It’s been a strange yet exciting year at the Box Office after
the dismal year that was 2017 where both the Box Office was at its lowest in
sixteen years and the quality of films was eclectic at best. This year is a different story altogether as
there has been a great sampling of films from across all genres. I’d like to tell you my favorite films of the
year…so far and I hope if you’ve not seen some of them that you give them a
watch.
15. THE FIRST PURGE – A very interesting sequel to one of
the most polarizing film franchises out right now. A dystopian near-future that showcases the
very First Purge. Although, at first, I
thought that the franchise didn’t need a prequel, but this film is both exciting
and relevant and opens new possibilities for future films (and TV series). This racially and politically charged film is
a great indicator of the possibilities of this franchise as it continues to
branch out and expand.
14. HOTEL ARTEMIS – Jodie Foster leads and impeccable cast
in a film that’s reminiscent of John Wick and The Raid: Redemption but is
something all its own. Sterling K.
Brown, Sofia Boutella, and Dave Bautista also add tremendously to this off-beat
film that has character. It may not be
as action oriented as one might expect but it has a sharp script and great wit.
13. ARMED – I was completely shocked when I learned that writer/director
Mario Van Peeples had another film coming out this year (in fact, I only
learned about this the week it was released).
Without any advance notice or fanfare this film about a former US Marshall
suffering from a form of PTSD in a world overtaken by gun control and mental
disorder surprised me because of just how hard or a film it is to categorize
and much like the film-maker’s best films – i.e. Panther, New Jack City, and
Posse, this film is just as contemporary and controversial. Peeples has matured as a film-maker (as he’s
spent most of the last couple decades directing episodes of acclaimed TV
shows). Also, a film inspired by a true
story.
12. BLACK PANTHER – Was a film I tremendously enjoyed for
the first two-thirds as it shaped some great characters (and supporting
characters) but by the third act was too reliant on over-blown CGI that took me
out of the film. The third act felt too
much like most of the other MCU films and was lost in the over excess of trying
to appease too many “masters” (especially since it was essentially an origin
story). This being said, there is great
individuality in that first two-thirds of the film that shows immense promise
for future films.
11. TAG – Inspired by actual events, this film actually is
quite a very good film about long lasting friendship and competition amongst
friends/family. This has a great cast
that never goes too far in the absurd territory despite the crazy premise. There is not a weak spot in this cast and
that is most of the fun in this slapstick comedy.
10. DEADPOOL 2 – Most people like the original better than
this film but I think both films are equally good for different reasons. The original is one of the best origin
stories ever crafted that breathes fresh life in the format whereas this film
is one of the best sequels (to a super hero film) ever crafted as it takes all
of audience’s expectations about super hero films and throws them out the
window. The film is fresh and never
feels repetitive or predictable mostly because the character is anything but
predictable. The film has tragedy in
equal parts of comedy and the character of Deadpool goes through many different
stages despite how absurd most of what is presented in the film actually
is. My choice for best comic book film
of the year.
9. ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE LAST 49 DAYS – The original 2017
film was one of my favorite films of that year and this film is equally as good
as the original but this one focuses on the characters and goes a long way of
establishing their origins. The film is
at times a bit long because the Purgatory doesn’t come off as fresh as it did
in the original but there is one amazing sequence that’s an homage to Jurassic
World that has to be seen to be believed.
8. THE DEATH OF STALIN – took a great graphic novel and made
it better! This is an amazing adaptation
that has a great cast that is equally funny as much as it is a satire. There hasn’t been a satire like this (or that
is as equally as good) since Dr. Strangelove.
7. GAME NIGHT – This comedy gets high marks not only because
of the amazing cast but the cinematography, editing, and musical score to name
but a few of the great elements that make up this film. Many may have looked at this film as a simple
comedy, but directors John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein have crafted a
modern day comedy masterpiece in film-making that’s equally funny as it is
entertaining.
6. UPGRADE – The very fresh and surprisingly excellent
science fiction-horror hybrid that has a whip-smart script that’s expertly
executed by writer/direct Leigh Whannel and star Logan Marshall-Green. A low budget sci-fi gen like Ex Machina.
5. A QUIET PLACE – One of the most poignant and
psychologically perfect horror films of the year which also happened to be a
huge audience pleaser. One of my
favorite horror films of the year (in a year filled with a lot of mediocre
films).
4. THE SPY GONE NORTH – This is an excellent film from
beginning to end and one of the best examples of an espionage film (far
superior to Red Sparrow). An excellent
cast with an equally suspenseful script and assured direction from Jong-bin
Yoon. Not a film to be missed.
3. SEARCHING – An edge of your seat thriller that uses
modern day technology to tell a conventional tale in a not so conventual way. John Cho proves he’s an amazing actor with a
lot of range in this film of a father searching for his missing daughter with
the help of a dedicated police detective using computer screens as the style of
the film. This film shows that there are
still new tools to tell old stories in new and exciting ways.
2. BLACKKKLANSMAN – One of director Spike Lee’s absolute
best films and one of the year’s best films!
Lee is at top form with this controversial and polarizing film which is
also funny and entertaining from beginning to end. Lee is kind of a hit or miss director but
this film everything lines up perfectly for the veteran film-maker. One of the absolute best films of the year.
1. HEREDITARY – Is my favorite film of the year for the
simple reason that it is a powerful and uncompromising film that’s polarizing
and anything but predictable. Anchored
by an amazing performance by Toni Collette that has to be seen to be believed,
this is a film that leaves an impression long after the credits roll. Every year there are good films, but few
leave an impression with you like this film does. There is not one person I know of who hasn’t
seen this film and thus been changed by it in some way.
There are plenty of films that didn’t make the list for
various reasons. A film can be
entertaining (i.e. The Meg, Skyscrapper, Tomb Raider, Ocean’s Eight) and it can
satisfy yet predictable (i.e. Avengers: Infinity War, Blood Fest, Solo: A Star
Wars Story), and then in there are those that just needed a little something
more (i.e. Kin, Unsane, The Nun, Winchester. The Maze Runner: The Death
Cure). Then there are the films I just
thought weren’t worth the time – i.e. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Den of
Thieves, Red Sparrow, and Slender Man, to name a few.
I saw more than these films at the Box Office this year
(thank you Movie Pass and AMC’s A-List) but some of the films I didn’t see (but
wished I had) includes – 12 Strong, Annihilation, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,
Chappaquiddick, RBG, Eight Grade, Beirut, Blindspotting, The Wife, A Fantastic
Woman, Mary Shelley, and Sicario: Day of the Soldado, just to name a few.
My opinions of the above mentioned films is nothing but that,
“my opinion” and I hope you all decide for yourself which films to take a
chance on. Film-makers and artists put a
lot of work into all the films and regardless of what I think they are all
worth a look, if for no other reason than to say “I’ve seen it and therefore my
opinion means something.”
I’ll make sure to get back with you at the beginning of next
year so you know what I thought of the rest of 2018s releases but until then,
enjoy your film watching!
No comments:
Post a Comment