Lists

2017 Movies: Midway Report

We’re officially more than six months into 2017 and that means it’s time to recap what’s happened so far in the world of cinema. There haven’t been any truly great films, but unlike last year there have been more than a handful of good ones (and, as always, plenty of stinkers). Here’s a rundown of my thoughts of 2017 so far, and what to look forward to the rest of the way.

Best Film: Wonder Woman

The climax of the film really does hurt it, but the first two hours of this are some of the best moments and character interactions of any recent superhero film. Gal Gadot shines and Chris Pine is at his Chris Pine-iest, and it seems that for the time being the DC Extended Universe is back on track.

Honorable Mentions: The LEGO Batman Movie, Get Out, Gifted

WONDER WOMAN
Warner Bros.

Worst Film(s): How to Be a Latin Lover, The Circle, Transformers: The Last Knight, The Mummy

It’s too soon in the year to decide which of these films is the worst, I’ll leave that chore for December. But they’re all boring, aimless and lazy and should never be watched by anyone outside a Guantanamo Bay interrogation room.

Dishonorable Mentions: Captain Underpants: The Epic First Movie, Ghost in the Shell, Fist Fight

Film Title: The Mummy
Universal

Biggest Surprise(s): Split and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tell No Tales

“Split” looked like it had the potential to be very bad and dumb, and partnered with January release date and M. Night Shyamalan’s name there was real cause for concern. But it turned out to be a pretty intense film with fantastic performance(s) from James McAvoy, even if the film’s ending left more to be desired. “Pirates 5” was surprising in the fact that it wasn’t awful and was actually a lot more fun than any fifth film of a 15 year old franchise has any right being.

Honorable Mentions: The Boss Baby, Gifted, All Eyez on Me

split-james-mcavoy-2
Universal

Biggest Letdown: John Wick: Chapter 2

I loved the first film (it made my Top 10 that year) but this was a pretty slow film that didn’t share the kinetic energy or gunfights of that original. Far from a bad film, and I know a lot of people enjoyed this, I just wasn’t one of them.

Dishonorable Mentions: Baby Driver, Logan, The House

john-wick-chapter-2
Summit Entertainment

Biggest Guilty Pleasure(s): The Boss Baby, The Book of Henry

I liked both these films for very different reasons. I’m convinced “Boss Baby” is so ahead of its time that it won’t fully be appreciated in my lifetime and “Book of Henry” is so misguided and mishandled that it is just bonkers. The tonal shifts of that film are hilariously insane, and yet it is pretty well acted and I was never bored. If you go into either of these with the right mindset, you will enjoy yourself quite a bit.

Honorable Mention: All Eyez of Me (it’s not very good but it’s entertaining)

THE BOSS BABY
Dreamworks

Most Anticipated: Dunkirk, The Disaster Artist

I won’t put “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” or “Justice League” because that would be a waste of space since most every person is looking forward to those two tentpoles. “Dunkirk” has looked intense as hell since its debut teaser trailer a year ago and “Disaster Artist,” James Franco’s film about the making of worst-film-of-all-time “The Room,” has an incredible cast (Franco, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Zoey Deutch) and has gotten great buzz out of festivals.

Honorable Mentions: Pitch Perfect 3, Downsizing, Murder on the Orient Express

dunkirk-mark-rylance-cillian-murphy
Warner Bros.

Those are my thoughts on 2017 as it stands so far. There is a lot of movies to go, and odds are we haven’t seen the best that the year has to offer (and won’t until the fall thanks to Oscar Season). Thank you for reading and here’s to another six months at the movies!

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