Top 10 Films of 2018
I have seen 60 movies from 2018. Although I still haven’t seen Blackkklansman, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Roma, Green Book or Vice, I thought it was about time to make my top 10. So here it is, my top 10 movies of 2018:
Hereditary (dir. Ari Aster): When I saw Hereditary I was blown away. My heart was beating faster than normal, pretty much from start to finish. It’s intense, scary and absolutely shocking. I highly recommend this movie for any horror fan. I’m going to delve into more detail, so heres a major SPOILER ALERT beyond this point. From the moment Charlie was brutally beheaded about 20 minutes into Hereditary, I felt like I was in shock. I was led to believe this movie would be mostly about the daughter and now she was dead. After that, I felt like any character could die at any moment. I was completely hooked. Not only did the story grip me beyond belief, this movie is beautifully shot. The shots are smooth and somehow creepy. Also, the acting is phenomenal from everyone, including Alex Wolff, but especially from the wonderful Toni Collette. She deserved an Oscar nomination for this performance, but sadly didn’t receive one, most likely due to it’s horror genre. Ari Asher’s first feature is one of the best horror movies of the decade and I cannot wait to see what he does next.
Bad Times at the El Royale (dir. Drew Goddard): I can usually tell from the trailer for a movie if I am going to be interested in it or not, This one did not interest me too much from the trailer but I watched it anyway, and I am so glad I did. Bad Times at the El Royale is the most underrated movie of 2018. The script is out of this world good, almost Tarantino good. It’s got a stellar cast consisting of Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Chris Hemsworth. The film is about a hotel right on the border of California and Nevada. The guests slowly discover secrets about the hotel and each other. Just like Lost, which Drew Goddard also worked on, Bad Times at the El Royale takes on many different themes and metaphors including good vs. evil. A fantastic, fun surprise I recommend for anyone, but especially those who enjoy films similar to Tarantinos’.
Bohemian Rhapsody (dir. Bryan Singer, who was fired): Although many people had a problem with Bohemian Rhapsody, specifically the untrue order of events and things of that nature, I found it to be fantastic. I didn’t mind that they changed some things for dramatic effect. The film was tons of fun and wildly entertaining. Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury was unreal. Malek was the main reason why this movie was so amazing. The live-aid performance is one of the highlights of the film and I never wanted it to end. I actually was crying by the time the credits rolled and was wanting more. Everything about Bohemian Rhapsody worked for me and I truly find it to be one of the best and most fun films of 2018. And Rami Malek had one of the absolute best, if not the best performance in 2018. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone but especially music and Queen fans.
Thoroughbreds (dir. Corey Finley): This extremely dark comedy had one of my favorite trailers in 2018. The film is about two teenage girls (Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy) who decide to commit a murder to solve both of their problems, Thoroughbreds manages to be funny, suspenseful and a ton of fun without ever getting too over the top or unbelievable. Amanda (Olivia Cooke) does not feel much emotion so her lines are especially smart and funny. Anton Yelchin is also featured in this film and he delivers a solid last performance. Another great thing about this film is that it is unpredictable, especially since one of the girls was opposed to the murder at first, you never know if she will change her mind again. Many compared this film to Heathers, but I honestly thought it was much better.
A Quiet Place (dir. John Krasinski) A Quiet Place is a completely unique and suspenseful horror film. It focuses on a family living in a post apocalyptic world where blind monsters with extremely good hearing roam. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt play parents who are trying to survive with their family, and the only way to do that is by remaining as silent as possible. To make things even more interesting, one of their kids is deaf and Emily Blunt’s character is also pregnant. Seeing this film in the theater was an experience I will never forget, John Krasinski uses silence in the film to create tension and he does it so well that I was trying to be quiet myself, in the theater. I was suddenly hyper-aware of every time I crunched my popcorn or sipped my drink too loud. The idea of silence creating tension makes this horror film unforgettable. it’s really hard not to enjoy this film. Besides the inventiveness of the film, the story, acting and directing were all excellent as well. The fact that this film was almost a Cloverfield film is a little thought provoking fact. I am very excited to see what John Krasinski has in mind for A Quiet Place 2. He has certainly proved that he is much more than just “Jim from The Office.”
Upgrade (dir. Leigh Whannell): This little unexpected gem came out of nowhere from Blumhouse. The premise didn’t sound too original at first, but the film felt so fresh and fun. Upgrade is about a man named Grey (Logan Marshall-Green) who gets a new piece of technology implanted in his spine to help him walk. He soon discovers that the technology may have a mind of it’s own. This phenomenal action/sci-fi movie has fantastically choreographed and brutal fight scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. The style of this film is also very unique and I am so excited to see what Leigh Whanell does next if he is given a bigger budget. The story, the fight scenes the tone and the futuristic setting all blend together to make it one awesome, kick-ass movie.
Eighth Grade (dir. Bo Burnham): Junior High was one of the worst and most confusing parts of my life, as I’m sure it was for many people. Eighth Grade perfectly depicts why it is so difficult for some people. The movie manages to be relatable about all the good and the bad parts of eIghth grade. It manages to be awkward, funny and at times even cringe-worthy while still being a heartwarming film with a messege that is still relevant to many even if they are not in eighth grade. Bo Burnham wrote a fantastic script (which he was snubbed at the Oscars for) and does a great job directing his first feature length narrative film. One of the best Independent films of 2018 for sure.
First Reformed (dir. Paul Schrader): This was another surprise for me. I really didn’t know what to expect going into this movie, and was a bit cautious because I wasn’t sure how religious it was going to be. I ended up really liking this movie a lot. It has a great, intense story that you would not expect. Ethan Hawke also gives a great performance that is debatably the best of his career (which he was snubbed at the Oscars for). First Reformed, like Phantom Thread for me last year, is an unexpected gem that certainly deserved more recognition. Paul Schrader at least got nominated for Best Screenplay which is extremely well deserved. First Reformed may not be for everyone but it stood out to me as one of the best of 2018.
Deadpool 2 (dir. David Leitch): I saw Deadpool 2 three times in the theater. I absolutely loved it. Although I liked the first Deadpool a lot as well, one reason I like Deadpool 2 so much is that it is so different from the first movie. They managed to keep the same type of R-rated humor and use it in a completely new and original story. Deadpool 2 also contains my favorite post credits scene of any Marvel movie. The cameos in Deadpool 2 also made the movie so much more fun. I also love the (SPOILER ALERT) fact that almost every member of the X-Force dies in hilarious ways. Deadpool 2 is a blast and honestly if you liked the first one, you will probably like this one as well. I am excited to see where they take Deadpool’s character in future films and hope that Disney stays true to the two great films Fox has made so far.
Avengers: Infinity War (dir. Anthony and Joe Russo): The most massive and epic movie of 2018 was definitely Avengers: Infinity War. 10 years of Marvel led up to this movie and it did not disappoint. With a star- studded cast playing many of our favorite superheroes, this film marks the beginning of the end for this phase of Marvel films. SPOILER ALERT The deaths and the Thanos’ snap made this Marvel outing a particularly emotional one for some, which made me like the movie a lot more because it shows superheroes aren’t invincible. I cannot wait to see the survivors continue the fight against Thanos in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Please check out my full Avengers: Infinity War review, which you can find on the homepage of my blog, for more on this awesome blockbuster.
10b. Searching (dir. Aneesh Chaganty): Yes, a tie for the 10th spot on our list is in order. Searching is a mystery about a father (John Cho), who’s daughter goes missing. It portrays his desperate search for her and is all shown from a computer screen. This movie has a ton of twists. Just when you think one thing about what happened to the daughter, they throw in something that changes your theory. The way the story is told keeps it unpredictable while also keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. This film received praise from film festivals in 2018 and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, which was all well deserved. A very fun and unique movie.
This list was tough to make. Here are some honorable mentions, of movies that almost made the list: Black Panther, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, The Wife, If Beale Street Could Talk, American Animals, The Favourite and Halloween. Please do yourself a favor and check out all of these great films!
This list was tough to make. Here are some honorable mentions, of movies that almost made the list: Black Panther, The Wife, If Beale Street Could Talk, American Animals, The Favourite and Halloween