DAVE'S TOP 10 MOVIES SEEN IN 2017 #4 I, Daniel Blake

A slice of social realism and commentary on the British welfare system of right now! 'I Daniel Blake' is the first Ken Loach film I can recall seeing; having resisted his long career (preferring Mike Leigh's brand of British underdog characters). Directing this at aged 80, Loach has made something really special here, thanks to a tight but affecting script and two kick ass performances: from comedian Dave Johns and newcomer Hayley Squires (a star is born here; for sure!) The two characters they played share little in common from a cursory glance, other than being stuck in the cycle of bureaucracy and circumstance, but the humanity shared by these two makes this film the hugely impactful piece that it is. I was blown away by it. The final scenes are among the most moving of any I saw this year. This is storytelling at its very best.