2017 has been a great year for movies. Right from the horrors of ‘It’ and ‘Annabelle: Creation’ to subtle storylines of ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Song to Song’, filmmakers explored a myriad of genres and themes.
Where on one hand we saw the rise of female characters in superhero films, on the other hand, we witnessed the emergence of the horror category, setting benchmarks and breaking records. However, amidst the hush-hush to watch a number of hyped films this year, there were quite a few which slipped through the cracks. We have compiled a list of incredible movies which you may have skipped somehow, but are a necessary watch before the year ends, even if you are not a movie buff!
1. The Big Sick
© amazon studios
Directed by Michael Showalter, this American rom-com has received major nominations for the Golden Globes and SAG awards this year. Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Adeel Akhtar and Anupam Kher, the film revolves around a family and explores the complexities of love. Though the film is a bit long for the audience, it is actually too lovable to be ignored.
2. I Tonya
© clubhouse pictures
This film is being taken as Margot Robbie’s career-defining performance. Directed by Craig Gillespie the movie is a raw portrayal of Tonya Harding’s struggle as a skater. Robbie’s world-class performance has received positive reviews and she is even being projected as a strong contender for Oscars this year.
3. The Shape Of Water
© fox searchlight
Directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, the film has received seven Golden Globe nominations this year. Described as a ‘creature feature and a melodrama’ by Business Insider, the film presents a compelling story of a mute woman serving as a cleaning lady at a top-secret United States government lab during the 1960s, when she develops a relationship with a creature in the lab.
4. American Made
© universal pictures
Tom Cruise makes a diligent effort to take us on an adventure-filled journey, as he nearly perfects the biggest CIA operation in the history of United States. The film is perpetually entertaining; one needs to wait until the end to see the magic happen.
5. A Ghost Story
© Zero Trans Fat Productions
The storyline of ‘A Ghost Story’ is almost effortless. A musician, who dies in a car accident, simply returns as a ghost to the same house where he lived with his wife. As you watch the characters navigating though love and pain, ‘A Ghost Story’ lures you in with engaging performances and leaves your soul shattered.
6. Lady Bird
© focus features
After giving an Oscar-worthy performance in ‘Brooklyn’, Saoirse Ronan is believed to be a strong contender this year too. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film explores the bay between childhood and adulthood. Currently, have an 8.4 rating on IMDb, the film also became the best-reviewed movies of all time on Rotten Tomatoes till as a few days back, when just one reviewer wrote a negative review about the film.
7. Logan Lucky
© bleeker street
It’s a real tragedy that this movie has not gotten half the attention it deserves. The Steven Soderberg heist movie is one of the most entertaining movies of the year and that’s saying something considering the blockbuster year we’ve had. From action packed scenes to a heartfelt rendition of “take me home, country roads” this movie is one redefines a long lost genre with incredible panache.
8. Get Out
© blumhouse productions
Daniel Kaluyya created a mark through his noteworthy performance resulting in his first Golden Globe nomination. The film is a well-scripted version of everyday experiences. The acting by the stellar cast will hit you like a truck and while it comes under the genre of horror, there are lots of other elements which will blow you away.
At various junctures, one starts observing the lead character in a belief that he is the culprit. ‘Get Out’ is nominated in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, and star Daniel Kaluuya scored a Best Actor nom in the category for Golden Globes.
9. Split
© universal studios
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film is based on the existence of 23 different personalities inside an individual. James McAvoy effortlessly pulls off the complex role and scares the lights out of us by changing personalities in the blink of an eye. This is a performance of a lifetime and is worthy of many awards this season. McAvoy solely carries the film on his shoulders; this tense horror thriller is a well-calculated risk.
10. The Post
© dreamworks pictures
Who can skip the historic collaboration of Hollywood’s best actors – Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, especially when it is a Steven Spielberg film? The investigative journalism saga and Streep’s portrayal of Katharine Graham are iconic. The film has already received nominations for Golden Globes and SAG awards and it going to be released on December 22 this year.