A Reel Opinion: The Best & Worst Films of 2019, Part 2

2019 will go down in the history books as the year Disney dominated the box office. The house that Walt built seemed to be the only studio that could make solid crowd pleasers that families could enjoy, please critics, and get people into the theatre seats consistently. Disney made eight of the top 10 earners of the year; an astounding feat…with six of their releases all earning a billion dollars each. Unprecedented and most impressive. 

The rival studios rushed to spit out clones of what works for Disney, mostly at the sacrifice of quality…but there were some successes outside of the Mouse House. Clint Eastwood made his best film in years with RICHARD JEWELL, and James Mangold fired on all cylinders with FORD V. FERRARI. It was a good year for horror, with Jordan Peele’s US and Ari Aster’s MIDSOMMAR shocking audiences. Musical legends were paid tribute in two very different films, with YESTERDAYS showing the impact The Beatles had on the world, and BLINDED BY THE LIGHT exploring how the tunes of Bruce Springsteen changed the life of one man. And the FAST & FURIOUS franchise showed no signs of slowing down with a healthy box office.

Box office dollars are fun to discuss, but it all comes down to what we see on the screen. Reel Speak’s Part 1 of the Best and Worst of 2019 re-capped the failures (HERE), and Part 2 will now stack and rank the successes. 

10. JOKER

Todd Phillips’ film about the origins of the famed Batman villain may have been derivative of some classic films that focused on outsiders, but that does not diminish its impact. Powered by an astonishing performance by Joaquin Phoenix, JOKER toes the line between a spiritual journey and a descent into madness which ignited discussions about mental illness. Winner of the famed Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, an unexpected billion dollars at the box office, and a cultural smash that has everyone talking…not to mention mimicking his now famous dance down a stairway.

9. PARASITE

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s impactful suspense drama about class division hits hard and resonates deeply. Its suspenseful scenes are some of the best we’ve ever seen in cinema, its messages are clear and meaningful, and is full of surprises with an un-ending, un-nerving atmosphere. 

8. KNIVES OUT

Rian Johnson re-invents the whodunit genre. Told through different perspectives of family members who are all suspects in the death of their father, Johnson takes us through many twists and turns and keeps us all guessing right up to the end. The ensemble cast is excellent, especially Ana de Armas, who also gets the privilege of being in the one of the best closing shots of the year. 

7. LITTLE WOMEN

The umpteenth version of the famed book is given a fresh angle that is welcoming and intriguing. By re-structuring the story in a non-linear style, director Greta Gerwig makes LITTLE WOMEN, an old tale done many, many times, interesting and gripping. It’s a brave and bold move that could have been a disaster if not for some excellent editing. The stellar cast of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, and Laura Dern make it soar from start to finish. 

6. STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER

The 9^th and final episode of the Skywalker family saga, which began way back in 1977, brings back an old foe to be faced down by new heroes. Director J.J. Abrams puts the petal to the metal in this episode, which races from planet to planet and battle to battle in an exhilarating ride…which still finds time to reveal many secrets and let its excellent cast of Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, and John Boyega sizzle on the screen. The finale is a proper wrap to the series, bringing us back to the beginning with an emotional landing. And most of all, it reminded us of what STAR WARS is really supposed to be: fun. 

5. THE IRISHMAN

Martin Scorsese returns to the genre that he made famous for more than one generation; real-life gangsters. This time he tells the true story of hitman Frank Sheeran, who may or may not have whacked union-man Jimmy Hoffa. Scorsese and his old friends Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino have crafted a gangster flick for an older generation; requiring seasoned patience and understanding. A hulk of a film that covers a large slice of American history and the little-men who rebelled against the working society of the time. Essential viewing for fans of true crime stories. 

4. THE LIGHTHOUSE

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe play lighthouse keepers whose stay lasts longer than it is supposed to…which tests their resources and their sanity. Filmed in glorious black-and-white and edited in a way that gets under our skin and stays there, director Robert Eggers gives us a thriller that is impossible to turn away from, and the question of what was real and what wasn’t will have audiences debating for years. Shocking and stunning in every way. 

3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quentin Tarantino’s fairy tale, which takes place in his beloved Hollywood of old, gives the late actress Sharon Tate the happy ending she deserves and a fresh identity for a new generation; a living breathing person full of talent as opposed to just a footnote in the history of a mass murderer. Along with that, it takes a close look at fame and what its stars do when that fame begins to fade. The inspired cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie help to make this one of the most enjoyable stories of 2019. 

2. AVENGERS: ENDGAME

The film that became the all-time box office champion while sending audiences out the door an emotional wreck. Marvel’s epic roller-coaster ride served as a wrap to the Infinity Saga that they started back in 2008, which covered over 20 films and thousands of characters…all of which are paid tribute in this monster of a film. It had everyone reaching for the tissues, while still rousing people out of their seats with some of the best crowd-pleasing, fist-pumping, whoop-and-holler-worthy moments we’ve ever seen in blockbuster filmmaking. Beloved comic characters, who are now elevated even higher in pop culture, are given a final farewell and proper closure that no one can forget. This is the very definition of epic. 

1. 1917

Also epic is Sam Mendes’ WWI film about two soldiers on an impossible mission. Shot and cut to look like one continuous take, 1917 is a visual miracle; dropping audiences right into the middle of the action and keeping us there. It has a perfect balance of large-scale war and intimacy with its characters, and the amount of suspense is breathtaking. Mendes based the film on stories that his grandfather had told him, which makes this a labor of love for him and it shows…as it works as a great war film and a tribute to the men who fought and died. Emotional, brutal, and beautiful…1917 has the perfect balance of the most important elements in filmmaking. As all great films should.  

REEL SPEAK'S BEST FILMS OF 2019

1. 1917
2. AVENGERS: ENDGAME
3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
4. THE LIGHTHOUSE
5. THE IRISHMAN
6. STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
7. LITTLE WOMEN
8. KNIVES OUT
9. PARASITE
10. JOKER