Jeri Jacquin
The year is drawing to a quick close and so are the films
that are being offered up by studios. Having spent a large amount of time in
theatres in 2017 I have seen the good, bad and more ugly offering up my opinion
on what is worthy of your hard earned dollars.
It has been another rough movie year to be sure with films
that gave us promises and then didn’t quite deliver, quiet films that made
their way into theatres and surprised us all and head scratchers that were far
more confusing than they needed to be.
My top ten are from all genres with stories that made the
biggest impression on me. There will be a few jaw droppers as films you might
expect to see won’t be there and films you might not have heard of are worthy of
a second chance look.
So here are my Top Ten of 2017!
10. STAR WARS: The Last Jedi – The wait to see where the
story of Luke Skywalker is finally here. The rebellion is attempting to escape
the First Order while Rey tries to enlist the help of Skywalker. My 1977 self
loves the opening music and yellow scroll preparing for another epic adventure.
That being said, it will be interesting to see where the story goes and I am
looking forward to the Han Solo film. (PG-13 from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Studios)
9. THOR: Ragnarok –
This was an unexpected pleasure for me this year because the tone changed to
make it a really good time filled with action and laughs. Thor and Loki aren’t
about to take any cosmic nonsense from Hela and it all works beautifully. (PG-13
from Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures)
8. LAST FLAG FLYING –
Starring Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston, the story is
three men who served in Vietnam
and coming to terms with where they have been and helping their friend deal
with the death of his son. Have tissue for both the laughter and the tears.
(Rated R from Amazon Studios)
7. THE POST – It is
the story of The Post owner Kay Graham and editor Ben Bradlee when dealing with
a war cover-up and the four U.S.
Presidents that kept it going. When the White House discovers missing papers,
they attempt to do everything to stop the American people from reading about it
in the papers. Steven Spielberg brings his spin on history in an epic way.
(PG-13 from Twentieth Century Fox)
6. BABY DRIVER – Perhaps it was a frakken fantastic
soundtrack that pushed this film to amazing heights and even if so I’m okay
with that! This film is fast paced and filled with twists and turns and I’m not
just talking about from behind the steering wheel. Ansel Elgort takes the film
from beginning to end – well done young man. (Rated R from TriStar Pictures)
5. THE HERO – Dear
Sam Elliott, thank you for reminding me why you are such a treasure, not that I
really needed reminding. This is the story of a man clearly stuck and when life
comes seriously knocking, he must find the joy in life that he has been hiding
from. Elliott brings his southern drawl, sparkling eyes and no-apology wit to
this role that is absolutely stunning. (Rated R from The Orchard)
4. THE SHAPE OF WATER – Director del Torro has brought a
haunting beauty to a story that has moments of brilliant silence and moments of
pure love followed by seconds of insanity. All of this wrapped up in the
stellar performance of Sally Hawkins and fish man Doug Jones being watched over
by Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and the deliciously evil Michael Shannon.
(Rated R from Fox Searchlight Pictures)
3. VICTORIA & ABDUL – I am clearly a fan of period
pieces but this film is just beyond amazing. Judy Dench once again portrays
Queen Victoria who is clearly in her later years and can’t find anything to be
excited about. When Abdul comes to court, she begins a friendship that isn’t to
the courts liking or her un-princely like son. The onscreen chemistry between
Dench and Ali Fazal is every bit worth each frame of film. (PG-13 from Focus Features)
2. THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI – Frances McDormand gives the
performance that will stay with me playing Mildred, a mother who is coming to
terms with her daughters death. When she doesn’t feel local law enforcement are
doing enough, Mildred finds a way to motivate them. Also staring Woody
Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, this is a film that screams must-see! I am cheering
for McDormand come Oscar time! (Rated R from Fox Searchlight Pictures)
This is where you should be hearing a drum roll as my number
one for 2017 is:
1. DUNKIRK
– Christopher Nolan has brought a film that is not just a story about a moment
in history but a film that is an experience. On the beaches of Dunkirk , Allied soldiers
are surrounded by the Germans from land, sea and air in 1940. Nolan gives the
audience the perspective from all three angles without much useless dialogue.
Instead, he invites viewers into this world of war and all of the emotions that
brings. There isn’t a character in this film that doesn’t bring every ounce of
themselves to the story. (PG-13 from
Warner Bros.)
My yearly bonus of number 11 is ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD –
Director Ridley Scott takes us to 1973 Rome
as J. Paul Getty’s grandson Paul is kidnapped and held for ransom. Mother Gail
must go up against kidnappers who don’t believe she isn’t rich and Getty’s
refusal to pay anyone any dime of his. Mark Wahlberg is hired to help to find
the boy before there is no turning back. Christopher Plummer is eerily creepy
and I loved it. (Rated R from TriStar
Pictures)
I also had a few guilty pleasure films this year that stand
out including JOHN WICK 2 but then again anything with Keanu Reeves busting
heads works. There is the very funny TABLE 19 as Anna Kendrick leads a group of
wedding attendees who are stuck in the back of the room with a table of issues.
KINGSMAN: The Golden Circle
is a return of the well dressed agents who know you can fight evil and look good
doing it. Every list should have a shark film and 47 METERS DOWN is going to be my pick that
has bite, head slaps and yet I still love it. Finally, THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD –
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson…need I say more?
Are there disappointments? Absolutely and the list feels
endless! KING ARTHUR: Legend of the Sword gives us a Charlie Hunnam and that’s
absolutely it. ALIEN: Covenant is the next installment yet feels like bloody
confusion, literally. Of course there are the ridiculous that don’t need any
explanation with BAYWATCH, TRANSFORMERS: The Last Knight and VALERIAN and the
City of a Thousand Planets. Idris Elba has a busy year in 2017 but THE DARK
TOWER isn’t high on my list so I’ll just keep happy thoughts on his other
works. Finally, JUSTICE LEAGUE – I know I’m going to get grief for it but there
wasn’t anything about the film that makes me want more.
There you go, my best and worst of 2017! This has been a
year of either hit or miss and not much room for anything else in between. Theatre
goers aren’t being fickle in what they are looking for when they spend their
hard earn bucks and they shouldn’t be.
In 2018 there are remakes, return of the wizarding world,
more frights with what has become our favorite insidiousness, a group of maze
runners finish off their adventures, the final chapter of those shades in the
fifties, more from the comic book world, family and animated films and finally
SOLO, SUPER TROOPERS 2 and DEADPOOL 2 might make it all bearable!
Thanks for being a part of our 2017 at the theatres and we
look forward to joining you in the theatre seats with a bucket of popcorn in
2018! Happy holidays to you and yours and a safe Happy New Year from all of us
here at Blogger and Movie Maven.
