Rantz: The 10 Best Films of 2017

At long last, we have a year of legitimately strong movie making. For the last few years, I’ve struggled a bit to fill my Top Ten list with worthy films. This year? I’ve struggled to fit all the quality films into the list. From a love story between a human and a fish creature to three controversial billboards that lead to a series of unfortunate events, here’s the ten best films of 2017.

10. The Lost City of Z

Based on the best selling novel, this is a riveting epic into the heart of the Amazon. The film suffers a bit by trying to cram in too much into a film that already exceeds 2 hours. But the tense journey is beautiful and absorbing, with a strong outing by Charlie Hunnam.

9. The Disaster Artist

James Franco should earn an Oscar nomination for the funniest movie of the year about the worst movie ever made. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the film this is about — The Room — the Disaster Artist works on all levels.

8. Walking Out

This is true independent filmmaking where a vast, gorgeous landscape does more for the film than any CGI or set could. Most of you haven’t heard of this film, let alone seen it, and that’s a shame. It manages to effectively blend the father-son drama with the intensity of surviving out in the wilderness against harsh weather and an angry bear. Matt Bomer and Josh Wiggins are outstanding.

7. Logan

Somewhat ironically, I suppose, Hugh Jackman resurrected the Wolverine character in a film about coming to terms with aging as a superhero. He’s drinking himself to death, while taking care of an aging and dangerous Charles Xavier. This is a bleak, dark, violent and brilliant way to end the Wolverine series.

6. The Shape of Water

This is masterfully directed by Guillermo del Toro — and it’s a genre bending picture because it’s as much a romance as it is a thriller and sci-fi film. It’s complex and layered storytelling; a bizarre story you have no control over so you just let it take you where it wants to go. It’s not a perfect film — lots of what happens you can see coming a mile away but you end up forgiving that a because it’s a love story between a human and a fish creature and it manages to work.

5. Lady MacBeth

It’s a period piece with edge. It follows a woman stuck in a loveless marriage as she manages an affair with a worker on her estate. It’s a film about the extremes of empowerment: the lead, played fiercely by Florence Pugh, becomes a selfish, dangerous sociopath.

4. Baby Driver

Ansel Elgort shines in a movie elevated by a soundtrack that matches lyrics with what’s happening on screen. Lyrical is how I’d describe this heist film. The dialogue is lyrical, the car chases and action sequences are lyrical. Baby Driver is like any good song, it elevates even the vacuous lyrics with style. You’ll have a blast with this film and sometimes, that’s good enough.

3. Dunkirk

An early front-runner, this film still holds up thanks to masterful directing by Christopher Nolan. It’s a war movie that eschews the typical violent, bloody deaths for what feels like 107-minutes of holding your breath through tense, dreadful moments of young men surviving a battle that seems doomed to failure. Lots of the acting focus has centered on Harry Styles of One Direction fame but Fionn Whitehead steals the film.

2. Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri

Three billboards with a harsh message send a small town into chaos. The acting is superb, every ounce of dialogue feels like it was used to propel the story forward, and you end up rooting for characters you hated and maybe feel bad for supporting characters you thought were on the right side of an issue. It’s a dark comedy, at it’s core, which can be difficult to pull off but this one is one of the best of the year.

1. Call Me By Your Name

This is a story about first love. Yes, it’s about a graduate student falling for a 17 year old boy, which is supposedly controversial because of the age difference, but this film doesn’t feel controversial at all.

It doesn’t exploit the subject matter, it embraces the love we’ve all felt when we met that one person we thought was right for us, wasted the time we could have spent with them, only to see it all end weeks later, hanging on to the love for as much time as they can, knowing it’s going to end in agony. This is sensual, beautiful, mesmerizing filmmaking that makes you feel like you’re experiencing your first love all over again. This movie is outstanding and easily the best of the year, with a standout performance by  Timothée Chalamet, who should, hands down, earn himself an Oscar for Best Actor. ​

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