Top 10 Scenes of 2017 in Film

Note: it might seem strange that I've left of several of my favourites of the year, like 'The Florida Project', 'Good Time', 'The Big Sick' etc. off my list of 'Best Scenes'. Well I'd say that for these films, elements of their greatness come more from how scenes are pieced together - for example, in 'The Florida Project' certain scenes taken out of context might not seem that remarkable, but when you view the film as a whole they become rather special. I'll also leave off the superhero scenes which I'd mentioned in my previous post: https://reelandroll.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/superhero-films-2017-showdown.html.

Also, only one scene per film.

Honourable Mention: 'Visions of Gideon' - Call Me By Your Name 

I really enjoyed Call Me By Your Name, though I'll also admit to not being one of its most passionate supporters. I liked the breezy tone throughout, though it created a certain distance from me, and while I found the romance consistently engaging the slow pacing and lack of incidence did occasionally leave me wanting more of something, hard to describe what. I will admit though, that the brilliance of its final scene - and Chalamet's performance in it, and that beautiful song - very much earns the execution of the film work on the whole.

10. Rescuing Okja - Okja 

The (failed) rescue of the titular creature is a standout sequence in Bong Joon-ho's lovely film. Even the weaker elements of the film - Jake Gyllenhaal's performance - work well here, as Bong creates the intensity of the situation with its dark streak of humour rather brilliantly, showing how Mirando is indeed, 'f-u-c-k-e-d'. What really elevates the scene for me though is the poignancy of the moment where Jay (Paul Dano) momentarily loses his reserve, and the subsequent show of Mija (Ahn Seo-Hyeon) and her love for his best friend.

9. First Day of Shooting - The Disaster Artist

The film is filled with great scenes both from within and outside the making of The Room. I'd say this scene is the best example of its strongest assets, with James Franco's Wiseau hilariously giving an 'inspirational' speech to his cast and crew, the perplexed reactions of them towards their new boss, and of course the memorable entrance of Denny and Chris R., with Zac Efron's particularly hilarious rendition of Dan Jangigian's intense pre-shooting routine ('My God, that guy monster!)

8. 'Praying' - Detroit 

If I could describe the whole sequence at the Algiers as one scene it'd be at the top of my list, and there's other great moments in the film too - from John Boyega's memorable interrogation scene to that haunting ending. This short but brutally effective scene is the best representation of why Detroit is such a relentless, troubling and brilliant experience. You really feel both for, and with, the victims of the Algiers motel incident as they are terrorized by Will Poulter's Krauss, in a way he sees as deliciously comical and satisfying, but which Bigelow's direction ensures is truly horrifying.

7. An overflowing bathroom - The Shape of Water

Can't find the whole scene on the internet and honestly, if you haven't seen the film, don't try looking for it. It's a scene the whole film's strange and unique conceit has been building up to in the most Guillermo del Toro way possible, one of the more daring scenes of 2017 in that it could have gone so wrong, but ends up being one of the most touching and lovely romance scenes in recent memory.

6. A Holographic Threesome - Blade Runner 2049 

Speaking of unique love scenes, look no further than the new Blade Runner. Interestingly enough, though it's the grand spectacle of Deakins' cinematography and Villeneuve's vision I most 'admired', my favourite element of the film perhaps come in its most intimate moments, whether it's K (Ryan Gosling) breaking down at the revelation of his supposed 'memories', that stunning ending (which is one element I'll admit it probably betters the original), or K's relationship with what is essentially a sex bot Joi (Ana de Armas). The scene where they finally 'consumate' is just mesmerizing in every facet, from the subtle use of visual effects to create the 'sync' effect, the tenderness of the music, the performances, and that haunting shot at the end of an advertisement of JOI to show that it is all just a fantasy for K.

5. The Final Binary Sunset - The Last Jedi 

I have plenty of issues with The Last Jedi, but I will defend the way they utilized Luke to the very end. Almost everything that is great in the film is down to my favourite Star Wars character, and I loved every scene involving him, whether it was his cranky training of Rey, his reunion with several old companions that were equal parts hilarious and touching, nostalgic without being cheesy, and his confrontation with an old student which was pretty amazing. My favourite scene though, was his final one where the film hearkens back to the most iconic scene in the original trilogy. John Williams' song kicking in and Mark Hamill's performance make for a truly stunning scene.

4. 'Volver Volver' - Lucky 

Another moving farewell in 2017 was to Harry Dean Stanton. One of my little reservations with Twin Peaks was that we didn't quite get a proper closure to Mr Stanton onscreen there, well not to worry he does in this great film here. This scene, where his character Lucky bursts out into a Spanish song, is an incredible scene which sticks in your mind long after watching the film. It could have been too corny or saccharine, but John Carroll Lynch and Stanton make it resonate thematically, stylistically perfectly as a summation of a man's life in song.

3. 'The Last Rose of Summer' - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

If you haven't seen Martin McDonagh, he of In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths fame, latest film yet, treat yourself to a screening of it. It's the best film of 2017, with so many hilarious lines, devestating and thoughtful character arcs, and the scene where Sam Rockwell's Dixon receives a fateful letter and makes a fateful decision.

2. Farrier Saves the Day - Dunkirk 

This scene is possibly the perfect representation of the masterful work of Christopher Nolan in Dunkirk. The music, the visuals, the editing, the sound design, the performances all culminating in an unbearably intense sequence which culminates in a truly special moment thanks to Tom Hardy's Farrier.

1. The Escape - Get Out

So many scenes I could choose from the film - the 'No no no' scene, the hynopsis scene, the camera flash scene - but I'll go with the one single sequence in the film which is at once a great crowdpleaser that executes everything the film has been building up to this point, a troubling examination of how Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his experiences have left him a hollow shell of his former self, and even darkly hilarious in the manner he gets out of the mess ('picking cotton', breaking the host family;s precious cutlery, using the deadbeat brother's aggression against him, Chris' girlfriend's peculiar way of eating cereal). I have particular affection for the way the sound indicates the 'ooooh so that's what happened' or 'no way' moments, and it culminates in the single most thrilling scene of 2017.