MISSION IMPOSSIBLE MARATHON - Collective Review

Hello there puny humans,
after my collective review of the Fast & Furious-Franchise was well received, I decided that I had to do something like this again. When the time came to plan my annual Movie Extravaganza (a long weekend on which I watch a shit ton of films with my two best movie buddies B.A. and Lena), it was decided that we'd marathon the entire Mission: Impossible series in celebration of its sixth installment hitting theaters. So I thought what better way to revive my habit of rambling on about movies than with this franchise review. The closer the weekend of the marathon came, the more pumped I got, because the Mission movies have always been a fun and exhilarating ride. When it was finally time to sit down and start the first film, I was more than ready to dive into this awesome world of spy shenanigans and incredible stunts. Of course, I wanted to collect some stats across all of these movies once again, just as I did for Fast & Furious:

• Biggest Stunt - for the most WTF moment of the film
• MVP - for the best member(s) of cast and crew, or the best character. 
• Quality of Cruise-Running - its no secret that Tom Cruise loves to sprint at least once in a film and this score rates how well the movie showcases his sweet running skills 
• Mask Reveals - for every time a character poses as someone else behind a rubber mask (with or without the audience's knowledge)
• Hair Rating - based on school grading, we rated the beauty of Tom's varying haircuts

So, now where the formalities are out of the way. Join me on my venture into pure Tom Cruise madness:

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996)

As our quest begins, we are brought back to the 90's. A time where Mission: Impossible wasn't a multi-million dollar action franchise helmed by one of the most controversial figures in Hollywood, but simply a Brian De Palma spy thriller based on a TV Show from the 60's starring hot young movie star Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. And although it looks and feels different from the rest of the franchise (as I said more thrillery than actiony), it still holds up very well. Sure, everything tech and internet related is super outdated and sometimes you can't help but chuckle at the way they just throw random words at you to sound smart ("Thinking machine Laptops. I am talking about the 686 prototype with the artificial intelligence risk chip"). But man, this movie still holds up in other regards. It's super tense and with its immensely iconic Langley heist (yes, the one where Tom Cruise is hanging from wires) as well as the fight on top of the high-speed train, it set a precedent for the franchise that lead to each movie trying to one-up its predecessor with cool and amazing stunts.
Another interesting thing we notice about this movie is that it's the only film in the franchise that gives us information on Ethan Hunt's parents. It is established that his father has died and in a move that all three of us found more than shady, the IMF arrests Ethan's mother and uncle for drug trading in order to draw him out of hiding. I mean, they did think he was a mole, but still. Is this standard procedure at government agencies? Imprisoning their innocent relatives? What about all the other times in later movies, when Ethan gets disavowed by the IMF? Did they arrest his mother and uncle each time? They must be fucking tired of that shit. #justiceforethansmomanduncle

Biggest Stunt: The heist in the Langley computer room. Although a stunt involving an exploding water tank was apparently much more dangerous, this scene is such an iconic and well crafted sequence that it influenced future film makers and spawned a huge number of parodies and copycats. See it here!

MVP: Brian De Palma for asking Tom Cruise to do that aforementioned dangerous water stunt himself. We suspect that this was where he got a taste for the action and believe it to be the origin of Cruise's obsession to do the craziest shit in front of the camera.
                          
Mask Reveals: 3               Quality of Cruise-Running: 2/5             Hair Rating: D

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000)
Now, we are getting to the film that is considered to be the worst of the franchise. I remember liking this movie the last time I saw it, but I was like 13 years old, didn't have a clue about what makes good film making and totally had the hots for Thandie Newton, so my raging teenage hormones might have clouded my judgement as well. This movie is really something. That John Woo took over the director's chair becomes apparent in the DVD menu already: White doves fly across the screen in a very short time loop over and over again. And the movie is full of all his other trademarks too (like for example slow-mo jumping and shooting two guns at the same time). This film is such a product of its time. With everyone wearing black leather jackets and sunglasses, a Limp Bizkit theme song, motorcycle jumps and cars that explode at the smallest of impacts, this movie basically screams at you that it was made at the turn of the millennium. Also Ethan's character is so very different. He suddenly is this cocky womanizing sensation seeker, which is a weird change compared to the first one. In addition, the plot is unengaging, Dougray Scott is a very generic villain and they run that mask reveal twist into the ground. I mean five mask reveals in a two hour film? That's estimates to someone ripping a rubber mask of his face every 24 minutes. It's ridiculous! However, this film has one of the funniest DVD specials, which is an interview in which Ben Stiller pretends to be Tom Cruise's stuntman Tom Crooze.

Biggest Stunt: The opening rock climb is what most people talk about, and it's cool and all. But the stunt where Tom Cruise stops a knife less than an inch in front of his eye was actually done practically, with the knife hanging on a wire and Dougray Scott putting his whole weight into that stab. That's just as dangerous as it is impressive. See it here!

MVP: Dougray Scott, that poor bastard, who had to turn down the role of Wolverine because of his commitment to this film, making him partly responsible for giving us Hugh Jackmann and one of the greates comic book films of all time: Logan.
                          
Mask Reveals: 5              Quality of Cruise-Running: 1/5             Hair Rating: B+

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)

The worst is behind us and so we're excited for what next. This third installment came after the longest pause the franchise ever took. Tom Cruise apparently handpicked J. J. Abrahams as a director after seeing Alias,  and was hoping he could bring his spy thriller sensibilities to the big screen. It was Abrahams' feature film debut. So even before he reinvigorated/reinvented Star Trek and Star Wars, he was the man to take Mission: Impossible  in a new direction. He makes this story an intimate one and focuses on Ethan's personal stakes rather than the whole worlds. As a result, this movie doesn't really care what gets the IMF on its mission and instead uses one of the macguffiest MacGuffins, "the rabbit's foot", of which no one really knows anything about except that the bad guys shouldn't get their hands on it.  The movie still works nonetheless. Ethan is more desperate than ever as his newly introduced wife is abducted by the vicious Owen Davian. He is played by the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman who gives an absolutely brilliant portrayal of the villain. And while the movie is intense manages to throw you some curveballs, it doesn't quite manage too stand out. Maybe because it is lacking a distinct and totally bonkers action scene, which has kind of became the trademark of the franchise. It is still a very good movie though and it deserves more appreciation than it gets. After all its the one film in the franchise that fully understands how awesome it is to see Tom Cruise run. Seriously, there is a 3 minute sequence that is basically just him running (including a 20 second long take of him in full sprint). It is absolutely magnificent!

Biggest Stunt: In a very cool and tense sequence, Ethan engages in some jumping off and then swinging onto another building shenanigans involving the Jin Mao, Oriental Pearl and Bank of China Tower. See it here!

MVP: Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his outstanding performance. "You have a wife, girlfriend? Because you know what I'm gonna do next? I'm gonna find her, whoever she is, I'm gonna find her and I'm gonna hurt her. I'm gonna make her bleed, and cry, and call out your name." Hoffman's delivery of these lines give you the chills.  
                          
Mask Reveals: 2               Quality of Cruise-Running: 6/5             Hair Rating: C+

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

By now, the three of us have a fully choreographed dancing routine to the Mission Impossible theme. I’m super excited. The fourth one is my favorite of the franchise. It is one of those movies I can put on any given time and I’ll have a blast. First of all, they really double down on the team aspect of the series and in every action set piece, everyone gets something to do. We also really get the globe trotting vibes as the movie switches from one distinct location to the next. Russia, the United Arabic Emirates, India, in every scene everything and everyone looks fucking cool (including Cruise with the best hair in the series yet, it just looks fantastic at that Mumbai Party scene). Another aspect I love about this movie ist hat close to all the tech the team uses fails at some point. Apart from being a clever was to create tension, this additionally makes for some great humor. This probably the funniest of all the Mission: Impossible movies. But of course you can’t talk about this movie without addressing the astonishing Burj Khalifa sequence. Tom Cruise climbing up the tallest building on earth is freaking intense to watch and one of the greatest stunts of all. But even after that, we are treated to a „spies in disguise“ scene that is as classic as it is entertaining. From there we transition directly into a brilliant fight scene between Paula Patton and Léa Seydoux, as well as a Sandstorm foot chase with high quality Cruise running. The whole sequence is just perfect action cinema. So much so, that B.A. claims it kind of ruins the finale of the film, because it can’t come close to anything happening in Dubai.

Biggest Stunt: Definitely the Burj Khalifa thing! I mean... Look at it: https://youtu.be/WoYXzLSnHVE?t=2m27s

MVP: Brad Bird for making the franchise find its footing after Abrahams gave it a fresh start, and simultaneously creating one perfect popcorn entertainment.
                          
Mask Reveals: 1               Quality of Cruise-Running: 5/5             Hair Rating: A+

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION (2015)
Next up is fifth entry in the franchise and the last one before we head to the theater for the great finale. This time Cruise collaborates with director Christopher McQuarrie who he previously teamed up with on the solid action-flick Jack Reacher and one of my favorite science-fiction action adventures of recent years, Edge of Tomorrow. So this can only be good. And it is. But when comparing it to Ghost Protocol I have a few issues with the film. Firstly, the action beats feel like they are in reversed order. We open the movie to the biggest stunt in the franchise yet: Tom Cruise hanging on the side of a plane while it takes of! It's absolutely bonkers. The next big action beat is a cool, big-scale, but not as realistic looking underwater sequence and then we end the movie on foot chase. Secondly, you get the feeling that McQuarrie hasn't quite figured out what to do with the individual team members and so Ving Rhames and Jeremy Renner are just kind of there, without a real purpose. However, this is not to say that Rogue Nation is a bad movie by any means. Not at all. This movie has a lot of great stuff to offer. There is an opera scene that is so beautifully shot and constructed that it is one of the visual highlights of the series. Rebecca Ferguson's Ilsa Faust is an interesting and fresh new character and the action sequences (although in reversed order) are well choreographed. Also the story is at least a tiny bit more complex than Ghost Protocol's "we need to go to the place to get the thing, then we fail and go to a different place to get another thing" plot. B.A. even prefers this movie over that fourth installment. So I guess it just comes down to personal preference.

Biggest Stunt: The aforementioned and 100% insane plane stunt. Which cements Tom Cruise as being irreplaceable for this franchise. See it here!

MVP: Tom Cruise, because he is irreplaceable for this franchise.
                          
Mask Reveals: 1.5*             Quality of Cruise-Running: 3/5             Hair Rating: C

*Technically its two, but one of them is shown in a What-If scenario so it doesn't fully count.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT (2018)
We rush to the theater only to find a huge line and overchallenged personnel. It takes over 20 minutes until we get to buy our tickets. The cashier tells us the first 2 minutes of the film have already started and asks us whether we still want tickets or wait over two hours for the next showing. We've marathoned five movies for this moment. We are not missing one second! So the three of us make ourselves comfortable at a bar nearby and engage into a deep conversation about the uncertainty of our futures until B.A. orders to stop the depressing talk and get pumped for the upcoming movie. So we do. When we finally sit in the theater and the lights go out to signal the start of the film, a voice in the back of my head tells me to lower my expectations, because the movie could never live up to how much we hyped each other up. But the voice is wrong. Because what follows is one of the most visceral edge-of-your-seat action films I've seen. While I had hoped that the franchise would go back to the lighter tone of Brad Bird, I am not at all disappointed when the movie does the opposite. It just works on so many levels. They have mask reveals that manage surprise you, there is a premium Cruise running and I'm digging that hair-cut. And of course the action. Oh my god! It's the bomb. You get everything you can ask for. Foot chases, car chases, motorcycle chases, freaking helicopter chases, raw hand-to-hand combat, a halo jump sequence and so much more. Every single one of these scenes utilizes practical stunt work as much as possible and is meticulously designed to make your heart stop. Furthermore, this movie really feels like the culmination of the entire franchise. They continue story threads form Rogue Nation, you get the personal stakes from M:I III as well as the spy thriller feel of the original. They care about the team like in Ghost Protocol and Ethan even gets to show off his skill set from M:I II (including kicking, rock-climbing and seduction). McQuarrie even went so far to switch up his directing style for this film so that it once again feels like it was made by a new director. For a fan of the franchise, this is fantastic!

Biggest Stunt: The entire movie? Can I say that? No? Okay, then I guess I'd settle for the crazy helicopter climb + chase. I still can't believe Cruise actually did this. You can get a glimpse of its awesomeness right here.

MVP: Whoever cut together that first trailer for this film. It's amazing. Apart from perfectly nailing the tone of the actual film, it gave us the Henry Cavill fist reloading sound effect and got "Friction" by Imagine Dragons forever stuck in my head. See for yourself!
                          
Mask Reveals: 2               Quality of Cruise-Running: 5/5             Hair Rating: A-

RÉSUMÉ:

We did it. Wow! What a wild ride. I can honestly say that this was one of the funnest movie marathons I've ever done (and I've done a few).  Considering this franchise has so far had 6 installments spread over two decades with 5 different directors bringing their individual perspective to each movie, it is impressive how high-quality these films are. Each of them is great in its own way. Even the second one which is definitely a trashy mess can be enjoyed for that very same reason. While talking about Mission: Impossible we can't help but compare it to the Fast & Furious franchise. Both franchises started as a standalone film and evolved into a long-running series that  reinvented itself through a change of directors and audience's tastes. So unlike Bond, who basically came with a box of catch phrases and tropes, these franchises had to figure out their trademarks on the go. Yes, there was a time when we didn't connect Fast & Furious so strongly with the word "Family" or a habit of drinking Corona Extra. And Mission have only recently started to wonder when Benji will finally get his mask. But what is most apparent is that these two franchises have found their niche in constantly outdoing themselves by featuring a greater and crazier action set-piece in every installment. However, while Fast & Furious replaces their amazing professional stunt team in post-production so that it looks like the actors were taking the wheel, the Mission: Impossible movies are entirely on Cruise control (see what I did there?).  His decision to do all of his own stunts with as little CGI as possible is what truly makes these movies special. He learned to fly a helicopter, he trained himself to be able to hold his breath for six full minutes underwater, he let a real knife get as close as an inch to his eyes, he climbed the tallest building on earth, he held onto an airplane as it took off, he literally put life in danger just to make these films more exciting. Whether you call this madness or genius, this type of commitment is unparalleled.  Only cinema legend Buster Keaton could compete with Cruise for the title of the greatest "I do my own stunts"-actors of all time. And it pays off in the end result. Of course we know that Ethan Hunt is not going to die in the movie, but when you clearly see an actual human being hanging on to a helicopter in mid-air or barely dodging on-coming traffic on his motorcycle, your body sends out distress signals nonetheless. It is breathtaking.
And it would be reason enough to love these films. However, on top of that (with the exception of maybe M:I 2),  the series never forgets its characters and what they have been through. I constantly return to this franchise because I get mind-blowing action, sure. But I also get excited for each new movie because I want to see what Luther is up to, how Benji is doing, if Brandt finally gets is time to shine and whether Ethan will someday have had enough. I personally hope he never does.

So, this is it, my in-depth review of the "Mission: Impossible Marathon". It was endlessly fun, and I want to thank my good friends for joining me on this venture, keeping the stats and doing our dorky "Mission: Impossible Theme" dance. And to every one else I say: Go watch Mission: Impossible! I know that Tom Cruise is a totally insane man. But it is this very insanity that makes these movies crazy good.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

FLASHLIGHT REVIEWS - a collection of the last three months

 Hello there puny humans,

I have been neglecting you, and I am sorry. Stuff got in the way and so I didn't have time to write extensive reviews. I did, however, join the site Letterboxd, a great community which allows you to share your movie going experiences by writing short reviews, keeping a movie diary and creating fun lists. Since writing down quick thoughts is a little easier than going in-depth, I have shared my opinion there instead of on this blog, but I am willing to return to writing longer reviews, because quite frankly, I kind of miss it. But to give you an overview of what I've watched for the past couple of weeks, here is a collection of short reviews (some of which I also wrote on Letterboxd):

Black Panther:

18 movies in and this film still manages to add amazing world-building to the MCU. An immensely stylish movie that has an incredibly cool Bond-esque sequence in its first act. Though the film is almost on the brink of contradicting itself concerning the themes, its ties to real life problems of the POC community give it an unexpected depth. The action in this film is fine (nothing too special) and although our hero battles a villain with a similar set of powers once again (a bit of a Marvel standard procedure when it comes to origin stories), the film has enough other cool stuff going on to make for a compelling and fresh new superhero film.

Loving Vincent:

Citizen Kane meets Post-Impressionism! A great mix of mystery and biopic with a visual aesthetic that is truly unique. It loses a bit of momentum before its final act, but is a brilliant character study and a beautiful piece of art nonetheless.

Wind River:

A fantastic thriller that is told very calmly but is all the more effective for it. The cast, the script, the direction - everything works. If you are a sucker for somber atmospheres, a neo-western feel and what I call Blood-In-The-Snow films, then you will enjoy this a lot. And just like in "Hell or High Water", writer Taylor Sheridan manages to organically weave in some social commentary as well. As a result, this is a film that really sticks with you after you've seen it. It's scale might be small, but its impact is big. For Fans of "The Dark Valley", "Logan" and "Deadfall".


The Disaster Artist:
This is not only a much needed Behind-the-Scenes look at one of the most strange and crappy movies in the world, it is also so respectful and good-hearted, that you actually deeply empathize with this strange man called Tommy Wiseau.

Ready Player One:
Missing and/or simplifying some of the more intriguing elements of the book, this film still is a fun action-adventure spectacle. Solid popcorn cinema. Not more, not less.

A Quiet Place:

Damn, I love movies with interesting concepts, some kind of world-building and an attention to detail. This film is one of those. Additionally, there is beautiful creature design, awesome sound editing and a powerhouse performance by every single member of the cast. It's masterful! I am rarely a fan of straight up horror films, but I think they can be highly impactful when they borrow from other genres. Here, Krasinski obviously made a suspenseful family drama that just so happened to take place in a horror scenario. As a result, both elements are even more effective as they each elevate the other.

Isle of Dogs:
Something really special. As a cat person, I feel guilty for liking this...


Solo - A Star Wars Story:
Solo is a fun adventure with some great action pieces. I had my doubts about Alden Ehrenreich, but I think he does a pretty good job. And Childish Landino was just perfectly cast. Some of the revelations concerning Han's origin however do not completely work and the way the plot evolves is not that organic. But all in all, I would say there is fun to be had with this, despite its flaws.


Tully:
An unpolished look at motherhood with fun dialogue, sympathetic characters and an intriguing story. I really enjoyed this, and Charlize Theron is fantastic in it.


Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom:
In contrast to popular opinion, I loved this film. The main characters are much less one-dimensional than in Jurassic World and this time the movie actually has consequences for the franchise. There's jokes (not all but most work), big action and even a little horror thrown in the mix. Also the direction is beautiful!


Ocean's 8:
The cast had great chemistry, the jokes worked well, everyone looked cool (Cate Blanchett was gorgeous), the plot was convenient at points but kept me invested (and was still better than Ocean's 12) and the heist was entertaining. This was fun! I'd watch a sequel.


So these are my quick thoughts on the movies I've watched recently. I will pick up on writing longer reviews soon! Till then, feel free to join and follow me on Letterboxd.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

PHANTOM THREAD - Movie Review

Title: Phantom Thread
Running Time: 131 min
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Brian Gleeson

Review:

Paul Thomas Anderson has been an acclaimed director for over twenty years now. Daniel Day Lewis can call three Academy Awards, three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes and a knighthood his own. After these two artists had already collaborated on "There Will Be Blood", they now teamed up for a second time. And if that wasn't intriguing enough, Daniel Day Lewis announced that he would end his acting career after this final film.
I wish he had chosen another project, because to me, "Phantom Thread" is a very frustrating movie. Let's get the positives out of the way first: The cinematography is gorgeous. This movie's shots look like part of photo exhibition at an art gallery. Then there is the sound mixing and the editing that really make sure this quiet films comes alive. Daniel Day Lewis' and Vicky Krieps' acting is on point as well, and it seems that making these characters feel real is a task they master effortlessly. Also, since this is a film about a fashion designer, the costumes are also beautiful to look at.
But then there is the plot of the movie. This story is one of a self-entitled rich old white man whose talents let him to believe his needs are more important than everyone else's. I guess he is supposed to be interesting and suave, but I found his arrogance and lack of empathy less charming than infuriating. Throw in the uncomfortably apparent Oedipus complex and you've got yourself an incredibly unrelatable character. Even the hints of post-war trauma can't help to redeem this entirely unsympathetic man.
The other half of the couple is a woman that doesn't stop admiring him despite his constant disrespect for her. The fact that she talks back to him a couple of times doesn't make up for her constant need of his approval. Their conversations are so very often immature and the more the movie progresses the more toxic their communication becomes. In addition, the film leaves out some important information about them and so it is hard to understand where exactly their affection comes from.
How this movie holds 91% at Rotten Tomatoes and an Oscar nomination for Best Picture is beyond me. This is not a complex love story, this is the romanticization of highly dysfunctional behavior - the relationship dynamics of "50 Shades of Grey" repackaged for a pseudo-sophisticated upper middle class. If you look up "pretentious" in a dictionary, you might just find the plot summary of this movie in there.

For Fans Of:
Elle (2016)
mother! (2017) - if you sympathized with Javier Bardem in that film
The Tree of Life (2011)
Carol (2015)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI - Movie Review

Title: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Running Time: 115 min
Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Hedges, Abbie Cornish, Peter Dinklage

Review:

Martin McDonagh is a genius. Like man film makers he started his career with a short film. But unlike most of his colleagues he immediately got critical recognition for it and won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. He followed this with the now cult classic "In Bruges" as well as the movie everyone tells me they still really want to see, "Seven Psychopaths". All of these works were able to gain critical success despite being full of cussing and violence. Does the next entry in his filmography follow that trend?
Most certainly. "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" is a darkly comedic yet thought-provoking movie full of intriguing characters, witty dialogue and fantastic performances. In that way, it is very much a McDonagh film. It might however be his most accessible work, because the message and themes of this movie are much more straightforward than usual.
In "Seven Psychopaths" Christopher Walken's character quoted Gandhi by saying "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." and it seems as if McDonagh set out to construct his latest film in honor of that statement. This movie is about seething anger, the urge for revenge and about how hatred only generates more hatred. The small-town setting is perfect for this story, as it naturally connects the characters and gives each of them an individual history with someone else. The driving force in this film is the character of Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother haunted by the unsolved murder of her teenage daughter. When she puts up the titular billboards in hopes of provoking the police in such a way that they re-open the cold case of her daughter, she sets the ball rolling. From that point on, McDonagh lets the events escalate continuously. His characters don't care for etiquette and when they clash you can be sure to hear some abusive language and aggressive behavior. And the film feels more real because of it. Somehow, people that curse just seem a little more honest. Additionally, the film gains genuinenes by taking its time to insert a few more quiet and sincere moments in between all the turmoil to give the characters as well as the audience room to breath and absorb everything that's been going on.
This great writing becomes even better through the actors. This is a fantastic cast and everyone is on the top of their game. Fraces McDormand gives such a furious and yet vulnerable performance that you are invested in her fate for every second of this film. Also Sam Rockwell manages to bring out the humanity in a seemingly unredeemable character and Woody Harrelson shines as the unlikely moral anchor of the film.
"Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" is a cleverly written, perfectly acted movie that with all its obscenities, has a kindhearted message at ist core - an absolutely fantastic time. Catch it in theaters as long as you still can!

For Fans Of:
In Bruges (2008)
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Fargo (1996)
Adam's Apples [orig.: Adams Æbler] (2005)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Pulp Fiction (1994)

Click Here To Watch Trailer!

2nd CINEMARTIAN MOVIE AWARDS

 Hello there puny humans,
and welcome to the second annual "Cinemartian Movie Awards". Since readers seemed to enjoy last year's awards, I thought that I would keep the tradition. Additionally, it gives me the chance to honor movies that didn't quite make it onto my top ten list. And this year those were quite a few! Because 2017 was a fantastic year for cinema. After having some fun with categories last time, I tried to run equally wild this time around. So now, I present to you the winners of my prestigious awards:

BIGGEST POSITIVE SURPRISE:
Winner: My Life as a Courgette
I've talked about this movie multiple times, when I reviewed last year's Academy Awards and when I put up my Top 10 Films of the year. So maybe I should start to shut up about this Swiss-French stop motion animated kids movie. But seriously, this was the most unexpected gem of 2017. It was the weekend of the Oscars and me and my two best movie buddies set out to see as many nominated films as we could. Jokingly I said: "Well on Sunday they play 'My Life as a Courgette', we could catch that one as well. Haha." Surprisingly, I got an uber-enthusiastic 'Yes' from my companions. When we stood in line to buy the tickets my motivation was incredibly low. "Thank God I only have to sit through this thing for 70 minutes." Then the film started and I was completely captivated after only five minutes!

BEST USE OF MUSIC:
Winner: Baby Driver

I mean, there really is no competition. The way that music was used in this film was out of this world. Multiple different elements of the soundtrack were utilized to perfectly suck us into the main characters mood and perspective. The action lined up with the rhythm of the songs. The lyrics described the situation our character was in ("Nowhere to run to, Baby, nowhere to hide!"). The music stopped coming out of the left speaker, when Baby wasn't wearing his left earphone. The flow of the music represented how smooth things go (remember when the heist goes wrong and Baby has to restart a song?). And above all, it was just god damn cool music. In an interview director Edgar Wright said that he had a playlist called "Baby Maybes" with over a thousand potential songs for the film. I really want that playlist.

BEST SOUNDTRACK TO WORK OUT TO:
Winner: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

When I saw the trailer for this movie for the first time, I could see Guy Ritchie's fingerprints all over it. Personally, I really enjoy the director's style. I think his movies have a vigorous energy to them that just gets you excited. The same goes for his soundtracks. The score of "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" gets you pumped. Whenever I need a motivational push, I just blast "Run Londinium", "Seasoned Oak" or "Jackseye's Tale" through my headphones. As a Hip-Hop fan I can especially appreciate the head-nodding qualities of the latter. These tracks get your heart pounding and your muscles moving. Furthermore, I also just wanted to give this movie an award because I do not think it deserved the negative backlash it got. Yes, there are a few structural problems, but there is certainly fun to be had with this film.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
Winner: War for the Planet of the Apes
Technology has come incredibly far in the last few decades and often we only notice how good special effects are today, when we see cringy CGI in older films. But this Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy has put me in absolute awe every time watched one of its films for the first time. I am still not 100% convinced that 20th Century Fox didn't train actual apes for this. This is pure movie magic. And the best thing about these films is that they have even more to offer than just outstanding VFX. Andy Serkis is fantastic as Caeser, the cinematography is beautiful and the movie perfectly manages to be a captivating action film and a humanistic drama at the same time.

THE "WHY DOES THIS EXIST?"-AWARD:
Winner: Transformers: The Last Knight

Every time I see a new Transformers movie I ask myself this question. Why? Why? Whyyyy? The first film was an okay Popcorn flick that had more than a few flaws, but was enjoyable for what it was. The more movies came however, the worse it got. This series is one of the laziest, inconsistent and dumbest franchises ever created. There is just so little effort put in these movies that it is an insult for every serious film maker. And yet, the Transformers franchise keeps making money. It's frustrating to see so many people buying movie tickets for crap like that while absolutely amazing films like "Blade Runner 2049" struggle at the box office. For a long time, another one of the worst parts about this for me was that people started throwing these films in the same pot with "Pacific Rim", a movie I love very dearly. But since I have written an article about this I can just refer people to it.

THE "I DON'T CARE THAT THIS EXISTS"-AWARD:
Winner: Beauty and the Beast

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that this movie sucks. But... well... it is the same movie as the 1991 classic. Almost exactly the same. Why do we need this? I mean the film sure has the Disney magic and all, but I could just watch the original for that. The few changes that they made had no additional value for me and in some ways made the movie even worse. So the Beast can now teleport? Why is he moping around in his castle then, when he could be sipping Piña Coladas on the beaches of southern France? And the partially autotuned voices of Emma Watson and Dan Stevens didn't really elevate the material either. The only new thing I actually found cool was introducing LeFou as a homosexual. But that is not what I need these live-action remakes for.

THE "I DIDN'T KNOW I CARED THAT THIS EXISTS"-AWARD:
Winner: Fate of the Furious

I have sneered at this franchise for the longest part of my life. It wasn't until last spring, when I marathoned the entire series in one day (the full experience documented here), that the Fast & Furious movies found their way to my heart. Yes, these films are ridiculous and totally bonkers, but that doesn't stop them from being inventive, caring about their character's history and actually leaving their continuity in tact. They do not take themselves seriously, but they do take their audience seriously. This is also the way in which their are different to the Transformers franchise despite falling in the same broader category of mindless blockbusters. When I finally sat down to watch "Fate of the Furious" I had a blast. I was happy to see outrageous action, cheesy one-liners and a ton of references to past films. If you'd asked me a few years back, I probably wouldn't have believed it. And if you still don't believe it, I recommend Patrick H. Willems' video on why these movies are great.

BEST T-SHIRTS:
Winner: Anything worn by Ben from IT (portrayed by Jeremy Ray Taylor)
"IT" had a lot to offer. The eighties setting gave it nostalgia points, the child actors had really good chemistry, the camera work was great and it was a classic horror story. The one thing that amazed me the most, however, was how cool Ben's t-shirts were. I love tees with creative, colorful and ironically cheesy designs. Almost every time Jeremy Ray Taylor walked on screen with a new outfit I thought to myself: "Man, I want a shirt with that motif!". An Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design would have been nice, but I guess the Academy values elaborate dressmaking over a good eye during shirt shopping.... pff...

BEST "GHOST IN THE SHELL"-REMAKE:
Winner: Blade Runner 2049
The 1995 original "Ghost in the Shell" is not only an amazing anime, but also a great cerebral science fiction film. Through its futuristic setting it explored philosophical themes like the connection between body and soul, the definition of identity, and whether there is such a thing as an objective reality. The 2017 remake starring Scarlett Johansson was an enjoyable film, but failed to be as thought-provoking as its source material - or as visually stunning for that matter. The channel Nerdwriter1 actually mad a great video on how the remake lost the meaningful color pallets and didn't take enough time to let its moments and images sink in. "Blade Runner 2049" on the other hand had all that. It played with colors, touched on the themes of the original "Ghost in the Shell" and had almost meditative sequences that let the audience reflect on what they were witnessing. It was a masterclass sci-fi film cast in the same mold of the beloved Japanese classic.
Of course I also have to address the white-washing concerning the casting of the new "Ghost in the Shell" film, which didn't help the movie either. Their solution to the problem of having cast a white actress for an Asian role actually turned out to be counterproductive as it left room for some bad interpretations. If you get a superior body, they make you white? Urgh, let's not go down that road...

LEAST SEXUALIZED FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER:
Winner: Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman
The most wonderful thing about "Wonder Woman" was that it gave us an amazing portrayal of a female heroine. No compromises were made when creating this amazing amazon. Diana Prince was as bad-ass as she was beautiful, as warm-hearted as she was brave and as much of a team-player as she was independent. She simply was the whole package. Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot depicted the character with respect and grace. Her strength came from within and not from other people around her being incompetent. The film might have had a few flaws, but the portrayal of Wonder Woman was inspiring to men and women alike. 

MOST SEXUALIZED FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER:
Winner: Wonder Woman in Justice League
Only five month after we got a progressive portrayal of a female super-hero, a stick-in-the-mud called "Justice League" came along. Suddenly, Gal Gadot was filmed from suspiciously low angles with her butt right in the foreground of the shot. While the humor between her and Chris Pine had been clever and cute in her solo film, her big comedic moment here was when flash accidentally fell face first into her cleavage. And I could swear that the skirt of her costume has gotten shorter. Yes, she still kicked ass most of the time, but seeing her so obviously sexualized was just a crying shame...

MOST VISIBLE MUSTACHE:
Winner: Hercule Poirot (as performed by Kenneth Branagh in Murder on the Orient Express)
"Murder on the Orient Express" was not a perfect film, but it did have a whole lot of style. In his performance you could see that Kenneth Branagh had a lot of fun with his character, but it also showed in the look he chose for him. While Poirot has always been described as flamboyant, concerned with his looks and proud of his beard, no visual incarnation of the character took it as far as Branagh’s. This mustache is of such magnificent size and style that hardly any movie character can compete. And even though I was watching an intriguing and skillfully acted murder mystery on screen, my mind couldn’t help but wander off and speculate about what effort it would take to grow and groom such (literally) outstanding facial hair. I was impressed and envious at the same time.

LEAST VISIBLE MUSTACHE:
Winner: Superman (as performed by Henry Cavill in Justice League)

This is one of the funniest stories in Hollywood history. Shortly after "Justice League" had stopped filming, Henry Cavill started shooting "Mission: Impossible - Fallout". But then, Warner Brothers Studios needed to do some extensive reshoots for "Justice League". The problem was that Henry Cavill had already grown a full mustache for his role in "M:I 6" and was contractually prohibited from shaving it off. WB Studios begged Paramount Pictures to let Cavill shave anyways, but Paramount refused, because they didn't want to go through the trouble of digitally adding the mustache in post-production (even though WB offered to cover for the expenses). As a result, Warner Brothers had to do it the other way round. They shot the additional Superman footage with a bearded Cavill and had to later remove his stache through the power of visual effects. It was actually rumored that this cost the studio as much as 25 million dollars! Which is insane! This makes Henry Cavill's whiskers the most expensive facial hair of all time, and if you look close enough you can actually notice his fake CGI lip in "Justice League".

MOVIE WHOSE ARC OF SUSPENSE MOST RESEMBLED A FULLY INFLATED BALLOON THAT SOMEONE SUDDENLY WHIZZED OFF:
Winner: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
I know that this award sounds a little contrived, but you'd be surprised how many movies this applies to. In 2017 "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" fit that bill the most. It had a lot going for it in the beginning. First of all, Luc Besson had reached out to design schools world-wide to get diverse creative input for the look of his different alien races. The result was a world filled with a huge variety of interesting and exciting creatures. Secondly, the cold open on the unidentified planet made for an intriguing mystery. And lastly, the market place scene in the first act was an incredibly cool way to use sci-fi concepts for an exciting action sequence. So for the first half an hour or so I was totally on board. But then the film quickly lost me. The character of Laureline (whose name was already cut from the title compared to the comic) could have been a strong female character, but was degraded to an only slightly empowered damsel in distress after the first act. Then Valerian goes on a weird side quest to save her, which only makes the movie lose its momentum and could have easily been cut. Additionally, the secret villain of the story was revealed to the audience very early on, but not to our main characters. When Valerian and Laureline see through his game in the very end and confront him, the viewer already has been knowing almost everything they unveil for about an hour. It simply makes the finale much less meaningful. Seeing "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" start so well but then decrease in quality so quickly was kind of frustrating.

CHAMELEON ACTOR AWARD:
Winner: Domhnall Gleeson

Whenever I get to talk about Domhnall Gleeson I praise him to the skies. Finally, I can make it "official" by awarding him this prize. Consider this an early Lifetime Achievement Award, because Gleeson has already played vastly different characters in films like "The Revenant", "Ex Machina", "Harry Potter" and "Brooklyn". In 2017 he proved his versatility once more by playing an ultimate dork in "Crash Pad", reprising his role as a sleazy fascist in "Star Wars",  chilling me to the bone with his brief appearance in "mother!", giving us a gentle portrayal of a writer suffering from PTSD in the biopic "Goodbye Christopher Robin", and almost overshadowing Tom Cruise with his charismatic performance in "American Made". This guy can do anything! If I were to wake up in a parallel universe where he was cast in every single male role of every film ever made, I probably wouldn't mind.

BEST MOVIE DAD:
Winner: Frank Adler (as performed by Chris Evans in Gifted)

Next to having portrayed seven different characters in over 10 comic-book based movies, Chris Evans has also always had a sweet spot for smaller indie films. In his latest outing, "Gifted", he plays Frank, the legal guardian of a young girl that turns out to be... well... gifted. And even though Frank is technically her uncle, he is the perfect dad. Through the entire film you really believe that he has her best interest at heart and that he puts her needs before his every time. He is kind, intelligent and, you know, played by Chris Evans, so also incredibly handsome and charming. This is one of these main characters you constantly root for, because he is such a good dude.

WORST MOVIE DAD:
Winner: Him (as performed by Javier Bardem in mother!)

I don't think I have to explain my reasoning for this award to anyone who has actually seen "mother!". For those who haven't, I don't really want to spoil the movie. Let's just say Javier Bardem's nameless poet is like a reverse Liam Neeson in the sense that if his child were to be kidnapped, he wouldn't go "I will find you, and I will kill you!", but rather "I will forgive you, and I will love you!"

BEST FIGHT SCENE:
Winner: The "Stairway Fight" in Atomic Blonde

This movie has often been referred to as "Female John Wick". While I see the parallels, it is much more of a spy movie, whereas "John Wick" is a straight up action flick. This is also why I think it is inferior to both "John Wick" movies, because "Atomic Blonde" loses a lot of momentum through a convoluted plot and many dialogue scenes during which the audience isn't really invested in what happens. However, when the action did kick in, it was a roundhouse-kick straight to the face. Damn, these fights were amazing - merciless, brutal and unpolished. Especially, the 7-minute long-take in which Charlize Theron fights herself through a building was absolutely insane! Nobody is pulling their punches, and in the end the characters are so beaten down that they actually need a couple of seconds to pick themselves up again. It's wild! Read my full review of the film here.

BIGGEST REASON TO QUESTION MY SEXUALITY:
Winner: Dev Patel & His unexpected Sexiness in Lion
Unsuspectingly, I walked into "Lion" ready to simply check one more Oscar nominated movie of my list. What I got was not only one of my favorite films of last year but also a surprising feeling of physical attraction to the films lead actor. I couldn't explain it. Dev Patel used to look like one of the dorkiest Indian kids with his lanky physique and jug ears. But when he stepped on screen during the second half of the film, with his hunky beard, his broad smile and perfect hair I was like "Damn! Dev got hot!". In one scene, I even found myself leaning over to my female friend whispering: "Man, check out that nice butt!" If I ever were to enter a homosexual relationship, Dev Patel would be the one to make me do it.

BEST FILM TO BE PART OF A MARATHON:
Winner: Sharknado 5: Global Swarming
It thought about going serious with this one and actually go with "War for the Planet of the Apes". Even when I decided not to, "Fate of the Furious" was a hot contender. But man, I just had to give this one to "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming". This franchise is so ingeniously dumb and trashy. In a marathon, you can witness the already outlandish premise escalate from film to film. And just when you think this series became too self-aware and contrived with its fourth movie, "Global Swarming" comes along, rights the wrongs from its predecessor and actually has some genuinely surprising moments to offer. This movie takes the franchise in a whole new and even crazier direction and the cliffhanger at the end makes you actually excited for the next installment.

BEST CLIFFHANGER:
Winner: John Wick: Chapter 2
Despite the twist ending of "Sharknado 5", the award for Best Cliffhanger has to go to "John Wick: Chapter 2". Firstly, the film makers managed to resolve their main plot before putting in that cliffhanger, and so managed to make this a self-contained story despite the open ending. This is incredibly cool, because it gives this franchise an overarching through-line, while simultaneously telling separate stories in each film. Secondly, the implications of said open ending guarantee an even bigger, even more intense third film. The first movie was a surprise hit that left me wanting to know more about the stylistic and intriguing world it built. The second chapter broadened this world and showed us that the system in which our main-character was operating is bigger than we might have expected. And the way it looks now, the next film will be letting that system collapse over his head and turn into chaos. Personally, I can't wait! I mean, an epic finale to a graphic-novel-esque movie series revolving around Keanu Reeves in gun-fu-mode... what's not to love?

BEST MOVIE I DIDN'T SEE:
Winner: Get Out

Per Definition, I can't really say a lot about this. But of all the films I missed, this movie was the one that popped up in most conversations about 2017's best releases. "Get Out" took the world by storm. Not only did people think that this was a very skillfully crafted horror film, but the social commentary of its story seemed to have transcended that genre. Suddenly writer-director Jordan Peele's name was everywhere. The former sketch comedian got suggested for multiple potential directing gigs by film buffs and movie magazines. Even the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was listening and nominated "Get Out" for four of the Big Five Oscars. Needless to say, I really really need to catch up on this film. Everything I heard about it so far sounds like I would have a lot of fun with it.

BEST MOVIE YOU DIDN'T SEE:
Winner: Jungle

Nobody talked about this film. And I think the reason is that nobody saw it. I, however, was lucky enough to catch this Australian survival drama at the Nürnberg Fantasy Film Festival. While it might not be an entirely perfect film, I believe it deserved more recognition than it got. The soundtrack is vibrant, the characters are well-written and the story is captivating. Also Daniel Radcliffe (who has continued to impress me with his bold and diverse choice of projects) gives one of his best performances. This is a film for fans of backpacking and survival movies, but it is also an interesting study of our main characters mind. On top of that the setting of the Bolivian Jungle makes for some absolutely gorgeous shots. If you go into the movie knowing nothing about its story it will take you on a great ride of wonder, suspicion and tragedy. Check it out when you have the chance!

And now we are done! All the Awards are handed out, and all I have to do is to thank you all for reading this long and silly article. I hope you had fun with my made up categories. I certainly had fun writing them. What other Awards would you have given out? Which ones did you think I gave to the wrong person or movie? Feel free to comment below and be sure to check out  "TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017"-List where I honored my personal best of the best.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017

 Hello there puny humans,
once again it is time to sit down and recap the year of 2017. It was really tough. There have been a lot of great movies this year and I had a hard time deciding which movies I wanted to keep in the list and which I could let go. Because I am basing this on German release dates, Oscar-winning movies like La La Land were still in the run but films like The Shape of Water weren't yet. Also I unfortunately missed the critically acclaimed Get Out. I thought about catching it on DVD before starting this article, but since creating this list was already hard enough, I decided not to.
My rating system is composed of cinematic craftsmanship, fulfillment of potential, rewatchability factor, entertainment value and how the film touched me emotionally aka. personal preference. Even though it's kind of a cop-out considering the title, I will also briefly touch on my honorable mentions (in no particular order) just because I believe that these film definitely need recognition:

MOONLIGHT: This was not only an incredibly important, but also an incredibly well made film. It is a tender exploration of race and sexual identity with outstanding performances by every one involved.

SPLIT: This claustrophobic thriller was a brilliant comeback for M. Night Shyamalan. With fantastic visual story-telling and a masterclass performance by McAvoy, this film could have easily made my top ten. It loses a few points however for associating Dissociative Identity Disorder with criminal behaviour.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII - THE LAST JEDI: My most anticipated film of the year doesn't quite make the cut. Why? Well, I certainly thought the highs in The Last Jedi were incredibly high, but as of now, I'm still torn about some other elements. I think I need some time to completely make up my mind about this film.

WONDER WOMAN: Who doesn't love Gal Gadot? Men want to marry her and women want to be her. Heck, I also want to be her! This film was near to a perfect superhero origin story, with a sincerity and seriousness that I have been missing in some of the latest comic-book outing. It was only the CGI-heavy third act that kind of took it down a few spots.

MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI: One of the best kids movies I've ever seen. This film (of that I thought it was going to be a childish borefest) literally brought tears to my eyes. It tells tales of terrible fates in such an innocent way that it breaks your heart over and over again. Children won't get the darkness of this film, even though it is hidden in plain sight and so adults will have a very different viewing experience. Certainly worth your time.

And now, without further ado, let's dive into the Top 10:

10. "THE BIG SICK"
My number ten spot goes to the movie that was a breath of fresh air in the genre of romantic comedies. It is based on the actual life of main actor and screenwriter Kumail Nanjiani, and it really shows: The Big Sick is multilayered and absolutely genuine. The film is more than a love story as it also heavily features topics like the cultural barriers (including racism in both directions), recovering from setbacks and what it's like to try to build a career in show business. Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan have great chemistry and are two endlessly charming main characters. But also the supporting cast is on the top of their game with Ray Romano and Holly Hunter leading the way. This film is funny, sad, heart-warming and even gets you thinking a couple of times. Because when characters argue, you can usually understand where both sides are coming from and that they actually have a point. It just shows how great the writing is! The Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay is well-deserved.

9. "SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING"
I have expressed my love for the webslinger multiple times in my articles. Naturally I was curious to see what this third cinematic incarnation of the character had to offer. I was not disappointed. It was a blast! I've always loved the first two Sam Raimi Spider-Man films from the early 2000s, because they tell such a classic and inspiring super-hero story. Spider-Man: Homecoming however, captures the feeling you get from reading a Spidey comic like no other film has. Tom Holland is perfectly cast and is able to play both, Peter Parker an Spider-Man, flawlessly. This film had everything you need in a film about the wallcrawler: action, humor and, most importantly, a lot of heart. Even though they took the character to high school for the third time, the movie managed to stay fresh. Director Jon Watts recreated the magic of a John Hughes film and the fantastic Michael Keaton gave us one of Marvel Studios' best villains. That subtle but creepy scene in the car was amazing. I didn't think a Spider-Man movie could still have that much juice in it. This was popcorn entertainment at its best.

8. "LION"
This February release tells the awe-inspiring true story is about a little boy, Saroo, who gets separated from his family in India as child. Shortly after, he is adopted and moves to Australia. But losing his family haunts him for all the years to come and so after 20 years he decides to find them despite having as little information as you possibly can. The first half of the film is set in India and features an incredibly heart-wrenching performance by the eight-year old Sunny Pawar. Having lived in India for four month, I have witnessed the cruel reality of street children with my own eyes and so I found this part of the film extremely engulfing. The second half of the film shows Saroo as a grown man. Among other things this part explores his struggle with cultural identity and what it feels like to look Indian, but not know a whole lot about that country. As someone who has a similar relationship with his heritage, I could completely empathize with the character. Needless to say, this film really resonated with me on a deeply personal level.

7. "DUNKIRK"
Unlike most other war movies, Christopher Nolan tells this story in an unconventionally impersonal way. This took a little bit of getting used to in the beginning, but once I accepted that, I was in for a unique cinematic ride. Nolan proved to me once again that he is one of the greatest directors working at the moment. Like a conductor of an orchestra he has an incredible oversight over every element of his project, manages to use each of those elements to its fullest potential and combine all of them in a way that creates a perfect harmony. Dunkirk was an amazing demonstration of his cinematic craftsmanship. The cinematography, the score, the sound-design, everything was working in unison to fully captivate the viewer. Additionally, the way the different stories were intertwined made sure that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. My heart would bleed if I ever saw someone watch this movie on an airplane or on their phone. This film was made for the big screen!

6. "MOTHER!"

I'll be honest with you, watching mother! made me feel really uncomfortable. When the end credits of this film started rolling my initial thought was: "What the f**k did I just watch?". Back then I would have never thought about watching it again, let alone putting it in my Top 10. But the more I thought about this film the more I started loving it. In a way, this film represents the very essence of cinema itself. The images stick with you, its themes make you think and it starts a vivid conversation. And these things apply even if you didn't like the film. This really seems like it was a personal passion project for Aronofsky. I was put in awe by the unbridled and raw creative vision I was witnessing and it felt like had just stepped into Aronofsky's mind just when he was starting to have a wild feverish dream. But this movie is not great because of sheer shock value, it actually makes a hard-hitting commentary on humanity. Furthermore, this movie impresses with strong leading performances and a masterful direction. Disturbing? Yes! But also a fantastic piece of motion picture art.

5. "BABY DRIVER"

I praised the previous two films for their artistic value and highly competent direction. My number five spot - Baby Driver - can most definitely join the ranks of them, although tonally this is vastly different film. Once again Edgar Wright proves that just because a movie is full of fun and action, that doesn't mean it can't be an impressive display of creativity. The way that he utilizes the soundtrack is ingenious. Not only do the songs match the action, they are also an extension of our main character's emotions. Their tempo, their mood and their lyrics all serve as a door to Baby's inner life. And if that wasn't enough for you, Wright also plays with the color schemes, adds clever foreshadowing and pays homage to old-school Hollywood crime stories. In my initial review I called this film a meticulously crafted, brilliantly edited and perfectly cast music-video-motion-picture-hybrid. And half a year later I still agree 100%. But before I run out of positive words to use, I'll just say: Damn, what a ride!

4. "LA LA LAND"

This film was released over a year ago in mid-January and yet, I still find myself randomly going "Ba-ba-da-ba da-ba-da-ba-ba..." to the tune of Another Day of Sun in my head. Coming to Germany with a lot of momentum after breaking Golden Globes records, La la Land soon experienced some backlash, because audience thought to themselves: "Wait, this is what all the fuss is about? A romantic musical?" But to me, this movie was much more than that. Yes it's true that on the surface this looks like a typical boy-meets-girl story and it's not like Gosling and Stone's dancing and singing was unparalleled or something. But if you just dive a little bit deeper into this film you'll find something truly special. A love letter to the golden age of cinema, a perfect blend of escapism and realism, a deconstruction of postmodernism and over all, just fantastic film making. I had loads of fun with the charming performances, the catchy songs, the playful set-design, the elaborate lighting and the beautiful shots. After this and the fantastic movie Whiplash, I will watch anything that Damien Chazelle puts out next!

3. "IN THE FADE" / "AUS DEM NICHTS"

I am not too fond of German cinema. Not because of a lack of quality, but because of a lack of variety. There are very few real genre films in Germany (like fantasy epics, horror movies or science fiction films) and directors don't seem eager to use a distinct visual style in their film. Fatih Akin is different however. As a film maker he doesn't hide in the shadow of a good story. He elevates his stories through his directorial voice. In The Fade (original title: Aus dem Nichts) is his best work so far. This film captivated me from start to finish. I was amazed how many emotions Akin could solely through images and it reminded of Martin Scorsese's early work. But not only Akin was on the top of his game. Leading lady Diane Kruger was astonishing and I am still scratching my head over the fact that she didn't get an acting nomination at the Oscars. This whole film was an incredibly real portrayal of loss, grief, hopelessness and anger. Deeply personal and endlessly thrilling - I had my heart in my mouth for the entire last 20 minutes of the film.

2. "LOGAN"

After X-Men: Apocalypse came out in theaters, I was convinced that the X-Men franchise was dead. And now, here I am with its latest entry in my number two spot. No doubt, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has always been the best part of these films, but even his first solo movie was terrible. But Logan blew me away. It was such a mature way to tell a superhero story, with a patient narrative style, well-rounded meaningful themes and more than a few moments of sincere vulnerability. And yet, there was still plenty of room for breathtaking and brutal action. In a time where I was sick of almost every blockbuster stuffing itself with self-aware comedy, this comic-book movie dared too take itself seriously. Extracting the characters from a generic superhero story-line and inserting them into a neo-western road movie was another great choice that made Logan so unique. This film looked and felt different, and I thought that was absolutely fantastic. On top of that, the film features Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's best performance in the franchise, as well as newcomer Dafne Keen, a thirteen year-old actress that was able to match Jackman in emotional power and sheer badassery. Finally, Wolverine's last line in the film was one of the best character moments in comic-book movie history. And Logan is one of the best superhero films of all time!

...

1. "BLADE RUNNER 2049"

Dennis Villeneuve is an exceptional talent! After impressing audiences and critics with Arrival, Sicario and Prisoners, he has now created his personal masterpiece. First of all, Blade Runner 2049 is simply a f**king gorgeous film! I want it in a picture frame on my living room wall. These beautiful wide shots combined with flawless visual effects, superb lighting and artistic coloring gave me (and excuse my language here) multiple eye-gasms. But wait, there’s more! Not only is Blade Runner 2049 visually stunning, but it is a perfect cerebral science-fiction thriller as well. Villeneuve respectfully built on the world that the first Blade Runner created. And by broadening its world he was also able to broaden the themes and so he poses multiple questions at the same time. As a sci-fi fan you can find shades of many different films of the genre here, such as Ghost In The Shell, Her, Inception and Ex Machina.

All of this contributed to the film completely sucking me in. Instead of a screening room, I had stepped into a time machine and was transported to the year 2049 in an alternate dimension. It was a completely immersive experience. No virtual reality needed! This is one of these extremely rare arthouse-blockbuster hybrids that has as much of an entertainment factor as it has artistic value. I would even dare to say that it is better than the original.

So that’s my „Top 10“ list for 2017. There were a ton of amazing films and it was hard to chose, but the longer I look at this list, the more happy I am with it. But what did you think? Do you agree or disagree? Are you one of the many people who skipped my number one choice when it was theaters? Did you wonder why Thor: Ragnarok didn’t make the cut? Feel free to comment below! And if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the full reviews for my top 10 choices that you can find on this blog.

Sincerely,
Your Cinemartian