Welcome to my list of favorite films from 2019. Some are critical darlings while others are more standard crowd pleasers but ultimately, they’re all films that left an impression on me.
First up are films that I'd classify as pleasant surprises but not quite top 10 worthy;
READY OR NOT – I’m always happy when a fun, well-made horror movie comes out of nowhere. This film is fun on multiple levels and you’ll need to keep your eye on Samara Weaving in the future.
BOOKSMART – Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is incredibly polished but more so, its incredibly funny and heartfelt.
LAST CHRISTMAS – Sure it looks like a paint by the numbers Rom-Com but it’s something fresh and unexpected with a charming lead.
DOCTOR SLEEP – Mike Flanagan successfully pulled off making a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining which was respectful of that film and solid enough to stand on it’s own two feet.
GOOD BOYS – A preteen Super Bad probably sounds like a risky idea but this movie made it work on so many levels.
JOKER – I’m not nearly as high on this film as most but I can still appreciate it even if it mines Martin Scorsese’s catalog and successfully graphed it on a comic book character.
TOY STORY 4 – A fourth entry wasn’t necessary in this series and there is no reason for it to be as good as it is, an impressive epilogue.
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DOLEMITE IS MY NAME – Eddie Murphy’s return to R rated fare, reminds you why he was such a big deal back in the 80s.
AD ASTRA – A high concept mash up of 2001 and Apocalypse Now that nearly pulls off something impressive.
JUDY - Renée Zellweger proving she’s worthy of her first Oscar by delivering another award’s worthy performance.
MARRIAGE STORY – Sure the topic and themes are well worn in Hollywood, but this newest entry is propped up by a pair of the best performances of the year.
THE IRISHMAN – If you ever wanted to watch all of Martin Scorsese’s films but didn’t want to watch multiple films, may I present to you The Irishman.
Now onto my 10 favorite films of 2019
9) KNIVES OUT – A throwback to the classic Agatha Christie films, a sharp script and an A list cast make this one of the more enjoyable films of the year.
8) ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL – It took over a decade for James Cameron passion project to finally hit the screen, the result is one of the better sci-fi films of the last few years and probably one of Robert Rodriguez's most polished films.
7) FORD V FERRARI – A classically styled prestige film that takes a real-life tale and makes it’s an engaging dramedy carried by two movie stars.
6) 1917 – Sam Mendes war epic is a technical marvel even with a bare bones story that's been told multiple times before, it deserves to be seen on the big screen.
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5) JOJO RABBIT – A weird concept that ends up being something that’s funny, meaningful and incredibly endearing.
4) ROCKETMAN – Rocketman is an example of how you shake up the musical biopic genre with something original, appropriate and appreciative of the central artist.
3) PARASITE – Bong Joon-ho's newest film is a success on a multiple levels. Unlike many arthouse films, this is easily accessible and even easier to love. It's funny, timely and tragic.
2) ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD – Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to 70’s Hollywood seems to stream directly out of the director’s brain onto the screen. Throw in a pair of excellent turns by Leonardo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt and a fanciful story that’s Tarantino through and through even though its surprisingly bloodless for the most part.
1) MIDSOMMAR – Ari Aster made two films and each of them have left a lasting impression. Midsommar though reflects an incredible leap in craftsmanship and overall quality. Midsommar is a film that needs to be viewed multiple times to appreciate the nuance of skill at work.
