Despite the numerous reasons that have justified my pushing off
this end of 2019 list, it can no longer be ignored. After a few weeks of
constant shifts, new additions, and cutting films that I really, thoroughly
enjoy, my personal list of the best films of 2019 is as ready as it ever will
be.
Honorable Mentions
Those pesky films that couldn’t quite crack the top ten, but
it was far too difficult to not mention them in some capacity.
-
Avengers: Endgame: A behemoth of a film that
appeals to the nerd in all of us, and though it may not actually be this high
on a full list of everything I saw in 2019, the fact that the Russo Brothers
and Kevin Feige actually pulled off a satisfying conclusion is truly astounding
when placed next to finales from other pop culture staples.
-
The Irishman: While I was never quite as high on
this film as others were, there is no denying the craftsmanship and care that
went into this three hour epic, and Martin Scorsese, legend that he already is,
adds another piece to a storied legacy of cinema.
-
The Farewell: Though it may be a film about a
specific experience, its themes are universal, and writer-director Lulu Wang
knows this, bringing a delicate touch to this moving and poignant look at the
dynamics of family.
-
Midsommar: A twisted, unsettling descent into
complete and utter madness all elevated by the tremendous and ambitious touch
of writer-director Ari Aster, building on his status as a bright, new horror
director.
And now, it’s time for the best of the best, the cream of
the crop, the gold stars, and other metaphors. Now it’s time for the top ten
films of 2019.
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Another year,
another underappreciated gem from Marielle Heller. The director is making a
name for herself with understated, quiet films, containing more depth than most
films could ever dream of. A Beautiful
Day in the Neighborhood, though advertised as a story about Fred Rogers,
star of the long time public access show Mister
Rogers’ Neighborhood, is not really about the man himself, but a portrait
of who we can be if we’re all a little kinder and more understanding. Of course,
it doesn’t hurt to have Tom Hanks as the impeccably polite celebrity either.
Still, Heller does the impossible, taking a film featuring Fred Rogers, an idea
that could be terribly cheesy and ultimately dull, and creates an earnest look
at the toxicity of humanity and how we all need to forgive a little more.
9. Booksmart
While
audiences were attending the big blockbusters and mind numbing drivel of the
summer, director Olivia Wilde delivered the funniest comedy of 2019 in Booksmart, and it’s been
underappreciated every day since. Not only is it one of the sharpest comedies
and most rewatchable movies of the year, it also packs a couple of huge emotional
gut punches and some tremendous debut filmmaking from Wilde. The friendship at
the center, portrayed excellently by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, carries
authenticity like few on screen friendships do, which makes their story all the
more effective as their last night of high school proceeds. Booksmart remains one of the best films
of the year, not by copying other models of high school nights gone wrong, but
by doing something new, something unique, something special.
8. Ad Astra
If anyone saw The Lost City of Z back in 2017, you
probably knew that James Gray wasn’t going to deliver a run of the mill space
flick with Ad Astra. While it does
feature all the treats and visual splendor that people have grown to love about
the vast emptiness of space, Gray manages to fill it with familial drama, an Apocalypse Now-esque journey into the
unknown. Aiding the efforts is Brad Pitt, who is better than ever, and reminds
us all how truly great he is. Pitt may be getting the Oscar for his chiller
performance in Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood, but a part of me will always pretend it's partially for this role
too.
7. Little Women
I know what
you’re thinking. The fourth adaptation of a book everyone knows in 2019 can’t possibly
bring anything new to the table. On its surface level evaluation, sure, that
argument isn’t completely unfounded. However, when you actually see Greta
Gerwig’s version of Little Women, all
doubt is quickly forgotten in the warm embrace of this film. Gerwig flexes her
skills as a writer, taking something that could be as tired as everyone expects
and completely shifting the structure to strengthen the narrative tissue even more.
The film doesn’t lack in charm either, its pitch perfect casting almost ensures
that, but Gerwig doesn’t ever rest on the built in love for the characters,
instead letting the audience see why people fell in love with them in the first
place.
6. 1917
Much has been
made about the technical achievements of 1917
and deservedly so, however, its far more than just an experience of the eyes
and ears. The film succeeds because of its emotional throughline , a story of
young men, thrown into a situation they’re ill-prepared for, and furthermore, expected
to basically do the impossible. Director Sam Mendes utilizes brilliant cinematography
from Roger Deakins not just as the jaw-dropping shots that they are, but to
elevate the story, and place the audience alongside these men in the trenches
of World War I. Combine all that with the best score of the year from Thomas
Newman, and 1917 is easily one of the
best films of 2019, and quite possibly, one of the best war films of all time.
5. Us
The latest film
from Jordan Peele has stuck in the best of 2019 sphere the longest. It has done
so by maintaining its thematic excellency through repeat viewings and analysis.
On one hand, Us is an exceptional horror
film, one that ditches modern jump scares for mood and feeling instead. On the
other, Us is a rich commentary on America’s
obsession with status, the haves and the have-nots, and the dark history of
pushing the voiceless to the side. Peele’s visual language and insane ability
to execute set-ups and payoffs are firing on all cylinders, and Lupita Nyong’o
gives one of the best performances of the year in the dual role of Adelaide /
Red. If by some chance you haven’t caught up to this brilliant film, what could
you possibly be waiting for?
4. Knives Out
We, as a
society, truly do not deserve Rian Johnson. Fresh off of producing the best
Star Wars film since 1980, Johnson returned to the director’s chair with a
sharp knife and an even sharper script. He
also just so happened to bring an all-star ensemble along for the ride, as well
as one of the better characters introduced all year in Daniel Craig’s Benoit
Blanc and his southern drawl, for a whodunnit that’s so much fun you might be
tempted to watch it again right after it ends. Not a single moment is wasted
and every last detail pays off in some fashion. Knives Out, with all its craftsmanship and passion, is a murder
mystery that would make Agatha Christie proud.
3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
The newest
entry to this top ten, and one that may just jump up more upon another viewing
or two, is the exquisitely crafted Portrait
of a Lady on Fire. For some, it’s a film that might not be on your radar at
all, it’s wider release got pushed back when France opted to submit an inferior
film for its Oscar submission after all. If you are unaware, this is your
signal to look forward to writer-director Céline Sciamma’s gorgeous film,
whenever you get a chance to see it. From afar, it may seem like just another
period piece, but once it starts, when it truly gets moving, you see the small glances,
the subtle hints of a connection before the raging flames of a romance just
about burn the whole thing to the ground.
2. Marriage Story
As
heartbreaking a film as 2019 may provide, Marriage
Story numerous scenes, moments, and even lines of dialogue that cut like a
knife. Writer-director Noah Baumbach has written one of the best screenplays of
the year, pouring deep seeded issues, growing emotional distance, and an air of
helplessness into both halves of the titular crumbling marriage. Adam Driver
and Scarlett Johansson are at their best here, building up the tension slowly
until it all explodes in this fit of rage, sadness, and ultimately, release. It’s
not entirely devastating throughout, Baumbach sprinkles in plenty of good
comedic moments, but by the end, through some heaving on heart strings with letter
reading and Sondheim lyrics, the emotions of it all are bound to get to you.
1. Parasite
In a year defined by division and
disagreement, one thing most everyone can agree on is the status of Parasite as one of the best films of the
year. Those that have seen it, at least in my experience, have very few
negative things to say about it, and those who haven’t seen it are wrong. You’ll
be hard pressed to find a film in 2019 more satisfying, better constructed, or
more well realized in its themes and messaging than Parasite. For years now, South Korea has been shut out of Hollywood’s
biggest night, not even earning a nomination in Foreign Language Film let alone
winning, but this year, Parasite might
just win the biggest prize of them all. Director Bong Joon-ho, genius that he
is, said it best: “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you
will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Truer words have never been
spoken.