2017 - IN REVIEW: MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2018

Just like every year that has come before it, there are a plethora of new releases that are slated for release in 2018 that I am eagerly anticipating. From last years list, I'm still really only waiting for “A Storm in the Stars”, which has since been re-titled as “Mary Shelley” to be released as well as Paul Thomas Anderson's “Phantom Thread”, which would have made the list last year but I just didn't believe that it would be ready in time for a 2017 release. On the cards for 2018 are new films from talented directors, the likes of Steven Soderbergh (“Unsane”), Kim Ji-Woon (“Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade”), Zhang Yimou (“Shadow”), Wes Anderson (“Isle of Dogs”), Melanie Laurent (“Galveston”), Terrence Malick (“Radegeund”), Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”), Yorgos Lanthimos (“The Favourite”), Luca Guadagnino (“Suspiria”), David Robert Mitchell (“Under the Silver Lake”), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (“The Wild Pear Tree”) and David Lowery (“The Old Man and the Gun”) , to name but a few. Not only that, but we also have a brand new entry in the “Halloween” franchise, that sees the return of Jamie Lee Curtis in the role of Laurie Strode. All of the above I am looking forward to greatly, but the one I really wanted to add to my most anticipated list but wont, is Paul Verhoeven's “Blessed Virgin”. While slated for a 2018 release, the feature has yet to start filming, so I do not think it will be ready until at least 2019, but hopefully this will be like “Phantom Thread” and come out much quicker than I expected. Anyway, below are the eight films that I am most anticipating for 2018.

SAMUI SONG

Director Pen-ek Ratanaruang used to be quite prolific but “Samui Spring” is his first theatrical feature in seven years. I suppose it should be noted that since 2011's “Headshot”, Ratanaruang has directed both a documentary (“Paradoxocracy”) and a television movie (“The Life of Gravity”), so it is not as though he has been sitting idle. Still “Samui Song” can be seen as something of a return of this super talented Thai director and it has got me very excited to see it. While the film actually premiered at Toronto back in September of last year, I have stayed away from reviews and any details about it, but the imdb synopsis describes “Samui Song” like this: “a soap opera actress finds herself increasingly pressured by her husband, a rich foreigner entirely devoted to a charismatic cult leader”. Hmmmm, colour me intrigued.

THE WIDOW

First up, I can not believe that it has already been six years since director Neil Jordan's previous film, the sublime “Byzantium”. As I always say, Jordan's films are at their best when he deals with genre elements and while not much is known about “The Widow” as of yet, it is known to at least be a thriller. The logline on imdb describes the film simply with this sentence: “a young woman befriends a lonely widow”. It betrays little of the film's plot but I have faith in Jordan to supply the thrills here, and if the name Neil Jordan is not enough to get you excited for “The Widow”, then the cast of Maika Monroe, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Isabelle Huppert (and of course, Stephen Rea) should help. Not only that but Jordan is working with the very talented Seamus McGarvey as his cinematographer. I have a feeling that “The Widow” could be something very special, and hope that it does not end up getting lost in the shuffle of more higher profile films.

WIDOWS

Wait, didn't I just talk about this film?? No, that film was “The Widow”, where this is “Widows” directed by Steve McQueen, but seeing as how close both of these titles are, I would be amazed if one of them wasn't re-named. “Widows” may see a new chapter in Steve McQueen's directorial career as the film sees him, for the first time, tackle something less serious and more fun after the very heavy dramas of his previous three features. As I insinuated above, there is something very exciting when a “prestige” or art-house director tackles genre, as they seem to add a spark to it and elevate it at the same time. Unlike the previous two titles on this list, a little more is known about what to expect from “Widows” which is due to the fact that it is actually a remake of a television mini-series that came out in 1983. The film centres on four widows who, after their husbands die whilst planning a robbery, decide to take up the plans and finish the job. It sounds like a lot of fun, and with McQueen once again re-teaming with cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, “Widows” will at least look pretty if nothing else. 

 

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

The latest film from cinema's enfant terrible, Lars Von Trier, is something that he, himself, calls his most brutal film to date. Ummmmm.........did he not watch “Antichrist”???? Man, that statement is both chilling and exciting. “The House That Jack Built” is a horror film that spans twelve years in the life of a serial killer named Jack, where each murder changes him and evolves his style of killing. Jack is working towards his greatest masterpiece, a murder that can only be considered a work of art, but with the police on his tail, will he get the chance to finish his life's master-work. This sounds right up my alley, and while I do not always love everything that Von Trier does, he is always an interesting director that will make you feel (sure, its usually a depression, but at least he connects with an audience). It will also be nice to see Matt Dillon, who plays the titular Jack, sink his teeth into a nice meaty role again.

TRANSIT

After creating my favourite film of 2015 with the near perfect “Phoenix”, it was a given that whatever director Christian Petzold came up with next, that it would make my most anticipated list. “Transit” is that follow up and upon initial inspection, it seems that the film could almost be a companion film to “Phoenix”, as the imdb describes it as follows: “When a man flees France after the Nazi invasion, he assumes the identity of a dead author whose papers he possesses. Stuck in Marseilles, he meets a young woman desperate to find her missing husband – the very man he's impersonating”. Sure the plot has a very pulpy feel to it, but in Petzold's hands I have no doubt it will be great stuff. When I first heard about the film, I was surprised to see Petzold immediately return to another period film after “Phoenix”, especially set in World War II, but word is that Petzold has altered the story to actually take place in modern times which is certainly interesting (and means that the Nazi invasion will no longer work as a plot point). If this is the case, we wont have to wait long to find out as “Transit” premieres at the Berlin Film Festival which starts in mid February. Whilst “Transit” sees Petzold work with his usual crew, it must be noted that this is the first film, since “Gespenster” in 2005, that he has made without his onscreen muse Nina Hoss. However, taking the place in the female lead is Paula Beer, who was sensational in Francois Ozon's “Frantz”, so I am not as worried, although she has a lot to live up to. 

 

EVERYBODY KNOWS

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is arguably the greatest director working in world cinema today. To date, he has made seven features and all of them have been very good to flat out brilliant. In fact his 2011 film, “A Separation”, is an out and out masterpiece (and my favourite film of this decade by far) and because of it, any film that Farhadi makes will be put onto this list. While Farhadi's previous film, “The Salesman”, saw him return to Iran, the film before that saw him tackle a French story with the outstanding “The Past”. “Everybody Knows” sees him, once again, return to Europe but this time to Spain and sees him collaborate with Spanish acting royalty in Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, not to mention the brilliant Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin. What a cast, but it doesn't stop there, as Farhadi has also been able to secure the services of Pedro Almodovar's greatest collaborators in Jose Luis Alcaine as cinematographer and Alberto Iglesias to do the film's score! Wow!! Can you imagine just how great this film is going to be? So what's the film about? Here is what imdb has to say: “Carolina, a Spanish woman living in Buenos Aires, returns to her hometown outside Madrid with her Argentinian husband and children. However, the trip is upset by unexpected events that bring secrets into the open”. It certainly sounds like a film created by Asghar Farhadi and I cannot wait to see it, hoping that it makes it to MIFF later this year.

DOMINO

No matter what the story, no matter what the plot, when ever Brian de Palma makes a new film, it will always be one of my most anticipated films of that year, usually THE most anticipated. De Palma is my equal favourite director, along with Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, but sadly as he gets older, the time between each De Palma film seems to get longer. Six years have passed between “Passion” and “Domino” and I am really hanging to see another new film from this great filmmaker. I must admit that the plot of “Domino” doesn't really sound anything special but as with all De Palma films, it is all about the way De Palma presents the film. He is a visual storyteller through and through, and has amazing cinematic technique, elevating the most boring of plots into something fun and exciting to sit through. He will be helped in this task again by cinematographer Jose Luis Alcaine (who shot “Domino” before moving onto the Farhadi film), and the return of Pino Donaggio doing the score. The plot sounds as simple as it comes and is described on imdb like this: “A Copenhagen police officer seeks justice for his partner's murder by a mysterious man”. Sure, it sounds a little ho-hum, but c'mon, this is De Palma!!! With Carice van Houten, who was so good in Paul Verhoeven's “Black Book”, as the female lead, it adds another layer of excitement to the new Brian De Palma film. Can. Not. Wait.

THE IRISHMAN

The only man that could knock Brian De Palma from the top of my most anticipated list is none other than Martin Scorsese with his brand new film “The Irishman”. However, “The Irishman” has a lot more going for it than just being a new Scorsese film, although normally that is more than enough. It is the director's return to the crime dramas that made him famous but the biggest thing about “The Irishman” is Robert De Niro. It is the first time Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have made a film together since 1995's “Casino”. Can you believe that it has been twenty three years since these two have made a feature together?!? That alone would be enough to make it my most anticipated film of 2018 but wait, there is more. Scorsese has also brought Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel and Ray Romano along for the ride too......ummmm.....like I said, Pesci and Keitel are along for the ride too! But again, that is not all! For the first time ever, Martin Scorsese is making a film with Al Pacino as well. This film is too good to be true!! It just sounds amazing. Scorsese is again teaming up with Rodrigo Prieto as his cinematographer and it is good to see him giving the young, newcomer Thelma Schoonmaker a chance as his editor (tee hee). As exciting as all of this is, I must admit I am a bit worried about the “reverse ageing” technology they plan to use to make the actors look younger in their roles. That makes me nervous. Plus the fact that Netflix is funding this film, I worry that I will never get to see “The Irishman” on the big screen nor own it on blu ray, but we will cross those bridges when we get to them because without any doubt in the world, Martin Scorsese's “The Irishman”, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, is my most anticipated film of 2018.

Well, that is it. My enormous round up of the year that was 2017 is finally over. Hopefully you enjoyed reading it and got something out of it, but how about we go back to watching some new films now? 

 

2017 - IN REVIEW: TOP TWENTY BEST FILMS: #10 - 1

10. FRANTZ

French film maker Francois Ozon returns to a frequent theme of his in his heartbreakingly beautiful “Frantz”. The theme of identity is once again at the forefront here, as is living with guilt and the loss of innocence via devastating means. Set in Germany in the aftermath of World War I, Anna visits the grave of her fiance, Frantz, only to find a young man, a stranger, laying flowers below the headstone. The man looked devastated as he walked away, causing Anna to enquire about his identity and just how he knew Frantz. The man replies that his name is Adrien and that he is French, and was friends with Frantz from before the war. Adrien also asks Anna if she would be able to organise an audience with Frantz's parents too. They are initially cold to the idea due to the man being French, thus an “enemy” of Germany's from the war, but they slowly warm to it as Adrien tells stories to them of their fallen son, from the times they were together. This is a stunningly beautiful film, but it is as equally as haunting. It has been shot in luminous black and white, showing off the German countryside to great effect. During key scenes, usually involving memory, Ozon reverts to colour but not in a traditional or naturalistic way. It is almost like the black and white has been coloured giving it a light pastel, almost faded look. I do not know if I have described the look well at all there, but it is very effective and looks amazing. All of the performances here are very good, quite restrained and still. This is not a film of large gestures, it is a much more subtle affair. In saying that, I believe the use of mirrors to be obvious, but I also think Ozon has used the technique maturely and does not over do it. As good as everything is about “Frantz”, the greatest thing is the film's message which is that in war, it is good to remember that there is no such thing as “good” guys and “bad” guys, only soldiers, that is young men, following the orders of their individual countries. While I guess you could say that this is another take on the age old adage “the first victim of war is innocence”, “Frantz” goes that extra step further to add that the way to healing after war is to learn to love one's enemy. I love this film and it may just be Francois Ozon's best yet.

9. I, TONYA

The three big crime stories I followed whilst growing up on the 90's were the O.J Simpson case, JonBenet Ramsey's murder and the story that is the basis for this movie; the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan ice-skating drama. It seemed like madness at the time that the world of competitive ice-skating would have such an extreme crime within it and thankfully director Craig Gillespie and screenwriter Steven Rogers have channelled this madness in their excellent black comedy “I, Tonya”. They noticed after interviewing the key figures of this crime that all of their stories contradicted one another, and so instead of choosing one of these “truths” to base the story on, they decided to embrace the contradictions and thus that is how the movie became what it is today. The fact that they also decided that the only way the film would work was to make it a comedy, was genius, and I actually found the whole thing hilarious but in a dark way. Choosing the very glamorous Margot Robbie to play Tonya Harding, the pin up girl for this white trash crime, could have come off as a little risky but it was an inspired decision because she is magnificent in the role (although I do question their decision to also have Robbie play the fifteen year old version of Harding, because this just never works). Robbie pulls off the right amount of sass and trash for this U.S skater who had a massive chip on her shoulder. As good as Robbie is though, this is Allison Janney's film as she totally transforms herself into the worlds worst mum (maybe ever). She is totally horrible and does not have a maternal bone in her body, but I loved every second she was on screen. In fact, this film was a bit of an eye opener, and I actually felt sorry for what Tonya went through to get where she did. While I am not 100% convinced that she knew nothing about what happened beforehand, I do not think she deserved the moniker of “America's Most Hated Person” that she seemed to be branded with briefly, after the fact. It is true to conclude that Tonya too was a victim in all of this, but an innocent victim, I'm still not sure. Black comedies can be very hard to pull off because getting the tone right is so important, but “I, Tonya” does a fantastic job of it, and the decision to break the forth wall and have characters talking to the audience was brave, but masterful. Finally, if you think that the mother is too over the top in the film, and that the criminals dumbness was heightened for the film, stick around for the credits to watch the real people being interviewed. It will blow your mind.

8. THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

In terms of black comedy, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” makes “I, Tonya” look like a goofy Jim Carrey movie. This is the blackest of black comedies to the point that I have also seen the film described regularly as a horror film. I guess this is also an apt description due to the disturbing nature of the storyline and where it all goes, but for me, this was comedy through and through. I laughed so much through this film...........so I do not know what that really says about me. This is the second collaboration between Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman to make it onto this list, but while Kidman got the chocolates in “The Beguiled”, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is all about Farrell who is absolutely brilliant in the film. Farrell has the advantage in that he worked on Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos's previous film “The Lobster” so has an understanding of how to use the odd stilted dialogue delivery that the director demands to his advantage. I do like Kidman in the role, but she gives off a sleight vibe that it is a little uncomfortable, whereas right from the opening scene it looks like Farrell has just gone straight back into the world of “The Lobster” and seems totally at ease. I am not going to go into any details about the film because it is one that is best going in knowing nothing and experiencing it as the characters do. I will say that it actually took me two viewings of the film for me to fall in love with “The Killing of a Sacred Deer”. My initial screening took place at MIFF, and while I liked the film, I did not love it and had serious issues with the performance from Barry Keoghan who plays Martin, a key role in the film. For me, it just did not live up to the brilliance of “The Lobster” and yet it never left me. I kept thinking about it, and I watched the trailer for it a lot. When it finally hit VOD back in December, I watched it again, and loved every second of it. (Actually while I still do not love Keoghan's performance, I have come to terms with it, and don't let it ruin the film for me). I laughed so hard (and out loud) during it, and found the whole thing incredibly funny. My favourite moments are the two tantrums Colin Farrell's character has while stressed. Being as I am also a fan of cinema that goes to the dark side, I was very impressed (and disturbed) by the film's horrific ending, which is very often compared to the work of Michael Haneke, particularly “Funny Games”. At the end of the day, “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” is bold and disturbing cinema at its finest; it is cold and clinical, but it also has a brilliant comedic streak that runs right through its centre. Even though it is definitely not for everyone, I can't recommend this film enough, and I truly hope that Colin Farrell and Yorgos Lanthimos get more chances to work together because they suit each other perfectly.

7. GET OUT

One of the surprises of the year was Jordan Peele's horror film “Get Out”. Unlike most American's, I had no idea who Jordan Peele was before seeing this film, so the fact that his pedigree came from comedy and the idea of him making a straight horror film didn't surprise me, due to my ignorance. The surprising aspect was that this was a smart horror film that was scary and also had something to say. It seems that combining social commentary with horror films was a thing of the past, but here Peele convincingly portrays the racial tension within America just as well as anything George Romero did back in the late sixties and beyond. It looks at the black experience when introduced into a white group, where in an attempt to not appear racist, white people talk to the black people about the most stereotypical things relating to the black community. Aside from the social commentary in the film, it is also a really great horror film and my favourite horror film of 2017. All of the performances are great and you really believe the relationship between Chris and Rose. There is no doubt they are in love and would do anything for one another even if it may be uncomfortable to do so. Also, Rose's family are all so lovely and come across as so real, complete with embarrassing Dad jokes. There is also the added hypnosis angle which creates the world of “the sunken”, a place where the subconscious goes when under hypnosis which gives “Get Out” a sense of mystery too. This is another film that is really hard to talk about without ruining but I will say that it is a horror film that builds perfectly in suspense and fear, right up to its very impressive finale. I also want to add that “Get Out” did an amazing job of concealing one of its twists, so that I never saw it coming at all (and I pride myself on being able to work things out quick). Another moment that I want to underline is one of the scenes with racial overtones which I can only describe as the “picking cotton” scene, towards the end. It is such a clever moment, like the film as a whole. “Get Out” is yet another success from the guys at Blumhouse, with this film likely to go down as a future horror classic. It is a fantastic achievement from writer/director Jordan Peele.

6. LADY BIRD

My favourite aspect of “Lady Bird” is that even though she is not in the film at all, you can feel writer/director Greta Gerwig's sensibilities all throughout it. You can picture all of it coming out of her, and Saoirse Ronan is the perfect surrogate for Gerwig's words but Ronan does it in such a way, that it is not like she is doing an impression of Gerwig (unlike all of those Woody Allen impressions in his films), she has created a fully rounded character out of Lady Bird and it just shines through. “Lady Bird” is a brilliant coming of age drama, that also dips its toes into the comedy pool at times, about a young seventeen year old girl trying to find her place in the world, working out what she wants to do with the rest of her life, trying to find love, and an inner peace with her hard to please mum. Gerwig directs with the lightest of touches, so even quite deep and full on moments, never feel overly heavy. Most importantly, everything just feels so real. This is a perfectly cast film with everyone superb in their roles, and they all have amazing chemistry together. I have already mentioned how great Ronan is in the title role, and she deserves all the accolades she is getting, but I have to single out Laurie Metcalf for her performance as Lady Bird's tough as nails mum. I actually watched “Lady Bird” before “I, Tonya” and initially thought Metcalf's Marion was quite a harsh mum, but she was totally eclipsed by Tonya Harding's mum (played by Allison Janney). The difference between the two is that you can tell that Marion genuinely loves “Lady Bird” but just finds it hard to express that love or to connect with her daughter. Metcalf is fantastic at portraying this too. There are moments, where you can see her think and want to say something different or nice to her, but it just doesn't come out, as it is not natural for her. If it wasn't for Janney's performance in “I, Tonya”, I believe that Metcalf would be a shoe in for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Lady Bird”. The dad, on the other hand, played by Tracy Letts is very paternal and has a great and genuine relationship with his daughter. You can feel the love between the two of them, and the hurt he feels when later in the film he reveals that he knows his daughter is embarrassed about him and that is why she asks to be dropped near school not at school. It is a painful moment, and it crushes Lady Bird when she realises he knows, but the scene is so real. The film is full of these moments and even has one of the greatest scenes out of all of 2017, when one of her friends confesses to Lady Bird that he is terrified of telling his parents that he is gay. What makes the scene so impressive is that the two characters are fighting, and the confession of his fear just comes out as he breaks down, and without missing a beat, Ronan changes her character's emotions from anger to empathy and holds the boy tight. It is a stunning moment in a stunningly good film. “Lady Bird” deserves all the praise it is getting, as does its creator. I also appreciated that it ran a mere ninety minutes and did not finish on the typical Hollywood ending. The greatest success of this film is that it feels very real in all aspects.

5. JACKIE

Speaking of Greta Gerwig, she actually has a small role in my fifth placed film of the year, Pablo Larrain's “Jackie” which recounts the days after the assassination of JFK and how his wife Jackie made sure that he would never be forgotten by the American public. This was a film that I originally had no interest in seeing, and truthfully I am not exactly sure what made me change my mind (it came out in the second week of the year here in Australia, so it has been a while) but boy am I glad that I did, as I immediately fell in love with this film, and the way Pablo Larrain handled the story. The film is told in a non-linear fashion, as the lead up to and the assassination itself, is interspersed through an interview Jackie is having with a reporter, that takes place after John Kennedy's funeral. The questions the reporter asks her, leads into certain scenes of what just happened, but the film is not entirely concerned with the truth, but in presenting Jackie's “truth” and what she went through to create a legacy for John with the creation of the “Camelot” myth. Natalie Portman transforms herself completely as the former First Lady and does a compelling job of enlightening the audience just what Jackie was forced to go through, by having to mourn her husband's death totally in the public eye, create a fitting send off for him, whilst also caring about the safety and well being of her children. Larrain chose to shoot the film on glorious 16mm film, which gives the look a gritty appearance and helps in matching real footage of the funeral procession with the re-enactment that was shot for the film. The grainy film stock also lends itself to giving an older feel which helps with period detail, and giving Larrain a better chance at recreating famous moments that happened after the assassination. The single biggest surprise about the film though, was its amazing score by Mica Levi which was almost the total opposite of what I was expecting from a big “prestige” film such as “Jackie”. I was expecting a swooning operatic piece, but instead the film carries a very dark score, that could almost fit a horror film at times. It works so well and should've won the Oscar for best score last year. There were two moments that this film brought to life that I had never thought of before in regards to the JFK assassination; the first was when Jackie finally gets to take a shower, as she had spent the day in a dress covered in her husband's blood, with the same blood and brain matter mixed through her hair. It is a shocking scene as the water finally touches her hair, and we see all the blood run down her back. The other was just how brutal the moment after the assassination was with Jackie sitting next to the coffin of her dead husband, being a witness as they immediately swear in the next president of the United States, Lyndon B Johnson. I have no idea what thoughts would be running through a persons mind at such a time. “Jackie” is a stunningly good film, and one that I have already seen three times.

4. GOOD TIME

Robert Pattinson forever escapes his pretty boy “Twilight” persona, after this starring role in the ironically titled “Good Time” directed by the Safdie Brothers. Interestingly, like “Jackie” this was a film that I really wasn't sure that I wanted to see. The trailer did nothing for me at all, and after being bombarded by my wife's 24/7 obsession with Pattinson, I get a little weary of the man at times. In saying that, once it was slated to play at MIFF, I knew my wife wouldn't let me “not” see “Good Time” (although due to a small confusion, my wife and I saw separate screenings of the film). As can be seen by its place on this list, I am so glad I ended up seeing it, and while the title of the film may be ironic for the characters within it, it was perfectly apt for the audience watching because the film is a perfect description of a “good time”. There is something fun about watching dumb character's mess up and dig a deeper hole for themselves. The film is about two brothers, Connie and Nick (played by Pattinson and director Ben Safdie respectively), who attempt a bank robbery to get out of their debts and to move on with life together. While they appear to get away with the money, Nick, who is also mentally handicapped, ends up getting arrested and the rest of the film is about his brother Connie, doing everything to get him out of jail and escaping with the money. However every decision Connie makes is the wrong one, including a hilarious scene when he decides to break out his brother from his guarded hospital room. As each decision gets Connie in more and more trouble, it is just a weird kind of fun watching this man try and get out of the hole he has dug. As I mentioned above, Pattinson is outstanding in the lead, announcing to the world that he is a real actor. He has roughed up his appearance and speech and the sparkling vampire the world knows him as, is nowhere to be found. This is easily his best performance of his career so far and I was suitably impressed. One element of “Good Time” that I was not expecting was just how funny the film was. Again, I guess the comedy is of a dark nature, but there are a lot of laughs to be had in this film. Sean Price Williams neon soaked cinematography (shot on 35mm film) is also another highlight of the film; this is a seriously stylish looking film, and the film has a perfect 80's throwback synth score by Daniel Lopatin. The visuals and music combined give you a real adrenaline pumping feel while watching this awesome film that everyone should check out. Oh and if you are wondering what my wife thought of “Good Time”, she didn't like it (but still demanded that the blu ray go to her for her Robert Pattinson collection).

3. A GHOST STORY

This was a movie that I knew I wanted to see right from the first image and trailer I saw from it, and it was also a movie that I knew was for me and that I would love every second of it. After making “Pete's Dragon” for Disney, director David Lowery re-teamed with his stars from “Ain't These Bodies Saints” to create a little film in secret that turned out to be “A Ghost Story”. This is a truly stunning and original film as it explores the themes of loss, legacy, existence and the enormity of time all through the eyes of a ghost, which has been visualised in the guise of a white sheet with two holes cut out of it for eyes. Personally, it was the image of the ghost, that was when I knew I was going to love this film. For an artist to be brave enough to use the children's image of what a ghost looks like, and to make the audience except it and feel for it, well that is a hell of an achievement. For me, it did all of this and more. I do not know if I can explain just how perfect the ghost is to me; the way the fabric hangs, the heaviness when it moves, the way it creates a kind of face; it is all so brilliant. The plot of the film is very simple as it is about a married couple (called C and M in the credits) played by Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, living in a house that they are contemplating moving out of. Before any decision can be made, C dies in a car accident and then as a ghost appears trapped in the house he once called home to witness, without being able to interact with, his wife as she mourns his death and attempts to move on. When she finally does leave the house, he finds himself still stuck there, waiting, for something before he himself can move on, as more families pass through the house over an extended time period. It is hauntingly beautiful, and the film almost plays like a visual poem. There is very little dialogue throughout the film, save for an extended monologue half way through that lays out the themes of the film. Since the film is about time, scenes have to last longer than usual in an attempt to feel that time, and if you have read anything about this film, no doubt you have heard about the “pie scene”. In the scene, Mara's character, while in a state of mourning, slumps onto the kitchen floor and eats a whole pie, all by herself, and we get to watch every second of it. But the point of the scene is that we are not the only ones to watch, as the ghost stands there watching his loved one in pain and not being able to do a thing to help her. This is one scene we witness, but imagine if your existence was never ending days of this; just observing. It is a powerfully melancholic scene. Visually, the film is also something special with “A Ghost Story” being shot in the square 1:33 ratio and it all just looks magnificent. Again, I understand that this is another film that is not for everyone, but for mine, this was a hell of a cinematic ride that I can not wait to take again.

2. A MAN OF INTEGRITY

While it is not unusual to find an Iranian film at or near the top of one of my lists, what is unusual is to find one that has been directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. While I have always thought his previous films were alright, none of them ever blew me away like the films of Jafar Panahi, Asghar Farhadi and Abbas Kiarostami have. In fact I was starting to believe that Rasoulof was a director who I just did not connect with. That all changed with his latest film, the corruption thriller, “A Man of Integrity”. Not only is it my favourite film by Rasoulof, it was also the best film that I saw at this year's MIFF. It is a look at how a good man is essentially doomed in a world as corrupt as Iran, and that if you are not willing to pay are bribe, you are unlikely to get anywhere. Reza just wants to live life as an honest man, working on his goldfish farm as a means of income. However when a powerful organisation attempts to force Reza and his family off of his farm for their own financial gain, he realises that it may not be worth the hassle and leaving would be better. However, he still refuses to pay for bribes to make life better for himself and when his water supply to his fish is poisoned, he finally breaks and decides to take them on at their own gain, but by doing so, will he end up losing who he really is? It is interesting to note, that the film that I kept on thinking about while watching “A Man of Integrity” was actually Sam Peckinpah's “Straw Dogs”. While there are not a huge amount of connections, I saw similarities in the character of Reza and that of Dustin Hoffman's character in “Straw Dogs”. Both are good, placid men who are coerced into breaking their own personal beliefs to protect their family and home. At the end of the day, “A Man of Integrity” is quite a depressing film as Reza is forced to go to some incredibly dark lengths, and in the process ends up hating himself. But the greatest kick to Reza comes right at the end of the film when he finds out that he had been manipulated by someone else the entire time. Hopefully I have made that vague enough to not ruin the brilliance of the end. Until the final week of 2017, I was pretty sure that “A Man of Integrity” was going to be my favourite film of the year, but it was unluckily pipped at the post.

1. THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

So here we are, we are finally at my favourite film of 2017, and it was one of the very last films that I saw in the year. My favourite film of 2017 was none other than Martin McDonagh's “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, which in my eyes was almost the perfect film. It has a fantastic, multi-layered script by McDonagh himself, has been cast to perfection with everyone giving their absolute best, it is superbly paced (this thing just flies by) and the story is one that has so many surprises in it that you never know where it is going to go next. There is no way that I would've guessed that from the way the film began, it would end where it did. Oh, did I happen to mention that “Three Billboards....” also has the most perfect ending too, and that it is hilarious? This is Martin McDonagh's third film and also his very best. He started out super strong with his debut film “In Bruges”, but had the traditional sophomore slump with his second, “Seven Psychopaths”. In fairness, “Seven Psychopaths” is not bad, its just nothing more than a diversion, and now being sandwiched between “In Bruges” and this new film, it is always destined now to be known as the failure. Anyway, the story of “Three Billboards....” is about Mildred, whose teenage daughter was brutally raped, murdered and then set on fire seven months earlier. Frustrated that the local police force have found no leads in that time, she hires three billboards and writes a message on them in very large print, in an attempt to light a fire under the police force. They predictably react to the billboards in the negative and look to squash Mildred's attempt to keep her daughter's case alive, and from that point on, the madness begins. Like a lot of films on this list, “Three Billboards....” goes to some very dark places, it is filled with the most filthy language and yet, you cannot help but fall in love with both the movie, and its (incredibly) flawed characters. The strongest aspect of the film is that the world of “Three Billboards....” has been painted in shades of grey. There are no such thing as good guys and bad guys here. All of the characters have the ability to do both good and bad, and those who you may initially hate for their horrible behaviour, you will end up loving for something good they do later. Even our “hero” Mildred does some truly despicable things. As I mentioned at the start, every single actor in this ensemble is at their career best but both Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell are off the charts!! They are so damned good and hilarious with every line reading. McDormand is harsh, sharp and always on point, where as Rockwell plays his dumb guy as bumbling, a bit slow off the hook and very aggressive. Oh, and the two of them bounce off of each other perfectly. Another couple of actors I want to mention is Woody Harrelson, who gives the sweetest performance of the film and is just fabulous (he is also key to the film's most shocking scene), and the brief two scene cameo from Australian Samara Weaving who steals the scenes she is in. She is so funny, playing a dumb bimbo, but it is her character that lays down what the whole movie is about which is “anger begets more anger”. She also has another very funny line when she talks about the book she was reading on polio (“Wait, which is the one with horses?”. Very funny stuff!!!). Oh, and my least favourite actor of now, Caleb Landry Jones, is also in this and even he impresses. At the end of the day, this film is chock full of stuff it wants to say, but the main point is that you will never move on from pain and tragedy in your life, if you cannot let go of the anger, and if you let your anger control your life, you are bound to lead a life of continued pain. I was truly not expecting this film to be as good as it was, and although I didn't see it until the last week, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” was my favourite film of 2017.

Well there you have it, that was my  round-up of the year that was 2017; hopefully you got some enjoyment out of it. Now before I finish, lets have a brief look at the upcoming year and my most anticipated films of 2018.

2017 - IN REVIEW: TOP TWENTY BEST FILMS: #20 - 11

Let's get onto the good stuff finally.  I am not going to do any honorable mentions, this is it, my top 20 of 2017, and while the title of this list states that these are the "best" films of 2017, that is not really the case, these are my "favourite" films of 2017.  Alright, enough talk, lets begin with my:

TOP TWENTY BEST FILMS OF 2017

 20. SUPER DARK TIMES

A perfect depiction of an adolescent nightmare, where a group of teenagers mucking around together are suddenly thrust into the world of adulthood as they have to deal with the consequences of their actions when one of their innocent games accidentally turns deadly. Kevin Phillips directorial debut was quite the surprise, as he confidently handles this dark and layered coming of age drama, looking anything like a first time director. This is another 80's nostalgia piece, but different from both “It” and “Stranger Things” in that one, the kids are a little bit older, and two, this is set in the real world; there is no supernatural element here. This is a world that hurts, and a split second decision can change five lives in a second. Consequences are real here, as is the way each kid tries to deal with the aftermath of just what they have done. Perfectly and sensitively acted by the entire cast, I was particularly impressed by Amy Hargreaves who portrays the mother of one of the boys. A fantastic debut from Phillips and I will be eagerly looking forward to what he produces next.

19. THE UNTAMED

As beautiful as it is mysterious, Amat Escalante's “The Untamed” is a strange and atmospheric journey into the unknown. The film centres on a married couple who are going through some tough times, but when they encounter a creature whose origins are unknown, they find themselves exploring their basest instincts in regards to pleasure and destruction. Before seeing this film, I was not sure if it was going to appeal to me or not, but I was immediately drawn in by its bizarre and mysterious opening scene and then hooked by the film's atmosphere. While I wasn't exactly sure what was happening at all times, I was still totally mesmerised by the whole thing. It is a tough film, and very frank in its depiction of sex, but it was a very rewarding watch. Visually, it is gorgeous to look at (in the opened up 1:66 ratio), and its tentacled creature is more than a nod to H.P. Lovecraft and Andrzej Zulawski's “Possession” ( a film I must admit I still find impenetrable). I loved every second of this strange film but must stress that it isn't for everyone.

18. AFTERIMAGE

This is the final film from Polish master film maker Andrzej Wadja, who passed away soon after completing “Afterimage”, and he ended his career on a high note. I have been late to appreciate Wadja's skill as a director, having only seen three of his films (all of them late in his career), but I have loved all three. He is a classic film maker and just knows how to craft a story beautifully. “Afterimage” is a biopic about Polish avant garde artist Wladyslaw Strzeminski as he struggled against Stalinist ideals while refusing to bend his art to suit its needs. I initially wasn't sure if I would be interested enough in the subject to bother seeing this film, as quite frankly it sounded a little boring, but I am so glad I decided to on the strength of the Wadja films I had previously seen because I loved every second of it and was moved and saddened by it all. Strzeminski was a man who ended up losing everything he loved after refusing to create art that fit the government's ideals at the time. After his rejection, they went about crushing this poor man by taking his job, his house, his family, his legacy and even his ability to procure art supplies. He essentially died with nothing, but his ideals as he never gave in to their fascist demands. The film is headlined by an amazing central performance from Boguslaw Linda as the artist, and there are not enough superlatives in the English language to express how good he is in the role. Like his students, you fall in love with this man right from the get-go and it is obvious why he inspired so many. However you are equally heart broken later in the film by the beaten yet never broken man he becomes. Visually, like I said earlier, “Afterimage” is shot in a very classical way and looks very impressive. One key moment is the use of the colour red as a Stalinist banner is placed over the window of Strzeminski's apartment, causing all of his art to have a red glow, symbolising the dark cloud that will follow the rest of his life. “Afterimage” is a fitting swansong for this talented director.

17. JASPER JONES

Sadly, “Jasper Jones” is the only Australian film to make it onto my top twenty list this year. The film is a light mystery/thriller about a fourteen year old boy, named Charlie Bucktin, whose life is turned upside down the night he follows Jasper Jones into the bush to see the dead body of a young girl. Being an aboriginal boy, Jasper knows that he will be the lead suspect into the girl's death and enlists Charlie to help him find the real killer. Charlie must look within to decide whether to trust Jasper himself, as he barely knows the guy except seeing him briefly at school. What I loved most about this film is that all the characters are flawed and not always what they present to the public. The film ends up being about love and family and being connected to those in your family and learning to forgive them for their mistakes and loving them for who they are, not what they appear to be. Performances are all top notch but Hugo Weaving steals the film thanks to one amazing scene. It is the scene where Jasper and Charlie confront him, suspecting him to be the killer, only for the old man to explain who he really is. It is such an emotional scene that is perfectly played by Weaving, who almost underplays it. The follow up scene, which is also dialogue free, is one of the most beautiful and heart-warming moments too that will leave a lump in your throat. “Jasper Jones” is a lot more than a murder mystery though, as it also is a coming of age tale that sees Charlie fall in love (with the dead girl's younger sister), deal with his mother's infidelity, while also finding true courage to stand up for what is right. Not only that but it also deals with racism that was so prominent in Australia in 1969 (and sadly, today).

16. ETERNITY

“Eternity” is the brand new film from French Vietnamese film maker Tran Anh Hung, and his first to be actually shot in the French language. It is a stunningly beautiful film that follows three generations of women from one family over the course of one hundred years. I have been a big fan of Hung's work right from the start, absolutely loving his early Vietnamese trilogy. After that, he went quiet for almost a decade before he returned with “I Come With The Rain”, which is his worst film to date. He got back on track with the Japanese film “Norwegian Wood”, but for mine, “Eternity” is his best film since his early classics. It is actually not an easy film to fall in love with, because it is narrated and one of the main characters, played by Audrey Tautou, barely speaks throughout the entire feature. In fact, it takes so long for her to say her first word in the film, that you start to think that you are only going to get an insight into the characters via the narration. As it is, the other females in the cast all get to speak much more than Tautou. And what a cast; besides the aforementioned Tautou, the two other female leads are Melanie Laurent, and Berenice Bejo. All of the girls are magnificent, but my favourite was Laurent, although I believe that Bejo has the most demanding role and handles it was aplomb. The highlight of the film though is its stunningly gorgeous visual style and the cinematography by Mark Lee Ping-Bing. The look of the film is luminous and with the majority of the film taking place during the day, the colour pallet is dominated by yellows and golds to amazing effect. Not only are the colours in the film truly spellbinding, but the camera moves within the film are complex and at times mind boggling, but never done in a show off fashion, mainly due to the slow movement of the camera work. There were some shots where I was stunned and thought that must have taken ages to get the perfect take of that shot, complex as they were. At the end of the day, I must admit I am not sure if “Eternity” has a huge lot to say, however I was seduced by the visual style and film making on display, that if that is the case, I did not notice. It is a long film, that moves at a glacial pace, so it wont be for everyone, but personally I found it very worthy of my time and quite an emotional experience.

15. THE BEGUILED

Sofia Coppola is a director whose work I am just drawn to. So far I have enjoyed all of her films, and it is always an event whenever she brings out a new one. After completing her previous film, “The Bling Ring”, Coppola was set to direct a new adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” fairytale, focusing on the original tale rather than the Disney version. I was super excited by this announcement as I thought the material and director were perfectly suited to each other. Unfortunately the project fell apart, and Coppola moved onto “The Beguiled”, a remake of the 1971 Don Siegel film, as her next film. Initially I was shocked by this choice as, unlike “The Little Mermaid”, I was unsure that Coppola's talents fit well with the story of “The Beguiled”. Coppola's films tend to be ones that you feel and succeed via their atmosphere and beauty, rather than the machinations of plot. Also in all of her films, Coppola presents a strong female voice to the stories she tells, whereas “The Beguiled”, at least in the Clint Eastwood starring version, is a very masculine affair. Well, my worries were of course ill-founded because Sofia Coppola has once again delivered another entertaining and beautiful film. True to herself, Coppola's version of “The Beguiled” revolves more around the women's point of view, and what a cast she assembled to fill these roles. Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, Angourie Rice and Oona Laurence round out these strong female characters and they are all magnificent, but for mine, the stand outs are Kidman and Dunst. Both play their characters as very proper and straight laced, particularly Dunst, almost like their true nature is trapped under the tight corsets they wear. The man filling Clint Eastwood's shoes is none other than Colin Farrell who comes across as a less charming, but no less manipulative character, than the Eastwood version. While Farrell is good in the role, I personally think that Clint Eastwood wins in the comparison here. Where “The Beguiled” truly shines though is in its look and feel. Coppola thankfully shot “The Beguiled” on film (in the 1:66 ratio) and the results are so magnificent as you are just able to see and feel the textures of the world, and get a full sense of the environment where the girls are living. The director of photography was Philippe Le Sourd, whose previous film was Wong Kar-Wai's “The Grandmaster”, but his work on “The Beguiled” surpasses even that great film. Some of the shots outside the house are truly jaw dropping; this film, like all of Sofia Coppola's films, is a thing of beauty.

14. ANTIPORNO

When Japanese film studio Nikkatsu decided to reboot their “Roman Porno” film series, they came up with an idea to hire five popular directors to come up with their own films, as long as they had a sex scene every ten minutes in the feature. Sion Sono was one of the directors chosen and he did something unexpected in that he essentially critiqued these types of films while also looking at the sexual repression of Japan as a whole. Sounds like a heady mix of ideas for a soft core sex film, but it is all disguised in the usual Sono madness. Oh and in case you are wondering, “Antiporno” is my favourite Sono film since 2011's “Himizu”. What is becoming a theme of this top twenty list, the visual style of “Antiporno” is stunning. Anchored by essentially one main location for the entire 76 minute feature, Sono makes the whole thing interesting by flooding it (literally in one case towards the end) in bold, bright colours but mainly focusing on yellow. What impressed me most about “Antiporno” was its feminist bent that actually seems genuine, as opposed to what Sono was trying to say in his 2015 feature “Tag” but failed miserably. Here he seems to be attacking the way females are portrayed in Japanese cinema and in society as a whole too, as if they are just play things or fantasies for the male population. It is also interesting how he uses the required nudity and sex scenes as the antithesis of what I am sure Nikkatsu was expecting, by using them more to make a point rather than to titillate. Typical for a Sono film, none of the performances in the film are what you call subtle but it works here in this over-stylised world. One scene of note that must be mentioned is a hilarious dinner table scene between a couple of teenagers and their parents as they talk about sex and wonder why it is so taboo to talk about if every one loves it and does it. It is a very funny scene.

13. 1922

When I was discussing the most overrated film of 2017, I mentioned that “It” was not even my favourite Stephen King adaptation of the year. The answer to what was is now apparent, as it was the Netflix produced, Zak Hilditch directed “1922”. Adapted from the Stephen King novella, the film is about a farmer who, along with the help of his son, murders his wife for financial gain. While he expects life to improve considerably, a series of unexpected disasters (including a plague of rats) serves to prove otherwise, until he is again left with nothing. The highlight of the film is Thomas Jane's pitch perfect performance as the farmer, Wilfred, whose slow southern accent mirrors the pace of the world around him. It is a still, quiet performance from Jane, and this is the best role I have ever seen him in. This is a slow paced film that gradually builds like the guilt building within Wilfred himself, until it gets too much and the supernatural horror is unleashed. In regards to the supernatural events that happen in the film, personally I believe they have been handled superbly because the truth is, these events probably take place in Wilfred's diseased mind that is filled with guilt, rather than really happening, but that is left up to the viewer to decide. The design of the “ghost” is also spot on, as it is quite terrifying but not in an over the top way. The film has been shot in an old fashioned style, relying on composition and editing to tell its story, rather than quick cuts to amplify the atmosphere. The film is in no rush to tell its story and it is all the better for it, giving moments their chance to breathe. “1922” is Australian director Zak Hilditch's second feature film, and I was also a massive fan also of his debut, “These Final Hours”, from 2013, so it appears that I have found another director to watch out for.

12. THE GREAT WALL

I have already spoken at length about Zhang Yimou's “The Great Wall” in my most underrated section so I will make this brief. I plead that you give this film a chance as this is expert film making done with an epic scope that puts Hollywood blockbusters to shame. The level of detail in every costume, weapon and set is mind blowing, as are the awesome action set pieces that have been constructed and shot in such a way that you always know exactly what is going on. While the film is essentially a monster movie, do not let that put you off because although the creatures have been executed via CGI, they are believable and terrifying. “The Great Wall” is a film that bursts full of exquisite colour and outstanding action. It is a crowd pleaser that I can not recommend enough.

11. LOVELESS

This is the brand new film from Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev, and once again it is full of his usual fun and laughter. If you have never seen a film by Zvyagintsev before, please note that fun and laughter are things that are never present, as he makes films about Russia today, criticising at length issues he is angry about. “Loveless” is about a couple from a broken marriage who, while fighting over who gets stuck with the kid when they finally separate, lose sight of the fact that the child has run away from the house that should be his sanctuary. One of the saddest things in this film is that it takes the parents two days before they even realise that he has run away. They are so caught up in their own lives, and new loves, that they have totally forgotten about what should be the most important thing in their world, their twelve year old son. However, it gets worse, as when the search for the boy begins, the parents use the platform to squabble over whose fault it was and who loves the boy more. It is still all about them, and not their child. Like most (all?) of Zvyagintsev's films, this comes across as an angry film, but also a flat out brilliant one. Zvyagintsev is one of the greatest directors working today, and still has yet to make a bad film. In saying that, I actually prefer his previous film “Leviathan” to “Loveless” but if another director had made this film, it would arguably be the best thing they had done; it is that good. Five features in, and Zvyagintsev has a definite style, and you can feel you are in one of his films right from the opening scene of “Loveless”. He and his cinematographer, Mikhail Krichman, work in perfect harmony together, always creating breathtaking images to tell their story, and once again Krichman's cinematography is full of clean, but haunting images. While the world of “Loveless” is a cold one, both in location and the character's emotions, it is an experience well worth taking even though it will essentially break your heart and make you very angry.