The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland into the Past: 2017

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2017

Blade Runner 2049

Who ever thought we would get a sequel to Blade Runner? This classic science fiction steampunk noir of the future was a complete box office failure upon its initial release. But director Ridley Scott produced multiple different director’s cuts including the ultimate version, The Final Cut, which brought new life to this story. It was not Scott who took the reins again like he did with the Alien franchise but one of the strongest directors of this new generation, Denis Villeneuve, took things to a whole new level. This film is one of the most gorgeous and awe-inspiring looking films ever created. Roger Deakins, arguably the greatest cinematographer in the history of film, crafted a film that is huge in scope, vibrant in colors and effects, and striking in how precise that every shot is. Ryan Gosling’s K walking into the orange fog of Las Vegas is one of the most impressive shots in recent cinema. The film has impressive depth as it navigates the idea of artificial intelligence and life. K (Gosling) as the protagonist is a great choice as we see the film from an artificial being’s perspective and his relationship with Joi (an incredible Ana de Armas) who is a projected being brings plenty of emotion. The empathy that Villeneuve shows for these artificial beings is poignant and effective as the audience is forced to see new perspectives. Deckard returning with a strong performance by Harrison Ford is such a great use of a legacy character to expand upon the story. There are plenty of great scenes as well including the early confrontation between K and Dave Bautista’s Sapper, the Vegas show fight between K and Deckard, and plenty more. When you have a deep and rich screenplay with strong dialogue, themes, and characters matched with an incredibly big world combining impeccable cinematography and state of the arts effects, you have a generational science fiction classic.

Wind River

What did Taylor Sheridan have up his sleeve when he finally took the reins and the director’s chair? With impressive screenplays like Hell or High Water and Sicario, Sheridan showed that he has a great feel for neo-westerns with his themes, motifs, and characters. But with Wind River, Sheridan showed he had the eye for directing as well. This tale takes an agent from the FBI and a wildlife officer as they investigate the death of a young indigenous woman. Native American tribes contributed to the budget for this film because it shined a light on such a tough subject matter. With so many young indigenous women being killed on reservation and their cases being ignored, Wind River is not just a great neo-western…it is an important film. Sheridan has a strong handle in the directors’ chair as he navigates the frigid beauty of Wyoming. The setting is chilling and striking especially with some key moments, including a confrontation between Jeremy Renner and a piece of garbage man who needs to be taught quite the lesson which takes place on top of a mountain. Renner is intense and shaken as a tough man with a past. Cory Lambert (Renner) makes for such a fantastic neo-western rogue anti-hero. Elizabeth Olsen also delivers a strong and emotional performance. She plays that fish-out-of-water character in over her head so well and has great chemistry with co-lead Renner. The mystery of the film has plenty of great twists and turns with layers of complex elements that shows just how difficult it can be to find justice on the reservation for these young women. There is one flashback scene that is incredibly intense and delivers such a visceral and shocking experience with one unannounced actor stealing the show. There is a visceral and intense shootout that also helps craft a top notch third act for this strong neo-western. Sheridan has a great feel for classic western themes and approaches and creates such a great update on the classic western genre.

The Shape of Water

Guillermo del Toro really loves his monsters, doesn’t he? Who doesn’t love the monsters that del Toro creates in his films? His ability to play around with horror and fantasy elements and subvert genres with heart and soul is quite impressive. He certainly accomplishes that with his Oscar darling fantasy romance, The Shape of Water. There is a beauty and darkness to the world of this story. Del Toro is a master of classic fairy tale vibes, and he channels these sensibilities in this fantastical romance. The costuming and production design whisks the audience back in time to a retro period that looks classy but with a rundown and darkened veneer. But it is Alexandre Desplat’s score that is other-worldly, hypnotic, and beautiful that captures the unique and atmospheric feel to this film. Sally Hawkins is a revelation as our protagonist, Elisa, who falls in love with a humanoid amphibian water god. Her silent charm is alluring, and her physicality creates a warmness in a cold world and setting of her workspace in a government facility. Doug Jones, the king of monster creation, is pitch perfect as her amphibian lover. This is certainly a hard sell for many with this unexpected and provocative romance but there is a beauty to it with plenty of heart. The supporting cast is impressive with some of the best character actors in modern cinema. Octavia Spencer is the supportive and strong co-worker and friend of Elisa. Richard Jenkins is a wonderful addition as a gay man who is a misfit in this world just like Elisa and her amphibian lover. This just might be the best performance of Jenkins’ long career. Michael Shannon is a towering presence with impressive and twisted depth to his government agent character who has a demented approach to love and will stop at nothing to stop and destroy the monster of the tale. Throw in the always impressive Michael Stuhlbarg as a Russian spy and scientist and you have one of the best ensembles in recent memory. There is blood and guts but also charm and passion. Del Toro can do it all and does it all in the service of his beautiful and unexpected love story and fairy tale.

War for the Planet of the Apes

How well did Matt Reeves stick the landing for the trilogy of Planet of the Apes that focused on the rise of the apes behind their leader, Caesar? War for the Planet of the Apes is a towering achievement in filmmaking and epic filmmaking. Reeves is one of the best working directors who effortlessly creates new worlds on screen that feel so real and lived in. This feels like it could be our world that has fallen after disease has run rampant on humanity. The progression of the Apes story is so effective as Caesar is confronted by the last vestiges of humanity which has materialized into a brutal, dangerous, and murderous colonel who will stop at nothing to enslave apes and return humans back to their throne of power. This mission is deeply personal as this colonel kills Caesar’s family and sends our ape protagonist on a mission of revenge and duty as he tries to save his people from this destructive threat. The filmmaking of this film is staggering with so many impressive scenes and shots throughout the film. The moment of gunfire intermittently lighting up a cavern with Caesar attacking is frightening and impressively rendered. This is only one example of the top-notch cinematography and directorial eye for the film. The special effects of some of the best in cinematic history. You never once question if these apes are real or not and this is quite the achievement of the VFX team working on War. The stark atmosphere of the film is engrossing. But it is the cast that elevates this impressive filmmaking to a place of all time great dystopian cinema. Andy Serkis, yet again, should have won an Oscar for his empathetic, intense, and moving performance as Caesar which is full of range. Woody Harrelson is intense and frightening as this murderous colonel who goes full blown Kurtz in an idealistic mission of his own making. Steve Zahn delivers a career best turn as Bad Ape who has been through so much trauma. Zahn can express so much emotion, personality, and empathy as this poor chimp who joins Caesar’s team. The action is show stopping every moment it finds itself into the film. Karin Konoval will always be known for her incredible turn as the soulful, kind, and wise Maurice who is one of the best characters in any of the films in this franchise. This is a starkly beautiful and engrossing cinematic experience like few other films can deliver. The emotional conclusion of this film concludes one of the greatest character arcs in modern cinema with a death that hits just as hard as most any other cinematic deaths.

Get Out

Who had Jordan Peele becoming a beloved horror director when they first started watching Key & Peele? Peele showed so much promise during his time creating this sketch comedy show. There are some moments that are honestly scary or unnerving in those comedy show episodes that really planted the seed for Peele to one day reach his moment to release a feature film he directed in theaters. Get Out became a cultural phenomenon which continues to have a hold on pop culture. Peele also opened the door for a whole new wave of creators to explore different genres and inject deeply poignant social commentary into them. Peele’s Get Out works on so many different levels. This is a deeply personal journey of Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) who processes the trauma of his past, the daily racism he deals with, and a search for love and connection which he has never gotten a chance to truly have. Then you have the horror elements with plenty of unnerving moments. Something simple as a cop arriving after your car hitting a deer. But for a young black man, this is a much more uncomfortable and challenging experience. The eerie behavior of all the other black people keeps building up tension. But it is “The Sunken Place” that is the most horrific element of this film. The visual presentation of this realm is haunting and became one of the most iconic elements of the film. The dark twist of the film opens the door for a crazed thrill ride for the rest of the third act of the film that certainly delivers. But let’s not forget…Peele is hilarious, and he finds all the best humor here too. Lil Rel Howery is hilarious and one of the best friend characters you will find in film. Then there is the rich commentary on identity, white liberal racism, black exceptionalism, and plenty more than just gives Get Out the added lift to make it one of the best horror films of the 21^st century. You have a game cast with Kaluuya delivering a deeply affecting performance full of great physical choices that speak louder than his limited dialogue. Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, and Caleb Landry Jones all deliver performances that have so many layers and twists to them in order to make this twisted tale work. Betty Gabriel, Lakeith Stanfield, and Stephen Root also standout in more limited roles but still leave a lasting impact. This film will have you engrossed all the way up to the final (and hilarious) twist that drives this one all the way home.