#EDITORSNOTE: TEAM MR. WILL 2017 TOP TENS

Truly we are blessed to work with an outstanding Team whom we wouldn’t be able to do it without. While you will see many Year’s Best Lists pop-up around this time of year, what makes our Team unique is that we genuinely are paying Filmgoers like you. These are real opinions without the critical pretension, of individuals who know a lot about Film and individuals who live and breathe Film. We all work day and night jobs like all of you, juggling screenings and junkets into our crazy schedules for the love of Film.

We thank David Baldwin, Jonathan Godfrey, Siobhán Rich, Amanda Gilmore and Justin Waldman for their amazing work on the daily!

We thank you for joining us on our adventures throughout the year and hope you’ll be around as we share our thoughts with you on the upcoming 2018 slate.

From our family to yours!

 

DAVE BALDWIN
The real world may have been a complete nightmare in 2017, but the celluloid world was nothing short of incredible. Each month gifted us with exceptional films that continually surpassed any and all expectations. While there were some terrible stinkers sprinkled throughout, 2017 will go down as a banner year for cinema. There was something for everyone, from blockbusters to indies to everything in-between, and it was incredibly hard to narrow down a list of just 10 of those films. I could easily list 10-20 more genuinely outstanding pictures — it was really that great of a year. And while there is a dark cloud over Hollywood right now, I’d like to think this year’s films prove that we are finally moving in the right direction instead of reliving the past.

1. The Shape of Water
2. The Big Sick
3. Baby Driver
4. Ingrid Goes West
5. Get Out
6. Call Me By Your Name
7. Raw
8. The Disaster Artist
9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
10. I, Tonya

 

JONATHAN GODFREY
The Red Turtle
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Trainspotting 2
mother!
Ghost in the Shell
Blade Runner 2049
Alien Covenant
Justice League
Your Name.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

These are the movies that moved me the most this year. Many of them performed poorly with regards to revenue and reviews. Nevertheless, I enjoyed them deeply, and in my own way. They are all passion projects that were beautiful to behold. So much so that I don’t have an overall “favourite.” I have “favourites,” and I can’t wait to find ten more in 2018.

 

SIOBHÁN RICH

The Big Sick
Call Me By Your Name
Don’t Talk to Irene
Foxtrot
Get Out
Girls Trip
Ladybird
Loveless
The Post
Shape of Water
Split
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I found it incredibly difficult to narrow down my list this year. Presented as always in alphabetical order, this list does not include Logan, Wonder Woman or Baby Driver but does include a movie that was criminally left off TIFF’s list for Canada’s Top Ten. I included a comedy that had people falling off their seats and one that reflects what my family looks like. I also snuck in some early favourites to balance out my top two foreign films from TIFF ’17 and a late entry which blew me away. Finally, I rounded out my top twelve with a few hits from TIFF that will definitely be making a comeback during Oscar season.

 

AMANDA GILMORE

Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
The Florida Project
Get Out
A Ghost Story
Dunkirk
The Shape Of Water
The Disaster Artist
Mudbound
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

My Top Ten are in no particular order. In my Top Ten there are Films that I found unique, told honest depictions of the human condition and/or pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. All the Films showcase outstanding acting, writing and direction done by all involved. These Films are in my Top Ten because no matter what time they came out throughout 2017 they have stayed with me until the end. And will probably stay with me throughout the years to come. Hope you enjoyed them if you have seen them. And I hope you seek out the ones you haven’t!

 

JUSTIN WALDMAN
2017 has been one roller coaster of a year for Hollywood, or Christopher Plummer being in like every movie (ha!). However if you can look past all the horrible things that have plagued Hollywood this year, there are plenty of quality films that hit the silver screen this year. In absolutely no particular order here at my top ten movies for 2017.

The Big Sick
Logan/Wonder Woman
Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
Get Out
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Disaster Artist
The Post
The Shape of Water
Logan Lucky

These films all possess something to them that made them stand out this year, whether it be the subject matter, the performances, the unexpected fantastic ride it took you on, each of these 11 movies gave me something this year. As well they all have massive re-watch value and are endlessly delights to watch.

 

For Mr. Will‘s Best-Of 2017 including Movies, Music and Celeb Spottings, click here!

#BOXOFFICE: “DUNKIRK” CONTINUES LEGACY OF DOMINATION FOR CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Taking the top of the Box Office in its debut is Christopher Nolan‘s eagerly-awaited new Film DUNKIRK, earning $51 million from 3,720 theatres across North America for Warner Bros.  It gets a phenomenal 92% on the Tomatometer from Critics and an A- CinemaScore from Audiences. This lands ahead of 2014’s Interstellar which opened with $47.5 million in 3,561 theatres. Nolan has continued a legacy of domination with these Films, 2010’s Inception and The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Debuting in second with $29.2 million is Universal Pictures’ GIRLS TRIP, which gets both stellar reviews, coming in at 89% on the Tomatometer and a rare A+ CinemaScore also.  The Malcolm D. Lee Comedy plays in 2,195 theatres domestically.

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING is in third with $20 million for Sony Pictures in its third week out.

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES is in fourth with $18.5 million for 20th Century Fox in its second week out.

In fifth is VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS with $16.7 million from 3,533 theatres for STX Entertainment/eOne Films.  The Fantasy from visionary Luc Besson gets 55% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is Toronto-made WISH UPON with $2.1 million in its second week out for Broad Green Pictures.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS”

eOne Films x Mr. Will want to take Readers to an Advance Screening of Luc Besson’s VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS! 3D Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto
Wed July 19
Yonge & Dundas
7:00 PM

Vancouver
Wed July 19
Scotiabank Vancouver
7:00 PM

Winnipeg
Wed July 19
Scotiabank Winnipeg
7:30 PM

Edmonton
Wed July 19
Scotiabank Edmonton
7:00 PM

Calgary
Wed July 19
Chinook
7:00 PM

Ottawa
Wed July 19
Scotiabank Ottawa
7:30 PM

Halifax
Wed July 19
Scotiabank Halifax
7:00 PM

Victoria
Wed July 19
Silvercity Victoria
7:00 PM

Synopsis:
VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS is the visually spectacular new adventure film from Luc Besson, the legendary director of The Professional, The Fifth Element and Lucy, based on the ground-breaking comic book series which inspired a generation of artists, writers and filmmakers. In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha-an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other. There is a mystery at the center of Alpha, a dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

Cast: Cara Delevingne, Dane Dehaan, Clive Owen, Rihanna, Ethan Hawke, John Goodman ,Herbie Hancock, Kris Wu and Rutger Hauer.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

 

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet on Twitter: @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Bon chance.

Stay tuned for our chat with Besson on his exciting new Film soon!

eOne Films release VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS Friday, July 21, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS”

Fresh off her appearance at CinemaCon this week, Supermodel/Actress Cara Delevingne soon will be seen in the exciting VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, which stars Dane DeHaan in the titular role. The new Trailer for the summer release has just been released!

Synopsis:
VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS is the visually spectacular new adventure film from Luc Besson, the legendary director of The Professional, The Fifth Element and Lucy, based on the ground-breaking comic book series which inspired a generation of artists, writers and filmmakers.

In the 28th century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are a team of special operatives charged with maintaining order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the Minister of Defense, the two embark on a mission to the astonishing city of Alpha—an ever-expanding metropolis where species from all over the universe have converged over centuries to share knowledge, intelligence and cultures with each other. There is a mystery at the center of Alpha, a dark force which threatens the peaceful existence of the City of a Thousand Planets, and Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.

See the Trailer:

 

eOne Films release VALERIAN AND THR CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS Friday, July 21, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)