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| Scene from The Irishman |
he end of 2019 is upon us. That could only mean one thing for Listmania. It is officially time to honor the best of cinema in 2019. Over the next two days, I will be counting down the Top 40 movies of the year, recognizing the wide variety of films that made the year a little better and will be talked about for years to come. It was an excellent year for dramas as well as genre films ranging from horror to action. It's hard to say goodbye to the year, but at least these films will be with us to remind us of how great it was to sit in a cineplex and cheer in awe as the images moved on screen. It's the one thing that's always pure about years as fraught with tension as this.
11. Her Smell
In a decade of visceral achievements, Elisabeth Moss has never played a character with as much dynamic as this. The first act is a claustrophobic drop into madness, a musician spiraling out of control as everything around her feels just as flimsy. It's a world where nothing looks like it could go right. While this has remained the controversial tool that turns some viewers off, those willing to pull through the intensity of director Alex Ross Perry's latest gem, they will find something purer and sweet on the other side, finding a story of a woman who has had a rough life, but who looks like they may turn out okay after all. While the first act is likely to drive audiences crazy, that's part of the point. It's only in appreciating the intensity that one could hope to understand the change.
12. The Irishman
Martin Scorsese continues to outdo himself with the gangster movie to end all gangster movies. This 3.5-hour epic pits acting legends Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino against each other in a story about loyalty that slowly begins to unravel. It's a dramatic showcase that explores both why they're still among their generation's greatest actors, but also the perception that they've radiated for decades now, defining the stereotypes that are commonplace. It's a story about growing old and understanding one's past, and if there could possibly be redemption. With excellent de-aging technology to bring this decades-spanning story to life, it's a one of a kind journey not likely to ever be replicated. It takes a master and endless resources to make a towering story this emotionally dense and impactful.
13. Toy Story 4
When questioning the relevance of the fourth film in the Toy Story franchise, one has to wonder what's it all means. In one of the strangest moves that Pixar has made yet, they dive deeper into the existential ideas of life, forcing beloved cowboy Woody to wonder what service he brings to others who have surpassed his need. It's the reason that the Frankenstein-esque elements that come with Woody creating Forky are some of the boldest beats in any family film this decade. How does a creator deal with a creation that doesn't want to live? It's the funniest, the most family-friendly depiction of manic depression ever, and it all builds to a third act full of sacrifice and independence like no other. While some may question the relevance of a fourth film, that's kind of the point. How do we learn to care for ourselves after it's all over? The answer is a bittersweet finale that feels entirely earned.
After exploring the horrors of motherhood in The Babadook, director Jennifer Kent has decided to explore a different kind of madness. She takes on the Australian colonization in ways that are both controversial and uncomfortable, finding ways to update the revenge drama with deeper historical importance. The slow journey into these characters presents a powerful story of a rare perspective, showing that becoming a victim doesn't make one less useful as a human. While the pain will always be a part of them, the journey to move on and overcome an oppressor will alway drive those to try for a better future. With a great performance by Aisling Franciosi, this is a film that is uncompromising in its vision and all the better for it.
15. High Flying Bird
What does it take to make a great film in 2019? For Stephen Soderberg, the answer is simple. Buy an iPhone, jailbreak it, and update its software to fit your needs. What makes this particular film exciting is how no angle is out of bounds, no long take is too tricky, all because a phone can go where bulkier cameras can't. This story about NBA lockouts manages to dive into the relevance of young players, what their individual value is as a person and commodity. The politics and negotiations here are dense and use terms that may fly over some people's heads, but Soderbergh's confidence is so endearing that it makes up for these moments. You're left with one of the best basketball movies in years, and one that will help raise important questions about why there's a need to get these types of deals right.
16. The Last Black Man in San Francisco
It starts with trying to save his grandfather's house. There's so much relevance that lies behind those doors, and the need to have it stand means a lot. In what should be a simple mission quickly becomes a study of what it means to be an immigrant in the United States, where there's a search for meaning and truth on every corner soapbox. The answers aren't always pleasant and the tragedy comes painfully in its abruptness. It's a world of self-starters who work to live, and the slice-of-life approach to director Joe Talbot's drama is a unique engagement with a culture that has survived for so long in Northern California who claim that you can't hate San Francisco unless you live there. By the end, there have never been truer words spoken about such a wonderful community.
17. The Two Popes
There was a time this past decade that the Catholic church was at a crossroads. The conservative Pope Benedict XVI was burned out on his job while liberal Pope Benedict wanted to leave the priesthood entirely. Over the course of several small conversations, the two learn that despite believing different ways to move the church forward, they have a lot of personal connection in the minutiae of what makes them human. It's found in their love of music and jokes, or even what to order for dinner. For two characters often associated with stuffy culture, it's one of the most refreshing looks into modern history that goes beyond a mere understanding of faith. It understands that those with different opinions are capable of getting along. It's a simple message that the world needs to hear often, and one that is perfectly portrayed here.
18. Shazam!
The biggest surprise of 2019 was that the best superhero movie didn't come from a beloved franchise or dark reboot. It came from the first outing for a literal man-child. Shazam is a character as old as Superman, and yet this is his first major film. With that said, there has not been a more exciting D.C. film since The LEGO Batman Movie, where Zachary Levi's wide-eyed joy of discovering his powers finds something grounded and human in the familiar. While the edges may be dark, this is a story so full of life and humanity underneath wacky set-pieces that it can't help but remind audiences of a better time, when these films could be enjoyed by audiences without being either too dark or densely layered in a longstanding franchise. Shazam! is a delightful deconstruction that also works as a love letter to the often-overlooked foster child. There's so much heart and humanity here that is only made better by the perfect finale, and one can hope that Levi will be back for the role sooner than later.
19. Jojo Rabbit
With one of the thorniest premises of the year, director Taika Waititi finds a way to satirize Nazism without trivializing its awfulness. With Roman Griffin Davis playing a boy whose imaginary friend is Hitler, the comedy manages to draw a fine line connecting racism to schoolyard politics, where bullies force people into negative trends. This is a film so finely tuned that with a childlike perspective informing most of the broader moments (it's often mistaken for Wes Anderson-like), it allows the quest for empathy to be explored in a meaningful way that has plenty of humor. Even then, Waititi's greatest gift here is that he knows when to take things seriously, allowing gut-punches to hit so hard that they accent his point in lingering fashion. It's thankfully one that looks past hate and finds the ridiculous cult-like behavior while trying to turn away to something more rational. There's power in every frame and reference, and one that may become more appreciated with time.
20. Frozen II
How do you follow up on a phenomenon like Frozen? Well, after six years of spin-offs and shorts, the answer has finally come. Maybe it's the pressure of pleasing fans, but everything about the sequel feels more grounded and ready to please. The songs are bigger, performed at a Broadway bravado that elevates emotion, expands the depths of supporting characters, and a story that comes with such visceral wonder that it may be Disney's boldest film ever to gross a billion dollars. Every frame has a deeper emotional resonance, reflecting characters unafraid to grow in unexpected ways. While the first may have been a fluke, this is the moment where everything hunkers down and proves that they weren't kidding around. Everything resonates better this time around and the visual landscapes are awe-inspiring. While parents may come to hate Elsa, Anna, and Olaf even more, it's still a finely crafted piece.
21. Rocketman
On one hand, people were rooting for director Dexter Fletcher's post-Bohemian Rhapsody biopic of Elton John to fail. The aforementioned look at Queen was considered an abysmal trainwreck that somehow won four Oscars. However, what Fletcher does with John is much more interesting, helping to reinvent the modern biopic with such ferocity and purpose that songs aren't merely sung. They're the DNA of the film, managing to feel like subtext to every background detail. Making everything better is an impeccable performance by Taron Egerton, who makes such numbers like "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" into an uproarious montage through the chaotic early days of performing in clubs. Whether or not the songs work as autobiographical, they work at progressing story much better than one would expect, and it all builds to a vision of how John became the icon he is. It's a celebration of an unconventional life, proving that there's still room to play with conventions on every level.
22. Paddleton
One of the quietest movies of the year is also one of the most poignant explorations of male bonding. Mark Duplass and Ray Romano star in a story of two men coming to terms with one's terminal cancer while finding ways to complete some goals in life. Romano especially has rarely been allowed to be this nuanced, at times going into dramatic and emotional corners of his character that elevate director Alexandre Lehmann's work into a touching character study. It's a story that doesn't seem exceptional on the surface, but Lehmann's dedication to understanding the small tics that make us human only helps to enhance his work as some of the finest works in the indie film of the past few years.
23. The Death of Dick Long
It's a story that could easily be summarized as the parody of a murder mystery. Where those films would spend the first-hour hiding secrets to keep the viewer engaged, this one does so out of shame. The audience knows that Dick Long is dead, but why is he dead? The revelation is a bit uncomfortable for most, but those who can see beyond it will see one of the most powerful looks at death depicted on screen. Whereas most cinematic deaths are noble acts of heroism, there's nothing like that here. It's frankly all so stupid and, worst of all, preventable. The shame becomes so much by the end that it complicates the mourning process and reputation of Long's friends. There's so much to love about the weirdness, especially how one moment can both be a pitch-black comedy and a scathing drama about life's fragility. While most won't go along for its tone, those who can appreciate it will admire the audacity by which it was made.
24. Missing Link
How does one learn to move on when their entire life is gone? That is the concept at the heart of Missing Link, where the bigfoot-like Susan is searching for meaning in the human world. It's a fish-out-of-water comedy mixed with one of the most exciting action family films of the past few years. If any Laika Studios film deserved a sequel, it's this one. The animation, as usual, is dazzling and finds some of the funniest performances in the studio's entire run. By the end, it's a bonding story that shows how families are ones based on who is willing to stand by your side and stand up to the danger. More than anything, it's an endearing reminder of what animation can do when allowed to play with form and style in ways that pop off of the screen and have no choice but to fill the audience's heart with awe. It's another gem for a studio that has almost exclusively existed to make them.
25. The Aeronauts
You will believe that a hot air balloon is one of the most exciting set pieces of the year thanks to Tom Harper's historical action movie. The story of James Glaisher is one that doesn't sound like it will be fun, but there's a twist. Once the balloon gets into the air, the wonder of the film's potential is finally achieved as they view beyond the clouds at atmospheres never seen before, where birds only dare to fly. With a charming supporting role by Felicity Jones, it's a story that transcends dull truth and finds a way to make operating a balloon into a thing of marvelous intensity. The third act especially is one of the finest action set pieces of the year as Jones tries her best to keep everything from going completely wrong. For as silly (and historically inaccurate) as things may be, it makes up for in sheer audacity and energy that can't be denied.
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