Ryan's Movie Blog: Movie Review Special: The Best Films of 2017

Hello All,

Without getting into the details, it’s been a pretty bad couple of days for me lately. Admittedly I almost didn’t want to do this list, last year was pretty crap, and this year is not off to a great start, so doing this would’ve almost felt like committing fraud. Instead, I’m writing this now under a different mindset:

These are the films that this year gave me a sense of hope. These were the films that reminded me no matter how bad life can get, there’s always good around the corner. No disqualifications this time, out of the 140 and 2/3rds of the movies I reviewed this year, we’re now counting down.

The Top Ten Best Films of 2017

10. Blade Runner 2049

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - When Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner for the LAPD unearths a buried secret on an assignment, he finds himself following a new case that has potential to change everything.

Long? Yes, but when people ask why hollywood makes twenty years later sequel to things this will probably be the film I point at. I like the first blade runner don’t get me wrong, this one is my favourite of the pair. Call the reasoning however you like, the film grabbed me from the beginning and did not let me go despite it’s length. Denis Villeneuve has basically cemented himself as one of the great directors of our time and I eagerly await his next film.

Final Score 10/10

9. The Disaster Artist

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - Based on the memoir of the same name, the film follows Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) as he befriends Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and the ii’s journey to making one of the worst films of all time.

Rarely do I get to be part of the book before the movie crowd, and I’m glad I get to do it with this one because the room just fascinates me. Whenever I’m reminded of its existence, it gives me hope for my own rocky career. The thing that seals this for me is the fact that it’s also the rare fan film project that doesn’t suck. Why? Major Hollywood backing, that and James Franco literally putting his soul on the screen in this chasing your dreams story too silly to believe. And yet, it actually happened.

Final Score 10/10

8. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - Seven months after her daughter’s murder, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) puts up three billboards asking why it hasn’t been solved, stirring up the emotions of the small town in the process.

You know, this could’ve been an average murder mystery. Instead, we get a film so unconventional you’ll find yourself laughing and questioning why at the same time. Dark comedies have a tricky line to walk, but this was like watching a production of swan lake walk that line perfectly. I’m glad this film got the recognition it deserved.

Final Score 10/10

7. The Big Sick

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - The film follows Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani), a Pakistani comedian who begins dating a caucasian girl named Emily Gardner (Zoe Kazan.) When she finds out he is supposed to be entering an arranged marriage however, she breaks up with him. After she falls ill and is placed in a coma, Kumail finds himself drawn back to her, and in the process bonds with Emily’s parents Beth (Holly Hunter) and Terry (Ray Romano.)

Call this the dark horse contender of the year, I had doubts this one would live up to the hype. I like being wrong on things like that, and despite me having blanked on it for a while, I’m glad I rediscovered it while doing this list. This has been the most honest romcom I’ve seen in a long time, something even Trainwreck didn’t quite get right. It made its characters relatable, and put them in a truly heart wrenching situation. I know that sounds weird for a romcom, but maybe that’s what the genre needs. Please got let this film become the norm.

Final Score 10/10

6. A Ghost Story

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - When a young man only known as C (Casey Affleck) is killed unexpectedly, his ghost lingers to watch his lover M (Rooney Mara) as both she, and the world, continues on without him.

That summary feels underwhelming, but I didn’t want to say it was just another arthouse love story, because even that doesn’t feel right. This film really snuck up on me, and so I really didn’t have much time to look into it before seeing it. This is one of those rare moments where I’ll simply say watch it, and if you like it let me know. Let me know if you didn’t either, I just want people to watch this.

Final Score 10/10

5. Lady Bird

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - Following the 2002 - 2003 school year of the self named Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) as she deals with life and applying to college.

Boy I really undersold this film huh? Coming of age films are a dime a dozen, so what does it take to really stand out? Honesty. No pandering, no making shit light and fluffy, just pure honesty. I saw scenes in this film that I can easily remember happening to me as a kid, and I rarely get to say that with these films. Simple rule future filmmakers, don’t pander to your audience, people will see the truth.

Final Score 10/10

4. Ingrid Goes West

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza) is mentally unstable young woman who, after losing her mother and suffering a series of personal setbacks, heads out to California to find Social Media Star Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen) and start her life anew….at least at first.

Christ there were a lot of slow weeks in 2017. Matches the year really, thank god we had films like this to fill the slump. The original review for this got heavily slept on, and it’s time to correct that. A film that finally talks about the dangers of social media obsession in a way that people will actually listen to. This film almost feels like a spy movie in presentation, sneaking it’s way into your head before pulling the carpet out from under you. Do you know anyone who instagrams to a dangerous extent? This is the intervention movie for you. Sell it to them as a dark comedy though, it nails that perfectly. Oh, and I finally joined the Aubrey Plaza fan club, so there.

Final Score 10/10

3. Logan

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - In the year 2029, an aging Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is living on the Mexico side of the border, with an aging and senile Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and the mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant). When a mysterious young girl makes her way to them, Logan and The Professor must get her to a rendezvous point before Logan’s illness overcomes him.

We had a lot of great superhero films this year. We will probably have a lot of great ones next year, Logan will still continue to stand tall. If Deadpool was marvel at its goofiest, Logan was it’s more serious counterpart. A great final film for Jackson in the role, and probably the best showcase of the character we will ever see, as much as I’m glad that the X men are going back to Marvel, I’ll be damned if this movie got lost in the shuffle. No matter what though, this film will stand for a long time.

Final Score 10/10

2. Get Out

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - When Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) agrees to visit his girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, but he is apprehensive as he’s black and she’s white. When they arrive, Chris begins to notice strange doings around the house, as he begins to suspect something more sinister going on underneath.

Holy shit this one was a while back. It’s also a film that’s terrifying on multiple levels. Not even IT had that many layers to it, but this had something that IT didn’t: A deeper message. I think it was this film that finally reached out to a lot of people’s social consciousness this year whether they realized it or not. Whatever Jordan Peele does next, count me the fuck in.

Final Score 10/10

And now, because I love to keep you people in suspense, let’s take a look at…

Honourable Mentions

mother! (8/10) - Any film that gets people talking that much must be doing something right. Graphic as fuck? Sure, and your point is?

Girls Trip (9/10) - Hey a chick flick that doesn’t suck? Yes please, can we keep making them like this? Seriously. This was awesome because it was actually funny.

Spiderman: Homecoming (10/10) - Yes, this admittedly should’ve been a 9, but it’s my list screw you….I put it here instead. I’m just so happy it was that good. Infinity War is going to be awesome.

Kong: Skull Island (8/10) - Hey Dark universe? This is how you do a monster based cinematic universe. I await the next Godzilla eagerly.

The Devotion of Suspect X (9/10) - So I’m an idiot, this was the best foreign film I’ve seen all year. This is my correction, I’m tired sue me.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this next one, will hopefully not surprise you.

Baby Driver

For the original review click here

Plot Summary - Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a heist getaway driver paying off a debt to a crime lord known as Doc (Kevin Spacey.) When he meets the girl of his dreams and tries to get out, he finds getting out isn’t as easy as he thought.

Yeah so I kind of called this one as my favourite pretty early on huh? Much like Swiss Army Man I went in knowing nothing and came out with my mind blown. Not only do I have the poster, and the dvd, and the soundtrack that I’ve been listening to on repeat (even while writing these lists) this was also the film I set a new personal record with. I saw it four times in theatres. 4. The term this has fallen under is soundtrack film, but I think there’s a lot more to it than that. Great cast, Interesting characters, a familairish story told from a new perspective, the soundtrack certainly helps, but a film is only as good as the sum of its parts, and like well taken care of car, this film has to potential to run for a very long time.

With a final score of 10/10, I am so happy to present

The Best Film of 2017 Award
Baby Driver

Done. I’m going to be working on a new site for the blog for a while, so expect an update soon. I’m cancelling the fourth list also, but we’ll save it for another year.

Links:

Want to read more? Click Below for my last review. What is it of? Lesser films than these, or is that too harsh?