In a normal year, I can sometimes struggle to reach 10 films to write about. In 2016 I ranked The Founder at #9, a movie I've almost completely forgotten. In 2018, I gave only one movie 4.5/5 stars, and that was Mission: Impossible- Fallout. Certain years are just weaker than others, with no real reason other than the calendar limits placed upon doing a year-end list.
2019, is absolutely not one of these years.
2019 is one of my favorite film years in recent history, so much so that I decided to bump out my normal top 10 to a top 15. It felt ridiculous to leave off some incredible films that wouldn't have made my top 10. This is also a year that I will not really be upset by any of the Best Picture Nominees taking home the top prize at the Academy Awards. Joker didn't completely work for me, but is still a well-made, provocative film. Besides that, the other 8 nominees will all be represented on my top 15 list, something very rare when it comes to my taste lining up with the Academy's. Normally I'll make some crack about how the Academy screwed up, but this year I don't have much to quibble with. Take a look at my top 15 for 2019!
1. The Irishman
I had countless worries going into The Irishman. Is this going to be Goodfellas but everyone is old? Is the de-aging CGI going to be distracting? Will my enjoyment be diminished not being able to see this on the big screen? DOES IT REALLY HAVE TO BE 3 AND A HALF HOURS LONG?! The answer to all of these questions and more is: don't question Martin Scorsese. The Irishman is an incredible gangster epic, a perfect end to the unofficial DeNiro-Pesci-Scorsese trilogy alongside Goodfellas and Casino. But The Irishman shines in completely different ways than those two films. It is way more methodical and somber in its story, but still moves at Scorsese's signature lightning speed. The final shot of this film is heartbreaking and pays homage to one of the great gangster epics of all time, and I'd be remiss not to mention the "shorts meeting" scene. DeNiro has an understated but near perfect performance as a mob enforcer who may not have seen his life turn out exactly the way he wanted. The length may scare you off but my urge is that you'd carve out the time and give The Irishman a try. It's well worth the time.
2. Marriage Story
This was my first Noah Baumbach experience, and I can see why he's so well-regarded for his dialogue and realistic characters. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are both electric as a married couple going through a divorce. Marriage Story handles the awful reality of divorce in such a real and even-handed way. The complexities of the legal system and family ties breaking is a painful reality that is carefully depicted in a way that helps us study the characters and have empathy for all in this situation.
3. Parasite
This brilliant film from South Korea is a textbook example of how to make an entertaining film with deeper meaning. Parasite is an entertaining thriller from start to finish, kicked into high gear by its riveting midsection. But what really sets it apart is the deft way it handles messages of class, wealth, and prejudice without being too on the nose. A great film should keep you engaged from start to finish, then allow your mind to wander with deeper questions afterwards. Parasite has all of that and more.
4. Knives Out
Rian Johnson's Knives Out is really all I want a trip to the movie theater to be. It's clever, funny, and lets its stars shine as bright as possible. Rian Johnson is most certainly a "season pass director", meaning that I will look forward to and see any new movie he puts out.
5. Little Women
I'm not sure that I'm ever truly excited for a remake (well, besides Denis Villeneuve's Dune remake coming out later this year), so it was a welcome surprise that Greta Gerwig's Little Women worked so well and was such a delight. I am a fan of the 1994 version with Winona Ryder, and was not sure that a remake would have much left to say. But Gerwig's careful re-ordering of the story to highlight Jo's struggles in a different way was powerful and especially resonant in 2019. All of the acting performances were great, but Florence Pugh as Amy really stands out. Greta Gerwig, after 2017's fantastic Lady Bird, has now been added as a "season pass director"!
6. Jojo Rabbit
Maybe the reason 2019 was such a good year is that the movies were being made by tons of great filmmakers, old and new. Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) absolutely belongs on that list with another classic in Jojo Rabbit. Waititi's distinct Kiwi humor mixed with heartfelt performances by some talented kids and established veterans easily makes Jojo one of the best of 2019.
7. 1917
The "one take" gimmick has been done before, but 1917 pulls it off as well as it's ever been done with an intense WWI thriller. This was a great theater experience, I'm not sure how much I'd have liked this sitting at home. Roger Deakins cinematography is mindblowing, particularly the nighttime escape from the clock tower.
8. Ad Astra
Ad Astra combines an intimate character study with the sprawl of a giant space epic. Brad Pitt's role in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is getting all the notariety, but he is just as good here playing an astronaut searching for his father.
9. Toy Story 4
Ever wanted to contemplate what it's like to move into retirement and become and empty nester? Then a PG movie about children's toys is just the thing for you!
10. Uncut Gems
The Safdie brothers breakout movie is full on adrenaline from start to finish. I love movies where I'm transported to a world I know nothing about, and Uncut Gems setting in the New York diamond district is just that. Adam Sandler has the chops to be one of the great actors of his time, but I guess he's doing just fine making eleventy-billion dollars in Netflix schlock.
11. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
It really pains me to put Quentin Tarantino's latest film this low. Don't get me wrong, I really love it, but it shines as a collection of scenes more than a narrative movie. OUATIH is a "hang out" movie where we get to know washed up actor Rick Dalton (Leo DiCaprio) and stunt man Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). There are some all-time scenes in this film, particularly Leo on a TV show set with a child actress, and Pitt visiting Charles Manson's infamous Spahn ranch. But I couldn't quite connect like I wanted to due to the meandering pace of the film. Maybe this one will work better on re-watch, but I left the theater wanting more.
12. Yesterday
A sweet rom-com with the music of my favorite band of all time. What's not to love?
13. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The final chapter in the Skywalker saga is a series of incredible highs and baffling lows. I was not a fan of the plot reveals that completely walked back some of Star Wars: The Last Jedi's greatest moments. RoS felt like a million different things are going on at once, no time is given to new characters (did you know that Keri Russell is in this movie?) and certain old characters get ignominious ends (Hux, Rose). And yet, there are some really great moments that were incredibly exciting and satisfying that momentarily made me forget the missteps. By paying too much attention to vocally upset fans that hated The Last Jedi, I fear that this was a sanitized version of what could have been a great ending.
14. Ford v. Ferrari
A fast, loud action with movie stars doing their thing. Sports movies can still work on the big screen, and that's really good news.
15. The Farewell
A sweet and tender story by a promising new filmmaker (Lulu Wang) that really hits on the cultural divide between China and the United States. But despite the differences, The Farewell is ultimately a human story that cuts all cultures, and is beautiful throughout.
Honorable Mention: John Wick 3: Parabellum, Zombieland: Double-Tap, American Factory, FYRE
