Following a weak start to the cinematic year, 2017 came roaring back with a number of memorable flicks.

As close to a traditional list as I could get, here’s ILT’s 10 favourite reels of the year…
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10. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

Dir: Christopher Smith

The standout documentary of the year (out now on Netflix), this rare glimpse into the life and mind of Jim Carrey depicts not only his darkly humorous method approach to playing his idol Andy Kaufmann in 1999’s Man on the Moon, but also a personal portrait of where he came from and where he is at right now; everywhere and nowhere.
Watch the trailer here…
Read ILT’s full review on Set The Tape…

9. Coco

Dir: Lee Unkrich

Pixar strikes gold once again with this family-themed musical fiesta, set in Mexico during Dia de los Muertos. A heartwarming tale backed by stunning animation that is, thankfully, not as kiddy-orientated as the promotional material suggests, Coco is a return to form for Pixar and the studio’s best release since 2015’s Inside Out.
Watch the trailer here…

8. A Ghost Story

Dir: David Lowrey

One of the boldest indie flicks of the year, David Lowery’s supernatural drama pulls apart the concepts of love, space and time for an unnerving, yet strangely satisfying journey through the unknown.
Watch the trailer here…

7. Call Me by Your Name

Dir: Luca Guadagnino

Luca Guadagnino’s free-spirited coming-of-age flick is a joy to behold. Beautifully staged, directed and shot, it conveys love as we know it; wonderful, conflicting, hurtful, and ultimately the most natural thing in the world.
Watch the trailer here…

6. Blade Runner 2049

Dir: Denis Villeneuve

One of the few blockbusters worth its salt in 2017 (Logan too deserves a mention), Denis Villeneuve’s follow up to Ridley Scott’s replicant-laden classic is a masterpiece of technical cinema. Though it is not as atmospheric as its predecessor, and occasionally thins on the engagement front, it remains a must-see (preferably big screen) experience.
Watch the trailer here…
Read ILT’s full review on Set The Tape…

5. Last Flag Flying

Dir: Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater’s road drama is a subtle, heartfelt, completely non-chest-thumping look at the core, usually unseen aspects of military service across multiple generations in the United States. Likely to slip under the radar for most, it is worth seeking out for its contrasting bitter and bright humour, and reflective, poignant imagery.
Watch the trailer here…

4. The Florida Project

Dir: Sean Baker

A vital, intertwined examination of poverty and childhood at the bottom of the American Dream ladder, The Florida Project hits home with a sharp, unrelenting tone that’s both funny and thoroughly depressing. Brooklyn Prince, Willem Dafoe and Bria Vinaite each knock it out of the park, while Sean Baker’s vibrant direction is a triumph.
Watch the trailer here…
Read ILT’s full review on Set The Tape…

3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Dir: Martin McDonagh

In Bruges director and noted playwright Martin McDonagh returns to the big screen with this wickedly brutal black-comedy, set in rural small-town America. The probing of crucial contemporary themes is supported by all round top notch writing, direction and performances.
Watch the trailer here…

2. Lady Bird

Dir: Greta Gerwig

The hype surrounding writer-director Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age comedy-drama may soon experience a La La Land-type backlash as it reaches a wider audience. Just in case that happens, it it worth reiterating that the hype is justified. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf will no doubt join Gerwig in receiving numerous, well-deserved nominations for what is a near-perfect piece of engaging, well-paced, chuckle-inducing filmmaking.
Watch the trailer here…

1. Wind River

Dir: Taylor Sheridan

Riding high on critically acclaimed scripts for Sicario and Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan’s first notable effort in the director’s chair maintains the haunting, frequently frank, gut-punching vibe you’d expect based on his writing to date. Rooted once again in good old fashioned American bleakness, oft-hidden from, or ignored by wider society, Wind River rounds off a richly thematic quasi-trilogy.
Watch the trailer here…
Read ILT’s full review on In Layman’s Terms…

Want to know what to watch from 2016 and 2015? ILT can help…
ILT’s Top 10 Films of 2016!
ILT’s Top 10 Films of 2015!

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