Each year, the film industry tries to outperform itself from the past year and as cliché as it may sound, 2017 gave us some of the best movies of the decade. From superhero westerns to modern horror classics, 2017 was a great year for film.
As it happens, though, some of the best films tend to release in December to stay fresh in critics’ minds in time for the Oscar season, so, unfortunately, some rather certain amazing movies will not be on this list (“The Disaster Artist,” “The Post,” “Molly’s Game,” to name a few). Now, without further ado here are nine of the best movies of 2017.
9. Mother!
Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, “Mother!” stars Jennifer Lawrence in the titular role opposite Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who plays the character Him. The film centers on a group of strangers who invade Mother’s home, but as the film plays out, it’s not hard to see how “Mother!” is a gruesome Christian allegory.
8. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
“Baaubali 2” is the number one film in India and for good reasons. The movie is perhaps the most stunning, beautifully-crafted and colorful film of 2017. The film tells the epic tale of the mystical hero Baahubali and his son’s ascension to king after 25 years. This one is a definite must-watch.
7. Dunkirk
The Christopher Nolan film completely rejuvenated how World War II films are made. “Dunkirk” omitted blood and gore and instead capitalized on the psychological trauma of the battlefield. Through Han Zimmer’s unique use of sound and Nolan’s stellar directorial style, “Dunkirk” makes you feel as if you are a soldier on the brink of death. There is no gunshot that doesn’t count and, ironically, the film’s PG-13 rating made the cinematic experience one of the best of the year.
6. Logan
In a year full of superhero movies, “Logan” is definitely the best one of all. An immigrant’s tale and a Western all hidden in the complicated story of the X-Men, “Logan” saw Hugh Jackman’s last outing as Wolverine and introduced X-23 (played by Dafne Keen), who’s set to become the new clawed-hero in her own upcoming spinoff film.
5. The Big Sick
“The Big Sick” tells the story of how actor/comedian Kumail Nanjiani met his wife Emily V. Gordon. Full of laughs and joy, “The Big Sick” is full of many contemporary themes that will surely resonate with many audiences. The film is so good, I’m confident it will win an Academy Award.
4. The Lego Batman Movie
I’m not lying when I say this is the best Batman movie of all time. “The Lego Batman Movie” gets the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman more right than even the Christopher Nolan Batman films. Here, Batman is reluctant to let people into his life. As the story moves forward, he eventually learns to be a little less selfish. All in all, what we get is a fascinating story mixed with the classic Batman mythos and it totally doesn’t disappoint.
3. Get Out
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out,” is so good it would be disrespectful not to give it an Oscar. A racism exposé hidden under the tropes of a horror film, the film has one of the best performances from Daniel Kaluuya (who’s set to appear in next year’s “Black Panther”) and the story itself is uniquely fascinating. Do yourself a favor and see this movie.
2. Baby Driver
Edgar Wright is known for films like “Hot Fuzz” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”. Indeed, those films are extraordinary, but “Baby Driver” is the real deal. Starring Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez, Lily James and Jon Hamm, among others, the film centers on the character of Baby (Elgort), who’s criminal life interferes with his relationship with his girlfriend Debora (James). Kevin Spacey also stars, but the actor was tacked on to the film way before his scandal came about.
1. Blade Runner 2049
The sequel to the 1982 classic, “Blade Runner 2049” is a cinematic masterpiece. Directed by renowned director Denis Villeneuve, this iteration of the “Blade Runner” story takes place 30 years after the original film and introduces a number of new, intriguing characters, such as Agent K (Ryan Gosling), Joi (Ana de Armas) and Luv (Sylvia Hoeks). The film also answers the decades-old question of whether Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a replicant.
Carlos Rosario Gonzalez is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at carlos.rosario_gonzales@uconn.edu.