Alex'sTop 10 Films of 2019

2019 was the best year for movies in recent memory. I have 6 or the 9 Best Picture nominees on this list, which never happens. It was very tough and I absolutely love all of these films (even the honorable mentions), but here are my top 10 favorite films of 2019:

I Love These Films Too, but I Could Only Choose 10

Honorable Mentions:

Us

Little Women

Toy Story 4

The Irishman

Long Shot

10. Marriage Story, dir. Noah Baumbach- This movie was extremely hard to watch. Having been through relationships, break-ups and love, this film hits home. The characters are relatable and you can see both points of view. All of the acting is phenomenal but Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern give stand-out, award worthy performances. The screenplay is also spectacular. There are certain lines from the movie I still find myself thinking about and its been almost a month since I saw it. I got emotional after watching Marriage Story but I think that is a testament to how good the movie truly is.

9. JoJo Rabbit, dir. Taika Waititi- This film took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I was literally laughing through most of it, sad at times and happy at others. Somehow a movie about a kid who wants to be a Nazi and has Hitler as an imaginary friend is not only hilarious but heart warming as well. It is all about the power of friendship and shows how even a child can feel what is right and wrong. JoJo Rabbit is an absolute joy of a movie that only Waititi could have pulled off. I highly recommend it for anyone.

8. The Art of Self-Defense, dir. Riley Steams- Where do I even start with this one? The best way to watch this film is by knowing almost nothing about it. It is completely compelling and shocking, yet hilarious, all the way until the end. A totally fun ride and a breath of fresh air. I don't want to say too much, so as not to give anything away, but I highly recommend this movie.

7. Honey Boy, dir. Alma Har'el- This film was written by Shia LaBeouf and is about his time in rehab and his reflection on his childhood, specifically his not so great father. It focuses mostly on the struggles during the time of his life when he was on Even Stevens. The film is shocking because it reveals that Shia's off screen childhood was not as happy and glamorous as we all believed. Shia LaBeouf gives an incredible performance playing his own father, which was said to be so hard for him to do mentally that he could only do a few takes of each scene. Honey Boy is touching and hard to watch at times but it is a great movie about the struggles of growing up in a toxic environment.

6. Parasite, dir. Bong Joon-ho- Parasite is one of the most original movies of 2019. It's story is totally unpredictable and the tension seems to keep building and building. It contains elements of comedy and horror as well as having something to say about classism. Parasite is a true masterpiece from Bong Joon-ho and is a sure win for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars and even has a chance at the top prize of Best Picture.

5. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, dir. Quentin Tarantino- When it comes to Tarantino, you can almost never go wrong. His ninth film is no exception. Tarantino recreates 1969 Hollywood beautifully. The movie is absolutely hilarious and full of Tarantino's trademark witty dialogue. It also is intense and interesting as it deals with the Manson family and touches on the events surrounding the infamous murder of Sharon Tate. Pitt and DiCaprio both give brilliant performances in the film. I am very excited to see the rumored four hour cut that Tarantino may release in the next year or so. If you enjoy Tarantino's style or are just interested in the time period, I strongly recommend Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

4. Avengers Endgame, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo- If you haven't seen Avengers Endgame yet, GO! I will never forget the first time I saw this film in the theater. It is completely shocking. Marvel Studios managed to keep this finale (of sorts) totally unpredictable and fun. Its also a massive tear-jerker. I literally cry every single time. It's always hard to wrap up storylines in a satisfying way, but Avengers Endgame goes above and beyond. I went into Avengers Endgame with very high expectations and it somehow exceeded them, by a lot. Outstanding. To read my full review, click the link at the bottom!

3. Knives Out, dir. Rian Johnson- A whodunit like no other. This strangely fun murder mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Rian Johnson adds great flair to the murder mystery genre. Knives out features an all-star cast including Chris Evans, Toni Collette and Daniel Craig, who plays a quirky, brilliant detective. This film is all around a great time, hilarious, genuinely surprising and even contains a bit of social commentary. A must see!

2. 1917, dir. Sam Mendes- A complete and utter masterpiece. I kept switching this film between number one and number two on my list. Try your best to catch this in theaters. It envelops you and makes you feel like you are running through the trenches of World War I. 1917 from a technical stand point, can't get much better. Roger Deakins immerses his audiences by making this movie seem like one, continuous shot. Besides that though, this movie is intense, heart warming and even heart breaking as well. I would not be sad one bit if 1917 won Best Picture at the Oscars.

1. Joker, dir. Todd Phillips- Where do I even begin? This film took everyone by surprise. Everyone expected 1917 to be good but Joker blew me away. It feels like a contained indie character study about a man who is mentally ill but it takes place in Gotham City and is a unique origin story for the classic Batman villain, Joker. My favorite thing about this film is that you don't know what's real. Arthur is such an unreliable narrator that you almost can't believe anything being shown. Joker is flat out brilliant and it deserves all the praise it is receiving. Phoenix is also absolutely amazing as Arthur Fleck. Seriously if you haven't seen it, GO WATCH IT NOW! Also see my full review, which I will link below.

Fill Joker Review: https://alexhoward215.wixsite.com/alexhowardreviews/single-post/2019/10/08/Joker-Review

Full Avengers Endgame Review: https://alexhoward215.wixsite.com/alexhowardreviews/single-post/2019/05/02/Avengers-Endgame-Review

Let me know if you agree with my top 10! Thanks for reading!