It's the end of the year, and time to take a look back at the best of the best.
I reviewed over 160 movies this year, and more than 20 of those received a B+ or higher final score. There were another 10 or so with a solid B that were very entertaining as well, so overall, it was a pretty good year for movies.
Documentaries gave me an additional 8 movies with a B+ or higher score.
My two favorites from that genre both dealt with music:
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years (2016) Ron Howard's behind the scenes look at the birth of BeatleMania and the effect it had on the world.
Live-Aid: Against All Odds (2011) A sweeping look back at Live Aid and how they managed to pull off a show that experts said couldn't be done.
On the Animation front, only 4 serious contenders to the throne this year, and not a Disney/Pixar among them:
The LEGO Batman Movie, Storks, Trolls, and Boss Baby were all surprising hits in our house this year.
Now it's time to get to the Top 10 movies of 2017:
10) Hell Or High Water -
First, it's a heist film, so immediately I'm interested. Second, it's got Jeff Bridges doing a turn as a high octane Marshal that reminded me a lot of his character in R.I.P.D. Now, as I'm one of only 37 or so people that actually enjoyed that film, I was already hooked. :) A really engaging film and one of the first to land on the Best of the Year list and a year later, it's still standing.
9) Gifted -
A bearded Chris Evans on the Best of the Year and it's not 2018 for Avengers: Infinity War? That's right. Take one of the best feel-good movies of the year as Evans plays the guardian of his gifted niece who may be better off being raised by someone more qualified. Or perhaps love matters most of all when it comes to raising kids, no matter how smart they are.
8) Sing Street -
Because there's always room on a best of the year list for a musical. Especially a good one that takes place in the 80s. Luckily for me, I stumbled onto this one, and fell in love with it. And don't worry, even if you're not a fan of musicals, this one is done in such a way as to feel normal. The majority of the songs take place because the band is performing for a music video or practicing together. Very natural. :)
7) Hacksaw Ridge -
Perhaps someday Hollywood and the fans will be willing to forgive Mel Gibson for some drunken outbursts from nearly a decade ago. But apparently most aren't that willing yet. Maybe the real monsters that were uncovered in 2017 will help speed up the rehabilitation of Gibson's career. Either way, for those that are willing and able to move along, Gibson served up an emotionally charged true story from World War II that was a must see for the year.
6) The Big Sick -
One of the last great films of the year, is also based on a true story. Again, I missed that little subheading when I saw small images of the movie, so I was floored to find out it really happened that way at the end of the movie. You've been warned. Be ready to laugh, and bring along some Kleenex...you know...just in case you're human.
5) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 -
Whoa.
I know what you're thinking.
Don't the Marvel Studios films belong at the top of the list? Absolutely, and I'm sure we'll find something from the company there in just a second. But when you've got 3 great movies released in one year, something's gotta give. And no, it's not because it's too funny. One of the dumbest complaints I've heard about this, or any other movie this year.
"Gosh darn it, I laughed too much during that film! Horrible!"
No, this one slides a bit down the list because it didn't have the Star Wars "wow, you've never seen anything like this" factor that the first one had. In fact, adding in the emotional father storyline, Vol. 2 then becomes The Empire Strikes Back. It's arguably better than the first one, but for me, Yondu's fate seals this one as not being quite the "must see repeat viewing" that the first one offered. Not because it's not good, it's because I'm tired of crying every time I watch it.
:)
4) Hidden Figures -
Speaking of space... how about another true story about the human computers employed by NASA to get our manned rockets into space! There's a lot of drama, action and social fury woven between the 3 tales that are interwoven into the race to get an American into space and to the moon before the Russians can do it. True stories often make the best stories for the movies.
3) The Founder -
Case in point. :)
Look no further than this tale of Ray Kroc, the man who created McDonalds. Or... the man who stole McDonalds and created an evil empire. Or both. At the same time. Because this really is the story of the American way unfolding and you'll both love and hate Kroc, often at the same time within just one scene as he unleashes a form of entrepreneurial spirit the world had never seen before. Michael Keaton is brilliant in the role.
2) Spider-Man: Homecoming -
Speaking of Michael Keaton... how great was he as The Vulture? And thankfully, for once, Marvel Studios doesn't kill the villain! Meanwhile, they also put out the best version of Spider-Man since... Captain America: Civil War. Whatever happened before that at Sony, can just stay at Sony. Now that Spidey is an actual part of the MCU, things are looking up.
1) Thor: Ragnarok -
Yesssss!
Go on, smile Chris Hemsworth! You guys deserve it. Not only was Thor: Ragnarok the best of the Thor Trilogy, it was the best film of 2017 and one of the best efforts Marvel Studios has put out yet. And that's like picking your favorite children. Again, I brush off anyone whose biggest complaint was this was "too funny". Thor's a god. He should be cocky and arrogant and a bit brash. The dude fights, and wins, all the time. At worst, Marvel can't make a movie with their version of Hercules anymore, because, he is basically this version of Thor. :) The movie was so much fun, and really, most everyone should have walked out of the theater looking exactly like Thor does in this shot; grinning ear to ear.
That's it for this year.
See you next year when Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, and Ant-Man & The Wasp jockey to be in the Top 10 with 7 other movies. :)
