It’s been quite a memorable year in cinema. Lady Gaga is a breakout actress, Mary Poppins returned, and The Avengers are still reigning over the box office. MoviePass skyrocketed in popularity…only to fail it’s customers a few months later. R.I.P. MoviePass. I’ll never forget you and all the movies you let me see. I’ll also never forget all of the technical difficulties you put me through. Anyway, 2018 has been a very memorable year for movies. Let’s look back at some of the highlights with my list of favorites!
12. Green Book
Green Book is a touching film about two men who form a very unlikely friendship. Tony Vallelonga is an Italian bouncer who is hired to drive for Don Shirley, a black concert pianist for his concert tour in the deep south. Viggo Mortenson and Mahershala Ali bring magnetic chemistry to their characters. Their banter is so witty and entertaining. A lot of that is thanks to the film’s screenplay which balances drama and comedy at just the right moments.
11. Tully
Tully is a refreshingly honest and realistic portrayal of motherhood and mental health. Director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody crafted a deeply layered character driven story with precision and care. Even the smallest details in the story end up making a huge impact on lead character’s journey. Charlize Theron gives an emotional and raw lead performance as Marlo, a mother of 3.
10. Crazy Rich Asians
The law of cinema is that every few months a rom com has to come along to bring balance to the theater. Will it be good? We never know. That’s half of the buzz. Taking a risk on an unknown romcom. It could be the next You’ve Got Mail! :) Or the next Fool’s Gold. :( In 2018, Crazy Rich Asians cemented itself as a romantic comedy success. It’s funny, memorable, and stylish. Constance Wu and Henry Goulding are the perfect leading couple with excellent chemistry. Not to mention, Awkwafina is hilarious in the best friend role. There are so many moments in the film that stand out due to the memorable party sequences, but that wedding? That’s a movie moment to remember for 2018.
9. Eighth Grade
Director Bo Burnham captures the awkwardness and anxiety of middle school in a way the audience can relate to with Eighth Grade. Led by newcomer Elsie Fisher as Kayla, we feel her pain as she attempts to navigate the last week of middle school. Will things always be this awkward? Is high school going to be any better? Half of the film’s brilliance lies in the commentary on how the age of social media is effecting the way everyone interacts socially. No one wants to relive eighth grade, but you should certainly see the film.
8. Game Night
I walked into Game Night with low expectations. It could easily be a stereotypical raunchy comedy with a forgettable plot. I left the theater shocked that it was so hilarious and well written! This is truly an ensemble film filled with tons of different personalities ranging from the straight-laced couple (Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) to the hilariously bizarre neighbor (Jesse Plemons). Each cast member fits their role perfectly. There are some genuine surprises in the film that keep you guessing until the final moments. Game Night has a major rewatch factor and remains my favorite comedy of 2018.
7. First Man
Not only does Ryan Gosling sing and dance, but now he excels at space travel. What can’t the man do? Damien Chazelle’s follow up to La La Land is the polar opposite of the 2016 musical in almost every way. It’s a quiet biographical drama about space. However, Chazelle and Ryan Gosling prove once again they are a dynamic duo bringing Neil Armstrong’s life to the silver screen.
This movie is quite an emotional ride. I admire that it doesn’t offer obvious answers or spell out everything for the audience. How can it when the issue of drug addiction hasn’t been solved? So many scenes focus on showing rather than telling. There’s an overwhelming sense of dread throughout the film as Nic digs himself into a hole of addiction. Beautiful Boy illustrates that the addict is not alone in that hole. Slowly, they begin to drag others down with them and it’s cold and dark at rock bottom. Both performances by Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carrell are absolutely phenomenal and showcase that even in the darkest times there is still room for hope.
5. Vox Lux
This is the most ambitious film of the year. Vox Lux is a look at one woman’s rise to stardom after a horrific tragedy. Her fame is the product of her greatest tragedy. Years later, another tragedy awaits. Perhaps violence and pop culture are stuck in a cyclical relationship. The film raises many questions about today’s society as it deals with themes of violence, pop culture, and trauma. Natalie Portman and Raffey Cassidy give fantastic dual performances as teen and adult Celeste. One is attempting to navigate the brand new landscape of a pop star’s world. The other is a foul-mouthed cynic who can barely hold herself together…until the stage lights come on.
Let me tell you, this was a wild ride from start to finish. Much like Vox Lux, The Favourite is incredibly divisive. It’s a look at the lives of three deeply complex women. One craves companionship. One craves power. One craves social status. They’ll stop at nothing to achieve their goal, even if it involves hurting others. In the end, it will lead them to their own personal prison. The performances from Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz give fascinating layers to seemingly awful characters. The razor sharp filmmaking style from director Yorgos Lanthimos makes The Favourite a royal spectacle.
Every year, I find myself incredibly frustrated that my birthday (July 27th) is one of the worst times for movie releases. Summer blockbuster season is usually coming to an end and Hollywood introduces the worst it has to offer. NOT IN 2018. In 2018, Hollywood said NO MORE and Mission: Impossible- Fallout, the best blockbuster of the year was released that very day. So many epic scenes spring to mind when I think of this film. The bathroom fight, the airplane jump, the helicopter finale. It’s not just stunts though, the storyline is genuinely well written. How they keep this up after 5 movies is beyond me, but I’m so glad it’s working. I have to thank everyone involved in this film for inspiring me to direct my first ever short film, Movie: Impassable! You never know when inspiration will strike and it hit me on July 27th in a packed movie theater.
Switching gears completely from the number 3 film on my list is Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a deeply emotional documentary about Mr. Rodgers. Diving into his early years, TV background, and personal life, Won’t You Be My Neighbor attempts to see if Fred Rodgers really was as kind as he appeared on TV. Spoiler Alert: He was. This is such a moving portrait of a man who led with love in every aspect of his life. He was a genius who worked endlessly to secure smart and creative television programming for children. Beyond that, he was a deeply caring individual who always found a way to help others. Won’t You Be My Neighbor shows that we could all be a little more like Mr. Rodgers. Good luck watching this without crying!
We’ve come to the number 1 spot on my list and we’re far from the Shallow now. This is a film that showcases the rise and fall of fame. The open and closing scenes speak to that theme perfectly, from the thunderous opening as Jackson Maine storms the stage singing Black Eyes, to the heartbreaking finale as Ally sings her heart out to I’ll Never Love Again. There are so many small details I could talk about here in Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut that all work together wonderfully. I particularly love how raw and realistic Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s chemistry feels throughout the entirety of the film. Their dialogue isn’t corny or forced like so many romance films. It’s incredibly natural. Both leads give performances that will be remembered for years to come. The music (written by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga) moves the story forward perfectly with each song explaining the emotions of Jackson, Ally and the state of their relationship. A Star is Born showcases the best in directing, acting, and music. It is an electrifying musical that is my top film of 2018.