Woah, These Are Some Good Movies
The best movies to come out in 2019. There were no other good ones. Sorry, movie fans.
10. The Irishman
This movie is too long. Coming in at 3.5 hours, it’s the longest mainstream release in a while. Despite its length, that fact that its on Netflix means that most people will watch it in chunks, which doesn’t really hurt it. A Scorsese pic starring De Niro, Pacino and Pesci, The Irishman is based off a memoir with a dubious claim on the truth. Tracking the life of De Niro’s character as he rises from delivery truck driver to head of a union and murderer for the mob, it tells the story of the supposed killer of Teamster’s president Jimmy Hoffa. A more contemplative movie than some of Scorsese’s other mob movies, the lead cast, often digitally de-aged, delivers excellent performances. Not reliant on plot as the driving force, the movie instead thrives on the emotional beats and character development of its leads. Neither de Niro nor Pacino give into too much to their respective quirks. A great movie to watch three hours at a time.
9. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Perhaps Tarantino’s most divisive movie, a truly remarkable feat. Not much happens in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, a movie tracking the life of a fading movie star Rick Dalton and his stunt man. Dalton’s story intersects with the rise and fall of the Manson family, the ending of which Tarantino fictionalizes. Largely a character study, Tarantino allows his actors to shine, creating a much quieter movie than he usually does. While his trademark feet shots and some ultra-violence still make their way into the movie, he doesn’t place them at the forefront, limiting their impact. A long contemplative movie.
8. Ready or Not
I first watched this movie on a plane without sound. Despite having to rely on subtitles I loved every second of it. A comedy-horror that gets both prospects right, something very hard to do, Ready or Not deals with a rich family inviting a new member into their clan. For spoiler’s sake I’ll go no further. A gleefully bloody movie, Ready or Not’s supporting crew finds real character notes within their archetypes allowing the climax to really soar. A decidedly fun movie that should have been on more year-end lists.
7. Booksmart
While this movie liberally borrows from the teen comedy well, most heavily Superbad – one of the two main stars is even Jonah Hill’s sister – it borrows from the correct places, and holds up on its own. Full of some wonderful character beats and an excellent supporting cast, Billie Lourde, Will Forte, and Molly Gordon (also in Good Boys) are particularly great, Booksmart delivers. While it may try a little too hard to be the “woke” version of American Pie, that doesn’t weigh it down too much, and the do-goody cluelessness of the two main characters means that it can be played for laughs at times. The soundtrack also works to create a sonically coherent film and has a bunch of bangers on it.
6. John Wick 3: Parabellum
John Wick, like many of the films on this list, requires a suspension of belief. No person alive could take the amount of pain that John Wick takes over the course of the previous two movies and this one. Taking place immediately after the previous movie, Parabellum moves away from the assassin-ridden New York and Italy to the similarly assassin-ridden Casablanca. While John Wick 2 broadened the scope of the Wick-verse John Wick 3 deepens it, providing more grist for the world-building mills. No one has ever accused this series of being subtle, nor should they. John Wick 3 marvels at its own bluntness, Keanu Reeves moving with none of the grace of Neo, tromping inexorably toward death, like the mythical Golem. This movie whips.
5. Uncut Gems
If you get easily anxious do not watch this movie. At almost every moment in this Safdie Brothers movie you’ll either hear someone yelling, someone getting yelled at, or two people yelling at each other. Adam Sandler turns in the performance of a lifetime as a New York diamond merchant in the process of trying to turn his life around. Something is almost always going wrong for someone in this movie, and at times it seems like the whole thing will fall apart, but Sandler’s performance and the quiet moments of beauty the directors let sneak in hold it all together. Kevin Garnett also shows off some pretty decent acting chops too.
4. Good Boys
I may be the #1 fan of Good Boys in the United States of America. It has my two favorite non-I Think You Should Leave jokes of 2019. It managed to get pre-teen/early teen actors to really hit on some emotional beats. And it sticks the landing by not following the usual teen comedy route and opting for a slightly different emotional tack. Featuring an incredible amount of fantastic cameos, including Will Forte, who also appeared in Booksmart,Good Boys combines some sharp writing and excellent physical comedy. It certainly earns its R rating, but never at the expense of its child stars. Much better than the other 2019 movie that had a main character named Thor.
3. Knives Out
Daniel Craig, everyone’s favorite gritty-reboot James Bond, says the word “donut” with a Southern accent in this movie. Not sure of a better way to sell it. A murder mystery in the style of Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle, Knives Out delivers a delightfully funny and thrilling romp that had me guessing until the end. An all-star cast and gorgeous sets work wonders with the clever script, providing real room for character-development in the midst of all the plot. And as more than a few movies on this list prove, not a lot of things are more enjoyable than watching a rich clueless family tear itself to shreds.
2. Parasite
While accepting a Golden Globe for best Foreign Language Film Bong Joon-Ho, the director and writer of Parasite, said something to the effect of, “If you can get over the inch-high hurdle of subtitles, it will open up a whole new world of film.” This is correct. Bong, who also directed Snowpiercer, delivers an incredible gut-punch with Parasite. At the risk of providing spoilers, Parasite is a pitch-black comedy about the intersecting lives of the rich and poor in South Korea. Bong creates memorable characters, set-pieces, and sharp social critique without sacrificing visual flair. Skipping this movie because you “don’t like to read” would really be doing yourself a disservice.
1. Midsommar
I don’t really have anything to say about this movie other than that it manages to make sunlight scary, something I thought impossible. An exquisite work of folk-horror from Ari Aster, the director and writer, Midsommar combines relationship drama, pagan rituals, and beautiful cinematography into a vivid masterpiece of terror. Set in Sweden it involves a group of four friends traveling to a remote village in Sweden during their Midsummer festival. An excellent soundtrack enhances the hallucinatory appeal of the movie. Not for the faint of heart, though the movie relies on next-to-no jumps scares to create its palpable sense of dread.
Other Movies:
The Joker (boring, who cares), Hail, Ceasar (didn’t come out in 2019 but I saw it for the first time this year, very very good), Hereditary (very good also didn’t come out in 2019), Death of Stalin (very funny, didn’t come out in 2019), The Lighthouse (haven’t seen it but I’ve heard its good).