
It was practically impossible for there to be a better film than "Moonlight," released this year. I’m calling it now — "Moonlight" will be a landmark LGBT film. This is an incredibly emotionally wrought film, and the performances are absolutely astonishing across the board. The last act of this film has some of the best, most natural acting I’ve ever seen, and as the film reached its climax, I was nothing but a ball of tears. "Moonlight" isn’t just one of the best films of the year; it’s one of the best of the decade, and it’s a film that should be seen by everyone. It’s an absolutely astonishing film and cements Barry Jenkins as one of the most important names in modern cinema. What do you think? Do you agree with me? Let me know in the comments.
