Top 10 Movies of 2017

  2017 is at an end, and it's been a great year for movies. Not a great year for the Hollywood establishment, mind you, but the movies last year were still great. My only regret is that in the past twelve months I focused too much on movies that were good and didn't take the time to go out and take risks. (I mean, watching bad movies sucks but at least it's fun to write reviews about them!) On the plus side, since I saw so many good movies this year, I can finally do a list like this: these are the top 10 best movies of 2017. Before I begin, keep in mind that this list only includes films that I saw in theatres in 2017. I did go to the theatres just 17 times since January so if there's a great movie you don't see here then don't get upset; I probably just didn't see it. (Or I didn't think much of it. You make the call.) Let's get started!

10. Ghost in the Shell

It's not racist, shut up. Ghost in the Shell is a fantastic sci-fi action spectacle with an amazing visual presentation. Fans of flashy, neon, 1980's-looking science-fiction will be very pleased at what imaginative concepts director Rupert Sanders and cinematographer Jess Hall have brought to life on the big screen. While the story of GITS isn't the most original, the film is held together by a strong performance from Scarlett Johansson. Despite knowing nothing about the original source material I found GITS thoroughly entertaining and I can't wait to see it again.

9. Split

(Yes, I'm aware that Split was first released at Fantastic Fest in 2016. But it didn't get released in theatres until this January so its inclusion here is fair. You got that?) I'm not exactly a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan and I knew that I was taking a gamble by going to see one of his films at the cinema. But I was impressed because Split was actually pretty good; the man should stick to thrillers. This unpredictable, claustrophobic flick is well directed and equally as well acted thanks to a standout performance by James McAvoy playing a dude with multiple personalities who kidnaps teenaged girls and locks them in his basement. All in all Split is an effective thriller that doesn't rely on convoluted plots or in-your-face special effects, just back-to-basics storytelling with a neat villain to keep your attention. If it sounds interesting to you at all, go check it out.

8. It

At number eight we've got another scary movie: It. It seems that Hollywood wants us to believe that all horror movies are fair game for a remake, but unfortunately the remakes are usually worse than the originals. It, however, is one of the few exceptions. This retelling of the story of Pennywise the murderous clown goes lighter on the story (and thankfully the run time) and heavier on the scares. The children characters are all well written and since the adult stuff is being saved for the sequel that means that we get more time to know them in this film. The 1980's setting was believable, not overly-done, and the scares were calculated just right. Horror fans rejoice.

7. Wonder Woman

Supergirl (1984). Tank Girl (1995). Barb Wire (1996). Catwoman (2004). Elektra (2005). Superhero/comic book movies centred around female characters don't have a very good track record, do they? So who better to buck the trend than the Amazing Amazon, herself one of the earliest superheroines. With its spectacular action scenes, neat setting, capable direction, compelling (some might say inspirational) main character, and superb performances from Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, Wonder Woman has also done wonders to make the DC Extended Universe enjoyable. This is largely thanks to its somewhat more lighthearted tone, something that this year's Justice League has also picked up on. It is true that Wonder Woman borrows a lot from 2011's Captain America. As to which one of those two films is better, it's up in the air... along with the invisible jet.

6. John Wick: Chapter 2

Since this movie came out on blu-ray I've rewatched it several times and it never gets old. The mind-blowingly well-choreographed and energetic action scenes are the most excitement I've seen in a film since the Darth Maul lightsaber duel in The Phantom Menace. Apart from that John Wick: Chapter 2 boasts intriguing world-building, spot-on acting from Keanu Reeves, kickass musical scoring, and distinctive visual styling. Since seeing this film in February I have watched the first film and while I found it to be very enjoyable I believe that the second instalment is the superior action experience. I simply cannot stress how refreshingly fun this film felt during my first viewing. To me it looks as if John Wick is set up to be one of the 2010s' best new action series.

5. The Disaster Artist

Haha, what a story, Greg. The Disaster Artist is a movie I've been waiting years to see and its arrival in December didn't disappoint. The story behind the making of The Room (2003) had a lot of potential, both comedic and poignant. This is something the writers and director (James Franco himself) knew well since the final product achieves weird hilarity and touching bromance/inspiration. Franco gives one of the most truly memorable performances of his career as Tommy Wiseau, a weirdo driven to succeed that you'll end up both loving and despising during this film's 103 minutes run time. I was slightly disappointed that there was some stuff from the book left out, but I do understand that it was sacrificed for the sake of a smooth pace. All in all, The Disaster Artist is a charming and fun feel-good flick. I would recommend seeing The Room first, but those who've not seen will still find this one enjoyable.

4. Logan

I've really liked Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. He's one of those few actors who's played the same character in so many movies that you can't imagine anyone else playing the role. It seems fitting that Jackman's (purportedly) final outing as Logan is his best. Imagine 2013's The Wolverine but with even more gritty badassery, more down-to-earth action set pieces, and a bigger emotional stake and you've got Logan, one of the very few movies I've gone to the theatre to see twice. It's violent, but also very emotional. It is easily the best X-Men movie in my opinion, and perhaps one of the best superhero films ever. If you like gritty R-rated action films or if you're looking for a superhero film that does things differently, then you need to check this one out.

3. Baby Driver

Even though I gave Baby Driver a 5-star review (which I still stand by) I wasn't quite sure where to put it on this list. Yes, it's an excellent film that's a lot of fun to watch thanks to its brisk pace, energetic camerawork, cool soundtrack, pulse-pounding action scenes, and lively characters. But the reason my review of it was so short was because there wasn't much to say about it in depth. Instead Baby Driver is an exercise in pure genre, taking all the best elements of crime-action films and packaging them into a sleek and stylish overall product. If you haven't had the chance to go see this one yet, do yourself a favour and check it out, because out of all the films on this list Baby Driver is easily the most enjoyable.

2. Dunkirk

For number two on this list we have the highest grossing WWII film ever made. Dunkirk tells the story of the allied evacuation from three different perspectives: soldiers on the beach, fighter pilots in the air, and sailors coming across the channel. It's a marvellous setup that provides plenty of moments of tense action as well as director Christopher Nolan's signature time-bending plots. His impeccable eye for spectacular cinematography is evident here, giving the audience a good look of working WWII-vintage props in action; CGI was used very sparingly. And of course Hans Zimmer contributes a soundtrack, this one adding a pulsating anxiety to the mix. This adherence to visceral realism makes the action sequences very gripping, recreating an authentic battlefield experience. And don't take my word for it; I took my grandfather with me on my second viewing. Having been a young boy in England during the war and serving in the RCAF, he confirmed that this film's aerial warfare was true to life (except for that gliding shoot-down near the end). On the whole, Dunkirk is one of Nolan's best films to date and will likely be remembered as one of the best war films of this century.

1. Blade Runner 2049

As good as Dunkirk was, my choice for 2017's best film was an easy one. In an age of slap-dash sequel cash-ins Blade Runner 2049 was made by people who truly cared for and respected the masterpiece that was the original Blade Runner from 1982. The story told in this cerebral sequel – which will turn your expectations upside down – builds upon and adds to the world set up in the original rather than just recycling the same plot and world elements. The visual effects are of the highest quality and they bring to life some of the most mind-boggling concepts and breathtaking environments. Sure, it doesn't look much like the classic 1980's film we remember, but this sequel takes place 30 years later so it makes sense in the context of the world 2049 takes place in. It's a great way of staying consistent within the series while at the same time showing us something new. This also comes from the dazzling visuals of director Denis Villeneuve and cinematographer Roger Deacons; few directors could have done a better job with such a project. Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is a remarkable achievement in sci-fi film and it's a real shame that it didn't do so well at the box office. It isn't most necessary sequel ever, but it is definitely a worthwhile one.

Movie Review -- Wonder Woman

   Seventy-four years. It's really taken this long for Wonder Woman to have her own feature-length, theatrically released, live-action film? Batman's had nine and Superman's had eight (if we don't count Suicide Squad or The Lego Movie), but despite being considered one of DC Comics' Big Three, Diana Prince has had to wait until 2017 to finally have a starring role in a movie of her own. So was it worth the wait? Let's take a look!

   Wonder Woman tells us the origin of its titular hero from her formative years on the Island of Themyscira to her first exposure to mankind in Europe during the First World War. This makes for a pretty interesting and different origin story (though it might just feel that way because we haven't seen numerous on-screen re-imaginings of it). The overall story isn't terribly original, but it's done with a new character we only had a brief taste of in 2016's Batman v Superman, so I'm game. Plus it takes place in WWI, which is awesome. Wonder Woman's themes focus heavily on war, bringing to question the morality and consequences of armed conflict amidst the backdrop of one of the most morally-confusing wars in modern history. A good choice, I think. The film isn't as joylessly serious as the other films of the DCEU, but is still well-grounded with real life dilemmas. The whole war theme feels fresh for a superhero movie and it makes it stand out from any other DC film that I've ever seen – although there a couple moments where the film strays awfully close to a “hero the world needs, not the hero it deserves” line. There's also a couple moments where the dialogue feels a little too Care Bears-y.

   One thing I found to be a great relief was that Wonder Woman completely avoids progressive and SJW sentimentality. It doesn't shove toxic feminism down your throat. It doesn't make its audience members feel ashamed or guilty about anything. It doesn't tell you to hashtag BLM, revoke the 2^nd Amendment, impeach Trump, or any stupid crap like that. It's OK to like this movie regardless of your politics.

   Just don't expect a history lesson from watching this movie. Most obvious thing ever, I know, but as a student of history I was bothered by a few historical inconsistencies. For example, the film takes place in the Fall of 1918 but it suggests that the Germans still have a chance at holding out and prolonging the war. No mention is made of the German Revolution. Hydrogen is presented as a viable ingredient in mustard gas. And worst of all, Erich Ludendorff has no moustache! Disgraceful.

   Lots of people are going to be comparing Wonder Woman to 2011's Captain America: First Avenger so let's get this part out of the way now. While both movies have similar plots and even scenes (WW's climax partially rips off CA:FA's ending), the tone is pretty different. While First Avenger feels like a traditional superhero movie Wonder Woman feels more like a straight-up war film. WW deals with more relevant themes, is slightly more life-like (relatively speaking; these are superhero films after all), and has the main character actually fighting Germans, something Captain America never did in his film.

   Let's talk about the acting. It's rather good. Gal Gadot does a wonderful job of portraying the wonderful heroine with just the right mix of bravery, earnestness, and naivete. In the role of American (of course) spy hero Steve Trevor is Chris Pine, whose performance is just as good as you'd expect; no surprises. There's also Danny Huston as Colonel Stryker, I mean Colonel Stryker, I mean General Ludendorff, I mean Colonel Stryker. And lastly we have Elena Anaya as the diabolical Isabel Maru – AKA Dr Poison – who, while she isn't terribly interesting as a character, does have a cool appearance.

   And that's Wonder Woman, a capable superhero movie for both WW fans and non-WW fans alike. It manages to pull off the delicate balance of being both enjoyable and serious enough to both entertain you and make you think, something not easy to achieve for superhero films. It's easily the best – some might say the only good – movie of the DC Extended Universe so far, and as far as I'm concerned it went to the hero who deserved it most.

   And remember, just because you can't see the invisible jet doesn't mean it isn't there.

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