Top 15 Films of 2019
My thoughts on the greatest cinema had to offer this year
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- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsAdam DriverScarlett JohanssonJulia GreerNoah Baumbach's incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together.Not just the best film this year, this is one of the best this decade, Adam Driver gives the performance of the year. Noah Baumbach provides one of the most fantastic screenplays ever put to film, and this provides one of the greatest most heart wrenching scenes of all time that has me in tears and breaks my heart every time I watch it. A film that everyone should watch and one that I simply cannot praise enough. Noah Baumbach made me feel that this was personal to him with the care and attention that the subject matter was handled with, and he makes it feel like its personal to you as well. I will always love this movie and I will never forget about the way it impacted me, this is the rightful winner in my eyes of the best picture Oscar as well as a best actor Oscar for Driver.
- DirectorJennifer KentStarsAisling FranciosiMaya ChristieBaykali GanambarrSet in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy, who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.This is the most powerful film I have seen since 12 years a slave. The Nightingale is the greatest Australian film ever made and its not even close, how is this being overlooked in awards season. Aisling Franciosi just delivers a masterful performance and Jennifer Kent maybe the best Female director that is working today. I was moved by the performances, cinematography and directing, and I cant think of a film that moved me the way that this one did.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsLeonardo DiCaprioBrad PittMargot RobbieA faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.The coolest movie I have ever seen, Quentin Tarantino in my opinion is one of if not the greatest director of all time and he just delivers another masterpiece here. Both DiCaprio and Pitt deliver excellent performances as they are known for doing, the production design is jaw dropping, and has so many memorable sequences that had me laughing cheering and applauding due to the fact that I am watching masters work on their craft.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsRoman Griffin DavisThomasin McKenzieScarlett JohanssonA young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country's dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.Taika waititi just cannot stop making excellent films, he not only makes another great movie here though, he gives us the best film he has ever made, that had me laughing and in tears by the time it hit its conclusion. he manages to take us on an emotional rollercoaster that is awesome to experience. This film also has some excellent child performances that makes you excited to see what they are going to do in the future with their careers. Lastly the visual storytelling in this film is incredible and is used so effectively.
- DirectorCéline SciammaStarsNoémie MerlantAdèle HaenelLuàna BajramiOn an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.Maybe the most well written film of the year, Portrait of a lady on fire was the best film I have seen from the two film festivals I went to this year. The visual storytelling is just on another level, and is the best piece of foreign cinema that I have ever seen. Celine Schaimma provides fantastic direction that wowed me right until its amazing conclusion which I might add that this probably has one of the strongest endings to a film ever.
- DirectorBenny SafdieJosh SafdieStarsAdam SandlerJulia FoxIdina MenzelWith his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, a fast-talking New York City jeweler risks everything in hope of staying afloat and alive.Adam Sandler gives his best performance ever, which is only enhanced by the Safdie Brothers excellent direction and writing, this is such a anxiety inducing film that is very unpredictable and feels fresh.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsJoaquin PhoenixRobert De NiroZazie BeetzDuring the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.Joaquin Phoenix absolutely gives one of the best performances of the year, in a deep fantastic character study which I absolutely loved the whole time. Fans of the Joker character will be extremely satisfied with this film as I was.
- DirectorGreta GerwigStarsSaoirse RonanEmma WatsonFlorence PughJo March reflects back and forth on her life, telling the beloved story of the March sisters - four young women, each determined to live life on her own terms.The best film that Greta Gerwig has made gives us a fantastic adaptation of a classic novel that gives us excellent direction, and performances from everyone involved, Little Women has a fantastic screenplay that puts you on an emotional roller coaster, I enjoyed this film immensely.
- DirectorAri AsterStarsFlorence PughJack ReynorVilhelm BlomgrenA couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.Ari Aster after delivering a masterpiece of horror in hereditary delivers another unique horror in Midsommar, a film that creates such a creepy tense atmosphere that has you feeling uneasy during the whole film. Which is insane because most of the movie is set in the daylight which is usually associated with safety in a horror movie. Not in Midsommars case and that makes this the best horror movie I saw this year. The cinematography is amazing and Florence Pugh gives a career high performance.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDean-Charles ChapmanGeorge MacKayDaniel MaysApril 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.1917, has the greatest cinematography of the year and creates a deeply moving war movie that I appreciated so much. definitely a film worthy of its praises and is something that will be studied by aspiring film makers.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsMatt DamonChristian BaleJon BernthalAmerican car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.What an amazing racing film both leads, especially Christian Bale knock it out of the park and James Mangold delivers yet another amazing film. The best racing film I may ever seen, it really manages to capture the strategy it takes to win races and provides excellent drama with the racing to appeal towards people who are not necessarily into cars.
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsLupita Nyong'oWinston DukeElisabeth MossAdelaide Wilson and her family are attacked by mysterious figures dressed in red. Upon closer inspection, the Wilsons realize that the intruders are exact lookalikes of them.Jordan Peele has proven to be one of the best horror auteurs out there with a great sophmore effort in us. Lupita Nyong'o, delivers an Oscar worthy performance that seriously deserves at least a nomination I cannot wait to see what Jordan Peele has in store for us next.
- DirectorDavid MichôdStarsTom Glynn-CarneyGábor CzapTom FisherYoung Henry V encounters deceit, war and treachery after becoming King of England in the 15th century, in the aftermath of his brother's death.A film I did not expect to love the amount I did, the king had me interested in all of its concepts and Hal is such a likeable character that you can get behind and I think that is largely due to Timothee Chalamet providing yet another excellent performance.
- DirectorMarielle HellerStarsMatthew RhysTom HanksChris CooperBased on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel.A Beautiful Day is a film that genuinely moved me, I felt a deep personal connection to the protagonist Lloyd Vogel performed by Matthew Rhys, and Tom Hanks gives a fantastic performance as Mister Rogers.
- DirectorJames GrayStarsBrad PittTommy Lee JonesRuth NeggaAstronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.A very enjoyable sci fi space movie with some excellent moments, great cinematography and an excellent performance from Brad Pitt, not for everyone but definitely the type of film I enjoy.