Movie Talk: Top Ten Favorite Films of 2017

Welcome to another episode of moviemanMDG’s Movie Talk, where I talk about everything film-related.  It’s that time of year again, ladies and gentlemen.  2017 is drawing to a close and 2018 is upon us.  With that in mind, it’s time for me to share my personal highlights of the good and the not-so-good in filmmaking.  Starting things off on a positive note, here are my top ten 2017 films that earned my gold seal of approval.  There were a lot of movies this year that I thought were good, but these are the films that I believe are the best of the bunch and should get recognized for their incredible achievements.  With that said, let’s see which movies are lucky enough to be included in my list.

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#10

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Aside from its abrupt ending, “Three Billboards” is one of the most entertaining and well-acted films of the year.  Lead by an impressive performance from Frances McDormand, the film provided a mixture of hilarity and brutality with remarkable results.

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#9

Darkest Hour

A late addition to my top ten list, “Darkest Hour” is an invigorating portrayal of Winston Churchill’s early days as Prime Minister.  Gary Oldman delivered one of the best performances in his career and the dialogue was smartly written.  A well-executed history film from director Joe Wright.

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#8

Blade Runner 2049

One of the rare sequels that improve on the original.  “Blade Runner 2049” not only provided a much more interesting storyline, but it also had some of the best technical achievements that any sci-fi film could ask for.  Another visual delight from acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve.

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#7

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Yes, this is another Spider-Man reboot, and yes, it’s a great Spider-Man reboot.  “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is a fresh and action-packed interpretation of the famous webhead due to its cast (most notably Tom Holland), Jon Watts’ direction, and its storytelling that flawlessly balances the high school aspect and the superhero aspect.

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#6

​Wonder

A wonder to behold!  “Wonder” is an inspiring and extremely well-acted family film that’s also surprisingly emotional.  Thanks to its strong cast, relatable messages, and smart storytelling, the film was able to portray its concept that both kids and adults can appreciate.

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#5

​Detroit

Kathryn Bigelow has delivered another hard-hitting masterpiece in the form of “Detroit”.  It’s pretty frustrating that it didn’t receive any awards recognition this year because this is a darn good film.  While deeply disturbing, it provided some strong performances and direction to compensate.  Hopefully, the Academy doesn’t overlook it.

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#4

War for the Planet of the Apes

The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy is considered by everyone as one of the best film trilogies in cinematic history, and this film proves that it still is.  “War for the Planet of the Apes” is a final chapter done right.  Director Matt Reeves gave me a brilliant conclusion that was unexpected, yet totally satisfying.

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#3

​Logan

Yet another big-screen finale that met all of my expectations.  “Logan” is an incredible farewell to Hugh Jackman’s most popular role in film history.  Thanks to its strong performances, James Mangold’s direction, and its R-rated violence, this adult-only Marvel masterpiece is a superhero movie without the “superhero” part.

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#2

​Coco

“Coco” has a story that we’re familiar with, but it’s a story that’s done right thanks to the power of Pixar.  This latest feature from the animation powerhouse provided some beautiful animation, fun characters, affective storytelling, and its perfect portrayal of the Mexican culture to enchant me all the way through.

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Honorable Mentions

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#1

The Disaster Artist

Well, what do you know?  A film about the making of the worst movie ever is my number one film of the year.  James Franco was fantastic as Tommy Wiseau and the story about friendship is not only hilarious from start to finish, but also heartwarming.  It made me appreciate the challenges of filmmaking as well as the unexpected friendships that can come from anywhere.  A must-watch for those who are into filmmaking and for those who are familiar with The Room.

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That concludes this year’s top ten favorite films list.  I know that I missed out on a couple of films like The Post and I, Tonya, but I will get to those soon.  Probably not today, probably not tomorrow, but soon.  If you want to read my full reviews on the films that I listed above, you can find them in my “2017 Reviews” page.  Stay tuned for the next episode of Movie Talk where I talk about my top ten stinkers of the year.