The End Will Be WCKD

This review contains spoilers. 

The celebration of a lifetime. 

This review contains spoilers. 

 Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and Adrian Molina (directing debut), "Coco" is Pixar's 19th feature film. The voice cast includes Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal and Benjamin Bratt. "Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer". These days, it is rare for Pixar to release original films and when they do, audiences are often divided ("Inside Out" being an exception). Is "Coco" another Pixar great or is it incomparable to the studio's finest efforts?

 "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is directed and written by Martin McDonagh (Seven Psychopaths) and stars Frances McDormand (Fargo), Woody Harrelson (True Detective), Sam Rockwell (Moon) and Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea). "A mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder when they fail to catch the culprit". One of this year's major contenders for Best Picture at The Academy Awards, is "Three Billboards" deserving of that title or is it overhyped Oscar-bait?

 "Insidious: The Last Key" is directed by Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan) and written by Leigh Whannell (Saw). The fourth chapter in the series stars Lin Shaye (Insidious), Angus Sampson (Fargo) and aforementioned, Leigh Whannell. "Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet - in her own family home". Despite losing the word 'chapter' from its title, will "Insidious: The Last Key" be a canon entry into this franchise?

10. Wonder

Wonder is the only film on this list that I didn't write a full review for so this is a perfect opportunity to summarise my thoughts. While a little cliche and predictable, "Wonder" was definitely one of the most uplifting and moving films of the year. It is an enjoyable watch and moves at a steady pace. Hollywood does not seem to make films like this as often anymore but "Wonder" provides evidence that audiences enjoy such films (it was a box office hit) and also shows that filmmakers are able to handle delicate subjects with respect. Jacob Tremblay gives another excellent performance and is arguably the strongest child actor working today. Julia Roberts returns to form with a empathetic performance. This is a story about strength, family and kindness; Timely messages that the film conveys almost perfectly.

9. Paddington 2

I was late to the party for the first film but I was eager to see "Paddington 2". The film provides a masterclass in storytelling with a well crafted and paced narrative. It is excellent family entertainment with humour and heart that those of all ages will appreciate. This series of films are destined to be classics as exude warmth and charm. The film makes poignant commentary on political issues but it never overshadows the central narrative. These two films are rare exceptions when it comes to live action humans interacting with CG creatures (see "Hop", "The Smurfs" and the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" series for more typical examples). A modern family classic full of heart, charm and important messages.

8. Blade Runner 2049

For the third year in a row, Denis Villeneuve has directed one of the best films of the year. Villeneuve is definitely one of the best directors working today and I look forward to seeing his next project. Better than the original with a story that is constantly unravelling and for those who remain engaged, it never gets dull. However, miss a moment and your whole experience could be ruined. This is the type of script where almost every line is important. The film may have a running time just 15 minutes short of 3 hours but it uses its length to its advantage. Visually stunning with creative cinematography and futuristic CGI. Ryan Gosling is excellent in this film and Ford clearly isn't just there for the paycheque. I don't think Villeneuve will ever be a mainstream director as this should-have-been blockbuster was a box office flop but it is in the niche and independent sectors where he excels as there are no creative limits. A mesmerising visionary.

7. The Big Sick

The sad thing about this film is that I doubt I would have seen it if it wasn't the pick for 'Odeon Screen Unseen' in July, it got such a limited release. That being said, I did get to watch it and enjoyed every minute. The romantic comedy is a dying genre yet "The Big Sick" adds life - a sense of realism that is so rarely seen in a rom-com. The film is an emotional roller coaster with the biggest of laughs and the lowest of lows- Prepare to cry with laughter and sadness. One of the most timely films I saw this year, it perfectly captures 2017 'love'. Kumail Nanjiami may play himself but he plays a likeable lead nonetheless and has electric chemistry with Zoe Kazan. Holly Hunter is the true scene-stealer with an Oscar-worthy performance. A story about culture, diversity and love; "The Big Sick" offers a lot to heal the world.

Despite watching "Split" towards the beginning of 2017, I still respect and appreciate the film just as much. It may not be scary in the typical sense but it is certainly twisted and tackles an interesting subject matter. There are two things that make "Split" rather exceptional: James McAvoy's performance- it is a shame that the Oscars rarely acknowledge genre pictures like this as McAvoy's performance is one of the best I've ever seen. He convincingly plays a variety of characters all with a hint of horror. Secondly, the twist - M. Night Shyamalan is known for a big (and sometimes unbelievable) third act reveal, "Split" has two of them. SPOILERS - Firstly, 'The Beast' ends up being real as McAvoy is able to unlock a brand new inhuman personality. Then, the film is revealed to be a sequel to Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" - I hadn't seen "Unbreakable" prior to watching "Split" but after doing some research into the twist, I gave it a watch (enjoyed it!) and now I cannot wait for "Glass" in 2019 where both films are going to officially collide. This was a genius idea and if you didn't think "The Visit" was a return to form for Shyamalan, "Split" certainly is.

5. Wind River

This film was another pick for Odeon's 'Screen Unseen' - two of these films featuring on this list shows just how exciting and worthwhile 'Screen Unseen' can be. From Taylor Sheridan, writer of my favourite film of 2015, "Sicario", "Wind River" is excellently written and tells a story with plenty of mystery and bursts of tension. If you haven't noticed this theme already, many of my picks for best of 2017 are 'important' films- "Wind River" is another one of these, shining light on the amount of missing Native American women, a statistic that does not get recorded. Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen are cast in refreshingly different roles and both impress. Olsen has had a fantastic year despite not featuring as Scarlet Witch in a Marvel film - she has evidenced her acting range with excellent performances in both "Wind River" and "Ingrid Goes West". In my review of the film, I labelled "Wind River" as one of the highlights of summer 2017 but it actually ended up being one of the highlights of the entire year. An heavy and engaging narrative, a dark tone and a powerful message. Taylor Sheridan's 'American Frontier' trilogy concludes on a high, once again highlighting issues and aspects of American culture that are often ignored by mainstream Hollywood.

4. Logan

I was never a huge fan of Wolverine as a character...until this film. The character seems to finally be done justice. One of the best superhero films that I have seen, "Logan" is brutal and violent, utilising the R-rating to its advantage. It was refreshing to see a gritty and more realistic depiction of a superhero and the explicit violence certainly allowed this. "Logan" subtly comments on political issues but like "Paddington 2", the commentary isn't bold enough to get in the way of the narrative. Marvel-Fox has developed a great reputation in the superhero genre, it will be interesting to see whether this changes now Disney have bought Fox. SPOILERS- What made "Logan" outstanding was how poetically it sent out Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart and their portrayals of Wolverine and Professor X. Both actors had been playing their respective characters for 17 years- two career defining roles and they bow out on their strongest note yet. Jackman and Stewart give it their all in performances that should be noticed this awards season. This is what a superhero story would look like if it took place in real life - Director James Mangold hits the mark with one of the most moving and poignant superhero films in cinematic history.

3. mother!

This shouldn't be a controversial choice but "mother!" actually had a divided reaction when it hit cinemas in September. Placing at #3, it's clear that I thoroughly enjoyed "mother!" and was on board with Aronofsky's strong creative decision. I can understand the perspective of those who did not enjoy the film as the first half is a complete juxtaposition of the second. For me, that is what made this genius. The calmness of the first hour helps the second half to feel all the more powerful and shocking. Without going into spoilers, as analysis of "mother!" can get quite complex, the amount of interpretations I have seen and read of what Aronofsky is conveying is endless. This is what I most appreciate about the film, each audience member will likely take something different away from the film - the most believed interpretation is that the film is telling a story about Mother Nature and how poorly humans treat the world (a religious approach)- however, other possible interpretations could be mental illness, the struggles of being a woman, a metaphorical representation of heartbreak or a more political meaning. This is true artistry- many of the most famous paintings and poems can have many different meanings, "mother!" is very similar. Jennifer Lawrence gives the most overlooked performance of the year- the controversy surrounding "mother!" is stopping her from receiving awards nominations. Lawrence keeps the film engaging, even during its quietest moments. She also delivers in some of the more powerful scenes. "mother!" is intense, disturbing and weirdly beautiful. A perfectly orchestrated mess.

2. It

Horror had a strong year in 2017 - "Get Out" and "Happy Death Day" were both surprisingly strong. However, my favourite horror film of 2017 is easily "It". Even though it may not have as many jump scares as the typical horror flick, it has some of the best story-telling and character development I have ever seen in the horror genre. It has just the right amount of scares to stop it being as divisive as "It Follows" or "The Babadook" but it also contains more story development than generic and cheap horror flick such as "The Bye Bye Man" or "Rings". There is a reason why everyone showed up to see "It"- it was a cultural phenomenon. The film taps into the same areas that "Stranger Things" does and sees the same amount of success - set in the 80s and kids on bikes! The cast are all excellent with an ensemble of young actors who defy the child actor stereotype. Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is creepy and chilling. "It" is also one of the most atmospheric films of the year; The town of Derry feels real. "It" is a masterclass in how to make a brilliant genre film. The hype was huge and "It" did not disappoint. Many critics have called it better than the mini-series, I can't wait to see the sequel.

It's a tie!

1. Beauty and the Beast and Wonder Woman
I just couldn't choose between these two films. "Beauty and the Beast" and "Wonder Woman" are both very different in terms of genre but when it comes to their themes and messages, they are both pretty similar. "Beauty and the Beast" was my most anticipated film of the year and was everything I wanted it to be. It is a magical, charming, romantic, special, heart-warming, funny and incredible film. It is by far Disney's best live action fairytale yet and it will be hard for any of the upcoming releases to beat it. "Beauty and the Beast" also has a poignant ring to it- it's about unity, love and being strong despite times being tough. Emma Watson adds layers to Belle, turning the character into a progressive and head-strong princess - a character adjustment that was genius. I've been playing the soundtrack ever since I left the cinema in March and weirdly, it's the new songs that I have listened to the most. It's a visual treat, has a magical narrative and exceptional performances. It is currently the highest grossing film of the year and definitely deserves to be. I watched the film 6 times at the cinema and loved it each time. This film will always be special to me for what it stands for and what it achieved.

Tying with "Beauty and the Beast" this year is "Wonder Woman". The DCEU finally produced a great film! Wonder Woman was my favourite character in "Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice" but I was still apprehensive for her solo outing due to the DCEU's track record. I left the cinema in awe - "Wonder Woman" is my favourite superhero film of all time. The film is about love and humanity- another important message that it conveys well. Gal Gadot has captured the heart of the world with this role as she is perfectly cast and gives a tremendous performance. Chris Pine's Steve Trevor is also excellent, becoming an audience favourite. Not only was "Wonder Woman" an excellent film but it did a lot for women in film: It is now the highest grossing film ever directed by a woman and the highest grossing superhero origin film ever made. For years studios have been unable to successfully make a film about a female superhero but they finally got it right! "Wonder Woman" will hopefully provide a formula for future female superhero films. The secret? Treat them just like any other superhero- they don't need to be sexualised or be seen in feminine locations. I really enjoyed the third act battle of "Wonder Woman"- it was constantly building to something more. The twists and turns were also unexpected and clever.

Both of these films stand for love, equality and unity. Messages the world needs today more than ever. They both connected with me on a personal level and it was great to see such positive and realistic representations of female characters. Two excellent films that share the title of being 2017's best film.