Best of the Best: The Best of 2017 Part 2

And now my choices for the BEST OF THE BEST films and film related stuff that I experienced this year. As these are my personal choices (and when you see the notes you'll understand that about a few).  That said these are some really cool films and happenings.

And they are in no particular order simply the one they ended up written down

A picture with Sam is probably the best movie picture I took all year. After years of talking Tribeca movies and several failed attempts at getting together to simply take a picture Sam Juliano and I meet in passing outside of a movie theater and snap a selfie before going our separate ways. No plans no great shaking of pillars just two guys recording themselves for an instant for posterity.

All the film festivals this year- Seriously NYFFF, Tribeca, NYFF, DOC NYC, NYICFF, Winter Film Awards, ect ect- you all rocked. The programming truly shined and I had a blast.

Meeting Eric Tsang was just damn cool. The ability to sit down and talk with Mr Tsang, one the greatest actors and most important filmmakers in the world for fifteen or twenty minutes was a delight. That I got to share it with Jared was awesome- and I envy him since he got got spend more time later that night with Tsang when the New York Asian Film Festival finally gave him a life time achievement award.

Interviewing Yoshihiro Nakamura and his wife Yumi was one of the greatest experiences I've had since I started Unseen Films. A wonderful discussion of film, neck ties and New York this was one of the rare times when you find out a filmmaker you really like is just as wickedly cool as you hoped. I only wish that I could ave spent more time at the after party that night and really spoke with them some more.

Meeting Bill Pullman and Jared Moshe was the high point of year's end. Pullman is one of the best actors working today and just a cool dude. That I got to spend time with a man who has so many iconic roles, not to mention makes the ladies in my office swoon was amazing. At the same time Moshe is equally cool and someone I'd like to sit and talk movies with.

Being quoted in the trailers for CITY OF JOY and THE DEPARTURE was really cool. I've been quoted in ads and trailers before but when you find that the people behind a film that you truly love love your words it means  so much more than just "hey I'm quoted".

Eric Clapton at DOC NYC delighted me and excited me to no end. I have no idea why. His 20 or 25 minutes introducing and talking after the film for some reason was just incredibly special- probably because so many people I know love him and just being there I was their surrogate.

The Clive Davis film and concert at Tribeca was just WOW. Talk about soundtrack of your life. It was pure magic

The public screenings at the New York Film Festival rocked. From seeing a world premiere Alex Gibney film where he talked about how it was almost not seen, to seeing a film about the building of the Metropolitan Opera House in the Opera house, to seeing PANDORA"s BOX with an orchestra to the Mathieu Amalric Q&A to  watching Spielberg enter the building, to almost killing Randy Newman to hanging out with friends it was just a blast. Why do I go to public screenings at NYFF? because wondrous things happen.

Brooklyn Academy of Music is a joy. I'm not talking their film programming but their programming of things like the Net Wave Festival where film blends with music, dance and theater to create experiences unlike anything we've ever seen. This was brought home two weeks ago when I saw Bangsokol: A Requiem for Cambodia which transcended one discipline to become a transcendent experience. Long live BAM.

The No Man's Land Sequence in WONDER WOMAN is the moment that superhero movies changed forever

The slaughterhouse sequence, especially the ending, in OKJA is perhaps the best concentration camp sequence I've ever run across. The end of it completely and utterly changed my feelings toward the film and made it impossible for me to see the end of the film as happy. I was crushed

LILA- a lovely short film about a young woman sketching and changing the world changed how I saw the world.

LOVE IN IDLENESS- Kim Noce's retelling of part of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is a visual delight. It is a film I can't shake and can't stop thinking about.

KURO- Greater than the sum of it's parts KURO has haunted me since January. Its a visual story and an aural one that come together to change how you process the world.

RUMBLE-Link Wray and the Native American musicians changed the world and this film shows why and how. One of my top three films of 2017

MATASABAURO OF THE WIND- Not really the best of the year but god damn it's one of my favorites for the simple reason this is what I would want to happen to if a series of children's stories I wrote long ago ever ended up on the big screen

ATOMIC BLONDE - Glorious action ballet

VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF 1000 PLANETS- love it or hate it film is a comic come to life. While it runs out of steam toward the end te momentum keeps it going- and it has  Rhianna in an Oscar worthy cameo

JUNKHEAD- visually arresting stop motion film about life under ground. Amazing.

LIYANA- a group of children come together to tell a story based on their lives.- Its as good as documentary filmmaking can be.

DEAR BASKETBALL- Kobe Bryant says goodbye to basketball in a film that has me sobbing every time I see it

FIX AND RELEASE- turtles are damn near indestructable

TOP KNOT DETECTIVE- send up of crazy Japanese TV shows made by people who know and love crazy Japanese TV shows is just manna from heaven.

LAST FLAG FLYING- clunky plot for sure but the emotional truth of brotherhood, love of country and the moronic nature of bureaucracy transcends all.

LOST FACE - amazing Joseph Conrad based tale is  perfect story telling

FIRST BLOOM- A five minute animated love story of a boy and a princess- think of it as the sort of thing that Ghibli would be proud to claim as their own. I watched it on repeat until my computer locked up

ZAMA- one of those movies that delights on so many levels. While I know people who hate it I clicked with it and its weird vibe and was entranced

ZORN- unfinished look at the composer is a one of the greatest music films ever made- what will this be when it's finished?

KONG SKULL ISLAND - This is the film my eight year old self would have sold his soul to the devil to see. What I originally thought was just a giant monster nostalgia trip revealed itself to be a true cinematic work of art and deeply complex film on repeated viewings

THE DEPARTURE - my pick for the best film of 2017 haunts me to this day. A meditation on life that goes there and back again. It is a mystical religious experience about life and death that moved me on so many different levels.

WHAT HAUNTS US- Movie of the moment reveals in its tale of sexual abuse that we are all guilty of not peaking up. A damning indictment that will leave you broken

LA 92- of all of the films on the LA riots this is the best- and then some. I have no idea how this plays on TV but in a theater with no way to look away, it was a steel toed boot into the genitals and punch in the face. It transcends mere documentary making to become something else entirely

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS screamingly funny film based on the best selling books made me light headed from laughing. More importantly it had the adults laughing harder than the kids because they could see all the humor

And last and most importantly the absolute best cinema related thing to happen was the mere fact that I got to hang with and talk to and see life with all of the people who have become the Unseen Films Family. As much as I love the movies the reason I share everything I'm doing is so that I can expand the circle of all the great people I call friends with whom I share the darkness, the occasional dinner and the constant conversation.  The best thing in films this year are the people that it has brought into my life.

The Best of 2017 Part 1

As with every year my best of the year list is huge Animal Farm like affair that has two parts- the THE BEST OF THE YEAR  and the BEST OF THE BEST. What follows here truly the best of the year films. They are the films and moments that moved me in one way or another. These are the ones that stood out from among the over one thousand films I saw this year. Seeing that many films I am allowed to do a monstrous list of great films- and because these are great films

The last two shots in A MONSTER CALLS- as perfect an ending as humanly possible- and just as valid as the ending of the book (which it tweaked for visual reasons)

The final battle in HACKSAW RIDGE- this is the hell of war.

CORPSE SERIES- funny as all hell horror comedy that just nails it all perfectly. This film needs to be seen because it is just that good.

WHITE HELMETS - moving short about the people who are trying to save Syria. While there are numerous great films about the horrors of the suicidal genocide going on in the country this is the one that has stuck in my brain and causes me to tear up when I think about it

HELL FOLLOWS- Brian Harrison's masterpiece short film plays like a crazed Japanese Yakuza film by Miike on steroids only bolder. I want to see what he does next-hopefully a feature version of this. I truly don't know why this film hasn't been a subject of much love.

REVOLTING RHYMES- hour long TV animation about the big bad wolf and his nursery rhyme nemesis. Its awesome with an ending that has a real and completely unexpected emotional kick.

RICE BALLS- Touching film of a father and a son and lunch. Gems like this is why the New York International Children's FIlm Festival Shorts collections are MUST sees every year.

RAT FILM- a look at rats in Baltimore that is so much more

MUMON- Yoshihiro Nakamura's Samurai "comedy" is an brutal take on the pointlessness of war. It is the master director working at the top of his game to make a film that sneaks up on you and punches you in the face (I probably should put it on the Best of the Best but compared to meeting the director it takes second place)

ANGEL WAGENSTEIN: ART IS A WEAPON- portrait of an artist and contrarian most people have not heard of gets better every time you see it.

1000 JUNKIES- unheralded masterpiece  is an uncomfortable comedy about people trying to score drugs over the course of a day. It was one of the real unexpected pleasures of Tribeca this year that everyone tried to sell to everyone they met as crown jewel hiding in plain sight.

GILBERT- portrait of Gilbert Gottfried that is funny and moving.

KNIFE SKILLS - moving short about a program to reintegrate convicts into society is just great. When it was done I was staring at the screen wondering why this film wasn't on everyone's must see list

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS- Agatha Christie as an exploration of guilt, justice and regret is a well known murder mystery made greater by becoming about something else.

6 WEEKS TO MOTHER'S DAY- Portrait of a woman and her school that forces you to rethink how we teach and treat our children

STREET LIGHT HARMONIES- awesome film about doo wop that is must if you have any interest in the music. This  is going to be a PBS pledge drive staple if they pick it up.

NAILA AND THE UPRISING- wonderful portrait of a woman and her place in history during the first interfada

LBJ- Woody Harrelson deserves Oscar consideration in Rob Reiner's unexpectedly great portrait of a man who would be president. While not wholly factually accurate it still feels emotionally right

TRENCH 11- One of the best horror films of the year takes the tired military monster film and makes it truly scary and compelling.

4 SISTERS- Claude Lanzmann revisits his SHOAH material and turns out wonderful portraits of four women who survived the horrors

TOM OF FINLAND- excellent portrait of the erotic artist may not be graphic enough for some but it still manages to be a touching film about following your heart and changing your world.

STANDING UP- possibly the best film on stand up comedy that I've seen

QUEERCORE:HOW TO PUNK A REVOLUTION- the story of how a couple of kids invented a movement and changed the world. Gritty, raw and alive.

THIS IS CONGO A look at what is going on in Congo from every side does what every documentary should do but doesn't.

BEATRICE- beautiful portrait of a young woman who won't let the loss of her limbs stop her from being the best fencer she can be.

FIRST REFORMED - Paul Schrader's newest film showed up unexpectedly at the New York Film Festival and rocked the house. Fueled by an Ethan Hawke performance that could get him an Oscar it's a film about love, loss, lack of hope, penance and redemption that goes into unexpected places with unexpected results. Schrader's best film in years and one of his best films period.

INSHALLAH DEMOCRACY- A look at what it is really like to be living in Pakistan where everyone isn't a terrorist and democracy is taking hold despite Western media's portrayal of it being oterwise

NAPPING PRINCESS A waking dream  and blurring of story and reality becomes something special when you suddenly realize that the film is what cinema is all about.

HALL OF MIRRORS- Portrait of Edward Jay Epstein as he investigates Edward Snowden. A wonderful portrait of a man who has changed the world as we know it.

The Best of the Best follows tomorrow.

The Film Finds of 2017

Every year there are numerous films that don't quite make the Best of the Year list but still require note at the year end. These are the film finds.

MOON OF THE SLEEPLESS NIGHT- Charming stop motion film about a boy and squirrel freeing the moon from a tree. A glorious stop motion animated film that really needs to be seen by everyone

4.1 MILES- crushing film about Greek sailors saving drowning refugees. It will stick in your heart and your throat.

RICHARD TWICE- stunning bio film of one of the members of the group Richard Twice that had me falling in love with some music I had never heard before and emailing to interviewing the director

JONATHAN- moving family drama about a young man who has the love of his life re-enter his life just as his father gets sick. A must see.

MAY IT LAST- a super documentary on the Avett Brothers that will make you a fan if you aren't already

THE VAULT- killer caper film with a supernatural twist and a really good cast (including James Franco) who sell the don't think about it plot.

BESIDE BOWIE- wonderful portrait of Mick Ronson that highlights a great musician and shows a side of Bowie we would never see otherwise.

DARK MERIDIAN- one of 2017's best crime films has a crooked police detective getting in over his head. Its a film that proves film noir isn't dead when it's put on screen by talented filmmakers

SAVAGE DOG- Awesome action film of the sort Cannon used to make. Forget the plot it's all motion.

SAVING SALLY- mix of animation and live action is a winning film that delighted everyone who saw it at NYAFF

MAUDIE- Sally Hawkins deserves an Oscar for this tough but touching film about an artist and the man who loved her. And if we're talking Oscars Ethan Hawke should get one too

LOST IN PARIS- off kilter romance  knows it's silly and works it so well you can't help but smile. A must see if for  no other reason than the wonderful set pieces (especially the musical ones)

TATER TOT AND PATTON- wonderful character driven tale probably should be on the best of the year list (attention anyone from the film feel free to claim its there I'll swear to it) but I waffled at the last minute  which kept it off.

HERBIE- fantastic character study with an Oscar worthy performance at its center

D-LOVE- The joy of unexpected meetings changing our worlds. Another film that I should movie to the Best of the Year list but I'm waffling so here it is instead.

THE EXCEPTION- Wonderful historical thriller of the sort they don't make any more with a great cast including Christopher Plummer. Its so good you'll want to know what happened to everyone next.

THE PILGRIMAGE- Bleak drama about moving a holy relic was despised by many critics because it didn't do what they wanted it to. However taken on its own terms its a punch in the face adventure and biting commentary on religious belief.

GREY STATE- sad tale of a conspiracy nut who went off the rails. It will break your heart

GET ME ROGER STONE- Chilling portrait of one of Trump's cronies will help explain how we ended up with Trump in the White House

SIDE A SIDE B- Romance told in song is just an awesome film and one of the best musicals of the last decade. If it didn't wobble at one point I would have put this on the best of the best

WEDDING PLAN- awesome quasi romance is really an exploration of what God wants for us.

RIVER BELOW- What would you do to save the thing you love? Its a tough question

SHIVA- wonderful short film about 20 somethings sitting shiva. A real joy.

ERIC CLAPTON:LIFE IN 12 BARS- excellent look at the man (though not so much the music)

SAVING BRINTON- If you love film you must see this. I'm keeping it off the best of the best only because we don't see enough of the collection

EXPERIMENTAL CITY- one of a kind look at a city of tomorrow that just delights

VIGILANTE- a look at Curtis Sliwa told by the man himself. Riveting from frame one

JESSZILLA- portrait of a young girl who loves to box.

IT'S NOT YET DARK- moving portrait of the late filmmaker Simon Fitzmaurice who said fuck you to death until the bitter end and raised a family and made films all while suffering from Motor Neuron Disease. He is a hero and we all should live life like this.

DON'T KILL IT- Dolph Lundgren finds the role of a lifetime as a weary demon hunter

THE BEANING ponders if the Yankees made a deal with the devil for success-and yes this is a documentary

THE TABLES- wonderful portrait of the ping pong tables in NYC's Bryant Park and the people who play on them.

The Worst and Most Disappointing Films of 2017

Surprisingly the list of bad and disappointing films this year is relatively small. Blame it on not having a readily handy Bluray or DVD player so I was picky as to what I watched and it paid off.

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS- These are the films that aren't really bad but didn't even come close to the promise that the concepts, the festivals or the early talk  suggested that they would have.

PUNK FU ZOMBIE- This zombie film is way too knowing to work. While not bad it's a major misfire when you consider the film was run at Fantasia which normally is good enough in programming you know why a bad film is being run. Being set in Quebec was not a good enough reason to waste our time..

A GHOST STORY- yea the idea of Casey Affleck in a sheet works surprisingly well, but despite some affecting moments this tale of a spirit stuck in one spot breaks apart as writer director David Lowery fucks with time and logic to make a point that really didn't require all the bullshit.

DEVIL'S GATE is the story of FBI agents investigating the disappearance of a woman and child off a weird farm in the middle of nowhere. While the film frequently scores big time with kick ass sequences there are a few too many bumps so by the end you really wish it had been better because what here is so damn awesome that you're sad to see it break apart.

THE ENDLESS- Two brothers return to the UFO deathcult they grew up in only to find things oddly normal. Solid off kilter cult film works like gangbusters until the third act which just gets fucking weird to the point of becoming incomprehensible

DUNKIRK- Christopher Nolan's film is for some the pinnacle of cinema. For others, like myself, its an over rated film that has lots of problems which no one really wants to talk about... because it's Nolan... which is my point he makes horribly messy films that don't really work.

BABY DRIVER- pure form over content. Its the moment I truly realized I will never care for Edgar Wright's work


THE WORST

VOODOO- Hands down the worst film I saw this year (that I remember and stayed to the end for). It is one of the worst found footage films ever made (which is feat since so many suck) as well. The tale of a woman and a death cult the film makes no sense and was filmed in such away that it makes MANOS HANDS OF FATE look like an Oscar contender. This is just increasingly awful levels of awful. This will be the film you are forced to watch on repeat in hell.

LIZA LIZA SKIES ARE GREY is a nostalgic coming of age tale that would have been a bad drive-in film in 1967 when the film is set. Now it's just a god awful film made by a filmmaker whose head is stuck in some weird time warp and other dimension

ASSHOLES got an okay review from me but to be honest the more I've thought about it the worse it seems. More intent on pushing buttons and telling stupid jokes the film has withered and died in my memory

ONE PERCENT MORE HUMID would have been off this list if it was one percent better written. It makes no sense despite some good performances

NOBODY IS WATCHING amazed the hell out of me with the love it found with other writers. The story of an actor working as a nanny does nothing for about 75 minutes and then suddenly rushes to an ending that has no had no build up. I went to the bathroom in the middle of it just to force myself to stay awake and found I missed nothing

THE REHEARSAL- was on my worst of 2016 and again in 2017 because it hit US theaters. Perhaps now that sexual abuse is front page the fact that the film revolves around an adult and a 15 year old will get the film the hate it so richly deserves.

BAD BATCH- How do I hate you let me count the ways. So bad I forgot I suffered through it. A post apocalyptic mess where nothing makes sense from the first frame to the last. People fled the screening room and those that remained stared incredulous at the screen. There are moments but over all this is a giant stinky turd ball baking in the desert sun.

TILT- What a waste of time. Basically a man kills someone on vacation (before the film starts) and then is driven nuts by the guilt until he breaks in the final moments- only to leave us with a cliffhanger of an ending.

FLAMES- Filmmakers revisit their once upon a time love affair. Who cares? Some loved it but most of the people in my audience were sound asleep.

ROCK AND ROLL THE MOVIE should just be set on fire where ever it is found. Unfunny and probably offensive comedy is just best forgotten.