It’s been a truly lovely year for cinema. So lovely, that this writer simply couldn’t make a top 10! Instead I’ve offered up 12 of the best films that 2017 had to offer.

I won’t be ranking these films, as it would probably take a matter of months before I decide which ones are better than the rest. Besides, the idea of ranking a wonderfully abstract medium such as film gives me a headache. Just watch all these films! Trust me, you’ll have a grand time.

A Ghost Story

David Lowery’s gorgeous tale of life and death perfectly illustrates the idea of cinema as poetry. This delicately crafted story follows Casey Affleck as a sheet covered ghost exploring the cosmos of the universe. Slow, subtle, yet oh so beautiful, A Ghost Story will leave you breathless. Maybe a little teary eyed as well.

Good Time

A frantic fever dream from start to finish, the Safdie brothers have created something exhilarating in Good Time. Robert Pattinson shines as the manic bank robber Connie as he attempts to bail out his mentally challenged brother from jail. A twisted, colorful trek into the underground world of New York City, Good Time represents the best of crime cinema.

Menashe

Menashe Lustig gives a heartbreakingly sympathetic performance in my favorite foreign language film of the year. Based in Brooklyn’s notoriously secretive Hasidic Jewish community, Menashe tells the story of a single father attempting to prove himself worthy enough to gain back custody of his son. Not only is this a beautifully shot film, but A24’s only foreign language film also holds one of the best film scores in recent memory. Like most great films, this is a simple story with fantastic craftsmanship. Menashe should be experienced by all.

Coco

Pixar’s emotionally charged musical escapade into the world of Mexican culture left me floored. A well told folk tale of a story, Coco never stoops below greatness. Mature in its ideas of memory and legacy, Pixar’s latest is one of its best along with being the animation company’s most thoughtful. Definitely bring some tissues for this.

The Shape of Water

Guillermo Del Toro’s love letter to cinema will sweep you off your feet. Labelled as an “adult fairy tale,” Del Toro manages to craft a simple yet elegant fable about a mute woman falling in love with a fish man. A film for the present, The Shape of Water hits melodrama in the most fabulous of ways where it soars in its ambitious ideas and themes. Who knew that this was the film we needed now more than ever.

Lady Bird

Crafted with commanding artistry, Lady Bird brilliantly takes a well-worn genre in the coming of age film and reinvigorates it with a sense of sincerity. Saorsie Ronan and Laurie Metcalf give the performances of their careers as they clash with one another in the most turbulent mother-daughter relationship out there. Director Gerwig seamlessly balances several tones at once as she tells a tale of angst in youthful chaos where the 90 minute film feels like a full life lived on screen. This is a master at work, and Gerwig’s directorial debut could not be more perfect.

The Florida Project

A magnificent look into the beauty and wonders of childhood, The Florida Project exudes humanity with every frame. Sean Baker’s slice of life narrative unleashes a heart wrenching exposé on the lives of impoverished Orlando families as they attempt to survive day by day behind the shadow of Disney World. Led by a stellar cast composed mainly of 6-year-old children, The Florida Project is at times lively, calamitous and oh so lovely. A true triumph, The Florida Project is one hundred percent pure emotion projected through the light of glorious cinema.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Frances McDormand is a ferocious talent. A hilarious, honest portrayal of a mother fighting an unreliable system, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri never stops being a brutal, heartfelt mess. McDormand takes command of every scene as she terrorizes the police department of a small southern town until all hell breaks loose. Three Billboards holds one of the finest casts of the year and uses every star to their full potential in a film that is bound for Oscar glory.

Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan returns to full form with this non-stop war film. A fully in-the-moment feature, nothing can top Dunkirk’s aggressive technical prowess. Let the roars of war shake you while inspiration and horror take foot in this epic. Nolan has crafted his most realist film to date, and his most human as well.

Graduation

A stressful examination of societal moral decay, Cristian Mingiu’s Graduation thrills as it follows a father doing everything he can to make sure his daughter succeeds. It’s a bleak film with more than enough moments of wrongful human action, yet this Romanian film presents the idea of beauty in the simplest of honorable deeds. Not enough people have seen this glorious piece of storytelling, so please try and catch it if you can.

Phantom Thread

A gorgeous, thought provoking piece of beauty, Paul Thomas Anderson presents a complex couple dancing through a tumultuous relationship in this fashion based masterpiece. Daniel Day Lewis gives his final performance as he plays a fashion designer clashing with his more intelligent, forceful partner played by the amazing Vicky Kreips. Aided with a brilliant score by Johnny Greenwood, Phantom Thread exceeds expectations in a film that keeps surprising at every turn.

Call Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name graciously presents an achingly tender story about first love. Timothy Chalamet and Armie Hammer live for each other as their relationship kindles with a vibrant energy. A fire of flirtation, director Luca Guadagnino keeps this film under a dreamlike haze of passion. CMBYN never tries to say much about love, it only exists to show what that senseless word can embody. Honestly, everything in this film fires on all cylinders. Chalamet is a star. Gaudagnino is an artist. Italy is a haven.

Zain Hashmat is a film student from Meridian. An avid lover of film and literature, Hashmat reviewed movies for The Meridian Star during the fall semester. He hopes his passionate reviews will get The Star’s readers excited to get up and go to the movies.