Best Movies of the Year 2017

1) Three Billboards

Billboards flawlessly executed the three most important components in a film: writing, directing and acting. By gracefully balancing the distressing with the humorous, McDonagh (Director) releases a disturbing narrative that constantly undermines your expectations. A scrip with blistering wit, that finds humanity in deeply flawed characters, a rare bitterly cynical picture filled with hope.

2) A Ghost Story

An oddly haunting, wholly original trip that takes you through a journey between times and spaces. A gut wrenching and hypnotic meditation of being and loving, and with coping with being invisible and powerless with life passing by you. Trust me, this movie will haunt you long after the credits finish rolling.

3) The Florida Project

In a movie set in the outskirts of Disneyworld, Baker (Director) grants us a heartfelt look at the lives of the downtrodden, a snapshot (unfortunately) of the American life for many. The Florida Project shows, without being political or oversentimental, a moving portrayal of an escalating human crisis in America. As with Baker’s previous films, the movie just shows, does not tells.

4) Dunkirk

It's awe-inspiring in its scale and achievement truly breathtaking, 104 minutes of pure innovation. An extraordinary ambitious film (even for Nolan standards). Can wait to see what he decides to tackle next.

5) Lady Bird

If you have seen my previous lists, you know that I am a sucker for coming of age stories. Lady Byrd, (more than any other ones before them) audaciously captures the grim transition from adolescence to adulthood. It was painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time. Tremendous job by Greta Gerwig on her debut as a writer/director, and much credit to Ronan and Metcalf for outstanding performances.

6) The Big Stick

To watch two "real people" fall in and out and back in love in a romantic comedy is as rare as a good Adam Sandler movie. Although the Big Stick is a crowd-pleaser, it is so intelligently written and well-acted that it breathes new life into the commercial contemporary romantic comedy.

7) Get Out

A refreshing, innovative and risky take on the genre, tackling a painful subject like racism in a massively entertaining and thoroughly memorable fashion. I hope studios take more chances on films like this, that try to do something different, are unapologetic and push the boundaries of film making.

8) Phantom Thread

Perfectly composed, enormously disciplined, precise, and bold. Phantom Thread is an exquisite creation of premium quality, sewed together by a master on top form (Anderson) and led by another masterful performance by Daniel Day Lewis in what supposedly is his last film (I sure hope not).

9) Detroit

Kathryn Bigelow (Director) once again creates an uncomfortable but masterly experience, constantly generating tension that hardly stops and at moments is unbearable. Bigelow continues to proof that she has a unique gift for conveying of putting the audience in the middle of the action, treating the cameras as if they were as important as the protagonists.

10) Mother

Prepare for unabashed, unforgettable madness, a daring film with endless metaphors and disturbing sequences. Aronofsky challenges us, with a psychedelic/hallucinogenic look at essence of creation and destruction, and the constant chaos that surrounds and envelops us as humans.

Oscar Predictions

Best Picture

Who should win: Three Billboards

Who is going to win: Three Billboards

Comments: Shape of Water can possibly take it, but like last year and the years before they will split best picture with best director.

Best Director:

Who should win: Christopher Nolan

Who is going to win: Guillermo del Toro

Comment: I was not impressed with Shape of Water whatsoever, not even close to Del Toro’s true masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth. No question this should go to Nolan, but they will give it to Del Toro.

Best Actor

Who should win; Gary Oldman

Who is going to win: Gary Oldman

Comment: Although I didn’t like Darkest Hour, I do feel Oldman pulled a miracle with his performance. I do think Chalamet was the best thing about Call me by your Name and gave Oldman a run for his money.

Best Actress:

Who is should win: Frances McDormand

Who is going to win: Frances MacDormand

Comment: It’s hard to compete with this performance, MacDormand even outdoes her previous Oscar performance (Fargo)

Best Supporting Actor

Who should win: Sam Rockwell

Who is going to win: Sam Rockwell

Comment: Sam all the way!! Well deserved

Best Supporting Actress

Who should win: Allison Janney

Who is going to win: Allison Janney

Comment: Janney has been around for many years; this crazy good performance should give her the Oscar.

Best Original Screenplay

Who should win: Lady Bird

Who is going to win: Get out

Comment: Lady Bird was the best screenplay of the year, no doubt, but they might give it to Get Out.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Who should win: Call by your name

Who is going to win: Call me by your name

Comment: I did like Call me by your Name, (even though it didn’t make my top 10) it had a very good script, but not a particularly strong group of nominees this year.