Movies of 2019 Ranked
A growing ranking of movies I've seen released in 2019
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- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly-formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.I haven't really liked Boon Jonh Ho's work since Memories of a Murder but he really stunned with this one. A masterful and uncomfortable tale of class and ambition, the film is near flawless in how the story unfolds, presenting twists that surprise but don't feel gimmicky. I'm sure there is some Korean cultural commentary that goes over my head but nonetheless was the clear standout of this year's cinema.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroAl PacinoJoe PesciAn illustration of Frank Sheeran's life, from W.W.II veteran to hit-man for the Bufalino crime family and his alleged assassination of his close friend Jimmy Hoffa.Scorsese is just as sharp as ever, tackling his most accomplished genre with a new, more mature, approach. He gathers together some of the greatest actors of gangster lore (De Niro, Pesci, Pacino, Keitel) who all give their best performance in decades, and weaves them into a complex epic that never drags in its 3'30" runtime. It's in the conversation for best film of the decade, let alone the year. Nobody makes them quite like Scorsese.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloAfter the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe.The Russo Brothers against all odds have delivered a brilliant conclusion to the first wave of the Marvel Universe. Picking up where the shocking Infinity War leaves off, the film deftly weaves its enormous cast of characters, spread across space and time, into a complex and satisfying story that lives up to the hype that has been building for a decade. There are of course some logical flaws and questionable character choices, as with any movie of this scale, but overall it delivers on every front. The only downside is we had to say goodbye to Marvel's two most solid heroes, Iron Man and Captain America, and it leaves the Marvel Universe with a uncertain future.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsJoaquin PhoenixRobert De NiroZazie BeetzDuring the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.Joaquin Phoenix has done the impossible and made the most infamous villain in pop culture human. His centering performance is as memorable as Ledger's from The Dark Knight, but he is undertaking a much harder task. Transforming a real person, albeit strange, into a psycho villain has never been done so convincingly and with this performance should cement Phoenix as one of the great actors of his generation. The rest of the movie is well thought out if a little cheesy in some parts, but there are great creative choices made to enhance the lunacy of the Joker and bring the audience into his trip. There is a lot to unpack from the social commentary aspect, but the director was wise to not make a defining statement, instead making the character study the central focus.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsMatt DamonChristian BaleJon BernthalAmerican car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.What I expected to be a performance heavy drama and typical Oscar-bait turned out to be so much more. Yes, Bale and Damon are terrific, but the highlight of the movie is the exhilarating racing and top notch editing. Throw in well developed themes of individualism, and staying true to history, Ford v Ferrari is a tremendous achievement and one of the greatest modern sports films.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesHalle BerryIan McShaneJohn Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins' guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.In a cinematic landscape where most action is either CGI or spliced unintelligibly with cuts, I cant thank Keanu and director Stahelski enough for having the patience to create such impressively choreographed fight scenes. Although it is the third film, the action is as fresh and creative as ever. The plot is a bit weaker than the previous two, acting more as a set-up to the fourth, and hopefully final, film but it isn't bad either. The only complaint is that as we learn more about the central assassin society, the less interesting it seems.
- DirectorAri AsterStarsFlorence PughJack ReynorVilhelm BlomgrenA couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.It's a little more drawn out than Hereditary and quite a bit less scary but Midsommar is one of the most sure footed sophmoric efforts in recent film history. Along with The Wicker Man, from which it owes much, Midsommar is one of the greatest daylight horror films, with gorgeous visuals, calculated development and overarching dread. Ari Aster is already becoming a horror icon.
- DirectorJames GrayStarsBrad PittTommy Lee JonesRuth NeggaAstronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.The most visually stunning sci-fi since 2001, Ad Astra proves you don't need a great script to make a good movie. The themes are there and the plot moves logically for the most part so I forgive the bad dialogue and unnecessary voiceovers. Pitt and Jones do fine but again character development isn't this film's strength. The cinematography is so arresting that you forget all the minor flaws and the imagery does most of the thematic talking. Recommend seeing in IMAX.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDean-Charles ChapmanGeorge MacKayDaniel MaysApril 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion 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.A good, effective war film that engulfs the audience in the battlefield with an impressive marathon of long tracking shots and extreme choreography. Where it falters is its indecision on whether to be a gritty condemnation of war, or a rousing Hollywood epic, giving a confusing thematic juxtaposition between different scenes. The worst offender is the inappropriately modern epic music that kicks in at bizarre times. Dunkirk achieved this balance much more effectively.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsLeonardo DiCaprioBrad PittMargot RobbieA faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.In some ways this is Tarantino at his very best. Every scene is brilliant staged, filled with clever dialogue, pop nostalgia and memorable characters. DiCaprio's washed up actor is one of his best performances and Pitt brings unexpected subtlety to his trouble stunt man. The film is so energetic and entertaining that it flies by despite the long run time. Unfortunately, most of the scenes don't amount to much and the only real progression is in Leo's character. It does not tie together satisfyingly like you expect of a Tarantino film and ultimately most of the content is completely pointless, including Robbie's role as Sharon Tate.
- DirectorTodd Douglas MillerStarsNeil ArmstrongMike CollinsBuzz AldrinA look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.This is a refreshingly documentary that does precisely what a documentary should do. It informs in detail the Apollo 11 mission from start to finish, with archive footage and audio. No narrations or twists, no exploitative cinematic tricks, just conveying the information in a straightforward way. Despite this its one of the most compelling documentaries of the decade. Other documentarians take notes.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsRobert PattinsonWillem DafoeValeriia KaramanTwo lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.The plot, of what I could comprehend, didn't seem to be very important. But the atmosphere, imagery and visceral performances of Pattinson and Defoe cannot be ignored. A slow burning Lovecraftian nightmare that proves Robert Eggers is one of the most unique horror auteurs in a stacked field.
- DirectorS. Craig ZahlerStarsMel GibsonVince VaughnTory KittlesOnce two overzealous cops get suspended from the force, they must delve into the criminal underworld to get their proper compensation.After only 3 films Craig Zahler has carved out a niche for himself in modern cinema. With hyperviolence, unequaled bleakness and painfully realist development these films are not pleasant or easy to sit through but the end product is completely unique. Slow burning is an understatement, but this nihilistic tale of a bank robbery surrounded by desperate characters is a unquestionably a powerful flick, if not completely unconventional.
- DirectorCraig BrewerStarsEddie MurphyKeegan-Michael KeyMike EppsEddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.Eddie Murphy hasn't been this good in decades. He's funny, handles the dramatic chops well, and you can't take your eyes off of him. Some of the plot is a little hokey and predictable but the supporting cast is solid and it doesn't overstay it's welcome. It's like a more grounded "The Disaster Artist."
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsLupita Nyong'oWinston DukeElisabeth MossAdelaide Wilson and her family are attacked by mysterious figures dressed in red. Upon closer inspection, the Wilsons realize that the intruders are exact lookalikes of them.Us cements the Jordan Peele as one of the most creative high profile directors. The first act is brilliant. Unfortunately as the mystery unfolds it begins to go off the rails a bit, but even where the plot gets messy, the imagery and performances manage to hold it together. While not as polished as Get Out, the increase in ambition and originality is very promising sign for Peele's career. Lupita Nyong'o is especially impressive.
- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsAdam DriverScarlett JohanssonJulia GreerNoah Baumbach's incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together.Noah Baumbach has supplanted Woody Allen as Hollywood's premier maker of intimate, quirky, character studies. Luckily, he takes his stories more seriously, writes more real characters and isn't as full of himself. Although the film mostly draws from his autobiographical experiences, the film approaches divorce from both sides quite evenly. It's depressing, but not melodramatic and is an important film, even if it isn't a lot of fun to watch.
- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsJessica ChastainJames McAvoyBill HaderTwenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.It's not as good as the first one, but one wonders if that is more due to the source material than the director. This film mostly uses the Losers as singular characters than as a group which is less effective, and Pennywise is unfortunately not featured as much. The middle especially drags, I mean how many corpse-leper jump scares do we really need, with no plot advancement. But the entire last half hour or so is worth the slow grind to get there. More ambitious than almost any other horror film.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonSecurity guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.M. Night Shyamalan has created a unique film that is by most conventions not great. The script is clunky and the plot progresses unevenly. There is an overarching plan for his superhero universe that is not clear, nor interesting to most of us, exemplified by the inevitable and unnecessary twist ending. But the premise and characters at the center of the film are bold and inventive. It is not triumphant or flashy but raw and bleak, making it one of the most refreshing and unexpected major releases in years. It's also nice to see Bruce Willis in a movie that he actually seems to care about.
- DirectorDavid Robert MitchellStarsAndrew GarfieldRiley KeoughTopher GraceSam, a disenchanted young man, finds a mysterious woman swimming in his apartment's pool one night. The next morning, she disappears. Sam sets off across LA to find her, and along the way he uncovers a conspiracy far more bizarre.Under the Silver Lake is a very ambitious mystery that starts very promising but unravels into a scattered plot with a tepid conclusion. Unlike the similar Inherent Vice, this was not intentional. Still, the colorful characters and winding plot maintain intrigue throughout. Along with vibrant shots and a lively soundtrack it's a thoroughly entertaining gem all the way through.
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsAaron PaulJonathan BanksMatt JonesFugitive Jesse Pinkman runs from his captors, the law, and his past.Kind of hard to judge this as a standalone film when it is really just an epilogue to Breaking Bad. Having slicked up his visuals and gotten more introspective since the finale, Gilligan makes a powerful goodbye to Jessie Pinkman. My main complaint is that it doesn't have much point and doesn't reveal much new about the character. It's a must watch, but really only for Breaking Bad fans.
- DirectorJake KasdanStarsDwayne JohnsonJack BlackKevin HartIn Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to rescue one of their own, the players will have to brave parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the world's most dangerous game.Pretty much the same as the first movie, with the four leads more than carrying their comedic weight and a fun, original adventure story. It's such a simple formula that audiences love and makes studios a lot of money. Let's hope producers are taking notes.
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsWill SmithMena MassoudNaomi ScottAladdin, a kind thief, woos Jasmine, the princess of Agrabah, with the help of Genie. When Jafar, the grand vizier, tries to usurp the king, Jasmine, Aladdin and Genie must stop him from succeeding.A pleasant surprise. I went in preparing to be disappointed like I was by other Disney classic remakes (The Jungle Book, The Beauty and the Beast) but was won over by the impressive atmosphere, fast paced visuals and the charm of Will Smith. The most important factor is the balance struck between reverence to the original and necessary changes. Smith steals the show, managing to capture the spirit of Genie without imitating Robin Williams and Naomi Scott brings more life to Jasmine than the original does. The only notable stumble is Jasmine's new song, which is not itself horrible but badly clashes with the rest of the music.
- DirectorJosh CooleyStarsTom HanksTim AllenAnnie PottsWhen a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.Toy Story 4 is one of the bigger disappointments of the year, but following perhaps the greatest cinematic trilogy of all time, one thinks that it was destined to fail. That being said it's still a very good film. From an animation standpoint the film is Pixar's greatest achievement, filled with vibrant, detailed environments and emotive characters. The vanilla plot is the downfall, only really following Woody's personal odyssey, and the rest of the characters are thrown in as fluff. Another problem is the themes explored have all been explored better previously and were wrapped up perfectly in the third film. Reopening the story without saying anything new just feels like a cash grab. Admittedly, the ending of the film is great, but it too only is significant because of the relationships developed in the first three.
- DirectorDavid LeitchStarsDwayne JohnsonJason StathamIdris ElbaLawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.If you like big dumb action flicks (which I do) then you'll like this movie. One of only a few non-superhero major action franchises left, I am pleased that the series is finding ways to not run out of steam. It does come dangerously close many times to feeling like we're watching superheroes, especially the villain. Like the last few in the series the runtime is too long and the car scenes are lacking. Still The Rock and Statham are two of the genres most capable stars and the movie is a lot of fun. The script is pretty bad even for this franchise though.
- DirectorGene StupnitskyStarsJacob TremblayKeith L. WilliamsBrady NoonThree 6th-grade boys ditch school and embark on an epic journey while carrying accidentally stolen drugs, being hunted by teenage girls, and trying to make their way home in time for a long-awaited party.There isn't a very developed plot and only about half of the jokes really hit. But still it offers plenty of genuine laughs and a unique subject.