A fun and well told heist film, a story that goes backwards throughout a week in a small and mysterious town. The performances are exceptional, the film is darkly comic and the writing dares to do something different with the genre, with many inspirations from films such as Reservoir Dogs. Your expectations will run amok. 

8) Lady Macbeth

I hate period films normally. But Lady Macbeth is an exception. Florence Pugh's Katherine is one of the most unexpected characters of the year, and it goes as so far to really stick a middle finger up to your predictions and expectations. It's dark and beautifully directed, following a young girl's dark path to make sure she can get what she desires. It's fantastic.

7) Free Fire

Ben Wheatley's latest film is ultra stylish, ultra funny and superbly directed. I have to give a special nod to the choreography of the entire film. Afterall, the entire film is a shootout, and a spectacular one at that. It's a very enjoyable film that has some great pacing and every character is given something to do - and they all work fantastically together. It's very mindless, but that's a good thing, and Wheatley is an expert at it.

6) The Florida Project

I absolutely love this film. It is so humble, so beautifully acted and visually so beautiful as well. Taking place over the summer vacation of a young girl living in Florida, it all feels very intricate and the performances are honest and for a coming of age film if you could regard it as one, it is vastly different and so real. If you want to see something deeply beautiful in terms of looks this year, look no further. It looks amazing, with the colour, cinematography and direction all coming into play as one and giving this film the credit it needs.

5) Raw

You don't want to miss this one. Absolutely not. Raw is a French horror film that mixes into an engaging thriller/coming of age story about a young vegetarian who goes to vet school, only to find herself changing drastically in her dietary habits, lets just say. Its visually striking and haunting, and it is a very one of kind film for the year. If you're looking for a foreign film pick of this year, this one should be at the top of your list. It's shudderingly scary.

4) Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan returns to our cinema screens with his passion project, the truly intense and beautifully presented Dunkirk. If you've seen many of my blogs including some analysis on the film, you'll know I'm a big fan of it. It looks and feels exceptional throughout, and it has one of the best scores and sound editing sets I think I've seen in a film for a very very long time. It's not a war film, it's a survival film, as it felt to me.

3) Baby Driver

I'm fairly sure you've heard me go on about Edgar Wright's masterpiece heist film enough. Edited beautifully to Wright's well picked and pumping soundtrack, Baby Driver is one of the best films of the year without a shadow of a doubt. Cooky characters and fun all around galore, I'm happy that Edgar Wright is my biggest inspiration, creating some of the most original and funny films I've ever seen, and this one I know I will never forget a moment of. The best bit, I'll pick something new out everytime I never noticed before. That's the beauty of his filmmaking style.

2) Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Martin McDonagh returns with probably one of the most amazing screenplays I've seen be presented on screen. Being such a big fan of In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, I was incredibly excited for this and it didn't disappoint. Frances McDormand has the performance of the year as she plays Mildred Hayes, a mother on a quest to find out the identity of her daughter's killer through the pestering of the police department with a clever weapon. Billboards. It's darkly comic, very very funny and it has some the best written characters of the year too, that all come full circle in their amazing arcs. Glad to see McDonagh getting the recognition he deserves.

1) Blade Runner 2049

You'd never think a sequel to a classic 1982 cult film would be just as good as that film in question. But Blade Runner 2049 was absolutely exceptional. Leaving the cinema I was speechless, with the captivating performances from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, and the visual treat you will get from this is undeniably satisfying. The direction of Denis Villeneuve and the cinematography of Roger Deakins is a match made in heaven. Nobody wanted this film, but now they can't be without it. It is truly the best film of the year.