Cultjer Staff Picks: Our Favorite Films of 2017
Happy New Year Cultjer readers! The time has come and with a new year on the horizon, we’d like to take this moment and look back on a few of our “favorite” films of 2017.
While it shouldn't come as a total surprise that Logan, Blade Runner 2049, The Big Sick, Wind River, and Dunkirk led this year's general consensus of "favorite films of 2017," our talented team of writers also pegged Detroit, Ingrid Goes West, The Post, War for the Planet of the Apes, Power Rangers, and mother! among 2017's best. I'll see your raised eyebrow cc-Power Rangers with my love for Monster Trucks. Not a single honorable mention. Boo. But really, what would a top ten list be if it weren’t for the subjective right?
As always, I want to give a special thanks to our new and senior contributors who kept Cultjer going throughout 2017. Their thoughtful articulations are the sole reason why Cultjer exists and will continue to exist as we strive to deliver relevant and insightful film and television commentary heading into 2018. Last, thanks to every single one of you readers for supporting our work. Agree or disagree with our film or television 'takes', I find a little bit of joy in this crazy world we inhabit knowing our passion for film is a common bond that unites more than divides.
So without further ado…and Happy New Year!
Jackson Murphy (Senior Contributor) @LCJReviews
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Get Out – Jordan Peele’s smart, multi-layered thriller
Ingrid Goes West – Modern, intelligent script on social media and obsession
Kedi – A deeply moving documentary on Istanbul cats
Mudbound – Netflix historical drama has the best ensemble of 2017
The Zookeeper’s Wife – Emotional story and great work from Jessica Chastain
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT HONORABLE MENTIONS
All the Money in the World – Director Ridley Scott re-shot a significant portion of this movie in November, and the final product is a major success.
Lost in London – Woody Harrelson starred, wrote and directed the first-ever LIVE movie
Loving Vincent – The first fully-painted movie ever made
TOP TEN
1. THE POST ⎮ Steven Spielberg's depiction of the Washington Post Pentagon Papers is a monumental achievement, headlined by Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, who simply blow you away.
2. WONDER ⎮ Based on the best-selling novel, it's the year's biggest surprise - raw, heartwarming and inspirational.
3. I, TONYA ⎮ Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are incredible in this modern, electrifying look at figure skater Tonya Harding.
4. STEP ⎮ An unforgettable documentary about a group of Baltimore high school senior girls on a step team looking to get into college. Director Amanda Lipitz makes every right decision.
5. BLADE RUNNER 2049 ⎮ The best action movie of 2017 is even better than the 1982 original: deep, elegant and haunting.
6. WIND RIVER ⎮ A gripping, powerful dramatic thriller with excellent work from Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen.
7. THE HERO ⎮ Sam Elliott gives a career-defining performance as an actor trying to make things right before it's too late.
8. THE BREADWINNER ⎮ The year's best animated film is an emotional journey of sacrifice, love and family.
9. AMERICAN MADE ⎮ Tom Cruise is at his best re-teaming with "Edge of Tomorrow" director Doug Liman for this wild action biopic.
10. THE BIG SICK ⎮ It's one of the most real movies I've seen in a long time: a smart true-story rom-com with a fantastic ensemble.
Delali Adogla-Bessa (Senior Contributor) @DelaliBessa
Blade Runner 2049 ⎮ Blade Runner 2049 appeared before us like a blockbuster but tasted and felt nothing like one. Denis Villeneuve handles his sequel to 'Blade Runner' with such reverence you wonder if there is a shrine in a basement where he prays to the 1982 original. But he is also not afraid to move on, as he crafts an immensely rewarding narrative soaked in love, tragedy and fulfillment whilst buoyed by intricate and organic world building.
There was something weirdly satisfying about the fact 'Blade Runner 2049' scrapped to gross just over its $180 million budget. Denis Villeneuve oversaw a sci-fi thriller laden with ideas that pandered to no one despite the budget of a Marvel event film. The visuals served up are priceless (S/O Roger Deakins) as our director further entrenched himself as one of the custodians of the art of cinema for the next few decades.
Coco ⎮ Pixar finally made me feel like a kid again. Pixar left me a sobbing wreck again. Pixar gave me front row seats to a world rich in imagination and bursting with heart. 'Coco' was such a blessing to me. This fantastical tale about the power of music and the endurance of family still leaves me weak in the knees.
There is something timeless about the complex themes it tackles; ranging from legacy to memory and even grief. 'Coco' revels in its Mexican influences giving it an even more unique feel and providing the platform to make age-old ideas feel fresh. 'Coco' is infused with such vibrancy and colour to spice up an already intriguing narrative, that is essentially a mystery that culminates in grace and virtue in classic Pixar fashion.
Detroit ⎮ I feel like my favourite films of 2017 came down to the films that left me with a particular moment; be it for haunting or soothing qualities, joy or heartbreak, cheers or tears. 'Detroit' features one of my favourite performances of the year delivered Algee Smith. He has that heartbreaking scene where he sings to an empty theatre which was evacuated minutes before a potentially life-altering performance. In some ways, it was a harder watch than the horrors that followed.
Directed by Katherine Bigelow, 'Detroit' tests us by immersing us in the ordeal of terrified African Americans placed under extreme duress amid the city’s riots of 1967. Like another terrific film about race in 2017, 'Get Out', it finds pure horror in the seemingly harmless and mundane. Will Poulter outdoes himself here as the racist, callous and sadistic officer blessed with a creepy baby face. The truth is paramount to Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal as they transport us back in time to the turbulent motel and turn the tight intense close-ups of helpless men into mirrors as we experience the emotional duress of this harrowing story.
It Comes At Night ⎮ This horror thriller feeds right into my misanthropic sensibilities. Its crushing opening five or so minutes serves as the perfect summation of the bleak themes of this film. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, ‘It Comes at Night’ is largely restricted to an isolated cabin in the woods after pestilence has ravaged humanity. But Shults seems to argue that humanity has already been eroded by something even more terrifying as this haunting narrative focuses on the relationship between two small groups of survivors and the paranoia and distrust it breeds.
I got the sense ‘It Comes at Night’ was marketed as survival movie, hence the disappointment that met the film from some. But look closely, sit still, reflect, and you realize that it really is a very clever survival movie, especially when we come to learn what really is at stake when the chips are all on the table.
mother! ⎮ What a thrill ride – a manic communion at the table of Darren Aronofsky. His incredibly visceral and single-minded misanthropic parable seared into the minds of cinephiles for good or bad, just the way he intended. I saw 'mother!' around Christmas, a time where biblical adaptations are commonplace on TV. As far as Biblical adaptations go, Aronofsky latest film is up there, despite its stubborn subjectivity and environmentalist leanings that conspire to damn certain aspects of Christianity with a degree of awareness.
As a piece of filmmaking, I thought Aronofsky was near flawless. The story and camera work are expertly crafted around the incredibly palpable house and Jennifer Lawrence's' titular character, who bears the brunt of Aronofsky's twisted vision to overpowering and distressing effect. When all is said and done, 'mother!' features some jet black beats and comes off as incredibly hilarious in parts. But I never lost sight of the fact that our director was passionately conveying a narrative that toed the line of a ballad and horror story.
Okja ⎮ Bong Joon Ho's ‘Okja’ has a lot of things going for it. It is legitimately one of the most entertaining adventure romps of 2017. It is also one of the funniest, with its satirical commentary on the corporate food processing machine. “We can only sell the dead ones.” It also has Tilda Swinton sinking her thespian fangs into not one, but two over-the-top characters to hilarious effect.
However, the most important component of Okja is the warm bond between a South Korean girl (An Seo-hyun) and the eponymous genetically enhanced super-pig. This bond will take her from the rural hills of South Korea to Times Square and the chilling trip to a slaughterhouse styled like a concentration camp Okja after the animal is reclaimed/ kidnapped by the corporation that created her in response to a food crisis.
An Seo-hyun puts in a terrifically intense and gritty performance that has her launching herself onto moving trucks like Tom Cruise. But with the snap of a finger, the film slows down and this energy is replaced with innocence, tremendous warmth as she conveys a depth of understanding exceeding her age.
Honorable mentions: Get Out, The Bad Batch, The Villainess, Logan, Good Time
Zach Perilstein (Disney Reporter and Senior Contributor) @TripleZ_87
I already apologize in advance. There are many movies I haven’t seen yet in 2017 that I hope to get too in 2018. Fair warning this isn’t your typical “critics” list. Although I do enjoy “critics” lists I haven’t seen enough films from that world. This list is for the common man, by the common man.
Honorable Mention ⎮ Wonder Woman - Wonder Woman was a satisfying superhero film with outstanding performances from Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. Director Patty Jenkins takes the DC Universe into a more hopeful direction. The film is the crowning achievement of the DCEU so far. That’s why it is an honorable mention on this list. This isn’t a punishment for the film. The film had such an impact it deserves to be on a list of its own that why it receives the honorable mention. Wonder Woman brought the character back into pop culture spotlight.
10. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ⎮ Disney’s ballsy move to remake Beauty and the Beast pays off, and continues its successful formula of taking animated classics and turning them into live-action. Kevin Kline was excellent as Maurice, he totally deserves some award recognition. Bill Condon did a fabulous job with Beauty and the Beast. The cast was a powerhouse. The new songs by Alan Menken and Tim Rice were terrific. Beauty and the Beast is an enchanting film with impressive visuals and dazzling musical numbers that should entertain all audiences.
9. POWER RANGERS ⎮ It is time for a tangent. Each year we get social justice warriors that cry for diversity in film and different types of representation. Which is all-good and makes sense. Yet when it happens no one decides to show up? Hypocritical much? Power Rangers is a fun movie. The cast is diverse and the team dynamic is different then what we have previously seen. This Power Rangers cast could definitely pull off a six-film arc that was originally going to happen. Sadly due to box office performance it might not happen. Should have showed up when you got the chance…
8. ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD ⎮ Christopher Plummer delivers on every level. He makes this film. If Kevin Spacey plays the role of J. Paul Getty we probably aren’t even talking about this film. I’m also in full support for Christopher Plummer to replace TJ Miller in Deadpool. Let’s make it happen. Ridley Scott directs this thrilling film to perfection.
7. BABY DRIVER ⎮ Edgar Wright’s unique style created one of this year’s breakout original films in Baby Driver. The action film is fueled by music. The film is energetic and surprising which results in a fun watch. The film doesn’t waste time on subplots or characters yet give us enough to appreciate them.
6. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI ⎮ The second installment of the sequel trilogy tries too hard. Rian Johnson gives us flickers of hope for the future of Star Wars, as well unnecessary twists that makes the film feel less like the monumental franchise it is. Carrie Fisher gets an excellent final performance as Princess Leia. Mark Hamill gave it his all playing the conflict-ridden Luke Skywalker. JJ Abrams now has his hands full for Episode IX. Despite having so many minor issues. The Last Jedi still is a captivating watch, and still beats out most of the films in 2017. Honestly a truly remarkable feat.
5. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING ⎮ The popular web slinger and wall crawler has been rebooted for the second time. Tom Holland as the titular character proves he will be a mainstay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Michael Keaton plays the villain Vulture who gives an impressive performance. The writing is phenomenal. Executing a major twist that changes the course of the film. The future of Spider-Man looks bright with Jon Watts at the helm.
4. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE ⎮ One of the most creative and wittiest films of 2017 is The LEGO Batman Movie. Chris McKay is the director of this brilliant flick. The hilarity that ensues in the LEGO universe makes the film special. The universe has no boundaries similar to a kid using his imagination. The often-serious Batman character gets a fresh coat of comedic paint. The film is very self-aware. Often poking fun at the superhero genre and big comic publishers like DC and Marvel.
3. AMERICAN MADE ⎮ The shockingly true story about one of the greatest scandals in U.S history that isn’t in your history book. Tom Cruise plays TWA pilot turned smuggler in American Made. The film is surprising and tells the story of how this pilot became one of the richest people in the eighties. The true story has all the emotions. How the American dream could easily turn into the American nightmare. Domnhall Gleason plays “Schaffer” and should be in the running for “Best Supporting Actor.” This film went under the radar and deserves more buzz then it’s getting.
2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 ⎮ Creating a sequel that captures the charm of the original is a difficult task to do. Director James Gunn overachieved and created an even better film then his original Guardians of the Galaxy. The film has fantastic action, great comedy, and even better music to back it up. Once again the writing on this film is phenomenal. Gunn and the cast really captured the emotional moments. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 is everything you want in a sequel and more. Now we wait for three (or realistically Infinity War). It has everything you want in a good film. P.S. Michael Rooker dominates this film. Another actor that sadly won’t be recognized in this upcoming award season.
1. LOGAN ⎮ Bold, gritty, and full of excitement. Logan pays homage to the old west while embracing the superhero genre. James Mangold really gets to play in a sandbox for this one. We are introduced to X-23 (Dafne Keen), Professor X with Alzheimer’s, and Caliban. The film consists of beautiful cinematography. Patrick Stewart should be in the running for “Best Supporting Actor.” His performance was everything it needed to be. Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green did a phenomenal job with the screenplay. The best of 2017 is Logan for being bold and creating something we haven’t seen before.
Greg Harmon (Managing Editor) @Sweetharmony
Disclaimer - I drop the word “enjoyable” more times than an old man is want to do. Consider yourselves forewarned.
Compiling this list of was sort of a pleasant chore, and it wasn’t for a lack of great films to choose from! 2017 was a banner year for big studios and independents, delivering in both quality and quantity, and satisfied in virtually every genre palette. I mean, I can't remember the last time I truly enjoyed the majority of horror films released in one year!? But oddly, as I enjoyed almost everything from 2017, I can’t say any one of my favorites rose to the top as a definitive "favorite". Is it because the sheer quality matched the quantity of films released? Is it because I'm an eighty-year old in practice as a man in my 30's and everything I viewed was, enjoyable? Or perhaps this year's slate of "favorite" films just didn't stack up against my previous year's favorite films (See below)? Perhaps it's a bit of all of the above.
2016: The Handmaiden ● Manchester by the Sea ● Hell or High Water/La La Land
2015: Spring ● Ex Machina ● Sicario/Fury Road
2014: Whiplash ● A Most Violent Year ● Blue Ruin
2013: Short Term 12 ● Stoker ● Mud
On to 2017....Logan and The Big Sick were two films I quite enjoyed and are deserving of “for your consideration” accolades for Stewart, Jackman, and Hunter. I mean Holly Hunter going full-on kickass ‘Mom Mode’ at Kumail’s stand-up gig. Priceless people! Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 dazzled from start to finish and believe it or not, I managed to go pee-free throughout the entire 163-minute film! I’ve seen Andy Muschietti’s IT just once but IT channeled a bananas theatrical experience I had not experienced since Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell and before that, Final Destination. I mean -spoiler- the oddities of Pennywise waving around Georgie’s arm in the woods elicited a bizarre pulse-pounding experience right on par with Sylvia Ganush’s car rage in Drag Me. Another bananas experience was M. Night going full M. Night in SPLIT. Years from now we'll look back at McAvoy's performance and question why social media did not tilt over his inevitable awards snubs. Where's the love? Also, Anya Taylor-Joy is a star in the making. Bring on GLASS.
Though I am still one of the few Justice League holdouts - I came away feeling PRETTY DAMN capital after seeing Wonder Woman and Spider-Man: Homecoming - each twice in theaters and both exceeded my expectations and then some (cc - Robin Wright and Marissa Tomei). Pixar’s Coco might be 2017’s most woke film experience and is deserving of many awards coming its way. And to no surprise for those who follow me on Twitter is my ride or die love for the Fast and Furious franchise. But the eighth NoS-fueled adventure may have jumped the shark by turning Jason Statham into a f—king ‘face’!?! Can we say justice for Han? Or maybe he is not dead. C'mon Chris Morgan.
Smaller indie films stuck with me such as Oz Perkins' The Blackcoat’s Daughter - which on first viewing did not work for me but will go down as perhaps the best winter chiller to snuggle up with. Then there was Shot Caller, a pleasant surprise featuring a bunch of prison gangstas led by "Jaime Lannister" (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) as a white collar ‘Dad’-turned-gangster. Shot Caller also included a hard Tank Abbott impression from everyone’s favorite “I know that guy,” Holt McCallany (Also PFG in Mindhunter and over two dozen other great roles). Really though, 95% of Shot Caller is fantastic. The other 5% sorta falls a part at the end.
Okay, so you’re probably thinking what the hell, this is just an excuse to ramble on about films you enjoyed without having to prioritize them. You bet, it is. But like I said, 2017 was a solid year and I am thankful to have seen the following films I thoroughly ENJOYED and will continue to sing the praises because of each film’s creative approach, talent behind the camera, awesome ensembles, and magnetic storytelling experiences. Yep - even JOHN WICK.
● Dunkirk
● Wind River
● Get Out
● John Wick: Chapter 2
● Personal Shopper
● A Ghost Story
● Call Me By Your Name
Honorable Mentions: Baby Driver, The Bad Batch, Lost City of Z, I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore, The Fundamentals of Caring, Shot Caller, The Girl With All The Gifts, Raw, War for the Planet of the Apes
Franco Bosco (Senior Contributor) @ImFrancoBosco
10: WONDER WOMAN ⎮ Wonder Woman is leaps and bounds over all the other DCEU films and for good reason. With a great supporting cast being lead by Gal Gadot in the title role, along with Patty Jenkins in the director's chair, made for a fun, inspirational "Hero's Journey" story with thrilling action scenes and dramatic character work.
Besides, when's the last time we had a great superhero movie that was lead by a woman and directed by a woman? This is a great, milestone achievement. The success of Wonder Woman shouldn't be downplayed in any fashion.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF WONDER WOMAN
9: THE BIG SICK ⎮ Rom-coms" come and go in a moment's notice and as of late, they never seem to leave an impression after first viewing. That was until The Big Sick stepped in and stepped up while under the radar this year.
Being loosely based off the rising comedy career and love life of Kumail Nanjiani, made this film not your typical run of the mill romantic comedy you'd might expect. With a breakout performance from Nanjiani and standouts like Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, expectations are subverted from start to finish with this highly engrossing script that is packed with heart, relatability, and laughs to spare.
8: WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES ⎮ If a debate ever were to arise for the best film trilogy, this rebooted Apes franchise should definitely be a contender and it's thanks to this conclusion in War for the Planet of the Apes.
This was an excellent closing feature that not only acted as a fitting finale to the character arc of Caesar, played outstandingly by Andy Serkis, but this film also continued to build the world enough to potentially spin-off into more Apes movies. With each installment like Rise, Dawn, and now War becoming increasingly better and better, it's hard not to want more from this universe. Inter-species warfare never had higher stakes and moral implications quite like this thought-provoking final chapter for these highly intelligent apes.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
7: LADY BIRD ⎮ The "coming of age" concept that's been woven into a variety of different films over the years, but to my recollection, none have done it with quite the approach that Lady Bird took it.
With Greta Gerwig in the director's chair for first time, Lady Bird is a very heartfelt and a surprisingly very funny story about a young woman that is trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of maturity and immaturity. Saoirse Ronan gives a brilliant performance as the titular character, along with Laurie Metcalf as her long-suffering, but loving mother.
In its execution, Lady Bird is so genuinely authentic and real that I challenge anyone to find a moment that doesn't, in any way, remind you of a time in your upbringing and how it was forged in the long run.
6: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI ⎮ I've talked about The Last Jedi so much as of late that there was no doubt this was going to crack my Top 10, even though I wish I could put it higher.
Star Wars is my bread and butter and this film was able to exceed my expectations in certain places I didn't think director Rian Johnson would go. The Disney Empire let Johnson tell his own story for the second addition of this new trilogy in the eighth episode of this saga. Terrific performances, great character development, and ever expanding mythology, this is what a franchise should do to survive and thrive.
Divisive without question, even I'm aware of the film's flaws. For me, my experience still isn't hindered by a great deal. Last Jedi continues to evolve the legend of Star Wars into a different and exciting direction. As long as I'm able to still get goosebumps from a galaxy far far away, I know I'll be watching a great Star Wars movie.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE LAST JEDI
5: STRONGER ⎮ Talk about a punch in the gut, Stronger is one of the most poignant, but inspiring films of the year that, again, went under the radar for general audiences.
Based off the tragic events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this story follows Jeff Bauman as a man who loses his legs in the attack, how Bauman adjusts to his new life with the attention from the public and the media swarming him. Jake Gyllenhaal, one of my favorite actors today, is completely gone in this role and he's incredible. I don't see Gyllenhaal, I see a broken man with obstacles to overcome and it's powerful.
Being an emotional roller coaster throughout, Stronger transcends familiar events to deliver a deep, gut-wrenching watch that's boasted by a powerhouse performance from Gyllenhaal.
4: GET OUT ⎮ Continuing in the same vein of debuting directors, Jordan Peele gave us one of the biggest surprises earlier in the year with Get Out.
A black man finally visits his white girlfriend's family at their house and things go from awkward to strange real quick. This film's whole journey, through every tense conversation, punchline and shocking acts of brutality feels earned with each passing scene. The end result is worth every uncomfortable chuckle and every moment of doubt.
What's great about Get Out is its rewatch factor, every viewing will give you a new perspective on the film. Peele's attention to detail, atmosphere, and social commentary fires on all cylinders to give us a hypnotizing watch.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF GET OUT
3: BABY DRIVER ⎮ Edgar Wright continues his hot streak of great, high-octane film making with a movie that just needed one killer track to floor it into the hearts of many with Baby Driver.
Baby, played by Ansel Elgort, is a music junkie and a getaway driver for a gaggle of robbers while he puts himself and his woman in further danger. Being extremely fast paced, there is never a dull moment of screen time, from the beautifully shot action to the amazing soundtrack, everything is in sync.
Baby Driver is effortlessly cool in its realization. The characters, the witty dialogue, the camera work, the action and how the music is seamlessly stitched throughout the story, it's impossible to not find enjoyment in this flick.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF BABY DRIVER
2: BLADE RUNNER 2049 ⎮ Coming from a guy that wasn't completely amazed by Ridley Scott's first Blade Runner, I was completely blown away by the sequel that didn't act like a sequel: Blade Runner 2049.
Ryan Gosling continues to find himself in great roles and scripts, the man is fantastic once again. Another one of my all-time favorites, Harrison Ford gives easily his best performance in years. This film is a mesmerizing experience and deserved to be on the big screen to tell its story. 2049 plays off the themes, plot, and characters of the 1982 movie without dismantling or negating any of those elements. Rather, this film naturally expands and grows what came before it.
Blade Runner 2049 is a deep, rich, smart movie that's visually awesome with great sci-fi concepts that makes it's almost three run time warranted and the 35 year long wait extremely worth it.
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF BLADE RUNNER 2049
1: LOGAN ⎮ There was no other film this year that gave me an all-out sense of satisfaction and finality than the film that was 17 years in the making. I'm talking about Logan.
From the trailers, we had an idea this was going to be a different kind of comic book film. Logan is in many ways an emotionally charged, heavy, gritty movie, but it's also an uplifting one that says it's okay to fight for something more, something better. The "R" rating enhanced the grit, the violence, and the tragedy of the film's story and gave us the Wolverine movie we needed to see.
It's an amazing swan song for the Wolverine character, an incredible performance by the man who knows this role like the back of his hand in Hugh Jackman, and perhaps the best X-Men movie to date.
But there's no doubt in mind, it's my favorite movie of 2017. Thank you, James Mangold!
Ashley Harris (Cultjer Retrospective Contributor) @oOoOoBarracuda
Film fans were spoiled by the output that was the year 2016. Blessed with a number of instant classics released last year, I found myself awaiting the same kind of awe in 2017. Where I am overall less impressed with 2017 compared to 2016, a number of films have stood out as favorites this year. I have composed a list of my personal favorite films released this year with one caveat. I have the unfortunate circumstance of living in Middle America and missing out on a number of releases sweeping other parts of the country. Michael Haneke’s Happy End which would almost certainly make the list had I been able to see it, is playing nowhere within 250 miles of where I live. Despite this geographic downfall, I have seen a number of films this year that I believe are deserving of being highlighted, a few of which are especially close to my heart.
1. Loving Vincent ⎮ I completely forgot the world existed around me when I sat in a crowded cinema completely enchanted by Loving Vincent. The world’s first oil painted feature film, composed of 65,000 painted frames creates a mesmerizing cinema experience. Documenting the life and mysterious death of Vincent van Gogh, Loving Vincent follows the troubled painter’s trials as well as his few personal successes. While capturing the loving relationship between Vincent and his brother Theo, the film fleshes out the possibility that Vincent was murdered as opposed to dying by his own hand. The film used the input of 125 animator-painters to bring life to the paintings of van Gogh and make his paintings move beautifully across the screen. A labor of love spanning six years while securing funding, the final product is an absolute feast for all the senses and was the best reminder from 2017 of why I fell in love with cinema in the first place.
2. Twin Peaks: The Return ⎮ David Lynch, the man who directed every damn fine hour of the third season of Twin Peaks, which fans were finally gifted after 25 years, says he sees the limited event series as an 18-hour movie, so I’m ready to set up camp on that hill. Each part of The Return was co-written by original co-creator Mark Frost and seeing the two collaborating together, and returning to the town where everyone fell in love with coffee ‘black as midnight on a moonless night” and the place “where pies go when they die” was surreal. I was barely on the planet when the first two seasons of Twin Peaks premiered so I never thought I would be fortunate enough to live in a time where new episodes of Twin Peaks were airing weekly. The series itself was not wrapped in (plastic) nostalgia either, it was a return to a town that had grown and changed like any place does in two and a half decades. The age-positive casting, bringing back those from the first two seasons and giving us a beautiful send-off of cast members who have since passed away defied all expectations and 18 of the most wonderful hours I have ever seen.
3. Faces Places ⎮ If the documentary Faces Places, directed by the incomparable Agnes Varda and photographer/muralist J.R., is in fact Varda’s final film then audiences have been privileged to witness such a swan song. The documentary travels through rural France and introduces viewers to those we wouldn’t otherwise meet. J.R. and Agnes take us through the world as they live it, both refusing to bow to convention while making meaningful relationships with those they encounter. The workers, townspeople, and everyday personalities that would never have a camera focused on them each give insights to their lives and the way they perceive the world and their place in it. Faces Places reminds us that the worker at the coffee shop, the purposefully homeless man, and everyone in between have such a unique perspective on the world around them and time itself that impacts everyone yet is rarely considered. The documentary is framed as a journey where Agnes’s full and rich life is fleshed out along the way. A quiet film asking the most important questions in life is a beautiful example of how to live a contemplative existence.
4. Ingrid Goes West ⎮ In a world that is increasingly measured by “likes” and ones popularity on the ever expansive social media landscape, Ingrid Goes West tackles the pitfalls of the very real existences many feel forced to live. Becoming more defined by emojis and the lives we manufacture, following a damaged young girl who has recently experienced great loss, move to the most Instagram-friendly city, Los Angeles, seeking fulfillment is a much-needed gaze in 2017. The script by Matt Spicer and David Branson Smith, provides a razor-sharp insight to the pressures of millennials to “become someone” online so their lives feel meaningful. What the film adequately shows, however, is that everything we put online is simply a projection of what we wish our lives to be, and that no amount of likes will ever provide meaningful fulfillment. Similarly to being addicted to a drug, Ingrid is never satisfied with viral fame and is always looking for that next flood of acknowledgement. And it’s not only Ingrid, I think we all know more than a few people who seemingly can’t stop checking their phone once they post something new online—just to see how many likes it’s getting.
5. Call Me by Your Name ⎮ Luca Guadagnino takes the novel written by Andre Aciman, depicting a summer of self-realization and coming-of-age and commits it to the screen in a beautifully poignant way. He gives power to his 17-year-old protagonist to discover who he is and become comfortable in his own skin while sharing a passionate summer with his father’s visiting research assistant in Italy. The tale of emerging sexuality and the all-encompassing state of one’s first love, Guadagnino teases each of the senses through Call Me by Your Name while creating a brilliant reminder of what it was like to learn who you are and immerse yourself in the passion of your first love. Despite the temperature outside being a biting 6 degrees when I saw this film, I could feel the heat of summer and smell the scent of peaches. Michael Stuhlbarg, of whom I am a big fan, also has a powerful yet understated role in the film adding the cherry on top of this gelato.
6. The Lovers ⎮ Debra Winger and Tracy Letts brilliantly remind us about the differences between what we thought would happen, and what ended up happening in our lives. Too often we occupy our time and fill our days with the menial tasks that are simply required of us. Before we know it, we’ve spent more time driving to work and washing dishes than writing that novel we always dreamed of or painting that canvas that will hang in a gallery. Winger and Letts are a long-married middle-aged couple who suddenly find themselves with an empty nest and a lack of interest in the other. Both carrying on long-term affairs, they are trying to hold on long enough for their child to establish himself in college to avoid disrupting his life. When a series of events bring them closer and a spark is reignited between them, their carefully scheduled plans are now thwarted and neither knows what to do. What The Lovers does so well is show the actual struggles of maintaining a long-term marriage, and how to cope with one’s own lost desires and abandoned dreams while maintaining a grip on reality. Few films enter the mindset of the middle-aged as well as The Lovers and I am a fan of age-positive representation, such as this. We’re all waiting for that moment in life where we have a handle on what we’re doing and how to live and the reality is that, for most, that moment never materializes. The Lovers is here to prove that it’s ok to not be sure of what’s going on, and to shine the light on that fact that no one really does, anyway.
