In 'Band Aid', a Couple Tries to Save Their Marriage by Starting a Band

Band Aid is a 2017 film that I’ve just seen recently after I was made aware of its existence.  It went under my radar last year because, as an indie film, it understandably didn’t have much hype, and it wasn’t one of the year’s overlooked-yet-need-to-check-out movies.  If I had gotten wind of it then, my interest would most likely have been piqued, and I would have sought it.

'Birdshot' Is a Masterpiece of Philippine Cinema (Impressively Made by a Twenty-Something Filmmaker!)

Birdshot was the Philippines’ entry for the last Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film (but it didn’t get nominated), and it was one of the two local 2017 films that I wanted to see last year but didn’t get to (the other one is Smaller and Smaller Circles).  Recently, to my delight, it has finally become available to be watched in the Internet.

Well, it’s as excellent as I expected.  It’s a taut, well-crafted, multi-layered thriller.  It has intelligent slow-burn plotting, compelling cinematography, clever editing, and profound insights.  And it’s incredible that this is the work of a filmmaker who is just in his mid-20’s (Mikhail Red)!  Insane!

Christopher Plummer Carries 'All the Money in the World'

If nothing else, All the Money in the World is going to be known for one notable detail: its recasting of J. Paul Getty.  The film production was finished with Kevin Spacey as the original actor.  The trailers had him in it, and there was even an Academy Award campaign going on for Best Supporting Actor.  Then, with its release date just around the corner, he was exposed to be Hollywood’s biggest sexual predator this side of Harvey Weinstein.  Therefore, although the film is already very much ready for release, in order for it to sever its ties with him, the character is recast with Christopher Plummer (so it was him who got the opportunity to be nominated for an Oscar), who director Ridley Scott claimed was his original choice all along, but the studio wanted Spacey.  Reshoots were done in just ten days, and it successfully met its December 2017 release.

That’s quite impressive.

'Downsizing' Explores the Fascinating Implications of Miniaturization

Downsizing has a very cool premise: The technology to shrink humans down to five inches has been discovered.  Primarily intended to address overpopulation and reducing waste, it proves to also be economically advantageous to those who chose to “downsize”, as the value of their money exponentially increase since the amount of things they need to buy and consume become tremendously lesser.

The plot then sees a financially struggling occupation therapist named Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) becoming sold on the benefits of downsizing.  So he convinces his wife (Kristen Wiig) to downsize and move to a downsized community where they can live a life of luxury.  However, the result of the life-changing decision doesn’t mirror what Paul is expecting.

'The Greatest Showman' Is a Wonderful Feel-Good Movie

Last year, after 146 years of operation, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closed due to constantly poor attendance and high maintenance costs.  Ironically, it was the same year that a musical drama film about its founder (when it was still Barnum & Bailey Circus) P.T. Barnum was released.  Titled The Greatest Showman, it stars Hugh Jackman as Barnum, and has a cast that includes Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson.  It follows Barnum’s rags-to-riches journey as he gathers the “freaks” ostracized by society to produce a revolutionary spectacle that captured the world’s imagination.

'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' Is a Fun Popcorn Movie, but a Bad Sequel

Jumanji was a childhood favorite of mine.  Watched it several times.  I thought it had a very fun premise.  Hence, when it was announced that it was going to have a sequel starring The Rock, and this time around, it would involve a video game cartridge instead of a board game, I got interested.  Then I saw the trailer, and I hated it.   Even so, I still decided to see it (not in theaters though).

Titled Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, it follows four high schoolers coming from different backgrounds (Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Morgan Turner, and Madison Iseman) who have to spend detention together (kind of like The Breakfast Club).  They discover an old video game called Jumanji and decide to play it.  However, they are magically sucked into the game itself and have transformed into the adult avatars (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillian, and Jack Black) they have chosen.  In order to get back to the real world, they must use the strengths of their avatars and beat the game, before their lives counters are depleted.

'Ferdinand' Is Good but Unnecessary

With the Oscars just two days away, I thought it was timely to finally check Ferdinand out, and see if it truly deserves its nomination for Best Animated Feature (which Coco will win).

Based on a children’s book, Ferdinand is about a huge bull (John Cena) who doesn’t hold the same desire as other bulls, and that is, to find glory in fighting a matador in an arena.  Instead, he dislikes violence and prefers smelling flowers.  However, after a major mishap where he’s mistaken as a fearful beast, he’s captured and prepared to be pitted against the legendary bullfighter El Primero.

'Pitch Perfect 3' Gives the Series an Adequately Pleasing Coda

Set three years after the events of the previous movie, Pitch Perfect 3 sees the Bellas now graduate from college and stressed out in their careers.  When they are given the opportunity to reunite and join a USO tour in Europe, they quickly grab it, eager to once again enjoy the experience of singing together.

Things about the premise and storyline of Pitch Perfect 3 don’t make a lot of sense.  But the movie does work for me through a “Pitch Perfect is an anime” perspective (something I alluded before in my review for Pitch Perfect 2).  Seriously, when we treat it as if it’s an anime – giving it the immediate leeway we give an anime with all its inherent absurdities and quirkiness – its dumb, implausible details are easily forgiven, and what’s unfolding is simply enjoyed.

'Murder on the Orient Express' Is Delightful, but It Made Me Crave for Something Original and Surprising

Murder on the Orient Express is a mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh.  He also plays the main character Hercule Poirot, an obsessive compulsive but brilliant Belgian detective.  Set in 1934, the film follows Poirot, whose vacation in Istanbul is interrupted by a summon to London regarding a new case.  His friend Bouc (Tom Bateman), learning of his need to get to London, offers him a room on the luxurious Orient Express, of which he’s the director.  However, after an avalanche derails the train, one of the passengers, businessman Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp), is found dead in his room, having been stabbed a dozen times.  Thus, the colorful passengers and staff of the train (Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Olivia Coleman, Lucy Boynton, Marwan Kenzari, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Sergei Polunin) become suspects to a murder mystery that Poirot is asked to solve before the train resumes its journey.

'Phantom Thread' Is an Exquisite Film Featuring a Twisted, Unconventional Romance

Legendary method actor Daniel Day-Lewis has already announced his retirement.  Time will tell if he will truly remain retired, as it’s not unusual for celebrated figures to come out of retirement.  Till then, Phantom Thread serves as his final film.

'The Star' Is a Worthwhile Retelling of the Nativity Story

The Star is an animated feature film that retells the story of the birth of Jesus.  The twist?  It unfolds through the perspective of animal characters, namely: Bo (Steven Yeun), a donkey dreaming of being part of something great; Dave (Keegan-Michael Key), Bo’s supportive dove bestfriend; Ruth (Aidy Bryant), a sheep who has left her flock; Felix (Tracy Morgan), Cyrus (Tyler Perry), and Deborah (Oprah Winfrey), the three wise men’s camels; Abby (Kristin Chenoweth), a mouse who has witnessed Mary getting visited by an angel; Edith (Patricia Heaton), Leah (Kelly Clarkson), and Zach (Anthony Anderson), eccentric barnyard animals that are amnesiac due to starlight; and Thaddeus (Ving Rhames) and Rufus (Gabriel Iglesias), a pair of ruthless dogs owned by the soldier tasked by Herod to find and eliminate the newborn king.

'Darkest Hour' Shows Why Winston Churchill Was a Great Leader

Darkest Hour is an Oscar-contending war drama biopic on Sir Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), which focuses on his early days as Prime Minister as World War II rages.  With the British Expeditionary Forces cornered in Dunkirk, threatened to be wiped out, and the surrender of France inevitable, the odds of Hitler invading Great Britain are extremely high.  Thus, it’s up to Churchill to rally his people as they face their “darkest hour.”

'Molly's Game' Is a Winning Hand for First Time Director Aaron Sorkin

Molly’s Game is a biopic based on the autobiography Molly's Game: From Hollywood's Elite to Wall Street's Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker.  It tells the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a former Olympic hopeful in skiing who decides to take a year off before going into law school and moves to Los Angeles.  But she never gets around going to law school as she finds herself organizing exclusive, high-stakes poker games for Hollywood celebrities (including Macaulay Culkin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Ben Afleck; a composite character of these actors named “Player X” is played in the film by Michael Cera), businessmen, and other members of the elite for the next eight years.  She later moves her business to New York, where she operates for two years, in which, unbeknownst to her, Russian mobsters become part of her clientele.  When she’s indicted, she enlists the help of lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) to fight off the charges.

'Professor Marston and the Wonder Women' Reveals Wonder Woman's Scandalous Origin

Wonder Woman was one of the most notable films of 2017.  However, what many don’t know is there was another “Wonder Woman” film released last year – a biopic about William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman.  Titled Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, it stars Luke Evans as Prof. Marston and details the bizarre relationship he had with his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston (played by Rebecca Hall) and their mistress Olive Byrne (played by Bella Heathcote), who were significantly instrumental in helping him invent the first lie detector as well as the creation of Wonder Woman.

Though Kinda Strong, the Twist of 'Jigsaw' Is Predictable

I’m a fan of the Saw franchise.  The movies aren’t cinematic masterpieces, but I thought there was some degree of thoughtfulness and creativity involved with them – especially the first ones.  I enjoyed the outlandish traps, the unbelievable intricacies of the set-ups, Jigsaw’s Batman-esque competence in planning, and the generally well-sold twists.  As the result from these, I honestly found all seven installments to be entertaining thrillers when I got to see them, though the series did get somewhat convoluted and forgettable at its latter parts.

Jigsaw, the franchise’s eighth installment after a seven-year hiatus, sees a string of murders committed in the distinguished style of Jigsaw.  As more evidence pile up, law enforcement officials only become more baffled as it’s looking to be not the work of a copycat, but the real John Kramer a.k.a. Jigsaw himself.  But how can that be when he has been dead for over a decade?

'The Shape of Water' Is a Cold War Fairy Tale

The Shape of Water is filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s latest “creature feature.”  When I first saw its trailer, like what many others observed, I thought it looked like an origin story for Abe Sapien, a beloved character from the Hellboy movies, which del Toro also directed.  Aside from being a “Creature from the Black Lagoon”-type monster like Abe Sapien and being played by Doug Jones, the creature in The Shape of Water, per the trailer, was also shown to be fond of eggs and music – just like Abe Sapien.  However, it turned out The Shape of Water is an entirely unconnected, independent film from Hellboy.

For 'Loving Vincent', Substance and Style May Be the Same Thing

If nothing else, Loving Vincent is worth a watch because it’s the first of its kind – a fully painted animated feature film – and it’s probably the most beautiful, poignant tribute to Vincent van Gogh since Don McLean’s masterful ballad “Vincent.”  It explores the tragic of life of the painter, as the son of his friend Postman Roulin looks into the curious nature of his death.

'Ang Larawan' Provokes Reflections While Looking Good and Sounding Good

Ang Larawan (The Portrait in English) is a musical film based on a musical stage play, which is in turn based on Nick Joaquin’s literary magnum opus A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino.  It follows spinster sisters Candida and Paula, daughters of renowned painter Don Lorenzo, as they feel nostalgic of the glory days of their once-regal ancestral house which they are now struggling to maintain due to financial difficulties.  Money would have been easily attainable, as many are willing to pay a hefty sum for Don Lorenzo’s last masterpiece, something their father had left them.  They don’t really love the painting – they even feel that it’s burdensome and may even harbor animosity towards it – yet they refuse to part with it.  Instead, for their income, they rely on performing menial labor, such as capturing rats; the rent money of boarder Tony Javier, an opportunistic, sleazy vaudevillian pianist; and the unreliable support of their married elder siblings, who are more interested in selling the house than helping them keep it.

Top 20 Memorable Movie Moments of 2017

My favorite 2017 movies have already been listed.  Now it’s time to list the 2017 movie moments that have been most memorable to me – for being admirable, resonating, uplifting, heartbreaking, shocking, bizarre, insane, horrible, or in whatever way they have made a lasting, striking impression in my mind.

Last year, I only did a “top 10” list.  But this time around, there were so many to choose from that I just had to have twenty spots.

20.)

The Villainess’ POV opening scene.  It was unfortunately unmatched during the rest of the film.

Top 20 Movies of 2017

It’s once again time to list my favorite films of the recently finished year.  Though there were a few notable 2017 movies that I wanted to watch but didn’t get to (Darkest Hour, The Shape of Water, All the Money in the World, Loving Vincent, Smaller and Smaller Circles, Molly’s Game, Phantom Thread), I’m fairly satisfied with how this list has shaped itself from those I did get to watch.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

A Ghost Story, Logan Lucky, Bad Genius, Mayhem

20.) WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

“…a resounding, meaningful science fiction epic.  Sharp direction, compelling performances, an intelligent and powerful story, thematic depths, and marvelous special effects combine to make it so.”

Click here for the full review.