OSCARS 2020 - Pre-Show Thoughts & Predictions & Rants

OSCARS 2020 Thoughts and Predictions:

- Alright, it's Oscar time! As I say every year, I don't really look at the Oscars as definitive or vital in terms of picking the actual best movies of a given year. More often than not, Oscar gets things wrong (or at best half-wrong), and the entire voting system - in which Academy members who've likely only seen a fraction of the nominees choose the winners - really needs an overhaul. That said, 2019 was such a great year for movies, and I personally loved so many of this year's nominees (naming several not just in my Best of the Year, but in my Best of the Decade) ... I'm excited to see some of my favorite writers, directors, and actors received much-deserved recognition. But even more so, I'm excited to see so many casual moviegoers get exposure to exceptional movies like Parasite and Jojo Rabbit and others they may not be inclined to check out otherwise.

Now, as is tradition ... here are my Top 10 OSCAR SNUBS for this year:

1.) Uncut Gems (Best Picture, Adam Sandler for Best Actor, Safdie Brothers for Best Director)

- Uncut Gems is such a fantastic and highly-relevant film. It's innovative, intense, and unforgettable.  Adam Sandler's performance in it is an all-timer, and will be talked about, raved about, and meme'd about for years to come. The movie's total exclusion from this year's Oscars is, frankly, a joke.

2.) Best Leading Actress - Lupita N'yongo for US

 -Lupita's performance in US was, IMO, one of the year's best. She played two characters and created an instantly-iconic horror movie persona. It was jaw-dropping. But horror movies pretty much never get a fair shake at the Oscars, so yeah, Lupita is left out. Crazy.

 3.) Best Director - Greta Gerwig for Little Women

- As many have pointed out, Little Women got nominated for a lot, but ... the movie obviously didn't direct itself. Gerwig is an amazing writer, but also an incredibly skilled director. She deserves to be talked about in the same vein as some of the best in the business today.


4.) The Lighthouse - Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe

- The Lighthouse is a strange film, but also an incredibly good one. And Willem Dafoe gives an iconic performance - doing descent-into-madness as good as anyone ever has. Unfortunately, much like director Robert Egger's previous horror masterpiece, The Witch, this one also got snubbed.

5.) Midsommar - Best Picture and Best Leading Actress for Florence Pugh

- Another major horror masterpiece snubbed. Midsommar was a tour de force - anchored by a mesmerizing lead performance from Florence Pugh. But yeah, can't have horror at the Oscars!
 
6.)  The Farewell - Best Picture and Best Leading Actress for Awkwafina and Best Director for Lulu Wang

- A fantastic film featuring a breakout lead role for Awkwafina, The Farewell mixes humor, heart, and pathos to become something truly special.The fact that it was basically ignored by The Oscars is a bit ridiculous.

 7.) Apollo 11 - Best Documentary

- Apollo 11 was best seen in a theater in IMAX, so maybe that hurt it with voters who just watch everything via screeners. But, come on, Oscars - this was a seminal film, one of the most jaw-dropping movies I saw in 2019. A mind-boggling exclusion.

8.) Best Leading Actress - Jesse Buckley for Wild Rose

-  I'm not sure why Wild Rose went totally under Oscar's radar this year, but man, what a great indie movie this was - and what an all-time awesome performance from Jesse Buckley in the lead role. Go watch this one if you haven't seen it!

9.) Best Lead Actor - Christian Bale for Ford vs. Ferrari

- Bale goes all out in Ford vs. Ferrari - one of his best performance ever and so good that it elevates the film beyond what it might have been otherwise. And yet - no Oscar love? Come on.

10.) Best Supporting Actress -  Thomasin McKenzie for Jojo Rabbit

-  Thomasin McKenzie has quickly become one of the most must-watch young actresses out there. She was phenomenal a few years ago in Leave No Trace, and she's just as great in Jojo Rabbit - in many ways the heart and soul of the film. Strange to me that Scarlett and would get a nom, but not her.


2020 OSCAR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS:

BEST PICTURE:

Should Win: Jojo Rabbit, Parasite, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, or The Irishman

- Jojo Rabbit was my personal favorite of 2019, but honestly, all four of the above are, IMO, masterpieces. I put 1917 maybe one notch below (though I was also a huge fan of that one), but the above four films are all very much Best Picture worthy.

Will Win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- It's either that, or 1917. Could go either way. But I'm going slightly against the grain and saying that, ultimately, I bet on the movie about Hollywood. There's just too much nostalgia for that era among older Academy voters to bet against it. 1917 is the safe pick - the most "traditional" Best Picture movie in many ways - and it won the Golden Globe. So it's a favorite, no question. Parasite has maybe an outside chance, and I'd love to see it win, but unfortunately I think there will still be some bias about a non-English-language movie taking home the big prize. But I just have a feeling that Hollywood may eek it out.

BEST ACTOR:

Should and Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

-Okay, I am well documented as having very mixed feelings about Joker. But ... Phoenix was undeniably incredible in it. He has an ability to go to this other level that few other actors do. I think that's why he's the runaway favorite to win, and why he probably should - regardless of what you think about Joker. Sandler should have been in this race though.


BEST ACTRESS:

Should and Will Win: Renee Zelwegger (Judy)

- This category is a bit weak this year, and is missing a lot of key performances like Awkwafina from The Farewell. But, Zelwegger, of the nominees, should and will take it. She turns in a big, showy, memorable performance as Judy Garland that you can't help but appreciate. It's exactly the kind of thing that Oscar voters love - but in this case, I've got to side with 'em - it's one heck of a turn from a deserving and beloved actress.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Should and Will Win: Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

-And here is another no-brainer of this year's Oscars. Pitt has long been underappreciated as an actor, and has steadily built his resume to include dozens of memorable and iconic roles - often of them surprisingly quirky, given his leading man image in pop-culture. But man, Pitt just kills it in Tarantino's latest - he owns the screen for every second he's on it.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Should Win: Florence Pugh (Little Women)

- 2019 was the year of Florence Plugh. She killed it in Fighting With My Family, Midsommar, and also in Little Women. In the latter, she was funny, engaging, and memorable - and in many ways the highlight of what was an all-around great film. That said ...

Will Win: Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

- I had mixed feelings about Marriage Story, but I LOVED Dern in the film. She made the most of every line of dialogue, creating a character that was hilarious and that stole the movie from the leads in many a scene. I give the slight edge to Pugh - especially given Dern's relative lack of screen time in Marriage Story ... but Dern is a Hollywood fave and will, I think, win this one.

BEST DIRECTOR:

Should and Will Win:Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

- This is a tougher one to call. Sam Mendes has got to be a favorite for 1917. But I wonder if the director's eclectic resume will hurt him, and/or if a lot of the credit for 1917's amazing visuals will go to its legendary cinematographer, Roger Deakins. Meanwhile, Bong has quickly become a beloved personality - funny, outspoken, and personable. And he's one hell of a director to boot. Hollywood sort of missed the boat in ever honoring other great Korean directors like Chan Wook Park - but I think they might go with Bong here. Parasite is truly a director's movie, and it's clearly Bong's vision from start to finish.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Should and Will Win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- A lot of good stuff in this category, including the should-have-been-nominated-for-more Knives Out. But I think you've got to go with Tarantino for this one, as he is known for his writing and the Academy will, I think, reward him for Hollywood's slightly more subtle and subdued tone vs. some of his more ostentatious recent work. Parasite and Marriage Story are also in the mix, but we'll see. I personally put Hollywood slightly ahead of Parasite.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Should Win: The Irishman

- This was actually my top script of 2019 - the dialogue was so rich and so entertaining and there were so many fantastic moments big and small. I mean, man, this screenplay should IMO be studied. 

Will Win: Little Women

- And this is a tough one. I think the Academy respects Greta Gerwig more as a writer than as a director, and in some ways I see why. Her movies are more script-driven, and she's an absolutely brilliant writer. So I think this is where Little Women gets its due. I loved the script - I put it a notch below The Irishman, but I'll be cool if it wins.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:

Should Win: How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

- The How to Train Your Dragon franchise is absolutely beloved by fans young and old, but for whatever reason hasn't gotten much awards love. In theory, that should change at this year's Oscars. I mean, why not honor this Dreamworks series for a fun, heartfelt, and visually-incredible capper to a great trilogy of films?

Will Win: Missing Link

- This one's a little hard to predict, but my suspicion is that Oscar voters tend not to watch a lot of animated films and thus go with the known quantities. That would put Toy Story 4 as a favorite, but that movie's general underwhelming-ness will probably hurt it. Missing Link's Golden Glove win may have put it on more people's radars, so I'm going with it as a somewhat dark horse. Laika has often been ignored by the Academy in the past, so it's hard to say. But I'm going with it.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

Should and Will Win: Parasite

- Similar to Roma last year, Parasite is the clear favorite here given its nominations in other major categories. And, I mean, Parasite is phenomenal so I can't dispute its front-runner status.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

Should Win: Avengers: Endgame

- Let's give Marvel props for the incredible f/x work, over two movies, done to bring the character of Thanos to life. I mean, it's all-time great, bar-raising mo-cap work.

Will Win: 1917

- But yeah ... what a strange category this year. Most of the big f/x blockbusters nominated were also critical duds (i.e. The Lion King). And Marvel never seems to win, so I'll be pleasantly surprised if Endgame eeks it out but I just have a hard time betting on it. More likely, 1917 sweeps all the technical categories.By the way though, Alita: Battle Angel should have been in the running.


BEST FILM EDITING:

- Should and Will Win: Parasite

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

- Should and Will Win:1917

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

- Should and Will Win: Parasite

BEST ANIMATED FILM SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win: Memorable

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

- Should Win: ??? (where was Apollo 11?!)
- Will Win: American Factory

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win:St. Louis Superman

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT:

- Should Win: ???
- Will Win: A Sister

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

- Should and Will Win: Little Women

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:

- Should and Will Win:Judy

BEST SOUND MIXING:

- Should and Will Win: 1917

BEST SOUND EDITING:

- Should and Will Win: 1917

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

- Should and Will Win:1917

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:

Should and Will Win: “Stand Up" - Harriet


And that's it for now. Happy Oscar watching and Happy Movie Watching!

The Best of the 10's - Danny's Best Movies of the Decade!

- Well, we did it - we made it to 2020! At times though, it felt like we just barely got there. And the great films of the decade often reflected the anger, the angst, the anxieties of the times we live in - as well as the need to preserve things like truth, and compassion, and empathy, and hope.

The decade saw new movies from legendary filmmakers - Scorsese, Spielberg, The Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, George Miller, Quentin Tarantino, and more. But it also saw the rise of countless exciting new voices. People like Steve McQueen, Greta Gerwig, Bong Joon Ho, Ava Duvernay, Alex Garland, Ryan Coogler, Taika Waititi - and so many more.

These past ten years have, in many ways, flown by. The previous decade, for me, was marked by change. I graduated from high school, and college, and moved to LA. This decade - well, it's been more about plugging away, grinding it out, and figuring out how to build the life for myself that I want. But one thing is clear: almost no experiences were better, or more memorable, or more meaningful than the times I had with the movies.

Here's to a great decade ahead.


THE BEST MOVIES OF THE 2010's:


1. Mad Max: Fury Road

- The best and most heart-pounding action movie ever made, this improbably amazing sequel from director George Miller is the most incredible cinematic experience of the decade. It's filled with memorable characters, jaw-dropping set pieces, all-timer performances, and an urgent message that felt much-needed this decade. And how often, in these crazy last few years, have we all felt like Furiosa - donning our warpaint, bracing for battle, and running/racing/escaping towards a sometimes seemingly-impossible dream of a better future. Mad Max is my pick for the decade's best.


2. The Social Network

- When David Fincher's film was first released, it felt important. Now, it feels vital. A brilliantly-written, amazingly-directed, impeccably-acted film - the movie is a tech-world origin story for our time. Writer Aaron Sorkin's dialogue has never been sharper, and Fincher's direction has never been more confident - he imbues even small moments with a near-apocalyptic intensity.


3. Boyhood

- Richard Linklater's crowning achievement - shot over a decade - is an incredibly moving portrayal of growing up that impeccably captures moments big and small. It's a unique cinematic achievement that may never again be replicated. Linklater created a film that gave us an unprecedented feeling of watching a life unfolding before our eyes.


4. Her

-What was once sci-fi dystopian fiction is now nearly reality. That alone nets Her a spot near the top of this list - but the film is also just incredibly well-made. It's riveting. I remember seeing it in the theater - you could hear a pin drop at certain moments. What director Spike Jonze accomplished with this one is right up there with his other great directorial efforts like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - like that film, this is a movie that will provoke discussion well into the next decade.


5. Inception

- Christopher Nolan's pop-cultural atom bomb shows the director at his pulse-pounding best. The movie nearly vibrates with thunderous intensity, and its twisty sci-fi plot was, is, and will be debated for years to come. 


6. The Wolf of Wall Street

- Martin Scorsese's best film of the decade is also one of the legendary director's all-time masterworks. A scathing satire of Wall Street greed and excess, the film felt like essential art following the economic crash at the end of the last decade.


7. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

- The more I thought about this movie, the more I was in awe of it. It's nearly perfect. The way it introduces so many characters, so quickly, yet makes us care so much about each of them. The way it looks. The way it emotionally involves you. The way it gives you so many moments of sheer cinematic awesomeness.


8. Jojo Rabbit

- A minor miracle of a movie, Jojo Rabbit is hilarious and heartfelt and subversive and daring and really, really shouldn't work. But this story about a Hitler-worshipping young boy in Nazi Germany - who slowly begins to shake off the cobwebs and see the error of his ways - somehow becomes both a brilliant satire of times past and a vital reflection of the times we live in now. Well done, Taika Waititi.


9. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

-Edgar Wright's rock n' roll action-comedy is the decade's ultimate new cult classic. Mixing ultra-stylized visuals, quotable comedy, and a hefty dose of Millennial angst - Scott Pilgrim is, quite simply, one of the coolest movies ever.


10. Inside Out

- Pixar's best movie of the decade, Inside Out was a movie about empathy at a time when empathy was sorely needed. An instant-classic that makes you laugh, cry, and actually come away with a better understanding of your fellow humans. Pretty remarkable.



THE NEXT BEST:


11. Cloud Atlas

- The Wachowski's time-spanning epic is a truly one of a kind film that left me floored. It's a sprawling, ambitious, thematically-rich epic that is practically bursting with ideas, philosophy, high-concept storytelling, and audio-visual fireworks.


12. The Handmaiden

- A true stunner from one of the great directors, Chan Wook Park. The Handmaiden casts a spell from moment one - and despite its length it leaves you wanting more. The entire story turns on its head halfway through, making you question everything you thought you knew about its characters.


13. The Witch

- One of the creepiest and most genuinely disturbing horror movies ever made. Director Robert Eggers made a film that might have been great even without the horror element - but when things ramped up, they *really* ramped up. The Witch almost feels like something you shouldn't be watching.


14. 12 Years a Slave

- A riveting look at a life in slavery, this film featured several star-making turns. Here is a film that is a stark reminder of the horrors of slavery. But man, this is also a cinematic tour de force - an utterly captivating, tension-packed narrative filled with unforgettable moments.


15. The Raid: Redemption / The Raid 2

- Arguably two of the best, most insane action movies ever. Jaw-dropping. Directed by Welsh-born Gareth Evans, these Indonesian-set films, in my view, forever raised the bar for martial-arts action cinema.


16. Planet of the Apes (trilogy)

- One of the greatest movie trilogies ever, the rebooted Apes had everything - great action, great characters, incredible f/x, and a lot to say. These movies transcended being mere blockbusters to become something truly special. They masterfully follows in the grand tradition of the original film (and in the tradition of original Apes writer Rod Serling) - for they are a profound, Twilight Zone reflection of our own world.


17. Eighth Grade

- Writer/director Bo Burnham absolutely kills it with this one - delivering a movie that's hilarious, emotional, and spot-on in its depiction of life as an eighth grader. Sure, some of the details were specific to 2018 - but the genius of the film is that it hits on universal truths that anyone who's ever been 13 can immediately relate to.


18. Parasite

- A searing look at class struggle, Parasite is also just an incredible piece of edge-of-your seat filmmaking. It's a darkly funny thriller that has Hitchock-ian levels of tension, all while delivering some biting, eat-the-rich social commentary.


19. Gravity

- An incredible journey into deep space, seeing Gravity in IMAX 3D was an all-time amazing movie-going experience. Gravity is also a powerful reminder of the human spirit. Space travel has always represented the pinnacle of human achievement, and that to me is what Gravity is really about - the will and desire to literally reach for the stars.


20. The Grey

- One of the most purely badass and downright awesome movies of the decade. A stunning, stirring tale of man vs. nature - more specifically, Liam Neeson vs. hordes of giant, merciless WOLVES. But it's a tale told with style and a surprising amount of substance, ultimately becoming a more-epic-than-expected rumination on life, death, and finding the will to fight on no matter the cost.


21. Uncut Gems

- Uncut Gems will put directing powerhouses The Safdie Brothers on your radar, and it will also remind you that Adam Sandler is a uniquely talented actor when cast in the right film. This movie never stops, never relents, never slows down. It's kinetic, intense-as-hell.


22. The World's End

- More than fitting capper to the thematically-linked trilogy that started with Shaun of the Dead and continued with Hot Fuzz. In fact, this may be the best of the three - a film that's at once an all-too-relatable meditation about how you can't go home again


23. Drive

- Stylish to the extreme (and with a killer soundtrack to boot), Drive was the neon-lit breakout for director Nicolas Winding Refn. It's rare that a film combines the over-the-top badassery of the best B-movies with the sense of artistry inherent in many Oscar-worthy dramas. But Drive is that movie and more.


24. Toy Story 3

- Pixar imbued its Toy Story franchise with incredible poignancy and surprising darkness in this third and best installment. A film that kids and adults can enjoy with equal enthusiasm, Toy Story 3 is another credit to the continued genius of Pixar.


25. Whiplash

- "Not quite my tempo." Damien Chazelle's breakout film was a nightmarish meditation on the pain and suffering that comes with attempting to be the best. Unforgettable. In this film, music is a battle, and Miles Teller's young, would-be-drummer extraordinaire is at war.

THE NEXT BEST

26.) Nightcrawler

- A dark satire of our culture of exploitation, Nightcrawler sadly becomes more relevant with each passing year.

27.) The Florida Project

- An incredible film about the hopes and dreams of those who are marginalized and left behind in our society, I still think about the ending of this movie all the time.

28.) Dunkirk

-  Christopher Nolan's ultra-intense war movie takes you on an unforgettable, visceral journey.

29.) Roma

- Alfonso Cuaron paints an incredible portrait of a life remembered in this affecting, amazingly-directed film.

30.) Phantom Thread

- Paul Thomas Anderson's at times overlooked, not-quite-what-it-seems masterpiece features an all-time great (and possibly final!) performance from Daniel Day Lewis.

31.) Inside Llewyn Davis

- The Coen Bros' best film of the decade is another hard-to-pin-down film from two of the best ever. It's incredibly-written, funny, weird, mysterious, and deeply layered.

32.) This Is The End

- One of the flat-out funniest movies ever, this over-the-top comedy features an all-star cast of celebrities (playing themselves!) dealing with the end of the world in incredibly hilarious fashion.

33.) How To Train Your Dragon

- One of my favorite-ever animated movies, How to Train Your Dragon featured soaring visuals, an amazing score, and an epic mythology - as well as a deeply moving father-son story at its core.

34.) Creed

- Ryan Coogler injected a second life into the Rocky series, casting Rocky Balboa as the mentor to a new generation of fighter. Michael B. Jordan made Adonis Creed into the hero we needed this decade.

35.) Interstellar

- Christopher Nolan brought us to the farthest regions of the universe in this mind-bending, mind-blowing science fiction epic.

36.) Ex Machina

- Alex Garland was one of my favorite directors of the decade. His sci-fi AI film Ex Machina was an awesomely dark and crazy thriller that has to be seen to be believed.

37.) It Follows

- I was such a big fan of this horror movie that it inspired me to try my hand at writing horror movies. The film that helped open the floodgates to the decade's new wave of indie horror movie-making, It Follows is a creepy, fun, atmospheric blast of horror movie magic.

38.) The Irishman

- A fitting summation of a life in crime films. But this time, Scorsese's usual rock and roll filmmaking style is tempered by an elegiac, mournful look at aging characters filled with regret.

39.) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- The film is quieter and more contemplative than typical Tarantino fare, but that makes it all the better of a film to live in for a bit and take in all the great little details - from the world-building to the great dialogue moments to the iconic Brad Pitt performance at its center.

40.) The Shape of Water

- Guillermo Del Toro is a filmmaker who I have so much admiration for, and The Shape of Water might just be his best work to date. It's a monster movie, a love story, and an adventure film wrapped in one - but Del Toro's passion and attention to detail is evident in every frame.

41.) Burning

- This Korean thriller is one of those crazy, holy-$%&# movies that is hard to talk about for fear of spoilers. Suffice it to say, it's an unforgettable movie about revenge and presumption of guilt and man, it goes to some dark places.

42.) Hell or High Water

- This badass crime thriller pits two young would-be criminals against a grizzled sheriff in the form of one Jeff by-god Bridges. I mean, 'nuff said - right? But the movie also shows an America - decaying, desperate - crawling towards an apocalyptic end-times.

43.) Moana

- One of the best Disney animated movies of the decade, Moana is a colorful, uplifting journey filled with fantastic music and - finally - a Disney "princess" who feels modern and empowered.

44.) They Came Together

- The comedic geniuses behind Wet Hot American Summer came together again (see what I did there?) for what was, I think, another absolutely hilarious film. If you like weird, absurdist comedy - it doesn't get much better than this.

45.) Moonrise Kingdom

- One of Wes Anderson's best, as the director's whimsical sensibilities play perfectly with a movie about childhood and first loves.

46.) Snowpiercer

- Bong Joon Ho's modern cult classic is an insane journey packed with crazy action, an up-for-anything cast (Tilda Swinton!), and some pretty cutting social commentary to boot.

47.) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

- The Coen Bros' Wild West anthology of weird tales about life and death is, I think, a low-key masterpiece. It can be riotously funny and also oddly poignant - and it's chock full of great performances.

48.) Black Panther

- Wakanda forever! Marvel's best movie resonates because of the thematic depth that Ryan Coogler brings to the table. The movie's got cool action and the requisite superhero bombast, but it also felt relevant to the here and now in a way that the late, great Stan Lee always strove for in his comics.

49.) Coco

- Another Pixar great, Coco tackles some potentially dark subject matter with wit and humor and heart in the sort of way that Pixar is so incredibly skilled at.

50.) Spotlight

- The searing true story of how a group of determined Boston Globe reporters uncovered the Catholic Church scandal, this one is an important reminder of the power of the press and of a society that values truth above all.


THE NEXT 50:
 

51.) Young Adult
52.) 13 Assassins
53.) Black Swan
54.) Logan
55.) First Reformed
56.) The Hateful Eight
57.) Mission: Impossible - Fallout
58.) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
59.) The Lighthouse
60.) Midsommar
61.) Zero Dark Thirty
62.) Beasts of No Nation
63.) Us
64.) Frances Ha
65.) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
66.) The Big Sick
67.) Okja
68.) Avengers: Infinity War
69.) Long Shot
70.) Ladybird
71.) Apollo 11
72.) Captain Phillips
73.) Django Unchained
74.) 1917
75.) The LEGO Movie
76.) Green Room
77.) Knives Out
78.) Warrior
79.) Captain America: The First Avenger
80.) Short Term 12
81.) Martha Marcy May Marlene
82.) A Better Life
83.) Star Wars: The Last Jedi
84.) Suspiria (2018)
85.) Big Hero 6
86.) Guardians of the Galaxy
87.) True Grit
88.) Room
89.) Selma
90.) Tron Legacy
91.) Pacific Rim
92.) Edge of Tomorrow
93.) Lincoln
94.) Sing Street
95.) Thor: Ragnarok
96.) Train To Busan
97.) The Farewell
98.) The Conjuring
99.) Nebraska
100.) Searching

30 More That Just Missed The Cut:

The Guest, Attack the Block, Hello My Name Is Doris, Dredd, You're Next, Wild Rose, Mandy, Get Out, The Nice Guys, IT, The Cabin in the Woods, The Shallows, Obvious Child, The Adventures of Tintin, I Don't Feel at Home In This World Anymore, Predestination, Looper, Safety Not Guaranteed, The Way Way Back, Shoplifters, Raw, The Post, Kick-Ass, Locke, John Wick (1-3), The Babadook, Crimson Peak, Three Identical Strangers, Stoker, Fruitvale Station

THE BEST OF 2019 - The Best MOVIES Of The Year

THE YEAR IN MOVIES - 2019

- 2019 was one of the best years for movies in quite some time. Some of the best dramas, the best horror movies ... some new best-movies-ever from some of our most talented filmmakers. This is the important thing to remember: this was a year in which, no question, the box office was dominated by the very-big blockbusters of a certain company with a mouse as a mascot - but: if you were an open-minded and proactive moviegoer, there were dozens upon dozens of great films of all genres for you to check out. In the theaters, via streaming platforms - wherever they came from, there they were. Support good movies. Talk about good movies. Don't be a "I only care about ____" consumer. At the same time, like what you like. Don't worry about what's "cinema" and what isn't. Marvel's made some of the most exciting movies of the last decade - we should commend them for raising the bar on what's expected from a big franchise blockbuster. At the same time, there's more to movies than Marvel and Star Wars. Don't make those the only two things that dominate the conversation.



DANNY'S BEST MOVIES OF 2019:


1.) Jojo Rabbit

- A minor miracle of a movie, Jojo Rabbit is hilarious and heartfelt and subversive and daring and really, really shouldn't work. But this story about a Hitler-worshipping young boy in Nazi Germany - who slowly begins to shake off the cobwebs and see the error of his ways - somehow becomes both a brilliant satire of times past and a vital reflection of the times we live in now. In an age of "both sides-ism," Jojo is a roundhouse kick to the face of those who preach hatred and intolerance, and its final "f-you" is the year's greatest moment of cinematic catharsis.


2.) Parasite

- Director Bong Joon Ho crafts a cinematic masterpiece in Parasite - adding to his brilliant resume that so far includes modern classics like Snowpiercer and Okja. Parasite, a searing look at class struggle, is also just an incredible piece of edge-of-your seat filmmaking. It's a darkly funny thriller that has Hitchock-ian levels of tension, all while delivering some biting, eat-the-rich social commentary.


3.) Uncut Gems

- One of this year's true cinematic jaw-droppers, Uncut Gems will put directing powerhouses The Safdie Brothers on your radar, and it will also remind you that Adam Sandler is a uniquely talented actor when cast in the right film. This movie never stops, never relents, never slows down. It's kinetic, intense-as-hell. It's not all style, either - there's more going on beneath the surface of this one than in any other movie this year.


4.) The Irishman

- Scorsese's latest feels like a fitting summation of a life in crime films. It revisits many of the same themes we've seen in movies like Goodfellas and Casino - but this time, Scorsese's usual rock and roll filmmaking style is tempered by an elegiac, mournful look at aging characters filled with regret. The movie gives us De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci at their absolute best. And man, it's got some of the most incredibly-written and incredibly-acted scenes of any movie this year.


5.) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- This was the rare movie that I saw twice in theaters, and as with many Tarantino films, it got better with each watch. The film is quieter and more contemplative than typical QT fare, but that makes it all the better of a film to live in for a bit and take in all the great little details - from the world-building to the great little dialogue moments to the iconic Brad Pitt performance at its center.


6.) The Lighthouse

- This one may not be for everyone, but it left me leaving the theater on a total movie high. I mean, it's Willem Dafoe slowly going crazy and giving epic Shakespearean rants about how much he hates his fellow lighthouse resident (ably played by Robert Pattinson). This movie is flat-out insane in the best way possible. It's weird and creepy and surreal. Director Robert Eggers (The Witch) does it again.


7.) Us

- Jordan Peele made one heck of a directorial debut with Get Out, but IMO he tops himself with Us. I love how Peele mixes horror and comedy and social commentary into an incredibly entertaining genre mash-up. I love Lupita Nyong'o's crazy-good performance. I love the premise, and the way the movie unfolds, and the jaw-dropping twist ending. More, please.


8.) Midsommar

- Director Ari Aster follows up his horror breakout Hereditary with an even better movie - the trippy, mesmerizing, weird-af Midsommar. The movie floored me. It's a darkly-funny breakup movie, a cautionary tale about Wicker Man-esque killer cults, and ultimately an almost 2001-esque journey of death and rebirth. Not for the faint of heart, Midsommar is nonetheless one of the most unforgettable movies of the year.


9.) Long Shot

- Great comedies are too often underrated by critics and awards-ceremony gatekeepers, but I say that good comedy should be properly recognized! Long Shot is, flat-out, one of the funniest movies of the decade - with a sharp-as-a-tack script that is not just funny, but somehow also emotionally-involving, multilayered, and an astute bit of political commentary to boot.


10.) Apollo 11

- Seeing Apollo 11 in IMAX was one of the most awe-inspiring theatrical experiences I've ever had. Like some kind of time-travel portal to the 1960's, this documentary film's restored footage is expertly-edited in a way that completely immerses you in the Apollo 11 moon landing and the events leading up to it. A truly one of a kind, cosmic journey.


JUST MISSED THE CUT:


11.)  Knives Out

- Rian Johnson's brilliantly-executed murder mystery is a true crowd pleaser. A great cast, a smart script, and a mystery that's more about the why than merely the whodunnit.


12.) 1917

- One of the best war movies ever, Sam Mendes and Richard Deakins remind you that war is hell - in this riveting, visceral World War I film.


13.) The Farewell

- A funny, sad, emotional journey - Awkwafina is amazing in this look at family and love and life and death.


14.) Wild Rose

- Forget A Star Is Born - Wild Rose is the best rags-to-riches music story in a long while. A clap-your-hands-and-cheer movie with an amazing star turn from Jessie Buckley.


15.) Doctor Sleep

- This sequel to The Shining crafts a nearly superhero-level epic from the original book and movie's horror mythology. It's great fun, but also surprisingly poignant.



THE NEXT BEST:


16.) Ford v Ferrari

- A classic underdog movie - with amazing racing sequences to boot - that had my whole theater cheering. Christian Bale delivers another Oscar-worthy performance.


17.) Under the Silver Lake

- A moody, almost Lynch-ian neo-noir from It Follows director David Robert Mitchell, this one takes you down the rabbit hole into Los Angeles' weirdest corners.


18.) Spider-Man: Far From Home

-  One of the most purely fun (and funny!) Marvel movies to date, Far From Home delivers a near-perfect Spider-Man adventure ... filled with awesome action, great villains, and another great turn from Tom Holland.


19.) Little Women

- Writer/director Greta Gerwig puts a fresh, modern, infinitely clever spin on the literary classic. An A-list cast also helps to infuse the film with wit and heart and humor.


20.) Deadwood: The Movie

- The perfect final chapter to one of the all-time great TV series, this HBO film gave us one final go-round with Al Swearengen and the rest of the inhabitants of David Milch's iconic Western drama.


21.) Good Boys

- A hilarious comedy filled with ingeniously dirty humor, this R-rated kid-adventure had me laughing from start to finish.


22.) Alita: Battle Angel

- Sure, this one had some clunky dialogue and uneven plotting - but man, it was also an absolute rush of sci-fi imagination, kick-ass action, eye-popping visuals, and genuine stand-and-cheer moments.


23.) Booksmart

- This gem of a teen comedy gave us a hilarious coming-of-age story about two girls trying to have one great crazy night before graduating from high school. More movies like this, please!


24.) Fighting With My Family

- As a longtime pro-wrestling mark, I was of course excited for this comedic biopic about WWE fan-favorite Paige. But the film - directed by the great comedy mind of Stephen Merchant - was legit great. A funny and rousing underdog story that might just bring a tear to your eye.


25.) John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

- With some of the best/craziest/most holy-$%&# action scenes of any John Wick movie yet, Chapter 3 of the Keanu Reeves-led action staple did not disappoint.



MORE GREAT FILMS OF 2019:


26.) How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

- A visual marvel, this third and final entry in the beloved How To Train Your Dragon series gave us a fun and emotional sendoff to one of the best animated franchises ever.


27.) El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story

- This Netflix original gave us a compelling epilogue to Breaking Bad - with one final, characteristically-intense, darkly funny adventure for Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman.


28.) One Cut of the Dead

- This breathtakingly innovative Japanese horror-comedy is like no other zombie movie you've seen before. It will have you asking "WTF?" before the big twist hits - but when it does, you can't help but recognize the movie's genius.


29.) A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

- A moving, surprisingly dark (but don't worry - ultimately uplifting!) story about Mr. Rogers and the man behind the iconic kids' TV character - this film touchingly reaffirms the late Fred Rogers' powerful influence for good in this world.


30.) Dolemite is My Name

- Eddie Murphy rules as Blaxploitation icon Rudy Ray Moore, in this feel-good biopic about making art and living life your way and on your own terms. Oh, and Wesley Snipes in this movie ... who knew he had that in him?


31.) The Last Black Man in San Francisco

- One of the year's most interesting indie flicks, this one is a powerful, at times surreal, moving look at two friends trying to claim a home of their own - and plant a flag in a world that tries hard to hold them back.


32.) Honeyboy

- Who would have thought? Shia LaBeouf's autobiographical film - in which he plays his own dad! - is a fascinating, disturbing, darkly funny look at the perils of a childhood in showbiz.


33.) Zombieland: Double Tap

- Way more funny and entertaining than it probably had any right to be, this delayed sequel was often flat-out hilarious.


34.) Ready or Not

- One of 2019's unexpectedly-awesome films, this over-the-top horror-comedy gave me one of my favorite theater-going experiences of the year - it's one hell of a crowd-pleaser.


35.) Rocketman

- This Elton John musical biopic entertainingly captures the spirit of the flamboyant rock icon, bringing Sir Elton's biggest songs to life in colorful, infectious fashion.


36.) Shazam!

- A super-fun DC Comics movie that perfectly captures the essence of the character's (don't call him Captain Marvel) original comics and also of the recent Geoff Johns re-imagining, this one had the feel of classic 80's kids fare.


37.) Greta

- An underrated horror/thriller that I found to be a lot of fun, Greta features a delightfully unhinged performance from Isabelle Hupert as a freaky stalker who terrorizes her new, younger friend.


38.) Avengers: Endgame

- A tough one to rank, Avengers: Endgame had some of the most memorably-awesome movie scenes of the year, but also felt overlong and overstuffed and not as satisfying or epic as the (IMO) much-better Infinity War. Still, it was ultimately a pretty epic conclusion to this phase of the MCU.


39.) IT: Chapter 2

- While not quite as sharp as the first film, the IT sequel still managed to be a lot of fun - with a great cast brought in to play the adult versions of the Losers Club (including an amazing turn from Bill Hader).


40.) Judy

- A riveting, lovingly-crafted look at the final, drug-fueled years of Judy Garland, this film features a career-best performance from Renee Zelwegger in the lead role.


41.) Ad Astra

- While I don't know that this one ultimately came together as well as I would have liked, I still found Ad Astra to be a gorgeously-directed, admirably ambitious journey into the unknown frontier of deep space.


42.) The Art of Self-Defense

- A hyper-stylized satire, this movie has stuck with me since I first watched it. It's a lot to process, but ultimately this is a pretty biting look at toxic masculinity that I want to revisit.


43.) The Beach Bum

-  A predictably bonkers film from Harmony Korinne (the man who brought us Spring Breakers), The Beach Bum is Matthew McConaughey at his *most* McConaughey. It's the part he was born to play, baby!


44.) Marriage Story

- There's no denying the absolutely incredible acting in this one, from the reliably-great duo of Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Noah Baumbach is always a fascinating director - his upper-class echo chamber sometimes annoys me - but there's no denying that the guy is an immense talent all the same.


45.) Shadow

- I'll watch anything from legendary director Zhang Yimou, and his latest - shot in stunning black and white - gives some of his most breathtaking visuals yet - including some absolutely eye-popping action scenes.


46.) Hustlers

- I think this one surprised a lot of people, me included. Hustlers, based on a true story, is a mini crime epic in the Scorsese vein - featuring a real movie-star turn from Jennifer Lopez in the lead.


47.) Dark Waters

- This film is maybe the scariest movie of the year - and it's not a horror movie. It's the true story of how chemical companies knowingly poisoned our environment - including major water supplies throughout the country - and how we're still paying for it today. This is a must-watch.


48.) The Dead Don't Die

- What happens when Jim Jarmusch makes a meta zombie comedy? Well, you get The Dead Don't Die - a fourth-wall-breaking deadpan, surreal film in which you get Bill Murray and Adam Driver as small-town cops battling a zombie apocalypse. I mean, what's not to like?


49.) The Kid Who Would Be King

- Attack the Block director Joe Cornish gives us a fun, feel-good re-imagining of the King Arthur story - in a whimsical kid-adventure movie that hearkens back to many an 80's-era classic.


50.) Her Smell

- A gripping, can't-look-away film that shows us a past-her-prime rock star's drug-fueled downfall, this one features an insanely good lead performance from Elizabeth Moss.



HONORABLE MENTIONS - OTHER RECOMMENDED MOVIES FROM THIS YEAR:

- Crawl
- Downton Abbey
- Blinded by the Light
- Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark
- Tolkien
- Pet Semetary
- Ma
- Luce
- Queen & Slim
- Dumbo
- Cold Pursuit
- Angel Has Fallen
- Captain Marvel
- The Aeronauts
- The Report

RANDOM SHOUT-OUTS:

- Serenity - one of the most entertainingly insane movies ever - a future midnight movie classic.

- The Perfection - this Netflix original horror movie, starring Alison Williams, is another future midnight movie classic that wowed me with its sheer audaciousness and level of jaw-dropping insanity.

- Shaft - I don't know if this was "good," but it made me laugh ... a lot ... maybe too much.

- CATS - I don't even know where to begin, but I will say that seeing this one was a true experience!

- Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker - I have complicated feelings about this one. It checks a lot of the surface-level Star Wars boxes, but I can't help but dwell on its rushed plot, aborted character arcs, and undermining of so much of what was great about The Last Jedi.

- Rambo: Last Blood - disappointing overall ... but it was a new Rambo movie and on some level I enjoyed it.

- Joker - another movie I have complicated thoughts about ... but I can't deny the incredible acting central to the film.


INDIVIDUAL 2019 AWARDS:



BEST LEAD ACTOR:

1.) Adam Sandler - Uncut Gems

2.) Christian Bale - Ford v Ferrari

3.) Brad Pitt - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

4.) Robert De Niro - The Irishman

5.) Matthew Rhys - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood



BEST LEADING ACTRESS:

1.) Jessie Buckley - Wild Rose

2.) Awkwafina - The Farewell

3.) Lupita N'yongo - Us

4.) Scarlett Johansson - Marriage Story

5.) Renee Zelwegger - Judy



BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1.) Willem Dafoe - The Lighthouse

2.) Joe Pesci - The Irishman

3.) Al Pacino - The Irishman

4.) Tom Hanks - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

5.) Wesley Snipes - Dolemite Is My Name



BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1.) Thomasin McKenzie - Jojo Rabbit

2.) Park So-dam - Parasite

3.) Julia Fox - Uncut Gems

4.) Florence Pugh - Little Women

5.) Laura Dern - Marriage Story



BEST DIRECTOR:

1.) Bong Joon Ho - Parasite

2.) The Safdie Brothers - Uncut Gems

3.) Sam Mendes - 1917

4.) Taika Waititi - Jojo Rabbit

5.) Quentin Tarantino - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood



BEST SCREENPLAY:

1.) The Irishman

2.) Jojo Rabbit

3.) Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

4.) Parasite

5.) Long Shot

6.) The Farewell

7.) The Lighthouse

8.) Us

9.) Little Women

10.) Knives Out


And that's a wrap on the Best of 2019. Here's to all the great movies of 2020 - happy movie-watching in the New Year and in the new decade!