Top 5 – Most Anticipated Movies of the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival

At this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, I have 36 movies picked out to see during the festival, with the possibility of a few more late additions as the festival goes on.  This is easily the most movies I have seen during this festival and movies consist of foreign films, Oscar contenders, indies, and horror films.  With the diversity in genre and the amount of movies I will be seeing (plus working and seeing regular released movies) it is going to be an exhausting two weeks, but one I am excited for.  There are so many interesting movies I will be seeing this year, but these are the ones I am most excited for.  Here are my five most anticipated movies of the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival.

5 – BORG/MCENROE (Janus Metz)

Borg/McEnroe tells the story of the rivalry between Swedish tennis icon Björn Borg (Sverrir Gudnason) and the brash John McEnroe (Shia LeBouf) the took place during the 1980’s.  I’m a sucker for a good sports movie, even though tennis isn’t exactly the most exciting sport.  But what warrants this a spot on the list is Shia LeBouf as John McEnroe.  McEnroe was a larger-than-life character when he was playing.  A loud, volatile man who’s game got overshadowed by his antics.  If anyone can portray this, it’s LeBeouf, who with every performance proves how great of an actor he really is (see last year’s American Honey for further proof).  I am always excited to see what LeBeouf does next and this looks like the next step in his growing career.

4 – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Luca Guadagnino)

This movie as been on my radar since January when it made it’s world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.  I was unable to see it at Sundance while I was there, but this movie had the biggest buzz out of any movie.  Everyone I know who saw it loved it and every critic loved.  The film has kept it’s buzz throughout the year, playing like gangbusters at other film festivals and looking more and more like a serious Oscar contender.  I’m excited to see what all the hype is about and hope that it is as good as everyone says it is.

3 – I, TONYA (Craig Gillespie)

I, Tonya was a late addition to the festival and, really, a late addition to the cinematic year.  The film made it’s debut in Toronto and got runner-up for the Audience Award, a huge surprise for a film with little buzz around it.  The movie looks at the life of Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) and her rise and fall in the world of figure skating, including her legendary attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan.  Buzz around this movie is as high as any movie right now, calling this a true Oscar contender and an oddly funny, fascinating film.  I can’t wait to see Robbie as Harding and am confident this will be one of the most unique film experiences of 2017.

2 – THE SHAPE OF WATER (Guillermo Del Toro)

The Closing Night film of this year’s festival is sure to be a magical experience.  Writer/director Guillermo Del Toro is back with an original adult fairytale only a master like him could make.  Set against a Cold War backdrop, a lonely janitor (Sally Hawkins) stumbles upon a secret government experiment that changes everyone’s lives. Del Toro is one of the finest filmmakers and writers working today and layers his films with great characters, deep themes, and outstanding visuals.  Could this be another Del Toro masterpiece like Pans Labyrinth (2006)?  I think the answer is yes.

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

From the first trailer for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, I knew this movie was going to be special.  From the foul-mouthed, vengeful Francis McDormand, to the supporting cast of Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and John Hawkes, to the swift dialog of writer/director Martin McDonagh, this movie was destined for greatness from the get-go.  Buzz from around the festivals is that this movie is great in every way and then some.  It won the coveted Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival and has Oscar nominations written all over it for Best Picture, McDonagh for writing and directing, and its performances.  I didn’t think McDonagh would ever surpass his masterful debut In Bruges (2008), but Three Billboards looks to be one of 2017’s best, which is why it is my most anticipated movie of the 2017 Chicago International Film Festival.

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