Top Films of 2019

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2019 boasted technical achievements on the small and big screens, culmination of two major film franchises’ installments, phenomenal performances, breakout debuts, thrilling sophomoric pieces, and extraordinary tributes. Filmmakers and moviegoers were treated to dazzling artwork.

It was amazing to be a film lover in the 2010’s because the ability of making, producing, showing, and enjoying film kept growing. Actors, directors, cinematographers, producers, editors, designers, and more were committed to their craft, which excited audiences around the world. For me, this decade further proved film is the most beautiful medium of art because the abilities of expression, design, and action are endless.

This year, just like all years, I loved the conversations I had with strangers, friends, and family about films; as always, I especially enjoyed discussing film with my wife, Amy.

In 2019, I was thrilled, scared, frightened, saddened, energized, stirred, and elevated by these twenty films.

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20. Star Wars – Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker (USA) J.J. Abrams. It’s a fun ride and exciting finish to the third trilogy. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) put on an intense display with their force dyad and connection. Dan Mindel, Rick Carter, and Kevin Jenkins show off their cinematography and production design talents throughout the film.

19. Knives Out (USA) Rian Johnson. The whodunit isn’t the focal point of the film. The sharp direction by Johnson, transformation of the murder-mystery, fully entertaining performances, and rich cinematography are the rich components of this film. The cast is headed by the ultra-talented Daniel Craig in one of his best characters – Benoit Blanc.

18. High Life (France/Germany) Claire Denis. This film is about fluids….in space. Although there are many films about incarcerating criminals in space, this film delves further into the complications of raising children in space, desire, and the expendability of criminals. All this is capped off by the conniving performances of Juliette Binoche and Robert Pattinson.

17. The Farewell (China) by Lulu Wang. Both feel-good and somber, Lulu Wang creates a complex film about life, death, and culture by telling an intricate story about a Chinese family preparing for the death of their grandmother. Awkwafina gives a meaningful performance about a Chinese American trying to find her identity and place in multiple cultures.

16. Toy Story 4 (USA) Josh Cooley Expansive, and sorrowful, the fourth installment in a robust saga keeps the story about a family of toys bright, fresh, and fun. It captures the wonders of children enjoying being kids and seeing their vivid imaginations take off. The makers of the Toy Story saga continue building a beautiful story in a time when animated franchises often fall flat.

15. Amazing Grace (USA) Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack. Any viewing of a documentary on Aretha Franklin is a treat. However, seeing her sing in the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles, California in 1972 is a blessing. Even though the audience knows her titular piece, when she hits her notes, the audience’s tears start falling.

14. Avengers: Endgame (USA) Anthony & Joe Russo. Phenomenal, lovely, intense, and energetic are some of the many words to describe the finale of the war over the infinity stones. It is an astonishing tribute to the past decade of superhero films, but also an encouraging view into where the Marvel Cinematic Universe will go.

13. Us (USA) Jordan Peele. Jordan Peele, in his sophomore film, creates another terrifying, hilarious, and twisted tale. While his commentary on black people in America is readily apparent, the brilliance of Lupita N’yongo’s acting breadth and range is terrifyingly fantastic.

12. Little Women (USA) Greta Gerwig. Gerwig and Ronan are at the top of their game in this modernized adaptation of the fantastic novel by Louisa May Alcott. The celebrities melt away and the film becomes a lively development of the various families and individuals. The most beautiful part of the film is Gerwig’s intense attention to detail in each scene.

11. 1917 (UK) Sam Mendes. Mendes, Deakins, and Wilson-Cairns toss the audience into the trenches, terror, fear, and nature of World War I; it is a technological achievement which celebrates the bravery of the British soldiers. The two leads, brilliantly played by Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay, are gripping, vulnerable, and memorable from start to finish.

10. Ford v Ferrari (USA) James Mangold. Big, bold, thrilling, fun, sleek, and fast. The heart of this film is the pitfalls of greed vs the power of natural talent; the outer shell of the film is about racing culture and Le Mans. Matt Damon (Carroll Shelby) and Christian Bale (Ken Miles) are contemplative, fun, and brilliant.

9. The Lighthouse (USA) Robert Eggers. Creepy, enigmatic, metaphorical, and skillfully shot, the story of two lighthouse keepers (Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) is thrown into a mix of mythology and maritime stories. Robert Eggers flexes his filmmaking skills displayed in “The Witch” and shows he is an autonomous artist in full control of his art.

8. Once Upon a Time in….Hollywood (USA) – Quentin Tarantino. This is Tarantino’s ridiculously fun glance into the end of the Golden Age of Hollywood, which is strengthened by the astounding Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie. The film oozes Tarantino’s trademark bumping soundtrack, gratuitous violence, sleek dialogue, and love of filmmaking.

7. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (USA) Joe Talbot. This is the most beautifully shot film of the year. Talbot writes his love story to San Francisco through a powerful story about friendship, sacrifice, history, gentrification, and a city. Combined with a sweeping soundtrack, Jimmie Fails and Jonathon Majors ooze prowess in a film centered around a house.

6. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (USA) Chad Stahelski. Keanu Reeves adorns himself with weapons, wit, grit, and humor as he blasts further into the mysteries of The Table and Continental. There are many strong points of this action film, but the most important is the cool and stylish world-building of assassins.

5. The Irishman (USA) Martin Scorsese. Earning its runtime, Scorsese, DeNiro, Pesci, and Pacino create a contemplative, poignant, and sympathetic examination of organized crime. The special effects of de-aging the three main stars are spectacular and mesmerizing; it moves the picture along with attentiveness, grace, and depth.

4. Uncut Gems (USA) Benny & Josh Safdie. In a chameleon, bewitching, and jarring role, Adam Sandler disappears into the tragic, high-energy, and abrasive Howard Ratner. Addiction is at the forefront of each characters’ motivations; Sandler, Fox, Stanfield, Garnett, and more play their roles wonderfully with seething urgency.

3. Joker (USA) Todd Phillips. Joaquin Phoenix disappears into the role of the complex, tormented, and intricate Joker/Arthur Fleck. Todd Phillips, crew, DeNiro, and Phoenix create a dangerously plausible rise of the Joker, while making an unforgettable installation in the graphic novel adaptation genre.

2. Parasite (South Korea) Bong Joon Ho. Enigmatic, striking, and densely crafted. Bong Joon Ho flexes his filmmaking and story-making skills in this movie about a family struggling to get out of poverty. Kang-Ho Song, Yeo-Jeong Jo, So-dam Park, Woo-sik Choi, Sun—kyun Lee, Seo-joon Park and Ji-so Jung lose themselves in their characters, creating a somber, hilarious, and impressive tale about class systems in South Korea. It is metaphorical.

1. Midsommar (USA) Ari Aster. Haunting, unsettling, detailed, and crafty. This film explores the terrifying aspects of a breakup and devastating loss in the backdrop of a ritualistic midsummer celebration. Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor are phenomenal in this heart-wrenching story which drags the viewer deeper and deeper into dread, chaos, and vulnerability.

Thank you enjoying this movie blog!

- Justacinephile