2019, what an exceptional year for movies! A great way to close out the shittiest decade! Here are the 50 best films I saw this year... click on the title to go to the IMDB page, and Iâll try to post a link to where you can see many of them. Also for the first time this year, Iâm including MOM WARNINGS! My mom reads this list and sometimes actually watches these movies... so to save her some grief, sadness, or general concern for my psyche, there will be a NOT FOR MOMS!! warning where applicable... here we go!
50. STAR WARS - EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKERÂ (Amazon)
People really hated this movie... I actually really liked it! Aside from the horses running around on the outside of spaceships (which makes no fucking sense... didnât Leia get all space frozen exactly one movie ago??), it was a satisfying conclusion to a franchise I guess I donât really care about as much as other people, so I was into it!
49. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUMÂ (Amazon)
Quickly becoming one of the more well produced action franchises of all time. Probably two too many machine gun shootouts in this one for me (I get a little exhausted with gun violence), but the hand-to-hand stuff is brilliant and bloody and badass! Not to mention the deepening of the mythology and Halle Berry and her dogs. Itâs a fun time, a welcome addition to the series, and I canât wait for number 4.
48. QUEEN & SLIMÂ (Amazon)
Billed as the black BONNIE AND CLYDE and from first time feature director Melina Matsoukas, this atmospheric tragedy is gorgeous to look at, delivers a pair of standout lead performances, and proves to have one of the more stressful final 30min of any of the films I saw this year, even if you know the inevitable conclusion is just around the corner.
47. UNDER THE SILVER LAKEÂ (Amazon PRIME)
A wild Los Angeles noir story from the director of IT FOLLOWS. Plays like if David Lynch directed THE BIG LEBOWSKI, a weird, screwball whodunit. Itâs a little long, and there are so many loose ends that seem to be thrown in just to fuck with the protagonist (and the audience), but itâs a really fun time and youâll want to stay to the end to see it all play out. LA looks gorgeous too.
46. KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSEÂ (Netflix)
Truly inspiring. Really shows how if you put your mind to something, believe in yourself and that you can make a difference, you can accomplish anything. Regardless of your political leanings, or how you feel about AOC personally, this is well worth your time and it has a great message for young people, especially those young women of color who might not think they can achieve great levels of success. It made me cry the happy tears.
45. LONG DAYâS JOURNEY INTO NIGHTÂ (Amazon)
Best known for itâs remarkable 59min-3D final take, this hallucinatory journey through memory and dreams is mind-blowing and breathtaking. Hard not to leave this one feeling like youâve been put though some kind of experiment that you donât fully understand, but youâll want to experience again. Highly recommended if you have access to 3D, or simply have some killer edibles and want to be thrown for a loop.
44. CLIMAXÂ (Amazon PRIME)
Speaking of being under the influence, holy shit is this film nuts! From Gaspar Noe, who if youâre aware of his work, you kind of already know what youâre in store for here. Itâs been described as âFAME directed by the Marquis de Sadeâ... incredible dance sequences and audacious camerawork that slowly but surely devolves into hell. Itâs a blast!
A fresh and funny documentary about a group of smartass Satanists exposing the hypocrisy amongst bible-thumping Christians whoâd rather stomp their feet and be the loudest in the room than listen to anyone elseâs perspective. Frustrating and entertaining in equal parts, this compulsively watchable film makes you want to scream at these Jesus freaks as much as you want to laugh along with the antics of these harmless, intelligent and organized troublemakers. An excellent time well spent.
(Probably) NOT FOR MOMS!!
Director Takashi Miikeâs yakuza action-comedy is the most accessible of his films Iâve seen (heâs now made more than 100 movies, which is insane), but that doesnât mean itâs not a gonzo wild time at the movies. The violence is here in full force, but unlike AUDITION or ICHI THE KILLER, you donât need a barf bag close by to enjoy it. Itâs often hilarious and moves at a breakneck speed. Super fun!
41. THE DEAD DONâT DIEÂ (Amazon PRIME)
Jim Jarmuschâs star-studded, droll zombie-comedy came and went from theaters without much fanfare, but provided me with plenty of laughs. Itâs also the second of 3 Adam Driver vehicles to be on this yearâs list. Bill Murray and Driver lead the way along with plenty familiar faces in cameos throughout (including the RZA in one of my favorite sceneâs of the year). Classic Jarmusch... a meditation on death and mortality in his vintage style.
40. EL CAMINO: A BREAKING BAD MOVIEÂ (Netflix)
Dude, Aaron Paul is a legit GREAT actor. Picks up right where the show left off, and I was on the edge of my seat and filled with anxiety just like I was during the best moments of the now classic series. It was good to hang out with my old friends again.
39. DOCTOR SLEEPÂ (Amazon)
A box office flop due to poor promotion and a title people werenât familiar with, this sequel to THE SHINING is based on the Stephen King book of the same name, which I read, and I canât recommend it more. Great suspense, and fantastic performances from both Ewan McGregor and (especially) Rebecca Ferguson. Itâs a dark and scary film that is a fun trip back to the Overlook Hotel... provided you wish to return there...
38. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCOÂ (Amazon PRIME)
About 90min into this beautifully shot film I was ready to lock it in as a possible Top 5 contender. Then the bottom fell out for me the last quarter of the movie and lost my confidence. No bother, itâs still wonderful enough to find a spot on the list and carry my recommendation. Young men and women watching their city change before their eyes, and wondering what the concept of âhomeâ really means is a real challenge facing many people here in the Bay Area. This film does a fantastic job conveying that, for most of the film anyway.Â
37. THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCONÂ (Amazon)
A bonafide crown-pleaser of a movie, and another example of the true talent Shia LeBeouf has and is capable of (more on him later). A young man with Down Syndrome escapes his assisted-living facility to track down his wrestling idol the Saltwater Redneck with the help of an outlaw and a social worker. Sweet, funny, and heartfelt... a feel good surprise.
36. A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODÂ (Amazon)
I didnât cry nearly as much as I did during the excellent documentary WONâT YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR from last year, but if youâre a Mr. Rogers fan, youâll still shed a few during this heartwarming film. Tom Hanks does his thing, and even though this movie is guilty of borrowing a little too much from the previous doc, itâs still a great showcase for the truly selfless and beautiful force of nature that Fred Rogers was. Bring tissues anyway.
35. CARMINE STREET GUITARSÂ (In Theaters Now)
A love letter to both New York City and the art, joy, and love that goes into honing and maintaining oneâs craft. Meanwhile the looming doom of gentrification hovers over the proceedings, never letting you get fully enrapt in the sweetness that these artists (and their many famous customers) exude when talking about and playing their one-of-a-kind works of art. A stunning and lovely piece for musicians and talentless fans of music alike.
A tough, cold film with nary a character to actively root for... until after about an hour of icy behavior comes (no pun intended) a scene so shocking in its graphic and disturbing nature, people left the theater without staying for the final resolution. First time director Isabella Eklof pulls off the bold and audacious maneuver, all while making it seem like she doesnât care whether you like her characters (or her film) at all. Itâs a very fine balancing act, executed to perfection. But be warned... itâs rough.
33. AVENGERS: ENDGAMEÂ (Disney+)
What can I say? You saw it. Itâs good. A bunch of Supermans fly around and blow shit up. A satisfying end (until the next 20 films).
32. MIDSOMMAR (Amazon Prime)
A disturbing slow burn of a gothic horror film. Characters do hallucinogens while ritualistic religious murders and tribal mating practices threaten to ruin everyones existence. Florence Pugh is phenomenal (more from her in a minute) in a very trying roll. Doesnât pack quite the punch of the directorâs last film, HEREDITARY, but itâs still well worth the watch. But yeah, itâs disturbing.
A fascinating look at the first moon landing from rarely seen archival footage and audio. Seeing it on the IMAX screen was intense and exhilarating, unlike narrative pictures like the severely overrated FIRST MAN. This isnât my favorite documentary of the year, but it is an absolute lock to win the Academy Award for Best Doc of 2019. Itâs a must see, a must experience.
30. HIGH LIFEÂ (Amazon PRIME)
French auteur Claire Denisâ bizarre, erotic sci-fi mindfuck about isolation and humanity is not for everyone, but is a brilliant take on the genre, and is yet another showcase for Robert Pattinson, who is quietly becoming one of my favorite working actors. Juliette Binoche also is on fire here and has what one critic calls âthe single greatest one-person sex scene in the history of cinema.â So it has that going for it.
29. TRIPLE FRONTIERÂ (Netflix)
A fully loaded heist film with no real bad guy, but instead a group of recognizable badasses in a Netflix-released action thrill ride. Thereâs absolutely no reason this shouldâve worked, or even been half as good as it is, but boy is it good! Compulsively watchable, and rewatchable. If this were on Showtime as much as DEN OF THIEVES is Iâd have seen it 30 times by now. Itâs one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.
An unbelievable visual achievement from cinematographer Roger Deakins and director Sam Mendes. The story isnât the greatest war story ever told (are there great war stories?), but itâs shot to look like one continuous long take, sustained for 2hrs. Itâs really an unbelievable feat, but doesnât come off as gimmicky or distracting. Itâs intense, beautifully staged, and sad. A big screen spectacle.Â
27. TOY STORY 4Â (Amazon)
Woody and the gang are back, and the films continue to keep the dust from collecting. Itâs still so much fun to hang out with this group of misfit toys. There was talk that after the incredible TOY STORY 3 this was just a money grab and was labeled unnecessary, but I found it to be a sweet, charming, and nostalgic trip I was glad I took.
My pick for documentary of the year comes from the mountains of Macedonia, where a woman named Hatidze lives with her dying mother making a living cultivating honey. When a family of shitheads moves into a shanty next door, what seems like a fix for her lonely existence becomes catastrophic as they disregard her teachings and threaten her livelihood. I was an emotional wreck throughout the experience and it goes without saying itâs a must-see. Gorgeous and heartbreaking.
25. LITTLE WOMENÂ (Amazon)
I have never read the book, nor seen any of the film adaptations, so I went in blind to this lovely film. Director Greta Gerwig follows up the phenomenal LADYBIRD with this Altman-esque rendition of the widely beloved literary classic. I found it exceptional in its execution and performances, including the previously mentioned Florence Pugh, who is a knockout. A wonderful addition to the ever-growing stable of Christmas films I look to enjoy during future Decembers.
24. GREENER GRASSÂ (Hulu)
Itâs as if Tim & Eric made BLUE VELVET. Bizarre, outrageous, gross, and a guaranteed future midnight movie favorite. My sides hurt. A satire skewering upper-middle class suburban soccer moms and dads alike. Babies are given away. A boy turns into a dog. Everyone has braces. Thereâs a creep on the loose. Itâs wild and flat-out hilarious literally from start to finish. Almost too many jokes to keep up with. Watch it! Bring weed.Â
Speaking of gross, this film is disgusting, but in a good way. A satire about lazy consumerism and self-destruction. Itâs a short hang, thankfully, but if you can stomach it to the end (remember, itâs nasty) youâll be rewarded with not only a hilarious dark comedy, but also an unexpected haymaker of sadness you didnât see coming. Itâs a pretty impressive feat, and an overall success. But, yeah, itâs fucking gross.Â
APOCALYPSE NOW in space starring Brad Pitt. If you need more information than that, I donât really know what else to do for you.Â
21. SLUT IN A GOOD WAYÂ (Amazon PRIME)
(Probably) NOT FOR MOMS!!
A black-and-white raunchy French arthouse teen comedy that gives a middle finger to the double standard set by the equally raunchy teen-boys-will-be-boys genre. Itâs so much fun, and honest, and the actors are such natural talents you forget the subject matter is at times shocking (only because of said double standard) and just go with it. I think itâs just wonderful. Seek it out!
Jordan Peeleâs excellent follow-up to GET OUT. Doppelganger home invasion terror with a killer twist. To describe more would be to risk giving something away. Iâll just say that Lupita Nyongâo is my pick to win her second Oscar, this time as Best Actress, here in a dual role. Sheâs incredible. If you havenât seen it, try to go in blind, youâll be rewarded.
19. THE FAREWELL (Amazon PRIME)
A heartfelt homecoming film about family, culture, and how the things we donât say can be just as strong of a show of love as the things we do say. Itâs sweet, tender, and bursting with personal flare and emotions from director Lulu Wang. Awkwafina also curbs her more manic and loud tendencies as a performer for more quiet, thoughtful, and somber choices. Sheâs phenomenal.Â
A clever ensemble whodunit thatâs just as funny and smart as it is mysterious. Everyone across the board delivers as the assorted motley crew. The film rewards repeat viewings and Daniel Craig knocks it out of the park, stealing every scene heâs in, reminding us all what a fantastic actor he can be when heâs not sipping the Vespers.Â
The female SUPERBAD is the elevator pitch, but this coming-of-age gem is really unlike any other example in the genre. Theyâre privileged, uber-smart, and have never partied. Yet they have the same neuroses as any other teen scared to death of what to do next or how to be normal. Itâs also fucking hilarious. You wanna hang out with these girls and at the same time bury your head under the covers because you feel their pure terror/embarrassment. Itâs a blast.
16. THE MUSTANGÂ (Amazon)
Starring Matthias Schoenaerts, one of the finest actorâs working today, this understated and emotional drama about rehabilitation and redemption floored me upon first viewing. It is a gorgeous film. Youâve probably seen stories similar to this before, but rarely is one told with such compelling conviction. A borderline masterpiece.Â
15. HONEY BOYÂ (Amazon PRIME)
Remember a few years back we had the McConaissance, where everything Matthew McConaughey did was solid gold after years of middling bullshit? Iâm calling it right now: Shia LaBeouf is about to have the same thing. He wrote the script and plays a version of his own father in a brutal version of his own fucked up childhood as an up-and-coming child actor. Itâs heartbreaking and absolutely riveting. Iâm hoping he gets an Oscar nod, but regardless I implore you to seek this film out, heâs incredible.Â
(Probably) NOT FOR MOMS!!
A bizarre, bewildering, chaotic, and unsettling film. Some of the most beautiful photography I saw on the big screen this year, yet some of the most surreal and disturbing imagery as well. Itâs a militarized, Latin American LORD OF THE FLIES with commentary on tribal behavior and violence. It can be a tough sit, but boy is it beautiful.Â
13. DOLEMITE IS MY NAMEÂ (Netflix)
What a wonderful, welcome surprise! Eddie Murphy in an awards caliber performance as Rudy Ray Moore, the multi-hyphenate performer who created the alter ego Dolemite, spawning a film franchise and many legendary comedy albums. Itâs obviously hilarious, and a great behind-the-scenes biopic, but also shockingly sweet and heartfelt, even between all the cuss words. I even teared up a couple times. The 3rd best thing Netflix released this year (more on that in a minute).
11. THE IRISHMANÂ (Netflix)
Itâs far too long. It couldâve done with being cut as a three part miniseries or special. Thereâs about 45min worth of scenes that are quintessential DVD bonus features (Iâm looking at you Action Bronson), but goddamn if itâs not Scorsese doing his Scorsese thing. Itâs a gangster film, but itâs also a meditation on aging and death. Pesci is incredible and Pacino steals the show. Sure, the de-aging thing is distracting, the curb stomping scene is embarrassing. But still, I mean... ITâS MARTIN SCORSESE!
10. PAIN AND GLORYÂ (Amazon)
Pedro Almodovarâs most personal work to date, a tale about making art and the loneliness of love. If you are unfamiliar with his work, this is a great jumping off point. His movies can be challenging and dark, but this film has such joy and hope amongst the heartache. The final reveal, while not earth shattering on paper, is nonetheless so moving it left the screening I attended without a dry eye in the place. It is his best film yet.Â
9. THE LIGHTHOUSEÂ (Amazon)
From the director of THE WITCH comes another type of gothic horror, this time with the legendary Willem Dafoe and the (already mentioned) brilliant Robert Pattinson marooned on a lighthouse rock alone to drive each other completely insane. Itâs hallucinatory, violent, disorienting, and flat-out brilliant. If it werenât for another guy weâll get to in a minute, Dafoe would be a lock for Best Supporting Actor here. Itâs a slightly challenging film, with the period style mariner dialogue, but itâs just as funny as it is terrifying.
A beautiful, touching, funny, crowd-pleasing comedy about a little Nazi whose imaginary friend is Hitler. Yep, your read that correctly. There are about a million reasons this should absolutely not work. Yet, itâs one of the best theater going experiences I had this year. A must see... ESPECIALLY with Mom!
7. MARRIAGE STORYÂ (Netflix)
The best written and acted film of the year, and the third Adam Driver vehicle to appear here. Sad but honest. Touching but brutal. Itâs awkward and a bit of a bummer, but thereâs such great work being done here, in front of and behind the camera. Noah Baumbach is a force of nature, and has yet to make a film I was even iffy about. Heâs the real deal and this might be his masterpiece.Â
Speaking of auteurs, Trey Edward Shults is now 3/3 on features after the brilliant KRISHA and IT COMES AT NIGHT. Here he follows a middle-class black family, led by a domineering father, through a tragic moment in all of their lives. The first half deals with the sonâs story, then abruptly switches to the daughterâs life post said event. It shouldnât work, yet somehow manages to be one of the most emotionally affecting pieces of art I saw this year. The camera never stops moving, constantly swirling and whirling and you canât help to be sucked up into it. Itâs a beautiful tragedy.
The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the year. An opposites-attract rom-com with more brains, bite, social commentary, and laughs than it has any right to have. Easily the most fun youâll have with (almost) the whole family... thereâs a lot of cum jokes. But donât let the vulgarity dissuade you! Itâs a total riot with just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the saltiness. I love love love this movie.
4. THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSEÂ (Hulu)
What starts as a strange, dark comedy morphs into a FIGHT CLUB-esque thriller with allusions to disturbingly toxic masculinity and an offbeat take on what it takes to âbe a man.â It is laugh-out-loud hilarious, and expertly made, while really having something to say, and it says it in a way Iâve never really seen before. Itâs not surprising this didnât get more attention, the characters are truly difficult to relate to, let alone root for, but as far as originality goes, youâd be hard pressed to find anything this year much better than this.Â
(Probably) NOT FOR MOMS!!
The cinematic equivalent of being locked in the brain of a lunatic having a cocaine-fueled anxiety attack. If that sounds like fun (AND IT IS!!!) then this is the film for you! Oh, and Adam Sandler is going to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. For real. Itâs a chaotic, stress-filled masterpiece.
2. ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOODÂ (Amazon)
My favorite filmmakerâs 2nd best film. A personal story about the love of film during the late 60s, a time of dirty hippies and Charles Manson, as well as the passing of the torch from old Hollywood to the âgolden ageâ of cinema. Itâs a fairytale of sorts, with Tarantinoâs trademark flare for spontaneous violence and mining multiple genres to make his most mature work since PULP FICTION. Iâve been rewarded with new takeaways upon each subsequent viewing, and my love and appreciation for it only grows and grows. Brad Pitt is a lock for Best Supporting Actor, heâs magnificent. It was always going to be my #1 with a bullet no matter what, because itâs just that great...
...but then Bong Joon-ho, the master of new Korean cinema unleashed PARASITE. Not only is it the best film of 2019, itâs one of the best films I have ever seen. Like EVER ever. He is in such astonishing control of his craft itâs hard not to sit back and marvel and the sheer skill on display. You can be laughing one moment and then recoiling in horror during the same breath. Heâs using multiple genre tropes, incredible set design, pitch perfect acting/writing, and such exquisite planning you canât possibly know whatâs in store for you from one scene to the next. It is an absolute masterpiece and if it doesnât sweep every category itâs nominated for at this yearâs Oscars, itâll be a travesty. If you have even a passing interest in film as an art form, the power it can wield, and the messages it can convey, you owe it to yourself to see this film. Itâs perfect.
Well, there it is. Thanks for reading any part of this. Now go see PARASITE. I love you.
