My Favourite Films of 2017 (SPOILERS)
The following list includes my personal favorite films released in the UK in 2017. Note that this is my personal list, and your views may differ, alongside the fact that there are many fantastic films released this year that I have not yet been able to see, partly due to limited releases or differing release dates between the UK and other countries.
My honorable mentions include:
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Baby Driver
The Florida Project
Good Time
Beatuy and the Beast
My honorable mentions include:
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Baby Driver
The Florida Project
Good Time
Beatuy and the Beast
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- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanPatrick StewartDafne KeenIn a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan leads a quiet life. But when Laura, a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.'I will make you hurt'. A Johnny Cash lyric used in the marketing for this film that somehow manages to summarise the experience of both this films protagonist and the audience. I do not see this as a comic book film, but one that subverts the genre in such a way it plunges from the naïvety of fiction into reality. This film is dark, brutal and most importantly, real. The characters form valuable relationships, and the film builds on previously established lore and relationships to reach a greater emotional climax, yet it still stands on its own as a modern-day Western, concerned with the death of the past and the importance in preserving the future. It is needless to say that all of the performances are stellar, and make up for the criminally underused Richard E. Grant as the villain. The action is bold and unforgiving. People grow old, people die. This is no longer a haven for those wanting to escape the confines of reality, this is where long-term fans go to bid farewell to one of their favorite characters, in a poetic but heartbreaking fashion. 'Logan' is my favorite film of the year.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaMark HamillRey develops her abilities with the help of Luke Skywalker, as the Resistance prepares for battle against the First Order.'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' exists on a bridge, connecting the franchises' past to its inevitable future, which whilst controversial, proves necessary for its success. Many see this as a bastardization of the old films and what they stood for, however, to me, it seems as though these complaints are made by those who desire a continuation of the Original Trilogy, and do not want to see a realistic progression of the characters we all know and love. I have so much respect for the filmmakers behind this picture, due to the pure audacity they adopt, and the consistently unpredictable approach they take to every sequence. It is refreshing to see filmmakers take such an approach with a beloved franchise that stands as one of the tent-poles supporting 21st-century cinema. If 'The Force Awakens' took a brick out of the establishment built by Lucas and his films, 'The Last Jedi' is the wrecking ball needed to level it. The death of Luke Skywalker was a gorgeous and heartfelt callback to 'A New Hope', and Mark Hamill truly shines in his most vulnerable performance. It sets up story threads and conflicts both between and within characters to be carried over to the next film and shows that the Force is strong with this new trilogy.
- DirectorGarth DavisStarsDev PatelNicole KidmanRooney MaraA five-year-old Indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.I feel as though 'Lion' was a film brushed off by the large majority of its audiences, which to some degree is understandable. Its brief marketing campaign was also somewhat misleading, making this an easy film to miss. It is, however, the most emotionally charged film I have seen in several years. Primarily, the performances are all brilliant, as one would expect from a cast of talent including Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, and Rooney Mara. The narrative is fairly simple, but these actors inject it with such devotion, giving it traction and permitting the audience passage into the real lives of these characters. As biopics go, 'Lion' is a member of the genre that doesn't subvert it, so much as it masters the beats commonly found within them. Its ability to tell a relatively unknown story, and yet invest the audience to such a degree that only the heartless aren't in tears upon its conclusion, is a huge credit to the team behind this breathtaking feature.
- DirectorMike MillsStarsAnnette BeningElle FanningGreta GerwigThe story of a teenage boy, his mother, and two other women who help raise him among the love and freedom of Southern California of 1979.'20th Century Women' is the second directorial outing for up-and-coming director Mike Mills, following his equally brilliant 'Beginners'. This film is a pseudo-realistic exploration of the trials of adolescence and age respectively, and furthermore, a meditation on life taken from multiple differing perspectives. The writing present here, and the relationships founded between characters feel undoubtedly real, and each one is presented from an exterior and interior view, exposing the degrees we as a species go to mask our true personalities and the reasons as to why we do so. The dialogue is pitch-perfect, and each character likable, yet flawed in their respective ways. Annette Bening is her usual excellent self here, however, Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning really shine here, both presenting confused youths, one at the beginning of her journey into adulthood, and one coming to the end, and facing the realization of maturity and the fears of becoming a functioning part of society.
- 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.'Blade Runner 2049', from its announcement, appeared to worry the majority of long-term fans of the original sci-fi classic. Upon the news that it would be in the hands of Denis Villeneuve, completely extinguished my skepticism. The aspect of this film that appeared to me the most impressive was how well it replicated and expanded on the dystopian world created by Ridley Scott in the original. The grim cityscape has further decayed as a result of a worldwide blackout, the android apartheid has arisen as an understandable repercussion to the events of the first film, and the landscapes we explore away from the city feel as though they could only exist in the Blade Runner universe. The soundtrack is an impeccable replication of the originals, only complimenting the visuals. The narrative was another pleasant surprise. It is complex, yet not convoluted. It successfully ingrains the events of the original, without detracting from the personal journeys of the new characters, and its multiple twists and turns result in a comprehensive, well-deserved conclusion that leaves the possibility for future installments without creating a necessity for one. In other words, it's a perfect sequel.
- 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.Jordan Peele is slowly invading popular culture. Following the success of his comedy duo Key & Peele, and one of the only genuinely funny comedies to be released last year, 'Keanu', he has now moved on to write and direct and independent horror film that successfully comments of the state of 21st-century society, coupled with an investing narrative steeped in unexpected beats of comedy and intense scares. Daniel Kaluuya delivers an intense performance, whilst the supporting cast works hard to create an unsettling atmosphere throughout. Whilst 'Get Out' is defined as a horror film, it interweaves so many aspects of different genres it could fit into several others. The creativity at play here is immense and enviable. It occupies a narrative thread rarely explored in other horror films, with a deep psychological aspect that is both unexpected yet entirely welcome. Were you to write down a synopsis of the film, most people, including me, would expel it as B-movie fare, but herein Peele exploits the advantage of film. It is a visual medium, and 'Get Out' is a story that could only be told in such a way.
- DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTimothée ChalametArmie HammerMichael StuhlbargIn 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father's research assistant.I was not a fan of Guadagnino's last effort, 'A Bigger Splash' - in fact, I found it relatively boring. As a result, I was tentative when going into his new film, 'Call Me By Your Name'. Having seen it, my expectations have been blown out of the water, and I feel a fool for doubting him. This film can be summarised in two words, those being 'beautiful' and 'fragile'. Italy is depicted in a gorgeous fashion, and the sense of time and place created is masterful, improved further by the stellar cinematography. The film's fragility comes from its characters, especially those played by Timothée Chalamet, and Armie Hammer. The vulnerability they both present is a huge credit to their respective talents as actors, and place the film on yet a higher pedestal. 'Call Me By Your Name' is a sensitive, completely human narrative, with undertones of tragedy. It also stands as a solid coming-of-age film, with the final shot serving as a stinging reminder of the emotions we all face when having to move on from something, whatever that may be.
- 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.Christopher Nolan has tried and succeeded in a multiplicity of genres, and yet, has been snubbed every time. He has defined the superhero genre with the 'Dark Knight Trilogy', developed a Kubrickian sci-fi with 'Interstellar', somehow subverted expectations for a psychological thriller with 'Memento', and crafted an almost-Shakespearian tragedy with 'The Prestige'. 'Dunkirk' is his war film. Many may see war films as surface-level patriotism fare, however, Nolan's film is anything but. Primarily, the film features very little dialogue and focuses more on the event as a whole rather than a clear protagonist. Instead of resulting in a narrative lacking direction, one quickly realizes that the event itself occupies that role. The film is beautifully shot with an expertly crafted soundtrack, building intensity throughout with an omnipresent ticking, a manifestation of the approaching enemy and the consistent stakes present throughout. Finally, the artistic approach Nolan takes to the timescale featured in the film only adds to its reputation as a proud addition to Nolan's portfolio. 'Dunkirk' is not only a fantastic tale of survival but an important example of how varied war films can be as a genre. Once again, Nolan hits a home run, but then again, you probably already knew that.
- DirectorDavid LoweryStarsCasey AffleckRooney MaraMcColm Cephas Jr.In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.David Lowery made a bold choice in deciding to make this film. On the surface, it appears to be a moody drama, sourced from a somewhat strange premise, Casey Affleck stars as a ghost in a literal bedsheet. The final product is, however, so much more. It focuses on love, loss, acceptance, and the expansive, continuous nature of time. For me, above all else, it focuses on loneliness and abandonment. This thematic summary is broad, however, to go into depth would taint any viewing experience, which is exactly what this film is, an experience. 'A Ghost Story' is far from the top of my list, not because its a weaker film, but because of its demanding nature and existentialist message, whilst compelling, is also emotionally exhausting. I feel as though it is a difficult film to define because of this, each viewer may have a differing experience. I respect Lowery's confidence in his audience, with this film featuring very minimal dialogue, and lengthy, drawn-out visuals. The visual storytelling here is bar-to-none, with the majority of the simple yet constantly diverging narrative being told without the assistance of dialogue. 'A Ghost Story' is a justifiably slow film, a meditation on time and its expansiveness. It is, at times, a hard film to watch, however, this is solely due to its viewpoint on life as a difficult process and one that must be dealt with on order to achieve what is brilliant about it.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsSaoirse RonanLaurie MetcalfTracy LettsIn 2002, an artistically inclined 17-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.'Lady Bird' is the directorial debut of Greta Gerwig, an actress regularly featured in the films of Noah Baumbach and Mike Mills. Here, however, she marks her own cinematic style in a film that defies the conventions of a romantic comedy, instead telling more of a mother-daughter story. This divergence from genre expectations is a welcome change and shows promise for the future of Gerwig's directorial career. Her previous collaborations, both writing and performing, with Baumbach are clear here through the dialogue and aspects of her directorial vision, however, the completed film assures the audience that this is her own. The performances here are stellar all-around, highlights including Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. This film has already received universal acclaim for its narrative decisions, writing, and characters, and this review is simply one of many agreeing with these praises. Although 'Lady Bird' is not at the top of this list, it is undoubtedly one of the most promising directorial debuts of recent years, whilst also ensuring that the future of indie cinema is safe in Gerwig's capable hands.