My Top 10 Films of 2017

With 2017 coming to a close in just a few short hours, it's time to look back at the year that was and recount my favourite films from the last 12 months. 

Film Review: The Greatest Showman

Roll up, roll up! Hugh Jackman pulls on a top hat and steps into the big top for The Greatest Showman, a glitzy musical about PT Barnum.

My Top 5 TV Shows of 2017

Crikey, would you look at the date? 2017 is almost over and that can only mean one thing - it's time to recap the best and worst that popular culture had to offer throughout the year.

My 2017 Movie Soundtrack Playlist

"I want to write and feel the drama. Music is essentially an emotional language, so you want to feel something from the relationships and build music based on those feelings" - Howard Shore

Every December I take a look back at the year that was and cherry pick some musical highlights, whether they be soaring orchestral scores or licensed tracks that have been inserted into films to great effect.

This year has been a really excellent year for movies and arguably an even better year for movie music.

From Creedence Clearwater Revival (Kong: Skull Island, Free Fire) and Fleetwood Mac (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.) to Gang of Youths (Justice League) and Childish Gambino (Get Out), there has been no shortage of awesome needle drops in movies this year. I've included a host of my favourites in the playlist, including a couple of tracks from TV shows like Stranger Things and Riverdale. Of course, the biggest soundtrack of the year belonged to Edgar Wright's Baby Driver; I've plucked a handful of the most noteworthy songs from that mixtape also.

Bolt Out of the Blue: The Legacy of the Biggest Film Ever

It's been eight years since the most successful film of all time took the world by storm – but why does no-one talk about Avatar anymore?

Film Review: Star Wars - The Last Jedi

Director Rian Johnson assumes control of the Star Wars series and steers it into deeper, darker and stranger territory than ever before. Brace yourselves for shocks aplenty.

Film Review: Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle

With a top notch cast as well as lots of fun and games, the new Jumanji film has everything you need this summer holidays.

My Top 5 Worst Films of 2017

For the most part, my blog is all about discussing and celebrating awesome movies. Films that make you woop, cheer, punch the air, cry, gasp and grin with joy.

Film Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Martin McDonagh serves up one of the best films of 2017 with his latest tragic and tragically funny tale.

Film Review: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Thought you had a stomach for weird shit? Think again. 

Dwayne Johnson: From Scorpion King to King of the Jungle

With his latest blockbuster movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle just a few short weeks away, I take a look back over the career of The Rock, a man who quite literally started from the bottom and worked his way up to the top.

Film Review: The Disaster Artist

James Franco serves up the best comedy of the year in The Disaster Artist, a film about the making of one of the worst films ever. 

5 Films That're So Bad They're Good

Gather your mates, crack open a few bevvies and revel in some of the best worst movies ever committed to film.

Film Review: Justice League

DC takes two steps forward and one step back on its bumper team-up tentpole, Justice League.

Film Review: Murder on the Orient Express

Kenneth Branagh swaps Willie Shakespeare for Agatha Christie with this sexy and suave adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. 

Film Review: Goodbye Christopher Robin

A biopic of English author AA Milne (Domhnall Gleeson), Goodbye Christopher Robin takes place between the wars and charts the inception of the beloved Winnie the Pooh novels.

Film Review: Thor - Ragnarok

Filled with laughs, bursting with action and popping with colour, Thor's threequel sees the burly Asgardian move into funnier, wackier territory.

Film Review: Suburbicon

George Clooney and the Coen Brothers are rockin' the suburbs in this dark and twisted comedy.

Film Review: Brad's Status

Ben Stiller ponders his lot in life in Mike White’s quietly humorous and thoughtful new film.

Film Review: Jawbone

Unpretentious and unforgiving, Jawbone will make your head spin. 

Film Review: The Snowman

Tomas Alfredson’s thriller The Snowman starts out solid but quickly melts into a murky puddle.

Film Review: Blade Runner 2049

Denis Villeneuve serves up one of the best films of the year and one of the best sequels of all time in Blade Runner 2049.

Classic Film: Blade Runner

With Blade Runner 2049 about to hit cinemas, I take a look back on the lasting legacy and impact of Ridley Scott's original Blade Runner.

Film Review: Battle of the Sexes

It's Emma Stone versus Steve Carrell in Battle of the Sexes, a biopic which recounts rising female tennis star Billie Jean King's exhibition match-up against ageing chauvinist Bobby Riggs. 

Film Review: Kingsman - The Golden Circle

Bigger, noisier and all round ballsier, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is unabashedly a sequel to its forebear, for both better and worse.

Film Review: Messy Christmas

A nun, a politician and an Arab walk into a bar, and hilarity ensues as Luca Miniero’s Messy Christmas proves.

Film Review: Mother!

Darren Aronofsky has no more fucks to give and $30 million to burn; step inside his abstract house of horrors in Mother!

Film Review: Logan Lucky

Steven Soderbergh returns from sabbatical with a new spin on the heist subgenre in Logan Lucky.

Is Rotten Tomatoes Ruining Film Criticism?

Hollywood is blaming Rotten Tomatoes for its rotten summer – but do they actually have a point? I play devil’s advocate on a hot button issue relating to film criticism. 

Film Review: Mountain

Directed by Australian documentarian Jennifer Peedom, Mountain is a unique cinematic and musical fusion that examines the power high places have on shaping our lives and dreams. 

Film Review: It

Pennywise is back and he ain't clowing around this time.

Film Review: American Made

Funny, frisky and full of hijinks, American Made is a return to form for Tom Cruise.

Film Review: The Hitman's Bodyguard

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is a good for a laugh but little else.

The Feeling Fuzzier Guide to Spoiler Etiquette

Navigating spoilers on social media and at work can feel a bit like creeping through a minefield – but it doesn’t have to be such a stressful and strenuous task. 

Film Review: The Dark Tower

Nikolaj Arcel’s rehash of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series is a load of mishandled hogwash.

Film Review: Annabelle - Creation

The wheels on the Conjuring cinematic universe continue to turn in the perfectly passable spin-off prequel Annabelle: Creation. 

Film Review: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Luc Besson proves kinetic visuals and a vivid imagination are no substitute for a watertight script and a cast with charisma in his new movie Valerian. 

Film Review: Wind River

Hawkeye partners with Scarlet Witch for a thrilling murder mystery set against a freezing Wyoming backdrop.

2017 Blockbusters: Winners and Losers

Amazonian warriors, talking racoons and resurrected Egyptian mummies; 2017 has certainly had plenty for film fans from all walks of life to enjoy. 

From unexpected successes to high-profile bombs, this year  has seen its fair share of ups and downs, and with the curtain closing on another blockbuster season, I thought now would be a good time to sit back and assess the varying winners and losers.

Which films, stars and studios have seen their stocks rise? Who has had a nightmare summer season? Give my conclusions a quick read and let me know what you think in the comments section down below!

Film Review: The Big Sick

Silicon Valley’s Kumail Nanjiani hits it for six in his heartfelt rom-com, The Big Sick.

Film Review: War for the Planet of the Apes

Matt Reeves affords the Planet of the Apes series a satisfying and compelling concluding chapter in War for the Planet of the Apes.

Film Review: Atomic Blonde

Charlize Theron adds a spoonful of oestrogen to the spy game in 80s Cold War action flick Atomic Blonde.

Film Review: Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan serves up another masterpiece in his scarily authentic capturing of Operation Dynamo.

Film Review: Baby Driver

Sleek, stylish and full of swagger, Baby Driver is a must-see film for fans of filmmaking everywhere.

Film Review: Free Fire

Ben Wheatley tries his hand at aping Reservoir Dogs to riotous effect. 

Film Review: It Comes at Night

It Comes at Night is dividing audiences and critics down the middle - question is, which side of the fence do I sit on?

Film Review: Becoming Bond

Becoming Bond is a candid behind-the-scenes look at the career of George Lazenby, an Australian model who was suddenly thrust into the limelight as one of the most iconic characters ever.

Film Review: Spider-man - Homecoming

Spider-man’s latest solo film promises a bright future ahead, even if we have to sit through some same-same stuff to get there.

Film Review: The House

The House doesn’t do enough to lend weight to the claim that it always wins.

Is Star Wars in Trouble?

As much as it pains me to admit it, the Star Wars franchise might be be serious trouble right about now.