Most Anticipated 2019: Potential Awards Contenders

2019 is looking like a pretty phenomenal year and I can't wait for next year's awards season. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Little Women, Ford Vs. Ferrari, The King, Jojo Rabbit, The Laundromat

Top 10 Films of 2018

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.

91st Academy Awards Preview & Predictions

This awards season has been completely insane, and I am angered by the way a lot of it is going, however I feel that in terms of the films involved, this has been one of the best awards seasons ever - and that fact that this year's Oscars are so unpredictable is a testament to the quality.

Film Review | If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk is directed by Barry Jenkins and stars Kiki Layne and Regina King. 

Drama, Romance, Crime. Released 2018.

If Beale Street Could Talk follows Tish (Kiki Layne), a newly engaged Harlem teen carrying their first child, all whilst trying to prove her fiance, Fonny (Stephan James) is innocent of a crime he has been wrongly accused of with the support of her mother, Sharon (Regina King). 

Film Review | The Favourite

The Favourite is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.

Drama, History, Comedy. Released 2018.

My main attraction to this piece was Emma Stone - I am surprisingly unfamiliar with Olivia Colman's work (even though she's a national treasure), and I have never seen a Yorgos Lanthimos film. Little did I know, I was about to experience one of the most unconventional and masterfully bizarre films I had ever seen. 

Film Review | Roma

Roma is directed by Alfonso Cuaron and stars Yalitza Aparicio and Marina De Tavira.

Drama. Released 2018.

Roma is a semi-autobiographical story that chronicles a year-in-the-life of a middle class family's maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s. 

Film Review | Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy is directed by Felix Van Groeningen and stars Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet.

Drama, Biopic. Released 2018.

Less than a year after Timothee Chalamet made a huge impression on the film industry in Lady Bird and his incredibly powerful performance in Call Me By Your Name, he returns this awards season with Steve Carell to tell the true story of David (Steve Carell) and Nic Sheff (Timothee Chalamet), a father attempting to aid his son into overcoming a threatening drug addiction.

Film Review | Green Book

Green Book is directed by Peter Farrelly and stars Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali.

Biopic, Drama. Released 2018.

Green Book is based on the true friendship between Tony Lip and Dr. Don Shirley. Tony, an Italian-American bouncer becomes the chauffeur for an African-American pianist who is about to embark on a concert tour through the deep south in 1960s America. 

Film Review | Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins Returns is directed by Rob Marshall and stars Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel-Miranda.

Musical, Family, Fantasy. Released 2018.

During a difficult time in the lives of the Banks 'children', the legendary, magical nanny Mary Poppins returns to visit them after several decades.

Film Review | Creed II

Creed II is directed by Steven Caple Jr. and stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.

Drama, Sport. Released 2018.

Creed II is the sequel to Creed (2015) and is a natural continuation of Adonis' story (Michael B. Jordan) both personal and professional, and under the guardianship of the legendary Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), Adonis prepares to face off against the son of Ivan Drago, the man who killed his father.

This film had a lot to live up to, since the first Creed from 2015 set the bar incredibly high. Creed is an incredibly well made and poignant character's journey, so I was excited and hopeful to see that journey progress in the same nature.

Film Review | The Crimes Of Grindelwald

The Crimes Of Grindelwald is directed by David Yates and stars Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp and Jude Law.

Fantasy, Adventure. Released 2018.

In the second chapter to J.K. Rowling's expansion to the Wizarding World beyond Harry Potter, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) is on the rise and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists the help of his ex-Hogwarts Student Newt Scammander (Eddie Redmayne).

I enjoyed the first entry into this franchise and was hugely looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp's portrayal of Grindelwald; a name very recognisable to long-term fans of Harry Potter, but someone who we have never met apart from seeing him in flashbacks. Because of the emphasis on this character, it seemed like a much darker entry.

Film Review | Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is directed by Bryan Singer and stars Rami Malek.

Drama, Music, Biography. Released 2018.

Bohemian Rhapsody tells the story of the legendary icon and front-man of Queen,  Freddie Mercury.

Due to the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding this film prior to its release, having not seen Rami Malek in Mr. Robot and the initial mixed reactions, I did not know what to expect from Bohemian Rhapsody - except a load of Queen music and performances.

However, I am happy to report that this lack of expectation meant that Bohemian Rhapsody exceeded anything I had been expecting, with me leaving incredibly inspired.

Film Review | First Man

First Man is directed by Damien Chazelle and stars Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy.

Drama, Biography. Released 2018.

First Man is Damien Chazelle's third major motion picture, and tells the personal story of Neil Armstrong and the build-up to him making history as the first man to step on the moon. 

Due to Chazelle's previous work, Whiplash and La La Land, this was a film that I was looking forward to, especially since it is Damien Chazelle & Ryan Gosling's second team-up following their musical masterpiece from two years ago. 

Film Review | Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians is directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding.

Romance/Comedy. Released 2018.

Based on the novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic, feel-good comedy which follows New Yorker Rachel Chu to meet her boyfriend's wealthy family in Singapore. 

I didn't really have any expectations for this film. I wasn't aware of it until it was initially released and started to build some traction. However, when it came round to actually watching it, I was looking forward to it - I had heard that it was a really solid feel-good film so I already knew I was going to have a good time. 

Film Review | A Star Is Born

A Star Is Born is directed by Bradley Cooper and stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.

Released 2018. Drama, Music, Romance.

Accomplished musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). As her career takes off, their personal relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his internal demons.

Naturally, this was one of my most highly anticipated films of the year - Bradley Cooper is a terrific actor, and I couldn't wait to see how he collaborated with Lady Gaga: undisputedly one of the most talented individuals on the planet. Regardless of my excitement and the faultless, glowing reviews, I was worried A Star Is Born wouldn't live up to my inevitably sky-high expectations.