Our Top Movies from 2017

...with a special guest appearance by Tony Johnson

Each year my good friend Tony and I compile our list of our favorite movies from the past year. This is always a challenge, because many great movies hit theatres in December in order to gather steam for award season, and we just don’t have time to see them before we complete our lists. Tony and I enjoy a wide range of cinema, so we recommend that you examine the content and reviews for yourself before checking them out. I’ll add a bit of commentary for some of the pics as we go:

 

#10

Michael: Baby Driver

Tony: Baby Driver

Just a really fun and entertaining movie, with what I believe is the best soundtrack of the year.

 

#9

Michael: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Tony: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

I wouldn’t recommend this movie for most people. Director Yorgos Lanthimos films are packed with intense and at times bizarre images. He loves to create moral dilemmas that make you feel sick in the pit of your stomach. He succeeded here.

 

#8

Michael: Wonder Woman

Tony: The Founder

Here’s where we part ways. I (Michael) really enjoyed The Founder, as much as you can when you hate the main character. It also has led me to never want to eat McDonald’s food again.

Wonder Woman wasn’t just a “good movie with a female lead”, it was simply a really good movie. Super hero movies often get it wrong (looking at you Justice League), but Wonder Woman hits all the right notes, and Gal Gadot is a superstar. This is one of the best things going for DC Comics right now.

 

#7

Michael: Lucky

Tony: The Shape of Water

I haven’t seen The Shape of Water, but I absolutely loved Lucky. Lucky is a beautiful and melancholy look at growing old and facing death. In Harry Dean Stanton’s final role, he plays Lucky, a flawed yet admirable man who is looking back on his life and ahead to his future. Stanton will not get any Oscar love, which I think is a tragedy.

 

#6

Michael: Wind River

Tony: Darkest Hour

I can’t say enough about Wind River or its director, Taylor Sheridan (this is the first of two movies directed by Sheridan on my list). It’s a well-paced mystery with Jeremy Renner at his best since The Hurt Locker. A great movie for these cold winter nights.

Darkest Hour was a masterful look into Winston Churchill and England during the darkest days of World War II. Gary Oldman is perfection as Winston Churchill and should be the favorite for Best Actor when the Oscars roll around.

 

#5

Michael: Dunkirk

Tony: Hell or High Water

Dunkirk was beautifully shot and well told. If you come for non-stop action, you will leave disappointed. The story is wrapped around mostly unknown soldiers and civilians as they seek to save the British army and determine the fate of Europe during World War II.

Hell or High Water: see below.

 

#4

Michael: Darkest Hour

Tony: Wonder Woman

 

#3

Michael: La La Land

Tony: The Big Sick

I liked La La Land and respect the courage it takes to stage a musical when you aren’t Disney. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were terrific. This is the sort of movie that the big screen was created for. It was good, but I didn’t like it quite as much as Tony, (as you will see below)

I hate that The Big Sick didn’t make my list as it was a really good movie. It’s a heartwarming romantic comedy that examines grief and identity. Starring and written by Kumail Nanjiani, it’s a great movie that probably should’ve made my list as well.

 

#2

Michael: Hell or High Water

Tony: Nocturnal Animals

My second Taylor Sheridan directed movie on the list, Hell or High Water taps into the Western tradition and weaves a tale of family loyalty and  family dysfunction. Terrific cast, terrific story.

Nocturnal Animals is a gripping tale of loss and revenge that keeps your heart racing from plot twist to plot twist. Amy Adams was terrific as usual. A heavy and dark film it seemed to fly under the radar in 2016-17 for the most part. Also, Michael Shannon makes every movie better.

 

#1

Michael: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Tony: La La Land

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri gets points from me for avoiding predictable endings and story lines. One of the few movies that literally keeps you guessing from the first minute. Frances McDormand was terrific, and Sam Rockwell should get some well-deserved love for his supporting actor role.

 

What was your favorite movie from the last year? We’d love to hear from you!