Jordan Peele’s Sophomore effort is bold and takes chances that pay off beautifully. Very few have their finger on the pulse like Peele and he has proved that he isn’t a flash in the pan. He delved deep into duality of humankind and classism in our society. Lupita Nyong’o pulls of her dual roles expertly and shows why she is one of the most sought out actors of today. It is a joy to see the plot unravel slowly in front of you and once again like Get Out, catch hints that allude to further revelations that come later in the film. With striking cinematography, a chilling score and phenomenal performances, US is one of the standout films of the year.
What seemed at first glance a throwaway animated film with How to Train Your Dragon (2010), ended up being my favorite animated series of films of all time. Packed with heart, stunning animation, well crafted scores and well thought out writing, How to Train Your Dragon has cemented itself as one of the most successful animated properties of all time. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World sticks the landing and shows further proof that the creative minds behind the trilogy of films had a well planned, grand vision for the franchise. The Hidden World provides a satisfying conclusion and left very few dry eyes in the audience. Hiccup and Toothless continue to have a great dynamic in this film and I will be revisiting this film and its predecessors for many years to come.
Solid comedy films nowadays are few and far between, Booksmart was leagues above all other Comedies of this year in every way imaginable. While not entirely original with its formula, where it thrives is in the writing, direction and cast. These three elements elevate the film and give it the tweaks needed to make it really blossom. These characters will make you crack up at the drop of a hat and the relationship between two best friends that is both believable and touching. Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein play off one another so well and you buy into their relationship with the very first scene that takes place. With entertaining side characters, great comedic timing and solid direction, Booksmart is the Valedictorian of comedies this year.
Taika Waititi takes a huge chance with his cyterical take on The Holocaust and Nazi Germany and he knocks it out of the park. He is the king of balancing tone in this film with hilarity one moment, then proceeds to break your heart in a million pieces the next, to putting you all back together somehow with something hopeful. The cast compiled is fantastic with newcomers like Roman Griffin Davis to well established actors of the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell. All lending their talents to create a delicious stew of a film. With this entry among his other film efforts, Waititi is one of my favorite directors working today. I can’t wait to own this film and watch it until my heart’s content.
As overused as the Joker is in all forms of media, I was ecstatic when I heard that Joaquin Phoenix would be playing the Crown Prince of Crime. His performance as well as the film blew me away and surpassed all expectations that I had. Todd Phillips really delivered on the promise of a homage to Scorssese films as well as 70’s Filmmaking. The film comes across authentic and the details incorporated into his vision of Gotham were masterfully done. To return back to Joaquin Phoenix and his performance, his interpretation of the Joker was magnificent. There was a sadness to his character and underlying insanity that was escaping little by little throughout the film. Joker manages to hit the mark on all levels especially performances, cinematography and a chilling score. This film proves that the comic book film sub-genre has some tricks up its sleeve.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole has had such an impact on my life. It revitalized my love in Superhero Comics, introduced me to new characters and further expanded my love for the Star Spangled Man himself, Captain America. Avengers: Endgame had the arduous task of ending what would be dubbed The Infinity Saga. The film sticks the landing with excellent performances, masterful direction, eyes bulging action set pieces, well crafted fan service and satisfying character arcs. This film manages to balance all types of tones and shifts gears without ever being jarring. Being a huge fan of the Russo Brothers and all of their MCU efforts, it was no surprise to me how well this movie turned out. They are the masters of manipulating people’s emotions and really encapsulating epic moments in their films. Avengers: Endgame is a rollercoaster of emotions that I never grow tired of.
Another Director that never ceases to amaze me is the brilliant and vibrant Quentin Tarintino. His homage to the end of the Golden Age of Hollywood is sleek, fun and overall just really entertaining. Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt come across as great pals in the film, their chemistry isn’t easily matched by any film this year. They are truly the heart and soul of this film and a lot of the greatest moments are the two of them sharing scenes together. Part hang-out film, homage to Hollywood and heightened fairytale create a terrific blend of tones that make a tremendous film experience. Like all of Tarrintino’s films, the dialog is top notch and comes off really natural as well as conversational. Stuffed with interesting cameos and a great supporting cast, it is fun to see who will pop up next in this film. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a film that isn’t afraid to take it’s time and drips with a passion for filmmaking that is unparalleled.
Robert Eggers’s follow-up to the dread filled The Witch provides a unique experience that will stick with you long after leaving the Cinema. Eggers’s vision is clear and he understands how to elicit feelings in the viewer that most seasoned directors are incapable of. As the film progresses you too will feel like you are slowly slipping into madness. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe provide excellent performances in this insanity inducing film. With having such a limited cast of characters, this film manages to keep you locked in and entranced by it’s performances and visuals. Mixing Lovecraft, Greek Mythology and old methods of filmmaking truly takes it to a whole new level. Due to being filmed in black and white there is a texture to this piece of work that wouldn’t provide the same experience if it was filmed using modern techniques. The Lighthouse is a film that isn’t merely viewed, but experienced.
Korean Cinema has provided some classics throughout the years. One of the brilliant minds of Korean Filmmaking and as a whole is Bong Joon Ho (The Host, Snowpiercer, Okja). Parasite might be his Magnum Opus and is a film that will be talked about for decades. This film is so thoughtful and well calculated in every way possible. There isn’t a moment wasted and is edited expertly. It is thematically rich with plenty to say about classism and how we all feed off of each other despite our social standings. This cast encompasses some of the best Korean Actors working today such as Kang-Ho Song, Yeo-jeong Jo, Woo-sik Choi and So-dam park just to name a few. Each provide very nuanced performances that are always a joy to watch. With excellent pacing and well crafted script, the film never becomes stale and always keeps peaking the interest of the viewer. You can’t wait to see what events will unfold and what story element is coming around the bend.
After Ari Aster’s first feature length film entitled Hereditary, I could not wait to see his follow-up. Midsommar tells the story of the anxiety filled Dani, who has gone through something truly horrific. With her boyfriend Christian lacking the tender hand and heart to take care of her, Dani is left isolated and very much alone. When she is incidentally invited to a very exclusive Sweedish Midsommar Festival, she slowly discovers that there is more insidious plans afoot. Midsommar is full of dread, beauty, emotion, anxiety and empathy in the oddest ways possible. While not wholey a horror film, but proclaimed by Ari as a break-up film, it still packs moments of horror and an uneasy feeling that builds over time. Florence Pugh as the titular character Dani is excellent in this film and is building up quite a library of impressive work. She has a ton of heavy lifting to do and you can’t help but feel for her throughout the film due to her excellent performance. Part break-up film, part Grimm Fairytale and several dashes of horror make for a rare movie going experience. While not a film for everyone, there are elements to appreciate here especially in the expert cinematography. This is a film that I love to revisit over and over again due to it’s beautiful/grotesque visuals and melodic score. SKAL!