Top Ten Films of 2017

Alright, 2017 is finally over! It's been one hell of a year for film, we've had some real standout pictures, some absolute game changers, completely making up for the tragic mudhole that was 2016. Why wait, let's dive in with my selection for the top 10 of 2017!

10. Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman completely subverted expectations as the first widely loved DC Universe movie, but that's not the reason why it's on this list. This movie is one of a few that took a bold step this year, providing a wonderful origin story for a female superhero, a bridge that had been considered before, but never actually crossed due to fear (so they say). Wonder Woman was a thrilling machine that shut up the mouths of any and all naysayers, hopefully building a legacy that will last for generations.

9. Logan Lucky

Logan Lucky was, plain and simple, one hell of a good time. Steven Soderbergh brought out all the guns necessary to make a rip-snorting, funny, and charming film with a cast full of surprises. It's truly a great way to spend an hour and change.

8. Thor: Ragnarok

I know it seems like every year a Marvel film seems to make it on my top ten list of the year. This year, I tried my hardest to make sure it didn't happen again, but damn it if Thor: Ragnarok just completely screwed over that intent. I always seem to say that every new Marvel film is the best in a while, but this is truly the best in a long, long time. It's funny, entertaining, and full of some great, great setpieces. This is what you get when you let your directors do what they want, you get greatness.

7. John Wick: Chapter 2

I'm always semi-reserved about my non-Bond man vs. the world action films. John Wick 1 was truly astonishing, but it was cautious to move into a sequel so quickly. Alas, John Wick: Chapter 2 carried the same weight as its predecessor, delivering some kickass action scenes showing off just what we loved from the first, and a little more. Just as I write this, shooting for the third movie has mostly begun, so thankfully the ride isn't over yet.

6. The Big Sick

This is one I caught a little recently and didn't grab the time for a review, but it's a film that is the purest definition of, "wholesome." It's a charming two-hour comedy that pushes the limits of the balance between good times and bad, with a whole cast of lovable characters. Do yourself a favor and go watch it on Amazon immediately.

5. Get Out

I feel like this is a film a lot of you have been waiting for my opinion on, and I'm truly sorry that I didn't get to it until now. Long story short, Get Out is pretty fucking great. It's a bold film that tackles a controversial subject, with a few dashes of comedy and horror to balance it all out. Some people might be mad at the concept of this film, but fuck em, they're missing out. Get Out lives up to everything the hype claims it is.

4. Logan

Logan was truly special. It takes balls to end the story of a beloved character like this, and thankfully it worked out very well in the end. One of a few films to truly bring a tear to my eye this year, and I'll let it do just that over and over again if I could.

3. Baby Driver

I had high, high hopes for Baby Driver. As an Edgar Wright lover, I've yet to see a film by him which disappoints me, and Baby Driver is no different. It's a wonderful ode to driving, music, and love, quite possibly one of the biggest standout films of the decade so far.

2. Lady Bird

Now this was a real delightful surprise. I had barely even heard of this film but when I saw that it had broken the record for longest period holding a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, I knew I had to check it out. It definitely lives up to that standard. It's an adorable coming of age film, a franchise which I was certain was dead. It was so good that I could barely even put it into words in my review. Charming, sophisticated, and fun, well-deserving of all the hype.

1. Blade Runner 2049

This. This is film perfection. This is how you subvert all expectations of a genre and blow the minds of an audience. This is how you earn a spot on my top films of all time. I had high hopes for Blade Runner 2049 but even then they were shot down completely and blown away. It's beautifully shot, engaging, and meaningful all at the same time. It's the perfect sci-fi film...anything else that comes after almost feels stale in comparison. I loved 2049...almost way too much.

All in all, I believe 2017 is gonna be a year that will be hard to beat, and honestly 2018 doesn't look like it will take the cake. But we'll have to see...here's to the films of 2018, and if you haven't seen any of these films, I highly recommend them as always! See you guys later.