Editorial: The Best of 2017

So... hello there.

2017 is practically at a close, and it's been a bit of a quiet one here on this blog. Largely my own fault, thanks to seeing fewer movies than in 2016 and putting more of my efforts into university than into, well, watching and reviewing what I see. To those who you genuinely are interested in what I have to say, I apologise for my absence, and if you are interested in what I thought of each and every one of the films I've seen this year, you can find short individual reviews on my Letterboxd account. However, a year without many reviews doesn't mean I can't go through the usual end of year celebrations, so let's start with the big one.

Honourable Mention - War for the Planet of the Apes

The Planet of the Apes franchise was hit with a major blow when this third and potentially final entry grossed a surprisingly low amount at the US box office, which is a big loss on their part as they missed out on a solid conclusion to the Caesar arc. Andy Serkis continues to impress as the world gets even darker, and while the film isn't without its major flaws, it nevertheless helps preserve itself as being one of the best blockbusters trilogies we've ever seen. This is how you do a rebooted franchise.

10. It

2017 was amazing for horror - so amazing that even I went out to watch them. It was a film that should have been doomed: a version of the complete novel had already been done with an iconic Tim Curry as Pennywise; it went through multiple screenwriters and directors across its 8-year production process, and it came out a year after Stranger Things had seemingly cornered the 80s sci-fi horror market. And yet, it worked. With genuine frights, some intentionally hilarious moments and a great cast of kids, this first instalment became perhaps the first great Stephen King adaptation since The Green Mile. Bring on Chapter 2 in 2019.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Yeah, I liked it more than Spider-Man: Homecoming, come at me then. While the first is superior, this highly-anticipated sequel still hit some major laughs and some heartfelt moments, and with the incredibly colourful direction from returning director/screenwriter James Gunn adding new life to the previously darker-looking film, this was a really fun film. But next time, perhaps hire more than one screenwriter to tidy things up a bit more.

8. Thor: Ragnarok

AHHHHHHHHHHHH-AHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHH-AHHHH! This film was an absolute blast, finally striking the right bolt of lightning this franchise needed after the dull Dark World. Taika Waititi proves that a small-time director playing with the toys of major players doesn't mean he loses his touch as he brings his typical comedic chops in and creates what may have been the most fun movie experience of the year. Add a Hulk gladiator fight and a number of Led Zepplin fight sequences and what you have is a great entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the best one this year.

7. Logan

I write this about a week after the world-shattering news that Disney bought 20th Century Fox, and while the potential of the X-Men and Fantastic Four joining the MCU is a nice enough one on paper, I'm honestly quite disheartened by it. Not just because of the ramifications of the whole process on the entirety of Hollywood, but also because Fox had finally got an understanding of what to do with their X-Men brand at long last. Deadpool is looking to be a great and rude comedy franchise, The New Mutants looks to be an enticing horror mash-up, and Logan was a gritty Western and the best last hurrah a long-standing character like Wolverine could have hoped for. While it is perhaps a little too predictable (mention a bullet early on? You know it'll be involved later) and the villains are a rather small part of it all, that isn't the point - it's setting up a new generation of multi-cultural heroes while paying tribute to the great that came before, with both Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart being absolutely sublime.

6. The Big Sick

On paper, The Big Sick isn't much. A true story retelling of how lead Kumail Nanjiani met his wife and what happened after should be a standard thing with nothing new to add, and yet here it is in my top ten of the year. Why? Because it's genuine. Because it's full of heart and humour and clearly with a lot of love put into it. Because the performances from the core group are amazing and you leave feeling good. It's one of the best original films to come out this year, and I'm glad that many on the awards circuit are giving it the love it deserves.

5. Get Out

A horror film written and directed by a comedian? That should be awful. And yet here's Get Out - an excellent first film by Jordan Peele that somehow has ended up being one of the best of the year. With a great set-up and being a great depiction of racism in a time that's grown all the more scary, there's not a lot to say that people haven't already said - it's the reason so many have commended horror movies this year and proved so many things wrong just by merely existing. 

4. The LEGO Batman Movie

While the DC Extended Universe continues to struggle in 2017 with an okay Wonder Woman and the nigh-unwatchable Justice League, the LEGO brand was the glimmer hope that'll keep the Batman brand going for a good while longer. The perfect parody of the character's long history while creating a great new story that actually takes the character somewhere, The LEGO Batman Movie was a hilarious joy-ride that opens strong and only continue to make laugh, smile and maybe even tear up. And while the second half goes maybe a little too mad with more than a few special appearances, that doesn't stop the fun from growing. Not bad for a film starring a guy who apparently doesn't even pay his taxes.

3. Manchester by the Sea

On one hand, Casey Affleck is a bit of a controversial actor, with the majority of people disliking the guy for things I'd rather not go into on here (let's just say I'm in agreement with them). On the other hand, though, he shows off his acting chops in full force here, as together with a dark screenplay by Oscar winner Kenneth Lonergan he leads the way in a great movie with real characters and real emotion. Don't let the artist ruin the art; appreciate it for what you can.

2. Baby Driver

Likewise, Baby Driver was hit hard by the Kevin Spacey revelations. Thankfully, this Edgar Wright tale succeeds in more ways than just his performance, as this thrilling musical comedy is a riot throughout. From its Bellbottoms-based opening sequence to a rock 'n' roll showdown, Baby Driver was so much better than it had any right to be and continues to be one I return to whenever I feel like it.

1. La La Land

For me, this was the Best Picture of the year. This brand new romantic musical by Whiplash director Damien Chazelle had it all and then some: charm, heart, toe-tapping tunes and a great duo performance by repeat on-screen couple Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll fall in love all at the same time, and was by a good distance the best film released in the UK this year.