Top 10 Films of 2023

Welcome back everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my 5 Worst Films of 2023 list from yesterday. Now I am happy to announce my 10 favorite films from 2023. As mentioned yesterday, 2023 was a strong year in film. This was very difficult to ultimately pick 10 for this list. These 10 films resonated with me throughout the year for various reasons that I will discuss below. Without much further ado, here are my favorite films of 2023!

10. John Wick: Chapter 4

Director: Chad Stahelski

This film is just pure action poetry. The latest John Wick installment has some of the best action sequences not only in the series, but from any film I’ve seen this year. If this is the end of this series, it ends on a spectacularly high note.

9. 26.2 To Life

Director: Christine Yoo

This little known documentary might be my favorite discovery from IFFBoston since The Crest in 2017. 26.2 To Life is both a powerful, emotional underdog story and a great commentary on prison rehabilitation programs. If you are able to see this, I highly recommend it!

8. Take Care of Maya

Director: Henry Roosevelt

Go in blind before seeing this on Netflix. Take Care of Maya is an infuriating, heartbreaking, and thought provoking documentary about a horribly mismanaged trial. You definitely will want to look more into the subject after seeing this.

7. Riceboy Sleeps

Director: Anthony Shim

Anthony Shim has a bright future as a director. Riceboy Sleeps covers themes of family and rediscovering heritage with great tools such as foreshadowing and aspect ratios. I look forward to seeing what Shim has in store next.

6. A Thousand and One

Director: A.V. Rockwell

Whoever is in charge of the awards release strategy at Focus Features needs to be fired. A Thousand and One is a great, powerful family drama with amazing performances and intelligent writing. However, due to giving it a one week wide release on the same weekend as Dungeons and Dragons, this will not even end up in awards consideration due to it being swept under the rug. A great film worth seeing regardless though.

5. Wild Life

Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin

The team behind Free Solo and The Rescue did it again….made me care about and emotionally invested in a subject I had no clue about before seeing this. In a strong documentary year, Wild Life was my favorite by far!

4. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Director: Kelly Freeman Craig

What a wonderful follow up to Edge of Seventeen for director Kelly Fremon Craig. I never read the book it’s based on, but this film says so much about peer pressure and growing up using subtle, intelligent script and filmmaking decisions. The cast gives it their all here too. I see this being a classic with children of this generation just like The Sandlot and Holes were with millennials.

3. Killers of the Flower Moon

Director: Martin Scorsese

Marty pulled another great crime drama in the vein of Goodfellas and Wolf of Wall Street. Killers of the Flower Moon is a compelling, quickly paced (for a three and a half hour film), and well acted film with strong themes of controlling relationships and greed. Another masterpiece from one of cinema’s greats.

2. Oppenheimer

Director: Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan does it again. Oppenheimer is not only an incredibly ambitious biopic/thriller combination, but a powerful and visually stunning commentary on guilt and the ethics of politics interfering in science. I hope this is the year Nolan finally wins an Oscar, he is long overdue.

Now the moment you all have been waiting for, my pick for the best film of 2023. Drumroll, please…….

1. Godzilla Minus One

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

I know most people who know me personally are going to be shocked Oppenheimer ended up not being #1 this year. For a while, it was. However, Godzilla Minus One surprised me so much for various reasons and made me think so much about it after seeing it that this felt like the right pick at #1 in a great year of film. This film does to Godzilla what The Dark Knight did to Batman and Mad Max: Fury Road did to Mad Max. This takes the franchise back to its roots while adding themes relatable to modern times. Shockingly, the human scenes in this were just as impactful as the Godzilla destruction scenes. I even teared up a few times due to how moving these scenes are and how much I cared for the characters. This puts the WB Monsterverse films to shame and was a much better film in a significantly lower budget than all of those films. Godzilla Minus One is not only my personal favorite Godzilla film but easily my favorite this year. Do not just take my word for it, go see it in theaters now!

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order): 20 Days in Mariupol, Anatomy of a Fall, Aurora’s Sunrise, Blackberry, The Color Purple, Creed 3, Dumb Money, Fair Play, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, The Holdovers, Plan C, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, Talk to Me

Well that wraps up my top ten list of 2023! Please comment if you agree, disagree, or feel that I missed anything. Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2024 turns out well.

5 Worst Films of 2023

Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a great 2023. As mentioned last year, I have been primarily posting my reviews on my Letterboxd, which can be accessed here. I will still be posting both of my end year lists on WordPress and will explore other options to get my reviews out there in 2024. In the meantime, let’s get back to the list. 2023 was a great year for films in general. However, these five below had a very negative impact on me for various reasons including quality, being disappointing, or missing opportunities for something special. Without much further ado, here are my picks for the five worst films of 2023!

5. Skinamarink

Director: Kyle Edward Ball

I cannot believe some people are listing this as the best horror film of 2023! I personally found this insufferable. To me, it felt like an over stylized and dull fake documentary about kids watching cartoons rather than being “the scariest movie ever made.”

4. The Exorcist: Believer

Director: David Gordon Green

This completely misses the point of the original film. Also, this should be an example why not every franchise deserves a legacy sequel. David Gordon Green should go back to making indie films or studio comedies after how he mishandled both this and the Halloween films.

3. Hypnotic

Director: Robert Rodriguez

I am a major fan of Robert Rodriguez and commend him for his independent filmmaking techniques over the years. Hypnotic is such a missed opportunity though. It is nothing more than a dull, poorly edited, and terribly acted ripoff of Inception and The Matrix. I cannot believe a film this ugly cost $65 million to make.

2. Fear

Director: Deon Taylor

I will admit I found Fear hilariously bad. However, this is terrible filmmaking across the board and handles the pandemic setting very horribly.

1. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey

Director: Rhys Frake-Waterfield

The idea of a Winnie the Pooh slasher flick should have been something campy and fun. This film does not even do that. It’s not even hilarious bad. This is the cheap, ugly bad and with a nonsensical plot. I personally am surprised this got a theatrical release. If this was a goofier film, I would have given it a pass. Don’t even waste your time on this. Easily the worst film of 2023.

Dishonorable Mentions: 65, Ferrari, Insidious: The Red Door, Plan 75, Renfield, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Untold: Swamp Kings

I hope you all enjoyed my list of the 5 worst films of 2023! Stay tuned for tomorrow when I release my top ten of 2023 list. Feel free to comment on my list whether you agree, disagree, or feel I missed something! See you all tomorrow.

Top 10 Films of 2022

Welcome back everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my 5 Worst Films of 2022 list from yesterday. Now I am happy to announce my 10 favorite films from 2022. 2022 was a very strong year for movies. It was very difficult to ultimately pick 10 from this list. The 10 films that I picked for this year resonated with me for various reasons that I will discuss below. Without much further ado, here are my favorite films of 2022!

10. The Whale

Director: Darren Arofonsky

Another fascinating yet equally heartbreaking and powerful character study from director Darren Arofonsky. However, this film would not have worked as well if it were not for Brendan Fraser’s incredible comeback performance here. He gives it his all and it would be a crime if he does not win the Oscar.

9. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Director: Dean Fleischer-Camp

A funny, touching, original, and beautifully animated family film about grief, divorce, and connection. For their first family film, A24 killed it with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

8. Navalny

Director: Daniel Roher

Possibly one of the most important documentaries I have seen this year. See it on HBOMax as soon as possible. This confirms we are living in a truly scary world.

7. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Directors: Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson

This is the far superior Pinocchio adaptation this year. Not only is the animation absolutely stunning and the voice cast is impeccable, I absolutely loved how they handled the source material here. Guillermo del Toro brilliantly handles themes such as fascism, the cost of immortality, and father and son relationships here. Please skip the Disney remake and see this work of art instead!

6. Cha Cha Real Smooth

Director: Cooper Raiff

It will not be long until Cooper Raiff becomes one of the most in-demand working actor/writer/director combos in Hollywood. What I absolutely loved about Cha Cha Real Smooth was how it completely understood the post-college to adulthood transition that we all face. We all have the same fears, decisions, and growing pains that these two lead characters deal with throughout this film. Most importantly, it quietly has a powerful message about kindness and it shows the autism community in such an honest light. Definitely check this out as soon as possible.

5. The Northman

Director: Robert Eggers

Robert Eggers seems to be getting better and better with each film he releases. While I enjoyed both The Witch and The Lighthouse, The Northman might be my personal favorite of his so far. Gorgeous cinematography, incredible fight scenes, wonderful storytelling, and brilliant use of Norse mythology. I am excited to see where Eggers takes us next.

4. Bones and All

Director: Luca Guadagnino

There was a group of five or six people that walked out after the opening scene of this film in my screening. Unfortunately for them, they missed out on such a remarkable, originally told film. This brilliantly blends the genres of horror, romance, and road drama almost seamlessly. Great ensemble cast (special kudos to a very creepy Mark Rylance here), beautiful cinematography, and a well written allegory for addiction and what homeless youth deal with on a regular basis. Bones and All is an incredible film, if you have the stomach for it, do not miss this one!

3. The Banshees of Inisherin

Director: Martin McDonagh

A perfect companion piece to Three Billboards (my #1 film of 2017) for director Martin McDonagh. Brilliant screenwriting that contains rich, fully developed characters blending with themes of dying friendships and the grieving process that most people can relate to with the backdrop of the Irish Civil War. The ensemble here is fantastic (I would not be shocked if all four main leads get nominated come Oscar time) and the cinematography beautifully captures the Irish landscape. The Banshees of Inisherin should not be missed, see it as soon as you can!

2. Stutz

Director: Jonah Hill

Kudos to Jonah Hill for making this brave, powerful documentary about mental health and how everyone struggles. The “tools” his therapist discusses here are super helpful and will help many people. Go see this film on Netflix, it will change your viewpoint on life.

Now the moment you all have been waiting for, my pick for the best film of 2022. Drumroll, please……..

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Directors: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Between this and Swiss Army Man, the Daniels might be two of the most exciting filmmakers working right now (Scheinert’s very disappointing solo directorial film Death of Dick Long shows why they work better as a team). Not only do they utilize the multiverse concept well in an entertainment standpoint, they also use it in a heartfelt, funny way that leaves audiences in a feel good mood when it is all over. Top notch editing, brilliant use of colors and aspect ratios, and great casting all around, Everything Everywhere All at Once is not only my favorite film this year, it truly is a spectacular film and one that will be talked about for years.

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order): Aftersun, All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, Barbarian, The Batman, The Black Phone, Decision to Leave, The Fabelmans, Fire of Love, Hatching, The Janes, Mad God, Moonage Daydream, My Old School, Retrograde, RRR, The Territory, Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness, Turning Red

Well that wraps up my top ten list of 2022! Please comment if you agree, disagree, or feel that I missed anything. Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2023 turns out well.

5 Worst Films of 2022

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has had a great 2022. Last year, I tried something new with my list and attempted to do away with my list on this blog and instead posted my lists on my Facebook page. However, that experiment did not work well so I am back on the blog. I am primarily posting my reviews on my Letterboxd, which you can access here. However, as initially planned in 2020, my year end lists will be on here. In the meantime, let us get back to the list. 2022 felt very normal this year for films, more films had permanent releases and direct to streaming was not as common for major studios. As a result, I saw a lot of films in 2022. A lot of great films came out this year. Additionally, some terrible films came out this year. These five below had a very negative impact on me this year due to poor quality, being a massive disappointment, or having truly misguided intentions. Without much further ado, here are my picks for the five worst films of 2022!

5. Jurassic World: Dominion

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Well…at least the dinosaur designs looked cool. Otherwise, Jurassic World: Dominion is another underwhelming sequel in the Jurassic World trilogy. Unlike the overtly dumb and poorly written previous sequel Fallen Kingdom (which wrongfully made acclaimed director J.A. Bayona a sacrificial lamb when behind the scenes meddling interfered with his vision), the biggest issue with this one is how boring it was and how little I cared about what was going on despite legacy characters returning and there being dinosaurs fighting. It’s really disappointing how this franchise turned out. I really hope Universal pulls the plug and makes this franchise go extinct.

4. The Invitation

Director: Jessica M. Thompson

There really is not much to say about this one. The Invitation is an insufferable, boring, and lifeless ripoff of Get Out and Ready or Not. This film has zero originality and does nothing interesting with the genre. There are so many better horror films out from this year.

3. Morbius

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Wow, what a disappointment. What a shame…that the line “it’s Morbin’ time” isn’t even spoken once! Jokes aside, Morbius is awful. It has terrible action scenes, an overly messy plot, and very dumb and cringeworthy moments throughout. This is easily up there with Fant4stic and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as one of the worst superhero films in recent memory. I really hope Jared Leto can salvage his career after this one.

2. The Munsters

Director: Rob Zombie

This was a painful watch. I like Rob Zombie’s music and some of his movies and understand that he is a big fan of The Munsters show…but it is obvious he has no sense of comic timing. None of the jokes worked at all. The production design and cinematography looked super cheap too. I’m shocked that this almost got a theatrical release. The only positive thing I can say is that the three leads at least tried and looked like they had fun. Otherwise, don’t both with this. Watch the original show instead.

1. Disney’s Pinocchio

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Before I begin my thoughts on this film, yes…that is an actual scene from this. How fitting. Not only is Pinocchio the worst Disney remake, it represents everything wrong with modernizing Hollywood classics in general. Yes, it follows the original story plot points well, but they are hollow emotionally compared to the animated classic. Yes, the CGI looks decent at times, but other times looks goofy and borderline ugly (I miss the old Robert Zemeckis). The biggest sins are how they handle certain characters like Geppetto and Jimmy Cricket. They are annoying here and not charming, Hanks and Gordon-Levitt do a very poor job with these roles. The script is also horrendous here. Filled with poop jokes, marketing references from Disney, and cheap modern one-liners (such as a very forced Chris Pine joke) the made me roll my eyes instead of laughing. The changes that were made to the story here ruin the impact of the original film. I’ll get off my soap box now. Seriously, skip this one and watch the original instead. Or watch a better Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, or Chris Weitz film as well. A mess for all involved and the worst film of 2022.

Dishonorable Mentions: Ambulance, Blonde, Bullet Train, Halloween Ends, The Gray Man, The 355

I hope you all enjoyed my list of the 5 worst films of 2022! Stay tuned for tomorrow when I release my top ten favorite films of 2022. Feel free to comment on my list whether you agree, disagree or feel I missed something! See you all tomorrow.

Top 10 Films of 2020

Once again, hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my 5 Worst Films of 2020 list from yesterday. Now I am happy to announce my 10 favorite films from 2020. Despite all that has gone on, 2020 was still a great year for film and it was very difficult to ultimately pick 10 for this list. The 10 films I picked for this year resonated with me for various reasons that I will discuss below. In addition to my top ten, I will reveal my Best Bad Movie of 2020 as well! Without much further ado, here are my favorite films of 2020!

10. Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets

Directors: Turner Ross & Bill Ross IV

In a particularly strong documentary year, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets resonated with me the most. The whole time I was watching, I was curious on the intent of the filmmakers the moment they shot it. Before the pandemic hit, this was meant to be a fly on the wall documentary about several people’s attachment to a local bar on its last night. Now in a COVID world, this film has become a time capsule of a more free time where people can enjoy themselves as well as encountering all of the different, crazy characters that a local dive bar brings. A very human and touching documentary.

9. Sound of Metal

Director: Darius Marder

The entire sound design team deserves an Academy Award for all of the work that they did with Sound of Metal. An honest, heartbreaking, and powerful look at deafness with one of Riz Ahmed’s best performances of his career. A great experience and I am looking forward to the future of director Darius Marder.

8. Hamilton

Director: Thomas Kail

I know this is a taped stage show more than a movie, but I never saw the musical nor heard the music before. Given that Disney had planned this for a 2021 theatrical release and rushed it to a Disney + release 4th of July weekend, this is still an absolutely phenomenal experience. Everything you had heard about the musical before is true. Hamilton is a fantastic, bold, and brilliantly written musical. It is a shame it never got the theatrical release, but it still should be seen immediately.

7. The Nest

Director: Sean Durkin

What an incredible follow up to Martha Marcy May Marlene for director Sean Durkin. The Nest is a tense, brilliantly acted, and devastating thriller that you are unsure where it will go next. This is a slow burn thriller done right.

6. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Easily Aaron Sorkin’s best work in years. After the horrific ending of Steve Jobs and the disappointment that was Molly’s Game, I legitimately thought Sorkin’s best days were behind him. I am so happy I was wrong. His comeback film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, is a triumphant, powerful, timely, and brilliantly acted ensemble film. Another film that deserved a theatrical release, but is a worthy viewing on Netflix.

5. Small Axe: Education

Director: Steve McQueen

This last installment of Steve McQueen’s anthology miniseries, Small Axe, is easily my favorite in the whole series. Education starts off as a devastating look at the injustices that the education system can bring to certain students, but it ends with a powerful message of hope for the future. Loved all of the performances here. If you have not checked it out, I recommend watching the whole series in addition to this film. Steve McQueen did a fantastic job on it.

4. Mank

Director: David Fincher

Mank is another example why David Fincher is one of the best filmmakers working currently. Meticulously and brilliantly directed, edited, and shot to look like a film from the era it’s set in. Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried give fantastic performances here. Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor once again deliver a haunting, memorable score. I was actually surprised by all of the great social commentary that is infused in the title character’s biopic. Another fantastic film from David Fincher.

3. Another Round

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

What starts off as a funny, lighthearted comedy slowly turns into a smart, heartbreaking, and dangerous look at alcoholism. A perfect blend of comedy and tragedy. Another Round is another brilliant collaboration between Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen.

2. Minari

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Minari is honestly one of the few films this year where I felt genuinely emotional the whole time. A film with great, well written characters, a beautiful score, and stunning cinematography. You genuinely care about these characters even in their lowest and weakest points, which is a hard task for many directors to do nowadays. The performances are excellent across the board, even the child actors do great work here. This film is a special experience and director Lee Isaac Chung deserves more work after this!

Now the moment you are all waiting for, my pick for the best film of 2020. Drumroll, please……

1.Soul

Director: Pete Docter

This was the other film that made me feel genuinely emotional the whole time this year. Soul truly spoke to me as a guy who has been striving for years to make his mark on a dream. I truly related to the main character in this film and understood his motivations all too well. Like he did previously with Up and Inside Out, director Pete Docter manages to tap into inner emotions with strong concepts so well. This is arguably his most ambitious project yet both in a thematic standpoint and in an animation setting. A very powerful film and the perfect film to offset the pain from 2020. If this is truly Pete Docter’s last Pixar film (he took over as the president of Pixar from John Lasseter last year), he went off on a high note. This is one of Pixar’s deepest films and my pick for best film of 2020.

Honorable Mentions: Bad Education, Boys State, Crip Camp, Dick Johnson is Dead, Driveways, Feels Good Man, Freaky, The Half of It, The Invisible Man, The King of Staten Island, My Darling Vivian, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Onward, Palm Springs, Promising Young Woman, Relic, Small Axe: Lovers Rock, Small Axe: Mangrove, Tenet, Wolfwalkers

Notable Films That I Missed in 2020: 76 Days, Ammonite, Beanpole, The Forty Year Old Version, The Grand Bizarre, Martin Eden, Nine Days, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Saint Maud, Tigertail

Best Bad Movie of 2020:

Color Out of Space

Director: Richard Stanley

I know this is a decently reviewed film by many other critics, but I had a different opinion on this. If you want to see a hilariously bad, completely gonzo, and over the top Nicolas Cage movie, Color Out of Space is a must see in that regard. This is a visually trippy, completely insane acid trip that delivers on the unintentional humor that the craziest B-movies can provide.

Well, that wraps up my top ten list of 2020! Please comment if you agree, disagree, or feel that I missed anything. Happy New Year everyone! Hoping 2021 is better and safer for everyone.

5 Worst Films of 2020

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is staying safe out there. I have been writing all of my reviews on Letterboxd instead of this blog and this will likely be a permanent change moving forward. If you would like to follow me on there, my profile can be accessed through this link. However, my year-end lists will remain on this blog so you will all have something to look forward to every New Year’s Eve. 2020 was a difficult and very tragic year in the world. For film, this was a challenge. Many movies got delayed or moved to streaming. Some of the higher profile releases are difficult to check out as a result. However, I still was able to see 120 movies this year despite everything going on. Some films were great experiences, others not so much. Normally, I would do a bottom 10 list, but I decided to shorten it to 5 this year because I wanted to reduce negativity for the end of 2020. These 5 films are the worst of the crop due to being massively disappointing, poorly made, insufferable, or truly misguided. Without much further ado, here are my picks for the 5 worst films of 2020!

5. Assassin 33 A.D.

Director: Jim Carroll

Normally, this kind of film would be considered as the best bad movie I have seen this year. However, the filmmaking is so misguided here that I did not feel comfortable giving it that honor. This film defines hilariously bad on so many levels. It has some of the worst visual effects I have seen this year. The acting is laughable and the message is extremely offensive. Easily the most entertaining film in a laughable way on this list, but still awful.

4. The Big Ugly

Director: Scott Wiper

Before theaters reopened, random movies were being shown at drive-ins over the summer instead. Some were very pleasant surprises. The Big Ugly was not one of those films. This was a massively boring film. Dull, confusing, and completely unexciting. This is one of the meant for initial VOD release films this year that should have never received a theatrical or drive-in release.

3. Hubie Halloween

Director: Steven Brill

A typical Adam Sandler Netflix movie. Obnoxious, unfunny, dumb, and pointless. It tries way too hard. The only positive that I give this film is that it utilizes the Salem, MA location very well and that is even stretching it. I cannot believe that this got decent reviews from critics.

2. Songbird

Director: Adam Mason

KJ Apa stars in SONGBIRD

Songbird‘s overall concept is extremely offensive to all of the health care workers who are helping out and risking their lives in the COVID-19 pandemic. A very boring, misguided, and rushed film. You can really tell that the director was trying super hard to push this for a 2020 release. There are other more creative horror films about the pandemic than this one.

1.Artemis Fowl

Director: Kenneth Branagh

This movie is TERRIBLE. I am shocked that this turned out so bad given that Kenneth Branagh has been a go-to guy for adaptations in the past with Cinderella and Murder on the Orient Express as recent examples. Thankfully for him, the film’s move to Disney + might have helped this sweep under the rug and not impact his career unlike M. Night after The Last Airbender being released. Nothing in this movie works at all. From the convoluted plot to the abysmal pacing to the all around terrible acting (I mean, what were Josh Gad and Judi Dench even trying to do with their voices?) to the really cheap looking visual effects. Not only a poor adaptation of a great book, but easily the worst film in the Disney + catalog and the worst film of 2020. This makes A Wrinkle in Time look good in comparison.

Dishonorable Mentions: Cat in the Wall, Fatman, Greyhound, The Grudge, Hillbilly Elegy, I’m Thinking of Ending Things

I hope you all enjoyed my list of the 5 worst films of 2020! Stay tuned for tomorrow when I release my top ten favorite films of 2020. Feel free to comment on my list whether you agree, disagree, or feel that I missed anything! Stay safe everyone.

Top 10 Films of 2019

Once again, hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my 10 Worst Films of 2019 list from yesterday. Now I’m happy to announce my 10 favorite films of 2019. 2019 was a fantastic year for film and it was very difficult to ultimately pick 10 for this list. The 10 films I picked for this year resonated with me all year long and have had a special place in my heart for various reasons. I normally have a What Would #11 Be section and the Best Bad Movie section, but I have decided to show my picks for the top ten films of the decade instead this year. If you want me to reveal those films, please comment and I will do so! Without much further ado, here are my favorite films of 2019!

 

10. Ms. Purple

Director: Justin Chon

This film flew under the radar for many people and it disappoints me greatly. I felt that Ms. Purple was a great film from Justin Chon, who has been killing it as a director. It is a genuinely beautiful, heartbreaking, and wonderfully acted film. I want to see Justin Chon’s other movies and hope his future is bright after this one.

 

9. Lords of Chaos

Director: Jonas Akerlund

It is better going into this film not knowing the true story behind Lords of Chaos. A very disturbing, thought-provoking, and intense biopic with career best performances from Rory Culkin and Emory Cohen. This is the film The Dirt should have been more like.

 

8. Marriage Story

Director: Noah Baumbach

I am honestly shocked that Noah Baumbach is not getting more awards love for his directing in Marriage Story. For a film about a difficult subject like divorce, this film feels refreshing, original, and raw. He brings the best out of his cast, including career best performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Netflix had a solid year of films this year and this is the first of many on this list.

 

7. The Art of Self-Defense

Director: Riley Stearns

The Art of Self-Defense is pretty much a comedic version of Fight Club. A dark, twisted, and hilarious film with strong social commentary and great performances from Jesse Eisenberg and Alessandro Nivola. I think this has potential to be a cult favorite years from now.

 

6. The Nightingale

Director: Jennifer Kent

This was my personal favorite film from IFFBoston. The Nightingale will be a very divisive film for audiences, but I loved how relentless and brutal it was. Jennifer Kent’s direction does not shy away from violence, but is necessary to show the impact of how Australian colonization destroyed many lives in the 1800’s. Definitely one of those films that is important to see, but once is enough.

 

5. Ad Astra

Director: James Gray

Director James Gray has taken the best elements from sci-fi greats such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Interstellar to create a beautiful, emotional, and suspenseful film about loss and human behavior. Ad Astra also has beautiful cinematography, a great score, and a brilliant performance from Brad Pitt that deserves more awards love than it’s getting. This film should be seen on the biggest screen possible.

 

4. Dolemite Is My Name

Director: Craig Brewer

Welcome back to comedy, Eddie Murphy. We all missed you. Dolemite Is My Name is a perfect return to form for Eddie Murphy. This is an inspirational, hilarious, and heartfelt crowdpleaser. The film also has hilarious performances from Wesley Snipes and Keegan Michael Key as well. I want Eddie Murphy to do more movies like this.

 

3. Jojo Rabbit

Director: Taika Waititi

Taika Waititi embraces his inner Mel Brooks with Jojo Rabbit. A hilarious, heartfelt, and ultimately very edgy WWII satire. Filled with great performances, strong directing, and witty writing throughout. Easily the best comedy of 2019 and I would like to see more comedies take risks like this.

 

2. The Irishman

Director: Martin Scorsese

For a film with a three and a half hour runtime, not a single minute feels wasted or overlong. The Irishman is a welcome return to film for gangster films for Martin Scorsese. Its well-layered script, beautiful cinematography, and impressive de-aging visual effects should land him another Best Director nomination. The performances from Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci do not disappoint. While I wish more people saw this in theaters than Netflix, The Irishman is a brilliantly directed and sometimes emotionally devastating gangster film.

 

Now for the moment you all have been waiting for, my pick for the best film of 2019. Drumroll please…..

 

1. Parasite

Director: Bong Joon-Ho

Do yourself a favor and please avoid any spoilers before seeing Parasite, the viewing experience will be worth it. Bong Joon-Ho knocks this film out of the park. This is a purely original, intelligent, and masterful blend of satire, Hitchcockian thriller, and tragedy. It is ingeniously written, brilliantly directed, and filled with great performances throughout. I can’t talk more about this film without mentioning spoilers, but Parasite is not only an absolute must-see but also my favorite film of 2019. I hope the Oscars do not rob it of Best Picture because it is a Foreign Language film. This film’s originality and genius deserves it.

 

Honorable Mentions: Apollo 11, Doctor Sleep, Fighting With My Family, Fyre, Honey Boy, I Am Mother, John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, Midnight Family, One Child Nation, Richard Jewell, Rocketman, Shazam!, Toy Story 4, Uncut Gems, Us

 

Notable Films I Missed in 2019 (with one exception): 1917, A Hidden Life, Judy, Little Women (I saw the first half earlier today, but power went out and the theater closed so it is an incomplete opinion at this time), Pain and Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire

 

Top 10 of the 2010s:

1. Mad Max: Fury Road

2. Drive

3. Her

4. Inception

5. Whiplash

6. Silver Linings Playbook

7. Parasite

8. Eighth Grade

9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

10. La La Land

 

And that wraps up my top ten list of 2019 and the decade! Please comment if you agree, disagree, or feel if I missed anything. Happy New Year everyone, see you next decade!

10 Worst Films of 2019

Seasons greetings, everyone! Once again, I was very behind on my blog due to various life events. I have also been writing more of my reviews on Letterboxd and that might stay that way for a while. However, I love writing these lists annually so I plan to continue using this blog for these annual lists. I might go back to reviews in the future, but I think Letterboxd might be the site for reviews in the future for me. 2019 was a fantastic year for film. This year will be an even tougher top ten than last year’s was. I saw over 120 films in 2019. Many were great experiences, others not so much. This list will discuss my 10 least favorite films in 2019. The following ten films are the worst of the crop this year due to being massively disappointing, poorly made, insufferable, or truly misguided. Without much further ado, here are my picks for the worst films of 2019 as well as my picks for the worst 10 films I have seen this decade!

 

10. Glass

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Welcome back to the list, M. Night. It’s been awhile. Glass is easily one of the most disappointing films I have seen this year, especially given how I enjoyed the previous films in this series, Unbreakable and Split. James McAvoy and Samuel L. Jackson give it their all, but this is a messy and overlong slog of a film that has one of the worst and one of the most poorly planned endings I have seen in years. Just when you think M. Night is turning a corner, he comes back to disappoint everyone.

 

9. Dark Phoenix

Director: Simon Kinberg

While not as bad as X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Dark Phoenix is an awful way to end a 20 year franchise. A very messy, dull, and disappointing final chapter of the X-Men series that has one of Jessica Chastain’s worst performances to date. It was a mistake hiring Simon Kinberg as a director given his reputation as a producer, which involves changing the story in the middle of filming instead of in the writing room. Dark Phoenix is a missed opportunity and I am looking forward to seeing how Marvel handles this series since they got the rights back.

 

8. Serenity

Director: Steven Knight

I know a lot of people who have Serenity higher on their worst of 2019 lists and it is completely understandable. However, I found this film unintentionally hilarious most of the time which is why it is lower on my list. That does not excuse this film for having a completely ridiculous twist that makes no sense at all or being a messy and unbelievably stupid film. I cannot believe good actors such as Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway and a good director such as Steven Knight were involved in making a film this bad.

 

7. Missing Link

Director: Chris Butler

This one is a very unpopular opinion, but I’m going ahead and adding it to the list anyways. Missing Link is a massive dud for Laika, who I honestly think has been declining in quality for several years now. This is easily their worst film though. It is unfunny, childish, boring, and has an extraordinarily racist scene that I am surprised no one is talking about. I am shocked critics are on board with this film, I genuinely think it’s terrible!

 

6. The Dirt

Director: Jeff Tremaine

Dear Bohemian Rhapsody, you are no longer the worst music biopic I have ever seen. That torch has been passed to The Dirt. This is a film that I know had good intentions deep down, but was extraordinarily poorly executed, cheaply made, and terribly edited. It was an awful idea to hire the director of Jackass to direct a music biopic and an unforgivable idea to cast Machine Gun Kelly as Tommy Lee. There are other, better music biopics to check out.

 

5. The Death of Dick Long

Director: Daniel Scheinert

Swiss Army Man was one of my favorite films of 2016. I felt that The Death of Dick Long was a terrible follow-up to that film for this director. Like Missing Link above, I am shocked critics loved this one. I felt it was truly unfunny, poorly made, boring, and terribly acted throughout. Thank goodness that this director is reuniting with his Swiss Army Man co-director on his next film, he needs it after this dud.

 

4. Hellboy

Director: Neil Marshall

I never thought that a Hellboy film without Ron Perlman and Guillermo del Toro was a good idea and this reboot confirms that. I like Neil Marshall as a director, but you can really tell he had no control on this film other than visuals based on how badly edited it was. A very messy and frustrating to watch reboot. This is up there with Fant4stic and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as one of the worst superhero films of this decade.

 

3. Anna

Director: Luc Besson

I really disliked Luc Besson’s last film Valerian, so I was hoping from the trailers that Anna would be a return to form for him. I was sadly mistaken. Other than that one cool action scene that is shown in the trailers, this is a preposterously written, poorly edited, terribly acted, and dull spy film. Out of all the recent Cold War spy films, Anna is easily the worst of them. Luc Besson should consider retirement.

 

2. Gemini Man

Director: Ang Lee

Never would I think I’d see the day where an acclaimed director such as Ang Lee would be on this list. However, Gemini Man is a massive low for him. This is an example of a film with a cool concept but very poor execution. Horrid visual effects, a boring and predictable story, and dull double performances from Will Smith who I think is a very charismatic actor in the right role. I don’t recommend this movie at all, but if you do see it, do not bother seeing the 3D high frame rate version. That will make the experience even more unbearable.

 

1. Cats

Director: Tom Hooper

I think the last time I remember a film being this universally disliked by people was 2010’s The Last Airbender. Cats is a truly horrific film on many levels and there is no doubt in my mind that several people lost their jobs after this film’s failure at the box office. Not only is it dull and plotless, the CGI is incredibly disturbing and awful looking. I mean, the producers could have saved $50 million by painting their faces and making costumes instead of this ugly CGI. The music is even awful for this movie. I have never seen the original musical and I know Tom Hooper had good intentions when adapting it, but with the way this film turned out, it is obvious that this was never meant to be a film in the first place. Cats is easily the worst film of 2019 and a black eye for many of the strong talent involved.

 

Dishonorable Mentions: Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Lady and the Tramp, Murder Mystery, Replicas, The Dead Don’t Die, The Fanatic, The Siren

 

Bottom 10 of the 2010s:

1. The Last Airbender

2. Warcraft

3. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

4. The Mummy

5. Cats

6. The Happytime Murders

7. After Earth

8. Terminator: Genisys

9. Season of the Witch

10. Battleship 

 

I hope you all enjoyed my list of the 10 worst films of 2019! Stay tuned for tomorrow when I release my top ten favorite films of 2019 as well as my favorite films from this decade. Feel free to comment on my list whether you agree, disagree or feel that I missed anything!

Top 10 Films of 2018

Once again, hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed my 10 Worst Films of 2018 list from yesterday. Now it’s the moment you have all been waiting….my top 10 favorite films of 2018 list! This was a very difficult list, since 2018 was such a strong year. These ten films I have selected have held a special place in my heart for various reasons. To continue from last year, I am continuing the What Would #11 Be section as well as the Best Bad Movie of 2018 section. Without much further ado, here are my top 10 films of 2018!

 

10. They Shall Not Grow Old

Director: Peter Jackson

I am amazed that Peter Jackson was able to pull this project off. Not only did he add color and 3D to old war footage, he meticulously researched every soldier’s uniform to find out what part of Britain to match that area’s accent properly as well as creating spot-on sound work for battle scenes. This was a mesmerizing theatrical experience that unfortunately only lasted two days. I feel it is essential viewing for history buffs as well as film buffs.

 

9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman

Unlike most people who will name Black Panther or Avengers: Infinity War as their favorite superhero film this year, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse exceeds both of them in quality. This is one of the most original and visually stunning animation styles I have seen in years. Not to mention, it is very heartfelt, funny, and truly understands the Spider-Man character than both Homecoming and The Amazing Spider-Man series. If you don’t feel emotional or want to cheer during the “What’s up, Danger?” scene, you don’t have a pulse. This is the best Spider-Man film since 2004’s Spider-Man 2. 

 

8. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Director: Morgan Neville

Mister Rogers truly cared about his audience and how he would present his messages. This documentary not only reminds us of that, but wants us to continue his messages of kindness and caring towards one another. Even as we grow up, his messages are still wonderful and are needed. There was not a dry eye at my screening at IFFBoston. How can anyone not be moved by this man’s mission after seeing this beautiful documentary?

 

7. A Quiet Place

Director: John Krasinski

John Krasinski’s last directorial film, The Hollars, made my Worst Films of 2016 list. It is obvious that he is a very poor comedy director. However, he is a very gifted horror director like Jordan Peele showed us last year! A Quiet Place is such a well-crafted and unique horror film. Terrifying from beginning to end, filled with great acting all around. Krasinski has redeemed himself as a director after this one, I just hope he sticks to the horror genre.

 

6. The World Before Your Feet

Director: Jeremy Workman

In a uniquely strong documentary year, this one ended up being my favorite! In what sounds like a boring topic, the main subject of the film makes it fascinating and well-worth your attention. This is a poetic, beautiful, and inspiring documentary about appreciating your life as is and looking at the world around you. It is a shame that this was not picked up by a distributor, I think it could have been a strong contender in this year’s Oscars.

 

5. Hereditary

Director: Ari Aster

For a first time filmmaker, this film is so well-crafted that I am shocked it is not from a veteran horror filmmaker! Hereditary is one of the most unsettling, well-directed, and original horror films I’ve seen in a long time. Toni Collette’s performance should not be forgotten about at this year’s Oscars! Avoid spoilers and go see this great horror film!

 

4. The Favourite

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos is easily one of the best filmmakers working right now. The Favourite is another example why. Darkly funny, twisted, brilliantly directed, and well cast. This is the type of film that will be taught in film classes in the future. More historical films should be like this!

 

3. Widows

Director: Steve McQueen

When this project was announced, I was surprised to see Steve McQueen choose a heist thriller as his next project after 12 Years A Slave. This is no ordinary heist thriller. This is one with massive stakes and heavy themes thanks to a fantastic script from McQueen and Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn. Widows is a superbly crafted and twisty film with a brilliant cast and excellent payoffs. This film deserves more love than what it’s getting.

 

2. Roma 

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Easily the best film Netflix released this year. Alfonso Cuaron leaves sci-fi films behind to go back to his roots, and it’s so powerfully done. One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking films I have seen all year. Not only should Cuaron be nominated for Director, I believe it will be a crime if he does not win Best Cinematography. It is a shame Netflix did not release it in theaters, then put it on streaming months later.

 

Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for, my pick for the best film of 2018. Drumroll please……

 

1. Eighth Grade

Director: Bo Burnham

Since seeing it as the Opening Night film at this year’s IFFBoston, nothing came close to taking the #1 spot. Bo Burnham’s directorial debut Eighth Grade is a hilarious, heartfelt, and beautifully relatable film. The most important thing it gets right is how it shows the awkwardness, fear, and constant doubt every middle schooler deals with. We have all dealt with the struggles of fitting in that the main character Kayla goes through throughout the film. We also currently go through the sadness and doubt that social media brings to ourselves that this film brings up. Elsie Fisher’s performance elevates the brilliant screenplay from Bo Burnham and I hope I see more films from both of them. Burnham has a serious gift in filmmaking and it should not go to waste. I truly think despite the jokes reflecting this generation that the film’s messages will stand the test of time. If you have not seen this film, please check it out. I believe it will open eyes.

 

Honorable Mentions: A Simple Favor, American Animals, Annihilation, Black Panther, Boy Erased, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Disobedience, Halloween, Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Mid90s, Searching, Vox Lux

 

Notable Films I Missed In 2018: At Eternity’s Gate, Ben Is Back, Burning, Crazy Rich Asians, Cold War, Destroyer, Free Solo, If Beale Street Could Talk, Paddington 2, Shoplifters, Stan & Ollie, Suspiria, The Hate U Give

 

What Would #11 Be:

Green Book

Director: Peter Farrelly

Like last year, 2018 was so strong of a year that it was difficult to pick films for my top ten list. Green Book was a fantastic film, but I felt that They Shall Not Grow Old needed to be more on my #10 spot. It is shocking how this film fits in with Peter Farrelly’s other buddy comedies. For what appears to be a straight drama, the laughs are in the right place and the comedy never skips a beat. It is also very moving throughout and both Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali work great together. This is definitely the feel-good movie of 2018 and you should see it!

 

Best Bad Movie of 2018:

Bird Box

Director: Susanne Bier

While I wish Roma broke the Netflix viewing records that this film did, I still was thoroughly entertained by this one. While technically not a bad movie (it has a 65% on Rotten Tomatoes), I found it so over the top, ridiculous, and dumb that it counts on this list. Despite great acting from Sandra Bullock, this film is way more laughable than scary and I felt that A Quiet Place handled its similar premise much better! Watch it for the laughs, not scares. It is easy to see why this film spawned tons of memes.

 

Well, that wraps up my top ten list for 2018! Please comment on my list whether you agree, disagree or feel I missed anything. See you all in 2019. Happy New Year!

Top Ten Films of 2017

Hello again everyone. I hope you enjoyed my 7 Worst Films of 2017 list yesterday. As promised, I am finally revealing my top ten favorite films of 2017! As I mentioned yesterday, this has been a very tough year for my top ten. There are many great films this year that deserve to be on this list, but I somehow shortened to ten. These ten films held a special place in my heart this year for various reasons that I will describe below. This year is different from previous years because in addition to my top ten and honorable mentions, I added a hypothetical What Would #11 Be section and a very special honorable mention. Without further interruption, I present to you my ten favorite films of 2017!

 

10. The Shape of Water

Director: Guillermo del Toro

I actually caught this last night and I was very torn whether to make it an honorable mention or an addition to my list. The more I thought about it, the more this film really  moved me after seeing it. In the hands of another director, the premise of a romance between a fish monster and a mute woman might have not worked. But in Guillermo del Toro’s hands, this premise becomes not only one of the most powerful romance films I’ve seen all year, but also a thrilling, visually and emotionally beautiful modern fairy tale that I believe will hold up in repeat viewings. A better version of Beauty and the Beast than the live action Disney version from this year!

 

9. Get Out

Director: Jordan Peele

Like Ben Affleck a decade ago, Jordan Peele has proven that he’s not only a competent actor and comedian, but his real gift might be as a director and writer. Get Out might easily be the most discussed film of 2017 and it’s deserving of that honor. It’s a very smart, thought-provoking, and consistently entertaining horror film that in my opinion, gets better after repeat viewings. I look forward to seeing what Peele has in store for us next.

 

8. The Big Sick

Director: Michael Showalter

A very touching and funny romantic comedy that is based on the real life romance of Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon. There is never a moment that feels fake or a joke that goes over the top. These are genuine characters in real situations. Regardless of their flaws, you root for them to succeed. You feel their pain, laugh with them, and enjoy their company. A lot of people complained about the length of this film, but that personally did not bother me. There is no scene that deserved to be cut, it would lose some of its honesty and magic.

 

7. It Comes at Night

Director: Trey Edward Shults

This is seriously one of the most misunderstood films of the year. The trailers made it appear like a horror film, when instead it was an intelligent and well-directed psychological thriller about family, trusting strangers, and fear of illness. Since it was not a horror film, a lot of the audience dissed this film. For me, I felt it was not only effective as a thriller, but I also feel it’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Trey Edward Shults is a director that will be on my radar.

 

6. Baby Driver

Director: Edgar Wright

Edgar Wright continues his streak of making great films with Baby Driver. On paper, a comedic heist film with every scene edited to classic rock music is very ambitious and might not have been pulled off well at all. Instead, Wright and his editor do a brilliant job making this film one of the most fun times I’ve had at the theater. Part of me thinks it was a blessing that Wright got kicked off of Ant-Man, so he could instead deliver original and ambitious projects like this.

 

5. Dunkirk

Director: Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan really outdid himself with this one. This is one of the most ambitious and suspenseful war films I’ve ever seen. Not only technically well made, but also a gripping and edge of your seat theater experience. This is easily one of the best IMAX showings I’ve been to. Outside the theater, this film still is powerful and you really care about the survival of these characters despite not knowing them well. I would be happy if Nolan finally won the Oscar for this (I strangely doubt it will happen).

 

4. Good Time

Directors: Benny and Josh Safdie

I think everyone who has ever made fun of Robert Pattinson for the Twilight movies can stop after seeing this film. This is easily Pattinson’s best performance and one that I feel will define his career. Here, his character is charming, flawed and always interesting to watch. This film also had me on the edge of my seat from the first shot. I never knew where this story was going and each plot point made more entertaining as it went forward. If you have a strong stomach, do not miss this film.

 

3. Blade Runner 2049

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Not only is this one of the best sequels since The Dark Knight and Mad Max: Fury Road, this is one of the best sci-fi films in years. Deakins deserves the Oscar for Cinematography, but its biggest strength is its mysterious plot that is consistently intriguing. Filled with career-best performances from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, I struggle to understand why audiences did not dig this film. Even with Sicario, Prisoners, and Arrival on his resume, Blade Runner 2049 is Villeneuve’s masterpiece and I truly believe in time that it will be viewed as a classic sci-fi film.

 

2. The Disaster Artist

Director: James Franco

Tommy Wiseau is easily the strangest and most mysterious man in Hollywood. Who knew that James Franco can turn him into one of the most inspiring and down to earth figures in Hollywood? This film excels both as a comedy and as an inspirational drama about following your dreams and not giving up despite shortcomings. James Franco literally becomes Wiseau, and it never feels like a parody. Even if you’ve never seen The Room, I highly believe everyone can find something to enjoy about this film. It’s a film for dreamers, Hollywood lovers, and anyone who has a passion.

 

Now it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for, my pick for best film of 2017. Drumroll please……

 

1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Director: Martin McDonagh

A lot of my readers probably have not heard of or seen this yet, but I also do not want to spoil it for anyone. As soon as I left the theater for this film a month ago, I knew this would be hard to top as my #1 of the year. Three Billboards is getting the most recognition for Frances McDormand’s lead performance, but I feel everything in this film is pretty much perfect. Its characters are richly written, even the most unlikable characters here you care about. It blends the genres of dark comedy, murder mystery, and family drama together and it never feels messy. It’s a natural blend as Martin McDonagh has proven himself as a strong writer yet again. Beautifully shot, unpredictable, funny, and heartbreaking. All of the actors do a brilliant job, including McDormand and Sam Rockwell. Every moment is important, every character gets their due, and the audience gets in return a unique masterpiece that will stand the test of time. I really hope all of you check this out after reading this blog, this film should not be missed.

 

Honorable Mentions: Alien: Covenant, Brigsby Bear, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Coco, Detroit, The Florida Project, Happy Death Day, The Killing of A Sacred Deer, Lady Bird, Logan, mother!, Mudbound, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Split, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Step, Sylvio, Wind River, Wonder Woman

Notable Films I Missed in 2017: All the Money in the World, Battle of the Sexes, Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, A Ghost Story, Gook, Hostiles, I, Tonya, Molly’s Game, Phantom Thread, The Post, Wonder

 

What Would #11 Be:

The Crest

Director: Mark Christopher Covino

2017 was a very difficult year for me to pick films on my top ten. I really loved this documentary since I saw it at IFFBoston in April, but I felt that The Shape of Water needed to be more on my #10 spot. However, I still want to talk about how great this was and it still deserves to be honored. It’s a shame this film never got distributed even though it is playing well at multiple festivals. As someone with Irish ancestry, I felt this documentary was moving and respectful of its Irish culture. It was also told in a unique perspective of two surfing cousins who meet for the first time and bond over a love of surfing and their culture. If this is ever distributed, I not only highly recommend it, but I feel it’s essential viewing for Irish Americans.

 

Special Honorable Mention:

The Book of Henry

Director: Colin Trevorrow

You’re probably wondering why this is not in my actual honorable mentions list. Well, every once in a while, there comes a movie so misguided, unintentionally hilarious, and filled with questionable morals, that you can’t help but be entertained by. The Book of Henry is easily one of the best “bad” movies I’ve seen in a while. It’s up there with Freddy Got Fingered, Ghost Rider 2, The Room, and The Cat in The Hat. Although it’s technically terrible and should have been in my Worst of list, it’s so entertaining and funny that I feel putting it on that list would serve an injustice. If you like unintentional comedies, seek this one out!

 

Well, that wraps up my top ten list for 2017! Please comment on my list whether you agree, disagree or feel I missed anything. See you all in 2018. Happy New Year!