The Kid Who Would Be King
This utterly charming and woefully underappreciated family film from filmmaker Joe Cornish was a real treat. An imaginative and fun contemporary take on the Arthurian legend has a young boy named Alex (played by Louis Serkis) finding Excalibur while trying to dodge a couple of school bullies. Able to pull the sword from the fabled stone, Alex finds himself thrust into an adventure against Morgana (played by Rebecca Ferguson), along with his best friend Bedders (played by Dean Chaumoo) and the aforementioned school bullies Lance (played by Tom Taylor) and Kaye (played by Rhianna Dorris), with assistance from Merlin himself (played at varying points by Angus Imrie and Patrick Stewart). I thoroughly enjoyed this film and was disappointed when it didn't do as well as it should have at the box office.
Shazam
I waited a long time for this movie to come out. Oft rumored, but kept getting delayed until finally arriving this Spring. It proved to be well worth the wait. A wonderful and very fun Superhero movie with a great turn by Zachary Levi in the titular role as the Superhero version of young teenage Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel). With Jack Dylan Glaser as his new friend Freddy Freeman and a strong villainous turn by Mark Strong, this one was a lot of fun.
Captain Marvel
After the emotionally taxing Avengers: Infinity War and the underwhelming Ant-Man & The Wasp, this was a fun return to form for Marvel with Brie Larson in the title role. The film takes us back to the 90s, predating most of the MCU up to that point to show her origins as she teams up with a younger Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) as they find themselves in the middle of a galactic war between two different alien races, while also dealing with her conflicting memories and amnesia while dealing with assorted villains (something Samuel L. Jackson seems to specialize in *cough*LongKissGoodnight*cough*). This one was a lot of fun and whoever had the idea to set the climactic battle to No Doubt's "Just a Girl", that was an inspired touch.
Avengers: Endgame
The previous 22 films come to a natural conclusion in this sprawling epic of a Superhero movie in an emotional and satisfying way. Of course, there will be many more Marvel movies after this, but this feels like a genuine conclusion to the many previous films with a feeling a number of heroes are hanging it up for good after this, a couple certainly are. Joe and Anthony Russo knock it out of the park as they juggle a number of story lines but keep it all coherent as the film's three hour run time breezes by. It's a huge film that really works as it builds and pays off all the Marvel films we've seen for the last decade. No small feat, there.
Long Shot
Easily the best Romantic Comedy of the year with some genuine chemistry between Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. Rogen portrays freelance journalist Fred Flarsky, who is hired to be a speechwriter for Theron's Charlotte Field, current Secretary of State starting an election campaign to become the next President of the United States and also, in a quirk of fate, Fred's former babysitter when they were kids. Naturally, sparks begin to fly between the two and hilarity ensues as well. If nothing else, it's worth seeing for the scene where Charlotte is called away from a night of cutting loose with Fred to negotiate a hostage release while trying (and failing) to hide that she's high as a kite.
Detective Pikachu
Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am that I have a Pokemon movie on my list of favorite movies of 2019, but damn did I ever love the hell out of this movie. A lot of that has to do with Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu. He is clearly all in on the part and just nails it spouting off one hilarious line after another. Justice Smith plays the straight man, as a young man trying to find his P.I father who went missing and teams up with Pikachu to solve the mystery. A fun and thrilling romp of a movie that also manages to be accessible for the non-Pokemon superfans, which I can attest because I know very little about the fandom and was still able to enjoy the film plenty.
Booksmart
Smartly written and wickedly funny film about two friends, Amy and Molly (played by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein), who realize on the eve of their high school graduation that they were so focused on their academic pursuits they never spent any time actually being teenagers. Determined to make up for it by attending a classmate's rager by any means necessary sends them on a hilarious night of misadventures as they try to get to the party. Director Olivia Wilde and screenwriters Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins take the story in some unexpected and insightful places, including a stop motion animated sequence when our two heroines hallucinate that they have been turned into dolls. I also appreciated that Amy is an out lesbian, yet the movie is beyond the sort of coming out story narrative as Amy just wants a to try and get with a girl she has a crush on as her prime motivator to get to the party. It's a refreshing change of pace.
Rocketman
Well, here it is. My obsession from the Summer of 2019. I saw this movie in the theater three times! I've had "I'm Still Standing" stuck in my head since May. This fantastical musical biopic of Elton John just completely captured my imagination and would not let me go. I just adore every minute of this film that tells the story of the life of Elton John, focusing primarily on the musical partnership and platonic friendship of Elton (played by Taron Egerton) and Bernie Taupin (played by Jamie Bell), as well as John's troubled relationship with John Reid (played by Richard Madden). Director Dexter Fletcher and screenwriter Lee Hall have crafted a genuinely moving and visually spectacular rendition of the life of Elton John, anchored by a fantastic performance by Taron Egerton as Elton.
Yesterday
This was an intriguing fantasy from director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Richard Curtis. After a freak incident that causes the entire world to go dark, struggling musician Jack Malick (played by Himesh Patel), awakes to find out that he is the only person in the world that remembers The Beatles. Of course, Jack starts passing off the songs as his own setting off a sudden and meteoric rise to stardom that he finds is pulling him away from the life he knows, especially his friend and former manager Ellie (played by Lily James), who he may have feelings for. It was the little touches that made this film work for me, including a climatic scene I won't dare spoil for those that haven't scene it. This one is well worth a watch, especially if you're a fan of The Beatles (which I am).
Spider-Man: Far From Home
After the epic and emotional Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man Far From Home was by and large a far more lighter adventure romp as Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) looks forward to a reprieve from superheroics during a school trip abroad with his friends Ned (played by Jacob Batalon) and MJ (played by Zendaya). Of course, the peace doesn't last long as he comes face to face with a new threat known as the Elementals as well as a mysterious new hero known as Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), who claims to be from an alternate dimension. Filled with a number of fun surprises and plenty of humor, this was a fun summer romp that is very much in the same vein as Holland's first solo outing in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Midsommar
After terrifying audiences with Hereditary, I was excited for Ari Aster's follow-up film and I can confidently say it did not disappoint. Telling the story of four college students invited to a remote Swedish village to take part in their Midsommar celebration, they find more than they ever could have imagined. Filmed almost entirely in bright, warm sunlight, the film has a disarming quality that makes the scares all the more effective when they do occur. Genuinely frightening with a fantastic cast, especially Florence Pugh, make this a memorably scary movie.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this look back to 1969 Hollywood, a time when the film industry was in transition, focusing his story on actor Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt man best friend Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt) as Rick deals with a career downturn and tries to figure out what to do next, while Cliff is content with life as it is. Throughout their story, their paths cross with various other figures of the time, including Sharon Tate (played by Margot Robie), who lives next door to Dalton and the Manson Family as well. Told with Tarantino's signature wit with some surprising plot twists along the way made this one of the most memorable films of 2019.
Love, Antosha
This was a lovingly made documentary detailing the life of late actor Anton Yelchin, using Anton's own writings and videos to tell his story, supported by interviews with family, friends and the people he worked with. It's an intimate look into his short life and remarkable career, highlighting what a creative, bold, talented and thoughtful person he was. It's a film that rightfully keeps the focus on his life and both what he accomplished and his creative ambitions rather than dwell on the tragic, "cataclysmically unfair" as Simon Pegg rightfully puts it, circumstances of his death. Anton was one of my favorite actors and I loved this documentary as it shines a light on his personal life and some of his more creative pursuits that I was completely unaware of. It's a deeply moving and inspirational tribute to a uniquely talented actor that was taken from us far too soon.
The Farewell
Lulu Wang has crafted a tender and moving story about family and Chinese culture that rings true in many ways, probably because it's based on something she and her family actually went through. Billi (played by Awkwafina) finds herself in a precarious position when she learns that her beloved Grandmother (played by Shuzhen Zhao) has been diagnosed with advanced cancer - a fact that has been concealed from their Grandmother. Of course, the American raised Billi has a hard time with this decision, but her parents explain in Chinese culture the belief is that if a person knows they are dying, the fear of dying would cause more harm than the illness itself. So, to explain the family gathering, they are staging a wedding for a cousin to explain everyone reuniting. Awkwafina, who had previously been known for far more comedic roles, gives a great performance in the lead role. She expresses so much of her character and her discomfort with her family's choices while still remaining silent. Shuzhen Zhao is absolutely endearing as Billi's grandmother and the relationship the two share makes the film. It's a wonderfully made, touching and at times surprisingly funny movie
Blinded by the Light
I'm a sucker for a good coming of age story and this one from Gurinder Chadha is a fantastic one. Javed (played by Viveik Kalra) is a struggling teenage boy trying to find his place in the world. He takes solace in his writing, while trying to cope with an overbearing father. He finds unlikely inspiration and solace from an unlikely place when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen. Instantly taken by what he hears, Javed's life is turned upside down as he finds the inspiration he needs to pursue his own dreams and hone his own talents, despite is disapproving and recently unemployed father, who is trying to push Javed towards more practical goals. Wonderfully directed by Chadha, who co-wrote the film with Sarfraz Manzoor, which was based on Manzoor's memoir, this film has real heart and genuine understanding that some films in this genre lack.
Ready or Not
On her wedding night, Grace (played by Samara Weaving), is told it is family tradition for them all to gather to play a game. Going along with the strange request, Grace pulls a card from a antique box that reveals the game they will all play: Hide and Seek. What she doesn't know until her new husband Alex (played by Mark O'Brien) explains it to her a short time later is that over a century ago his family made a deal with a mysterious stranger known as Mr. La Bail that he would fund their family business but any new member to the family has to play a game and if the game is Hide and Seek, the new spouse is to be hunted and offered up as sacrifice. If they fail, the family is doomed. Horrified, Grace finds herself fighting to survive the night and proves to be a far more formidable opponent than the family may have anticipated. Filled with dark comedy and biting satire made this film is one of the more entertaining surprises of the Summer of 2019.
IT Chapter Two
This is the one that probably got the biggest mixed reaction, but I really loved this adaptation of the second half of the classic Stephen King novel. Picking up with our beloved members of the Losers Club 27 years after the events of the first film, now adults they find themselves in a final showdown with the evil shapeshifting monster known as Pennywise (played by Bill Skarsgard. Fantastically cast with the likes of James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransome and especially Bill Hader, this follow-up managed to be memorably frightening and surprisingly emotional in equal measure. I really dug this one a lot and found it to be a satisfying conclusion.
Downton Abbey
As a fan of the television series, this was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year. Julian Fellows and director Michael Engler do a fantastic job of juggling assorted plot lines across the sprawling cast of characters making sure everyone gets their moment while keeping the proceedings largely light and fun throughout it's two hour run time. Among the standouts though is of course Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess as she steals every scene she's in with ease. I was also very happy to see that Fellows finally saw fit to give downstairs punching bag Thomas Barrow (played by Robert-James Collier) something of a happy ending with his romance with Richard Ellis (played by Max Brown).
Doctor Sleep
Director Mike Flanagan manages to do the impossible here with his adaptation of the Stephen King novel as his crafts a film that is at once both a worthy adaptation of the novel and a worthy sequel to the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation of The Shining. Catching up with Danny Torrence (played by Ewan McGregor) as an adult, struggling with the trauma of that winter at the Overlook Hotel and the same addiction issues that plagued his father. Getting sober, Dan finds himself coming into contact with a young girl named Abra (played by Kyliegh Curran) who shares his psychic talents known as Shining. Abra is being hunted by a group known as the True Knot, led by a vicious woman known as Rose the Hat (played by Rebecca Ferguson), a group of near immortal folks who feed on the Shine of children. With no other choice, he comes to her aid to help protect her and show her how to use her powers to keep her safe, leading to a final showdown between them and the True Knot at the one place Dan thinks might be as dangerous for them as it was for him...the ruins of The Overlook Hotel.
Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waikiki's WWII satire takes a big swipe at fanaticism and blind hatred through his main character, Jojo (played by Roman Griffin Davis), a 10 year old boy and member of the Hitler Youth. He has bought into Hitler's regime completely, yet is also a naive boy who even has an imaginary friend...Adolf Hitler (played by Taika Waikiki). He has his beliefs challenged when he meets a young Jewish girl, Elsa (played by Thomasin McKenzie), his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson) is secretly hiding in their home. Darkly hilarious and surprisingly poignant, this is a fantastic movie. And I applaud whoever cast Archie Yates as Jojo's best friend Yorki. That kid stole every scene he was in.
Parasite
Bong Joon-ho's searing and engrossing look into class differences has had quite the year, including winning the Palme D'or at Cannes and four Oscars, including Best Picture. It's all completely deserved as this is a damn good movie too. The film focuses on two families, the struggling Kims and the affluent Parks. When Ki-woo (played by Choi Woo-shik) gets a job as English tutor for Da-hye (played by Jung Ji-so), he sees an opportunity to get his entire family jobs with the affluent family. First his sister Ki-jeong) (played by Park So-Dam) as an Art tutor for their son, and then followed by their father as chauffeur and mother as housekeeper, carefully manipulating the naive Parks to get each position, never letting on that they are all related. As the family becomes used to the comforts that the Parks' enjoy, the question becomes how far are they willing to go to maintain their ruse? The film is an incisive look at class conflict and social inequality, as well as a reflection of modern capitalism, it's impact on society, and the lengths people at the bottom have to go to survive. Despite being a specifically South Korean film, the film's themes make it truly universal.
The Irishman
Martin Scorsese's epic length crime drama reunites Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, while also pulling Joe Pesci out of retirement is reason enough to see the film. Premiering in theaters ahead of a Netflix release gave viewers an option how they wanted to take in this unique look into the latter years of Jimmy Hoffa (played by Pacino) and his longtime friend Frank Sheeran (played by Robert DeNiro). It is an absorbing, if slow burn, film that covers a number of years as it follows DeNiro's character's interactions and relationships not only with Hoffa, but as a member of the Mob as well. It's a thrill to see Scorsese back in Goodfellas/Casino form here as well as seeing both Pacino and DeNiro acting together in something worthwhile and bringing Pesci back to acting as well. I recommend checking this one out on Netflix, where considering the 3 1/2 hour run time, viewers may be grateful for the option of a pause button.
Ford v Ferrari
Telling the true story of Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon) and driver Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale) tasked with designing a car that can race in and beat Ferrari in the 24 hour Le Mans race, James Mangold and writers Jason Keller, Jaz Butterworth and John Henry Butterworth craft a film that is thrilling, exciting and at times quite funny in a exquisitely satisfying fashion. Both Damon and Bale are perfectly cast in their roles and play off one another perfectly with their character's differing personalities. This was a fantastic movie from beginning to end and one I throughly enjoyed.
Knives Out
Writer/Director Rian Johnson crafts an old-fashioned whodunnit with a few unique twists. When family patriarch Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) dies under mysterious circumstances, detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) is called in to investigate. With a dysfunctional family full of suspects that includes cast members Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Toni Collette, and Don Johnson, the murderer could be anybody. With plenty of twists and turns and a healthy dose of dark humor, this was one mystery that kept me on my toes from beginning to end.
1917
A stunning achievement of a film from director Sam Mendes is one of the absolute best movies of 2019. The film follows two men, Blake (played by Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (played by George Mackay) in the middle of World War I who are tasked with getting a message from their General to the front line calling off an attack that is in fact a trap by the Germans that will lead to an absolute slaughter. Mendes and Director of Photography Roger Deakins carefully crafted the film to appear to be all one shot leading to an unusually immersive filmgoing experience. Drawing inspiration from his own Grandfather's WWI stories, Mendes and co-screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns craft a suspensful and emotional tale of heroism and determination. Beyond the incredible technical precision, the acting in the film is top notch, especially from the two leads, as well as an impressive number of cameo appearances from some of the best contemporary British actors, such as Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch all turn up at various points throughout the two men's journey.
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