Cindy Prascik's 2017: Well, At Least It Had Good Movies...

 

 

Dearest Blog: Today we take a fond(ish) look back at 2017, grateful, at least, that it didn't fail us at the cinema as it did in so many other ways.

 

To start, the usual disclaimers:

 

1-a.) I live in a rinky-dink town, so most of the real awards heavyweights won't turn up here until they're nominated for Oscars, then they'll split four screens across two cinemas for one week and I'll need Hermione Granger's Time Turner to catch up with all of them.

 

1-b.) If we're being honest, most of said awards heavyweights wouldn't affect this list in the slightest, anyway. The Post would probably sneak on here, and maybe Molly's Game, but it's fair to say that the Academy and I do not share many common "best picture" criteria.

 

2.) A picture's original Weasley rating has little bearing on its end-of-year placement. Some movies wear well with repeat viewings, some not so much, and some I haven't had a chance to revisit since their cinema runs.

 

3.) This is gonna get long. If I can drop 1200 words on Batfleck, you can only imagine how many I'll need for ten winners, a handful of runners-up, a few disappointments, and other assorted miscellany.

So, without further ado, buckle up and let's get to it...

 

My Best of 2017

 

10. It

 

"We all float down here."

 

One of Stephen King's best works gets a worthy big-screen treatment. Sure, they screwed the pooch on Pennywise, whose CGI'd scares are too fake to freak, but the kids are extraordinary and the story is such a beautiful blend of nostalgia, hope, and melancholy that the film comes out a winner despite any petty quibbles.

 

9. Detroit

 

"It's a war zone out there."

 

Kathryn Bigelow's harrowing trip down memory lane to the 1967 Detroit race riots is terrifying, compelling, and sadly still timely in 2017. Brilliant performances highlight a picture so tense as to feel almost like living the horrific events in real time. Difficult as it is to stomach, Detroit is must-watch cinema.

 

8. John Wick, Chapter 2

 

"Somebody please get this man a gun."

 

If you think the John Wick movies are nothing more than a lot of shoot-'em-up machismo, you haven't been paying attention. What appears, on the surface, to be a big, dumb, action sequel is a wonderfully choreographed, strikingly filmed bit of movie magic that serves as the perfect vehicle for its limited-but-lovable star, Keanu Reeves. John Wick, Chapter 2, is that rare sequel that's even better than the original.

 

7. Goon: Last of the Enforcers

 

"I need to protect my team."

 

It was never likely Last of the Enforcers would duplicate the pleasant surprise of the original Goon. The sequel has fewer laugh-out-loud moments and lacks the feel-good underdog vibe of its predecessor, but Last of the Enforcers is blessed with a great cast and tons of heart, as well as writers who obviously cared enough to make the right choices for its much-loved characters. It was a story well worth continuing.

 

6. Kingsman: The Golden Circle

 

"I hope you're ready for what comes next."

 

The Golden Circle is another sequel that had no real hope of matching the surprising perfection of the original Kingsman, but it was still one of 2017's most fun and exciting cinema offerings. Throw in the year's best cameo by Sir Elton John and Mark Strong's heartfelt and hilarious performance of Country Roads, and you've got an epic actioner that's not to be missed.

 

5. Dunkirk

 

"We have a job to do."

 

Dunkirk is a big movie that manages to go small in its storytelling. Rather than relate the famous tale from a familiar grand standpoint, Christopher Nolan delivers intimate stories from ordinary folks who faced impossible circumstances. Gorgeous cinematography and stellar performances are the crowning glory of another Nolan masterpiece.

 

4. Coco

 

"There's something that makes me different."

 

Ladies and gentlemen, if there's one 2017 movie I would recommend to everyone, enthusiastically and without hesitation, it would be Disney/Pixar's glorious Coco. Coco is visually stunning, with a wonderful message underscoring its magical story. Delightful characters bring the celebration of Dia de los Muertos to life in warm, colorful, family-friendly fashion. Grab your friends, your family, and everyone else you can find and get out to see Coco on the big screen--as it's meant to be seen--while you can!

 

3. Justice League

 

"Dressed like a bat. I dig it."

 

Justice League brings DC's most notable heroes to the big screen together for the first time, while taking a much lighter tone than other recent DC offerings. It's a formula that works, thanks to excellent casting and mostly well-placed humor. Justice League's primary baddie is a bit underwhelming, but otherwise the movie boasts solid action and humor, terrific chemistry, iconic characters, and, for my money, the best live-action Batman/Bruce Wayne ever to have graced the screen, one of my favorite cinema experiences of 2017.

 

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

 

"The dead have taken command of the sea."

 

Dead Men Tell No Tales earns a spot on this list as my favorite movie of 2017. It enjoys first-runner-up status thanks to its extraordinary rendering of the Silent Mary's ghost crew, the best thing to come out of the cinema all year long. Upon repeat viewings I found scenes that don't feature Captain Salazar and his men didn't hold up as well as those that do, but I remain overwhelmed by the exceptional effects, makeup, wardrobe and hairstyling, not to mention performances, that bring this cursed band of pirate hunters to life. Every viewing yields some new, remarkable detail, making Dead Men Tell No Tales a joy to watch again and again.

 

1. Baby Driver

 

"Your name's 'Baby?' B-A-B-Y, Baby?"

 

Writer/director Edgar Wright takes his striking use of music in movies to extraordinary new heights in this imaginative tale of a getaway driver who needs his tunes to get the job done. The result is exciting, clever, funny, totally unique proof that Hollywood is NOT out of good, original ideas, as so many complain. Baby Driver staked its claim to my number-one spot upon first viewing, and has had no serious competition since. Thank you, Edgar Wright, for always giving movie fans a real reason to get out to the cinema.

 

Widely Reviled/Ridiculed Movies that Tip-Toed Very Near My Top 10

 

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. It should have been epic, and it could have been hilariously awful, but it's actually supremely entertaining and even surprisingly quick-witted at times, with nice-looking effects, cool action, and shirtless Charlie Hunnam. #winner

 

Transformers: The Last Knight. Yeah, you all hated it. I got that. Me, I go to the cinema for hugeness. Three Billboards loses nothing if I watch it on my TV or even on my phone, but Optimus Prime? I like seeing him transform in all the glory a 50-foot screen and mammoth surround-sound have to offer. The Last Knight boasts all the hugeness a hugeness fan like me could want, as well as some good laughs and a fair bit of screen time for one of my lesser-known favorites, Santiago Cabrera.

 

Power Rangers. Considered a flop in the US, its overseas box office may give this reboot a chance to grow into success. As a big fan of Power Rangers in any incarnation, I liked this story, loved the cast, and look forward to more. Plus, any year that gives me a Power Rangers or a Ninja Turtles movie is a win in my book!

 

The Great Wall. Ridiculous, but visually magnificent, I'd watch The Great Wall again and again just for the pleasure of looking at it.

Geostorm. A wildly improbable plot and ham-handed performances couldn't stop Geostorm from being the most fun movie outing of 2017. Terrific disaster effects didn't hurt, either. Can't wait to own this one when it becomes available for download!

 

Biggest Disappointments

 

Free Fire. Trailers led me to believe Free Fire would land near the top of my 2017 best-of list. Instead it's a clumsy waste of an extraordinary cast that was almost impossible to get through, despite its brief runtime.

 

Logan Lucky. Another movie whose trailers promised far more than it delivered. The caper is fun, but nothing new, and laughs are too sparse. Demerits for barely a hint of Sebastian Stan.

American Made. With the eminently-watchable Tom Cruise in the lead, this inspired-by-actual-events tale should have been edge-of-your-seat exciting; instead it's dull and overlong. It was still a nice rebound for Cruise after The Mummy, but nowhere near what it should have been.

 

Worst of 2017

 

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Every bit as painfully awful as the trailers promised/threatened. I can't remember the last time I suffered through something this horrible, and I have never in my life seen so many people walk out of a movie.

 

Flatliners/The Dark Tower. I almost put these two on the "Disappointments" list, but then it occurred to me that I'd have to have expected better for them to disappoint. I expected nothing of either, and they both delivered just that: nothing. A terrible waste of time, money, and in the case of The Dark Tower, the incredible Idris Elba.

 

Would Have Made My 2016 Top 10 If It Had Played Here In Time

 

Hidden Figures. An inspiring true story featuring lovely, sincere performances. Should be considered mandatory viewing.

 

2017's Individual Honors

 

Best Director: Edgar Wright.

 

Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour. (No, I haven't seen it yet, but there isn't nor will there be any other answer to this question.)

 

Best Actress: Michelle Williams, All the Money in the World. (Likely to be displaced by Jessica Chastain once I see Molly's Game.)

 

Best Supporting Actor: Gil Birmingham, Wind River.

 

Best Supporting Actress: Hong Chau, Downsizing.

 

Best Original Score: Daniel Pemberton, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. (Along with POTC's 

Silent Mary crew, this is the best thing the movies had to offer in 2017.)

 

So, dear reader(s), there it is, my take on the year that's ending. It's probably not much like anyone else's, but I guess if you wanted anyone else's you'd go read their lists instead. I remain grateful that you’re reading mine, and welcome civil discourse on our agreements and disagreements.

 

Happy New Year, and I'll see you at Marquee Cinemas in 2018!

 

Cindy Prascik's Triple-Play Reviews: Free Fire, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and Dunkirk

 

 

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Valerian & the City of a Thousand Planets and Dunkirk, after long-awaited home screening of Free Fire.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or a history book.

 

First up: Free Fire.

 

In the late 1970s, a weapons deal goes awry in an abandoned Boston warehouse.

 

I had high hopes for Free Fire, likely due to the presence of two of my favorite actors, Cillian Murphy and Sharlto Copley...not to mention Armie Hammer, who generally can do no wrong in my eyes. It is perhaps due to an unreasonably high bar that I found the movie something of a disappointment, though it's not without a fair few merits.

 

Chief among Free Fire's positives is its cast. In addition to my aforementioned favorites, the picture features great turns from Oscar winner Brie Larson, Michael Smiley, and Sam Riley. The botched gun sale happens in real(ish) time, which is often a bore onscreen, but the movie is smart enough not to wear out its welcome. As you might have guessed from the whole "weapons deal goes awry" thing, violence is not in short supply here, though it seems these gangs of gun-runners can't even shoot well enough to join the Stormtroopers. One of Free Fire's really great moments features an Edgar Wright-ish use of an old John Denver tune, and--while it's hardly a hardly a character study--there is some backstory underneath all the gunfire. Unfortunately, aside from rooting for more screen time for my faves, I never much cared what happened to anyone, I just found the proceedings rather dull. Without divulging how the chips fall in the end, I will say for a brief moment I was hopeful the picture was cruising towards a finish that might have made amends for some of its shortcomings, but ultimately it goes a half-step too far for even that.

 

Free Fire clocks in at 90 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, pervasive language, sexual references, and drug use."

 

While I didn't love Free Fire nearly as much as I'd hoped, it's a smart enough picture that I was left thinking, to paraphrase George Costanza: "It's not you, Free Fire, it's me." 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Free Fire gets six.

 

Next on Saturday's agenda was my first Pirate-less trip to the cinema in nearly two months, which kicked off with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

 

A long time from now, in a galaxy far, far away, Agents Valerian and Laureline are on a mission to save the future.

 

Dear reader(s): I gotta be straight with ya, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. From the first trailer, something seemed off, a good enough idea that started going wrong even a two-minute preview, but I held out hope the film might surprise me. I didn't need Valerian to be Oscar-worthy; rather--like King Arthur and the Legend of the Sword--I just needed it to be watchable. Sadly, it isn't. As I'm frequently on the flip side of popular opinion, for reference I'll note that paying customers walked out on my screening, and the exit chatter from those who stuck around was positively grim. You might think a sci-fi epic such as this would have wonderful effects, but Valerian's are pretty pedestrian. It's lovely at times, but there's nothing all that interesting, nevermind ground-breaking. The plodding, convoluted story is propelled by awkward dialogue and attempts to force sexual tension between two characters who have about as much spark as a wet match. Oh...and was I supposed to be rooting for someone here? Valerian (the usually reliable Dane DeHaan) is a boorish lout; Laureline (Cara "Please Stop Treating This Person Like an Actor" Delevingne), a petulant child. The hippie aliens the movie hopes to make its most sympathetic characters are annoying with a capital A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G, and the female who kept pinwheeling around like the highest person at an intergalactic Grateful Dead show made me want to throw something at the screen. There's a bit of saving grace in Bubble--portrayed with surprising skill by Rihanna--but her appearance is so brief it can't come close to salvaging this two-plus-hour mess.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand planets runs a painful 137 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi violence and action, suggestive material, and brief language."

 

While I'd never discourage anyone from getting out to the cinema, I shall beg everyone not to waste a penny on this dreadful movie. Go see Baby Driver instead. (Fine, then. See it again.)

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, I can't, in good faith, give Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets even one.

 

Finally, my closer for yesterday's movie-thon was Christopher Nolan's World War II epic, Dunkirk.

A desperate attempt is made to evacuate Allied soldiers, surrounded by the enemy, from a beach in France.

 

It goes without saying a big war epic plays to writer/director Christopher Nolan's strengths, and I am pleased to report that the best director I've ever worked with** does not disappoint. Since excessive length is one of my common complaints, I'll start by noting that Nolan has exercised great restraint in trimming Dunkirk to an efficient runtime of under two hours; however, he so masterfully immerses viewers in the terrifying sights and sounds of war, the tension makes some scenes seem very long indeed. In an age of increasingly bad behavior at the movies, my room sat in rapt silence for the duration of Dunkirk. Spellbinding performances from Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and Cillian Murphy effectively depict the horrors of war, of being unable to save everyone, of having to make impossible choices for the greater good. Visually, Dunkirk is colored in shades of grey, accenting the seemingly hopeless situation, but majestic shots of the beach and sea are still breathtaking. Hans Zimmer's glorious score sets the perfect tone, and the movie builds to a finish that strikes all the right emotional chords without feeling contrived. 

 

Dunkirk clocks in at 106 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense war experience and some language."

 

Dunkirk is equal parts summer blockbuster and potential awards bait, a deserving box-office hit that hopefully will be remembered when the industry starts considering its year-end accolades. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Dunkirk gets eight.

 

Until next time...

 

**I was an extra in The Dark Knight Rises. I never spoke directly to Mr. Nolan, but IT COUNTS, DAMMIT!

MOVIE REVIEW: DUNKIRK

Acclaimed auteur Christopher Nolan directs this World War II thriller about the evacuation of Allied troops from the French city of Dunkirk before Nazi forces can take hold. Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance co-star, with longtime Nolan collaborator Hans Zimmer providing the score. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, James D'Arcy

Release Date: Jul 21, 2017

Rated PG-13 for intense war experience and some language

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama

Review:

Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk is an impressive achievement, a sprawling war epic taken from multiple viewpoints.  After Interstellar, a rare misstep from Nolan, it’s good to see the director try something new.  What he delivers an interesting and engaging non liner story told from different viewpoints and perspectives.  As such it gives you a well rounded viewpoint, from the ground, air and sea, of the events as they unfold.  The characters are fairly simplistic but they serve the story well with Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy and Fionn Whitehead all deliver strong performances even though their scenes are about as bare bones as they come.  Nolan’s film is more about the event than the actual people so they’re not really a huge emphasis on unearned dramatics.  It’s a big sweeping film which shows off Nolan’s technical prowess throughout.  Is it the greatest war film ever made, probably not, it’s probably not Nolan’s best film, The Prestige still holds that honor, but it’s a impressive none the less.

B+