FAVORITE FILMS OF 2017 - PART 1

Well guys, it's crazy to think that 2018 is already here and there are a lot of exciting films to look forward to, but of course to cap off talking about 2017 movies I still have to discuss with you 'My Favorite Films of 2017.' There was definitely a lot to choose from! A lot of great surprises and I wasn't really expecting this year to be as good as it was. This has been one of my favorite years in all of cinema and what I found so crazy about the films I fell in love with this year are that the films on this list I'll find myself watching over and over again because they're just that good. They'll end up being my favorite films of all time and make me feel so privileged to be living as a film fan in this day and age.

For the record I didn't get to see every film that released this past year and if I did try to catch up on almost every movie so late in the game, there'd be no point to post this list later in the month. But here we go these are My Favorite Films of 2017, which I narrowed down to 20 because there were so many great films to choose from.

Here's Part 1 of the list (#'s 20 - 11) with honorable mentions included...

HONORABLE MENTIONS

#20

Might be shocking to some people because in my original review I gave this movie a 'B', but months back I listened to a podcast with my favorite YouTubers Chris Stuckmann and Matthew Brando discussing the film and I felt encouraged to give it another shot (I'll have a link at the end). I, of course, did and after a 2nd and 3rd watch I can say that I love this film now. The film looks visually stunning to create this futuristic environment and Scarlett Johansen gives a great performance as the Major, who had one of my favorite character arcs of the year. I really hope more films are made in this potential franchise because it recreated the original anime film well, but also managed to stand on its own.

#19

This movie really blew me away and definitely had me on the edge of my seat and disturbed me throughout my viewing. And I don't mean disturbing in a negative connotation because a film like this needed to get under my skin to feel the horrors of Jessie's life and the agony she feels trapped in a room. The performances in this film were remarkable! Cara Gugino proved she has excellent acting chops in a much more serious role and Bruce Greenwood was also really good in the supporting role as her husband. It was claustrophobic, terrifying, and moving all at the same time, which is probably typical for the Stephen King adaptations that will always stay with you.

#18

One of the most entertaining films of 2017 and was happy to see going in different directions from a storytelling perspective. Tom Holland was absolutely excellent as Peter Parker bringing a lot of youthful energy to the role and also does a great job capturing the struggles of growing up as a youth. Michael Keaton also does a wonderful job portraying a well realized villain in The Vulture. It was just an all-around fun, quality Spider-Man movie that we all needed. He's in good hands in the MCU!

#17

One of the most emotional and heart-wrenching experiences I sat through all year with outstanding direction by Taylor Sheridan. Jeremy Renner also possibly gives one of the best performances I've seen him in. It's a nail-biting, intense thriller where once it concludes it feels so emotionally liberating. I was moved from start to finish for the film does such an amazing job having you sympathize for the characters that there's such an incredible level of catharsis once it ends. You'll see what I mean once you see it.

#16

I'd say this movie was M. Night Shyamalan's true return to form that had a nice grounded edge to it with an all-around phenomenal performance by James McAvoy. His performance is truly Oscar worthy and I also think an unsung hero in this film was Anya Taylor-Joy who does an incredible job holding her own portraying the struggling teenager Casey Cook. It had a nice unpredictability factor with an ending, which I will not spoil, that made my jaw drop the first time I saw it. Heck, it still blows my mind. If you love Shyamalan and haven't seen this movie, or you love great original thrillers, give this film your time of day.

#15

This film felt like I was whisked away through an experience about a girl's struggle through life dealing with an uptight mother and getting through high school. It was the perfect coming-of-age story that was often times relatable and the performance Saoirse Ronan gives was so outstanding, completely transforming into this regular young woman. Every performance just felt so believable and the many moments and scenes felt so intimate that it made the film feel so unique on a grand emotional level.

#14

The crazy amount of energy found in Edgar Wright's direction is unparalleled compared to many directors in the industry now. The shot composition and the editing called for one of the most well-crafted action films I've probably ever seen in recent memory. The action sequences were absolutely smashing and the journey of the lead character Baby, played very well by Ansel Egort, felt very genuine and had great dramatic weight. The romance between him and the lovely Lily James was handled quite well that it gave the overall conflict a lot more meaning. It was action-packed, hilarious, and had just the right amount of substance. And the soundtrack was pretty sick!

#13

I actually finally watched the first film in preparation for the sequel and I must say that for a sequel that takes place 20 years later, the film might be just as well-made as its predecessor. Danny Boyle's spectacular direction is still there and it might've been one of the best directed films of the year. The chemistry between all the characters is still there and the performances for all the main characters don't feel tired and still feel like the characters we've fully known and appreciated from the original. It does a fantastic job setting up the characters from where we left off without feeling empty and does a great job fleshing out the characters more as the film progresses. It compliments the first film well while also being a beyond worthy continuation with this insane group of friends.

#12

Films like Thor Ragnarok remind me that you can still have a wholesome cinema-going experience with a solid story and characters, but in the end you can still have so much fun and enjoy it for its entertainment value. Definitely the best of the 3 Thor films in the MCU, but was also a really well-done continuation in the MCU itself. I found it so amazing that it was a good character building adventure for Thor as well as Bruce Banner, who both had great back and forths, and it could've been easy to be a set-up for Infinity War. Instead it was a really fun and funny intergalactic fantasy adventure that managed to give great character depth and tell its own significant story.

#11

One of the most original films of the year and maybe one of the best horror films of this decade. Jordan Peele from a screenwriting and directing standpoint absolutely knocks it out of the park and should keep making films for the rest of his career. The premise was very thought-provoking with an also very interesting commentary about race, which was very fitting for this horror story. Daniel Kaluyya plays a terrific lead that you deeply care about and Lil Rey Howrey as his best friend plays one of the most hilarious supporting characters ever. He has so many quotable lines! And trust me this is not a film you want spoiled for you. Go in with absolutely no knowledge of the story and prepare to be amazed!

Alright, guys, that was Part 1 of my Favorite Films of 2017 and check back tomorrow for Part 2 as I count down My Top 10 Films of 2017! Thank you as always for reading and be sure to follow me on social media and for more 2017 recaps check out my Worst of 2017 list. Also, check out the episode with Matthew Brando and Chris Stuckmann I mentioned earlier and check out both their channels for that matter. They've inspired me a lot on this film-loving journey:

WORST FILMS OF 2017:
 PART 1 (#10 - 6)
 PART 2 (#5 - 1)

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GHOST IN THE SHELL Podcast Episode with Matthew Brando and Chris Stuckmann

Again thank you for reading and as always see some great freakin' entertainment!

Take care. :-)