I Speak in Movies: Top 10 Movies of 2017

In keeping with a tradition. Here's my favorite movies of 2017 - 2018. Overall I saw about 35 movies that were released from February to February. It's worth mentioning I missed a few that were well-reviewed. I wrote this in about 20 minutes, so excuse any errors. I may go back and edit at some point. Here are my top 10 movies of the year and my Oscar hopefuls.

10 - (tie) I, Tonya - The only reason this movie makes the list is Margot Robbie’s performance as Tonya Harding when she lands the triple axel and is sentenced in court.

10 - (tie) Wonder Woman - Well-acted, powerful story, and a unique superhero character. Gal Gadot was excellent. Loved the No Man’s Land scene and the ensuing dance.

9 - Baby Driver - Great looking movie paced with exciting action sequences and accompanying music.

8 - Coco - Pixar is like Steven Spielberg. We take for granted how consistently great their movies are. Amazing digital world and a moving story of family and loss.

7 - Blade Runner 2049 - Yes! The visuals for this movie are stunning. Best of the year. I need to see this one again. Denis Villeneuve is an incredible director.

6 - Wind River - An underrated movie. It is haunting and makes powerful statements about reservation life and resilience.

5 - Call Me By Your Name - Chalamet & Hammer were unbelievable, the former better than the latter. A great story about love and heartbreak. The last third of the movie really drives the entire film home.

4 - Darkest Hour - Probably the history teacher in me here, but this movie was so powerful. Like Dunkirk, I was so impressed with how much tension could be built when I knew the historical result. Director Joe Wright is being overlooked too. My favorite shot of the year is in Darkest Hour when Wright transitions from an eyeball to a battlefield.

3 - Lady Bird - This movie could have ended with the airport scene and I would have been satisfied. It solidified itself as my favorite when it transitions to its new environment. Is there a movie that has better captured what its like to figure out who you are in those high school/college years? I don’t think so. Ronan and Metcalf’s complicated relationship was perfect for so many reasons.

2 - Hostiles - There are problems with this movie but I appreciate its ambitiousness. I am also partial to westerns. Wes Studi, Adam Beach and Christian Bale were so good in this movie. I also have never seen a movie that captures the terror of what it must have felt like for individuals—Native and non-Native—living on the Plains in the late 1800s. This is a movie that really considers the nature of US expansion west. The end is so damn powerful.

1 - Florida Project - I loved this movie. The performances were spectacular. This movie somehow captures the magic and strength of children being raised in loving but horrible environments. Director Sean Baker and Willem Dafoe deserve Oscars for this movie.

If I picked the winners…. (reminder: these are not predictions)

Visual Effects - Blade Runner 2049
Original Song - “Mystery of Love” Sufjan Stevens
Original Score - The Shape of Water
Film Editing - Dunkirk
Cinematography - Blade Runner 2049
Original Screenplay - Lady Bird
Adapted Screenplay - Logan
Animated Feature - Coco
Director - Guillermo del Toro, Shape of Water
Supporting Actress - Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Supporting Actor - Willem Dafoe, Florida Project
Lead Actress - Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Lead Actor - Timothee Chalamet
Best Picture - Lady Bird