#20) A CURE FOR WELLNESS
Modern Hollywood doesn't tend to allow for much in the way of creativity in even their mid-level budgeted pictures. Yet, every now and then, an auteur gem like A Cure For Wellness is bestowed upon us. Visually sumptuous yet repellent and intricately plotted, this one mother of a gothic horror flick with plenty of grotesque ideas and some of the best production design in recent memory. Plus, I’d put this alongside Rango as justifications for why Gore Verbinski is one of the most interesting mainstream directors of the past twenty years or so. Love it, hate it, you won’t forget it. That’s for sure!
#19) DUNKIRK
Dunkirk is far from the most character-based war film; but, it surpasses a lot of others in how it effectively places the viewer in the violent chaos that is warfare. Christopher Nolan works his usual magic and manages to keep the suspense of each solitary moment tightly wound to its breaking point. Technically unmatched, it’ll be little wonder if this sweeps the upcoming Oscars. I would call it this year’s Gravity; but, this is an infinitely superior film to that and works just as well on the small screen as it does in the theater.
#18) THE BAD BATCH
Cinematic moodpieces can go either way for me. They can end up being insufferably pretentious detritus like Darren Aronofsky's mother! or they can be technically superb yet emotionally intangible like A Ghost Story, Sometimes, there's one that just works well with me. The Bad Batch happily fits that mold. Atmospheric and eclectic, Ana Lily Amirpour’s hallucinatory desert daydream may be slow-moving; but, its a film that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Plus, what other movie will contain both Jim Carrey as a wacky hermit and Keanu Reeves as an over-the-top, Southern, life-of-the-party cult leader?
#17) ATOMIC BLONDE
Personally, the phrase “style over substance” has never really clicked with me. There are cases where that may be true; but, for now, I’ll stay right over celebrating movies like Atomic Blonde where the style is the substance. Plus, ultra-sleazy James MacAvoy is hands down my favorite flavor of James MacAvoy. Atomic Blonde is synthpop fueled, neon-lit bone-crunching action at its finest. Check it out!
#16) THOR: RAGNAROK
Let’s put aside the idea that this is the best out of the Thor movies (even if that assessment is right on the money). Thor: Ragnarok works best on own its merits. Taika Waititi’s quirky sense of humor gels with the 80s metal album cover/cosmic Jack Kirby-influenced hybrid action-fantasy aesthetic surprisingly well. It’s also a big event comic book blockbuster flick that’s not afraid to let the world end for once and start on newer paths. Bonus points for containing one of the best uses of Led Zeppelin’s discography in cinematic history.
#15) ALIEN: COVENANT
Ridley Scott seems to have had a pretty year, what with him reshooting over half a movie mere weeks before release and having it be greeted with critical acclaim. But, let’s not forget what he accomplished with . After the fascinatingly polarizing Prometheus, it's nice to see he came back swinging with Alien Covenant. While it has plenty on its mind to ponder, it also works as a brutally nasty sci-fi horror flick. So, we get the best of both worlds. A movie that questions the nature of curiosity while also having a harrowing climatic spaceship fight and a shower kill straight out of a slasher movie.
#14) GOOD TIME
Urban crime flicks are something that's always welcome in my cinematic diet and Good Time is no exception. The Safdie Brothers direct this city-based adrenaline rush with effortless skill and Robert Pattinson gives it his all (who knew this dude could actually act?). It should also be mentioned that the score from Oneohtrix Point Never is killer. The icy synth beats bring to mind names like Tangerine Dream and add layers of energetic tension to every scene. Give this one a watch in the near future!
#13) BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99
Undercut by a swingin' original soundtrack and an intriguing sense of pathos, Brawl In Cell Block 99 is a might fine prison picture. Vince Vaughn is peak form as an honest blue-collar man trying his best to make it out in one piece in a world that grows uglier and uglier every single day. All that tense drama overrides the picture's grindhouse-style cheap thrills; but, boy, is that bloodletting ever so satisfying. Keep punching that car with all your ever-loving strength, Mr. Vaughn!
#12) IT
2017 was a pretty notable year for Stephen King adaptations. Some were good, some weren't. As you can guess, IT falls into the former category. A thoroughly entertaining amusement park attraction of a horror picture that manages to muster some genuinely moving drama with its young cast. Plus, Bill Skarsgard gives a career-defining turn as Pennywise and its refreshing to see an 80s throwback that shows some restraint with the nostalgia. Here's hoping Part II is even half as good as this was. Also, if you didn't get to check this out in a crowded moviehouse, you missed out big time.
#11) THE DISASTER ARTIST
It would've been so easy to turn the bizarre story behind one of the most ubiquitous cinematic cult phenomenon into little more than a snarky joke at the expense of an elusive werido. Thankfully, James Franco chose to look at of in an way that's strikingly empathetic towards Tommy Wiseau and his baffling celluloid monstrosity. Even if you aren't into The Room or haven't the foggiest idea of what it is, this is still an enjoyable dive into the process of filmmaking that's both admirably sweet and screamingly funny.
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