My Year in Film (2017)

Welcome to my third annual movie-of-the-year rankings. I watched 111 movies that came out last year. I ranked them and gave a few thoughts about each as well. If you'd like to keep up with my viewings throughout the year you can follow me on Letterboxd. Feel free to add any comments or suggestions as well.

https://letterboxd.com/boogs31/

Awful

111) Wish Upon (1.5/10) - Despite this being listed as the worst movie on my list, I recommend everyone watch this. It's definitely in the so bad it's good category.

110) Goon: Last of the Enforcers (1.75/10) - Just a horribly unfunny follow up to what was a solid first movie.

109) Death Note (1.75/10) - Watch the anime series instead of this terrible live-action version.

Really Bad

108) Life (2.5/10) - The directing is amateurish at best and I couldn't care less about any of the events that unfolded.

107) Bright (2.75/10) - A boring movie that doesn't offer anything of value.

Bad

106) In a Valley of Violence (3.5/10) - Generic western with poor acting and set designs.

105) The Discovery (3.75/10) - A somewhat intriguing premise that lacks execution.

104) Justice League (3.75/10) - It's pretty incredible that while this movie is a vast improvement over Suicide Squad, it's still this bad.

Below Average

103) Beauty and the Beast (4/10) - Just watch the original, or the 1991 version, or any other version.

102) The Greatest Showman (4/10) - Despite some solid choreography, the characters are too inconsistent as far as their moral compass is concerned.

101) 47 Meters Down (In The Deep) (4/10) - This movie has 2 working titles - - need I say more?

100) Kong: Skull Island (4.25/10) - While Peter Jackson's King Kong went too far in the direction of not showing monsters and focusing too much on the human characters, this does the exact opposite. If you're only interested in giant creatures fighting each other, this movie is for you. If you want to care about anything that is happening on the screen, watch something else.

99) Alien: Covenant (4.25/10) - All the Michael Fassbender bits are great, everything else isn't.

98) The Void (4.5/10) - This doesn't provide any scares, character development or plot.

97) The Foreigner (4.75/10) - Jackie Chan is good in the lead, but this movie is nothing more than a poor man's Taken.

96) Free Fire (4.75/10) - A lot of action and one liners, no more, no less.

95) Girls Trip (4.75/10) - While Tiffany Hadish has some funny moments in a supporting role, the rest of the cast isn't funny and it doesn't have as much heart as it thinks it does.

Average

94) Mother (5/10) - While I love the Wrestler and a lot of Arronofsky's work, I was straight up annoyed while watching this film. The main character is tormented throughout the film, and because he uses a lot of first person shots, you as the audience are tormented as well. The metaphors are obvious (Biblical), and the metaphor is literally the plot of the movie.

93) IT (5/10) - This felt more like a series of scary ideas placed on top of each other as opposed to a coherent story structure. The parts revolving around the kids are overrated as well. If you want to see kids hanging out done well, go watch Stranger Things.

92) The Lego Batman Movie (5.25/10) - Like all the Lego movies, the animation is fantastic, but I didn't find the story or the humor nearly as enjoyable as the original.

91) Punching Henry (5.25/10) - A movie about a stand-up comedian that I didn't find particularly compelling. The main character is incredibly awkward, leading to a lot of cringe inducing scenes.

90) The Lovers (5.25/10) - A couple who each are having an affair, suddenly fall in love with each other again. It fails from the get go because it doesn't give the audience any explanation as to why the attraction returned.

89) Atomic Blonde (5.5/10) - When I heard an assistant director from John Wick was making this movie, I was very excited. And while there are a lot of neat set pieces, a muddled plot prevents this action movie from getting off the ground.

88) Detroit (5.5/10) - While I'm glad this movie exists, I knew the message that the director was trying to send within the first 5 minutes (That police are often racist, do horrible things and get away with it). The problem is there is another 2 hours and 25 minutes after that.

87) A Ghost Story (5.5/10) - More of a bunch of still images than an actual movie (There are minute long takes where zero movement takes place on screen). There is a 7 minute long scene where a grieving widow gorge eats a pie. About halfway through the movie a character literally explains what it's supposed to be about.

86) It Comes at Night (5.5/10) - While it's great on a technical level, it not a character study or a plot driven narrative. It tries to rely completely on atmosphere and it never quite sold me.

85) The Hero (5.75/10) - While it has its moments, it doesn't ever come together in a satisfying way.

84) Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (5.75/10) - This was better than I anticipated. Fun, dumb action/comedy.

Above Average

83) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (6/10) - The direction is solid and there are some neat ideas sprinkled throughout. But most of the Finn related material felt like a bad B plot on a television show.

82) Gifted (6/10) - A perfectly adequate film with some heart and solid acting.

81) The Zookeepers Wife (6/10) - It was a little too safe for a Holocaust movie.

80) Wonder (6.25/10) - Heartwarming but on-the-nose film about acceptance and not judging a book by its cover.

79) Thank You for Your Service (6.25/10) - The movie is better than it's horrendous title.

78) Split (6.5/10) - Features a terrific performance from James McAvoy. I don't think it's a spoiler at this point to mention that M. Night Shaymalan movies always have twists. The twist at the end of this one was both surprising and horribly executed.

77) Creep 2 (6.5/10) - While not nearly as terrifying as the first, it's still a solid horror movie with a good performance from Mark Duplass.

76) Band Aid (6.5/10) - A couple that rekindles their relationship through making songs out of their fights.

75) Colossal (6.75/10) - A darkly humorous, original concept that will have you seeing Jason Sudeikas in a whole new light.

74) Last Flag Flying (6.75/10) - It works better as a road trip movie than it does dealing with the more serious topics it presents.

73) Marshall (6.75/10) - I enjoy courtroom dramas, and despite this not being near the top of the genre, it's a worthy addition.

Good

72) Killing Ground (7/10) - There is some pretty solid direction here and the non-linear structure adds to the suspense.

71) Born in China (7/10) - Who doesn't love watching Giant Pandas?

70) The Exception (7.25/10) - A good movie bolstered with a great cast. Getting a look at the life of a German Kaiser was also a refeshing take on the World War II theme.

69) Battle of the Sexes (7.25/10) - This was the 3rd best sports movie of the year! Unfortunately - - 2017 was a horrible year for sports movies.

68) Megan Leavey (7.5/10) - More about a relationship between a woman and a dog than it is a military movie. It packs an emotional punch.

67) Chuck (7.5/10) - A look at the life of boxer Chuck Wepner. While it's certainly interesting and Liev Shrieber is fantastic, I found the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "The Real Rocky" to be more engaging.

66) All the Money in the World (7.6/10) - The movie is decent but I can't remember another film having this much controversy. If you've been living under a rock, they replaced Kevin Spacey in the film with Christopher Plummer a month before the release. Then they grossly underpayed Michelle Williams for the re-shoots.

65) Brigsby Bear (7.6/10) - A quirky, sometimes dark but mostly heartwarming tale about overcoming trauma. The main character was kidnapped as a child and lived a sheltered existence with his abductors for many years. The movie focuses on his rehabilitation back into the real world.

64) A Quiet Passion (7.7/10) - Cynthia Nixon gives a powerhouse performance as Emily Dickinson. She definitely deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

63) Mayhem (7.7/10) - A fun, Zombie-esque film that has plenty of action, violence, blood and gore.

62) Happy Death Day (7.7/10) - Does the idea of a horror version of Groundhogs day sound appealing?

Not really.

Did I like it?

Yup!

61) Thor: Ragnarok (7.8/10) - It's funny, cool and action packed. Easily the best Thor Movie.

60) The Founder (7.8/10) - The Social Network of Fast Food movies. Michael Keaton is great as usual.

59) Long Shot (7.8/10) - An amazing true story about how Larry David got someone off of death row. I only wish it was longer.

58) Patti Cakes (7.9/10) - This is essentially a female version of 8 Mile.

57) Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (7.9/10) - Maybe my nostalgia for Captain Underpants is clouding my judgement. But I thought this was a genuinely funny movie that doesn't take itself too seriously.

56) The Post (7.9/10) - While it has the usual Speilberg film-making flair, there is absolutely no subtlety in its delivery of the message.

55) Darkest Hour (8/10) - Gary Oldman is really good in the role of Winston Churchill. The film itself is decent.

54) Transpecos (8/10) - A tense thriller about border patrol agents who have a not so boring day.

53) Logan (8/10) - The opening scene is mesmerizing, but the rest of the movie fails to live up to that lofty standard.

52) Gerald's Game (8/10) - One of the better Stephen King adaptations I can think of.

51) American Made (8.1/10) - A wild action movie with plenty of directorial flair and a good Tom Cruise role.

50) Stronger (8.1/10) - A look at the Boston Marathon bombing from a specific victims perspective. It doesn't sugar coat the struggles of losing ones limbs, having to go through rehab, and getting celebrity thrust upon you.

49) The Trip to Spain (8.2/10) - This is the 3rd "Trip" movie and I love them all (1 is titled "The Trip", 2 is "The Trip to Italy"). It's a pretty basic premise, two guys traveling and eating at various fine dining establishments while they try to out-do each others various imitations of celebrities.

48) Dunkirk (8.2/10) - It certainly is a technical feat. If Christopher Nolan's goal was to merely show the audience what it was like to be in Dunkirk, it's a massive success. It's hard for me to consider it that way given it didn't elicit any sort of emotional response.

47) Wonder Woman (8.2/10) - Despite a less than stellar final act, this was a movie I enjoyed immensely. The fish-out-of-water humor as well as the "No Man's Land" action scene really stand out.

46) Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (8.2/10) - A look at the man and his two lovers who were responsible for creating the Wonder Woman comics. The whole cast is really good.

45) Molly's Game (8.2/10) - Aaron Sorkin is one of the greatest screenwriters alive. He decided to direct this one as well, and despite him not being bad, I wish someone a little better behind the camera could have handled this material.

44) The Levelling (8.3/10) - Offers a look at grief and how different people cope in very different ways.

43) Wheelman (8.3/10) The main character is a get-away driver and much like the movie, "Locke", the camera rarely leaves the inside of the car. It's fast paced, intense and features a lot of cursing. I was really impressed by Caitlin Carmichael in a small role.

42) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (8.3/10) - After a rough first 15 minutes, this sequel manages to be fun while maintaining the musical flair of the first movie. It also made me care about a few new and returning characters.

41) The Disaster Artist (8.3/10) - Having seen "The Room" countless times and listened to the audio book of the same name, I was very excited for this movie. I couldn't help but feel like the movie wasn't as good as it could have been. They left out major motivational factors for the characters. It still works as an homage to "The Room" and in some ways as a story of friendship and following your dreams, it just could have been so much more.

40) War for the Planet of the Apes (8.3/10) - I really like all of these new Planet of the Apes movies. The CGI is pretty remarkable and Andy Serkis is easily the best motion capture actor ever. There is one scene involving a flower that really took me out of the movie and its hard for me to look past how awful it was.

39) Win it All (8.3) - Joe Swanburg is one of my favorite directors because he focuses on characters and puts them in situations that accentuates their personalities/attributes.

38) Wakefield (8.4) - The first of two inner monologue movies I really enjoyed. This one features Bryan Cranston who decides one day to abandon his life and start living in his garage attic.

37) Spider-Man Homecoming (8.4/10) - The best Marvel movie of last year. It had neat action set pieces, it was funny and it featured a quality villain in Michael Keaton. Tom Holland is also the perfect casting for the lead role.

36) Paris 5:59: Theo & Hugo (8.4/10) - A movie I saw at the Cleveland International Film Festival. I really enjoyed not only the movie but the film festival experience as well. I plan on going back this year. The film focuses on a gay man who has unprotected sex and goes to the hospital to get tested for HIV.

35) Voyeur (8.4/10) - An interesting documentary about a guy who purchases a hotel for the sole purpose of viewing its residents. It not only focuses on the hotel owner but also the journalist who comes to realize his own profession involves voyeurism as well.

34) Only the Brave (8.4/10) - A true story about a group of firefighters who specialize in putting out wild fires. Jennifer Conley is magnificent in a supporting role.

Really Good

33) Hounds of Love (8.5/10) - Really beautifully shot, psychological horror film about a girl who must use her wits to survive after being kidnapped.

32) Mudbound (8.5/10) - A look at race relations during World War II. Really solid cast and gorgeous cinematography.

31) Logan Lucky (8.5/10) - A really fun, humorous heist movie that all comes together through the brilliance of Steven Soderberg's vision.

30) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (8.5/10) - I get all of the backlash this film has received and I agree with all of it. I also believe a movie can have faults and still be really good. There are plenty of amazing moments in the film including a scene in which Frances McDormand tells off a local priest.

29) John Wick: Chapter 2 (8.6/10) - The John Wick movies are an absolute delight. I was worried it was going to be a by the book sequel with little more to offer than an imitation of the first film. I was happy to be wrong. The second half of this movie goes in a completely unexpected direction and it's wonderful.

28) Your Name (8.6/10) - One of the best looking animations I've ever seen and emotionally resonating to boot.

27) Their Finest (8.6/10) - The best Dunkirk movie of the year isn't "Dunkirk", it's "Their Finest". It focuses on a female writer who helps make a movie to keep the British citizens minds off the war. It's equally heartwarming and tragic.

26) Jawbone (8.7/10) - A boxing movie that delves into the topics of alcoholism and addiction.

25) Spielberg (8.7/10) - A fitting tribute for a masterful filmmaker. I started a Spielberg binge after watching this.

24) Brad's Status (8.7/10) - A father who is going through a mid-life crisis goes on a trip with his son to visit various colleges. Through inner monologue, we get a glimpse into the fathers thoughts, including him questioning his life and his decisions.

23) Wind River (8.8/10) - A real slow burn of a mystery involving the death of a young girl. Stunning landscapes and a great cast make it worth a watch.

22) Maudie (8.8/10) - Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke are both terrific in their respective roles.

21) Ingrid Goes West (8.8/10) - Aubrey Plaza is perfectly cast as a stalker trying to become friends with an instagram celebrity. It's a much needed look at social media obsession. O'Shea Jackson Jr. is really funny in a supporting role.

20) I Am Not Your Negro (8.8/10) - An essential watch for James Baldwin's astute observations alone, but it also combines imagery that you will remember long after the credits have rolled.

19) I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (8.9/10) - A Netflix original that constantly provides surprises and laughs.

18) Blade Runner 2049 (8.9/10) - A sequel that not only stays true to the themes of the original, but expands upon them in very interesting ways. The amazing thing about what Denis Villeneuve accomplished with this, is that it somehow feels and looks like a Blade Runner sequel.

17) Lucky (8.9/10) - A film that is truly the culmination of the late Harry Dean Stanton's remarkable career. A really enjoyable character study of an elderly man and his daily ritual.

16) Lost City of Z (8.9/10) - An epic in every sense of the word. A film about a group of explorers that journey into the Amazon in the early 20th century. Robert Pattinson is really good in a supporting role.

Great

15) Phantom Thread (9/10) - A very eccentric romance involving a fashion tycoon (Daniel Day-Lewis) and a young woman (Vicky Krieps). The film-making from Paul Thomas Anderson is tremendous and the performances, set design and costumes are all top notch.

14) Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (9/10) - An absorbing documentary about the making of the film "Man on the Moon." It's an in-depth look at a performer (Jim Carrey) doing method acting and inhabiting the role on a permanent basis.

13) The Florida Project (9.1/10) - Sean Baker is perhaps the greatest humanist filmmaker of all time. He gets incredible performances out of amateur actors (Brooklynn Prince in particular). His direction of camera is so subtle it's barely noticeable at all. It's truly a transportive experience albeit at times bleak. Willem Dafoe deserves a lot of credit for blending in considering he was the only professional actor on set.

12) I, Tonya (9.2/10) - People are calling this the "Goodfellas" of figure skating and I completely agree with that sentiment. Despite the nature of the events, the film-making is fast and assured and they also realize it's okay to laugh at the absurdity of it all. I left the theater actually feeling sympathy for Tonya Harding, something I didn't think was possible.

11) Baby Driver (9.2/10) - Edgar Wright's genius in mixing the score with the action truly makes this film special. The action scenes have a palpable energy that only the blending of music can provide.

10) Brawl In Cell Block 99 (9.3/10) - My favorite film of the year. I loved S. Craig Zahler's first film, "Bone Tomahawk" (A genre blend of Western and Horror), and was very excited for what he'd do next. His new movie, "Brawl in Cell Block 99", goes from a typical action drama to a full on prison exploitation flick.

9) Call Me by Your Name (9.4/10) - A loving romance based in Italy in the early 1980's. Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer have terrific chemistry as young lovers who are coming to grips with their sexual identity.

8) I, Daniel Blake (9.4/10) - My favorite character study of the year. The title character is a 59 year old widowed carpenter who must rely on welfare after a recent heart attack. Dealing with health issues and a broken welfare system, he still manages to help out a woman and her two children.

7) Lady Bird (9.5/10) - We got quite a few impressive directing debuts this year and this one is no exception. Greta Gerwig makes a very authentic feeling/looking film that shows off the bond between a mother and daughter.

6) The Big Sick (9.5/10) - It's a comedy, it's a romance, and it's a drama. It successfully manages to be all three things at once and it also happens to be a compelling true story. Ray Romano and Holly Hunter are great in their roles as the parents of Emily.

Masterpieces

5) Good Time (9.6/10) - I never knew what direction the story was going in and it consistently surprised me. It also features a terrific performance from Robert Pattinson. It has an old school look to it and it feels very much like something made from the 70's or 80's.

4) Raw (9.6/10) - The best horror film of the year that also works as a coming of age tale. It's lurid visuals combined with the slow building tension make this a must watch.

3) The Shape of Water (9.7/10) - A wonderful look at so-called others in our society made by a truly visionary filmmaker. I'm also pulling for Alexandre Desplat to win for Original Score and Sally Hawkins for Best Actress.

2) Coco (9.8/10) - The best Pixar movie since Toy Story 3. The animation, music and narrative are all stellar. Who would have thought that focusing on cultures outside of America would be a good idea?

1) Get Out (10/10) - A refreshingly original idea that is at times scary and funny, featuring great performances and social commentary. A superb directorial debut from Jordan Pelle. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Watchlist:

The Killing of a Sacred Dear

The Square

The Meyerowitz Stories

Okja

Prevenge

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Ghost in the Shell

Mean Dreams

My Cousin Rachel

Columbus

Norman

Personal Shopper

Sleight

The Beguiled

The Girl With All the Gifts

The Limehouse Golem

The Little Hours

Una

Our Souls at Night