Brigsby Bear
Ghost in the Shell
I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
John Wick: Chapter 2
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
10.The Big Sick: I swear to any and every God in this wild world that almost every positive review of The Big Sick I've read has proceeded to extensively shit all over the romantic comedy genre before heaping praise upon the film. WELL I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M NOT JOINING THIS BIZARRE BROAD GENRE-HATING CULT BEFORE I DECLARE MY LOVE FOR THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE MOVIE. Anyways.... This mostly autographical film chronicling the string of hardships Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani and his future wife Emily (played wonderfully in the film by Zoe Kazan) faced in the early stages of their relationship (her going into a months-long coma from a mysterious illness shortly after they started dating, strong disapproval of their relationship from his traditional Pakistani family) features the most poignant combination of laughs and heart I've seen in a romcom since Knocked Up.
9.Molly's Game: Thank you Aaron Sorkin for delivering the proper Jessica Chastain star vehicle I've been clamoring for since Zero Dark Thirty. Behind Sorkin's flashy, energetic writing, Chastain explodes off-the-screen in this enthralling biopic about an ex-professional skier that gets dragged into the world of underground poker after sustaining a career-ending back injury during her qualifying run for the 2002 Winter Olympics and eventually goes onto host some of the most exclusive, high-stakes games in Los Angeles and New York City before getting arrested by the FBI on money laundering charges in 2013.
8.I, Tonya: I, Tonya brings the tumultuous life story of Tonya Harding to the big screen in spectacular fashion. Director Craig Gillespie, screenwriter Steven Rodgers and a terrific cast led by Margot Robbie as Harding cut through the sensationalist, tabloid garbage that has surrounded the disgraced figure skater since the Nancy Kerrigan knee-clubbing incident occurred in January 1994 to deliver a smart, captivating film that offers an unflinching glimpse at the deeply flawed yet sympathetic individual behind the headlines. Hopefully the success of this film will inspire more biopics to portray the individual they're profiling in an objective, fearless fashion that neither vilifies or celebrates them.
7.Baby Driver: There aren't a whole lot of filmmakers who appear to be having more fun making movies than Edgar Wright. That visceral passion for his craft translates to the screen with even greater amount of ferocity than usual on Baby Driver, which is Wright's best work since Shaun of the Dead. Its music-like rhythm, collection of vivid characters and stunning car chases make this a unique, electric heist film that I'll cherish for the rest of my days.
6.Thor: Ragnarok: My hot and cold relationship with the Marvel Machine is well-documented on this blog. I've spent an alarming amount of time over the past several years alternatively praising their ability to make top-notch blockbuster entertainment and trashing their endless world-building. After Thor: Ragnarok, I've never more smitten with Kevin Feige and his team of minions (This current state of bliss will come to an abrupt end if Black Panther ends up underwhelming, so enjoy the complaints while they last fuckers). Ragnarok's inspired zany tone, terrific action sequences and non-stop laughs resulted in the most fun I've had watching a superhero movie to-date.
5.Get Out: Is there anything in the world of entertainment that Jordan Peele can't do? The veteran sketch comedian/actor took his talents behind the camera for the first time in his career and crafted a bold, insane "social thriller" that (rightfully) became a cultural phenomenon over the past ten months. Making a film that cleverly blends biting satire about race relations with paranoia-inducing psychological horror is the mark of a confident, intelligent artist that appears to have a really bright future ahead of him as a filmmaker.
4.Ingrid Goes West: Sundance's absolutely loaded 2017 slate was a phenomenal showcase of the absolute best independent cinema has to offer. Of the dozen or so gems that premiered in Park City last January, Ingrid Goes West shined the brightest. Backed by a clever script that displays a deep understanding of the subject matter its dealing with and the strongest acting ensemble of the year (Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Wyatt Russell, Billy Magnussen), this potent dark comedy shines a light on the surface-level appeal and less-than-ideal realities behind the glamorous facades a sizable amount of the population choose to trot out on social media.
3.The Fate of the Furious: With its inventive action sequences, wildly charismatic band of heroes, a spectacular, scenery-chewing villain (Charlize Theron) and freewheeling tone that never even hints at taking itself seriously, The Fate of the Furious help this long-running series continue to deliver a level of joyous blockbuster spectacle that no other box office titan can replicate. As long as this series maintains its distinct mojo moving forward, I'll never get sick of watching these god damn delightful pieces of art.
2.Wind River: Following his exemplary work on the scripts of crime thrillers Sicario and Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan seamlessly transferred that level of precision to the director's chair on the murder mystery thriller Wind River. Without the burden of having someone else direct his script, Sheridan is able to tell his story in a more streamlined fashion, get more layered performances out of his cast and ratchet up the tension to a suffocating degree.
1.The Disaster Artist: It's poetic that Tommy Wiseau's misguided cult classic The Room inspired a film that's as well-acted, sharply written and moving as The Disaster Artist. James Franco's love letter to the most beloved "bad" movie of all-time manages to work as a hilarious buddy comedy, a heartfelt story about a person living out their lifelong dream of making a movie and a perfect piece of fan service for the millions of people around the globe that have been spellbound by The Room's unique charm over the past 15 years. If I was in charge of handing them out, Wiseau would get the Oscar he's long wanted and wholeheartedly deserves.
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