My 10 favorite movies of 2017
Well, 2017 was a pretty terrible year in the world, and, as Top 10 lists go, I can't say I feel as strongly about the following batch as those of previous years.
But 1. At this point let’s praise anything that makes us feel better and 2. In the grand scheme, whether or not this year’s movies were quite as good as any other year’s movies isn’t anywhere near the top of the list of things people should care about right now.
That being said, here are the ones that struck me most from 2017, with the disclaimer that I haven’t yet seen “Phantom Thread.” Enjoy!
10. “Columbus”
Almost no one is running toward a drama described as "architecture-focused." But director Kogonada’s feature debut, anchored by remarkable stuff from Haley Lu Richardson and John Cho, is an aching and restrained look at people’s temporary occupation of space and what they do within it. Give this one a chance.
9. "Logan Lucky"
A hoot and a half, this West Virginia-set story of two brothers (Channing Tatum, Adam Driver) running from failure and toward robbing a racetrack is such a sly mix of cool and silly that you have to giggle. Sure, director Steven Soderbergh ("Ocean's Eleven," "Out of Sight") could do this sort of delirious, ensemble-driven caper in his sleep, but he's as playful as ever here and makes it look easy. It ain't.
8. “Raw”
Yes, the French cannibalism movie, but also a striking tale of sibling rivalry and outsider perspective, with extreme behavior mobilizing people against stress. Gripping and gross.
7. “Good Time”
Robert Pattinson has never been as magnetic and chilling as in this late-night crime drama, which marks yet another reminder that anyone still clinging to the "Twilight"-stars-can't-act thing needs to catch up with movies like "Cosmopolis" and "Clouds of Sils Maria." Offer not available to Taylor Lautner fans.
6. “Baby Driver”
From a simply visceral perspective Edgar Wright’s musical heist movie is “Scott Pilgrim Robs a Bank” -- endlessly charming, romantic, exciting and very up my alley. Snappy, hip-swiveling swoon.
5. “Stronger”
Enough to singlehandedly atone for “Your Highness” and “The Sitter,” David Gordon Green’s sensitive, honest take on a survivor’s (Jake Gyllenhaal, exceptional) recovery from the Boston Marathon bombing earns every tear. Powerfully American, or at least the generous, inclusive kind of America currently fighting for its life.
4. “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)”
Familiar territory for writer-director Noah Baumbach yet still a cutting study of fathers and kids, artists and white collars, everyone overlapping and few listening as they try so hard to matter. Painful and funny, perceptive and sad.
3. “Get Out”
An explosive, accomplished debut from writer-director Jordan Peele, bringing stylistic beauty to an ever- relevant portrait of racism that not only exists under the surface but emerges from it gleefully, hungry for blood. Loaded with chilling, unshakable images.
2. “Call Me By Your Name”
As beautiful as you've heard. A story of impossible love, both present and just out of reach, as undeniable as it is temporary, lasting forever. Armie Hammer finally gets his second breakout, and Timothee Chalamet gives the male performance of the year. A daydream earthquake.
1. "mother!"
The perfect capper to a devastating, angry, divisive year. Is writer-director Darren Aronofsky commenting on gender, relationships, parenting, the creative process, religion, narcissism or otherwise? Whatever it is, this strange, fascinating freakout has a vital instability -- essential not for being abstract but for tapping into a bizarre and horrifying truth about devotion as a unifying and destructive force, humanity fated to repeat its blessings and atrocities. Get a friend or a dozen strangers or a full semester of engaged thinkers and argue about this twisted "Eternal Sunshine" for the Age of Trump.
Order “Zack Morris Lied 329 Times! Reassessing every ridiculous episode of ‘Saved by the Bell’ … with stats” (featuring interviews with 22 cast members, plus the co-founder of Saved by the Max and the creator of “Zack Morris is Trash”)