My favorite films of 2017 + Oscars preview

I am late. What day is it? As of writing it's March 3 but it'll probably be March 4 when it's actually published. Having a 1-.year-old makes it significantly harder to watch all the movies you intend to watch. I could have posted my top 10 back in January, but half of the movies that are on the list now have only made the list in recent weeks as I have scrambled to see the remaining Oscar nominated Best Pictures from 2017.

This year I saw 34 films. Regrettably I saw very few documentaries, so you will not see any of those on here. There are a handful of other films I have yet to see which could have very well made my list based on things I've heard from friends and critics. Among those are I, Tonya, Wind River, Last Flag Flying, and Mudbound. If you have seen any of those or others not mentioned here, please comment and let me know your thoughts and recommendations.

As a preface, as I stated last year, my "favorite films" are a hybrid of quality and personal preferences, which includes a level of bias. I am the only me I know so what I deem best will (hopefully) vary from yours. And again, please feel free to share your personal top films. I love to hear your thoughts.

I will try harder next year to get these out earlier. I do like giving a little preview of the Oscars, so maybe I'll aim to have this out closer to when the nominations are actually announced. We'll see. It's a work in progress.

One last note: I'll do my best to keep any comments/discussion as spoiler-free as possible, but there's always the chance something may be given away. So be careful out there.

Now, without any further adieu, here are a few...

Honorable mentions.

In alphabetical order.

The Big Sick

This was the best romantic comedy of the year. And it also touches on the immigrant experience in an unexpected way. If you have seen Master of None then this film is a perfect companion piece. The story of screenwriter and star Kumail Nanjiani and his wife, co-screenwriter Emily Gordon (portrayed in the film by Zoe Kazan) is lovely. This film has great jokes but it also has so much heart. Emily's parents are played by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter, both of whom do an excellent job and are just as important to the romance at the center of the film as are Kumail and Emily. I wanted this film to be in my top 10 but I just couldn't quite make room for it.

Call Me By Your Name

A worthy Best Picture nominee. It is another great coming of age story from this year and a story of first love and loss. While the romance didn’t work for me on all levels and felt a little rushed at times, I was in awe of the Italian backdrop of this film. It was a delight following Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) around the Italian countryside and spending time with them. With Moonlight last year and Call Me By Your Name this year I hope we can continue to see more well made films about LGBTQ relationships. A monologue at the end of the film delivered by Elio’s father played by Michael Stuhlbarg is one of the most moving scenes in 2017 films. It says beautifully what La La Land evoked last year of how some loves and experiences are so important in our lives that we can't dwell on the sadness that they leave behind. We need to remember that the people that cross our paths for good or ill shape us into who we are. Rather than looking at what was lost, look at the things they gave us and helped us discover about ourselves.

Phantom Thread

Daniel Day-Lewis. What can't he do? If he is really retiring after this film then the world is losing a great artist. He apparently learned to actually make a dress for this film. He brings such nuance and little quirks and emotions to this role that I was speechless. Best Actor will likely go to Gary Oldman who gives a brilliant turn as Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour, and fair enough. His performance there is great. Plus Daniel Day-Lewis already has won the award 3 times. And his performance in each film is completely unrecognizable from the next. As a film, Phantom Thread is slow and meticulous. It seems like a standard romance on its surface but it goes to unexpected places, detailing the life of a genius (Day-Lewis) and the women around him: his sister played by Lesley Manville and his lover played by Vicky Krieps. Krieps is just as spellbinding as Day-Lewis, which is remarkable. I loved seeing the two of them act opposite each other as they sought to portray the sacrifices involved in making a relationship work.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Finally, this is what I have wanted Spider-Man to be all these years. Many have said this is what Spider-Man would be like if directed by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off). It's a great coming-of-age / superhero origin story for Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Whatever terms Sony and Marvel Studios agreed to in order to make this film happen was worth it. Tom Holland evokes the perfect Peter Parker. His friends are just as fun and hilarious, especially Jacob Batalon as Ned. As good as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was this year, Madison and I agreed that so many comic book films show our heroes often killing without regret. It was great to see a hero who not only wants to solve problems without killing, but even goes out of his way to save his enemies from death. That was refreshing. Michael Keaton as the Vulture is one of the best villains Marvel has given us. You can sympathize with his plight and Keaton just chews up the scenery. It's a sign of great writing when the most tension-heavy scene of the film takes place between the hero and villain out of costume in a parked car rather than toe-to-toe in a huge climactic action set piece. I can't wait to see what lies in store for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

AND NOW...MY TOP FILMS OF 2017, STARTING WITH...

10. Logan

It's no surprise: we are living in a time of super hero films. 2017 had 2 DC films and 4 Marvel films. Wonder Woman was fantastic (see my wife's review here). And as mentioned above Spider-Man: Homecoming was a worthy entry and just missed out of my top 10. But Logan was the one for me this year. It makes sense that a hero with claws coming out of his hands would find his home in an R-rated film. But he finally got his chance to shine. I am a Wolverine fan from way back. He was my favorite character in the cartoon from the 1990s. I was stoked when Hugh Jackman first took on the character in Bryan Singer's X-Men film in 2000. In the intervening 17 years we have seen 5 other X-Men films and 2 other Wolverine-centric films. This marks a culmination of all that has come before. Hugh Jackman is an old and weathered Logan. Despite his mutant healing power he is left scarred after all these years. Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier is even worse for wear. But both are brilliant in what has been advertised as their swan song. In what seems to be a theme for films this year, at least many on my list, Logan shows us our heroes at the end of their ropes. Heroes who have seen a world crumble around them, yet they give us reason to need them and believe in them one more time.

The action in this film is great, but even more powerful are the touching character moments for Charles, Logan, and Laura, portrayed marvelously by newcomer Dafne Keen. You will see and feel every beating Logan takes and wish for him to get some relief. But some of our heroes get to where they are, rising above their station, because of all that they can take and their resilience through it all.

9. The Shape of Water

So there's a good chance people know this as the one where a mute woman gets it on with a fish man. Before you dismiss the idea ask yourself how you feel about Beauty and the Beast? Cool, now that that's out of the way...

The Shape of Water is a gorgeous film. Guillermo Del Toro has created a breathtaking world set in Baltimore during the Cold War. Even richer than this world are the characters that inhabit it. Sally Hawkins plays Elisa, the mute woman who works as a janitor for a government facility. Octavia Spencer is her coworker Zelda. Richard Jenkins is her gay neighbor Niles. Michael Stuhlbarg is the Soviet spy studying the creature. Each is an outcast of sorts of the society at the time for one reason or another and poses a threat to the caricature of a villain played by Michael Shannon who runs the government lab that is housing the creature. This films is part fairy tale for adults and part social commentary of the people society often deems misfits. The acting is great across the board and the realization of the creature and the world around it is marvelous. Like old Hollywood monster films (Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, King Kong), Del Toro contrasts the humanity in the "monster" with the monster in the human antagonist. This is a serious contender for Best Picture. With 13 nominations it is leading the pack and would be deserving of every award it could win.

8. Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Another frontrunner to take home the prize of Best Picture at the awards. This film is a writing and acting powerhouse. My money is on Frances McDormand to take home the Best Actress award. She is one tough mother. She portrays yet another strong female character in a long line of strong female characters from 2017. The script is one of the best of the year with twists and turns and setups and payoffs from start to finish. And when you have the likes of McDormand with Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and Peter Dinklage in supporting roles, you have one of the best films of the year. It's also a beautifully shot film. The titular billboards are depicted throughout the film in different lighting and to great effect. The humor is dark but sharp. I laughed out loud in the theater numerous times.

The thing I like most about Three Billboards is how we see shades of grey in all our characters. Mildred, our protagonist, is not always good. She does some bad things to get the things she wants. And Officer Dixon and Chief Willoughby aren't the villains you would expect them to be. There are seemingly good people doing awful things and seemingly bad people doing wonderful things. It shows that all of us are here living on this earth together. Especially in our heightened political landscape it's easy to see the world as "us" and "them". But this film shows that our enemies are generally trying to do right as they see it. It's possible for "enemies" to work together to accomplish goals. The sooner we can see our own faults and appreciate the qualities and triumphs in others, the better.

Red Band Trailer - You've been warned.

7. Lady Bird

There are so many coming of age films. So. MANY. But Lady Bird is different. And I'll be honest: for the first half I actually did find myself wondering "Why does everyone say this is SO good? Why is everyone talking it up so much? It's kind of cliche." But then it hit a point and I realized how much better this film is than so many others. Lady Bird was comforting a close friend who is gay. Just the way the film spent a few important moments with these characters during that time was extremely moving.

Greta Gerwig has done something truly magical with this film. On the surface it is a very specific story. Lady Bird is a Catholic teenage girl growing up in Sacremento, CA dealing with a difficult relationship with her mother. I am none of those things. And I never was. Yet I found her story so relatable. Saoirse Ronan may not get Best Actress this year (see Three Billboards above), but considering her pedigree so far it's only a matter of time. Her performance here is so good like everything else she's done before. And all the characters around her are so beautifully written and brought to life by the cast in a relatable way. Laurie Metcalf as Lady Bird's mother is so great, and deserves any every award given to her. But the father, played by Tracy Letts, was a revelation to me. As a father with a daughter I perhaps related to him the most. There is a scene between Lady Bird's father and brother that moved me to tears just by the sheer honesty that Letts brings to that moment. But like every good coming of age drama it is balanced by smart and fun comedic moments. And on top of all that it's such a beautiful love letter to home towns, especially the smaller ones. No matter your desire to grow up and leave your home town behind, there's always something special drawing you there.

6. The Florida Project

I'll say it upfront: it's a tragedy that this film was not nominated for Best Picture. I admit, there are other films in my top 5 that may not be worthy of a Best Picture nomination. The Florida Project is equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting. It is superbly acted across the board from veteran Willem Dafoe (give him Best Supporting Actor, please!) to newby sensation Brooklynn Prince. I'm always a fan of films that can show me a slice of life that I am totally unfamiliar with. Director Sean Baker does just that with this film by taking us into and around some of the motels housed in the shadows of Disney World in Florida: motels with near-copyright-infringing names like The Magic Castle and Future Land. This film is told largely from the perspective of Mooney. It would be easy to play up the fact that Mooney and her single mother are living in the projects of Orlando, to dwell on the income disparities that exist as some families are traveling there to live out their dreams of going to Disney World while Mooney's mother is struggling to pay rent each month at this motel. Yet when told from the perspective of this precocious girl, every day we see her living out her dreams.

But like I said, her life is not without heartbreak. At times Mooney’s whole world is nearly upended. Yet with the magic that she and her friends create and the beauty of her simplistic life she is able to persevere. See this film.

5. Get Out

Get Out came out at the beginning of 2017 yet somehow we didn’t manage to see it until a month ago. Part of that was because I had to convince Madison to see it. The last horror film I got her to see was The Conjuring on Halloween a couple years ago and I paid for it by having to take Luna out every night for a couple weeks. The horror in that film definitely sticks with you. Get Out sticks with you as well, not because of its horror but because it perfectly executes it’s construct and balances satire, comedy, horror, and social commentary in a brilliant way. It deals with a contemporary kind of racism that I certainly overlook. I’d like to think this film made me better understand the daily struggles that many people of color face.

The acting in this film is also among the best I’ve seen this year, which I would never have expected to say of a horror film. Leads Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams are fantastic as are the performances of Williams’s parents by Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener. But my favorite acting moment comes from housemaid Georgina played by Betty Gabriel. A key scene with her (seen below) begins to reveal the darker secrets and horrors that Kaluuya’s character is in store for. I can’t endorse this film enough.

4. Coco

Never rule out Pixar. They are possibly one of the greatest film studios currently in operation. I regret not seeing this film earlier but Madison and I were finally able to catch it as it was about to leave theaters. And instantly this film rose to one of my favorite Pixar films. The animation is among the most stunning I have ever seen, especially in the realization of the Land of the Dead. The original songs are beautiful and catchy. I bought the soundtrack shortly after seeing the film. And the message of pursuing your dreams and the importance of family is eternal. Though I even found myself predicting some of the turns the movie took, I was still riveted. The script is smart. And if the opening 5 minutes of Up broke you, prepare to be broken again. I was moved to tears twice in this film. Sometimes Pixar’s films can be a little too emotionally manipulative. Coco earns these moments. I can’t wait to share this film and it’s messages with Rey as she gets older.

3. Dunkirk

I have already written at length about Dunkirk. I saw this film twice in IMAX. Both times it was...an experience. That is really the best way to describe it. I have yet to see this on home video, and admittedly I am a little hesitant. I fear the immersive qualities of the film will be lost when not viewed in the largest format possible. While other films on my top 10 could be enjoyed just as well on a TV while sitting on your couch at home, I think theaters are made for films like Dunkirk.

One thing that I loved on second viewing was the importance this film places on hope and surviving. Sometimes in our world with the things going on around us it is a great success if we can just keep going about our lives. We may not always be able to fight things head on. A lot of days we can't. But to survive to fight another day is just as crucial as the actual battles we face. If Dunkirk ever makes its way back to the cinemas please go see it. It is masterfully shot and the tension created by the interweaving of editing, the score, and the plot lines makes for one of the best war films of all time.

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

If you know me you had to know this would be near the top. And I admit I could go back and forth on putting this as my 1 or 2 this year. I love science fiction and fantasy films. The only reason this drops a notch for me is pacing in the second act.

I know there have been endless articles written both criticizing and defending this film. What director Rian Johnson did with this film is truly special. He has paid homage to the great films of cinema past, including an almost exact imitation of a famous scene from the first Best Picture winner ever, Wings. He has created a way for Star Wars to continue on into the future and to make it relevant for our time. It may be the most important Star Wars film made, as it includes commentary on our current society and perhaps the most diverse cast of any film on this list. Of course that does not inherently make it a great film. But Johnson takes each of these core characters through a journey that challenges them and the audience. Some of the choices are undoubtedly controversial, but we were warned in the trailer when Luke explicitly states "This is not going to go the way you think." I can't wait to see where future films take our heroes and villains in this galaxy far, far away.

MINOR SPOILERS: Some people wish Luke had actually fought the First Order at the end of the film. I think it is a greater triumph for his character and a greater testament to the true ways of the Jedi that he doesn't rely on aggression or attack. Like Dunkirk before, it is proof that sometimes pacifism wins the day.

1. Blade Runner 2049

So yeah, Denis Villeneuve. He directed one of my favorite films last year in Arrival and returned this year with Blade Runner 2049. If you have never seen the original Blade Runner film from 1982, which I hadn't before a few months ago, you need to. It's a wonderful cult classic and has a fantastic score and one of the best antagonists ever put to film in Rutger Hauer's Roy Batty. And the world it depicts set in the distant future of 2019 (?!?!) is one of the best production designs of any science fiction film. Like Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049 expands on its predecessor in miraculous ways. It maintains the noir feel of the original, which is remarkable for a mainstream film to do in 2017. As such it runs long at over 2 hours and 40 minutes. There are moments of quiet where we follow Detective K, played by Ryan Gosling. But it's no detriment, as every single frame of this film is among the most beautiful images I've seen in film ever.

Regrettably this film didn't make it big at the box office (Hey! In true Blade Runner fashion). But I hope it will get renewed life in home viewings and video on demand. It deals with artificial intelligence and class differences in poetic ways. Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances as aged and retired blade runner Rick Deckard. There are some breathtaking action set pieces. The world of 2049 is a dark and rainy one, but it is marvelous. I only saw this film once but I can't wait to rewatch it again and again. If you like sci-fi, do yourself a favor and see this film. It's got stiff competition at the Oscars in the technical categories like Cinematography, Production Design, and Visual Effects but I hope it gets some recognition tonight, just so it can hold the title of Academy Award Winner Blade Runner 2049. Maybe then people will give it the attention it deserves.

There you have it. Hope it was a good read. Hopefully you'll take the time to see things I recommended that you hadn't before. And hopefully you'll take some time to share your opinions and personal rankings if you feel so inclined. See you next year.