10. The Disaster Artist
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| A24 |
The absolute worst case scenario for anyone looking to work in Hollywood, the hilarious and eye-opening movie detailing the making of The Room is one of the best “movies about making movies” ever made. As a big fan of The Room and all its terribleness, I was fascinated to see just how it all came together and was stunned at the amount of heart and sincerity the story contained, particularly around Tommy Wiseau. It’s clear that James Franco, who gives one of the best performances of the year as the eccentric, mysterious and possibly mentally impaired Tommy, absolutely adores the man he portrays and finds something truly inspirational in his story. I felt like writing and creating again after this film, with one thought coursing through my mind: “Well, it can’t be worse than The Room!”
9. The Lost City of Z
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| Amazon Studios |
One of this year’s criminally forgotten films, James Gray’s epic follows British explorer Percy Fawcett and his expeditions into the Amazon, where he discovers evidence of an ancient civilization. From there, it spans the whole of his life as an adventurer, soldier and father, before hurtling towards the frightening end of his journeys. Beautiful to look at, deliberately paced (without being too slow), and bolstered by great performances from Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson and the rest of the cast, this film feels like a type of movie we just don’t see any more. I felt a real feeling of adventure watching this film (amongst other emotions), and I haven't felt that in a movie in a long time.
8. It
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| Warner Bros |
I’ll admit it, I thought this was gonna be pretty bad, but oh boy was I wrong. While there is plenty of horror, especially involving young children, to go around, it’s the charming and surprisingly powerful coming of age story that really stands out here. Throw in a Stranger Things-type 80’s aesthetic, a shockingly talented group of child actors (seriously, how are they ALL that talented?), and a thoughtful dive into childhood fears and how we overcome them, and you have a movie that is a must see even for those who are deathly terrified of clowns. Please don't mess up the sequel!
7. The Big Sick
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| Amazon Studios |
2017 was an awful year in a lot of ways, but movies like The Big Sick made it better just by being so darn heartwarming. The true story of how comedian Kumail Nanjiani met his wife Emily (played here by Zoe Kazan), it chronicles their relationship, Kumail's cultural clashes with his Pakistani parents, and Emily's life-threatening illness. While there are a lot of great dramatic moments here and important social commentary (Kumail is from Pakistan, and his clashes with his religious parents play a big role in this film), the film is first and foremost a comedy, and a great one at that. While the conclusion is something you can figure out by looking at the credits, it's such a delight to experience, and you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking it out.
6. Darkest Hour
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| Focus Features |
Gary Oldman gives the single best performance of his career as Winston Churchill, and it doesn't hurt that the rest of the movie is great, too. Chronicling the life of Churchill from his appointment to Prime Minister to the evacuation of Dunkirk, director Joe Wright redeems himself from the awful Pan by delivering a tense, smart and brilliantly composed film that captures your attention and refuses to let go. Whether it's Churchill making a brutal wartime choice, the maneuverings of the Crown and Neville Chamberlain to remove him, or just our lead sitting alone with the weight of the world on his shoulders, there isn't a moment of this film that I felt dragged or was boring. For history buffs like me or people who just like good movies, this story of one of history's most important men is a must-see.
5. Lady Bird
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| A24 |
Like The Big Sick, Lady Bird gets points right off the bat for being a joy to watch, but underneath the humor lies something far more profound and affecting than I had expected. Telling the story of a young Sacramento girl (played by the brilliant Saoirse Ronan) and her final year of high school, actress Greta Gerwig steps into the director's chair in a brilliant debut. As Lady Bird struggles with boys, friends, college choices and the never-ending battle of wills with her mother (played by, calling it now, soon-to-be Oscar-winner Laurie Metcalf), it struck me that while these events are told from a different perspective, I relate to a lot of them in a very personal way. Going too in-depth would spoil the surprise, but I honestly think this is a film everyone can relate to on some level, and when you add in the great work done by all involved, you have yourself one of the finest films of the year.
4. Get Out
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| Blumhouse |
Very few movies in the month of February are actually good, but Jordan Peele's thriller/horror movie is not just your average film. This smash hit puts you right in the shoes of a young black man meeting his white girlfriend's overly liberal parents, and makes you feel the unease he feels as he navigates rich white society and discovers something sinister underneath it all. It's tense, it's funny and it's extremely intelligent, revealing the disgusting racism hidden behind white liberal "allies" and delivering one of the most satisfying conclusions I've seen in quite a while. Get Out isn't just an entertaining film or a scary film or a smart film, it may be the single most important film to come out this year, and that alone makes it well worth your attention.
3. War for the Planet of the Apes
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| 20th Century Fox |
Director Matt Reeves brings the prequel Apes trilogy to a close with this haunting, moving, and very powerful look at the last stand of Caesar (somebody PLEASE give Andy Serkis an Oscar!) and his tribe of apes. While the "war" in the title may seem misleading, the Holocaust-like imagery, the desperation of the two sides and Caesar's own internal struggle firmly put it in that genre, as the hope of the previous two films gives way to despair and brutality. While not full-on depressing, this is a heavy film that will stick with you in ways most blockbusters can't (or more than likely, won't), and will definitely tug at your heartstrings. It's a fitting conclusion to what is, without a doubt, the greatest trilogy ever put on film.
2. Logan
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| 20th Century Fox |
At a time when I was finally about to give up on superhero films, James Mangold delivered this piece of art right here, an Unforgiven for the genre and the perfect send-off for Hugh Jackman's nearly twenty-year long run as Wolverine. Bleak, dark and at times horrifically brutal, this is the R-rated Wolverine film we've all been waiting for, and the somber meditation on violence that we didn't know we needed to see. Hugh Jackman delivers the best performance of his career, giving his farewell run everything he has to give, with Patrick Stewart and newcomer Dafne Keen (as the feral Laura aka X-23) giving brilliant work as well. These performances, paired with Mangold's direction and script, make Logan one of the best superhero films ever made, and a bittersweet, thoughtful, and emotionally powerful farewell to one of the most iconic film heroes of the century.
1. Blade Runner 2049
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| Warner Bros |
For some reason, I feel like using the word "masterpiece" doesn't do this film enough justice. Director Denis Villeneuve blew away all my expectations with his sequel to Ridley Scott's sci-fi epic, creating something that is not only a worthy sequel, but is possibly even better than the original Blade Runner. The length can be trying for some, but the gorgeous imagery, the interesting mystery and the truly thought-provoking questions posed more than make up for it. Add in another great performance from Ryan Gosling and the best performance Harrison Ford has given in decades and you have a winning recipe for an excellent film, one of the best sequels ever made and something that will definitely be remembered and analyzed for years to come. This film is the prime example of why I love science fiction, it's why I love film, it's why I love storytelling and writing, it's just a perfect package of awesomeness and it breaks my heart that it bombed at the box office. When you can, pick it up and settle in for this experience, because it deserves all the attention you can give it. It's about as perfect as film can get.
This film was such a good year for film that I had a decent number of runner-ups! All great films, they just didn't make my list, but I want to give them a spotlight:
Dunkirk
Good Time
Wonder Woman
I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Beach Rats
Wind River
Girls Trip
Here's to 2018! Happy New Year, guys!
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Twitter: @PresidentGlover
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