THE OPTIMIST - MOVIE REVIEWS

     2017 has been a pretty great year for film, and although I didn't get to see everything, I was still blessed to be able to see quite a bit. For this list I've tried to compile the top ten films that I thoroughly enjoyed, that were outstanding pieces of art, and that left an impression on me. These movies stuck with me long after watching them, and for that reason it was tough to narrow it down. I couldn't whittle it to ten, but I was ultimately able to finalize the list. Unlike last year, I attempted to list them in order of personal preference. Just note that I love all of these movies and would re-watch them over and over again. But, as I sat back and thought about it, there are ones I would watch more often than others. So, for your viewing pleasure, here is The Optimist's 2017 Top Eleven Films of the Year! 11. Dunkirk     A technical tour de force, this movie confused me, excited me, thrilled me, lifted me out of my seat, and awed...

   It feels like forever since I posted a movie review, and in retrospect it truly has been. Life has a tendency to really mess with the things you want to do by giving you an insurmountable amount of things more important to do instead. But alas, I am here with a review of what was probably the most anticipated movie of the year. In fact, it was the most anticipated movie of MY year. 2015 marked the return of Star Wars in all of its glory with The Force Awakens . Now, just two years later, we finally have the next chapter in this new trilogy. With almost a week under its belt, The Last Jedi has garnished mixed reviews from both critics and fans alike. Writer/director Rian Johnson had a huge task to complete, and his Star Wars film is like nothing we've seen to date. Its unexpected narrative choices, subverted expectations, and epic breadth has given fans of the franchise, and movie-goers alike, reason to debate and discuss. So, before getting into it, let me first just sa...