The Oscars are tonight! And I thought it would be kinda fun if I shared what I thought were some of the best films and performances from 2019, so I put together my own little Oscar list. Now I am going to start with the films I DID NOT watch, due to various reasons (most of them having to do with time and money), that probably would have affected my lists in some way. So in no particular order I did not watch...
Parasite The Irishman Knives Out One Cut of the Dead Pain & Glory Jojo Rabbit Honey Boy Ford v Ferrari The Peanut Butter Falcon A Hidden Life Waves A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Rocketman How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World There are probably a couple more that I didn't think of but those are the big ones. One more house keeping thing, I will not be talking about the awards for any of the short films, documentary, foreign language films, as I did not watch nearly enough to warrant my opinion. I also won't be talking about the sound awards because I really don't have any opinion on these. Oh also no Original Song, I couldn't think of any. So without further ado, here are the nominees and winners if I were solely in charge of the winners. (Keep in mind this is just my opinion so please don't freak out!) Actor in A Supporting Role Alan Alda (Marriage Story) Brad Pitt (Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood) Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) Kevin Garnett (Uncut Gems) Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse) *Winner* This is a strong group of actors, but there was only one choice for me here, and that was Willem Dafoe. Easily one of the biggest snubs this year, Willem is one of the classiest actors working today, and this may be one of his best performances ever. Best Makeup and Hairstyling Joker *Winner* Us The Two Popes Little Women 1917 Joker isn't my favorite film of the year, but I couldn't argue with how great and iconic that makeup is! Best Costume Design Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood The Last Black Man in San Francisco 1917 Little Women The Lighthouse *Winner* Tell me those costumes aren't incredibly authentic and that they don't transport you to that world. The Lighthouse was seriously snubbed this year. Best Production Design Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood The Lighthouse 1917 *Winner* Uncut Gems The Last Black Man in San Francisco This film is such an incredible technical achievement and the production design just scratches the surface of that. Actress in A Supporting Role Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart) Florence Pugh (Little Women) *Winner* Julia Fox (Uncut Gems) Laura Dern (Marriage Story) Zhao Shuzhen (The Farewell) I liked to call 2019 the year of Florence Pugh. She stole the show for me in Little Women. Her ability to act dignified as an adult and fun and eccentric as a child was so much fun to watch and she really just stole the show. Pulling for her tonight! Best Animated Feature I Lost My Body Klaus *Winner* The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Missing Link Toy Story 4 Honestly, this is probably the strongest group of nominees out of everything. These are all pretty amazing films, but Klaus was something special! Absolutely stunning animation, with a fun and heartfelt story that expands upon the Christmas mythology. One of the best films of the year, and one I'm really rooting for tonight. Best Visual Effects Avengers Endgame Spider-Man: Far From Home Detective Pikachu *Winner* It Chapter 2 Shazam Nobody is talking about how amazing the visual effects are in this! Those pokemon look amazing!!!!!!!! Easily my pick. Best Editing Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein (Uncut Gems) Even Schiff (John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum) Fernando Stutz (The Two Popes) *Winner* Jamie Gross (Booksmart) Nick Houy (Little Women) This is another one of those really strong categories that's really hard to choose from, but ultimately I went with The Two Popes. First off, this film is really pretty great and I think a big reason for that is the editing. In a story that could come off pretty bland, the editing keeps it fresh and interesting. Although you can't go wrong with any of these. Best Adapted Screenplay Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes) Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely (Avengers Endgame) Darren Lemke, Henry Gayden (Shazam) Greta Gerwig, Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) *Winner* Guillaume Laurant, Jeremy Clapin (I Lost My Body) That Little Women Screenplay though. That's something special. The interweaving timeline, that dialogue, That picture perfect ending. SO GOOD! Best Original Screenplay Ari Aster (Midsommar) Emily Halpern, Katie Silberman, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel (Booksmart) Jimmie Fails, Joe Talbot, Rob Richert (The Last Blackman in San Francisco) Lulu Wang (The Farewell) Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) *Winner* Another strong category! But Baumbach's Marriage Story is just incredible. Equally brutal and heartwarming, the screenplay juggles so many tones to perfection. Plus that dialogue feels so realistic and every line feels utterly important. Truly masterful. Best Cinematography Darius Khondji (Uncut Gems) Jarin Blaschke (The Lighthouse) Pawel Pogorzelski (Midsommar) Robert Richardson (Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood) Roger Deakins (1917) *Winner* I almost cried just looking at the images of this film. Enough said. Best Musical Score Alex Weston (The Farewell) Alexandre Desplat (Little Women) Daniel Lopatin (Uncut Gems) Michael Abels (Us) Randy Newman (Marriage Story) *Winner* The score just adds to the magic of this film. Not too overbearing, but touches you just at the right time. Best Directing Ari Aster (Midsommar) Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems) *Winner* Greta Gerwig (Little Women) Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse) Sam Mendes (1917) I think the academy is scared of the Safdie Brothers. They are making some of the most interesting and electric films in the world right now, and Uncut Gems is their best yet. Intense, panic inducing, a non stop wild ride across the diamond district in NYC, and there isn't a single beat missed. Easily the best direction I saw all year. Actor in A Leading Role Adam Driver (Marriage Story) *Winner* Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems) James McAvoy (Glass) Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) Robert Pattinson (The Lighthouse) Probably my most controversial pick, mostly because I'm not selecting Phoenix (even though he really did do an incredible job), but Adam Driver absolutely just slayed this role. I was captivated by him, and his song at the end, that would've won it for me alone, but he has so many incredible scenes that I play back in my mind and just can't help but think that this guy really deserves it! I won't be mad if Phoenix wins, but I will be ecstatic if Driver wins tonight! Actress in A Leading Role Awkwafina (The Farewell) *Winner* Florence Pugh (Midsommar) Lupita Nyong’o (Us) Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) The biggest snub of the Oscars this year by far! Awkwafina gives an incredibly nuanced and layered performance in The Farewell. I didn;t know that she had that kind of performance in her! I really can't believe she wasn't even nominated, especially after she won a golden globe! Don't sleep on her or this film! Phenomenal! BEST PICTURE 1917 The Farewell The Last Black Man in San Francisco The Lighthouse Little Women Marriage Story *WINNER* Midsommar The Two Popes Uncut Gems The Films listed above are all some of my favorites of the year, but none moved me like Marriage Story did. Captivating with powerhouse performances, beautiful cinematography, phenomenal score, and a realistic yet touching script. I could sing the praises of this film for a long time, but I wouldn't do it justice. It's my favorite film of the year and extremely worth your time! Thanks for taking the time to read my awards! 2019 had some really great films, here's to 2020!
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I love weird cinema. Films that explore bizarre worlds, or films that tell familiar stories in interesting and different ways. It's been said by many that we are just recycling the same stories and that there is nothing new under the sun. While I believe that a small portion of that is true, I also believe that these stories and themes are being explored in some of the most original ways imaginable. In ways that I would have never even have thought of. So in this blog I just want to highlight 3 films that are weird, interesting, really out there, but that I also find extremely profound and that explore some sort of human truth. So here are some film recommendations from yours truly that are a little weird, but are extremely profound.
#1 The Lobster The Lobster is bizarre. It takes place in a future where if you don't find a life partner you are turned into an animal of your choice. People find connections in the shallowest of ways just to survive. There is a society of outsiders who live in the woods because they don't want be subject to living a life filled with rules, creating their own rules in the process. It is the single driest film I've ever watched, and I love every single moment of it. It explores the relationship norms that our culture creates for us, while also acknowledging that as humans, we really long for real human connection. It asks what you would do for your own happiness, but also what you would do for love. Director Yorgos Lanthimos' filmography is filled with interesting and bizarre worlds that explore the human condition in various ways, while also leaving you asking, "What the fick did I just watch?" I love this guy and would really highly recommend this film. I believe it is still on Netflix if you are interested. #2 Synecdoche, New York This is the film that honestly inspired me to write this blog. If you thought Inception was confusing then you will be utterly and completely dumbfounded by this film. It messes with your sense of reality. Time moves at no consistent pace that a single cut could be 5 years apart. It follows a theater director as his life starts to spiral out of control. He decides to create a play that replicates his own life, that becomes so real that the actors portraying him begin to say things that he has been thinking his own life. It's playception. The film is surreal, one character literally lives in a house that is on fire. You never really know what is real, what is not, or really if anything is real or not. But I could not deny the feelings that this film gave me. It is a grand exploration of life and death, that is equally heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It's a tough film to chew through, but the thoughts and ideas that it left me with are extremely relevant and the experience of watching this film was very rewarding. This film is also on Netflix if you are curious of this madness. #3 Colossal This is easily the most accessible of the three films I'm writing about, but it is still an extremely interesting and weird premise for a film. This film follows a woman who is kinda having a mini-life crisis, and she discovers that she is controlling a giant monster who is terrorizing people half-way across the world. Just your normal everyday issues. Luckily this film is packaged together in a much more accessible way, as it's presented as a comedy, but it's a weird situation to buy into. And while I have a few issues with the film, it's themes of inner demons and toxic relationships are explored extremely well, Anne Hathaway gives one of the better performances I've seen from her, and it's just a fun and interesting film. You can go check this out on Hulu right now if your interested. If you've watched any of these films, I would love to hear your thoughts, I would also love to hear your thoughts of some of the weirdest films you've ever watched! Hopefully I'll be back with another blog soon! There has been 3 films that I have finished feeling completely shook. Sure there are other films that I love dearly and over time have become personal favorites or have swept me up with emotion, but there has only been 3 where at the end I was just flooded with so much emotion and overwhelmed with the journey I just went on. Those films are Arrival, Room, and now Children of Men. Children of Men straight up wrecked me with it's beautiful cinematography, amazing long shots, deeply emotional story, and with just a core concept that is so interesting. This film takes place in the year 2027, and in this world all women have become infertile. However, in a world that looks so bleak, with most of the world fallen to anarchy, there is one young woman who is pregnant that could be the hope for humanity. As you can probably tell, this film has a lot of religious symbolism and allegory all over it, but I want to talk about one key theme I found, and that is the theme of faith.
*Minor Spoilers Ahead* (Please watch this film, it's on Netflix) Our lead dude, Theo, has found himself leading this pregnant woman, Kee, to safety, as Britain is slowly starting to fall to terrorism and anarchy. The only trouble is, this safety, there is only one person who has really made contact with them, and that person is dead. So now, Theo isn't sure if this "safety," this boat that's supposed to come pick-up Kee, is even going to be there, or if it's even real. So does he continue with the plan? Or does take matters into his own hands? There's a scene in this film that is very crucial, even though it doesn't seem like it at first. Two characters are talking about Theo and his ex-wife. They mention how it was their beliefs, how their faith in their movement was what brought them together, as they met at some sort of rally. Then they had a child together before the infertility hit. Then, the character continues, it was chance, random fate that tore them apart, as illness struck their child and he passed away. So the question is posed, why even have faith if chance can just screw you over in the end? To me, this is the central theme of this film. Is it worth it to put your faith in something even if life can just screw you over? Looking at our man Theo here, this is his central conflict. His character no longer has faith in anything, a higher being, a movement, love, because life screwed him over, it took his child away. Now, the only chance at saving humanity is all based on blind faith, faith that this child can lead to the cure of the world's infertility, faith that this boat is going to show up, that it's going to take Kee to safety, faith that whatever comes next is worth the sacrifices that he is making now. Do we give into the chaos? Or do we live by faith? A life without faith is living a life of constant fear. Not that having faith means you don't get scared from time to time, but it gives you hope for a better tomorrow, that there's something better around the corner, it's what keeps us going. I'm sure most of us all put our faith in something. Whether that is religion, education, politics, or even ourselves, we all have something that pushes us forward, that gives us hope for tomorrow. I put my faith in Jesus Christ, knowing that whatever chaos life may throw at me, there's a light at the end of the tunnel, there's hope for tomorrow, there's something better. It's the only thing that I've found that lasts and doesn't crush under pressure. And I encourage you to think about what you put your faith in, or is your life just up to the chaos of the world? I hope not. I won't spoil Theo's choice in this film. I want all of you to enter that experience on your own. This is a powerful and moving film, and one with so many more great themes and ideas in it! It's a true masterpiece in my mind and I encourage all of you to check it out! I hope you all have a wonderful day and that your life is full of faith. I was inspired to put together another double feature of two films I really love. These two films are subtle, quiet, and intimate. Both are extremely well made and both just so happen to be current favorites of mine. I present to you the double feature: Slice of Life
Film #1: The Spectacular Now (2013) This film feels special to me and also extremely personal. It's not your typical high school romance film, honestly I might not even call it a romance film, as each character and their motivations, struggles, insecurities, and such are more important than the romance at the center of the film. Not to say the romance isn't important because it's the bottom layer of the film's foundation, but the characters are so well written and so deeply human that it feels like their individual stories, not the romances story. This film transports you back into high school, or at least it did that for me. It takes place when I was in high school so that helps a little, but what puts it into this double feature is the fact that it doesn't blow everything out of proportion. It's not a Nicholas Sparks romance, it's much more tangible than that. This film focuses on the little moments, the small insignificant conversations, the moments they don't show in movies like this, and I think that is what makes it more personal, why I connect with it as much as I do. Add in some beautiful cinematography, stellar performances from Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley, and a great score, well you got yourself a great film. Also it's on Netflix so you can see for yourself. Film #2: Columbus (2017) To me, this is pretty much a perfect film. Everything about it is done masterfully. Every single shot is gorgeous. I'm not hyperbolizing either, literally every single shot of this film is amazingly beautiful. As I write this, I'm listening to the subtle, mesmerizing score for this film, it's sweet and soothing, yet still has that melancholy feel to it. The leads, John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson, give extremely real performances that are extremely moving and the script is so good. The editing of this film, is some of the most restrained and masterful editing I've ever seen in a drama. This film isn't flashy, ever, it let's the beauty of it's location and story do the talking and I love that so much, but the reason I think it goes well with The Spectacular Now is that it also focuses on the small and everyday moments, probably more so. Yet each of these small moments means so much to the characters, from the cutting of a tomato, to the grabbing of a camera, to the sharing of a cigarette, every moment matters, and none is wasted. It feels like real life. How a seemingly small insignificant moment to one person, can mean the world to another. This film is oozing passion and creativity and it is easily one of the best films I have ever seen, honestly. Also it's on Hulu so please go check it out. These two films aren't flashy like the last two I talked about, some may find them boring and devoid of meaning, but I find them profound looks at everyday life. They look at what is important to us, what connects with us, what brings us joy, and what brings us sorrow. I highly recommend these films, and maybe if you look outside and feel that melancholic haze from the snow, take the time to watch these two films back to back. Who knows, you may find something you like about them. So there's this YouTube channel called CineFix (who make great content about movies) and they have a series called double feature where they pair two films together that would make a good double feature viewing experience. For whatever reason I have really enjoyed this series as it's fun to view films with similar themes or structure together to see how different filmmakers work. This new series of blog posts I am starting right now is heavily inspired by this series. I'll be talking about two films that have some sort of connection and why it would make for a good double feature.
And so now I present the double feature entitled: White Supremacy Sucks Film #1 - BlacKkKlansman (2018) BlacKkKlansman is based on the ridiculous true story of Ron Stallworth, a black man, who in the 70s, infiltrated the KKK and became an active member. True. Story. Now of course he had the help of one of his colleagues to actually be his face while a part of the KKK, but this man actually got a membership card. However, the more insane thing to me, was how unabashedly racist, antisemitic, and sexist people could be. The people portraying the KKK members in this film are so over the top and just plain ridiculous that I almost couldn't believe it was true, that humans could be like this. But when director Spike Lee includes real footage from the Charlottesville's riots and white supremacist gatherings and such, it became all too real. And after the wild and crazy ride that was BlacKkKlansman, you're brought back to the sad reality that times may not have progressed as much as we think. This film is a very interesting, fun, and ridiculous, but also it is a very timely film and one that I hope you take the time to watch. Film #2 - Green Room (2015) Now Green Room is a very different film, but one that I think you will find a lot of enjoyment out of after watching BlacKkKlansman. Green Room is the fictitious story of a struggling punk band who are searching for a gig and they find one! It just turns out it is for a group of skinheads or, you know, neo-Nazis. After the set is over, one of the band members goes back into their waiting room to grab something and witnesses that someone was stabbed in the head and killed. The manager of this skinhead bar keeps the band held in this room at gunpoint while trying to figure how to handle this situation. Thus, let the tension commence. This film then turns into a straight up survival-thriller, as this band tries to do whatever it takes to stay alive and get out of the situation safely. While not politically charged like BlacKkKlansman, Green Room does still show the ridiculous extremes that white supremacist men will go to to hold some sort of power and dominance. That's why I think these films make an interesting double feature. And while this film doesn't deal with racial issues at all, there is something cathartic about watching people fight against a purely evil power, even if it is just in a survival atmosphere. And while these films don't have much in common, it is a fun journey to go from seeing what modern day evil can look like, to fighting back against this evil. Plus both these films are very good and even if you don't watch them together I highly recommend both of these films. They are just really good filmmakers doing what they do best. Why not celebrate them together? Thanks for the read guys! Let me know what you thought of this double feature idea and if you want to read more! Catch you in the next blog! (Whenever that is). The final 4! It'll be nice to get these out of my system so I can start writing about some other films, but these four films are extremely important to me and I love them to death. If you want any insight into me and my thoughts and what connects with me, these are the films to watch.
4. The Spectacular Now As time has gone on, I'm not sure if I would rank this film this high, because it has it's flaws, but I cannot deny the feeling I got when the credits rolled. This film feels so personal to me. It reminds me of my high school experience in weird ways, even though I would say on a surface level I do not relate to the lead character whatsoever. However, on a deeper level, I feel his struggles, his desires, his emotions, and I connected to the so hard, that I was left with chills once the film ended, it was if I was looking into a mirror of my high school days. Aside from my personal connection, this film is also so intimate and so subtle at times that it feels very real. It focuses on small moments, everyday moments, and it's extremely refreshing. The cinematography is beautiful, and all the performances feel real and honest, and so even if I have some nit-picks, I really loved this film and highly recommend it for anyone who likes high school films. 3. Eighth Grade Depending on the day, this film could be number one, and for very good reason. This film is moving, funny, sad, cringey, nostalgic, and eye-opening. It focuses on the world of eighth grade and it is true to the experience of today's eighth graders. Elsie Fisher, who plays our protagonist Kayla, gives the single greatest teen performance I've ever seen, and probably the best performance of the year in my opinion. She conveys the shy and awkward young girl with such nuance and charm that she eats up the screen the whole run time. This film also speaks about anxiety and the worries of what's to come next in life, while still having a hopeful optimism to it. If you want any insight into today's middle school experience, need a little inspiration, or are just looking for what may be the best film of the year, then look no further. 2. First Reformed I was looking forward to this film for a long time, and I finally got to see it this summer. Following a pastor who is wrestling with his faith in the wake of tragedy, this film explores what it means to be a person of faith in an always changing world, the importance of true human connection, and the slow decent into madness that tragedy can bring. This film is a slow burn, moving at a crawls pace but revealing everything in such a perfect and precise time. The screenplay is phenomenal and I was hanging on every word from each character. Ethan Hawke gives the performance of a lifetime and that makes this film worth the watch by itself. This film is more than that however, and connected with me as I too have been exploring what it means to be a person of faith in the world of today, and this film brought up some great thoughts about the role of the church and how the church should interact with the world. Some may read this film as an anti-christian film, but I think it's the complete opposite. Yes the church has it's problems, but I think this film reminds me that with genuine human love, as the church, we can do great things for God's kingdom This movie is tense, thought-provoking, and captivating, and I loved it. 1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The best film I watched this summer was this one. Let's start from a film making perspective. The way this film conveys memories and the way it cleverly transitions and connects them as we look back at the relationship is masterful. The cinematography is flawless. The Chemistry between Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet is wonderful and every moment they share on screen is joyous and heartbreaking. The supporting cast is excellent as is the script. The way this film presents it's narrative in it's none linear fashion makes it an equally great rewatch. But the reason this film is number for me is the reminder than even when relationships fail, that even when they get ugly, the great times you've shared with a person are worth it, the experiences you had are still beautiful, and that we shouldn't give them up. It also reminds me that we shouldn't give up on relationships even if we know that times are going to get tough, because you know what? True human connection is always worth it, no matter the cost. I guess that's my take away looking back at these films, is that we all have a desire for true human connection, and that it's worth the heartbreak, it's worth hard times, and it's worth the work, whether platonic or romantic, we were made to connect with other humans, and we shouldn't give up on that for anything. And I all these films show that in some way. These were my favorite films that I watched this summer. Here's to the next films that come my way. We are now to the part of the list where the films are becoming personal favorites. All films from here on out I would say are some of the best films I've ever seen in my life. Is that a bit of an exaggeration? Maybe for some, but if I were to recommend any of these films to you, I would start with this group of four. They are all diverse, but all extremely powerful, and I loved every single one of them.
8: A Cambodian Spring I was shook at the end of this film. I never knew that there was so much injustice in the world. It really put my life into perspective. There are way more important struggles across the world than the media makes it seem. This documentary follows three prominent human rights activists in Cambodia from 2009-2014. Two women from a poor community in the country's capital are fighting for the right to keep their land, as the government is destroying it to start it's booming city life. It also follows a Buddhist Monk as he goes around recording videos of riots and trials on his tablet to show the world the insane injustices that are happening in his country. This film has no "experts", no interviews, it just shows the images and the situations of these people in it's near purest form and it is extremely moving. And it's so sad that I had never heard of any of these things until I watched this film. I highly recommend it if you want to know what's happening in our world, but also I recommend it so it helps show the lives of people who need their story heard. 7: Ex Machina As you probably know, I love Sci-Fi. This film is no exception. This film follows a man who is called in to test a complex and realistic A.I. to see if he can tell if it is human or not. The craziest part of this film is that we are fast approaching the day where an A.I. could be so intelligent and so life like that we may never know the difference. Call me crazy, but I think that is totally going to happen. And this film takes those ideas and expresses them in a film that is chilling, at times beautiful, at times horrifying, but extremely engaging. Oscar Isaac has the single most intimidating dance scene I've ever witnessed in my life. If that doesn't sell you then I don't know what will. 6: The Babadook In my attempt to branch out into different films, I started to watch some horror films, even though I'm always scared going into them. I found a film that is so much more than a horror movie, and that's The Babadook. It's got the scary monster, it's got the creepy atmosphere, it's got the bone chilling images, but it also has a deep and layered look at grief and depression. The way it tackles the subject is, in my opinion, masterful, and the lead performance is captivating and deserving of recognition. If you are looking to branch into horror films, this would be a great place to start, it's not "I can't go to sleep" scary, and it tells a great story. I highly recommend this film for your October. 5: The Florida Project I. Love. This. Film. This film transports you into the world of the near homeless. It shows you people living in cheap motels just to get by and have a home, and it is all seen through the lens of a 6 year old girl. It's pure, it's innocent, it's moving, it's challenging, and it's extremely beautiful. All the performance from the children are amazing, Willem Dafoe is like the kindest man ever in this movie, and they found actress Bria Vinaite on Instagram and you can't even tell that she had never acted before this film. Everything about this film is extremely magical, and maybe it's because it takes place outside of Disney World. Please watch this film. Please. I beg you. So just a quick thing I forgot to mention, all these films I'm sharing are films that I watched for the first time this summer. So while I watched great movies like The Dark Knight, Baby Driver, Room, and Arrival, I had seen them before and they won't show up on this list. Now let's move to the next part of the list.
12: The Village I feel like this movie gets a lot of unnecessary hate. Whether or not you like the twist at the end of the film, the way that M. Knight reveals things is masterful! I was on the edge of my seat the while time trying to put the pieces of the mystery together, and personally I found the final twist very satisfying and right in line with how the whole film was constructed and acted. It also includes a star making performance from Bryce Dallas Howard and beautiful cinematography from Roger Deakins. Maybe give this film another shot, I think it's M. Knight's best film to date! 11. Lost in Translation This film is subtle yet powerful, overcast yet sunny, and full of melancholy but also full of joy. Sofia Coppola creates such a sense of loneliness and isolation that you feel lost in Japan just like these characters. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson have great chemistry and both give real career defining performances. I like to call this film the overcast love story. So if it's cloudy where you're at, this is the perfect film for that mood. 10. Good Time Tight, dark, cramped, heart pounding, Good Time is a film that just bleeds style and doesn't let go of you until the credits end. Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame transforms into a dark underground criminal who is on a mission to save his brother from prison after a botched bank robbery. From start to finish this film does not let up, it's tense and insane and Pattinson gives one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. Directors Josh and Benny Safdie are on their way to the top. Look out for these two, they are the future of American cinema. 9. Sicario My second Denis Villeneuve film of this list and one that is just as engaging and thrilling as all his previous films. The way this film depicts violence, not in a stylistic way, but one that shows it how it truly is, dark and grisly and not glamorous. Emily Blunt is amazing as always and her final scene with Benicio del Toro is intense! One of the best scenes that I've ever seen in a film. Once again Roger Deakins shows his skills from behind the camera, and the way her uses darkness in the third act gives me goosebumps every time. A wonderfully haunting score that matches a wonderfully haunting film. Villeneuve is one of the greatest film makers working today, but also in my opinion, of all time. It's been a little while but I'm back to continue talking about the films I watched this summer that I loved and this a good and diverse bunch so let's jump in!
16: Enemy This film is such a hard sell, but it is such a rewarding watch! The basic plot is that Jake Gyllenhaal lives a boring life and then he finds out there's (wait for it) another Jake Gyllenhaal!!! This his life spirals into madness. Yep. That's the basic plot. But there's so much more to it than that! The way the film is shot and presented is so mysterious, and as you unwound the mystery of this bizarre situation you are left with more questions. Why are there so many spiders? Who is this other guy? What the frick was that ending about???? And the film gives you no answers. It's up to you and I to figure it out. And I still don't think I have all the answers, but this film brings up great themes and it is an interesting character study. If you are in to artsy films then I highly recommend this mind bender of a film! 15: Wind River In stark contrast to the last film, Wind River is a straight forward crime mystery-thriller. What makes this film stand out however, is it's setting, subject matter, and stellar performances. This film takes place on a Native American Reservation in the middle of Wyoming. The setting is beautiful, and getting to see into the lives of this poor neighborhood and how this tragedy has affected them is moving. Throw in a bleak and sad story about a topic that isn't really talked about and a career defining performance from Jeremy Renner, and you got yourself a powerful and excellent film. 14: Sorry To Bother You Probably the most absurd film I've seen this year, and that is a compliment, Sorry To Bother You is hilarious, and thought-provoking. This film presents it's ideas in fantastic fashion, with great performances, a great message, and some of the best and most interesting film making I've seen! And this is a first time director folks! I honestly don't know what else to say. Tread lightly into this film however, it does not shy away from the ugly, but I could not stop laughing at it's ridiculousness and I still think about it's themes constantly. I highly recommend this film. 13: Isle Of Dogs My man Wes Anderson with another film on this list, and this time a beautiful and charming stop-motion animated film about man's best friend. This film has an all-star voice cast, that quirky and special writing that I have come to love from Anderson, and just some of the most beautiful animation I have seen in a film. This is an absolute must watch for anyone who loves dogs! I really wanted a dog so bad after watching this film. This isn't a film for kids however. There's nothing inappropriate in the film, it's just not a traditional children's animation, it has some pretty heady themes. But if you got a few older kids in this house, then I would pop this on, snuggle up with your pooch, and let the charm sweep over you like a flood. More of this list to come soon! As I've alluded to in past blogs, I watched a lot of movies this summer, and I've written about almost none of them, so in an attempt to talk about these movies, I'll be sharing my 20 favorite films that I watched this summer! Here we go! 20: Annihilaiton So, I actually wrote about this film back in June that you can read here. However, there is a lot of really good stuff going on in this movie, so I don't mind talking about it more! It's themes are some really interesting things to think about as, like any good sci-fi film, it reminds us of the things that make us human and what the human condition is. Also, the basic narrative is just interesting! As you go on this journey with these women, you're trying to put the pieces together of what's going on and why. Now the answers may be disappointing to some, but I found them interesting and surprisingly fresh, especially for a big-budget sci-fi movie. Add in a haunting, yet beautiful third act, and a mesmerizing soundtrack, and you got a stone-cold thrilling sci-fi film. 19: The Post This was probably the biggest surprise for me this summer. I originally didn't have much of an interest in this film, but it stars Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep and it's directed by Steven Spielberg, so it can't be that bad right? Well it's actually pretty great! Hanks and Streep are electric on screen together, and Spielberg's direction is impeccable as usual. But the thing that surprised me the most was how potent and relevant the themes and message of this film were. In the age of fake news, hard boiled, truthful, unbiased journalism is so necessary! And while this film can get overly preachy at times, I had a great time watching these historical events unfold, all the performances were fantastic, and when a film is just made this well, how could I not enjoy it? 18: The Royal Tenenbaums At first glance, this is just another hipster indie comedy, and yes it still kind of is. But what makes this film stand out, is it's great performances from the whole cast (Gene Hackman in particular) and it's genuine emotional moments. I think this is one of Wes Anderson's best written films, if not his best. It still has that quirky indie charm and the particular framing of a typical Anderson film, but the characters and their back stories are written so well, that once the family drama starts and their flaws are shown, you really empathize with them on a genuine human level. The comedic timing is incredible in this film and the whole thing seems like an elaborate stage play that I'm of course very excited to see unfold. 17: What We Do in the Shadows Remember how funny Thor: Ragnarok was? Well as far as I can tell, anything Taika Waititi directs has some of funniest moments I've ever seen in film. This guy knows what he's doing. And this mockumentary about vampires is no exception. Almost every moment is hilarious in it's own right, from the over the top performances, to the hilarious gore gags, to the witty banter of these vampires living together, this film makes me laugh so much and in so many ways. There's no real overarching message of this film, other than maybe friendship, but this is just a fantastic comedy. And sometimes it's really good to laugh. Please sign up for my e-mail updates if you want to get notified when I upload a new blog! More of this list to come soon! |
Austin VincentJust a guy with a passion for film and Jesus who's trying to show that He can be found in our creative endeavors. Archives
November 2018
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