Best of 2017: Personal Winners and Top 10 Films of the Year

von Clayton Davis · 06.01.2018

We've to the end. At least the end with my take on the year 2017. Choosing the personal winners of the year, along with my Top 10 films.

There's been plenty to love about the year and plenty to hate. Overall, I liked the year and maybe with time, I'll look back with fondness.

I'm proud of what I've seen and what I've chosen.

Check them all out in the gallery.

BEST LIMITED PERFORMANCES
Sandy Martin as “Dixon’s Mother” in “Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Lucas Hedges as “Danny” in “Lady Bird”
Jonathan Majors as “Henry” in “Hostiles”
Matt Damon as “Loki” in “Thor: Ragnarok”
Austin Stowell as “Larry King” in “Battle of the Sexes”

WINNER: Sandy Martin in "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"
(Runner-Up: Austin Stowell in "Battle of the Sexes")

The foul-mouthed mother to the racist cop/anti-hero is sublime and feels like one of those details that adds to the overall greatness of the film a la the "coin-flip guy" in "No Country for Old Men."

BEST VILLAIN
Benjamin Bratt in “Coco”
Cate Blanchett in “Thor: Ragnarok”
Allison Williams in “Get Out”
Bill Skarsgard in “It”
Adam Driver in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

WINNER: Allison Williams in "Get Out"
(Runner-Up: Bill Skarsgard in "It")

Sipping on milk has never looked so good and Allison Williams is the best at it.

BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
Opening Battle in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
Forest Fight in “Logan”
Battle on Crait (The Salt Planet) in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
Spider-Man on the Staten Island Ferry in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”
Wonder Woman vs. The Soldiers in “Wonder Woman”

WINNER: Battle on Crait (The Salt Planet) in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
(Runner-Up: Wonder Woman vs. The Soldiers in "Wonder Woman")

A red ground, heroes rise and fall, and we say goodbye to one of the franchise's most beloved characters. A scene to remember.

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Timothee Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
Jack Dylan Grazer, “It”
Kelvin Harrison, Jr., “It Comes at Night”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”
Algee Smith, “Detroit”

WINNER: Timothee Chalamet in "Call Me by Your Name"
(Runner-Up: Daniel Kaluuya in "Get Out")

No other actor this year made more of an impression in several different films that include his masterful work in Luca Guadagnino's film about first love. He's also an integral and memorable part of "Lady Bird" while having a brief but interesting turn in "Hostiles."

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
Hong Chau, “Downsizing”
Beanie Feldstein, “Lady Bird”
Sophie Lillis, “It”
Millicent Simmonds, “Wonderstruck”
Daniela Vega, “A Fantastic Woman”

WINNER: Daniela Vega in "A Fantastic Woman"
(Runner-Up: Beanie Feldstein in "Lady Bird")

Talk about a performer that not only lives her truth but becomes a beacon of inspiration for so many moving forward. Vega's subtle yet powerful work in "A Fantastic Woman" has meant so much to so many and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Best Animated Feature
"The Boss Baby"
"The Breadwinner"
"Coco"
"Ferdinand"
"Loving Vincent"

WINNER: "Coco" by Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina
(Runner-Up: "Loving Vincent")

It's as if Pixar knew that the Latino culture would be under siege under a new leadership and vocal hate mongers. "Coco's" Latin music infused with a heartwarming and brilliant story is one of the studio's most inventive and honestly, most appreciated yet.

BEST SONG FROM/USED IN A MOTION PICTURE

WINNER: "Un Poco Loco" from "Coco"
(Runner-Up: "The Mystery of Love" from "Call Me by Your Name")

A beautiful and meaningful number that shows the connection of music. Miguel's lively take, partnered with his "friend," invites the audience to cheer, and find the soul of a boy meant to be so much more.

Best Visual Effects
"Blade Runner 2049" (John Nelson, Paul Lambert, Richard R. Hoover, Gerd Nefzer)
"Spider-Man: Homecoming" (Theodore Bialek, Danny Dimian, Lou Pecora, Janek Sirrs, Doug Spilatro)
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Chris Corbould, Neal Scanlan)
"Thor: Ragnarok" (Jake Morrison, Chad Wiebe, Kyle McCulloch, Bruce Steinheimer)
"War for the Planet of the Apes" (Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett, Joel Whist)

WINNER: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" by Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Chris Corbould, Neal Scanlan
(Runner-Up: "Blade Runner 2049" by John Nelson, Paul Lambert, Richard R. Hoover, Gerd Nefzer)

A battle set in space, a battle set on the ground, the creation of animals, characters, all taking place in a galaxy, far, far away. You can't enjoy the world unless every team member is on board, doing their part. Rian Johnson's direction allowed the visual effects crew to explore a new realm for "Star Wars," not seen before, and even more beloved.

Best Sound
"Dunkirk" (Gregg Landaker, Gary Rizzo, Mark Weingarten, Michael W. Mitchell, Randy Torres)
"Get Out" (Jeffree Bloomer, Jonathan Wales, Trevor Gates)
"Hostiles" (Paul Urmson, Wyatt Sprague, Lawrence Zipf)
"mother!" (Simon Poudrette, Skip Lievsay, Craig Henighan, Jill Purdy)
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood)

WINNER: "mother!" by Simon Poudrette, Skip Lievsay, Craig Henighan, Jill Purdy
(Runner-Up: "Hostiles" by Paul Urmson, Wyatt Sprague, Lawrence Zipf)

Something that many won't talk about but this was a defining year for sound work and in the end, "mother!" embodied scares, silence, and the mixing of a world that is both familiar and terrifying.

Best Documentary Feature
"11/8/16" (Duane Anderson, Don Argott, Yung Chang, Garth Donovan, Petra Epperlein, Vikram Gandhi, Raul Gasteazoro, J. Gonçalves, Andrew Grace, Alma Har'el, Sheena M. Joyce, Daniel Junge, Alison Klayman, Ciara Lacy, Martha Shane, Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Bassam Tariq, Michael Tucker)
"City of Ghosts" (Matthew Heineman)
"Cries from Syria" (Evgeny Afineevsky)
"Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond" (Chris Smith)
"Strong Island" (Yance Ford)

WINNER: "Cries from Syria" by Evgeny Afineevsky
(Runner-Up: "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond" by Chris Smith)

The evolution of humanity has always seemed to be that we are doomed to destroy ourselves. Evgeny Afineevsky's portrait of an unconscionable horror is informative and tragic. It inspires all of us to be aware and involved.

Best Production Design
"Blade Runner 2049" (Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola)
"Darkest Hour" (Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer)
"Dunkirk" (Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis)
"The Shape of Water" (Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin)
"Wonderstruck" (Mark Friedberg, Debra Schutt)

WINNER: "Blade Runner 2049" by Dennis Gassner and Alessandra Querzola
(Runner-Up: "Darkest Hour" by Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer)

Denis Villeneuve directs his team to create a futuristic world that is palpable, active and utterly engaging for the viewer. The details of this world are felt in every scene and will be looked upon fondly for decades as a crowning achievement for the genre.

Best Film Editing
"Dunkirk" (Lee Smith)
"I, Tonya" (Tatiana S. Reigel)
"Lady Bird" (Nick Huoy)
"mother!" (Andrew Weisblum)
"Mudbound" (Mako Kamitsuma)

WINNER: "I, Tonya" by Tatiana S. Reigel
(Runner-Up: "Dunkirk" by Lee Smith)

A story is told effortlessly with split screen and at a pace that makes it feel as if you just sat down, leaving you begging for more. Tatiana S. Reigel is a force for the medium and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Best Costume Design
"The Disaster Artist" (Brenda Abbanagandolo)
"Hostiles" (Jenny Eagan)
"I, Tonya" (Jennifer Johnson)
"Mudbound" (Michael T. Boyd)
"The Post" (Ann Roth)

WINNER: "Mudbound" by Michael T. Boyd
(Runner-Up: "Hostiles" by Jenny Eagan)

The South has never looked more desirable and captured accurately as what Michael T. Boyd brings to his choices in Dee Rees' masterpiece.

Best Cinematography
"Blade Runner 2049" (Roger Deakins)
"Hostiles" (Masanobu Takaynagi)
"Mudbound" (Rachel Morrison)
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Steve Yedlin)
"Stronger" (Sean Bobbitt)

WINNER: "Blade Runner 2049" by Roger Deakins
(Runner-Up: "Hostiles" by Masanobu Takaynagi)

Roger Deakins is the definitive cameraman of our generation and he cements it in stone with his work in the iconic sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every way, including it's cinematography.

Best Original Score
"Blade Runner 2049" (Benjamin Wallfisch, Hans Zimmer)
"Loving Vincent" (Clint Mansell)
"Phantom Thread" (Jonny Greenwood)
"Victoria and Abdul" (Thomas Newman)
"Wonderstruck" (Carter Burwell)

WINNER: "Phantom Thread" by Jonny Greenwood
(Runner-Up: "Blade Runner 2049" by Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer)

Jonny Greenwood has been such a staple of greatness in the last few films of Paul Thomas Anderson but he delivered in one of the finest manners as he taps into his classical side in "Phantom Thread." We're all better off for it.

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Call Me by Your Name" (James Ivory)
"The Disaster Artist" (Scott Neudstadter, Michael H. Weber)
"Mudbound" (Dee Rees, Virgil Williams)
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (Rian Johnson)
"Wonder" (Steve Conrad, Stephen Chbosky, Jack Thorne)

WINNER: "Mudbound" by Dee Rees and Virgil Williams
(Runner-Up: "The Disaster Artist" by Scott Neudstafter and Michael H. Weber)

The racial undertones, the riveting love stories, and the complex and complicated snapshot of the human condition are just a few of the powerful gains attributed to Dee Rees and Virgil Williams elegant and classical script.

Best Original Screenplay
"Coco" (Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Alfrich, Adrian Molina)
"I, Tonya" (Steven Rogers)
"Lady Bird" (Greta Gerwig)
"Novitiate" (Maggie Betts)
"Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri" (Martin McDonagh)

WINNER: "Lady Bird" by Greta Gerwig
(Runner-Up: "I, Tonya" by Steven Rogers)

Talk about feeling like a movie spoke to you, but what's even better is that I hear that from just about anyone I talk to about "Lady Bird" and we're all different people. That's an achievement of the story. It's so profound, it actually finds a way to speak to so many. Greta Gerwig has entered into the mainstream as a storyteller and a filmmaker and we are so lucky to have her.

Best Cast Ensemble
"The Beguiled" - Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, Oona Laurence, Angourie Rice, Addison Riecke, Emma Howard
"Hostiles" - Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Rory Cochrane, Jonathan Majors, Ben Foster, Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Stephen Lang, Bill Camp, Jesse Plemons, Sam Shepard, Timothee Chalamet, Q'orianka Kilcher
"It" - Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillia, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hamilton, Jake Sim, Logan Thompson, Owen Teague, Jackson Robert Scott
"Mudbound" - Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Banks, Rob Morgan, Mary J. Blige
"Novitiate" - Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Morgan Saylor, Maddie Hasson, Liana Liberato

WINNER: "Mudbound"
(Runner-Up: "It")

Everyone brings their "A" game, even with the ones that are screentime is extremely limited. With this prize, I get to award Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan, Mary J. Blige, Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jonathan Banks, and Garrett Hedlund in one breath. I can only hope that the Academy may want to institute this award into the future and give it to the film's Casting Director. Next year, I may follow my own advice.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Mary J. Blige, "Mudbound"
Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"
Melissa Leo, "Novitiate"
Lesley Manville, "Phantom Thread"
Tatiana Maslany, "Stronger"

WINNER: Melissa Leo in "Novitiate"
(Runner-Up: Lesley Manville in "Phantom Thread")

Oscar history may look fondly upon Melissa Leo because of "The Fighter," for which she won an Academy Award, but her gift to the world came in 2017 as the complex and terrifying Reverend Mother in Maggie Betts' thought-provoking piece.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Stephen Dillane, "Darkest Hour"
Woody Harrelson, "The Glass Castle"
Paul Walter Hauser, "I, Tonya"
Will Poulter, Detroit"
Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"

WINNER: Sam Rockwell in "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"
(Runner-Up: Will Poulter in "Detroit")

We've been down this road with Rockwell before as he's delivered in performances such as "Moon" and "Seven Psychopaths" but the skilled thespian transcended his own abilities with his work as the racist and "limited thinking" cop in Martin McDonagh's slick, dark comedy.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Diane Kruger, "In the Fade"
Margaret Qualley, "Novitiate"
Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
Emma Stone, "Battle of the Sexes"
Kate Winslet, "Wonder Wheel"

WINNER: Margot Robbie in "I, Tonya"
(Runner-Up: Diane Kruger in "In the Fade")

I've been on record saying that I wasn't sure if 2017 gave us any "all-timers" in terms of the films themselves. One thing I feel strongly about is that Margot Robbie may have delivered one of the most dynamic and imaginative performances of the decade in Craig Gillespie's look at the rise and fall of an icon.

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Steve Carell, "Last Flag Flying"
Timothée Chalamet, "Call Me by Your Name"
James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"
Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"
Jeremy Renner, "Wind River"

WINNER: Gary Oldman in "Darkest Hour"
(Runner-Up: Steve Carell in "Last Flag Flying")

File this one under "All-Timer" as well as Gary Oldman's work as Winston Churchill buries the man we thought we knew and magnetizes the audience with his wit and words. It's one of the finest portrayals of a real person we've never met, bar none.

Best Director
Scott Cooper, "Hostiles"
Sofia Coppola, "The Beguiled"
Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"
Craig Gillespie, "I, Tonya"
Dee Rees, "Mudbound"

WINNER: Dee Rees for "Mudbound"
(Runner-Up: Scott Cooper for "Hostiles")

We watched the Academy reward Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker" and since then, we've seen the likes of Ava DuVernay, Amy Berg, and Lynne Ramsay be passed over, again and again. This year, Dee Rees achieved so much with seemingly so little in her neo-classic that captures the power of friendship, hate, and love, all rolled into an unforgettable experience.

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2017

10. "LAST FLAG FLYING" (Amazon Studios)
Dir. Richard Linklater

Going through the Richard Linklater filmography, you discover his obsession with the theme of time whether it’s in his high school comedy “Dazed and Confused,” his beloved love story of Celine and Jesse in the “Before” series, or his 12-year masterpiece “Boyhood.” In his newest film “Last Flag Flying,” Linklater creates his own type of war film, done in the mannerisms and dialogue we’ve come to expect from the iconic filmmaker. The final result stands tall as one of his finest works yet.

9. "NOVITIATE" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Dir. Maggie Betts

Ambitious and thematically striking, Margaret Betts makes her feature writing and directing debut with the marvelously absorbing “Novitiate.” Flaunting an all-star cast of impeccable actresses, Betts intrigues the viewer to surrender to the film’s intoxicating tale of obedience and self-discovery. It’s one of the year’s most vivid dramas.

8. "COCO" (Pixar)
Dir. Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Pixar is a never-ending machine of originality and evolution. By the middle of their new film “Coco” from co-directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, tears began to fall, and not because of the standard cry-fest sessions they insert into all their films (at least it wasn’t the only reason); it was because the realization that Latin culture was being portrayed to the mainstream, on the big screen, and my 6-year-old daughter was there to experience it. A marvelously crafted and meticulous film that matches its story with unbelievable animation.

7. "CRIES FROM SYRIA" (HBO Documentaries)
Dir. Evgeny Afineevsky
A demanding piece of the mind and information for our soul, the tragic and educational look at one of the greatest atrocities in the history of this great Earth is a riveting and unbearable snapshot that should inspire you to stand up, and take a post. Afineevsky's follow-up to "Winter on Fire" is just further proof that we are in store for so much by this important filmmaker.