It has been a fantastic year for movies so far. We have witnessed countless sequels and superheroes fighting bad guys. The year certainly belonged to several independent movies as they resolutely pushed away notable mainstream Hollywood flicks. Here are the 15 best movies of 2017:
15. Mudbound
Based on the novel of the same name by Hillary Jordan, the historical period drama movie dares to address posttraumatic stress disorder and racism by showcasing the story of two World War II veterans.
While it can be expected that the tale of the two veterans would be virtually identical in every possible way but a huge contrast lies ahead due to one of them being white and the other being black.
14. Molly’s Game
Starring two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, the movie centralizes on the real-life underground poker empire managed by Molly Bloom. After running the business for a decade, the ride came to a crashing halt when she is investigated by the FBI.
The poker empire is riddled with Hollywood celebrities, business executives, and professional athletes but things take a different turn when it is revealed that the notorious Russian mob was also among the players in poker.
13. The Big Sick
An Uber driver by day and standup comedian by night, The Big Sick revolves around the tumultuous love life of Kumail Nanjiani. After gaining the attention of a non-Muslim white woman named Emily during one of his shows, the two immediately embark on a relationship.
Due to Kumail’s Pakistani descent and conservative parents, the relationship witnesses several ups and downs but the real challenge occurs when Emily is struck with an illness and is unfortunately placed in an induced coma.
12. John Wick: Chapter 2
There are no two ways about it. You don’t steal John Wick’s puppy and expect to remain alive anytime soon. Keanu Reeves reprised his assassin role of John Wick for another action-packed adventure and did not disappoint.
Apart from planting the seeds for the imminent John Wick: Chapter 3, fans of The Matrix Trilogy were immensely pleased to see the iconic pair of Reeves and Laurence Fishburne together onscreen again.
11. Wonder Woman
It is truly amazing how DC Extended Universe was able to feature at least one good movie in an otherwise horrible franchise so far. After the most recently released Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad turned out as critical flops, expectations for Wonder Woman were definitely low.
In a moment of brief triumph, the movie defied the odds and even managed to impress the critics. Things seemed to look bright for DC Extended Universe but it all came crashing down when the terrible Justice League hit the theatres.
10. The Shape of Water
Directed by the brilliant Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water is an unlikely love story among unlikely individuals. Elisa Esposito is a mute cleaning lady who works in a secret government laboratory.
That might seem mind-numbing so far but things take an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon – and bonds with – a mysterious sea creature confined in a water tank and classified as a secret.
9. Logan
It is not uncommon for iconic superheroes to be portrayed by numerous actors throughout the years but there has always been one undisputed Wolverine. Undeniably Hugh Jackman’s most famous role, it was a sad spectacle to realize that Logan would be his final movie in which he would play the Marvel superhero.
Set in the year 2025 when most of the X-Men have been killed, the audience finds an aging Wolverine in an emotional state. With happiness scarce, Logan discovers solace by encountering an unlikely mutant who happens to be none other than his own daughter.
8. Spider-Man: Homecoming
The web-slinging superhero went from being one of the biggest crime fighters in cinematic history to a joke. Remember Tobey Maguire’s infamous dancing scene from Spider-Man 3? That ill-fated scene – and several others – killed the franchise and the fans eagerly waited for Spidey to return.
Even though Andrew Garfield did a tremendous job as Maguire’s successor, the new movie series ultimately sunk. Spider-Man: Homecoming serves as the game changer that brought hopes for Marvel Studios and Sony possibly working in close proximity in the future too.
Coming to the Spidey flick starring the young Tom Holland, the movie marked a terrific comeback for the web-slinging superhero after his brief appearance in Captain America: Civil War and due to staying safe from bad reviews unlike previous Spider flicks, Spider-Man: Homecoming truly was one of the best superhero movies of the year.
