“Carrie Pilby”
Director: Susan Johnson
Cast: Bel Powley, Vanessa Bayer, Colin O’Donoghue, William Moseley
Synopsis: Kid genius Carrie Pilby finds herself washed up and depressed after peaking at 14. Her therapist gives her a list of things to accomplish, and she sets out to complete it, with comical consequences.
What You Need To Know: Susan Johnson’s debut feature “Carrie Pilby,” based on the novel by Caren Lissner, debuted at TIFF 2016 before seeing a limited release last spring. Carried by indie heavyweight Bel Powley (“The Diary of a Teenage Girl”), this coming-of-age film received lots of attention when it came out despite mixed reviews (read Noel Murray’s equivocal take here). Though Powley portrays the film’s whip-smart titular character with humility and charm, the film itself does little with a trite foundation. If you’re a fan of feel-good adolescent tales, you should absolutely check out this recent Netflix addition.
“Detroit”
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: John Boyega, Will Poulter, John Krasinski, Hannah Murray, Jason Mitchell
Synopsis: An exploration of the causes, events, and aftermath of the 1967 Detroit Race Riots, told through the lens of police officer Kraus, security guard Dismukes, and the occupants of the Algiers Motel.
What You Need To Know: A movie that has undeservedly all but disappeared from the award circuit, Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit” reteams her with journalist-screenwriter Mark Boal (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) for an exploration of the Detroit Race Riots. The film doubles down on Bigelow’s cinema verite aesthetic, essentially sacrificing spatial coherence for visceral horror, crafting what our critic Ryan Oliver called “an uneven docudrama.” However the film’s second act, which takes place almost entirely in the Algiers Motel, is a harrowing and elongated set piece. This part of the film is truly challenging to watch, but it demonstrates Bigelow’s command as one of the best directors working today. — CG
“The Divine Order”
Director: Petra Biondina Volpe
Cast: Marie Leuenberger, Maximilian Simonischek, Rachel Braunschweig
Synopsis: Nora, a housewife in a small Swiss village, joins together with a group of women to advocate for women’s suffrage in 1971.
What You Need To Know: “The Divine Order” has been successful ever since its 2017 Tribeca debut, quickly becoming Switzerland’s Best Foreign Feature submission to the Oscars. The film by Petra Biondina Volpe garnered accolades at the festival, including the Best International Narrative Feature and the Nora Ephron prize. Notable for its female-centered storytelling and production — the film was written and directed by Volpe, and features a largely woman-dominated crew, including cinematographer Judith Kaufmann — “The Divine Order” brings much-needed female empowerment both in front of and behind the camera. With a stellar lead performance from Marie Leuenberger and a well-told peek into Swiss history and culture, this film charmed its way to the top of the festival circuit. A great addition to 2017’s year in film, “The Divine Order” is literally one to watch.
“Everybody Loves Somebody”
Director: Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
Cast: Karla Souza, José María Yazpik
Synopsis: OBGYN Clara seems to have it all together. To her clients, she’s a successful physician who offers sage life advice. Privately, however, Clara is unlucky in love, finding herself in a complex tangle when she asks her coworker to pose as her boyfriend at a family function.
What You Need To Know: This rom-com from Mexican director Catalina Aguilar Mastretta debuted in early 2017 to positive reviews. Though “Everybody Loves Somebody” hardly diverges from genre conventions, lead Karla Souza (“How to Get Away with Murder”) and her love interest José María Yazpik offer standout performances that keep the viewer engaged and empathetic throughout this bilingual adventure. The script is sharp, and writer-director Mastretta guides her cast into delightful performances that poignantly explore the world of love. While it might not break new ground, “Everybody Loves Somebody” offers a fresh perspective on an effervescent genre, making it a delightful addition to any romantic film fan’s collection.
“Faces Places”
Director: Agnès Varda and JR
Cast: Agnès Varda, JR
Synopsis: Legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda and artist JR journey through France, meeting people in small villages and creating art that features their new acquaintances.
What You Need To Know: This beloved documentary from Agnès Varda and mysterious French artist JR follows the two creators through a journey of connection. “Faces Places,” which premiered at Cannes 2017 before hitting theatres in the fall, drew critical acclaim for its tenderly playful treatment of mortality and humanity. Our review from Bradley Warren calls it an “endlessly charming documentary” that “manages to look forwards and backwards with touching insight.” A reverent, playful send-up of French New Wave that only Varda could co-author, “Faces Places” elucidates the sweet sorrow of aging (via Varda) and the universalizing breadth of art (via both Varda and JR). If you’re an art film fan — or you just really like the French countryside — this is can’t miss.
“Kedi”
Director: Ceyda Torun
Cast: Sari, Duman, Bengü, Aslan Parçasi, Gamsiz, Psikopat, and Deniz (all cats)
Synopsis: This documentary uses seven Turkish street cats to explore the wild feline world of Istanbul.
What You Need To Know: Perhaps the most enjoyable documentary released in 2017, “Kedi” took an engrossing look at a unique topic. It might be hard to imagine a cat documentary that’s so fascinating, but inventive director Ceyda Torun employed many techniques to immerse viewers in her subjects’ feline world. A special rig that gets down to cat-level helps viewers navigate the wild streets of Istanbul right along with “Kedi,” and honest interviews get at the touching root of the human-cat relationship. “Kedi” might not be hard-hitting stuff, but it’s not just fluff, either. If you’re looking for a well-made, lighthearted doc that shows off some adorable subjects and impressive filmmaking (the drone footage over Turkey will make you drool), “Kedi” should be next in your queue.
“Kiki”
Director: Sara Jordenö
Cast: Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Gia Marie Love, Chi Chi Mizrahi, Zariya
Synopsis: A group of young LGBT people navigate modern African-American drag ball culture.
What You Need To Know: Sundance release “Kiki” wasn’t exactly the talk of the festival, but it outlined an important culture and drew positive critical attention. A kind of spiritual follow-up to “Paris is Burning,” the film delves into drag ball culture with the help of subject Twiggy Pucci Garçon, who gave Jordenö access to the ball scene and earned a writing credit for his work. “Kiki” garnered praise for its touching portraits and political salience, particularly regarding trans issues — in her review, our own Katie Walsh called the film “vibrant” and “fantastical.” It would be hard to make a documentary about the drag ball world that doesn’t capture at least a bit of its vivacious electricity, but with “Kiki” Jordenö also managed to capture this subculture’s raw, difficult honesty. The documentarian walks a fine line in her first feature, but she does so with as much grace and panache as her subjects. If you like artful documentaries, don’t leave “Kiki” off your 2017 catch-up list.
“Lady Bird”
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges
Synopsis: Self-named Lady Bird navigates her senior year of high school in Sacramento, including new love interests, best friend drama, and her caring-yet-overbearing mother, all while dreaming of going to college in New York City.
What You Need To Know: I don’t know what more can be said about “Lady Bird,” other than you need to go see it immediately if you haven’t already. Simultaneously hysterical and touching (the football coach being, perhaps, my favorite character), this was our collective favorite film of the year for a reason. Ronan gives the performance of her life as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, a self-assured 17 year old who can’t stand her parents and life in Sacramento. What elevates the film above every other coming-of-age story is its unique perspective, with Gerwig making sure to center the story on Lady Bird and her relationship to her mother. Lady Bird is both entirely her own person and a stand-in for all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced growing up. — CG
“Landline”
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Cast: Jenny Slate, Jay Duplass, John Turturro, Abby Quinn, Edie Falco
Synopsis: A wealthy family in Manhattan struggles with their own set of problems in 1995, as father Alan has begun an extramarital affair throwing the entire family dynamic into flux. Dana is questioning her relationship with her fiance, her sister Ali is dealing with teenage growing pains and their mother Pat is trying to balance work and a relationship with her husband and daughters.
What You Need To Know: Reteaming with her “Obvious Child” muse Jenny Slate, Gillian Robespierre’s “Landline” follows an affluent Manhattan family through 1995. While the 90s setting is spot-on and each individual family member’s struggle is highlighted in a nuanced way, the film itself never comes together in a coherent way. Our critic Noel Murray summed up the movie best by noting “the comedy is hit-and-miss” and concluding it’s “yet another indie dramedy.” “Landline” follows many of the same story beats you’d come to expect from a Sundance dramedy, but how it puts those parts together is always interesting. Come for Jenny Slate’s great performance, but be prepared to sit through John Turturro’s affluent poet mid-life crisis. — CG
“Lemon”
Director: Janicza Bravo
Cast: Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Shiri Appleby
Synopsis: Unsuccessful actor Isaac’s life is in steady decline as his long-term girlfriend prepares to leave him.
What You Need To Know: Sundance welcomed director Janicza Bravo back to debut her first feature “Lemon” in January 2017, three years after she won the festival’s Jury Award with short “Gregory Go Boom.” Though Bravo had become one to watch after a series of well-received, off-color short films, her feature debut earned less praise. Co-written with her husband Brett Gelman, who also starred as the film’s lead, “Lemon” was upbraided for its prioritization of eccentricity over substance. Our own Jessica Kiang underlined the film’s inability to get real, saying that it “never coheres into anything more than a series of sketches depicting an awful person’s inability to navigate the world” in her review. Despite strong names and studio support from indie hitmaker Killer Films, “Lemon” was just too astringent for audiences and even the oddest indie-lovers among us.