Top 10 of 2017

Really solid list, Ian. 

I'll probably start posting my own sometime this weekend.

Same here.

Really solid list, Coop.  Though, I admit, kinda surprised not to see Apes on there.  NOT surprised, though, by your #1.

Anyway, I've finally wrangled together my own list and will start posting soon.  My Top Three were pretty set in stone, though interestingly, 4-9 were interesting because I went back and forth a lot over certain rankings.  And #10 required a re-watch of a particular film to be sure whether or not I wanted to put it there.

Okay, so I guess it's my turn. 

Before I get started, shout-outs go to three specific movies: Baby Driver, It Comes At Night and Lady Bird.  I really did want to find room for those, but in looking over all of these movies and trying to focus on the ones that ended up speaking to me the strongest in various ways, those are the ones that ultimately had to end up on the chopping block.  Also, as of now, I haven't seen such films as Call Me By Your Name, I, Tonya, Molly's Game and Phantom Thread, even though there were some in there I really wanted to try to see in time but couldn't.

Going to be doing these one at a time.

PHANTOMKNIGHT'S TOP TEN OF 2017

10.  GET OUT



Jordan Peele's directorial debut Get Out has proven to be an interesting beast. I've watched the film three times by now, and with each subsequent viewing, my appreciation for the movie has grown more and more. Leading up to the film's release last February, I thought it looked like a promising and intriguing take on a horror movie. But to qualify Get Out as just "a horror movie" feels like a disservice. And even slightly wrong. I view it more as a creepy, unsettling psychological thriller than a straight-up horror flick, because its intention is more to unnerve than to scare - something which Peele does to incredibly successful results, with all the self-assuredness of an experienced storyteller rather than a first -time director. And I, for one, can't wait to see what he does next. But deeper than the film's thriller surface is an engaging social commentary that feels very relevant to our modern society. And yet, Peele ensures that it never comes off as preachy; quite the opposite, in fact. The social commentary enhances the thriller aspect, while the thriller aspect in turn enhances the social commentary. Taken on first appearances, Get Out is a gripping and entertaining thriller, but when you add the subtext, it adds another layer to the film which makes it all the more fascinating and more than worthy of repeat viewings. On top of all that, Peele gets very strong performances from his cast. The film is anchored by the excellent Daniel Kaluuya, while seasoned faces like Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford also shine to creepy effect in supporting roles. The fact that we're still talking about Get Out, a small little movie that could, a year after its initial release, is just one of the marks of its surprisingly lasting impact.

His next film is supposed to be another Blumhouse production, too.  Can't wait.

Get Out > Nosferatu

I just had someone press me on including get out on my list, saying how derivative it was of other horror movies. I found it fresh, though I'm not a horror fan per se. Nonetheless I know of quite a few horror fans who also loved it.

Unoriginality isn't that movie's problem.  

Will I win you back if I mention Logan shows up?

It's definitely a horror movie.