Black Ribbon's Best Films of 2017: Part Two

Best Films of 2017: 10-1

 

10. The Handmaiden

With stunning set locations and gorgeous costume design, Park Chan-wook's deliciously twisty and beautifully made romantic thriller is a real cinematic sight to behold. Based upon Sarah Waters' novel "Fingersmith", the Korean's latest is a multi-layered mystery with a wavering narrative which keeps you gripped and guessing right until the end. Featuring recognisable elements from his previous work on the excellent Vengeance trilogy, The Handmaiden may not be Chan-wook's boldest movie to date, but boy is it his most richest and bewilderingly erotic. 

9. Get Out

Jordan Peele's directorial debut in the form of Get Out is a crowd pleasing black comedy horror which dwells into social commentary regarding notions of racism within the heart of the white picket fenced home of the Armitage family. With a standout leading performance by Daniel Kaluuya, rib-tickling gags and an underlying narrative regarding a very particular medical operation, Peele's movie balances the mix between comedy and horror flawlessly, and with enough B-movie elements and exploitation gore to make the whole experience more than rewarding, Get Out solidifies Peele as yet another interesting young director to keep tabs on. 

8. mother!

Hated by most, loved by a minority, Darren Aronofsky's jaw-dropping psychological horror is part Funny Games, part Rosemary's Baby, and with a career best performance from leading star Jennifer Lawrence, mother! is a brutal and nihilistic allegorical work of excellence which is as tough to watch at times as it is completely and utterly bonkers in a fashion which makes the final act of Black Swan look like a Mike Leigh movie. For those who can stomach the movie's polarising subject matter and the evasive camera work of long term Aronofsky collaborator, Matthew Libatique, mother! is Aronofsky at his most creative best. 

7. Raw

Directed by big screen debutante Julia Ducournau, Raw is an intelligently written and brilliantly acted coming of age drama with a central narrative which focuses on leading star Garance Marillier's hereditary and new found lust for human flesh which materialises after a particularly strange university ritual. With a number of scenes which feature genuinely shocking ultra violent imagery and an underlying black comedic tone which gives the movie a somewhat kooky, subversive feel to it, Raw is yet another superb debut for a filmmaker with, excuse the pun, exquisite raw talent. 

6. It

Undoubtedly one of the greatest and most loyal Stephen King adaptations to hit the big screen, Andy Muschietti's live action take on the novelist's best story to date is an outstanding mix of spine-tingling horror, creature feature adventure and coming of age drama which matches the tone and feel of King's writing to an uncanny tee. With Bill Skarsgård giving the most iconic performance of his entire career as the malevolent and undeniably haunting image of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, It manages to not only measure its' horror elements to a genre pleasing effective degree but features too the greatest ensemble cast of young actors in years. With Muschietti on course to direct Chapter Two, the concluding half of King's tale is indeed in the safest of filmmaking hands. 

5. Manchester By The Sea

With a leading performance from Casey Affleck which can only be regarded as one of the most deserved Oscar winning roles in recent history as the grieving and emotionally unstable Lee Chandler, Kenneth Lonergan's low-key masterpiece is a character study of brilliant proportions. Charged by a narrative which is as gut-wrenchingly powerful as it is flawlessly written, Manchester By The Sea might not seem the flashiest film on the surface, but with each and every player at the top of their respective game, Lonergan's movie works on a level of relatability and subtlety which is rare to find in the current cinematic climate. 

4. Moonlight

Recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, Barry Jenkins' lucid and dreamlike tale of one man's journey from youth to manhood is a dramatic work of unprecedented proportions featuring superbly understated supporting performances from both Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris. With a jukebox soundtrack and stunning cinematography, Jenkin's independant delight is hard to shake off even after repeat viewings, and for a director so young in years and filmic back catalogue, Moonlight is an impressive work of cinematic art.

3. Dunkirk

After tackling space, spies and Batman, Christopher Nolan takes his enviable talents to Dunkirk, a spectacular, IMAX-fuelled masterpiece which favours the use of practical design over digital effects, sound and image over dialogue and an impressively handled three act structure reminiscent of the time-bending narrative of Nolan's previous work on Memento. With scenes which evoke a wide spectrum of emotions throughout its' note perfect runtime, Nolan's movie is a tense and taut war epic unlike anything seen before on the big screen and whilst it is indeed best course of action to devour the spectacle on the largest backdrop you can find thanks to Nolan's personal fondness of the mighty IMAX, Dunkirk is not the first masterpiece to come from Nolan and I'm sure it won't be his last. 

2. Blade Runner 2049

A sequel to the greatest science fiction movie of all time needed to be something special, and in the hands of Arrival director Denis Villeneuve there was little doubting it wouldn't be, but what we have with Blade Runner 2049 however is a movie which surpasses even the highest of anticipation, a beautifully bold and emotionally riveting masterpiece of sound, spectacle and art house wonder which rewrites the rule book for what it means to be a big budget production. With Villeneuve not only paying homage to Ridley Scott's original in a more than respectable fashion but adding his own distinguishable DNA to the mix, the flawless work of Roger Deakins, Hans Zimmer and leading stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford result in Blade Runner 2049 being a deserved science fiction masterpiece in its' own right and one which will stand the test of time in a fashion similar to its' equally masterful predecessor. 

1. La La Land

Following up on Black Ribbon's best movie of 2015 in the form of Whiplash, Damien Chazelle's beautifully romantic and stunningly swooning musical drama is a cinematic wonder of enigmatic proportions. With a cross of paths between the doe eyed dreamer figure of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling's eccentric and passionate jazz extraordinaire, the narrative moves from the charming first acquaintance to a sombre, heartbreaking concluding act which is just a masterclass in flawless and natural filmmaking ability. The songs are sumptuous, the editing silky smooth and the location design a dreamlike ode to the history of Hollywood, La La Land isn't just a masterpiece, it's Black Ribbon's film of the year and deservedly so. 

Black Ribbon's Best Films of 2017: Part One

Best Films of 2017: 20-11

What another fantastic year of cinema the UK has been privy to over the course of the past twelve months where amidst the stark horror of one of Hollywood's worst summers since the dawn of time is a collection of movies which continue to prove the existence of interesting and impressive natural filmmakers. Whether it be sequels, B-Movie splatter fests or IMAX fuelled spectacles, 2017 has handed more films than ever for Black Ribbon to gaze upon and review, and whilst sometimes particular movies drain our lives of sanity while we sit through their unwavering utter shoddiness, here we have part one of our countdown of Black Ribbon's best movies of the year. Shall we begin?

20. The Disaster Artist

James Franco writes, directs and stars as the notorious Tommy Wiseau in a live-action adaptation of Greg Sestero's autobiographical novel The Disaster Artist, a first hand account of the actor's time on the set of The Room, a picture continually lauded as the worst film of all time. With Franco arguably giving the best performance of his career so far, The Disaster Artist is a highly enjoyable work of comedic drama, one which knows when to pull back the darker side of its' leading character when necessary and a film full with rib tickling quips and brilliant one liners which will make even those unfamiliar with Wiseau's abomination cry with laughter. Wiseau always dreamed of going to the Oscars, maybe with The Disaster Artist he finally will. 

19. The Big Sick

Michael Showalter's brilliant adaptation of Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani's autobiographical screenplay is a well tempered and brilliantly written romantic drama which although utilises particular genre tropes at times, has enough fresh ideas and fleshed out leading characters to be one of the most heartwarming and rewarding independent releases of the year. With added support from the likes of Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, The Big Sick is not only the most impressive release in the ever expanding Judd Apatow collection, but also the most relatable, the type of movie which puts faith back in the sometimes bizarre canon of American comedy of which Showalter's latest is a key example of when it really works. 

18. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Undoubtedly the best big screen Marvel release of the year, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the success of its' predecessor by carrying on and improving what made the first such an exciting adventure. With a brilliantly cast team of galactic misfits, a top notch retro soundtrack featuring the likes of George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac and E.L.O, and of course, Kurt Russell, James Gunn's sequel manages to blend the colourful exploration of otherworldly oddities with a fundamental narrative which focuses on Chris Pratt's Peter Quill's long lost familial line. Concluding with a character send off which is as undeniably heartbreaking as it is beautiful to behold, Vol.2 beats the other Marvel releases of the year thanks to one key component which it has in spades; heart. 

17. Elle

Paul Verhoeven's blackly comic adaptation of Philippe Djian's novel Oh... is a rousingly inventive and twisted dark drama with a standout lead performance from Isabelle Huppert as the titular video game designer who after a ferociously vicious rape attack decides to seek out her aggressor and claim revenge in her own meticulously devised way. With trademark Verhoeven shock tactics and a variety of colourful and highly engrossing characters, Elle is the Dutch director at his finest, and with Huppert completely owning the movie with a performance both multi-layered and bursting with charisma and mystery, it comes at no surprise that Verhoeven's latest has resonated so well with critics and audiences alike in waters both foreign and domestic. 

16. A Ghost Story

Financed through his success with last year's Disney backed Pete's Dragon, director David Lowery reunites with Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara in undeniably the most experimental release of the year in A Ghost Story, a supernatural art house drama which follows Affleck's spectral presence as he gazes upon life after his untimely death. With little dialogue and a two act structure which travels in unexpected directions, Lowery's movie requires dedication and patience, but with a stunningly haunting soundtrack and a beautifully measured design, A Ghost Story is unlike anything released throughout the course of 2017 and thoroughly deserves its' place in the best releases this year. 

15. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Looper director Rian Johnson stamps his mark on the ever expanding Star Wars universe with The Last Jedi, a beautifully crafted science fiction adventure which positions the design and feel of the movie before anything else, even with two and a half hours worth of plot and character development to sift through. With spectacle galore and action set pieces which rank up there with the best across the franchise's forty years history, Johnson's movie is rife with enough twists and turns to appease even the most sniffy of Star Wars fans, and with yet another two year wait until the conclusion of the many dangling plot threads, it comes at no surprise that such a period of time needs to come around quick. 

14. Paddington 2

Surpassing the 2014 original due to a wide range of impressive new elements, Paul King's Paddington 2 utilises the added input of Brendan Gleeson's Nuckles McGinty and Hugh Grant's camp-laden villain, Phoenix Buchanan, to brilliant proportions, and with a heartwarming narrative which evokes a rafter of emotions as the adventure unfolds, King's movie is the perfect slice of marmalade needed for the holiday season. With the titular well mannered bear once again profiting from a flawless digital design, his return to the big screen is a brilliantly played joy and one which will satisfy audiences both young and old alike.  

13. John Wick: Chapter Two

Full of bone crunching action, pornographic gun play and enough stylish cinematography and scope to warrant its' existence, Chad Stahelski's sequel to the 2015's surprise hit, John Wick once again features a growling and undeniable suave Keanu Reeves as the titular cold blooded hitman whose retirement plans are placed indefinitely on hold after he is pushed back into the murderous lifestyle by Riccardo Scamarcio's seedy Mafioso. Pushing the Wick universe into grander territory, the addition of Ruby Rose, Common and a reunion with The Matrix star, Laurence Fishburne, results in Chapter Two being a more than satisfactory sequel and one which doesn't hold back on what it does best; splendidly stylish violence. 

12. Brawl In Cell Block 99

Whilst success was always inevitably written in the stars after his brilliant debut with last year's Bone Tomahawk, American director S. Craig Zahler returns this year with Brawl in Cell Block 99, a ridiculously violent B-Movie splatter-fest with an unrecognisable Vince Vaughn who gives a career best performance as a hateful and murderous incarcerated drug runner. Whilst Bone Tomahawk favoured slow-burning characterisation which was then suddenly intercut with moments of shock-tastic violence, Zahler's latest is a brutal and sometimes gut wrenching crime drama which doesn't feel the need to hold back for a breather, and it is this raw moviemaking brilliance which solidifies Zahler as a rising talent to keep a keen eye on. 

11. Logan

Closing the decade plus long length of Hugh Jackman's tenure as Wolverine, James Mangold's Logan superbly paints a picture of the aged and isolated mutant who after an unspecified destructive event leaves him as one of the last remaining X-Men alongside Patrick Stewart's medically unstable Professor X. With brutal violence and a star turning performance from young Dafne Keen as the equally murderous X-23, Mangold's film is undoubtedly the most mature and sombre outing in the X-Men universe to date, and with its' successes plain to see both critically and financially, it wouldn't be surprising to see more superhero films of a similar ilk come the near future but it would definitely be a shock to find one as superbly executed as Logan. 

Stay Tuned For Part Two Coming Soon...!