This is the 4th year that I've done this mid-year recap, and I have to say that 2017 has had the strongest overall 1st half from the past 4 years. And that doesn't even include some well-reviewed films that I didn't get to see in time for this blog post like: John Wick 2, Logan Lucky, Girls Trip, The Lost City of Z, Wind River, Beatriz at Dinner, Good Time, The Beguiled, and others. I'll try my best to get to all these films before the year is up. In all, I've seen 33 movies that premiered in 2017 up to this point, my highest 1st half output since I started this blog in February 2014.
With that being said, let's get on with the recap, shall we? As always, I'm cutting my year-end lists in half and doing a Top 5 Movies list instead of a Top 10, and this time I'm doing 5 Top 5 Lists instead of the 8 Top 8 Lists I do at the end of the year. Those include Best Moments, Funniest Moments, Best Action Set-Pieces, Best Lead Performances, and Best Supporting Performances. Before I get to those, let's get started with the Top 5 Movies of 2017 (So Far).
*WARNING : SPOILERS*
Top 5 Movies of 2017 (So Far)
5) War for the Planet of the Apes
A great ending to the most underrated trilogy of the decade. It might not have matched the 2nd installment of the trilogy(2014's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) for me, but this one definitely holds up on its own. Again that is due to the top-notch production value, including the incredible visual effects, and to the lead motion-capture performance of Andy Serkis as main ape "Caesar". Thematically, this is a very timely movie, while at the same time honoring past war movies such as The Great Escape, Full Metal Jacket, and Apocalypse Now. A must watch!
4) I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore.
A funny look at what can happen when ordinary people get tired of having to deal with all of life's assholes on a daily basis. After main character "Ruth"(Melanie Lynskey) has her laptop stolen she joins her neighbor "Tony"(Elijah Wood) in a quest to find the people responsible. Hilarity ensues in this dark comedy that has a sort-of Coens brother comedy feel by the end, while also saying plenty about the times we're living in today. It's available for streaming on Netflix.
3) The Big Sick
A romantic comedy based on the real life relationship of its writers(Emily V. Gordon, and Kumail Nanjiani) that hits all the right notes of the genre. There's extra incentive for tears in this one thanks to one of the co-leads(played by Zoe Kazan) being placed in a medically induced coma in the 2nd half of the film. But the film balances both halves extremely well: the initial awkwardness of Kumail and Emily's relationship, and then in the 2nd half introducing Emily's parents into the equation, played extremely well by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter, helping to maintain the film's comic tone all the way to the end.
2) Dunkirk
Another stunning achievement by Christopher Nolan! I experienced this film in IMAX, the way it was supposed to, and I was blown away. His previous films had received criticism for getting too brainy and too heavy-handed, but with Dunkirk Nolan moves away from that and presents an inspirational true story from World War 2 that doesn't have a single wasted second in it. The flawless execution of this extremely complicated production should put Nolan in the conversation once again to receive his very 1st Best Director nomination at the Academy Awards. He's way past due for that honor.
1) (Tie) Logan and Get Out
I know. I couldn't choose between these two films. I'm sorry. I promise that by the end of the year I'll choose which one I liked more. But for now, I'm gonna talk about why I loved them both. Logan had it all for me: it was a bit of Mad Max: Fury Road, with a bit of The Terminator, and a lot of X-Men of course. The production value is just outstanding in this one. I'm hoping for some Oscars consideration for Logan in the Production Design, Hair & Makeup, Sound Editing & Sound Mixing, Editing, and Cinematography categories. The cast is excellent as well, with both Patrick Stewart as "Professor Xavier" and Hugh Jackman as "Logan/Wolverine" finishing their 17-year runs playing the characters on a high note. And of course writer/director James Mangold should get some serious awards consideration in my mind. This movie joins the top tier of superhero films for me, alongside Spider-Man 2 and The Dark Knight.
As for Get Out, it becomes an instant classic in the Horror genre. First time writer/director Jordan Peele perfectly captures the racial tension in America today with his brilliant screenplay that is equally funny and scary, and also pays tribute to classics such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Stepford Wives, and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. I'm hoping the Academy doesn't forget about this screenplay when Oscars nominations time comes around. Apart from that, the cast is excellent in this film as well, including some of the best supporting performances I've seen in 2017 so far. Speaking of which ...
5 Top 5 Lists
I Best Supporting Performances (So Far)
5) Catherine Keener as "Missy Armitage" in Get Out
-An against-type performance that elevates the film's scary factor to another level.
4) Tilda Swinton as "Lucy/Nancy Mirando" in Okja
-More excellent work from Swinton, this time as twin sisters who have very different ways of running their business.
3) Ray Romano and Holly Hunter as "Terry and Beth" in The Big Sick
-Both do excellent work maintaining the comedic tone in the more serious 2nd half of this film.
2) Patrick Stewart as "Professor Charles Xavier" in Logan
-Getting well deserved awards buzz for this performance in which he shows incredible range, from comic relief, to serious, to heartbreaking.
1) Betty Gabriel as "Georgina" in Get Out
-If you've seen it, you know this one should also qualify as a dual role, and for me, it was the most memorable performance of 2017 so far.
II Best Lead Performances (So Far)
5) Kristen Stewart as "Maureen" in Personal Shopper
-Another solid performance in another character study from writer/director Olivier Assayas, after her supporting role in 2014's Clouds of Sils Maria.
4) James McAvoy as "Kevin" in Split
-Great work from McAvoy here, playing a character with multiple personalities, all of them scary.
3) Andy Serkis as "Caesar" in War for the Planet of the Apes
-One more excellent motion-capture performance for Serkis.
2) Melanie Lynskey as "Ruth" in I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore.
-Great understated performance that could be the best work in Lynskey's long and mostly overlooked career.
1) Hugh Jackman as "Logan/Wolverine" in Logan
-I felt Jackman carried this film brilliantly. This performance had it all for me, and those who would overlook it just because he plays a superhero should take another look.
III Best Moments (So Far)
5) "Assholes Montage" in I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
-Just your typical day of people cutting in line at the supermarket and spoiling the ending to your new book, among other things, that would make anyone snap.
4) "Opening Battle" in War for the Planet of the Apes
-Loved this scene that places you right in the middle of this war from the start of the film. If the rest of the film would've kept up this intensity I would've ranked it higher.
3) "3 Timelines Converge" in Dunkirk
-After following the different timelines for over an hour I knew they were bound to cross paths, in true Nolan fashion, and when they do the film reaches its peak level of inspiration.
2) "Laura Unleashed" in Logan
-Just awesome action here.
1) "The Sunken Place" in Get Out
-Great idea and great execution.
IV Funniest Moments (So Far)
5) "Carrying the Sword" in Wonder Woman
-Best part of the film for me.
4) "Opening Logos" in The Lego Batman Movie
-You'll laugh with this character literally from the first second of the film.
3) "Captain America PSAs" in Spider-Man: Homecoming
-Credit for the laughs here also goes to Hannibal Buress and his reactions to the videos.
2) "Leaving in the Middle of the Night" in The Big Sick
-An awkward moment between Kumail and Emily that will be funny to anyone who's been in a relationship.
1) "Sex Slave!" in Get Out
-I think Chris's friend "Rod" is undoubtedly the funniest character of the year so far, and this moment when he's trying to convince his friend to leave the Armitage house is his funniest.
V Best Action Set-Pieces (So Far)
5) "No Man's Land" in Wonder Woman
4) "Kong vs Skullcrawler" in Kong: Skull Island
3) "Chasing Okja" in Okja
2) "Washington Monument Rescue" in Spider-Man: Homecoming
1) "Pick-Up Chase" in Baby Driver
