Here are our Top 10 films of 2017.
10. I, Tonya
Providing us with some great performances – from Margot Robbie’s nuanced and dynamic portrayal of Tonya Harding to Allison Janney’s portrayal of a mother showing a rather unorthodox display of love. The dark themed story managed to blend it’s heart and comedy rather nicely which allowed us to relish the film, mainly due to its creative and seamless editing. The overall construction of the film has such a unique style that portrays multiple viewpoints and a free-flowing narrative.
This dark and mesmerizing fairytale transports us into a bedtime story for mature audiences, with a love story that takes unique turns, a menacing performance from Michael Shannon and an awe inspiring act from the sensational Sally Hawkins. Del Toro has carved his own genre in dark fairytales and is able to bring back the magic without watering down the themes.
With elegant visuals and a delicate story; Phantom Thread is exactly as its name suggests, hidden with a phantom toxicity and dark undertones, an unspoken air of poison and a connection that can be described as love, reliance, and hateful codependence. Two individuals living in each other’s company, loathing it and thriving in it. Oftentimes the quietest films offer the loudest expressions of meaning. Phantom Thread is one of these films.
Taking a more tragic tone and focussing the inner conflict within both Rey and Kylo Ren, The Last Jedi takes notes The Empire Strikes back without outright mimicking the foundation of its story. While not perfect in execution, it offers some of the most memorable scenes in film of this year and provides intense twists that even the most avid fans didn’t predict. Fun, thrilling, and emotionally compelling The Last Jedi was concrete enough to earn our respect and put a smile on our faces during the true “star-warsy” moments.
Offering a magnetic performance by James Franco alongside Dave Franco, The Disaster Artist provides a rather compelling tale about following dreams and the creative process when constructing a movie. The film highlights several different messages that you can take from watching, whether it be about self-delusion when chasing dreams or the complexities involved with friendships. For us, we adored this movie for it being extremely entertaining whilst giving us something to take away from the film.
This film has surprisingly made it quite high on our list and for good reason. We loved it from the first viewing but after seeing it in July it consistently grew on us and the themes and messages of it have stuck with us. A career defining performance by both Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer as they both display intimate and authentic chemistry. It’s an overwhelmingly powerful portrayal of first love and the repercussions from that are something that will stick with you. The film’s delicate cinematography gives a rich, atmospheric feeling of summer in Italy, and created a deeper sense of immersion into the narrative of the film.
4. Good Time
With a high octane pace, stellar performances, and vivid cinematography, Good Time became an instant favourite of ours for 2017. With an adrenaline rush of non stop thrills this heist turned get-away turned journey makes for one of the most impactful and riveting films of the year. Robert Pattinson gives one of his best performances and we’re soaked in both intensity and emotional heart from this story. Leaving behind a truly heartbreaking yet heartwarming message, Good Time is a rarity that gives so much and receives little credit.
3. Logan
Wow. It has been a long time since a comic book film has made our jaws drop and left our hearts broken. In what was an emotionally powerful and character driven film, Hugh Jackman leads the charge with a vigorous and layered performance that showed the spiritual complexity of the character. Supported with a nuanced performance from the great Patrick Stewart and first-time outing with Dafne Keen not being able to be overshadowed by the others. The film breaks free from the shackles of what this genre usually has and goes a complete direction, it was exactly suited for the character of Logan/Wolverine. Breaking all comic-book conventions and establishing new ground with the Academy, Logan proves to be more than just another superhero movie.
2. Blade Runner 2049
With a richly layered story and vibrant visuals ‘Blade Runner 2049’ reimagines the franchise with stellar loyalty and accuracy, capturing this tonally enticing world and offering something fresh and new to explore. 2049 not only lives up to the Blade Runner name, it exceeds it, further bringing new depth to the dark ideologies that surround this influential concept and the complex world built around it. This is art in film form, in blockbuster format.
1. Dunkirk
In what is arguably one of the best cinema experiences you’ll ever receive, Dunkirk thrives of masterful visual storytelling and throws you right into the middle of war. This was us, after our first viewing in IMAX (With Laser) as the credits rolled, we tried to comprehend the masterpiece that we just saw. It’s extremely well done in every aspect, the story is designed to give you a real war experience and it delivers. The structure of the film isn’t the common sequential layout but rather a mixed set of storylines of different timelines that merge towards the end of the film. The editing is so precise at laying out these stories in different timelines and each shot is carefully placed at the right time. Sound is used magnificently creating such a powerful score that conveys emotional while also building up intensity at the right moments.
There was MovieGainz Top 10 films of 2017, hope you all enjoyed these films as much as we did.
