These are my 29 favorite scenes and most memorable moments from 2017 movies:
“All the Money in the World” – Climactic ransom/pick-up sequence.
“Battle of the Sexes” – Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) meets Marilyn (Andrea Riseborough) at a beauty salon.
“The Big Sick” – Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) gets frustrated at a fast-food drive thru.
“Blade Runner 2049” – Ending.
“The Book of Henry” – How close Susan (Naomi Watts) comes to shooting and killing a man – the cherry on top of a ridiculous movie.
“Call Me by Your Name” – Mr. Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg) talks to son Elio (Timothee Chalamet) about life and love.
“Cars 3” – Lightning McQueen unveils a new look in the final scene.
“The Circle” – Following a speech given by Mae (Emma Watson), Bailey (Tom Hanks) tells Stenton (Patton Oswalt), “We are so F**ked.”
“Darkest Hour” – Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) talks with subway passengers.
“Despicable Me 3” – The Minions kill a dad and son clownfish (Illumination’s subtle attack on Pixar).
“Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” – A late montage centered-on Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening).
“The Florida Project” – Bobby (Willem Dafoe) gets a suspicious man off the motel property.
“Geostorm” – Andrew (Andy Garcia) responds to a question from Leonard (Ed Harris) “Why? Because I’m the Goddamn President of the United States of America.”
“Ghost in the Shell” – Major (Scarlett Johansson) meets someone important in a run-down neighborhood.
“A Ghost Story” – M (Rooney Mara) eats almost an entire pie in one continuous shot.
“The Greatest Showman” – The final minute.
“The Hero” – Actor Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) runs lines with Jeremy (Nick Offerman).
“I, Tonya” – The camera cuts to LaVona Harding (Allison Janney) for the first time in a little while. She says, “Well, my storyline’s really disappearing.”
“In the Fade” – Ending
“Ingrid Goes West” – Dan (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.) explains to Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) the never-ending cycle of Batman’s adventures.
“Lady Bird” – Father Walther, the football coach, is now the director of the school play. He draws-up a chart for the actors that looks like a play chart for football. He tells three cast members (numbered 8, 9 and 10): “8, 9, 10… Come in Hot! Come in Hot!”
“Phantom Thread” – New Year’s Eve sequence
“Pitch Perfect 3” – Finale performance of Freedom! ’90
“The Post” – Kay Graham (Meryl Streep) has to make a critical decision over the phone.
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” – An emotional ceremony for Smurfette is accompanied by the original song, “You Will Always Find Me In Your Heart”.
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” – An unexpected person is at the door.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – A certain iconic character returns for a scene.
“Stronger” – Carlos, the cowboy hat man, meets Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal).
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” – Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) talks to a deer.
“Victoria & Abdul” – Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) defends herself against all the people trying to take away her power.
“Wonder” – It’s Auggie’s first day of school. Mom Isabel (Julia Roberts) is sitting at her home desk. There are math problems on the board. She’s eating lunch. For the first time Auggie is not with her.