It's easy to write my Top 25 and Worst 15 lists. Well, not easy, but I'm certainly not wrestling with my own personal definition of "best" or "worst." It's much more difficult to pick films that I thought were overrated or underrated in a given year, simply because those are such arbitrary labels. Does "underrated" mean that it was a movie that nobody saw? Or was it a movie that critics and fans just didn't really appreciate? I've leaned towards the latter definition in the past (and this year, too), but I've always had some flexibility that results in a little bit of randomness on my lists. Due to the wealth of great cinema over the past 12 months, I've made the decision to refrain from any repeat mentions. That means no film on my Top 25 list will make it on this list- there are just too many good films to use up multiple slots on the same movie. That being said, these are the five films that I thought could have used a little more love from both critics and audiences. Here are my picks for 2017's most underrated movies!
5. VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS
Images courtesy of STX Entertainment
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was never going to be a big hit in the United States. Well, going up against Dunkirk didn't help. But release date woes aside, this weird sci-fi extravaganza is exactly the kind of thing that doesn't do well with American audiences. We can only hope that Luc Besson's film becomes a cult classic in the future. Even with dopey actors, corny dialogue, and a brutal runtime, Valerian is a mind trip unlike any other. It's one of the few films in 2017 that can be described as absolutely bonkers, a visual epic that calls back to the pulp science fiction madness that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. Masterful setpieces, solid world building, and visual innovation around every corner- Valerian is a crazy, wonderful ride, even if there are more than a few bumps in the road.
4. THE DISCOVERY
Images courtesy of Netflix
The Discovery is sometimes lacking in execution, but I'll be damned if it doesn't have some of the most fascinating ideas I've seen in a movie in years. It starts with a peculiar premise- a scientist discovers hard proof of an afterlife- and it only gets better from there. Even with a slightly miscast Jason Segel, the film soars, riding off the high of its ambition alone. Mixing the visual style of Stanley Kubrick with the quiet sadness of modern independent cinema, The Discovery goes in fascinating directions, challenging dominant notions and posing brutal, heartbreaking scenarios. It's not perfect, but it's a difficult and brilliant film with vision. And for that reason alone, it's worth checking out.
3. KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Images courtesy of Fox
Outside of my immediate family, nobody else I know liked this sequel to 2015's beloved Kingsman: The Secret Service. Even people I usually agree with on movies thought this thing was beyond stupid, a painfully disappointing follow-up to a spy classic. I am alone on this island, but I stand by the fact that The Golden Circle is a worthy sequel that delivers the kind of fun I crave from this franchise. Sure, it's rough around the edges and a little messier than its predecessor. But there are so many delightful moments and ridiculous sequences, including, but not limited to, Julianne Moore making human burgers, Elton John fighting baddies, and a wildly entertaining climax. Fun characters, great action, chaotic insanity- what more can you want from a Kingsman sequel? Forget the haters, The Golden Circle rules.
2. FREE FIRE
Images courtesy of A24
It's weird to write about Free Fire as a 2017 film- I saw Ben Wheatley's feature-length shootout at TIFF 2016, and that undeniably provided my most memorable experience with the flick. Nonetheless, when the film hit theaters in April, it became one of the biggest bombs of the year, disappearing completely even with A24 giving it a wide release. And that's just a shame, because Free Fire is a raucous, gruesome, and flat-out wild comedy that deserves to be seen with an audience. It's easy to understand why some people find Wheatley's film to be obnoxious or pointless, but with a group of brilliant character actors working at the top of their game and a vulgar, whip-smart script, Free Fire is a gleefully violent genre outing. Watch it with some friends, and you'll have a great time.
1. BETTER WATCH OUT
In a perfect world, Chris Peckover's wickedly funny horror film would have become a theatrical smash hit and a word-of-mouth sensation. Instead, the daring and unique horror/comedy hybrid ended up with a limited run, finding most of its audience through VOD, which is where I saw the film. And to put it simply- this thing blew me away. Led by the dynamite performance of young Levi Miller, Better Watch Out is demented, maniacally clever, and a blast of fun. Even if you think you know where this thing is going, prepare to be surprised. I'll avoid saying much more for the sake of spoilers, but this one is worth seeking out. At a brisk 89 minutes, this film just never lets up, which results in a razor sharp, sickly hilarious, and downright disturbing good time. Twisted genius.
That's it for this list- check back soon for more 2017 recaps!
5. VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS
Images courtesy of STX Entertainment
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was never going to be a big hit in the United States. Well, going up against Dunkirk didn't help. But release date woes aside, this weird sci-fi extravaganza is exactly the kind of thing that doesn't do well with American audiences. We can only hope that Luc Besson's film becomes a cult classic in the future. Even with dopey actors, corny dialogue, and a brutal runtime, Valerian is a mind trip unlike any other. It's one of the few films in 2017 that can be described as absolutely bonkers, a visual epic that calls back to the pulp science fiction madness that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. Masterful setpieces, solid world building, and visual innovation around every corner- Valerian is a crazy, wonderful ride, even if there are more than a few bumps in the road.
4. THE DISCOVERY
Images courtesy of Netflix
The Discovery is sometimes lacking in execution, but I'll be damned if it doesn't have some of the most fascinating ideas I've seen in a movie in years. It starts with a peculiar premise- a scientist discovers hard proof of an afterlife- and it only gets better from there. Even with a slightly miscast Jason Segel, the film soars, riding off the high of its ambition alone. Mixing the visual style of Stanley Kubrick with the quiet sadness of modern independent cinema, The Discovery goes in fascinating directions, challenging dominant notions and posing brutal, heartbreaking scenarios. It's not perfect, but it's a difficult and brilliant film with vision. And for that reason alone, it's worth checking out.
3. KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
Images courtesy of Fox
Outside of my immediate family, nobody else I know liked this sequel to 2015's beloved Kingsman: The Secret Service. Even people I usually agree with on movies thought this thing was beyond stupid, a painfully disappointing follow-up to a spy classic. I am alone on this island, but I stand by the fact that The Golden Circle is a worthy sequel that delivers the kind of fun I crave from this franchise. Sure, it's rough around the edges and a little messier than its predecessor. But there are so many delightful moments and ridiculous sequences, including, but not limited to, Julianne Moore making human burgers, Elton John fighting baddies, and a wildly entertaining climax. Fun characters, great action, chaotic insanity- what more can you want from a Kingsman sequel? Forget the haters, The Golden Circle rules.
2. FREE FIRE
Images courtesy of A24
It's weird to write about Free Fire as a 2017 film- I saw Ben Wheatley's feature-length shootout at TIFF 2016, and that undeniably provided my most memorable experience with the flick. Nonetheless, when the film hit theaters in April, it became one of the biggest bombs of the year, disappearing completely even with A24 giving it a wide release. And that's just a shame, because Free Fire is a raucous, gruesome, and flat-out wild comedy that deserves to be seen with an audience. It's easy to understand why some people find Wheatley's film to be obnoxious or pointless, but with a group of brilliant character actors working at the top of their game and a vulgar, whip-smart script, Free Fire is a gleefully violent genre outing. Watch it with some friends, and you'll have a great time.
1. BETTER WATCH OUT
In a perfect world, Chris Peckover's wickedly funny horror film would have become a theatrical smash hit and a word-of-mouth sensation. Instead, the daring and unique horror/comedy hybrid ended up with a limited run, finding most of its audience through VOD, which is where I saw the film. And to put it simply- this thing blew me away. Led by the dynamite performance of young Levi Miller, Better Watch Out is demented, maniacally clever, and a blast of fun. Even if you think you know where this thing is going, prepare to be surprised. I'll avoid saying much more for the sake of spoilers, but this one is worth seeking out. At a brisk 89 minutes, this film just never lets up, which results in a razor sharp, sickly hilarious, and downright disturbing good time. Twisted genius.
That's it for this list- check back soon for more 2017 recaps!
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