Stuff happened and I never put this together in a timely fashion, but here is the list of movies that matter to me from last year for the sake of posterity.
Reviews linked where applicable.
25. The Disaster Artist
They did a good job, and I think it justified its existence but I still kinda see this movie as pointless. Like, ultimately I’d rather just watch The Room again.
I really don’t know what to do with this movie. Edgar Wright’s latest movie is fun, but I really can’t muster much enthusiasm for a movie that relies so heavily on Kevin Spacey as a mentor figure right now.
A fun Batman movie, but it just isn’t as impressive as The Lego Movie and the emotional arc just doesn’t come anywhere close to being as good.
22. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
It’s no The Belko Experiment.
21. Good Time
Well made thriller but I just didn’t fine the main character compelling enough to justify spending the whole movie with.
20. Coco
A beautiful Pixar movie, but it’s not higher because it relied on tropes that bugged me.
19. American Made
Tom Cruise is just a really good actor.
The third best Saw movie.
Keanu Reeves is a great action hero. The bulletproof lining that lets two people dump their clip into each other without really getting injured is just kind of a bummer.
16. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
I don’t expect anyone else to like this movie as much as I do.
No one should like this movie as much as I do.
14. Blade of the Immortal
The story of an immortal samurai warrior, basically would have been the best Wolverine movie except Logan had already come out.
When this movie gets where it’s going, it’s worth it.
12. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
There are parts of this movie that make me want to put it at number one, but it just doesn’t all hold together as well as I wish it did.
A spectacle comic book movie that feels like a comic book.
The best X-Men movie.
Frankly blows Disaster Artist out of the water as far as movies about making movies from this year.
Would be higher for me if it had hit the violence harder in the final act.
7. Brawl in Cell Block 99
From the writer/director of Bone Tomahawk, this is the story of one man’s descent into hell by way of angrily punching people to death.
Best battle royale of the year.
An incredibly well structured Horror movie with a great main character. Biggest positive surprise of the year for me.
A great movie everyone should see.
Spider-Man lifts a heavy thing 10/10
2. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
A dark comedy about shitty people pushed to the brink with a great performance by Frances McDormand.
The most remarkable, technical filmmaking feat of the year. The way Dunkirk holds tension throughout its runtime with only its visuals and score really impresses me. And it has stuck with me in a way I didn’t completely expect.
A story about war that makes a gun seem almost hilariously useless.
Thank You For Your Time.
