At the halfway point of the 2017 movie season, it’s a good time to check in and see which movies were on the top of their game this year. It’s unlikely we’ll be talking about any of them come Award season but there was plenty of cinematic success to recognize. Here’s the best films and performances according to Movie Hot Take for the first half of 2017:
Best Picture
- Baby Driver
- Wonder Woman
- Sleight
And the winner is…
Baby Driver
The only 5 star flick of the first half of the year was a no-brainer #1. Director Edgar Wright pieces together a great cast, some amazing action set pieces and a musical edge that just work flawlessly and gave us the best pic of 2017 so far.
Best Actor
- Hugh Jackman, Logan
- James McAvoy, Split
- Charlie Hunnam, The Lost City of Z
And the winner is…
Hugh Jackman
Jackman saved the best for last for his performance as Wolverine/Logan in the final chapter of a character he’s been playing since 2000. Honestly, Logan didn’t even feel much like a superhero film at times. His performance enhanced the film as much as anything and left a lasting impression.
Best Actress
- Salma Hayek, Beatriz at Dinner
- Jessica Chastain, The Zookeeper’s Wife
- Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman
And the winner is…
Salma Hayek
The performances in this film are more memorable than anything and Hayek’s role as a middle class immigrant thrust into a highly inconsiderate upper class world for a night is eye opening. While the film captures the current political climate and turns it into an interesting plot driver, Hayek’s performance elevates the entire film.
Best Supporting Actor
- John Lithgow, Beatriz at Dinner
- Patrick Stewart, Logan
- Demian Bichir, Lowriders
And the winner is…
John Lithgow
Similar to Hayek, Lithgow elevates the entire film thanks to his performance. It’s important to note that any time Lithgow is in the role of antagonist, it’s likely to be a performance you’ll remember. This one is no exception.
Best Supporting Actress
- Lily James, Baby Driver
- Kirsten Dunst, The Beguiled
- Elle Fanning, The Beguiled
And the winner is…
Lily James
There’s something about her in Baby Driver that stands out above the rest of the cast. Those who’ve seen the film might disagree as I haven’t seen much talk of her performance but, for me, she was perfectly cast and the chemistry between her and Ansel Elgort takes the film up a notch.
Best Animated Movie
- Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
- The LEGO Batman Movie
- The Boss Baby
And the winner is…
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
I think most would choose The LEGO Batman Movie here but there was something imaginative and fresh about Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie that has it just a few steps ahead of The LEGO Batman Movie for me.
Best Screenplay
- J.D. Dillard/Alex Theurer, Sleight
- Tom Flynn, Gifted
- James Mangold/Scott Frank/Michael Green, Logan
And the winner is…
J.D. Dillard & Alex Theurer
You don’t realize Sleight is basically a superhero film until the third act. It hides the fact that it’s an origin story and considering the film is about a street magician, you have to give it some credit for hiding that story in plain sight.
Best Director
- Edgar Wright, Baby Driver
- Sofia Coppola, The Beguiled
- Jordan Peele, Get Out
And the winner is…
Edgar Wright
Wright’s vision and knack for action sequences win out over the other two although any of these three choices I would have a hard time arguing against.
Best Cinematography
- Logan
- The Lost City of Z
- Wonder Woman
And the winner is…
Logan
If you want the full effect of how impressive the cinematography of this film is, watch the black & white cut of the film available on the Blu-Ray or 4K home version of the film.
Best Documentary
- Kedi
- Born in China
And the winner is…
Kedi
Here’s the one film mentioned I’d be unsurprised to still being mentioned come Award season. As far as documentaries go, Kedi is the cat’s meow.
Kedi wins everything in my book ??