With the end of the year in close proximity and the best of 2016 lists currently making their ways around the internet (expect mine to be published at the start of the new year), let's not forget to make note of the possible great movies being released across 2017. Let's hope it's a better selection than this year!
Honourable Mention: La La Land
Okay, so I'm just gonna throw this out there:
this is my most anticipated film for the entire year. It's got Oscar glory written all over it (although
Moonlight and
Manchester by the Sea are riding hot on its tail), is by the same people as 2015's
Whiplash, and has a stellar soundtrack going for it. However, the film already made an appearance on my list
last year when it was scheduled for a summer release. With the film pushed back to participate in the awards season, it being released in January for we Brits means that it's part of this list but a little unfair to include it twice. So just bear in mind: this is my true #1, but I want to give other films a bit of limelight. Other holdovers from last year that deserve some attention:
A Monster Calls,
Jackie,
Miss Sloane, and
The Founder.
#10: Paddington 2
Paddington was a surprisingly charming and sweet film which managed to prove to naysayers that the live action-CGI hybrid movie can actually be done well. It was funny, faithful, and a fun time at the movies. Add the factor that it made $270m worldwide on a $55m budget, and a sequel was truly expected. And with this sequel adding both
Hugh Grant and
Brendan Gleeson to the mix, it's safe to say that this little feature is a bear necessity in terms of 2017 viewing.
#9: Justice League
I'm being precautious this time.
Man of Steel was a fine enough movie;
Batman V Superman an incoherent mess (although I hear the extended edition is better), and
Suicide Squad was just offensive to anyone who's ever used editing software. So while
Wonder Woman is looking like it has a brighter future ahead of it - more on that later -
Justice League is a riskier affair.
Zack Snyder is still in the director's chair despite criticism, and the singular trailer hasn't quite grabbed me. But still - it's the Justice League uniting at long last on the big screen. How could I not put it on the list?
#8: Dunkirk
Yay,
Christopher Nolan's back! With
Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy and
Kenneth Branagh! Also,
Harry Styles, but let's not bad-mouth him until we see how he performs. Why so low on the list despite being a film by one of cinema's most popular modern auteurs? Quite simply, it's a war film, which has never really interested me so it's a riskier sell on my part.
#7: Baby Driver
Another highly-anticipated entry from a beloved modern director,
Baby Driver marks the return of
Edgar Wright following the conclusion of the Cornetto Trilogy (and his public departure from helming
Ant-Man), meaning this latest effort has plenty to prove in terms of how good a filmmaker he is outside of his familiar element. With the likes of
Jon Hamm and
Jamie Foxx in the cast, it's only a matter of time before we finally catch a glimpse of the new film - and I for one am excited to see what he has to offer.
#6: Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Kingsman: The Secret Service was a surprise success story for 20th Century Fox despite its suddenly-delayed release; a funny action flick that featured arguably one of the best action sequences in recent years in the form of a single shot showdown in a church. Add that it gave the studio proof that an R-rated action film could earn money (
Deadpool doing even better a year later) and it helped pave the way towards bolder action movies. Plus the film turned out great. So why not higher on the list? Well, it seems a little rushed in my eyes, and the return of
Colin Firth seems a little too shady, even if it ends up being a homage of sorts.
#5: Cars 3/Coco
In 2017, Pixar are returning to the two movie slate that they followed in 2015 with a sequel and an original film - both risky affairs.
Cars 3 has the difficult task of following on from Pixar's worst movie, whereas
Coco is a Mexican adventure into the underworld - which didn't exactly sell well back when
The Book of Life was released. But with some solid people working on both projects and it being Pixar efforts, it can at least be banked on that both will be fine movies; whether they'll be up there with the classics is anyone's guess.
#4: Wonder Woman
Here she is! Out first female-led superhero movie in well over a decade and with an actual female director (
Patty Jenkins),
Wonder Woman is slowly but surely looking like Warner Brothers' best hope at igniting an actual sense of quality to the DCEU. Add the factor that
Geoff Johns - who's been working on the current slate of DC shows for The CW and for the comics - co-wrote the screenplay and has been promoted to being essentially the head of the brand, and there's a little more hope to be had. Plus
Gal Gadot was the best thing about
BvS despite having little to do.
#3: War for the Planet of the Apes
It's strange to think that a trilogy of prequels has so far been a great move. 2011's
Rise was a solid setup for what could have been an easy cash-grab, whist 2014's
Dawn was one of the year's best movies despite a familiar premise. And with things getting even tenser between man and monkey, the next and potentially final instalment to the series is looking as strong as ever. Add an action-packed teaser and another great performance from
Andy Serkis, and this
Apes continuation could end up being the best one yet.
#2: The Marvel Collection (Logan/Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2/ Spider-Man: Homecoming/Thor: Ragnarok)
Next year is such a packed one for fans of the Marvel brand - whether it be for the big Cinematic Universe, the X-Men fans or just those who love Spidey - that it's too difficult to separate them all. Each new entry has plenty to be excited about; from the dark and gritty farewell to
Hugh Jackman's beloved Canadian grump to a Thor/Hulk team-up venture across the Nine Realms, it's hard not to be excited about any of them. Add the little tidbits we've seen for each one (the trailers for the first three have been amazing, whilst
Thor: Ragnarok director
Taika Waititi's Thor short was hilarious) and it looks like a solid year for the True Believers. Why not #1? Well, it wouldn't be fair to make it a four-way tie, plus there's one movie that comes out before all of them that deserves plenty of praise...
#1: The LEGO Batman Movie
Yep, I'm giving the top spot to a DC movie. But not just any DC movie, a DC movie which is bound to make people laugh out loud and look at the Caped Crusader in a whole new light.
Will Arnett's interpretation of the character was one of the best bits of
The LEGO Movie, so giving him a solo movie set within his own world that takes a comedic look at his legacy is just the right thing to cleanse the palette after his previous cinematic entries. Add some spot-on castings with the likes of
Ralph Fiennes and
Michael Cera, some fun visual gags and plenty of Easter eggs to be found (the trailers have already hinted at
Gremlins and Daleks making an appearance), this early 2017 release is bound to be a hit. Also be sure to keep an eye out on
The LEGO Ninjago Movie, who's short film in front of
Storks promises more of the same calibre of comedy.
Other Noteworthy Releases:
- Kong: Skull Island
- Beauty and the Beast
- Alien: Covenant
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
- Star Wars: Episode VIII
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