"2017 in film (Ann and Stan)" and "2017 in film (Ann and Stan)"
Ann and Stan
here to look at the best in film that, in 2017, you could catch on your
own screen -- be it a 60 inch flat screen or the cell phone in the palm
of your hand.
On our list you won't find REMEMBER ME or OUR SOULS AT NIGHT despite amazing turns by Rita Moreno and Jane Fonda in each. The films were weakly directed and poorly written. Moreno and Fonda deserve huge applause for what they accomplished against all odds.
Among the comic films, only LOGAN and SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING were even potential top ten-ers. We were highly unimpressed with WONDER WOMAN and its WWI setting. With the film, Patty Jenkins proved she can fill seats in auditoriums so maybe next go round she can try proving she put something worthwhile on the screen?
Home media was strange in 2017.
Don't believe us?
Quick game. Let's play.
Search your mind and try to figure out what the number 63 best selling DVD was for 2017.
Guesses?
Did you guess THE PROPOSAL? Because that was the answer.
The 2009 romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.
We love the movie. But we'd argue it's a best seller still, eight years later, because audiences want films like that even though the studios appear to believe the genre died with Nora Ephron.
Here's our choice for the ten best of 2017.
1) LOGAN LUCKY
On our list you won't find REMEMBER ME or OUR SOULS AT NIGHT despite amazing turns by Rita Moreno and Jane Fonda in each. The films were weakly directed and poorly written. Moreno and Fonda deserve huge applause for what they accomplished against all odds.
Among the comic films, only LOGAN and SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING were even potential top ten-ers. We were highly unimpressed with WONDER WOMAN and its WWI setting. With the film, Patty Jenkins proved she can fill seats in auditoriums so maybe next go round she can try proving she put something worthwhile on the screen?
Home media was strange in 2017.
Don't believe us?
Quick game. Let's play.
Search your mind and try to figure out what the number 63 best selling DVD was for 2017.
Guesses?
Did you guess THE PROPOSAL? Because that was the answer.
The 2009 romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.
We love the movie. But we'd argue it's a best seller still, eight years later, because audiences want films like that even though the studios appear to believe the genre died with Nora Ephron.
Here's our choice for the ten best of 2017.
1) LOGAN LUCKY
Channing Tatum may be the best thing to happen to Steven Sodenberg in the latest act of Sodenberg's directing career. MAGIC MIKE, HAYWIRE, SIDE EFFECTS and now LOGAN LUCKY -- he's never had an actor as flexible before. Whether he's the muse or just the conduit, Channing's lucky for Sodenberg and the rabbit foot is especially promising this go round. LOGAN LUCKY rests on Channing's soldiers and he carries the picture with no visible struggle. His scenes with Farrah Mackenzie (she plays his character's daughter Sadie) are probably the finest scenes between an adult and a child actor since PAPER MOON. The entire cast -- which includes Hillary Swank, Daniel Craig, Katie Holmes, Sebastian Stan and Seth MacFarlane -- delivers and Sodenbergh's created another classic.
2) THE KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
This sequel could have been our pick for the number one film of 2017.
But?
Julianne Moore.
As noted at THIRD already, she is the weakest part of the film. She's playing a villain in an action adventure film with comedic elements. Did she think this was the time to walk through a film?
In smaller roles, Halle Berry and Channing Tatum deliver. But Julianne Moore appears to believe she's appearing in an episode of MODELS INC.
Samuel L. Jackson helped the first KINGSMAN movie deliver by stretching in the role of the evil villain. Moore acts as if she'd just gotten botox on her acting chops.
Eggys (Taron Egerton) will return -- hopefully with a better nemesis next time (reportedly Dwayne Johnson).
3) BABY DRIVER
We'll probably never be able to just enjoy a Kevin Spacey performance again. But last year, BABY DRIVER was a refreshing surprise and, yes, that included Spacey's strong supporting turn. Edgar Wright took a flimsy genre and a tired premise and made a film full of life and entertainment. Had Spacey not self-destructed, he and Jamie Foxx might be looking at Academy Award nominations. Instead, Spacey's probably torpedoed CJ Jones' chance as well.
We'll always have BABY DRIVER -- the film and Ansel Elgort's wonderful performance in the title role.
4) THE BEGUILED.
Sofia Coppola's latest film is a tight drama about the snake (Colin Farrell) entering the garden and the effect this has on Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning -- among others. Riveting and one of Coppola's best.
5) GHOST IN THE SHELL
Incredible stunts carried this film onto our year's best. As with LUCY, Scarlett Johansson has created another action film that makes you think. Forty years from now, this will be the BLADERUNNER everyone wants to update.
6) PERSONAL SHOPPER
Tired of the faux films by paint-by-number 'artists' Patty Jenkins and Steven Spielberg? Then we hope you checked out Olivier Assayas' PERSONAL SHOPPER which finds Kristen Stewart at the height of her abilities in this engaging supernatural film. It's like nothing the major US studios released in 2017.
7) ATOMIC BLONDE
We wish this film were more than it is. But what is it?
Charlize Theron and James MacAvoy delivering solid performances. Amazing stunt work. Strong visuals. Film noir.
8) COLOSSAL
COLOSSAL was a complete surprise. What Jason Sudeikas won't do for love? That's one way of seeing this Anne Hathaway film. It's the sort of movie you might have envisioned in the mid-90s when it seemed an indie film movement was going to save us from the recycled nothingness of so much studio product.
9) KIDNAP
KIDNAP is nothing but studio product -- with a strong reminder that when its paired with a strong director (Luis Prieto) and a strong actress (Academy Award winner Halle Berry), film making can be so much more than just product.
10) WAR MACHINE
Brad Pitt's not showed as much life since 12 MONKEYS. WAR MACHINE is a
film that's perfectly cast -- including a rare turn by Meg Tilly
(Academy Award nominated for AGNES OF GOD). A film with big ideas is a
rare thing but this adaptation of Michael Hastings' THE OPERATORS proves
it can be done and it can be done well.
Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
