The best films of 2019

The best films of 2019

Well, 2019 has come to a close and 2020 has arrived, which means that it’s time for all of us movie snobs to share our annual best-of lists. Obviously, this stuff is all subjective. It should also be noted that even though I saw over 100 films throughout the course of the year, there are plenty of titles I didn’t have an opportunity to see. This list of the best films of 2019 simply represents the 10 titles that moved me most. As expected, there are a couple of films here that aren’t as well known, but all are available for viewing in some shape or form, and I highly encourage you to check them all out.

10. Love, Antosha

This moving coming-of-age-style documentary delves into the life of Anton Yelchin, a wonderfully talented, likable, and charming actor who we lost far too early. Through conversations with Yelchin, stock footage, movie clips, and interviews with those whose lives he touched — including his parents — this movie weaves an intimate, loving, and heartbreaking tribute to an individual who was so much more than an artist. Even if you didn’t necessarily count yourself as a Yelchin fan going into this film, you’re likely to be one after it’s over.

9. Honey Boy

It was a banner year for Shia LaBeouf, an actor whose off-screen antics often eclipse his work — a shame, because movies like “Honey Boy” are further proof of what an extraordinary talent LaBeouf truly is. In “Honey Boy,” this one-time child star plays the role of his own dysfunctional father in what actually plays more as an intimate therapy session than a movie, and it’s all the more powerful for it. LaBeouf wrote the screenplay while doing a stint in rehab, and that only adds to it’s poignancy. In addition to an effective LaBeouf performance, watch for stellar work from young Noah Jupe. This is an impressive narrative directorial debut from “Bombay Beach” helmer Alma Har’el.

8. Parasite

This latest effort from Bong Joon-ho (“The Host,” “Snowpiercer,” “Okja”) really sneaks up on you. It starts as a sort of light domestic comedy about a poor family who set out to take advantage of a considerably wealthier family by way of a series of intricate cons, but underneath that light exterior is a powerful satire, a dramedy that puts the not-so-subtle stylings of films like “Ready or Not” to absolute shame. This richly textured social commentary takes a well balanced look at a very real problem (think of the brilliantly titled “Parasite” as a more grounded take on something like Jordan Peele’s horror hit “Us” or Wes Craven’s “People Under the Stairs”), and where the characters in this picture end up is as hard hitting and brutal as it is provocative and poignant. “Parasite” could be perceived as a bit of a departure for Bong Joon-ho in that it’s not as genre-heavy as his other efforts. That said, one thing is certain: It’s every bit as powerful! In fact, this might just be his masterpiece. Until his next film, of course.

7. Marriage Story

No film in 2019 made me feel more like a fly on a wall than Noah Baumbach’s intimate, funny, compassionate, heartbreaking, and often brutal look at the ending of a marriage between a theater director (played by Adam Driver) and his muse (played by Scarlett Johansson). “Marriage Story” is a quiet and thoughtful movie with hints of “Kramer vs. Kramer” and the best of Woody Allen. Some scenes in this picture are downright painful to watch — look no further than an undeniably powerful scene in which Driver reads a letter to his young son. But what makes this film so special, aside from two masterful lead performances, are its subtlety and restraint. Yes, there are moments in “Marriage Story” when we’re witness to yelling and name calling. But for the most part, this couple have a level of respect for one another, even during a very painful time, and it’s easy to see why they fell in love in the first place. Driver had a great year delivering an excellent turn in “The Report” and serving as a bright spot in the much talked-about “The Rise of Skywalker,” but his performance in “Marriage Story” is next-level great because he’s effective without being showy. Likewise, Johansson is coming off the best work of her career in the exceptional “Jojo Rabbit,” and in “Marriage Story,” she delivers the kind of emotionally charged turn that will be rightfully talked about during a busy awards season.  “Marriage Story” is the real deal!

6. Dolemite is My Name

This movie sits alongside “Jojo Rabbit” as the year’s funniest film. Additionally, it features Eddie Murphy’s best work in years! At the heart of this wonderful comedy is the tale of Rudy Ray Moore (played by Murphy), an ambitious dreamer of a storyteller who would go on to make “Dolemite,” a legendary low-budget blaxploitation film from the mid ’70s. This righteously hilarious Netflix comedy from Craig Brewer (“Hustle and Flow”) delves into how Moore pulled off the near impossible. While brimming with R-rated hijinks, “Dolemite is My Name” also emerges as a winning, charming, inspirational, and surprisingly heartfelt story about perseverance and teamwork. This movie sort of plays as a kindred spirit to Tim Burton’s grossly underappreciated “Ed Wood,” which makes sense when taking into consideration that it was penned by the same screenwriters. As someone who has helped organize quick-turnaround filmmaking competitions for the better part of the last 15 years, I found that “Dolemite is My Name” spoke to me on an almost indescribable level. But even if you’re not a storyteller, you’re likely to root for underdog Moore as he does everything he can to make his dreams a reality. More importantly, though, you’ll be laughing with him and not at him. “Dolemite is My Name” is an absolute joy.

5. The Peanut Butter Falcon

While I had pretty high hopes for a certain high-profile movie featuring the return of an entirely different Falcon, it’s “Peanut Butter Falcon” that left the bigger impression. It tells the story of a man with Down syndrome (Zack Gottsagen) who escapes from the care home he resides in before hitting the open road with a loner (Shia LaBeouf) dealing with a troubled past. “Peanut Butter Falcon” is as authentic and heartfelt as it is charming and inspirational. The whole movie has a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn vibe to it, and for all its strengths, it’s the very real bond between Gottsagen (who just so happens to have Down syndrome in real life) and LaBeouf (making his second appearance on this best of list) that make this outstanding movie so appealing. It’s been reported that the makers behind this film specifically wrote the lead role of Zac for Gottsagen, but they had a tough time securing funding for “Peanut Butter Falcon” because the majority of the studios that initially expressed interest wanted to cast an A-lister in the part. It certainly worked out for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” but that was an entirely different experience. The very casting of Gottsagen in this movie lends an honesty and authenticity to the proceedings that would have been completely lost otherwise. Seriously, the teaming of LaBeouf and Gottsagen made for one of the best movie duos of 2019. It’s a great movie that, among other things, rightfully suggests there’s no such thing as a disability, only ability.

4. Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood

“Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood” was surprisingly divisive for a Quentin Tarantino movie, but for my money, this love letter to late ’60s Hollywood was stronger than both “Django Unchained” and “The Hateful Eight.” But perhaps I lean in that direction partially because I have a grand love affair with the movies. Or maybe it’s because I grew up just outside of Hollywood. Whatever the case may be, it’s hard to deny the overall look of this picture. The art direction is positively stellar! What’s more, the lovable bromance between a vulnerable and self-conscious fading star (expertly played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt man of a best friend (played by a hilariously dry Brad Pitt) works like an absolute charm. As Tarantino did in his previous three films, there’s a bit of revisionist history at play in this picture. But there’s also a welcome sense of sentimentality to go along with it, and that’s something we don’t generally get in Tarantino movies. Further still, we’re treated to a luminous Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate. And for those who haven’t seen the movie, yes, the inclusion of Tate is tastefully done. And in fact, a sequence in which the famed up-and-coming actress — who would ultimately cross paths with Charles Manson — attends a public screening of her own movie is absolute magic! Clocking in at nearly three hours, “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood” is certainly long, but I would have happily spent five hours with the colorful characters in this Tinsel Town fairy tale.

3. The Irishman

I’m a huge Steven Spielberg guy, but pound for pound, Martin Scorsese might just be our best living filmmaker. It almost seems silly to try and compare “The Irishman” to his other mob pictures, because quite frankly it’s very much it’s own thing. And in fact, “The Irishman” is far more meditative in nature. It’s like “Goodfellas” by way of “Silence.” At the heart of the movie is Robert DeNiro, turning in his best work in years, as a hit man torn between his loyalty to a mob boss (brilliantly played by Joe Pesci) and teamster legend Jimmy Hoffa (played by a magnetic Al Pacino). The script is based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” and traces the life of a man who would eventually confess to one of the most mysterious unsolved hits in organized crime history. This rich, thoughtful, and undeniably sprawling epic was penned by the great Steven Zaillian, who also adapted “Schindler’s List” for Spielberg back in 1993. One of the most intriguing aspects of this picture is that it’s not the kind of movie Scorsese would have made earlier in his career, because the very idea of age, morality, and death are an integral part of the plot. It’s almost as if everything he’s done in his career has led to this movie. This is an often cold film about loyalty, betrayal, grief, regret, and the fear that comes with always having to look over your shoulder, even when there’s nothing left to look at. “The Irishman” is so involving, in fact, that the much talked-about digital de-aging process that was used so that DeNiro, Pesci, and Pacino could play their respective characters at different ages over the course of decades doesn’t distract. Neither does the epic 3 1/2 hour running time, which goes a long way to earn this film an incredibly powerful final act. And don’t let anyone tell you that “The Irishman” works better if you break it up in chunks. This one demands to be seen in a single sitting, and if at all humanly possible, see it in a theater!

2. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Given that the stunning documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” was my favorite film of 2018, this narrative from “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” director Marielle Heller had a whole lot to live up to. To my surprise, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” actually lived up to my somewhat hefty expectations. Everything that Mr. Rogers stood for is on full display in this earnest (and heartfelt) movie. And who better to play national treasure Mr. Rogers than national treasure Tom Hanks? Truth be told, this isn’t a biopic but rather the story of the effect Rogers had on a jaded journalist (played by Matthew Rhys) assigned to write a story about the legendary children’s show host. Of course, the two bond famously, and through that bond we see the source of many of this journalist’s troubles. Even though there’s a somewhat jaded individual at the center of this film, there’s absolutely nothing at all cynical about the fashion in which this wonderful movie was made. It’s as if the gifted Heller was touched by the spirit of Rogers himself as she set out to put this movie together. The same could be said of Hanks, who lights up the screen as an iconic man who made the world a better place simply by listening. It’s a superb effort by all involved. In fact, “Avengers: Endgame” might have been the highest grossing film of 2019, but “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” was the best superhero movie of the year.

1. Jojo Rabbit

I adore Taika Waititi! Not only are “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” golden comedy standards but then he follows those titles up by directing one of the very best Marvel movies to date in the form of “Thor: Ragnarok.” Oh, but it gets even better for Waititi! In 2019, he not only directed the very best episode of “The Mandalorian” but he also went and made the best damn movie of the year!

With Waititi at the helm, I figured “Jojo Rabbit” would make me laugh. What really surprised me, though, is that when I wasn’t laughing, I was positively wrecked by this movie!

“Jojo Rabbit” takes its name from the title character, a young boy with aspirations of becoming a soldier during a time of the Nazi regime. Quirky Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) spends his days training under the command of colorful Captain Klenzendorf (Sam Rockwell), hanging with his lovable buddy Yorki (Archie Yates) and engaging in philosophical discussions about life with his imaginary friend, Hitler. Yes, you read that last bit correctly: his imaginary friend is Hitler (played by Waititi). Before long, though, Jojo’s ideology slowly begins to change after he bonds with a teenage Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) who his loving and compassionate mother, Rosie (played by Scarlett Johansson in a career best performance which is saying a lot, particularly if you saw her in 2019’s “Marriage Story”), has been hiding in the attic.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, “Jojo Rabbit” is a satire of the highest order, but Waititi’s ability to make us laugh one moment and then sucker punch us in the gut a second later make for quite the motion picture experience. Through outstanding performances, the sharpest of comic timing, and a healthy dose of truth medicine, “Jojo Rabbit” emerges as a truly special movie in which themes of hate, violence, and persecution are counterattacked by much needed messages of hope, compassion, and love. I was absolutely floored by this movie!

Honorable mention goes to “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” “The Farewell,” “Little Women,” “Togo,””The Lighthouse,” “Little Monsters,” “Ford Vs. Ferrari,” “Wild Rose,” “Uncut Gems,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Midsommar.”

Some noteworthy movies that I didn’t have an opportunity to see were “1917,” “A Hidden Life,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “Waves,” “Booksmart,” and “I Lost My Body.”

And one movie that deserved a bigger theatrical audience was “Doctor Sleep.”

“Doctor Sleep” isn’t without it’s flaws, particularly in the final act. But this Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan totally took me by surprise! Flanagan, who was also responsible for Netflix’s expertly crafted “The Haunting of Hill House,” ambitiously manages to pay tribute to Kubrick’s iconic take on “The Shining” — a film King himself has never been a very big fan of — all while staying true to the spirit of both King’s original book and its follow-up, the divisive “Doctor Sleep.” The end result is a horror film that is rich in tone and character thanks mostly in part to a dramatic Ewan McGregor and a charismatic Rebecca Ferguson. It’s incredibly disheartening that this movie bombed. For my money, “Doctor Sleep” was far more terrifying than the box-office hit that was “It: Chapter Two.” Flanagan sits alongside Ari Aster as one of the most exciting contemporary voices in horror, and I suspect that years from now “Doctor Sleep” will be held in higher regard.

The best title that deserved to be seen in a theater but couldn’t because it was a 10-part Netflix series was “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.”

Fan service and nostalgia were pretty big in 2019, and while high profile box-office juggernauts like “The Rise of Skywalker” and lesser legasequels like “Terminator: Dark Fate” attempted to make something older feel new again, the strongest return to a beloved property of the past came to us via Netflix. The streaming service had a banner year with plenty of of outstanding prestige pictures, a couple of which you probably noticed on this very list. But they also dazzled viewers with the most breathtaking display of artistry I saw all year … in a theater or at home!

“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” is a prequel series to the 1981 Jim Henson fantasy adventure, and while this epic 10-parter brought nostalgia and callbacks in spades, it did so in service of the story. And the puppetry in this thing is of the highest caliber. I was absolutely floored by the visual splendor of “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.” I happily would have given my time and money to experience all 10 episodes in a theater. That said, if streaming it at home is the only way I can get it, I’ll take it! I can only hope that director Louis Leterrier and team are renewed for a second season, because I want to see more of this incredible world!

Here’s hoping that 2020 brings us the cinematic goods in an even bigger way than 2019 did!

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