Now that the 2019 Oscars have happened, I consider now to be the conclusion of the past year in film, and thought it would be a good opportunity to share my top 10 of the year. Generally speaking, when it comes to blockbusters and awards contenders, I really feel that this has been a terrific year, giving us a handful of inevitable classics for future generations to discover.
Let us begin.
#10: CREED II
Creed II offers another gripping and moving (final?) chapter in the journey of Adonis Creed. It is a perfect balance of emotional tenderness and thrilling fight scenes, and even though the development of plot is fairly predictable and it suffers from some typical tropes of a boxing film, the already-established characters make this film almost impossible not to find yourself emotionally committed to the story. Creed II is a very nostalgic and moving send-off to Sylvester Stallone in his final portrayal of Rocky Balboa, but Michael B. Jordan's performance of Adonis Creed makes me very excited for his future as an actor and I believe he will be one of the hugest stars of his generation.
#9: IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Barry Jenkins has proved himself yet again to be a true talent, with Beale Street and Moonlight both being expertly crafted pieces of filmmaking. I am delighted to say that he actually improves upon Moonlight. With Beale Street, Jenkins elevates this story and makes it something truly cinematic, warranting the big screen yet still maintaining the intimacy and rawness of the source material. There are some shots in this film that are truly hypnotising, one of them being the opening. Combined with Nicholas Britell's fluid and authentic score, If Beale Street Could Talk takes its time in introducing us to Jenkins' visual, sensory realm that you will be transfixed with for the duration of its run time, and makes for an all-round compelling cinematic experience.
#8: BLACKKKLANSMAN
Witty, fast, sinster and disturbing, BlacKkKlansman is an incredibly thrilling KKK-infiltration story, with a stellar cast, an epic score, and one of the best scripts you will see all year from the one and only Spike Lee. It hits all the right beats tonally, marrying the perfect couple of comedy and crime to generate a humorously intense and an intensely humorous piece, which even with the sinister subject matter and the disturbing truth which Spike Lee communicates, it still holds up as a marvellously entertaining and inspiring crime spectacle. And again, a shout-out to Terrence Blanchard - what an incredible score.
#7: BLACK PANTHER
It is very easy to get caught up in all of the long-standing Black Panther buzz and ultimately forget that this is a truly spectacular superhero film. Unlike most other Marvel films, this is a film that will transcend time because of its well realised, ageless and authentic world it creates in Wakanda. There is never a slow point, a testament to the well-weaved story and an incredibly compelling and complex villain in Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger - one of the many characters in this film ranking among the top of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole (I'm looking at you, Okoye). Not to mention the infectious score and soundtrack from the likes Ludwig Goransson and Kendrick Lamar. The action is thrilling, the world is enthralling, and the cast is tremendous. Black Panther is a truly special moment in pop culture and will be the face of progressive storytelling for decades to come.
#6: THE FAVOURITE
Every single stylistic aspect of this film is so utterly original and unlike anything I've seen. The script - witty, sharp, farcical, quick, punchy, satirical, hilarious, genius...the best screenplay of the year, with terrifically risky and unpredictable character arcs. Each is written with a wonderful sense of individuality yet establishes a collective character dynamic as a singular driving force of the film. The Favourite is a sumptuously original film and like nothing you would expect from its over-done genre and is an incredibly refreshing and exciting change of pace.
#5: A QUIET PLACE
John Krasinski writes and directs an incredibly inventive, sensory piece of horror, making for a very unique cinematic experience with almost zero dialogue - a compelling premise, and pulled off to its greatest potential. A Quiet Place is really a touching story about family more than it is a horror film - that doesn't take away from its intensity, however, with the vast majority of stylistic choices made here very original and very tastefully done. The performances are spectacular, seeing as the actors do not have the luxury of lines and vocal techniques to convey their characters; it is all in the physicality.
#4: ROMA
Quite frankly, there is nothing like this film. Watching this was one of the most unique and enthralling experiences I have ever had. Roma is a masterpiece, and will be remembered and talked for decades to come as one of the greatest cinematic achievements. It is abundantly clear that this film is a monumental part of Alfonso Cuaron's versatile and breath-taking body of work, but also a film which, like no other, he has an incredibly strong emotional, sentimental attachment to. There's something uniquely compelling about watching the very mundane, day-to-day process of this introverted woman's life through Cuaron's masterful, visionary eye. In addition, this day-to-day process we witness makes the world which Cuaron creates feel lived in, and upon reflection, you as the viewer will feel like you lived there too.
#3: GREEN BOOK
Green Book is a heart-warming, feel-good, comedic drama centred around the relationship between two people. What many people have said is its weakness but what I think one of Green Book's strongest elements is its simplicity. Green Book is a very simple story that breathes and feels natural throughout, with smooth, easy direction from Peter Farrelly and a script full of warmth and heart. Regardless of whether it is factually accurate, Green Book is an utter joy - you will leave feeling emotionally fulfilled and a desire to go on the journey with these characters again.
#2: INFINITY WAR
There is a very valid argument to be made that Black Panther is the better Marvel film on this list, and believe me when I say that it was incredibly hard to decide. However, I decided to go with the film with the most build-up, the most anticipation and the most pay-off. Judging by the extensive cast, the culmination of a decade of filmmaking, and that jaw-dropping ending, we can universally agree that Infinity War was one of the most monumental events in cinema history, (as evidenced by the box office), but what really made it special was that it truly felt like it and will be one of the greatest cinematic experiences I've ever had. The film carries more scale than any film which has come before, and delivers arguably the greatest villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date. Bring on Endgame.
#1: A STAR IS BORN
And, saving the best for last, we have A Star Is Born, which I feel embodies the best qualities of several of the films previously mentioned, and so much more. Everything about this film was a risk - Lady Gaga's big-screen debut, Bradley Cooper's directorial debut, and the fact that it is the fourth version of an almost century-old story. However, every risk is completely shattered, perhaps delivering the best version of this story so far. Bradley Cooper delivers the best performance of his career, and Lady Gaga delivers an astounding performance which has opened the door to many more in the future. With an intimate and raw central relationship, thrilling music and a powerful story about the realities of addiction, fame and identity, it is romantic epic. A Star Is Born is the full package - a film I will cherish and adore for a long, long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment