As we near the end of 2019, the moment is here to show off my top movies of the year. This is a mix of both movies I thought were great and movies I personally loved.
NOTE: These are among the ones I saw, therefore some may be missing because either I didn't see them or they haven't been released near me as of yet. This does not include documentaries.
ON TO THE COUNTDOWN!
20. Luce (dir. Julius Onah): A modern-day tale of an identity crisis. A young black man is asked to adhere to other people's expectations to perform in order to be something. It's no wonder he and his adoptive parents grapple with their beliefs on his own identity. This is one of those films that just leaves you thinking and unsettled.
19. Hustlers (dir. Lorene Scafaria): On the surface, this looks like a film about strippers making money. Do not be fooled. There's more to this. Hustlers is a film about survival, friendship, and looking at the hardships of that lifestyle, which is so stigmatized. This is one of the many gems in a very strong year for female directors.
18. Joker (dir. Todd Phillips): While this film wasn't the diabolical show everyone thought it was, it still was a disturbing look at an equally disturbing character. Joaquin Phoenix shines brightest in a flawed movie that has been done many times, except that this time, it's elevated by the name of a comic book character.
17. Little Women (dir. Greta Gerwig): A loving story about sisterly bonds and forging identities within a restricting society for women. Greta Gerwig plays with the timelines to make this a sleek-paced film while conveying a message of the power a strong and independent woman; a message that speaks loud in its relevance to this day.
16. Marriage Story (dir. Noah Baumbach): One thing's for sure, the lead performances of Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver were a strong as any this year and they also provide one of the best pair of co-leads of any film this year. This movie rides on tension and emotion, aided by a fantastic script.
15. Booksmart (dir. Olivia Wilde): This was Lady Bird meets Blockers. In her directorial debut, Olivia Wilde gave us a well-written comedy with two female leads (Beanie Feldstein and Katelyn Dever), who were exquisite in their roles. This film has a firm grasp of modern-day high school, with just a touch of hilarious hyperbole.
14. The Lighthouse (dir. Robert Eggers): This feels like something taken straight out of an old 19th-century sea novel. It's a whirling dervish of a trip with two characters (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) who have already looked at wacky in the rearview mirror. Loneliness, isolation, and seagulls will do that to you.
13. Uncut Gems (dir. Josh and Benny Safdie): A chaotic thrill ride that will put your blood pressure to the test. It comes off the gates at 100 mph and it stays that way, or, heck, it even puts some more pedal. This might have been what I like to call the "Special Sort of Insane" performance of Adam Sandler's career.
12. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (dir. Quentin Tarantino): This is the least Tarantino of all the Tarantino movies. The renowned director gave us a poem about the yesteryears of old Hollywood. The performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are the backbone of this film, while Margot Robbie's mere presence is its soul.
11. Jojo Rabbit (dir. Taika Waititi): Simply put, people look like idiots when they blindly hate. THAT is what this film shows. It does so by looking at Nazi Germany in the 40s and going inside the mind of a young boy. This boy is a sponge, still, absorbing everything around him. It's never too late to absorb love.
10. Ford v. Ferrari (dir. James Mangold): All talk of this being a "dad movie" is greatly exaggerated. While it does give us the engine-revving, gas pumping speed that this genre usually does, this film also has a lot of heart and story quality; attributes that any of the Fast & Furious films can only wish to achieve. *Sips tea* Also, Christian Bale and Matt Damon are awesome.
9. The Farewell (dir. Lulu Wang): A beautiful and touching film about family, tradition, culture and the different values one can be brought upon. You'll laugh and you'll cry. Akwafina gives one of the best performances of the year, with Zhao Shuzhen right up there with her. This is the type of story that should be heard more often.
8. The Irishman (dir. Martin Scorsese): A collection of Scorsese's greatest hits, played by the collection of all-star veterans Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel. Actions in life have consequences, especially when reaching old age. By then it might be too late. THAT is the central theme of this film, beyond the chassis of a mob story.
7. Us (dir. Jordan Peele): A second triumph from the mind of Jordan Peele. Led by Lupita Nyong'o, this mysterious horror film shows how we are our own worst enemies. Also, one can't help but have an earworm with the track "Pas De Deux" from this film's score by Michael Abels.
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (dir. Marielle Heller): The feel-good movie of the year. A shot of joy we so desperately need. The filmmaking is solid, as well, with an interesting narrative style. Make no mistake, the good feels are what make this movie great (as well as Tom Hanks's performance as Fred Rogers).
5. Honey Boy (dir. Alma Har'el): One of the best scripts of the year, which served as a catharsis for Shia LeBeouf. He played his own father in this biographical film, adding to its meta nature. Director Alma Har'el deserves equal credit for planting a lovely vision of hardship and loss of innocence at an early age. Noah Jupe's performance was the brightest spot.
4. Midsommar (dir. Ari Aster): Horror in broad daylight. Grief, extreme culture shock, and a sense of belonging take centerstage in arguably the most uneasy film of the year. Florence Pugh had an amazing 2019 and her performance here tops it all. Aster pulls no punches in giving us the disturbing and the macabre. Also, don't see this movie with a date. Ha!
3. Avengers: Endgame (dir. Joe and Anthony Russo): One of, if not the, biggest events in movie history. The foremost film phenomenon of the past 20 years came to a conclusion with a bombastic finish. It was the end of a long, indelible journey for a core group of characters we came to love. This went beyond the usual superhero vs. villains film.
2. Knives Out (dir. Rian Johnson): An original idea that stands out, in a moment we really needed it. Rian Johnson crafter a wonderfully thought-out murder mystery that was fun and hilarious. We all love loaded casts, but it's rare to see everyone just be fantastic and Knives Out delivered just that. Also, see the final shot of the movie *chef's kiss*.
1. Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho): Classes divided and what they think of each other. A family's cunning attempts to survive in underprivileged times move them to act. This starts out as a dark comedy and it beautifully makes a turn into a thriller that's so off-beat, you haven't the slightest idea what happens next.
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