While April didn’t quite deliver a film capable of topping
my annual list (for those interested ‘Logan’ is not only the film I still
consider to be my favourite of 2017 so far but also the one that I genuinely
believe is the best as well it still delivered a strong plenitude of films
worth checking out. Admittedly the blockbusters were disappointing but even they
had plenty of redeeming qualities. ‘The Fate of the Furious’ (still a dumb
title) may have felt overly contrived in an effort to remain the un-ironic joke
that it is but I can’t deny it was entertaining and ‘Ghost in the Shell’ for
all its faults was fascinating on a visual level.
There was only really one film that lacked any merit, but
more on that later. The movies that did shine above the rest were triumph of
boldness and clarity. They all had a distinct style that was unique to the
stories they were telling. Whether it be a gunfight, a societal taboo or an
unsolved murder, each movie had their own method of telling a captivating tale.
So without further stalling for time, onto the best of the month.
3: Casting
JonBenet
This independent documentary made a big splash at Sundance
and thanks to the magic of Netflix has been able to make an even bigger splash
within the general public. Taking a unique approach to a widely discussed
tragedy, Kitty Green’s film is not even about the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, it
about our own obsession with it. The way we, and the actors within the movie,
speculate and ponder over the details, theories and opinions that circle around
the infamous case reveals that our own life experiences enforce the way we
react to such an event. From the way the actors themselves each take a
different approach to the roles that reflect their earlier opinions, to how
their own experience with similar incidents leads them to subscribe to
different theories. Despite some pacing issues the film has an eerily haunting
tone that creates an utterly unique experience.
2: Free Fire
‘Free Fire’ may not have the existential ponderings of Ben
Wheatley’s other work like ‘A Field in England’ or ‘High Rise’ but what it
lacks in that department it more than makes up for in sheer entertainment.
Wheatley’s latest film represents an explosion of high octane, high concept
filmmaking that is fuelled by a palpable energy the likes of which I have not
seen this year. Its ensemble cast do a magnificent job of portraying an array
of memorable characters. The self-contained action is utterly enthralling,
mixed with an almost slapstick style of comedy and fast talking dialogue that
each go hand in hand. The unspoken details of the movie such as its editing,
cinematography and direction all work wonders to draw the viewer deeper into
the script, and it works brilliantly.
1: Raw
Don’t be put off by the infamous stories of people fainting
at its premier, because while ‘Raw’ is certainly not for the faint hearted it
is far from the gratuitous gore fest those stories would have you believe. There
is such artistic clarity to the movie both in its conceit, story and style. It’s
meditate approach to such a brutal subject may be unconventional but it is part
of what makes the movie so utterly unique. The film possesses this
psychological intensity that unnerves the viewer more than any amount of blood
and guts. Through this look at identity and our desire to belong, Julia
Ducournau has crafted a story with so many unexpected twists and turns that you
will struggle to look away out of intrigue alone.
And the worst….
Unforgettable
Too slick and polished on a visual level to be enjoyed as
mindless schlock but too mind numbingly idiotic in its plot to ever be taken
remotely seriously, as well as being bland in every other imaginable aspect, ‘Unforgettable’
may not be the worst movie of the year so far (they should be thanking ‘The Bye
Bye Man’ for saving them) but it is most definitely in contention for the
runner up spot. Complete with character motivations that are completely
backwards, a non-linear story that fails to connect its own dots and a painfully
contrived plot that make ‘Unforgettable’ a marvel of incompetence.
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