Crabicurious.com presents the 2017 Movie Ranking Roundtable. Also check out Bryson's piece and Robert's piece. Take it away Zack:
By Zack Hubbard
What I look for in a movie is not entirely dissimilar from what I look for in a romantic partner: funny, cool, oozing with style, gets along with my friends, and loves/tolerates my love for Star Wars. Some of those things might not apply to both, but you get the deal. In any event, I go to be entertained/challenged/captured by a world and a story. Also some dope laser sword battles are high percentage shots. While I haven’t seen everything I wanted to in 2017 (Lady Bird, Disaster Artist, Big Sick, etc), mostly because of location and timing, however, here are my five faves that I did get to see.
Before we get to some happy beeps, let’s get the consensus worst movie that I saw out of the way: Transformers: The One Where Nothing of Significance Happens and These Movies Are Seriously Garbage 5. This movie was clearly made in a bubble where dialogue, pacing, and comprehensible stories are just long-forgotten concepts to be discussed with corn-cob pipes, and did I mention I just hate this thing?
Hon. Mentions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Baby Driver, Blade Runner 2049, The Lego Batman Movie.
5. Brigsby Bear
Here’s the setup: SNL’s resident cool-dude, Kyle Mooney, stars in and co-writes a Lonely Island-produced film about a boy being released to his birth-parents after being abducted by Mark Hamill (who creates a low-grade science fiction show with a talking bear to be consumed only by the child he helped abduct) and decides to make a movie version of the fake-show he was force fed by his fake-parents. You might need to read that again. Despite the setup, this flick brings the funnies and the serious feels in a supremely sweet way. Packs a ton of heart and perfectly scratches that Parks & Rec itch I’ve had for the last few years. And I’m not afraid to admit I teared up more than once during this one.
4. Logan Lucky
I’m going to throw out some enticing concepts and you tell me if you’re in or nah: Channing Tatum. Adam Driver with an awesome accent. Daniel Craig with an even better accent. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Cameos from Dwight Yoakam, Hilary Swank, Gerry from Parks & Rec, Katie Holmes, and Seth McFarlane. Robbery. Well-developed plans. Prison. Did I mention the accents? Fast cars. Redemption. Smart writing. Guys who care about their families. Buy all the stock. Print it up. Take the ride and my money.
3. Get Out
Outside of my number one (to be revealed shortly), this is the movie I’ve thought about the most this year. It’s simultaneously timeless and very of-the-moment. Not only is it just insanely intelligent and funny, but gut-wrenchingly tense. I was sweating bullets during my viewing, feeling every moment of the journey along with Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya (shouts to Black Mirror), albeit from my comfy chair. Also shouts to living alone so no one could hear me screaming words of encouragement to our boy in the final act. We need more challenging movies like this from Jordan Peele, who I can only imagine has mounds of thought-provoking things to say now that this was such a huge success.
2. Thor: Ragnarok
This is why you go to the movies: Smile; laugh; be wowed by the colorful pictures on the big screen; have to urinate during the last 30 minutes, but you don’t want to miss a single second; Thor vs Hulk; Jeff Goldblum as a space dictator. This is the happiest I’ve been since I left a theater since the first Guardians of the Galaxy. And Ragnarok draw a ton of comparisons to Star Lord & Co. in the comedic beats, heart, and space fantasy settings. Also I need more kiwi accents in superhero movies. And lovable characters made of rock named Korg.
1. Star Wars: Episode VIII
This isn’t the time or the place to talk about how I’ve loved Star Wars since I was but a young padawan in the 90s. Or how I can find something to love about every Star Wars movie in the canon (looking at you Jar Jar). Maybe it is the place to mention how I’ve been eagerly anticipating TLJ from the second I stepped out of my reclining seat in the theater upon finishing The Force Awakens. I’m not even here to talk about how much I love all the characters, new and old. I’m so in on Porgs. I’ll live in a Porg sanctuary right now for science and my god, the cuteness. What I am here to talk about is my emotional connection to the larger theme this movie is hammering us with: Failure. As Yoda stated after setting fire to a sacred tree, (I promise, that’s not about drugs), failure is our greatest teacher. Star Wars movies have always spoken to me in various ways throughout the years, but in that moment, I felt as if I was the one sitting on the log next to the wise Jedi master and he was speaking to me directly. Feel free to call me Young Hubbard from now on.
Failure is a vital part of everyone’s life, but we what we take from that failure is how we grow and succeed. And throughout the movie, TLJ nets that idea home in a myriad of ways. I won’t spoil here (because I’m not a monster), but virtually every character in this movie has to grapple with the idea of failure and decide how to learn from the mistakes and move forward. It’s really satisfying to see that a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away they adhere to this beautiful mantra and I will cherish that forever. Also this movie has a fucking rad lightsaber fight that I will undoubtedly watch ad nauseum on Blu Ray in a few short months.
