Rollo Tomasi’s Top Ten Films of 2017

5. Mudbound

Mudbound is another solid brick in the long line of movies that effectively paint a portrait and deal with the issue of race in America. In the case of Mudbound, it deals with the issue of race in America’s past where racism between whites and blacks was common everyday life.

One of the elements of Mudbound that made the film stand out was its war footage and the ramifications of war on two of its protagonists, searing those protagonists’ minds, changing their outlooks on life and how they acted towards others. It was beautiful seeing two human beings, that should have been at odds during that time period, quickly become friends and allies.

Also beautiful was the smearing romance that percolated just below the surface between Laura McAllan (Carey Mulligan) and Jamie McAllan (Garrett Hedlund), an almost unrequited love where the two parties in question were made for each other.

4. Split

Split was director M. Night Shyamalan‘s return to form, following a long try spell of forgettable films and flops. Split possessed an inventive plot and solid acting, especially on the part of James McAvoy, who really sold the individual characters living inside of Kevin Wendell Crumb.

James McAvoy’s finest acting moment in Split was when his character’s true personality, Kevin Wendell Crumb, came forward for few moments before The Hoard took over again. It was McAvoy’s facial changes with each personality struggling for a brief moment “in the light” that made the scene terrific, terrifying, and drove home how tormented Crumb truly was. The Hoard ran his body, sharing it, and had regulated Crumb to a gagged and sedated tenant.

Read my full review for the film here.

3. Okja

Most monster films, if Okja could be deemed a monster film, do not come with a message or haunting imagery that stays with the viewer long after the film has ended. They are dumbed-down, event films. Okja is not one of those films. Director Joon-ho Bong made sure of that. Bong is a singular director, who is capable of crafting scenes and moments that no other director could (Okja examples): the multiple running scenes, the attempted glass break, the slaughter house, the concentration camp walk, etc.

At Okja‘s heart, always, was family, friendship, and animal rights (in Okja case, the rights of a superpig, an analogy to real-life slaughter animals).

2. Get Out

Get Out‘s greatest strength were its numerous and abundant surprises. Get Out possessed a great original script and great twists by its lead characters, especially Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), which made the second and the third act of Get Out stand out. The viewer had no idea where this film was going until the film arrived there in all of its twisted glory. Like Million Dollar Baby, Get Out started in one direction, then took the viewer where they never expected through drama, humor, terrific performances, and a narrative that took the road less traveled during key moments in the film.

Read my full review for the film here.

1. Blade Runner 2049

No one thought it would happen. Then when it did happen, no one thought that it would be good. Everyone was wrong about Blade Runner 2049. Blade Runner 2049 is one of the best sequels that I have ever seen (a list of films that I will be completing and publishing soon). Blade Runner 2049 picks up the ball from Blade Runner and never drops it. Denis Villeneuve wasn’t afraid to keep the tone of the original film and didn’t fall into the Star Wars prequels trap of adding advanced technology not found in the original film.

Unlike the first Blade Runner film, there is strong and unexpected romantic components present in Blade Runner 2049. Complimenting that, the sound, writing, characters, and acting in the film are all on-point.

Even-though Ryan Gosling’s character seems two-dimensional throughout much of the film, his journey shows him to be anything but, and despite being a character without a “soul,” the viewer comes to care about him through his interactions with other characters and his character arc.

Read my full review for the film here.

Honorable Mentions

Una (technically a 2016 film which is why it didn’t make my list), Thelma, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

2017 Films I Have Not Seen

I can only rate the films that I have seen. I have not seen: The Florida Project, Molly’s Game, I, Tonya, Wonder, The Shape of Water, LBJ, Lady Bird, The Last Flag, Stronger, Wind River, It, and Dunkirk yet.

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