Alexander Holmes's BEST OF 2019
Amongst the rubble of the artistically crumbling blockbusters that dominated this year's box office emerged a flurry of original, worthy, and timeless pieces of art. From acclaimed directors reflecting on their vast canons of work to first-time actors-turned-directors to promising young artists breaking into the mainstream for the first time, 2019 was truly a wonderful year for film. There were movies that terrified me, warmed my heart, and tore my nerves to shreds. Here are the ten movies that affected me, in one way or another, the most.
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2019
1. Marriage Story
Noah Baumbach’s searing and intimate look at a disintegrating marriage is brought to vivid, hefty life by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver — two of our greatest living actors.
2. Parasite
An important story about class that is also the most entertaining film of the year, Parasite throws its viewers for a loop and then some. Bong Joon-ho is a talent and this is his masterpiece.
3. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
This isn’t your typical Tarantino, hyperbolic, extravagant, bloody work. It’s got parts of all three but the overall picture is one of reflection, melancholy and an aching, desperate love for all things movies.
4. Uncut Gems
The Safdie brothers’ latest, starring a never-better Adam Sandler as a quick-tempered jewel salesman, is the most stressful movie of the year. It’s also one of the best.
5. Little Women
It’s impossible to watch Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the literary classic and not come away with a smile on your face. The charismatic performances by the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Florence Pugh, and Saoirse Ronan; the grainy, perfect cinematography; the melodic, sentimental score by Alexandre Desplat. Combined, they sweep you up in the charm of it all.
6. Pain and Glory
Beautiful, surreal and charged with real, fiery emotion, Pain and Glory is one of the most vibrant movies of the year, with an ending that will leave you shocked and satisfied at the same time.
7. The Irishman
Between Hollywood, Pain and Glory, and now this, 2019 seems to be a year of reflection for some of our greatest directors. And who is the greatest living director? Scorsese is back at it again with a slower period piece that will affix itself inside your head for weeks after watching it. His subject is the onslaught of time and with some of the finest working talents in the field, how could Scorsese miss his mark?
8. Ad Astra
Woah. Part Apocalypse Now and part 2001, this strikingly made space-action-adventure movie is more contemplative than the typical, yuppie sci-fi spectacle — and much more adventurous. Plus, it’s got Brad Pitt.
9. Booksmart
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, while not without its (minor) flaws, has an irresistible feeling of a classic in the making. Every one of its hilarious, often heartwarming characters is entirely unique and completely unforgettable.
10. Dark Waters
One of the most important movies of the year, the Mark Ruffalo vehicle is elevated above typical investigative stories by the likes of none other than Carol director Todd Haynes. Stylish yet direct and full of captivating performances, this is an inspiring and alarming film.
BEST ACTING AND FILMMAKING OF 2019
BEST ACTOR - ADAM DRIVER (The Dead Don’t Die, The Rise of Skywalker, Marriage Story)
A singular talent, this one is. Driver is flat-out unreal. In fact, so unreal that his character in Marriage Story feels like a completely real, living person. While his turn in The Dead Don't Die is almost the complete opposite.
BEST ACTRESS - SCARLETT JOHANSSON (Marriage Story)
Is it cheap to pick the best actor and best actress from the same movie? Usually, I’d say yes. However, when that movie is Marriage Story, then the answer is a definitive no. Let’s just put it this way: I could talk about that scene and you’d have no idea which one I meant.
BEST DIRECTOR - BONG JOON-HO (Parasite)
No other director played their audience like an orchestra quite like Joon-ho did—and in such classic Hitchcock fashion, too.
