Best of the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival

The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival has come to a close.  Throughout the two weeks of the festival, I saw 38 movies, 31 festival movies and seven regular release movies.  It was an exhausting two weeks and I saw a plethora of movies from all genres and all parts of the world.  In my ten years of attending this festival, this is easily the most movie I have seen but also the strongest year, including eight films that are ranked in my top twenty of the year.  Here are my picks for the best movies and performances I saw at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival.

 

 

 

TOP 5 MOVIES 

 

 

 

 

5 – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Luca Guadagnino)

The hype around this film had been growing ever since it’s premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and the hype is real.  This is a beautiful film about first loves and forbidden loves.  Guadagnino has crafted a love story everyone can relate to.  Filled with beautiful cinematography and outstanding performances from the entire cast, this Oscar front-runner is a timeless love story that will hit everyone in the deepest part of their hearts.

 

 

4 – THE MERCILESS (Sung-hyun Byun)

The Merciless is the best foreign language film of 2017.  This is a hyper-kinetic gangster flick in the same vein as The Departed (2006).  This is a wild ride about a cop who befriends and infiltrats a gangster’s organization, while the gangster is trying to take out the leader of his organization for attempting to kill him.  It’s a wild, original, incredibly entertaining gangster drama that will have you on your toes until the very end.

 

 

3 – THE SHAPE OF WATER (Guillermo Del Toro)

This Guillermo Del Toro fairy tale is something to behold.  A truly original fairy tale that is as enchanting as it is dark and twisted.  Set during the Cold War, The Shape of Water follows the growing relationship between a mute janitor and a man-fish creature being held captive by the government.  Stunning set designs, music, and cinematography are coupled with great performances from Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, and Richard Jenkins to make this Del Toro’s best film since Pan’s Labyrinth (2006).

 

 

2 – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (Martin McDonagh)

Martin McDonagh has his a new career peak with his latest film.  This smart, timely, incredibly funny, yet heavily emotional dramedy about karma, revenge, and justice is one of the best screenplays of the year.  Francis McDormand gives a towering performance and we get top-notch supporting turns from Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Peter Dinklage, and John Hawkes.  Three Billboards boasts one of the best ensembles and screenplays and is a sure-fire Oscar contender going forward.

 

 

1 – I, TONYA (Craig Gillespie)

This biggest mystery for me coming into the festival was I, Tonya.  It was a late addition and I immediately made sure I was going to be able to see it.  Thank God I did, because this is a great movie in every way.  Telling the story of former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, director Craig Gillespie has a made a movie as unconventional and unique as the skater herself.  Breaking the fourth wall, fake interviews, and unique camera tricks, along with an off-the-wall screenplay, we get a complete understanding of what Harding went through and who she is and it is a wild and crazy ride.  Led by one of the best performances of the year from Margot Robbie as Hardin, I, Tonya is one of the best movies of 2017 and the best movie I saw at the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival.

 

 

BEST OF THE REST

 

 

BEST DIRECTOR – Guillermo Del Toro for The Shape of Water

Runner Up – Craig Gillespie for I, Tonya

• Del Toro’s vision is unlike any other and he has crafted a movie that is beautiful in every way.

 

 

BEST ACTOR – Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name

Runner Up – Kyoung-gu Sul in The Merciless

• Chalamet gives such a deeply layered, emotional, mature performance for someone so young and new to the acting game.  The final shot of the film is acting mastery.

 

 

BEST ACTRESS – Francis McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Runner Up – Margot Robbie in I, Tonya

• This was the toughest category to pick, but it is hard to deny the power of McDormand’s performance, as it is her best since Fargo (1996).

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Shia LeBouf in Borg/McEnroe

Runner Up – Nahuel Pérez Biscayart in BPM

• Biscayart is a standout in a terrific ensemble, but LeBouf continues to prove that he is one of the best actors working today by becoming the ticking time bomb that was John McEnroe.

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Olivia Cooke in Thoroughbreds 

Runner Up – Allison Janey in I, Tonya

• Janey will get the Oscar, but Cooke’s dry, emotionless performance is darkly hilarious and oddly moving.

 

 

BEST SCREENPLAY – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Runner Up – The Shape of Water 

• Both films are wildly original, but McDonagh’s dialog is something or true mastery.

 

 

BEST MIDNIGHT MOVIE – Mutafukaz

Runner Up – Blade of the Immortal

• The best animated movie of the year is a coming of age superhero love story told through pop anime.

 

 

BEST FOREIGN FILM – The Merciless

Runner Up – BPM

• I loved both films, but The Merciless is a genre mash and one of the most entertaining movies of the year.

 

 

 

 

OVERALL MOVIE RANKING

1 – I, TONYA

2 – THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI 

3 – THE SHAPE OF WATER

4 – THE MERCILESS

5 – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

6 – THOROUGHBREDS 

7 – BPM

8 – MUTAFUKAZ

9 – BORG/MCENROE 

10 – LAST FLAG FLYING

11 – THE SCYTHIAN LAMB

12 – THE SQUARE

13 – BLACK COP 

14 – THE CHARMER

15 – ROMAN J. ISREAL ESQ.

16 – BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL

17 – GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

18 – UNDER THE TREE

19 – MARSHALL

20 – THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN

21 – FOUR HANDS

22 – ZOO

23 – CREEP 2

24 – NEVER STEADY NEVER STILL 

25 – MON MON MON MONSTERS 

26 – SICILIAN GHOST STORY

27 – LIFE GUIDANCE

28 – BARRAGE

29 – PRE-CRIME

30 – MAUS

31 – SAMUI SONG

 

 

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