My favorite movies of 2017.
1 - I, TonyaGrade: A
The most entertaining movie I've seen, top to bottom, all year. I still remember following her career from '91-'94, the significance of the triple axel, the rivalry and controversy around Nancy Kerrigan. But F*CK, I had no idea what her life was like prior to all that. It's at once a tragedy with few sympathetic characters but also
spit your drink out funny. This was the funniest movie I've seen all year, and many of the details here left my jaw on the ground.
2 - Star Wars: The Last JediGrade: A
My favorite Star Wars movie. Upended expectations and called into question what exactly makes up a hero in the SW universe. Beautifully shot and injected some much needed humor into the series. My only regret is the last film in the trilogy goes back to J.J. Abrams.
3 - ColossalGrade A-
You can gather the premise based on the trailer; Anne Hathaway plays someone unwittingly in control of a Godzilla type creature wreaking havoc in Korea. It's a premise that's both funny and disturbing when the body count pile up. But this movie takes off when a sharp turn happens in the middle and what transpires is a sad story of harassment, abuse, and male privilege. I absolutely cannot recommend this weird sci-fi film enough. Even if you're not a fan of Hathaway I'm confident you'll enjoy it.
4 - Logan LuckyGrade: A-
Ocean's 7-11 is an absolute blast. Maybe my favorite Soderberg movie since Out of Sight. Adam Driver and (especially) Daniel Craig playing against type and they're so fun to watch. It made $28 million domestically and should have been a monster. I have no idea what happened.
5 - Mother!Grade: A-
It took me a while to wrap my head around what I saw, but I think it helped that I went into watching it having an idea of what the movie was trying to do. That being the case, as I able to simply sit back and enjoy the absolutely insane **** ride. Gets points for being a movie unlike everything I've seen before it.
6 - The Disaster ArtistGrade A-
Everything I'd hoped it would be. So many moments that made me holler. The montage, side-by-side split of TDA and The Room at the end was perfect.
7 - Molly’s GameGrade A-
I'm an unapologetic Sorkin honk and super loved his first directorial effort. Had all the ultra-quick dialogue you expected and none of the preachiness that's plagued him. Especially enjoyed Michael Cera as Player X. It made me thankful that Toby Maguire's career has come to a screeching halt, that f*ck-o.
8 - The PostGrade: A-
I enjoyed this more than Spotlight, but not as much as The Paper. It's the performances here that carry the movie. My new favorite Meryl Streep performance (or right behind The Devil Wears Prada), and watching her go toe-to-toe with Tom Hanks's gruff Ben Bradlee was film catnip. I can't overstate how perfect it was to watch her character go from silent, weak, and overwhelmed to strong, confident and willing to take a bat to the men who'd previously she deferred to. Had two incredible monologues.
9 - The Big SickGrade B+
Just a very sweet, easy to watch comedy. Left me in a great mood when it was finished.
10 - Thor: Ragnarok Grade B+
The funniest MCU movie by a long shot. Thor/Hemsworth has quickly become my favorite part of the on-going series of movies. All the supporting characters were perfect, with nods to Tessa Thompson and Jeff Goldblum. I REALLY hope Cate Blanchett's Hela isn't done and they somehow make her the personification of Death in Infinity Wars.
11 - Baby DriverGrade B+
The movie I had the highest hopes for on this list, it slightly disappointed but only because my expectations for an Edgar Wright movie are astronomical. I need to watch it again.
12 - DunkirkGrade: B+
Conversely, I didn't have high hopes for this one because of reviews made it sound like we didn't get enough characters to really care about. I came away happily surprised. Just a masterclass in film editing and I was in awe of many of the set-pieces. One of my favorite endings on the year.
13 - The Shape of WaterGrade B+
This movie gave me whiplash. Like most GDT movies it seems to fit in a Disney Fantasy universe, with the rich colors and magical soundtrack. Then the nudity, misogyny, sex, violence, and gore show up and I'm like NOPE NOT A KID'S MOVIE. Overall I liked it more on a technical standpoint than as a story. I also couldn't get past why everyone seemed so fine with beastiality.
14 - Blade Runner 2049Grade B
Points for being excellent to look at, with Harrison Ford's first good performance in decades. I thought the story could have been less convoluted. I need to watch this one again; I'll probably like it more.
15 - Get OutGrade B
I knew what was going on and had the entire story spoiled for me long before I finally saw it. That probably affected my overall enjoyment. I
really hate awkwardness and being made to feel uncomfortable when I'm watching movies and TV, and this one made me cringe. Never the less, a super creative story I enjoyed.
16 - War for the Planet of the ApesGrade B
Nice, straightforward finale to a great trilogy. Serkis and Harrelson were outstanding and the animations blew me away.
17 - The Florida ProjectGrade B
Man, if Brooklyn Prince won a best actress award I wouldn't complain a bit. This little kid was astonishingly good. Movie did a wonderful job showing a brutal world through the eyes of a precocious child. She doesn't understand the bad around her and when it all comes crashing down it's heartbreaking.
18 - Wonder WomanGrade B
Very much enjoyed it, but I still feel like it's a bit overrated. Looking forward to a proper sequel.
19 - Only the BraveGrade B
I'll just leave
Vince Mancini's review here since he says it better than I could. I didn't know exactly what I was watching until the firefighters named themselves the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the hairs on my arms stood up and I knew exactly what was about to come. A movie you'll cheer and one you'll also find yourself devastated by.
20 - Brawl in Cell Block 99Grade B
A no-frills ultra-violent prison movie buoyed by an incredible performance by Vince Vaughn. Absolutely not a movie for everyone.
21 - Alien: CovenantGrade B
I loathed Prometheus but this one did it for me. The villain was one of the best of the year and brought me back to the original Alien. Not scary, but a solid film.
22 - Atomic BlondeGrade B
Convoluted but ultimately shallow plot aside, this one for me was entirely about three things: the killer 80s soundtrack, the dizzying hand to hand combat, and the style brought to the screen by Charlize Theron. I doubt it happens, but it would make me very happy to see this made into a three movie franchise.
23 - Kong: Skull IslandGrade B
I **** great Monster Movie with an exceptional cast! I went in with low expectations because of the genre, and was happily surprised by absolutely everything. Great set-pieces, interesting characters, monster animations that blew me away. John C. Reilly is a national treasure.
24 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2Grade: B-
I liked it, definitely want to see it again, it's on the upper end of MCU movies, but it's also a victim of expectations. The first was so incredibly good, and this one didn't really live up to its predecessor.
25 - LoganGrade B-
The gritty Wolverine movie was solid, gave us a new look at a well-worn character, but it didn't do it for me the way it seemed to for everyone else. Another I may like more on subsequent viewings, of which there will be many on FX I'm sure.
26 - ItGrade B-
This is probably low. I wasn't totally into it when I watched the movie mostly because I know the source material after being alive for the last 36 years. What they did was really well done, Pennywise was great, and almost all of the kids did a great job (not the kid from Stranger Things, he's awful). Looking forward to the sequel.
27 - Happy Death DayGrade B-
A fun take on the Groundhog Day trope. Nice date movie. Didn't try to be anything more than it was.
28 - Lady MacbethGrade B-
I'm really not an arthouse fan, and rarely a period piece fan either. That I can say this movie held my attention and shocked me as much as it did is saying something. The less you know about it the better. What I can say is it's worth watching for Florence Pugh's performance alone. Just a **** powerhouse.
29 - GiftedGrade B-
I'll see anything with Chris Evans at this point. This is another good one with a precocious kid at its center. Sweet little film with some sadness along the way.
30 - SplitGrade B-
Another one that I liked despite not being completely invested. James McAvoy was obviously incredible. Gonna like it more once I'm not distracted while it's on.
31 - The Belko ExperimentGrade B-
I liked this one more than the critics did, I guess. Nice, violent popcorn movie with enough guessing to keep you interested. Satisfying ending.
32 - The Hitman’s BodyguardGrade B-
Ryan Reynolds and SLJ had AWESOME chemistry. Perfect buddy-cop even though they're not cops vibe. I'd watch an entire movie of just them going back and forth. Where it gets knocked is the uninspiring action you can just fast forward through.
33 - John Wick: Chapter 2Grade B-
Solid, not as good as the first, I'm pretty over gun violence.
34 - Kingsman the Golden CircleGrade B-
See above.
35 - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing MissouriGrade C+
Most disappointing movie of the year. Was expecting a lot of fresh humor, instead it makes a mockery of how midwestern people actually talk and act. The whole thing felt completely tired.
36 - Valerian and the City of a Thousand PlanetsGrade C+
This movie should have been amazing. I actually really regret not seeing it on the big screen. Can't imagine what it looked like on true IMAX. It's just unreal on a technical level. Unfortunately the story falls miles short of what Besson did in The Fifth Element, and infinitely worse, it's AMAZINGLY miscast. Cara Delavigne and Dane Dehaan...I don't know that I could come up with two worse leads for these roles. It almost makes me angry, given the budget.
37 - Home AgainGrade C+
It's a rom-com with the queen of the genre Reece Witherspoon. Of-f*cking-course I'mma see it. Unfortunately this is the worst of her collection. Light on the comedy, sparkless unbelievable romance. Not terrible, not good either.
38 - American AssassinGrade C+
Could have been better with a better cast Mitch Rapp. In fact, had they simply cast him with the villain Taylor Kitsch the movie could have been fine. But they instead cast a dude who looks like he's 17.
39 - Free FireGrade C
I barely remember what this was about. Just a lot of gun fighting in a warehouse and some unintelligible actors. Brie Larson and Cillian Murphy deserve better than this bore.
40 - Beauty and the BeastGrade C
The original is an all-time favorite. Wanted to like this live action remake BUT NO ONE COULD SING. Kind of an important detail to screw up, Disney.
41 - LifeGrade C
Dull, predictable, waste of a nice cast.
42 - Murder on the Orient ExpressGrade C
Another waste of an exceptional cast. Had trouble following what Kenneth Branagh was saying, though he had his moments. Knowing the source material didn't help at all; maybe would have liked it more if the ending was a surprise.
43 - Call me by your NameGrade C
Having recently spent three weeks in Italy, I appreciated subtle details and the beautiful shots. But the story bored the hell out of me.
44 - The Fate of the FuriousGrade: C-
No where close to Furious 7, and its where the series seems to have run out of steam. Barely remember the plot and the action was boring.
45 - Lady BirdGrade D+
Obviously not for me. Like I said, not every trash teen's Livejournal deserves a movie.
46 - Wind RiverGrade D+
Hated how everything came together so conveniently. Ruined what was otherwise a solid film.
47 - Ghost in the ShellGrade F
Just a complete mess.
48 - The Lost City of ZGrade F
Second biggest disappointment of the year. Took an incredible David Grann novel and turned it into a slog.
