#10) STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
At this point, I’ll admit it’s nice that we’re back to a point where Star Wars saga has a consistent status on the year’s cinematic highlights (even if I wish I could redo my Best of 2016 list and take Rogue One down a few pegs). Still, The Last Jedi is some spectacular pop excitement. If nothing else, it feels like the first movie in this saga to actually do anything new both with the grand mythology and adding layers to the well-trodden narrative pattern.
#9) KONG: SKULL ISLAND
Vietnam War flicks and giant monster movies end up making for an expected yet rewarding pairing in Kong: Skull Island. B-movie thrills filtered through beautiful landscapes, heavily saturated colors and relentless energy. John C. Reilly adds his usual offbeat quirkiness to the non-monster spectacle moments. Also, this may be the most R-rated PG-13 film this movie fan has seen since Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell.
#8) WONDER WOMAN
To say the DC Extended Universe has gotten something of a cold reception would be putting it mildly. Still, I’ve been championing this franchise ever Man of Steel came out in 2013 and its nice to see it finally has a film under its belt that’s been embraced by other film critics. It also helps that Wonder Woman is the best pure superhero picture of the year. Gal Gadot manages to be on par with Christopher Reeve in terms of being a living embodiment of the classical superhero image. The action setpieces are all great, especially the "No Man’s Land" sequence around the second act. Plenty of others have gushed over it; so, I won’t waste your time here. All the world has waited for this film for decades and they’ve been rewarded handsomely.
#7) LOGAN
Superhero movies have slowly expanded into other genres. Logan may be the most obvious example of this phenomenon. Bleak and uncompromising, Hugh Jackman’s final turn as Wolverine packs an emotional punch while being an awesome Western-noir-action hybrid. Plus, that final shot gets me every single time. What a way to go out with a bang!
#6) THE SHAPE OF WATER
Originality isn’t always what new stuff is being brought to the table; but, rather, it can be what a given filmmaker’s perspective on what’s come before. Guillermo del Toro has created plenty of marvels under this line of thinking and The Shape Of Water is the latest example of this. Excellent performances from all involved, exquisite production design, and utterly infatuated with the history of cinema, its the best example of film buff comfort food since La La Land. If you have the opportunity to see this adult fairy tale in a theater, take it!
#5) LOGAN LUCKY
Steven Soderbergh basically perfected the art of the heist flick with Ocean’s Eleven and the two sequels that followed. So, it's nice to see him return to the genre and remind us of his master of the craft with Logan Lucky. It manages to remain light and breezy while still having a beating heart that salutes its lower-class protagonists instead of mocking them. Southern-fried and electrified entertainment that you all should’ve seen during its initial theatrical run.
#4) JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2
To label this the Empire Strikes Back of action sequels would be hasty and kind of trite; however, it’s the only way I can describe this movie. Chapter 2 expands upon the already extensive universe of the first movie while simply being one of the best action movies of the entire decade. That Mirror Hall sequence alone is an all-time stunner. Plus, Keanu's still got it and continues to prove himself as one of the best living men of action. Bring on Chapter 3 pronto!
#3) GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
For as much as I enjoy them, I can’t say in honesty that the Marvel movies have had any sort of deep emotional impact...this is until these movies came along. A soaring sci-fi comedy that delivers gingerly deals with themes of what family really means and coping with past traumas. I’d also argue this and my next choice on this are textbook examples of how to use a soundtrack in the most effective way possible. Using pop tunes like Brandy and Father and Son as dramatic through lines was a stroke of sly genius. James Gunn has knocked it out of the park yet again.
#2) BABY DRIVER
I've been rooting for this picture since it was announced. So, seeing it this high on my year-end best list shouldn't be that much of a shock. Much like it’s acclaimed soundtrack, Baby Driver moves to a rhythm that’s all its own. A perfect symbiosis of sound and vision. A daring feat of audiovisual harmony. The more I think about it, the more that I’m tempted to call this Edgar Wright’s masterpiece.
Before I get to number one, I would like to list a few honorable mentions...
- Coco
- Brigsby Bear
- War For The Planet of the Apes
- Murder on the Orient Express
- Free Fire
#1) BLADE RUNNER 2049
As is the case with many cinematic classics, making a sequel to Blade Runner is just a bad idea no matter how you slice it. It didn’t leave any room for a sequel and there’s no way a hypothetical follow-up would never be able to be even half as good. And yet, here we are. This is the first time I've felt like a film has truly blown me away since Interstellar came out about three years ago. Not only is Blade Runner 2049 on par with its predecessor, it's an accomplishment in cinematic artistry in its own regard. Denis Villeneuve continues to prove himself as one of the most captivating, intellectual filmmakers of the moment. Roger Deakins constructs each image in a painterly fashion. Seriously, if he doesn’t win that Best Cinematography at the this year’s Oscars, the Academy Awards will be officially worthless. Words still fail to describe what the assembled cast and crew have achieved here. Come twenty or thirty years from now, I’m getting the feeling we’re going to be talking about this the same way we do now about the original. Hats off to every individual who poured their heart and soul into making such a masterwork. I shall be forever thankful.
And, that's this year's list. Agree? Disagree? Be sure to let me know in the comments below. Oh, and for anyone expecting a full piece about this year's celluloid detritus, you'll be sorely disappointed. I find Worst of the Year lists to be a waste of my time as well as yours. Why should I go on about the stuff I hated when I could be using that time to be celebrating the stuff I love? There's some food for thought. Have a happy new year!
