2017 was a year that ended up being more good than great. Like many previous years, some of the best movies received some attention while others received none.
20. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (documentary) If you're like me, you didn't pay much attention to this if you've seen the first. While still discussing climate change, this film is a complete departure from the originals Keynote presentation, featuring some fascinating insight into the Paris Climate Accords.
20. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (documentary) If you're like me, you didn't pay much attention to this if you've seen the first. While still discussing climate change, this film is a complete departure from the originals Keynote presentation, featuring some fascinating insight into the Paris Climate Accords.
19. Tulip Fever (drama) A rather overlooked period piece about the world of speculation in its infancy as the backdrop to a romantic story of a painter and his subject.
18. IT (horror/drama) A reimagining of the first part of the 90s TV movie with quite a few homages and twists to it. The casting for the kids is quite good and Pennywise the Clown is creepy as hell.
17. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (action/adventure) Another reboot of a franchise that I didn't even know needed a reboot after one film in the 90s. It's a fun, funny film with an eclectic cast of comedians and action movie stars.
16. American Made (drama/adventure) Just when you're about to write off Tom Cruise as anything more than an aging star, he manages to pull out a gem like this. While it's based on a true story, Cruise's performance manages to ground it in believability.
15. Score (documentary) As a film score fanatic, I'm rather biased here. Rather overlooked in the annals of music, the craft of film composition and some of its finest composer's work finally get their due.
14. Bjorn vs McEnroe (drama) It has been a while since there's been a really good sports movie. This is an intense tennis film that actually would make me take up the sport if only I could be as crazy as these real sports world characters.
13. Mother! (drama) Wasn't this movie nominated for a Razzie? Yes. Wasn't this movie panned by critics? Yes. Do I think this movie is greatly misunderstood? Absolutely. And this marks a return to form to me for Darren Aronofsky after his directing misfire with Noah.
12. Spider-Man: Homecoming (superhero) Marvel takes a crack at Spider-Man and manages to add something to the film character we haven't seen earnestly portrayed - Peter Parker as a teenager in the modern world. The supporting cast is pretty solid.
12. Spider-Man: Homecoming (superhero) Marvel takes a crack at Spider-Man and manages to add something to the film character we haven't seen earnestly portrayed - Peter Parker as a teenager in the modern world. The supporting cast is pretty solid.
11. Baby Driver (action/drama) Some of the best driving scenes not on a track that I've seen since The French Connection. John Hamm is great and Ansel Elgort is a talent to watch in the future. But the real star of this film is the slick action editing and driving sequences.
9. Lowlife (dramatic thriller) With an assortment of eclectic characters on the fringes of society, there has not been a movie with this much gusto and humor dare I say since Pulp Fiction. It's definitely more violent.
8. Icarus (Documentary) The depth of the scandal that this film uncovers about the Olympics in Russia based on first-hand accounts is shocking as much as it is damaging. As with most great documentaries, this is about more than the subject at hand.
7. Get Out (horror/comedy) Without much advance fanfare comes a film that leaves us with as many questions as answers. Except the questions are about the society that makes the answers truthful.
6. The Disaster Artist (comedy) Is it possible to make a film about the making of one of the worst films of all time and it be anything less than great? Yes. Yes, it is. This is a comedy that seems like it would be hard for this story to be told and not be hilarious.
5. Coco (animated) Another gem in the Pixar crown for great animated films. It is as fun and full of twists as it is earnest and touching.
4. The Square (foreign drama) An international cast in this Norwegian film leaves us with as many fascinating and shocking moments as it does the subtle commentary on society and art at large.
3. Logan (action/drama) The best dramatic send-off to two of the most iconic comic book characters. Easily the best and most violent comic book movies of the year. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart are in top form which should be enough of a reason right there to see this.
8. Icarus (Documentary) The depth of the scandal that this film uncovers about the Olympics in Russia based on first-hand accounts is shocking as much as it is damaging. As with most great documentaries, this is about more than the subject at hand.
7. Get Out (horror/comedy) Without much advance fanfare comes a film that leaves us with as many questions as answers. Except the questions are about the society that makes the answers truthful.
6. The Disaster Artist (comedy) Is it possible to make a film about the making of one of the worst films of all time and it be anything less than great? Yes. Yes, it is. This is a comedy that seems like it would be hard for this story to be told and not be hilarious.
5. Coco (animated) Another gem in the Pixar crown for great animated films. It is as fun and full of twists as it is earnest and touching.
4. The Square (foreign drama) An international cast in this Norwegian film leaves us with as many fascinating and shocking moments as it does the subtle commentary on society and art at large.
3. Logan (action/drama) The best dramatic send-off to two of the most iconic comic book characters. Easily the best and most violent comic book movies of the year. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart are in top form which should be enough of a reason right there to see this.
2. I, Tonya (comedy/drama) I see this film as "Goodfellas" on ice. Based on a true story that's hard to believe, extremely well-acted in a slick, snappy film that manages to cause as much horror as it does laughter.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (crime/drama) A riveting drama, with a unique premise that keeps you guessing. The acting is superb and the story could not be played out in a more relevant way to the time that this was released.
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