* Honorable Mentions:
Crawl, IT Chapter 2, Joker, Parasite, Shazam! Star Wars - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
10.)
Midsommar: Gorgeously shot, impeccably acted, and perfectly paced, this modern horror classic is easily one of the most impressive films of the year. If you can stomach the pre-credits sequence, which is brutal beyond belief, you'll find the rest of the movie very rewarding. While I don't like it as much as other movies with a similar vibe (2018's
The Ritual, 2013's
The Sacrament), it is nonetheless a gorgeous, horrifying trip.
9.)
Knives Out: Oh, Rian Johnson. While most people
hate him for "ruining" Star Wars or
love him for "saving" it, this re-imagined whodunit is probably the furthest he could get from a galaxy far, far away. And you know what? It might be his finest outing as a writer/director yet. With the best cast of the year and as many plot twists as you can cram into a dusty mansion,
Knives Out is fresh and fabulous. The best part? Everyone seems like they're having so much
fun, which radiates out to the viewer. You can't help but smile, and while the credits are rolling, you'll giggle and reflect back on what a wild ride you just experienced.
8.)
Ford v Ferrari: Every year, a filmmaker has the guts to make a movie that is, well,
just a movie. There's nothing particularly unique, or pioneering, or sensational about the finished product - no lines around the block to enter the theater, no op-eds pondering how it will shape future cinema. And you know what? I love these movies. There's something timeless about a well-told story, and with
Ford v Ferrari, that's exactly what you get. It's a no-frills sports drama with some wonderful cinematography, editing, and performances. To demand anything more would be greedy.
7.)
The Lighthouse: If you're interested in cinema of the surreal, something that barely has a plot and oodles of ambiguity, then
The Lighthouse is a psychological horror movie for you. It's a little David Lynch, a little Stanley Kubrick, and by the end, you'll be gasping for air and wondering what in the hell you just watched. Filmed in stunning black and white, the cinematography almost lulls you in with its beauty and precision. But don't let your guard down - this thing has teeth, and it's more than happy to chomp down on the unsuspecting viewer.
6.)
Ready or Not: The less I say about this, the better. Just know that it's a black comedy with some of the funniest film moments of 2019. The writing is as sharp and lethal as an ax blade (it's a crime that it wasn't nominated). The entire cast is great, but newcomer Samara Weaving steals the show as our embattled, emboldened protagonist. You root for her the whole way through, and her impressive range, not to mention her spot-on comedic timing, is the perfect anchor to the movie's ever-escalating ridiculousness. Trust me - don't watch the trailer, don't read a synopsis. Just dive in. You'll have a blast.
5.)
Ad Astra: Unfortunately, thanks to a pretty dull trailer and uninspired marketing,
Ad Astra was one of the most overlooked movies of 2019. But I can assure you, it's worth a look. If you're on the hunt for a movie with pop sensibilities yet meaty ideas, then give it a watch. Starring Brad Pitt, this sci-fi gem is simultaneously action-packed
and quietly contemplative, it's both a nifty little thriller
and a ponderous meditation on humanity. But I think the movie's strongest quality is the tonal shift near the end of the third act. Without spoiling anything, it goes from being a nihilistic technological nightmare to a celebration of love and humanity, which is one whopper of a prestige. Good stuff.
4.)
Avengers: Endgame: Okay, here are the facts: This is a 3-hour superhero blockbuster, it's the highest grossing movie of all-time, it's the penultimate entry in a ludicrous (and lucrative) 23-movie series, and it has a cast of dozens of A-list stars. That this thing works
at all is a miracle unto itself. But
Endgame does more than just "work." Instead it's a deeply affecting, cathartic, action-packed extravaganza with dizzying highs and catastrophic lows. It's the cinematic equivalent of a speedball, and if you don't spend the entire runtime laughing, sobbing, or fist-pumping out of sheer elation, then check your pulse - you might be clinically dead. And that third act? Has there ever been a more perfectly executed action sequence in all of cinema? Honorable mentions should go to standout performances by Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansson - these three carry the movie, and are the three biggest reasons it all works so damn well. And it does.
3.)
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood: For the record, I am admittedly a Tarantino stan. He has yet to make a movie that I haven't liked, and I'm still smitten with his quirky dialogue and over-the-top gore. That being said, I think
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is an absolute stunner - nostalgic yet inventive, bleak yet hopeful, a true story yet a modern fairy tale. It's a cinematic oxymoron, and somehow every aspect of the film is a success. There are complaints that it moves too slow, that there are a few too many scenes of people just driving around the valley, but I
like all that. In an era when our attention spans are ever-shrinking and movie action is ever-intensifying, it's nice to see a film unfold like a novel. This is a sly, slinky flick, and with its hazy California vibe, you'll be hopelessly seduced. It might not be what you're expecting, but with Tarantino at the helm, that's par for the course. So sit back, relax, and surrender to the experience. It's a great one.
2.)
1917: I went into this movie expecting
nothing and came out of it having felt like I'd experienced, I dunno,
everything? Heroism, horror, loyalty, love, wrath, redemption - it's all there in this, the best war movie of the decade. Directed to perfection by Sam Mendes (of
American Beauty and
Skyfall fame), this WWI thriller is filmed in such a way that it looks like a single uninterrupted shot from beginning to end. A neat trick, but if that was all the movie had going for it, it would be mighty dull. Thankfully, this isn't the case.
1917 is a powerhouse film, one that made me cry half a dozen times before the credits started to roll, when I proceeded to cry even more. It's this quality - the melding of genuine emotion, artistry, and technical achievement - that makes for a perfect movie. And that's just what this is - so perfect, in fact, that it's
almost my favorite movie of the year. Almost.
1.)
Doctor Sleep: It's a bummer that no one saw this film, because it's absolutely perfect.
Doctor Sleep, the sequel to 1980's
The Shining (and based on the book of the same name by Stephen King), is an elegantly dreadful thriller - as lovely and lethal as Colorado snow. It somehow balances King's human touch with Kubrick's alien dread, finding in the middle a unique vision that is beautiful, emotional, and riveting. This is a little less like a horror movie and more like a dark fantasy epic - and a peerless one, at that. The visionary behind the camera is Michael Flanagan, the man responsible for Netflix's smash series
The Haunting of Hill House. He brings a lot of the qualities of his show to this film, making it equal parts horrifying, tragic, and exciting.
Yet above all, this is a quiet film, and if you sit still and let it in, you'll find yourself magnetized to the screen. At the heart of the story is Ewan McGregor in one of his finest roles, embodying everything great about the movie in his performance. He is beaten down and unassuming, yet resilient and, above all else, empathetic. This is a deeply felt film, one populated by real people in a cold, terrifying world. You feel every fallen tear drop, every twist of the knife. This is popcorn cinema as emotional and subtle as it can possibly be. It's way more than
just a sequel or
just a Stephen King movie. It is art. It is spectacular. It is the best film of 2019.
