Ahhh...2019. In the interest of building suspense, I could be all cagey about this countdown, but let's face it: For me, 2019 was the Year of Rocketman. As lousy as the real-world year was, it was salvaged by Rocketman. Someone suggested in jest (maybe?) that Rocketman should be numbers one through ten on my year-end list, and that would be fair enough; HOWEVER...I did like some other movies this year, so I'm gonna give you--yes YOU, dear reader(s)--ten of my favorites. Just know in your hearts that the other nine fall way behind number one. Way, WAY behind.
The usual disclaimers:
A movie's position on
my year-end list does not necessarily reflect its original Weasley score. Some
films age well, bear up, and even improve under repeat viewings.
Some...well...some do not. Also, I live in a rinky-dink town, so great movies
like JoJo Rabbit and 1917--pictures that almost certainly would have found
spots here or gotten very close--have not made themselves available to me yet.
This is disappointing, but unsurprising. I'd hung my entire holiday break on
the prospect of seeing 1917, only to discover on Christmas Day that its
Christmas opening was limited release, and I have to wait until January 10th.
Humbug. Finally, I think three or four of these movies already made Variety's
"worst of" list for 2019, so kindly do not be too shocked when I
diverge from The Serious Critics (TM).
Without further ado,
presenting my top ten films of 2019:
TEN
"The most important
qualification for any leader is not wanting to be leader."
THE TWO POPES
2019 threw me a nice
surprise on its way out the celestial door, with the Netflix original The Two
Popes. It's a deliberate, thoughtful, and timely film carried by a pair of the
year's most exquisite performances: Jonathan Pryce as Pope Francis and Anthony
Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI. While the subject matter is weighty, this movie
is an absolute delight.
NINE
"I'm glad I'm a
revelation and not a disappointment."
DOWNTON ABBEY
This big-screen
adaptation of the popular television series Downton Abbey, is, in fact,
something of a revelation. A totally new story in the familiar and much-loved
setting, with just the right amount of fan service, it is a joyful exercise
that hits nearly every note perfectly. Making its case for the big screen are
breathtaking costumes and production design...and Mr. Barrow finally seeing a
bit of happiness doesn't hurt, either.
EIGHT
"We're gonna bury
Ferrari at Le Mans."
FORD V FERRARI
At a glance, Ford v
Ferrari might seem like a film appealing exclusively to car enthusiasts;
however, that assumption does a great disservice to both the film and the
viewer. Ford v Ferrari is an inspiring story about people. It's a nail-biter
from start to finish, it has heart to spare, and it's fronted by great turns
from Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Beautifully filmed race action makes this
one to see on the biggest screen you can find.
SEVEN
"It always
fits...eventually."
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE
SPIDER-VERSE
Technically,
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a last-year movie, but for me it's a
this-year movie, and--despite its being the very first film I saw way back in
January, 2019--it's far too great to leave off my best-of list. A Marvel
property in the hands of Sony, Spider-Verse is smart, funny, touching, and
better than the entire Avengers catalog combined.
SIX
"This is a
twisted web, and we are not finished untangling it, not yet."
KNIVES OUT
Knives Out is a great
piece of original cinema crafted from artful twists, clever humor, and terrific
performances, layered with a gorgeous Gothic setting and an ominous score.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, this perfect murder mystery is a huge
creative and financial win for the cinema, and I recommend it without
hesitation or qualification.
FIVE
"This is the
worst...and best...and most terrible...excellent thing that's ever happened to
me!"
THE KID WHO WOULD BE
KING
Hands up if you missed
the Kid Who Would Be King at your local cinema? Yeah, I see you, ALL of you.
The good news is that one of the year's most wonderful pictures is now
available for streaming and download, and you shouldn't make the same mistake
twice. The Kid Who Would Be King is a charming movie, great fun for people of
all ages. Truly one of the year's best.
FOUR
"Si vis pacem,
para bellum."
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 —
PARABELLUM
The John Wick
franchise has become quite the phenomenon, and deservedly so. Continually
upping the action ante in Fast-and-Furious-like fashion, these movies are so
much more than just your garden-variety shoot 'em ups and beat 'em ups. John
Wick is the role Keanu Reeves was born to play, and Parabellum raises the
stakes for Wick while doubling down on masterful fight choreography and
stunning cinematography. Here's to many more adventures for John Wick!
THREE
"Bruce is the
direct line to all that's true in this world!"
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
Blinded by the Light
is another terrific picture that didn't exactly set the box office on fire.
Inspired by the true story of one Springsteen superfan, and built on the Boss's
epic catalog, it's a hopeful tale about overcoming prejudice and the
limitations set for us by ourselves and by others, one of the year's most
inspiring movies.
TWO
"Tell the truth
to everyone, whenever you can."
YESTERDAY
Yesterday is yet
another of 2019's under-appreciated gems, a beautiful, unique movie fashioned
around the timeless music of the Beatles. Himesh Patel is a delight in the
lead, and--while the premise requires suspension of disbelief--Yesterday is a
charming picture that captivates with its "what ifs?" as well as its
iconic soundtrack and enchanting cast.
ONE
"You were never
ordinary."
ROCKETMAN
My number one movie of
the year, and of the decade, was set on May 31st, when I saw Rocketman for the
first time. I saw the movie at least twice a week as long as it was at my local
cinema. I've watched at least part of it every day since it became available
for home viewing. Outside of a week or so around each of the wonderful concerts
I saw this summer, I've listened to nothing but the Rocketman soundtrack since
the end of May. My phone and all my desktops have Rocketman wallpapers. I've
joked (hmm?) that I only speak Rocketman now. The truth is, I'm not interested
in speaking anything else. Pre-Rocketman, it had been a decade since a new
movie made its way into my all-time top ten. Then there was Rocketman.
Pre-Rocketman, my favorite acting performance hadn't changed since 1993. Then
there was Taron Egerton's astonishing turn as Elton John. Pre-Rocketman, I was
finding reasons to stay away from the movies. Then there was Dexter Fletcher
showing us the beauty of real imagination. Rocketman is more than just a
well-crafted film that reflects on an iconic artist's inspiring life. It is a
film that uses Elton John's art to tell his story in fantastic, creative
fashion. It is a film that uses exquisite detail in its styling and costumes to
further its vision. It is a film that draws something sparkling and new out of
a classic discography. It is a film that is not bound by dull, linear timelines
or small minds. It is a film that surrounds a performance for the ages with
others that bear it up. It is a film that shows, however dark the times, you
will find the light. In doing all these things, it is a film that is saving
lives. Rocketman is a film that is, in every way, magnificent. Thank you,
Dexter Fletcher and company, for giving us this beautiful movie. Whatever the
critics say and whoever wins the prizes as Awards Season bears down upon us,
nobody has done anything more valuable this cinema year.
A few Honorable (and
Dis-Honorable) Mentions:
While Taron Egerton
deserves all the awards, all the time, for his work in Rocketman, there were
some other performances this year that also gave me life:
Jamie Bell
(Rocketman): Without Bell's Bernie Taupin as his stalwart cornerstone,
Egerton's Elton could not have flown. It's a lovely, understated performance
that has been grossly underappreciated.
Tom Holland (Marvel
Cinematic Universe): Holland is a real gem, a standout who consistently steals
the show from bigger names who get weightier work in the MCU. No matter how
good, bad, or painfully bloated the movie, Holland is an absolute delight.
Renee Zellweger
(Judy): Who knew it was even possible for me to stop hating Renee Zellweger?
Well played, 2019.
Rebecca Ferguson (The
Kid Who Would Be King/Doctor Sleep): There was little I enjoyed more this year
than watching Ferguson chew her way through this pair of pictures. Oh, and if I
start walking around wearing a hat, don't ask, m-kay?
Chris Evans (Knives
Out): God, I love seeing Chris Evans do *anything* besides Captain America.
Bonus points if he gets to be funny. He's really funny, despite his obscenely
gorgeous mug.
John Boyega/Oscar
Isaac (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker): These two, individually
and together, draw joy out of what's otherwise a fairly mundane exercise. If
Finn and Poe somehow jumped to another saga in the Star Wars universe, I
wouldn't complain.
The Cast of Jumanji:
The Next Level: Top to bottom, a perfectly cast film, and a lesson in how the
right actors can elevate any property.
As a matter of
interest, if you watch the Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood back to
back, you can effectively calculate how many hours you'll wish you had back
when you're on your deathbed.
I would like a word
with Gary Oldman's and Sebastian Stan's agents, please.
Cats: Make. It. Stop.
Please, just...make it stop.
As this most
challenging year winds to a close, I wanted to offer a sincere thank you to
everyone who takes the time to read my reviews, and especially those who engage
on any of our various platforms. Special thanks to Daniel for allowing me to be
a part of his great page, and for tolerating my unceasing randomness. (Hotel
Transylvania 4 in 2021, my friend!) I take no one's support for granted, and
I’m ever grateful for you all. I wish our readers many blessings as this
festive season comes to a close and we roll into 2020. See you at the movies!
