10. Richard Jewell
Clint Eastwood has made one of the most important films of 2019 that emphasizes the importance of being innocent until proven guilty. He directs the film beautifully and sensitively, honoring Richard Jewell and his friends and family, a man who was a hero, but was made to look like a villain by the media. Paul Walter Hauser delivers an emotionally raw and sympathetic performance as Richard Jewell, and is immediately someone you want to root for. Kathy Bates also gives an emotionally charged performance as Richard Jewell’s mother, Bobbi Jewell. This is an important film and one of the more underrated ones of 2019, proving that Eastwood is still a fantastic filmmaker.
9. Uncut Gems
Directors, Benny and Josh Safdie have created a riveting and visceral look into a gambler who works in New York’s Diamond District. Adam Sandler proves here that when he wants to, he is an actor to watch out for, giving such an engaging performance, as a very unlikable guy, but makes him still somewhat likable. This film heightens your senses thanks to stellar direction from the Safdie Brothers who keep you on the edge of your seat, along with fantastic, disorienting editing by Benny Safdie and Ronald Bronstein. It is a wild ride that peeks behind the curtain of New York’s Diamond District in an exciting, and also very funny way.
8. Rocketman
Taron Egerton delivers a nuanced and beautiful performance as Elton John, and is easily one of the best performances by a lead actor in 2019. Bryce Dallas Howard and Jamie Bell also give two wonderful performances. Director, Dexter Fletcher and screenwriter, Lee Hall took an interesting approach for this film by making it a musical fantasy, and it paid off. This a refreshing biopic that brings its subjects’ story to vivid and engaging life.
7. JoJo Rabbit
JoJo Rabbit is a remarkable anti-hate satire. Writer and Director Taika Waititi, who also plays Adolf Hitler successfully balances so many different tones, such as, comedy, despair, real-life tragedy, and hope, all while showing the horrors of war and fascism, and spreading the message of love. It is a hilarious and beautiful film that is one of its kind. It also features one of the best child performances I have seen by Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo.
6. The Lighthouse
Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse is a mesmerizing nightmare with thought-provoking themes of redemption, forgiveness, regret, and identity that are all explored in the most unique and bold ways. Eggers and cinematographer, Jarin Blaschke masterfully shot the film in black and white to evoke its time period and create more of a nightmarish atmosphere and successfully immerse you into its claustrophobic environment through its square aspect ratio. Robert Pattison and Willem Dafoe deliver two ferocious performances, and Louisa Ford’s editing is hard-hitting and powerful.
5. Little Women
This movie is absolutely wonderful! It is written and directed by Greta Gerwig with so much love and passion for the source material and the characters. Every single performance and character stands out. Saoirse Ronan gives one of the best performances by a lead actress in 2019 and Florence Pugh is a massive standout delivering my favorite performance by a supporting actress in 2019. Gerwig successfully balances between multiple tones and infuses the film with such sweetness and warmth, and writes such poetic dialogue. I loved spending time with these characters in the period in which it is set. The cinematography is gorgeous as well, and the production design and costume design are exquisite. It is a beautiful film about sisterhood, love, and finding your voice and telling your story.
4. Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep is easily the most underrated film of 2019. Writer and director, Mike Flanagan had the impossible task of pleasing both Stephen King fans and fans, like myself, of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, The Shining (1980), and he hit it out of the park. This a terrifying and thought-provoking movie that honors both King and Kubrick. Flanagan understands that great horror is psychological and must be supported by rich characters and themes. Rebecca Ferguson also delivers probably the most underrated performance of 2019 as Rose The Hat. This is a worthy sequel to The Shining (1980), while successfully standing on its own.
3. Marriage Story
Noah Baumbach has crafted a film that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a movie that left an impact on me with two perfect performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson playing a married couple in the middle of a divorce. Baumbach masterfully does not pick sides in the film, but instead chooses to show the perspective of both Charlie (Driver) and Nicole (Johansson). Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda also give stellar performances. Baumbach’s dialogue is realistic and powerful, where you are constantly engrossed by what the characters have to say. He also achieves revealing that their is always light at the end of the tunnel, and he skillfully infuses comedy even amidst the heartbreak. This is an emotionally raw and beautiful film with some of the best acting of 2019 and sensitive, soulful direction from Baumbach.
2. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece is his love letter to old Hollywood and cinema as a whole, and his him at his most contemplative, while still infusing a strong sense of energy. I love this film!! It is a beautiful love letter to 1960’s Hollywood and cinema with amazing characters that I loved spending time with, speaking Tarantino’s phenomenal dialogue. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie are all excellent in the film, and the chemistry between DiCaprio and Pitt is perfect and fun to watch. Tarantino masterfully balances the multiple characters and situations in the movie, making it all into a coherent whole, where he also infuses multiple genres. Every performance stands out, no matter how small, from Al Pacino to Bruce Dern. It also features stunning cinematography from the master, Robert Richardson that brings 1969 Hollywood to life, as well as detailed production design from Barbra Ling that recreates modern day Hollywood into 1969 Hollywood. This is Tarantino contemplating on the film industry and cinema as a whole and the films that shaped him. It is a masterpiece, and features one of the best endings in all of cinema.
1. The Irishman
My number one favorite film of 2019 is none other than Martin Scorsese’s epic masterpiece, The Irishman. Not only is this my favorite film of 2019, it is my favorite film of the entire decade. Scorsese has crafted a film that explores and meditates on the consequences of violence, regret, time, history, and mortality. It is powerful! Robert De Niro delivers an extraordinary performance as Frank Sheeran that is so subdued hiding such pain and regret. Joe Pesci and Al Pacino also deliver two performances of a lifetime. It is phenomenal to see these three legends together in a Martin Scorsese picture. This is a 3 hour and 29 minute movie, and I loved every minute of it. Scorsese’s direction, Steven Zaillian’s screenplay, Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography, the performances, Thelma Schoonmaker’s editing, and much more come together creating a work of art and one of Scorsese’s best films.
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