My Top 10 Films of 2017

This year’s films have been tough to narrow down to 10, but it is a challenge I was willing to tackle to come up with a definitive list of my top 10 films of 2017. It must be noted, that there are a couple of films that were released in 2016, but being in England, those films came out in cinema at the beginning of 2017, making them valid for this list.

There has been a lot of comic book movies, powerful dramas, action, and two epic musicals. During the process of narrowing down my list of films, I ended up with 16, and I really struggled to say which one was better than the other, because they were all fantastic in their own right. However, I had 7 comic book movies on the list, so it seemed necessary to pick off a few. There were two musicals, both equally as impressive, but only one could win. However, my top pick was a no brainer. It may be surprising to some, but for me, it was an instant decision.

10. The Hitman’s Bodyguard

You can tell everyone had fun whilst making this movie, and as a result, I had fun watching it. It is action packed and comical. It does have a plot that has been done so many times before, and therefore is predictable, however, the chemistry between the two leads, Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds overpower all of that and make for one highly entertaining film. It’s definitely re-watchable, and will remain fun every time you do.

9. La La Land

This was a tough battle between La La Land and The Greatest Showman. Both are fantastic musicals, with similar strengths and weaknesses. La La Land is epic and romantic, and as I said at the beginning of last year, is an experience more than just another film. La La Land’s love story isn’t as traditional as you would expect, because the two main characters don’t end up together, but instead realise that the only way to accomplish their much sought after dreams is to do them separately. I loved that particular direction the movie took, and does highlight that sometimes, love doesn’t always work the way you hoped it would.

The Greatest Showman is incredibly fast-paced. I believed the grand circus performance would be right at the end, but instead it’s throughout the entire film. It escalates and evolves so quickly – synonymous to P.T. Barnum’s life. He was caught up in the wealth and fame of what he had created, and wanted so much more. Only when things fell apart all around him did he learn the lesson he needed to keep moving forward and be happy with his family.

Both films’ songs are incredible, catchy, and are outstandingly good, if I tried they would be inseparable. Each song carries the plot further, portrays everyone’s emotions at the time, and keeps the whole audience buzzing with conflicting emotions all at once.

I had to pick a winner, because I refused to copout and attach both to a single spot on the list. There has to be only one film in each slot respectively. I picked The Greatest Showman after much debating with myself because of one reason and one reason only, and that’s if the experiences I had the first time round could be replicated again and again. It was a big question.

La La Land’s experience was mesmerising, with beautiful scenery shots and fluid singing and dancing, all strung together in an easily digestible manner. The Greatest Showman’s experience was buzzing, with bouncy songs and wonderful performances from the cast. My conclusion, was, La La Land’s experience was so powerful, I had to psych myself up to watch it again because I knew what I was letting myself in for, whereas The Greatest Showman can be watched one weekend, as a good movie-night get together.

I can say The Greatest Showman is better than La La Land because it’s easier to digest, because it gets the family together more so than La La Land would as it’s bouncy and joyous and for the most part incredibly upbeat, whereas La La Land is pure emotion. I can say The Greatest Showman is better than La La Land all I want and try and give a justifiable reason why, but every time I give that explanation, I know La La Land will always be at the back of my mind, using its power to punch its way through any reason I give for the other. La La Land is on this list because it has left its mark, but why is it ninth?

As I said before, it’s an experience that I had to psych myself up for. It’s an overall better movie than The Hitman’s Bodyguard, and the majority of films on this list actually, but it’s ninth because it’s one that I would have to take long gaps in between before watching again. If I saw this list one day, I’m afraid to say that I would pick the following eight films before this, purely because they are easier to digest, but I would always commend and be aware of how incredible La La Land is and always will be.

8. John Wick: Chapter 2

Basically, take the first John Wick, do nothing with the formula but carry on with the story. John Wick 2 is exactly what you would expect and got. If you’ve watched the first John Wick, then you won’t be disappointed with the second. John Wick is the definition of “don’t try and make it any better and you won’t succeed in making it worse”.

7. Spiderman: Homecoming

There were three Marvel Cinematic Universe films out this year, and all three were eligible for this list, but I wasn’t going to put all three on this list because I wanted a least some variety (even though 4 movies on this list are comic book movies, but that’s not important right now). I picked Spiderman for the reason that it is simply a better movie compared to the others. Spiderman eventually (halfway) in the arms of Marvel and part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so characters such as Tony Stark and Captain America popping up throughout, makes for a more fleshed out world that Spiderman can interact with, and thank heavens we don’t have yet another origin story, and that this incarnation of Spiderman fully characterises the quick wittiness that Spiderman is famous for. It’s an all-round better Spiderman film, and the best Marvel Cinematic Universe film of 2017.

6. Wonder Woman

Every time I hear the epic guitar and thumping drums of the soundtrack which was first introduced in Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice; I’m glad they made a film that can do justice to the soundtrack. Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice had an incredible soundtrack that I listen to often, but is an overall terrible film. Wonder Woman has an epic soundtrack and is an epic film. It doesn’t do too many things, it only focuses on what it should. Wonder Woman sets the example that all films in the DCEU should follow, yet unfortunately don’t. This stands out above the rest and is a prime example of what can be achieved if you’re not cramming too much into so little time. It’s a decent movie.

5. The LEGO Batman Movie

I knew this was going to be on the list the moment I finished watching it, I just didn’t know where. Being in the middle spot is perfect because that’s how I see this movie as a whole. It doesn’t try and be better than all the perfect Batman movies and as a result it isn’t worse than the really bad Batman movies. It sits in the middle doing its own thing, minding its own business, giving all people’s inner nerds the ability to be free for an hour and a half.

The LEGO Batman Movie pokes fun at itself and other genres, it embraces that persona people have created about Batman, that he is the best and can do everything and anything, and plays around with it, and attaches a story to it, and adds the Daleks, Voldemort, Wicked Witch, Medusa, and so many more. It does what only a LEGO Batman Movie can do.

4. Logan

The end of an era. The end of Wolverine’s story. The end of Hugh Jackman’s phenomenal performance. It doesn’t have to show homage to what happened before by direct references, but instead just end the story that those who are fans of know. Even those that haven’t seen all the movies in the X-Men series can enjoy this wonderful, powerful film because it stands apart from the rest, which is exactly what Wolverine is being forced to do as he is the only living mutant other than Professor Xavier. When the credits started to roll, that was it, the end of an era. And It could be the best comic book movie to date.

3. Hidden Figures

There’s not much to say about this film to be honest. You effectively have to see it for yourself to fully understand what’s going on. If I were to attempt to explain it properly, I wouldn’t fully explain it properly in the slightest. It deals with how strong racism was back in the 1930s, and how three black women overcame every hurdle they were presented with and fought back and became inspirations to everyone, not just the black community. It’s a wonderful film. You definitely need to see it if you haven’t yet.

2. Dunkirk

If you were to look up the word phenomenal in the dictionary, you would see this film in its entirety. If you were to look for a better representation of war and hope and frustration and the unpredictability of everything around you, you wouldn’t find it. Dunkirk needs to be watched. It needs to be experienced, because it visualises everything detail that all the troops had to go through on that day. Dunkirk is perfection and will keep you on the edge of your seat, and glued to the screen, and your heart pumping as you feel as if you are where those soldiers are. This is filmmaking at its finest.

1. A Monster Calls

The moment I saw this film I knew instantly this was going to be number 1. It had me in tears. This film is so relatable in so many ways, and to see every event from the eyes of a child who just doesn’t understand what’s going on is absolutely heart breaking. This film is a masterpiece, and experience – one that leaves an impact in a big way. Everyone should watch this. I can talk for pages and pages about how this film is an absolute work of art, but I won’t because you need to experience this for yourself, because that’s what this film does best – it allows for so many different perspectives to view and watch and essentially relearn how the world works through the eyes of a young child.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)