It’s no doubt that 2017 has been another great year for movies. With so many films, it was hard for our team to choose our favourites from the first half of the year, but we did it! It’s safe to say our team has an eclectic and varied taste in films and we’re excited to see what the rest of 2017 will offer. We couldn’t include every single film we loved so far, but we think this list covers a wide range. Take a look at some of our favourite films (in no particular order) that we’ve seen this year and let us know what your favourites are in the comments below!
Get Out
Get Out is a very original movie that succeeds against all odds in defying genre expectations. It is satirical, suspenseful, interesting, and funny. It’s not without a few faults, but it more than makes up for them with some solid writing, a slow-burn chilling atmosphere, and, most importantly, the very comfortable direction from behind the camera that will put Jordan Peele on the map as one of the next big talents. – Ali Habous
Free Fire
Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire is far and away my favourite movie of the year, and quite frankly it would take something pretty special to change that. Fantastic screenplay, expert cinematography, and masterfully arranged combat geography make this an absolute treat to watch. – Tom Magennis
A Ghost Story
Casey Affleck is a plain white-sheeted ghost in David Lowery’s A Ghost Story, yet the image is so striking it’s never taken for granted. Wrapped up in time and everything that comes with it, the film is a beautiful, haunting exploration into the capacity to understand the boundaries of experience and what tears into such. Stillness fills the screen in lasting moments that will leave you in awe. It’s an astounding work of film and a must-see to any cinephile. – Alex Mateo
A Ghost Story will be released by Mongrel Media in Canada on July 21, 2017.
Beauty and the Beast
My favourite movie of the year so far is Beauty and the Beast. A huge fan of the original animated film, it was magical seeing this fairy tale come to life with an extraordinary cast, heart-stopping new musical numbers and breathtaking visuals! It made me cry and it made me laugh – everything Disney should do. – Joy Knowles
The Hero
The Hero is my favourite film of the year so far for two reasons. One, it was a movie made for Sam Elliott, an actor who I can’t get enough of right now. Two, it’s a beautifully shot, simple story that entertains my filmmaking sensibilities but also just my love of cinema. It reminds me so much of one of my favourite movies of all time, Birdman, and that is impossible to ignore. – Daniel Chadwick-Shubat
Baby Driver
It’s a fun, refreshing and ambitious film that won’t leave my memory for a long time. There’s something in it for everyone. Baby Driver uses visual character development to its advantage by never creating a dull moment. – Ben Scanga
From the very start, and through the entire runtime, Baby Driver is a thrilling, toe tapping blast at the cinema. With compelling, complex characters, a great sense of humour, and a distinctly awe-inspiring style, Baby Driver is definitely a film to look out for. – Daniel Azbel
Logan
Not to take away from the success of Wonder Woman, but Logan edges out ever so slightly as the best superhero film of the year, so far, for me. A dark, gritty film where the story doesn’t get lost in the fact that it’s trying to be dark and gritty, Logan is a departure from what we’re used to with most X-Men films, but it is very much welcome. An action film that should be the standard for all other action films. – Debbie Wang
T2 Trainspotting
Danny Boyle has got the band back together in a sequel that spans 21 years after the original. In this poignant follow up laced with nostalgia we take a look at the whereabouts of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy, and Begbie. Choose life. – Matt Prazak