Top Films of 2017 25-23 Reviewed

 Since I watched 365 films, I decided to delve into the best films I watched in 2017.

25. Rollerball

Norman Jewison's Rollerball is fun to watch, and its portrayal of a man expressing his individuality in a society that threatens to completely control him is apt even in today's world. The sport of Murderball is brutal and when the executives continually change the rules, he struggles to maintain. Yet he manages to succeed, despite the fact that he will possibly ultimately fail. The sport is interesting, if a bit unrealistic, and the performances, especially that of James Caan, take the story beyond its generic science fiction trappings.

24. Jules and Jim

Truffaut was one of my favorite directors this year, so it was hard to narrow down which films I wanted to put on this list. I picked Jules and Jim because I felt adversarial about it and had to think about the story and cinematography to really understand its value. The film's romantic love triangle is hard to watch, but the characters really grow over the years of their lives. Set during the years surrounding World War II, the film covers the affair between Jim, his friend Jules, and Jule's girlfriend who becomes his wife, Catherine. The film is beautifully shot, the acting is excellent, and the film is very sad. Truffaut captures the tribulations of humanity in a touching, palpable way.

23. Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen Brothers tend to make two types of movies: serious ones with a bit of comedy and comedic ones with a bit of the serious. Inside Llewyn Davis falls firmly in the former type, and it is often a fairly sad movie. Llewyn Davis is mean to those around him, and he generally does not fit the mood of a movie that purports to cover the 1960s NYC folk scene. The film's setting is realistic and aptly captures the beginnings of commercial folk, but the characters seem like ciphers. The well-written story and impressive acting and casting are what leaves an impression. While not the best Coen Brother's movie, it is a fun and welcome addition to their catalog.

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