So it’s a new year, 2018 - I hope everyone had a lovely New Year’s holiday, and that your first day back to the grind hasn’t been too painful. I’ve taken down the Christmas decorations, started at least five new resolutions that probably won’t make it to the end of the year, and began compiling a whole new film watchlist for this upcoming year.

But before I begin new cinematic adventures, I wanted to wrap up last year’s MovieADay Project in style! First, a twist for your viewing pleasure - I’ve actually watched 371 films this year, because I found one that I LEFT OFF my list! I have no idea how, but I never added ‘Blade Runner 2049’ to my IMDb list, which meant it never got on my posted list… and now I’m all sorts of confused.

But moving on from that… I’ve had people ask how I managed to watch so many movies, which movies were my favorite, and what kind of movies have I been watching, so I’m going to dive into my list of 371 films and give you my Top Tens, and a few more fun facts about this past year of film watching.

To start off, I really enjoyed tackling this project. But it turned out to be far more difficult than I thought it would be! One movie a day doesn’t sound like that much of a commitment, but by the end of it I was continuously sorting my watchlist by running time to find something good that didn’t take up two hours or more. What I discovered is that I love watching new films, but I also love rewatching beloved films, or watching TV shows, or reading books, or playing video games… or even turning everything off and just enjoying a quiet night in with some Scrabble and my partner. So often, that two hours or more that a movie takes up in the evening - that’s a precious commodity in our household! So while I’m incredibly proud that I stuck with it and fit in over 365 films this year, I’m looking forward to catching up on all the other forms of entertainment I put on hold to reach that goal. (I’m currently watching season two of ‘The Crown’… it’s just so good.)

Now, to the numbers!

(Note that release dates and other info come from IMDb data.)

I watched:

• 115 films released in 2017.
• 230 films released in the 21st century.
• 52 films released in the 80s and 90s.
• 35 films released in the 60s and 70s.
• And 54 films released prior to 1960.

So even eliminating the 2017 new releases, I went heavily towards films from the last fifteen years. As that’s a good 3/4ths of my current watchlist, that makes sense. But I clearly need to explore film from the 60s and 70s more - I’m taking recommendations for the new year!

I saw 132 films in theaters this year - a little under half of that is from the Seattle International Film Festival, where I saw 53 films. I’m convinced that is how some people can see so many films in a year - if they are constant film festival goers. (Or you know, a film critic.)

Drama was my top genre, which accounted for 208 films on my list. Comedy came in a distant second at 132. And in a list of keywords associated with the films I watched, “Bare Chested Male” made the top five. Thanks, Kylo Ren. (And apparently 86 other dudes.)

I did see 22 documentaries this year - it’s a genre I don’t necessarily avoid, but I don’t actively seek out either. But this year, ‘Chasing Coral’, ‘I Am Not Your Negro’, and ‘The Farthest’ stood out in a group of great docs that have changed my mind about documentary film. So there’s another category where I’d love suggestions for the new year.

And lastly, I watched 40 films directed by women, barely over ten percent of total movies seen. Which is better than Hollywood’s percentage, but still not great. That’s going to be a major focus for my film viewing next year - I’ll be watching way more female-led and directed films, and sharing them with you all in hopes of widening recognition and appreciation of these fantastic women storytellers.

And finally, I give you my Top Ten, both of 2017 new releases, and of my entire 2017 MovieADay Project. The quotes are from my previous reviews, where applicable.

Top Ten 2017 Films

#10. (tie) ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ / ‘Blade Runner 2049’

A fitting tie, really, considering the status of both original works, and the fan response to both sequels. I enjoyed both of these films immensely. As I missed reviewing ‘Blade Runner 2049’ because of a lapse in my list system, I will say it here: That film was GORGEOUS. I loved the cinematography so much. And I enjoyed the angle they took with the new replicants, and tying in the events of the first film, and playing with the question of what is humanity. And the score was great, even if it wasn’t by Jóhann Jóhannsson. But the look of the film. Man. I was blown away.

As for Star Wars, “…I’ve spent so many years loving this Star Wars universe and these characters, and it’s hard to see them in the hands of someone else’s imagination. That all being said, ‘The Last Jedi’ is a film that has a lot to give, and is incredibly aware of the climate in which is was created, and I will join the ranks of fans and critics that are choosing to stand behind it.”

#9. ‘The Big Sick’

“…a brilliantly funny, poignant, and lovely film. While it’s billed as a rom-com, it features an incredibly witty, funny script that had the audience laughing so hard at points that we missed the next several lines (so clearly it’s good for a few re-watches!).”

#8. ‘The Florida Project’

“…there’s no malice in Mooney. She’s the delightful heart of this film, which is played out largely like vignettes, with no major plot to be followed. We explore her world as she does, and the camera often follows at her level - we see this roadside life through the eyes of an energetic 6-year-old, who hasn’t quite grown up enough to realize the unsustainable reality of her situation. But even as we escape with her on her adventures… we as viewers can’t help but see the warning signs of impending trouble with her mother, and when the film reaches its emotional climax, Baker returns to his guerilla-style film roots in a vivid, frenetic final sequence that feels almost like a final fever dream escape away from the coming darkness and into the colorful theme park that has loomed over their lives.”

#7. ‘Brigsby Bear’

“There are some movies that make you smile right at the very beginning, and by the end of it your cheeks almost hurt for holding onto that smile the whole way through. For me, this is one of those films. … There’s a beautiful joy in this film, as James explores life, friends, family, and filmmaking.”

#6. ‘Lady Bird’

“It’s a beautiful little indie coming-of-age story, centering on the brilliant Saoirse Ronan as a high school senior in 2002 in Sacramento, California. Gerwig draws on a lot of her life experiences for the film, which provides it with a rich texture and imbues it with a lovely dose of nostalgia for those who grew up in that similar time (myself included). … The film has a good balance of laugh out loud moments and heartstring tugs, which in hindsight is true to adolescence itself.”

#5. ‘Wonder Woman’

“Finally, a female-driven superhero movie that actually celebrates the character and doesn’t degrade the fact that she is a woman, and she is capable and kickass and caring and can be all these things without any of it being a negative, or a weakness! Seriously, this was the movie I needed right now. Gal Godot perfectly blends fierce idealism with a compassionate heart, and totally captures the essence of the badass Amazonian princess.”

#4. ‘Call Me by Your Name’

This film was gorgeous, and I didn’t give it a longer review earlier because I was still savoring it, from the sun-soaked languidness of the cinematography and pacing to the gentle sweetness of the central love story. And ultimately, the exploration of the time in your life where you are discovering who you are, in so many ways. The acting was outstanding - Timothée Chalamet especially had a hell of a breakout year in 2017.

#3. ‘mother!’

“For me, this is what the film medium was made for. These types of films, these passionate, difficult, intelligent works of art, this is why I love movies. Aronofsky has created a masterpiece. I know plenty of people who disagree - but that’s even more of what makes it art; art is subjective, art should inspire discussion, and great art that makes a statement is often going to be subversive and challenging. I love talking about ‘mother!’ just as much as I loved watching it.”

#2. ‘The Shape of Water’

“Once again, Guillermo del Toro creates a visually rich world that, while centering on a supernatural catalyst, is much closer to the real world than we may want to admit. The tropes of a classic creature feature are here, questioning who is truly the monster, and how do we treat those who are different from us - a common question to be sure, but even more timely in this atmosphere.”

#1. ‘Baby Driver’

I’m going to be honest with you all, I’m struggling with this decision today, because I had forgotten entirely about Spacey’s role in this film until I was pulling poster images for these graphics. Hands down, this was my favorite film of the year. I enjoyed it for a lot of reasons, and none of them had to do with Spacey’s participation. (To the point that I forgot about his presence in the film until now.) But I wanted to admit that I now struggle with adorning this film with praise because of his participation. I’m not sure what the right choice is, if there is one, but in light of my enjoyment of Ansel Elgort’s performance, and the music and editing and artistic precision that created this film, I’m keeping this in the number one position on my list.

“In a way, Baby Driver plays out like an extended music video - when music is playing, the onscreen action is perfectly choreographed to it, whether it’s a high speed car chase or just Ansel Elgort going on a coffee run. And throughout the film, touches here and there (the color palette, the old-timey diner, the vinyl collection) create a stylistic retro vibe that really works. There’s a lot of action, to be sure, but it’s toe-tapping action, and I loved it.”

Top Ten Films from My 2017 MovieADay Project

#10. ‘Sing Street (2016)’

“…it stands out as a vibrant coming of age musical in Ireland during the era of Duran Duran, The Cure, and early MTV. The story is a typical boy meets girl, girl is too cool for boy, boy forms band to get girl. Woven within that structure is an examination of dreams and dreamers, and the course your life can take in the pursuit (or lack thereof) of your dreams.”

#9. ‘Sami Blood (2016)’

“The story follows a young Sami girl in the 1930s who wants to explore a world outside of the Sami way of life, but encounters the discrimination and racism that is far too common against indigenous peoples. She finds that she faces a choice of having to break ties from her family and her culture to become someone else. …it was beautifully shot against the stunning landscapes of Lapland. More impressively, it featured two young amateur Sami actresses who are sisters in real life, which made the sisterly bond in the film wonderfully touching and real. Lene Cecilia Sparrok, who plays the lead Elle-Marja, is a particular standout, with beautifully expressive acting within a dialogue-light film that centers more on facial and body language.”

#8. ‘No Country for Old Men (2007)’

“The devil is in the details, and the beautiful detail shots in this movie were the moments that really stood out. … Expertly filmed and written, the story of a man in the wrong place at the wrong time who goes on the run from a twisted retrieval man (among others) is brutal and fascinating. With echoes of classic Westerns and suspense thrillers paired with the Coen Brothers’ wit, this film kept me on the edge of my sofa seat to the very end.”

#7. ‘The Red Shoes (1948)’

“…the Technicolor usage on this film is simply stunning. The story is about the ballet, and aspiring dancer caught between love and dance. Moira Shearer is exquisite, and it’s great that they cast a real ballerina … as her grace and poise throughout the film enhances the realism of the role. The highlight, of course, is fifteen minute long Red Shoes ballet number, a fantastic meshing of a stage performance and the inner thoughts of the lead ballerina who is dancing it. Fair warning: this is not a ‘Center Stage’ type ballet movie.”

#6. ‘All About Eve (1950)’

“God, this film is good. The script is just phenomenal - [it has] some of the best one-liners (which of course are largely spoken by Bette Davis). She is fantastic in this; Anne Baxter is as well, serving at times as a frankly ominous figure as she moves to step into the spotlight and eclipse her benefactor. … I’ll leave you with one of Margo Channing’s glorious lines: ‘Bill’s thirty-two. He looks thirty-two. He looked it five years ago, he’ll look it twenty years from now. I hate men.’ ”

#5. ‘mother! (2017)’

#4. ‘The Shape of Water (2017)’

#3. ‘Baby Driver (2017)’

#2. ‘Paper Moon (1973)’

“Set in the 1930s Great Depression and Prohibition era, in the flat farm country of Kansas and Missouri, it’s beautifully shot in black and white, enhancing the atmosphere of the period setting. Tatum O’Neal character is the perfect foil for Ryan O’Neal’s smooth-yet-bashful con man, continually showing spunk and sass as they travel together, running short cons and picking up an exotic dancer, played by the delightful Madeline Khan. Peter Bogdanovich directed this film, and considering he also directed ‘What’s Up, Doc?’ which also has Ryan O’Neal and I just adore, I’m surprised ‘Paper Moon’ has just now crossed my path.”

#1. ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)’

“Of course, there’s a feeling of unfulfillment in not knowing what exactly happened to the girls, but that feeling also makes you ruminate on the film long after the credits have rolled. The images are merged spectacularly with eerie, ethereal music during the exploration and almost possession of the girls who disappear, allowing the viewer to create their own ideas and speculations regarding the mystery central to the story. As the policeman’s wife says ‘everyone has theories’, and that in itself really can make the movie speak to anyone who wants to embrace the journey of it, rather than the end. … I really, really enjoyed this film. I want to put it on a loop and just float in the diffused dream state for a while longer. ‘What we see and what we seem are but a dream, a dream within a dream.’ ”

Thank you everyone for following along! It’s been a lot of fun. If you’ve missed any of my MovieADay reviews, you can find them all here.