Check out my previous reviews!I watched two-hundred and sixteen movies this year. Here are my top 12 and bottom 1 pick for the year. Somehow I only watched one really bad movie, the fewest yet.
This list is based simply on the movies I watched this year, not on
what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.
I frequently forget to catalog the best scenes. The technical side of 1917 is fun to see if you can spot the seams, but Hamilton is amazing. It's not strictly a movie, not in the traditional sense, but it's amazing on so many different fronts. Heat has a great twenty minute action scene that didn't just set a standard, but crushed the standard for action and sound design. Gattaca and Heat both have a great ending too.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Written by: Taika Waititi (screenplay), Christine Leunens (novel)
Directed by: Taika Waititi
Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
A young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.
Verdict
This movie does so much. It tackles a tough subject from a humorous perspective, but that comedy speaks a lot of truth. Why did Germany commit the atrocities it did? This shows you why through the eyes of a nine year old. The writing is impressive, elevating it from just another movie about World War II to something that balances comedy and drama, while making the subject much easier to watch. The movie often seems ridiculous, but the truth is often just as ridiculous. Making this movie comedic makes it more relevant, not less. Losing the tone would make the movie derivative, or worse benign.
Full Review
Parasite [Gisaengchung] (2019)
Written by: Bong Joon Ho (story), Bong Joon Ho and Jin Won Han (screenplay)
Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Woo-sik Choi, So-dam Park
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure.
Verdict
Parasite doesn't waste anything. Each prop, setting, and every line of dialog has a purpose. It's well made, but knowing that Korea's middle class is eroding adds a lot of depth to the movie that is focusing on class struggle. A sharp script punctuates the message with a lot of subtle comedy. This is an impressive movie that deserves all of its accolades. I kept thinking what a smart script. It's a great movie, that adds a poignant message that is apt not just for Korea, but everyone.
Full Review.
Contagion (2011)
Rent Contagion on Amazon Video
Written by: Scott Z. Burns
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring:
Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes,
Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Ehle, Elliot Gould, Enrico Colantoni, Bryan
Cranston
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Healthcare
professionals, government officials, and everyday people find
themselves in the midst of a pandemic as the CDC works to find a cure.
Verdict
Great
pacing as we see a pandemic unfold from various viewpoints. The world
has proven just how accurate this movie is, and even without the Corona
virus this movie seemed accurate at the time. From start to finish, this
movie doesn't miss a beat as it looks at this from victims, doctors,
and even those looking to profit. This was a good movie when it
released, but it's even better today.
Full Review.
The Social Network (2010)
Written by: Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Ben Mezrich (book)
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara, Rashida Jones, Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea, and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.
Verdict
A great movie all around. The writing, directing, and pacing are top notch. Capturing a true story, this is success in the modern era where Zuckerberg got what he wanted but burned a lot of bridges along the way. Despite his ambition, he alienated people. The person that created a platform to connect people lacks any connections. You're not going to like Zuckerberg, and you're not supposed to. This is a character study of an arrogant person who can't understand why others don't appreciate how smart he Full Review.
1917 (2019)
Written by: Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
April 6th, 1917. As a regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.
Verdict
This isn't a movie, it's an experience that looks like one continuous shot, but it's not just a gimmick. It's not just impressive on a technical level, it fits the story. Without cuts, we don't get a chance to take a breath, just like the soldiers on the mission. This an on the rails action movie and the camera is attached to that metaphorical cart the entire time. The writing pulls it together, creating a pacing with poignant and bold moments that provide an image of an unyielding war.
Full Review.
Hamilton (2020)
Hamilton is only Available with a Disney+ Subscription
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda (book), Ron Chernow (inspired by the book Alexander Hamilton by)
Directed by: Thomas Kail
Starring:
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo,
Jonathan Groff, Chris Jackson, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
The
life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary
of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Filmed live on Broadway from the
Richard Rodgers Theatre with the original Broadway cast.
Verdict
In 2016, Hamilton
was the hottest ticket in the nation. The movie doesn't disappoint,
exceeding all of my expectations. The story is engrossing and the music
is great. The lyrics are even better. It combines hip hop music and the
story of a founding father with clever lines. The songs are worth listening to again.
It's a transcendent story set hundreds of years ago with a modern
perspective. The cast is diverse, a commentary on America now and
America then. While this isn't strictly historically accurate, it does
provide great insight, a starting point for learning more. It's just so
good. Every single facet is done so well. It's an incredible work of
art.
Full Review
Gattaca (1997)
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Written by: Andrew Niccol
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Starring:
Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Xander Berkely, Gore
Vidal, Elias Koteas, Maya Rudolph, Blair Underwood, Tony Shaloub, Ernest
Borgnine, Ken Marino, Dean Norris,
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
In
the future, a genetically inferior man assumes the identity of a
superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
Verdict
This
is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love sci-fi, and this
builds an intriguing and well developed world while telling an
inspirational story. Discrimination based on science doesn't feel far
fetched. The movie has a great look and production values that feel like
a future just a few years out. Vincent is determined to succeed despite
being quantifiably inferior. The scenes where he and his brother try to
swim farther than the other are powerful. The score is amazing.
Full Review.
Queen & Slim (2019)
Written by: Lena Waithe (screenplay by), James Frey and Lena Waithe (story by)
Directed by: Melina Matsoukas
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A couple's first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over.
Verdict
While this movie definitely makes a point about race and law enforcement, what makes it so compelling is the relationship that builds between the unnamed characters as they flee from the law. If this was just a movie making a point it would feel hollow, but the relationship serves as a foundation as the characters consider legacy, life, and love.
This manages to tie those ideas into the story and that's impressive. The writing has a lot of subtlety as the characters develop, and we see what the incident means to the country at large as they encounter others. We're watching Queen & Slim's story, but the ramifications are much larger.
Full Review.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Written by: Sholom Aleichem (adapted from stories), Arnold Perl (adapted from Sholem Aleichem stories by special arrangement with), Joseph Stein (stageplay, screenplay)
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Starring: Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Michele Marsh
Rated: G
Watch the trailer
Plot
In pre-revolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant contends with marrying off three of his daughters while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village.
Verdict
A look at the contentious nature of tradition and contemporary society from the perspective of an empathetic father as he watches his daughters grow up and fall in love. While it's an older movie, being a period piece masks that, and the ideas remain relevant today. It captures the emotions of Teyve's daughters falling in love and the contemplation of how society advances and when tradition should continue or stop with the fiddler serving as a metaphor for how precarious traditions can be.
Full Review
V for Vendetta (2017)
Written by: Lilly Wachowski & Lana Wachowski (screenplay) as The Wachowskis, David Lloyd (graphic novel art)
Directed by: James McTeigue
Starring: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
In a future British tyranny a shadowy freedom fighter known only by the alias of "V" plots to overthrow the government with the help of a young woman.
Verdict
There's something captivating about a man willing to sacrifice everything for the idea of freedom. A smart script and stylish action make this a fun movie, but the thoughts it provoke are what make it great.
For a faceless protagonist V is well developed through his alliterative dialog and actions. While he talks about freeing the people, his root interest is revenge. Freedom is a byproduct. His goals are self serving and aren't as noble as they might appear. That's the intrigue.
Full Review
Heat (1995)
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Written by: Michael Mann
Directed by: Michael Mann
Starring:
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Amy
Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Dennis Haysbert, William
Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Tom Noonan,, Hank Azaria, Danny Trejo, Henry
Rollins, Tone Loc, Jeremy Piven, Xander Berkeley
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A
group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police
when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.
Verdict
I've seen this movie many times, and it's simply amazing. It's one of
the best heist movies. If you haven't seen it, you need to. From the
details of the story, to the well developed characters, the action, and
meticulous realism with firearms, this movie does such a great job.
Every character has some development and scenes build on each other,
making it clear why characters make their decisions. It clocks in at
nearly three hours, but it never seems too long or slow. This is paced
great, and slower than current action movies, but this shows how you can
make pacing and story work to great effects.
Full Review
Interstellar (2014)
Rent Interstellar on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Ellen Burstyn,
John Lithgow, David Oyelowo, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, Casey
Affleck, Topher Grace, Matt Damon
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
A team of explorers travel through a wormhole in space in an attempt to ensure humanity's survival.
Verdict
Interstellar
is amazing. The movie is about survival. Humanity faces extinction, and
they must embark on a mission to colonize another planet. While there
are wormholes and black holes thrown in, every story comes down to
surviving. There's a dark side to survival too. Characters lie to
themselves and are willing to harm others to ensure self survival. In
addition to the theme of survival, the other idea contemplates how human
are only willing to save the world if they can save themselves in the
process.
It's a movie that showcases humanity's ability to adapt and
improvise. Humans do the "impossible" because "it's necessary." Nearly
every part of this movie feels epic and that's due in large to the score
which is fantastic. The production value shows, creating believable
planets while doing space justice. The movie is a lot of fun and has
more than a couple emotional moments.
Full Review
The Bottom 1 of 2020:
The Lie (2018) [Between Earth and Sky]
Written by: Veena Sud (written for the screen by), Marcus Seibert and Sebastian Ko (based on the film "Wir Monster" written by)
Directed by: Veena Sud
Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Mireille Enos, Joey King, Cas Anvar, Nicholas Lea
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A father and daughter are on their way to dance camp when they spot the girl's best friend on the side of the road. When they stop to offer the friend a ride, their good intentions soon result in terrible consequences.
Verdict
There's nothing to the movie. The story isn't new, which isn't a problem, but we never get into the emotional state of the characters. The biggest problem is that all of the characters are idiots. The big twist ending isn't bad by itself, but the preceding movie is so boring that the movie seems to be reveling in how clever it is when in reality it isn't. The ending is an insult to viewers.
Full Review
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