The Best of 2017: 37th Shadows Awards

I don't use traditional eligibility rules for my lists - I tried, but it got too confusing to balance US and UK release schedules. So this is based on films I saw during 2017 that were screened to paying audiences, either in regular cinemas or at film festivals.

My top film this year is simply the one I couldn't get out of my head. It had a visceral impact while I watched it, and has lingered ever since. I feel like it's one of the most important films made anywhere in recent years. Intriguingly, this is the second year in a row in which a Chilean filmmaker made my best movie of the year.

Note that a much more extensive roundup of the year is at THE 37TH SHADOWS AWARDS, including my top 50 films, longer lists in every category, and frankly more than anyone wants or needs. This is an extremely abridged summary...

FILMS: 

1. A Fantastic Woman (Sebastian Lelio)
2. Dunkirk (Christopher Nolan)
3. God's Own Country (Francis Lee)
4. Get Out (Jordan Peele)
5. Coco (Lee Unkrich)
6. You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsay)
7. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Martin McDonagh) 
8. Patti Cake$ (Geremy Jasper)
9. Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino)
10. Lady Macbeth (William Oldroyd)

DIRECTORS: 

1. Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
2. Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here)
3. Sofia Coppola (The Beguiled)
4. Sebastian Lelio (A Fantastic Woman)
5. Francis Lee (God's Own Country)

WRITERS:

1. Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
2. James Ivory (Call Me by Your Name)
3. Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)
4. Celine Sciamma (My Life as a Courgette)
5. Geremy Jasper (Patti Cake$)

ACTRESSES: 

1. Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth)
2. Daniela Vega (A Fantastic Woman)
3. Salma Hayek (Beatriz at Dinner, The Hitman's Bodyguard)
4. Trine Dyrholm (Nico, 1988)
5. Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)

ACTORS: 

1. Timothee Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Hostiles)
2. Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats)
3. Lakeith Stanfield (Crown Heights, The Incredible Jessica James)
4. Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread)
5. Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Logan Lucky)

SUPPORTING ACTRESSES: 

1. Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
2. Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)
3. Carrie Fisher (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
4. Bridget Everett (Patti Cake$, Fun Mom Dinner)
5. Mary J Blige (Mudbound)

SUPPORTING ACTORS: 

1. John Boyega (Detroit, Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
2. Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
3. Patrick Stewart (Logan, The Wilde Wedding)
4. Thomas Gioria (Custody)
5. Will Poulter (Detroit)

WORST FILMS: 

1. Transformers: The Last Knight (Michael Bay)
2. Chips (Dax Shepard)
3. Stratton (Simon West)
4. Bright (David Ayer)
5. Fifty Shades Darker (James Foley)
6. The Shack (Stuart Hazeldine)
7. Home Again (Hallie Meyers-Shyer)
8. The Snowman (Thomas Alfredson)
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg)
10. Baywatch (Seth Gordon)

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N O N - F I L M   D I V I S I O N

TV SERIES:

1. The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
2. Twin Peaks (Netflix)
3. Big Little Lies (HBO)
4. Veep (HBO)
5. Stranger Things (Netflix)
6. Game of Thrones (Sky)
7. Master of None (Netflix)
8. Black Mirror (Netflix)
9. Queers (BBC)
10. The Carmichael Show (NBC)

SINGLES: 

1. Human (Rag 'n' Bone Man)
2. Sign of the Times (Harry Styles)
3. In the Name of Man (Plan B)
4. Green Light (Lorde)
5. Everything Now (Arcade Fire)
6. Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)
7. Oh Woman Oh Man (London Grammar)
8. Blinded by Your Grace, Part 2 (Stormzy & MNEK)
9. Walk on Water (Eminem & Beyonce)
10. Malibu (Miley Cyrus)

Critical Week: Oscar pulls a switcheroo

The 89th Academy Awards ended with a major upset on Sunday night, as Moonlight won the Best Picture Oscar over seemingly set-in-stone favourite La La Land, which had scooped up almost everything in its path during awards season. And it was made even more memorable when this important triumph was so badly botched by officials from PwC, who gave the wrong envelope to presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty (a 50th anniversary Bonnie & Clyde reunion), who announced La La Land. And it took two long minutes to correct the error. Watching this unfold live was simply astonishing, one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Oscar history. It definitely overshadowed just how amazing Moonlight's win is.

There were hints early on that the expected La La Land sweep wasn't going to happen, as awards were handed out to Hacksaw Ridge, Arrival, Fantastic Beasts and even Suicide Squad before La La Land won its first statuette. In the end, La La Land won 6 awards to Moonlight's 3. Other than Best Picture, there were no real upsets. Speeches were terrific, with pointed political jabs and lots of wonderfully emotional moments.

Jimmy Kimmel did a solid job as host, maintaining his jokes all the way through the ceremony (something few hosts manage). He also gave his continual mocking of Trump a jokey tone. Some of his bits didn't really work (the tour bus) and others were recycled (mean tweets), but his dry approach was very funny, and the ongoing banter with Matt Damon genuinely hilarious.

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Before leaving Los Angeles, I managed to catch up with Get Out, Jordan Peele's superbly original horror drama - witty, scary and very clever. And back in London I headed to a screening of the strikingly original superhero thriller Logan, Hugh Jackman's last outing as Wolverine. On the plane in between, I revisited one of my all-time favourites, Mel Brooks' classic Blazing Saddles, which still makes me laugh uncontrollably.

Coming up this week, we have screenings of the new mega-blockbuster Kong: Skull Island, Kristen Stewart in Personal Shopper, Stephen Fry's Hippopotamus, the Argentine drama Bromance, and the dark romance Fair Haven, to start with.