Best Movies of 2017

These are my favorite movies of 2017. They aren't necessarily the best crafted, but they entertained me the most. This past year was actually quite surprising for me personally, as many of the top blockbusters were slightly disappointing while arthouse films came out of nowhere and blew me away.

Honorable Mentions

Brawl in Cell Block 99, Shot Caller, The Shape of Water, It Comes at Night

The List

11. Molly's Game is perhaps the best written film of 2017. Aaron Sorkin's dialogue is paired by a great lead performance to make one of the best gambling movies of the past few years.

10. Brigsby Bear is a quirky little film that somehow is able to live up to its premise. Both funny and inspirational, this is a movie that comes out of nowhere to brighten your day just a little. Very underrated and I highly recommend.

9. Logan Lucky is very smart despite how dumb its characters appear to be. Think if Ocean's 11 was full of hillbillies and that is what this movie is. Gets funnier on rewatches as much of the humor can fly right over your head the first time.

8. mother! is a film that I did not expect to be on this list even after walking out of theater. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I liked and felt like it was well deserving to be here. Aronofsky is one of the best filmmakers working today.

7. Finding Frances is a great documentary about love and finding your place in the world. Although technically a TV show, its runtime allows it a spot on this list and I have a big soft spot for Nathan Fielder.

6. Logan transcends both the superhero and comic book movie genres. In a year full of both genres, this movie featured real stakes paired with heartbreaking performances, making it a must see and finding it on this list.

5. Baby Driver is a fantastic showcase of a director's singular style. From its pace to its soundtrack, this movie stands above the rest for the sheer artistry on display.

4. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is darkly disturbing and deeply thrilling. The less you know about it the better. But know that if you watch it, you may not be the same afterwords.

3. Lady Bird is perhaps the most surprising entry on this list. But its great character development and clever editing give this coming-of-age story a fresh feeling and you want to keep watching long after the credits roll.

2. Get Out is exhilarating, taking the horror genres places that it had not been for quite some time. Although social commentary is prevalent throughout, the greatness of the movie is not because of it.

1. Dunkirk is more of a spectacle than a film, but that does not diminish its overall impact. Rather than focus on characters, Christopher Nolan focuses on the strategy of the evacuation as a whole. This movie takes a war film to a place that they seldom go and is all the better for it.