Do you love movies?
The year 2017 brought us a number of blockbuster movies. Our superhero cravings were satisfied by great flicks such as Wonder Woman and Thor: Ragnarok. We were mesmerized, after months of anticipation, by the intergalactic roller coaster ride that was Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Justice League left us divided with the mixed reviews it got from different sectors of its fandom.
With our attention mostly focused on last year’s blockbusters, a few good ones that would have been worth our time may have gone under our radars. With this in mind, we came up with a list of the 10 good movies you might have missed in 2017, in no particular order.
Here they are.
1 Get Out
In a time when horror flicks have become stale and most thriller movies almost have the same predictable plot lines, Get Out gives its audience a refreshing take on the genre. It tells the tale of a young African-American man who’s off to meet his girlfriend’s parents where things slowly take a turn for the worse. The movie mixes great directing and acting to illustrate a compelling and thoughtful critique on the power imbalance that African-Americans are experiencing today.
2 Baby Driver
An action film that is unique in its own way, Baby Driver is a flick that will mesmerize its viewers. The movie centers around a young boy who is coerced into driving for a criminal mastermind. The movie features a great soundtrack which is integrated perfectly into the film. Overall, Baby Driver offers a light-hearted and stylistic experience which is rare for the action movie genre.
3 Okja
Okja is about the story of a young girl who risks her life to save her bestfriend Okja, an animal genetically manufactured by a multinational company. With such a unique premise, the film is a modern-day, live-action, sci-fi fairy tale for adults. The movie features cinematography that is reminiscent of Japanese cartoon movies. This flick is certainly a must-watch especially if you’re an anime fan.
4 Dunkirk
Another masterpiece by legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk recounts the story of the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers from Northern France. The movie is intricately weaved by Nolan to convey the breathtaking task of the evacuation without overdramatizing the conflict. It offers an out-of-this-world experience that triggers intense feelings from its audience. It is definitely a must-see for everyone, but most especially for history buffs.
5 Lady Bird
Lady Bird is a coming-of-age film that tackles the story of 17-year-old Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson. Christine, played by actress Saoirse Ronan, is an artistic youngling who wants to escape to New York City. The combination of outstanding acting and the steady stream of humor and heart makes this a stand-out film among other coming-of-age flicks.
6 Coco
Another masterpiece by Pixar Studios, Coco is a heartwarming film that features the story of Miguel, an aspiring musician in a family where music is banned from their lives. The movie is very lively and tackles a subject very close to all of our hearts – family. If you haven’t already watched this, go ahead and do so! Get ready for a wild ride of giggles, laughs, and tears. Coco will undoubtedly make you experience a wide spectrum of emotions.
7 A Ghost Story
Though the title may trick you into thinking that this is a horror movie, don’t be fooled. A Ghost Story, although tackling the story of a ghost, is far from being another horror story. The film tackles the story of a musician who dies and then returns to haunt his lover and their house as a stereotypically garbed specter who is only visible to the viewers and not to the other characters in the movie. A Ghost Story is one of those movies that makes its audience dig deeper than what it offers on the surface.
8 Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 is the sequel to one of the all-time greatest movies – Blade Runner. With fans of the original Blade Runner having high expectations for the sequel, Blade Runner 2049 surprisingly did a pretty good job. Not that the movie is perfect, though, because it does have its flaws. But the mystique of the gorgeous visuals that hypnotizes and infuses the imagination of its audience more than makes up for its shortcomings. If you’re a fan of the original Blade Runner or just love science fiction movies in general, watching Blade Runner 2049 should be a treat for you.
9 Birdshot
Although produced in 2016, this film gained public attention in 2017 when the movie was selected to be the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The film tells of a story of a young Filipina farmer who accidentally kills a critically-endangered Philippine Eagle. The film’s great directing and superb cinematography combined with a deep plot paints a beautiful and eerily familiar picture of the current situation in the Philippines.
10 The Red Turtle
A movie centered around a man who survives a shipwreck and encounters a giant red turtle, The Red Turtle is a movie that is deeper than what it seems to be. The movie has no dialogue. Yes, no dialogue. Not a single sentence is uttered in the entire movie, which makes the audience focus more on the visual cues that the movie showcases. Despite the movie’s lack of dialogue, the movie successfully hammers an exciting climax. Watching this movie is truly a very unique and satisfying experience.
So what are you waiting for? Catch up if you missed out.