I checked out A LOT of DVDs this year from the Orange County Library System. This list compiles my ten favorites. Happy watching!
10. Atomic Blonde
Charlize Theron teams up with David Leitch, co-director of John Wick, to deliver a hard-hitting, gorgeously stylized action film that puts others in the genre to shame. Theron absolutely owns the lead role, and delivers a highly enjoyable slug-fest that is hopefully only the first in an ongoing series.
9. Paterson
Jim Jarmusch’s new slice-of-life drama centers on a quiet, mild-mannered bus driver and aspiring poet. This movie has no big action set pieces, but what it does have is plenty of emotional heft, and a central character who just wants to live his life the way he wants in a world that has moved beyond his simpler tastes.
8. Don't Think Twice
Improv comedy has grown in popularity in the last decade or so, and this movie is a perfect example of what an improvisation troupe must go through to stay relevant in an ever-growing comedy landscape. Full of smart humor, this film brings lots of laughs with thoughtful, relatable characters.
7. Baby Driver
Edgar Wright, cult director and film fan hero, returns with his most polished and slick film to date. Wright takes his love of heist movies and music and combines the two into a one-of-a-kind film that perfectly mixes visuals and soundtrack. Unlike anything you’ve seen before. A truly original work.
6. Landline
Director Gillian Robespierre and Actress Jenney Slate team up once again to deliver a comedy about two sisters growing up in the mid-1990s. Parental drama and romantic crises abound, but at the heart of this winner is the strong bond between two sisters who help each other figure out life’s big questions.
5. The Big Sick
Popular comedian Kumail Nanjiani and writer Emily V. Gordon bring the true story of how they met and fell in love to the big screen, in one of the most touching and realistic romantic comedies I have ever seen. Perfect for movie lovers who enjoy their laughs with a side of feels.
4. Wind River
Director Taylor Sheridan, one of Hollywood’s newest and rising talents, returns with this slickly made murder mystery set in the frozen plains of a Native American reservation in Wyoming. The film keeps you fully engaged and guessing until a truly unforgettable climax.
3. Get Out
Get Out might be Jordan Peele’s directorial feature film debut, but the film holds the weight and artistic maturity of an experienced auteur. Horror and social commentary intertwine in fresh and exciting ways to make this the most unique thriller to come along in years.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
It is true: sequels CAN be better than the original, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 proves that point. The stunning visuals alone would have put this one on my Top 10, but it comes with an epic story and quality character development to boot. Bring on volume 3!
1. 20th Century Women
My favorite movie I saw this year! Set in 1979, Director Mike Mills brings us another thoughtful, meditative masterpiece on what it means to grow up in an ever-changing world, and what different generations can do to better understand one another. Must see!
