Best Films of 2017

Director: Peter Berg
His 9th movie
My 7th movie watched from the director

Peter Berg is determined to be a serious director, but he can't get out of derivative storytelling, dull writing, and can't deliver anything memorable. He got closest with "Lone Survivor", but I do appreciate him bringing American stories to light, even if they aren't spectacularly shown.

Added to Lists:

A Bad Day in the U.S.A

Rating: 6.8

Rating: 6.9

Rating: 7.1

Rating: 7.1

Rating: 7.1

Rating: 7.2

Rating: 7.2

Rating: 7.2

Rating: 7.2

Rating: 7.3

Director: Marc Webb
His 5th movie
My 5th movie watched from the director

Jeff Bridges is his usual awesomeness in this story about a young adult from a rich family having trouble figuring out his family while hooking up with a wildly unrealistically beautiful woman who is the mistress of his father...
IT's got a great soundtrack and decent cinematography, direction and locations along with a nice twist at the end.

Added to Lists:

Movies that are Song Titles
Top Ten Performances - Jeff Bridges (Honorable Mention)
Top Ten Performances - Kate Beckinsale
Best One-Scene-Only Performances - Bill Camp

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Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan & Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, both in NYC, NY

Director: Danny Boyle
His 12th movie
My 14th movie watched from the director

It took me five years to see this movie I was waiting five years before the release, after hearing about its inception. Though not great, I would still say it's worth the wait. Boyle creatively positions its main characters in a position that makes sense twenty years later. There are thankfully plenty of Boyle's creative approaches to the scenes and story, but it lacked the innovation found in the original.

Added to Lists:

The Longest Release Separations from First Movie to its Sequel
Top Ten Films - Danny Boyle (Honorable Mention)

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Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Rating: 7.7

Director: Brett Morgen
His 7th movie
My 2nd movie watched from the director

Brett Morgen pulls off another very well made documentary about a very likable woman. So much of this relies on editing and research and because of that it's a win. He adds some effective style he known for and it doesn't seem out of place like some documentaries that have come out of late.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Films - Brett Morgan
First-Name-Only Movies

Rating: 7.4

Rating: 7.4

Actually better than the first one.
Funnier and more urgent.
The music was maybe even better, too. Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" had me in tears!