Patch Picks: The Best Movies of 2017

"The Last Jedi" captivated, "The Florida Project" broke hearts, and "The Post" thrilled on every level. If you spent time in the theaters this year, you are sure to have your favorites. These are ours.

Full of remarkable acting and award-winning direction, here's a look back at the best movies of 2017.

"The Big Sick" — Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, directed by Michael Showalter

"The Big Sick" is the endearing love story between a young Pakistani comic (Nanjiani) and his girlfriend Emily (Kazan) who has fallen inexplicably "sick." Nanjiani and his wife/co-writer Emily V. Gordon crafted this rom-com out of her real-life medical crisis and their culturally conflicted relationship.

Final word: "The Big Sick" has big laughs — and big jolts.

Watch the trailer:

"Call Me By Your Name" — Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, directed by Luca Guadagnino

Set in the idyllic Italian countryside, Luca Guadagnino's drama is a film adaptation of Andre Aciman's 2007 novel of sexual awakening. It's a tale of forbidden love between 17-year-old Elio (Chalamet) and his father's research assistant (Hammer).

Final word: The sensual screenplay and spellbinding chemistry between the leads make this romance film simply irresistible.

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"Darkest Hour" — Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, directed by Joe Wright

From director Joe Wright ("Atonement" and "Pride And Prejudice") comes a historical drama set during World War II when the U.K. felt it was fighting a losing battle. Starring Oldman as Winston Churchill and Scott Thomas as his wife Clementine, the film is a depiction of the countless, extreme obstacles the British prime minister faced to resist the Nazis.

Final word: Oldman's transformation is jaw-dropping and his rendering of the ferocious leader is electrifying.

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"Dunkirk" — Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles, directed by Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" portrays the miraculous 1940 rescue mission that saved thousands of British, French and other Allied soldiers trapped on the beaches of France by Nazi troops. At its core, the film is about the chaos of war, not about the war itself.

Final word: With an outstanding ensemble cast and a powerful film score, "Dunkirk" is visually thrilling and emotionally intense.

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"The Florida Project" — Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, directed by Sean Baker

The latest from Sean Baker, director of the award-winning "Tangerine," explores the issue of homelessness as seen through the eyes of 6-year-old Moonee (Prince). Throughout the film, we learn about her day-to-day existence living with her 22-year-old mother (Vinaite) in a cheap motel managed by Bobby (Dafoe).

Final word: Heartbreaking to the core, the piercing drama starkly explores the grim reality of abject poverty.

See Also: Inside The Making Of 'The Florida Project' With Director Sean Baker

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"Get Out" — Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, directed by Jordan Peele

Meet interracial couple Chris Washington (Kaluuya) and Rose Armitage (Williams) who embark on a weekend getaway so that Chris can finally meet his fiancee's parents. Everything is seemingly perfect until their road trip becomes a gory ride. The film is witty, insanely thought-provoking and funny.

Final word: "Get Out" pushes the bar on excellence for the thrills-and-chills genre.

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"Lady Bird" — Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, directed by Greta Gerwig

This coming-of-age film is about an artistically talented high school senior, Christine McPherson (Ronan). To escape her monotonous suburban life, the teenager, affectionately known as Lady Bird, dreams of the excitement of an East Coast cosmopolitan culture causing riffs with her mother (Laurie Metcalf) along the way.

Final word: Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut is brilliant.

See Also: Behind The Scenes Of 'Lady Bird' With Director Greta Gerwig

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"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" — Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, directed by Rian Johnson

The most recent installment of the "Star Wars" saga follows Rey's (Ridley) journey to learn the path of the Jedi as the Resistance faces off against the evil First Order. “Episode VIII” is an exciting space adventure with engaging characters, splendid performances and captivating screenplay, all set to the backdrop of John Williams' masterful score.

Final word: Much like the rest of the franchise, universal themes of good versus evil remain the focus, while undertones of relationships, loyalty and perseverance are also explored.

See Also: Inside The World Premiere Of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'

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"The Post" — Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, directed by Steven Spielberg

Set in the early '70s, the biopic is based on the true events that unfolded when thousands of classified official records of the Vietnam War were leaked to the press. At the center of the controversy were two dedicated journalists at the Washington Post: the pioneering but inexperienced publisher Katharine Graham (Streep) and hard-nosed news editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks).

Final word: Steven Spielberg weaves this real-life drama into an intense, gripping thriller. Streep and Hanks shine with their Oscar-caliber performances.

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"The Shape Of Water" — Octavia Spencer, Sally Hawkins, directed by Guillermo del Toro

Set in 1960s Baltimore, Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth") directs an other-worldly fairytale that follows Elisa (Hawkins), a cleaning lady in a high-tech U.S. government laboratory, who accidentally discovers a monster being held captive in the top-secret facility. As the story unfolds, the mute young woman befriends the fascinating creature.

Final word: Thanks to powerful performances (particularly Hawkins') and del Toro's poetic direction, this monster movie is magical — an ode to classic cinema.

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"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" — Francis McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, directed by Martin McDonagh

After months living with an unsolved murder, Mildred Hayes (McDormand) is at her wit's end to find her daughter's killer. Desperate for justice, she posts three billboards around town that display controversial messages about her town's chief of police (Harrelson) and his lieutenant (Rockwell). The result? A fierce standoff between the grieving mother and local law enforcement.

Final word: McDonagh's dark comedy is witty, narratively engaging and filled with superb performances.

Watch the trailer:

More movie news:

• The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2018
• Holiday Movie Guide: 'Pitch Perfect 3,' 'Jumanji' And More
• Get A First Look At The 'Ocean's 8' Trailer
• Film Review Of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'
• Inside The World Premiere Of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

First Photo: Saoirse Ronan in "Lady Bird" (Photo courtesy of A24)