Top 10 of 2019

Top 10 of 2019

10. Light of My Life

The "upper" portion of my top lists are always more personal films. Films that are flawed for sure, and films that others might not necessarily appreciate. In a different world, where I don't have a daughter, this movie might not have the effect on me that it does. Luckily, I do have a daughter, and this movie really got me. It's a low budget indie movie with a pretty loose structure and plot, so it's not a movie for everybody. I've always been a Casey Affleck fan (Gone Baby Gone,  Assassination of Jesse James and Manchester by the Sea) and he wrote and directed this one, so if you're not a fan, it's probably best to stay away as it's a lot of him. Overall, the movie is simple and simple is all this movie needs to be. 

9. Honey Boy

I had a happy childhood, I swear. I've always been drawn to serious or semi-serious movies from the point of view of a child (Millions, In America, Little Manhattan, A Monster Calls, The Fall, ET duh) which could be a reason for (hint) why my number 1 on this list, is my number 1. Anyway, whether or not you like Shia, he does a fantastic job at NOT being Shia, and, in my opinion, does the best acting of the year. He carries this movie, and at times, you may hate watching it, you may cringe, but you can't take your eyes of the screen. If you've ever watched Even Stevens, you already have something invested in this movie and being only 1.5 hours, it's a quick movie to get through. A Pure character driven drama and similar to"Light of My Life", there isn't much structure nor plot, but it is 100% emotion. There are a lot of awkward and emotionally tense scenes, but nothing too dark or vulgar as it does has have a positive ending.

8. The King

Unlike the two movies mentioned above, this does have a plot, so that's nice! But, it seems as if this movie went through post production hell, because it is a bit of a hot mess. Initially, it was produced as a wide release yet ended up being a Netflix drop, never a good sign. The budget is there, production value, costume design, talent, it's all top notch. However, they either ran out of budget or were forced to edit the hell out of it to fit into a standard run time. Great actors show up and then disappear for an hour, or, take an hour to show up, then disappear. It's very strange, and I would love to see both a directors cut and a documentary of, The King. With that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this movie as everything it does right, is fantastic. Knights, castles and medieval politics are my thing, so it's no surprise, if you're not into such things, it's probably a pass, however being on Netflix, why not? What is surprising,with how many movies of this genre I've seen, this has some freshness and new takes. For instance, the first one on one knight battle, was ridiculously realistic, and although not "blockbuster" worthy, felt as real as any I've ever seen before. The film has more of those unique scenes along the way, and although that "way" is a bit choppy, as I mentioned earlier, it's originality and story were intriguing enough for me. As I'm typing this, I just learned that the director also directed Rover and Animal Kingdom (two fantastic movies that are better than this one so go and watch them, and Animal Kingdom the movie is hands down better than the show) so it's no wonder I felt something special while watching this movie. It's also (loosley) based on a true story, so that's a plus for the history buffs.

7. Dr. Sleep

I'm truly torn on this movie. It's two movies in one, and I believe that the first half, is the better half, even though it's the portion of the movie that is the least related to The Shinning. The second half of the movie, is an obvious throw back to The Shinning, but it comes off as forced and fan service-y. If I knew that the plot of the sequel to The Shinning included a group of Vampires that went around killing children and eating their "steam", I would have never even attempted to watch it. But here I am, saying, that it is the plot of Doctor Sleep and that the scenes related to it are the best executed scenes of the movie. I can't remember the last time that I've been made to understand, and more importantly, care, about the plight of the antagonist more than I do in Doctor Sleep. It's a difficult tactic to pull off and this film absolutely does, all while still developing the protagonists at an even level. I guess, that is in fact why I enjoyed the first half, it's where all that development takes place. The final act is just the resolution, and it's not as interesting or engaging, even with a revisit to the Overlook Hotel. The Overlook stuff is cool, but I feel like I've seen it done better in other re-creations, spoofs and homages including, Ready Player One. Or, it could be me, as I hold such a high standard for The Shinning. If that's the case, and most people do like the second half, I think that just makes the first half even better.

6. The LightHouse

While I was watching this, I was 100% invested, now that I reminisce about it, I don't know how to even comment on it. I'd categorize it as one of those claustrophobic, stuck on an island with a limited number of characters, type movie, which I've seen many of. And these types of movies are dependant on the acting, and it's superb in this one. It has to be, because once again, there is no plot although the film is listed on IMDB as a comedy, drama, suspense, fantasy and horror. It really is all those things as every scene feels like it's own sketch, even though they completely tie into one another, it's a strange experience for sure. In the end, I was riveted while watching but I don't think I need to watch it again. That one time is enough to make a lasting impression.

5. Uncut Gems

A non stop, in your face, anxiety inducing movie. Sandler is really good (although his best film is still Punch Drunk Love) and does a good job at creating a protagonist and antagonist at the same time. The directors of this film have only directed one other, Good Time (on my top 10 for 2017) and it takes you on a similar, one day, panic ride, so they know how to turn your stomach for sure. 

4. Parasite

Halfway through the movie, this went from #1 to #4, and I honestly wanted to keep dropping it. The film had me at the edge of my seat until, the "reveal/twist", which totally derailed where I had hoped the story was going. Even though I still loved this movie I have a sense of disappointment associated with the experience. Don't get me wrong, I get that the "twist", does emphasize the themes of the movie, which are masterfully omnipresent through the visuals. Bong Joon-Ho is one of the best filmmakers today although he has his quirks for sure, and I wouldn't call any of his movies "hollywood". All of his movies that I have seen are commentaries on class and social structure, and this film is no different. But, he's such a good film maker, and this movie is so meticulously made, that it will probably rise a bit with a second viewing. If you enjoyed Parasite, I recommend Host and SnowPiercer as they have similar themes, actors, production value and wonderful visuals. 

3. Knives Out

Rian Johnson is an enigma. He's directed some of my personal favorite movies including Brick, Looper and Brothers Bloom (If you've already seen Knives Out and enjoyed it, I would reccomend any of those). He also made The Last Jedi, which I don't recommend. Anyway, he's back to form here with content that is perfect for him; a quirky, funny, mystery with great characters. Daniel Craig and the main actress are the obvious stand-outs and add a real heart to the story. The rest of the ensemble cast does a good job, but sadly, become background scenery as the story progresses. I felt the focus to a smaller subset of the characters happens to soon, and takes some of the mystery away. However in all fairness, some of that is all a red-herring anyway as the story, it's flashbacks and the narrative are purposely convoluted, not in a cheap way, to keep you guessing. I think it all comes together very well at the end and it's one of the few "fun" movies on this list. On a list populated with some dark themes and tense story telling, this is a good ride.

2. Joker

This is not a comic book movie. Change the name of the main character and the tile of the film to something else, and it would still be as poignant and intriguing as it is as the Joker. This is basically Taxi Driver 2019, and dare I say, a better Taxi Driver. Sure, that film is iconic for it's time, but I don't believe it holds up as well as many others do. Either way, in theme and in story narrative/progression, the films are almost identical. It's gotten some negative attention for this, but being that Robert De Niro is in this, I'd say the Joker is influenced by and pays homage to, Taxi Driver, rather than it being a rip-off. The Joker is a character study that explores mental health in combination with a hostile/tense environment and how that can affect the lives associated with it all. It's a gritty, realistic and dark film that will jar some people, but that shouldn't take away from it's cinematic achievements. The score is my favorite soundtrack of the year and the pacing of this movie is perfect. If you haven't yet seen this because you don't care about the Joker/comic book movies, I 100% recommend it. 

1. JoJo Rabbit

This was an easy choice. I can see why many people have been hesitant to see this movie as the thought of portraying the Holocaust, Nazism, Hitler, WWII and everything else that comes with it, in a light hearted way, seems unimaginable and even, disrespectful. WWII seems to be one of the few (maybe the only?) things where it will never, not be, "too soon". I had my own doubts as well, as this could have been an insult to millions of people alive and dead. But it wasn't, and I'm still amazed that it wasn't. It's utterly fantastic how super silly one scene can be, and how serious it is in the next and yet how it all makes sense and works together. JoJo Rabbit is hands down my favorite film of the year! Do yourself a favor, watch it!