Top 15 Movies of 2017 (So Far)
Well, we're more than halfway through the year, and so many movies were released. Today we're looking back on my TOP 15 MOVIES OF 2017 (So Far). By "So far" I mean films that came out in the months of January to June, so that means War For the Planet of the Apes and Spider-Man Homecoming won't be here. Sorry, got to maintain consistency even though I saw both films in June.
15) Before I Fall - It may look like a teenage girl’s Groundhogs Day on the surface, but if you dig deeper, Ry-Russo Young’s film adaptation of Lauren Oliver’s bestseller YA novel is far much better in ways you wouldn't expect it to be. The film is a three-dimensional character study where a mean girl goes through a continuous time loop where none of the days seem repetitious. It has an unexpected conclusion that you’re either going to love or hate. As you can tell just by putting this on the list, I loved it. Before I Fall is a great film for its demographic where it sends a powerful for girls to not become assholes because karma is a bitch. You don’t see most films of this type have a message like that and I appreciate this for being the first to do it in a clever. Oh yeah, did I mention that this is hands down Zoey Deutch's best performance role in her career so far? Where she was only the supporting character in films that I hated, not only does she give a great performance, but also showcases how much she can singlehandedly carry a movie.
14) It Comes at Night - If this weren't marketed as a horror film, I would’ve ranked it much higher on this list, but for what it is, It Comes at Night is a compelling psychological thriller that is engaging and unsettling. Yeah, you can have an unsettling movie without it being a horror. Think of this as a Walking Dead DLC side story without seeing any walkers, and there you have it.
13) Split - An M. Night Shyamalan movie released in January? Those two factors are already a recipe for disaster especially mixed together. If it weren't for The Visit being such a solidly crafted thriller, I would've torn this film a new one. Thankfully this movie isn't just a pleasant surprise but also solidifies Shyamalan's return to form. Split goes from being a solid thriller with character development and intense sequences once the twist comes you realize it is a super villain origin film to A MUCH LARGER M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN UNIVERSE! Did anybody expect this to be an Unbreakable sequel/spinoff film? No. Was it executed well? AMAZINGLY!
12) Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie - In a year where animation has been very lacking of quality regarding substance and style, here comes Dreamworks Animation's first outsourced film to blow away everyone's expectations. It pisses me off personally how poorly marketed this movie was when its one of their better releases for me since 2014's How to Train Your Dragon 2. Like Blue Sky's The Peanuts Movie, Captain Underpants incorporates various animation techniques from having paper cut animation to having 2D facial designs on 3D models while being oh so faithful to its source. material. We all know of the franchise's potty humor just based on several book titles, but the screenplay written by Nicholas Stoller adds so much creativity and cleverness in the film's humor that it sincerely becomes one of the best comedies of the year. It's a mature family film in the most immature way possible.
11) T2 Trainspotting - It may be a sequel that has style over substance, but T2 is a well-welcomed return to the characters of the 1996 cult classic everyone loved. Trainspotting was the film that put Danny Boyle, Ewen Mcgregor, and the rest of the cast onto the maps of cinema. This sequel maintains the charm the original had while providing a new narrative that is poignant and deeply thought out with unbelievably mesmerizing visuals from beginning to end.
10) The LEGO Batman Movie - We're getting two LEGO movies this year and yet they always seem to be the best form of theatrical storytelling and this film is cinematic proof why. The LEGO Batman movie has the same amount of charm, humor, and creativity but what elevates it is the hysterical references to the lore of The Dark Knight pointing out the strengths and weaknesses in his history. It takes jabs at both Batman's history and the DCEU's in the most hysterical ways it can. THERE IS AN IRON MAN JOKE, AND IT'S HILARIOUS! LEGO Batman does all of this while crafting an emotional narrative that elevates it to be one of the best animated movies of the year and also one of the best Batman movies of all time.
9) Wonder Woman - At first I was hesitant onto seeing this film given the DCEU’s track record especially since their two films of 2016 ended up on my worst list, but after watching this like literally right at the credits, I stood up and said, “YOU FINALLY DID IT DC! YOU FINALLY MADE A SOLIDLY DECENT MOVIE!” Not only is this the best DCEU film but is also one of the best superhero origin narratives since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. Wonder Woman is the first movie I’ve seen in a long time where it makes you want to be a superhero. We follow a hero who just wants to help people and uses her power in the best way she can to do. Gal Gadot gives a phenomenal performance as the Amazon Princess Diana who is honestly the first character in the Extended Universe that has an actual depth to her without being forced to be dark or brooding. SHe’s more of a Disney princess when you get down to it. The real hero of the film though is director Patty Jenkins who kicks the dark tone poisoned by Snyder & Ayers to the curb by adding humor and colorful visuals throughout. Wonder Woman just goes to show it takes a woman to do a man’s job.
8) The Little Hours - I’m sorry to say it, but raunchy comedies are getting tedious now. The films focus more on ad-libbing than a story and which makes the moviegoing experience not as fun as it used to be. What if I told you that director Jeff Baena directed a period piece comedy based on The Decameron with comedic performers, barely a script, and nothing but ad-libbing and yet make it work from beginning to end? You might think I’m a hypocrite, but The Little Hours is one of those ad-libbed comedies that tells a consistent story and manage to be hysterical at the same time. The Little Hours is hands down the best raunchy comedy of the year.
7) Baby Driver - This may personally be the worst Edgar Wright film to me but yet it is still one of most refreshing films of the year. The writing is excellent, the soundtrack is infectious, the action is surprisingly violent, sound mixing, and it features some of the best editings for car chase sequences I’ve seen in a movie since Mad Max: Fury Road. God am I obsessed with this film where every time I walk out, I want to walk back in. If you don’t like this movie, then you are a heartless soul. The only person who hates this movie is my dad, and he indeed is a heartless soul. Okay, that's not true I love him to death, but nothing is more heartbreaking than him telling me that this movie sucks. 7 YEARS AGO WE WENT TO SEE SCOTT PILGRIM IN THEATERS, AND WE LOVED IT SO I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY HE HATES THIS!
6) John Wick Chapter 2 - We see John Wick kill two people with a pencil. Do I need to say more? DO I NEED TO SAY HOW THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ACTION SEQUELS OF ALL TIME?! The stakes are raised higher, the action sequences are brilliantly choreographed, the assassin world is expanded, and the kill count is fucking amazing. John Wick 2 is everything that a sequel should do while building itself up for a thrilling conclusion that has everyone pumped for the final film.
5) Colossal - As much Anne Hathaway controls the scene in this well-written kaiju indie comedy that works on all cylinders, Jason Sudeikis singlehandedly elevates this film to a high rank on the list. Comedian Jason Sudeikis who originated from Saturday Night Live gives hands down one of the most career-changing performances in his career and one of the best performances I’ve seen this year. Jason Sudeikis gives a performance that scared the shit out of me, and that's the main reason why Colossal is #5.
4) The Lovers - I’m not saying everything A24 releases are amazing but the majority of it is, and this is no exception. Azalea Jacobs’ romantic comedy is not only refreshing for its genre, but far more is emotionally mature and poignant than anything else I’ve seen this year well until I saw the #1 movie.
3) My Entire High School is Sinking into the Sea - Here’s a movie I never got the chance to review but had the time to check it out on my down time. Dash Shaw’s directorial debut isn’t only an engaging and dark narrative but a mesmerizing visual masterpiece. Recently I have been exhausted with the oversaturation of CG animated films (which I am going to write an editorial about soon), and this solidifies why. Shaw’s unique style he incorporates in the movie takes from different art styles varying from its watermark painted backgrounds to paper cut out Monty Python type animation. Remember when you used to watch a cheap anime or cartoon where a lot of the animation is recycled, and you think “Wow that's cheap!” Well, when you watch this film, you think “WOW that’s effective”. The film is crafted entirely like free arts and craft project and its perfect. The last time I felt so strongly about a mature 2D animated film with both a balanced story and style was Persepolis, and that came out exactly a decade ago.
2) Get Out - Do I need to say anything more than JORDAN PEELE MADE A BRILLIANT HORROR/THRILLER WITH A SURPRISING SOCIAL COMMENTARY THAT BLEW EVERYONE’S MIND?! The writing is stellar, the direction is inspired, and when it gets to that last act, this becomes one of the best horror films that feature a central character with a brain. Screw you guys; this is one of the best horror movies in the genre right up there with The Exorcist, The Shining, and Poltergeist for me.
1) The Big Sick - When I give a movie a 6/5 you know that means I’ve found my favorite movie of the year. Kumail Najuliani and Emily V. Gordon wrote a modern day romantic comedy based on their relationship. AND IT IS REFRESHING. I’m not the only one who believes it as well for American audiences are supporting the hell out of it as well.
Listen to this. On the weekend of July 7 - July 9 the movie was #8 in the box office with $3.6 mil in 326 theaters. Right above it was The House which made $4.8 mil IN OVER 3,00 THEATERS!
Now imagine if The Big Sick was in over 3,000 theaters and how much money that would've garnered. Not only is that amazing but it's also revolutionary for an indie movie to do that well. It's just proof that audiences are getting smart and love the original content in movies such as this and I’m right with them. I love this movie to death and hope to drag more people to see it for the duration of its release in the theater.
