Top 10 Movies of 2019 (JimmyO)

A few weeks ago while preparting my list of favorite films, I felt that this past year didn’t have a whole lot to offer in terms of great cinema. To be fair, there were a number of titles I missed in theatres, and as I began to play catch up, the realization hit me that 2019 was a far more successful year for cool and original stories than I had originally thought. In fact, while putting this list together, it became very difficult to narrow it down to just ten films that left an impact – there were several more that truly impressed. A few flicks that didn’t quite make this list include the sweetly emotional THE FAREWELL, the fascinating and frankly under appreciated THE CURRENT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT, as well as Shia LaBeouf’s shockingly great, and all too personal performance in HONEY BOY.

The stories that inspired included a powerful war film about two men on a perilous journey. Another was an examination of a marriage that is falling apart. As well, you have a weird cult in Sweden making life hell for a group of American tourists, a decades long story of a mob hitman, a modern day murder mystery and more. This was a year that brought movie fans a number of fresh and exciting new stories, in addition to a few massive blockbusters and sequels like AVENGERS: ENDGAME, FROZEN 2 and TOY STORY 4. Either way, this wasn’t a terrible way to head into a brand new decade with all the impressive viewing choices that begged for our attention these past twelve months.

Here, in alphabetical order, are the top 10 movies that helped make 2019 a great year at the movies. Some are divisive, others are obvious, but either way, these are the films that ignited my own passion for going to the cinema and bringing a little magic to the big screen. Agree or disagree? Leave your own favorites in the comments below.

1917

Within less than twenty minutes of this marvelous film, it became very clear that this was going to be the movie to beat for this viewer. With 1917, Sam Mendes offers up one of the most compelling films of the year – perhaps of the past decade. While the one shot approach could’ve come across as a gimmick with a lesser talent behind the camera, here it’s a stunning achievement. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have the legendary Roger Deakins as your cinematographer. Add to that two fantastic performances from the film’s stars, George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, and you have the most mesmerizing and tense feature of the year. This is the kind of movie that reminds me why I love cinema. Absolutely stunning.

The Irishman

In Martin Scorsese’ sprawling epic, the famed director has returned to his true crime roots and it’s perhaps one of his best films. While the near four hour runtime may have some of you skittish, it’s certainly warranted considering the level of detail in the story and the many decades it explores. This fantastic film offers us incredible performances from Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel – all Scorsese regulars – and a few other familiar faces. Instead of simply sticking to what worked for GOODFELLAS and CASINO, this legendary filmmaker presents these characters in a more mature and thoughtful way. It may take awhle to get through, but it's a motion picture experience worth having.

Joker

With the usual onslaught of superheroes and super villains in theatres, Todd Phillips latest was something truly inspired. JOKER is not a pleasant film. It’s not a fun popcorn flick with all sorts of over-the-top action sequences. What it is, is a compelling and occasionally terrifying look at a man dealing with mental illness. While we’ve seen a number of incredible actors take on this character, Joaquin Phoenix is extraordinary here. The actor fearlessly attacks the material, and he brings a horrifyingly human element to it. While this feature does eventually begin to connect to the superhero element, it’s a far more interesting tale simply because we truly see what kind of mind can disappear into a monstrous villain like the Joker. This is an unforgettable film, one that is likely to deliver an Oscar to Phoenix thanks to his magnificent performance.

Knives Out

Who knew that we all needed an old fashioned murder mystery with a few clever twists and a good natured look at a families greed? Well apparently Rian Johnson did. KNIVES OUT is a delightfully wicked tale that features one of the most charming leading performances of the year with the lovely Ana de Armas. It also helps that she’s surrounded by a cast that includes Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, LaKeith Stanfield and Toni Collette. This is one of those films that excited critics and audiences alike, simply because of how smartly it approached the material. Funny, thrilling and engaging, this is a reminder of how much fun a twisted tale of murder and intrigue can be.

The Lighthouse

Well this isn’t the only divisive genre flick on my list, it’s one that has had intense reactions on both sides. Some love the insanely bizarre nature of a couple of lighthouse keepers dealing with strange visions, but others didn’t quite see the light from the fog. And that’s okay. Even with my first viewing I wasn’t sure what to make of this strange experience featuring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Yet ulitimately, it’s hard not to be taken in by filmmaker Robert Eggers extreme attention to detail. This is a period film that, much like his previous chiller THE WITCH, is so well explored that it truly transports you to another world. And then there are the two leads. Wow. Dafoe is simply incredible here, and frankly, Pattinson continues to prove what an amazing talent he is as the much abused assistant to Dafoe’s insane wannabe pirate. Undeniably odd, yet I’ve found this eerie film to be an addictive and bold favorite.

Little Women

Greta Gerwig is such a wonderfully talented actress. Diverse and incredibly charming, she brings something special to every role that she plays. And now, she is bringing that grace and heart to us behind the camera. While LADY BIRD was a delightful coming of age drama, her latest is a sublime take on a classic story. LITTLE WOMEN boasts a fantastic cast which features Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet and Meryl Streep. It also effortlessly tells the tale of the close knit March sisters without feeling like a movie of the week. This is an engaging and beautiful feature from Gerwig, and she is quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices behind the camera as well as in front of it. Even if this isn’t your type of flick, you may be surprised by just how damn good it is.

Marriage Story

Noah Baumbach’s latest is something special. You may not expect a movie about a Los Angeles couple dealing with divorce to be terribly warm and honest, but it is all of that and more. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver beautifully capture this very real and heartbreaking story by giving us compassionate and fascinating characters. As well, the supporting cast that includes Laura Dern and Julie Hagerty bring an astounding amount of humor and soul to this gorgeous feature. Without dragging its audience down, this terrific film manages to tell its story without really taking sides. All of this helps create something suprisingly truthful and absolutely lovely. MARRIAGE STORY is certainly one that nearly all of us can relate to.

Midsommar

After Ari Aster shocked us with HEREDITARY, I wasn’t sure what kind of atrocities he’d explore in a story about Americans visiting a sweet little community in Sweden. And while this feature doesn’t offer the twists and turns of his previous work, it effortless brings you into a very strange and provocative world. And that opening sequence still haunts me. This is a fascinating film, one that features a terrific cast that includes Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper and Will Poulter, but the real star here is Florence Pugh. The young actress goes on an intensely personal, and sometimes shocking journey of self discovery. While MIDSOMMAR may not be straight up horror, it still manages to burrow deep into your soul and stay with you long after the experience.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

If you dig Quentin Tarantino and you love classic Hollywood, you’ll find he has a whole lot to offer in this fascinating look at what it was like to be an actor in the late Sixties. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a has-been television actor, and he’s quite good in the role. However, it's Brad Pitt that nearly steals the show playing a swaggering, but cool as hell stuntman. As well, you have the lovely Margot Robbie who manages to really shine taking on the role of actress Sharon Tate. The way that Tarantino creates an alternate timeline to the real – and horrific – events that took place the night Charles Manson’s “Family” took the lives of several people, he manages to do so without feeling cheap or exploitive. This is a love letter to the classics that inspired Tarantino, and it’s one that is a delight to share in the experience with. 

Parasite

As a fan of Bong Joon Ho’s work, I had always planned to see PARASITE without watching a trailer or reading a review. Of course it was difficult to hide from the film’s praise if you were online. And thankfully, the praise and hype is well warranted. In fact, I’d rather not say much about the plot here at all, as many of you probably haven’t had the chance to see this. Needless to say if you want to see something incredibly twisted and fiercely original, I highly recommend this strange and impressively shot examination of class struggle, trust and deception. Either way, this is a must see if you are thirsting for something unique, funny, and at times, shockingly dark.