Shot from the World War II thriller Dunkirk.
1. Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan has done it again with Dunkirk, a beautifully illustrated and emotionally stirring World War II thriller. A recount of the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, Nolan’s film offers an engaging experience for audiences through its use of three alternate timelines—based at the mole, the sea, and the air, respectively—to tell its story. Dunkirk boasts a remarkable cast of actors, including Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Kenneth Branagh, and its riveting atmosphere is created, in part, by composer Hans Zimmer’s score. Nolan skillfully pieces together the harrowing events of the Dunkirk evacuation into a powerful and stunningly-shot film that is a must-see for all film enthusiasts.
2. Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot has certainly found her place amongst powerful women in the past year with her incredible rendition of Diana in Wonder Woman. DC’s smash hit has transcended the boundaries of traditional superhero movies by placing a woman at the forefront of the action. Girls flocked to theaters upon the film’s release, children dressed up as Gadot’s character for Halloween, and Diana’s picture appeared on billboards and advertisements for months surrounding Wonder Woman’s premiere. Wonder Woman is spectacular not only for its well-choreographed action sequences, dynamic music, and impressive cast, but also for the messages of goodness and bravery that its characters instill in viewers, an especially significant feat for women.
3. Get Out
Jordan Peele’s Get Out is nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the comedy category, a move that many viewers of the horror film have found highly controversial. Get Out has made a giant step toward revolutionizing the horror genre in its underlying satire and criticisms of racism. Indeed, Peele’s film features a black protagonist, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), who visits his white girlfriend’s family and discovers their undoubtedly racist tendencies, and is thus reflective of the lingering fears felt by blacks in American society to this day. Get Out is a film that tests the audience on a social level and redefines horror in a brilliant and thought-provoking way, receiving a 99% by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. Call Me By Your Name
Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name is a coming-of-age story about a 17-year old boy who falls in love with his father’s research assistant during the summer of 1983. Based on a book of the same title, Call Me By Your Name is an examination of sexuality, first love, and desire in a beautiful and melancholy way. Earning a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Guadagnino’s film has left a lasting mark on its viewers as its cast does an incredible job exploring the dynamics between characters, bringing them to life in a believable and intricate manner.
5. Lady Bird
Saoirse Ronan stars as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson in the critically acclaimed Lady Bird, a film examining the relationship between a strong-willed mother and her equally opinionated daughter. Set in Sacramento, California, in the early 2000s, seventeen-year old Lady Bird is a senior in high school who struggles to define herself in her hometown and family structure. Greta Gerwig directs a film that is heartfelt and genuine in depicting the awkwardness of adolescence, and the cast’s stellar performance aids to create another character-driven film that may scoop up a number of Oscar nominations in the upcoming months.
PC: Mark Angyan / Flickr