Summer Viewing, Have me a Blast

There are aspects in our lives where we enjoy doing the same thing, the same way.  It could be how a favorite food item is prepared or the use of a favorite blanket on a cold winter’s night.  The term I use for this is “Creature of Habit”.

For me one of these aspects is watching certain movies during certain times of the year.  For instance I like to wrap my Christmas presents while watching The Polar Express or rewatch the Kevin Costner sports flick Draft Day in April.  For those who don’t know the ladder is about the NFL draft and that event usually takes place sometime in April, or at least I see the ads for it then.

Currently it’s early June, the fifth if you want to get picky about it.  The Luke warm days of spring have turned over to the uncomfortably warm days of summer and there’s more daylight than I know what to do with. I keep telling myself fall will be here soon enough.

However that means I get to pull out, and dust off, my summer movie viewing list.  It’s a list of five movies that, come hell or high water, I watch every summer.  These movies will be presented in no particular order, though one of them will have a time crunch imposed to it.

The one with the time crunch is Russell Crowe in the boxing movie Cinderella Man.  I always watch it every year on or around my Grtandma’s birthday and have done so every year since she’s passed.  It’s one I took her to see when it played in theaters 15 years ago.  Russell Crowe was her Hollywood crush, I really wanted to see it, and the movie was playing at the theater I was working at during that time.  She told everyone she met there that she was seeing the new Russell Crowe movie.  It didn’t matter what they asked her.  On the way home she shared a really awesome story about the movie, from her past.  I’m not going to type it because I prefer telling it.  Ask me in person sometime about it.

Next up, and again in no particular order, is Roger Corman’s Piranha from the 1970’s.  I feel every summer watch list should include some movie that features summer camp in some way.  Plus this one is my favorite of all the Jaws rip offs.  A movie doesn’t have to have a great plot, an all star cast, an a List director, or compete for Oscars like this one.  Piranha is just fun.

Gravity is another flick I watch every summer.  I’m not a Sandra Bullock fan but this is one of three, maybe four, films that feature the actress that I enjoyed.  A 95ish minute outer space film is a great way to pass an evening during the summer.  

You got to feed your brain during the summer as well, right?  Ok with this newt film that’s pushing it but I don’t care.  I like the movie.  The movie is The Day After Tomorrow.  It’s an en d of the world disaster flick featuring unrealistic and wacky science.  I don’t care at all that the science it wacky and unrealistic.  This is the kind of movie you sit back with your soft drink, or what ever the hell you’re drinking, and enjoy the two hour ride.  There are over the top action sequences, awkward teen romance sequences, and combing that with the before mentioned wacky and unrealistic science you get one hell of a ride to sit through.

Every summer viewing list should also include one classic blockbuster movie.  For me that movie is Tom Cruise is Top Gun.  I’ve seen  so many times I’ve lost count, but not that loving feeling for it.  This is far and away my favorite Tom Cruise movie.  The battles in the sky take my breath away and the movie features an all star cast.  Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis lead the ensemble that feature Anthony Edwards, Val kilmer, Meg Ryan, Tom Skerrit of Alien fame and in what I think is his first film, if not it’s one of them Tim Robbins.

Let me know what is on your summer watch list.

A Movie Goer's World on Pause

Once upon a time, before the quarantine forcefully took over the social norm, I had a weekly ritual, sometimes multi weekly ritual.  It’s no secret I’m talking about going to see a movie.  For well over fourteen years I watched, from a darkened corner of a dark room, images dance across a silver screen.  I figured my this ritual would end at some point, but either by my own choice or my death.  Instead, with every passing day, I miss my outings to the cinema.  I don’t miss the depression that’s been sneaking in its place.

I never thought a pandemic would bench me. After all it is 2020 we live in a world of smart phones and facebook.  Who would have thought a pandemic would still be possible, let alone put the world on hold.  In the end, that’s what we’re going through right now, a world on hold.

With all that said I can’t wait to get back to the routine of going to the movies.  The greatest part was always the social interaction.  It didn’t matter if I was attending with a family member, a friend, or going alone I always enjoyed talking movies with someone.  Attending some theaters, I even looked forward to interacting with ticket takers and concessionaires.  It was folks who truly appreciate the art of cinema, that made these conversations memorable.  

I also miss the movies themselves.  For a few hours they, unselfishly, presented themselves for my judgement and entertainment.  I’d sit there, often with my snack, watching and listening as the plot unfolded.  

I have my weekly ritual, usually starting around Tuesday, of planing what feature(s) I want to see along with the when and where to see the movie(s).  Wednesday I often started letting folks know my plans and posting open invites on social media for those interested in joining me.  Come Friday I started the execution of my plan.  It was a something I loved doing and truly miss doing.  If I’m being completely honest it’s something that helped massively in fighting off my depression.  

Yes I enjoy watching movies at home and have been doing so during this hell of a quarantine.  I’ve revisited films from my childhood as well as favorites from the last few years. Is it the same? Far from.  Does this help? Yes and no.  The yes is I get to rewatch a movie and mostly I’ve enjoyed it.  The no maybe the trickier part of the answer. It reminds me I’m stuck at home and can’t visit these places.  Truth be told I’m not afraid of getting this virus, I’m more afraid of getting others sick. 

Things I’m trying to do include move around a little more, and drop a bit of weight, so that when the time comes I can have my independence back along with the freedom of watching the lights glow on the screen.  Of course that’s easier said than done, and is a daily up hill battle. I hate being dependent of others, to get to and from, when fulfilling this indulgence.  Hopefully I will hit this mark so when the time comes I can put my depression, that is bothering me more then I want to let on, back on the shelf and treat myself to my favorite movie snack while watching a movie from my favorite seat.

I could talk about the movies I’ve missed seeing but that would be redundant to me.  I’ll end with a quote I’m paraphrasing from Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning flick Hugo from 2011. 

“It’s like seeing his dreams in the middle of the day. The movies were our special place.”

Viewing Recommendations

How’s the quarantine going for everyone? Where are you on the bordem scale? That scale starts at just getting started to Jack Nicholson level cabin fever in The Shining.

So for all those out there in need of something to watch I’ve put together a nice little list.  I’d love to put some contagion based films like Outbreak, The Crazies, or Contagion but I don’t think that will help.   I’m trying to recommend, what will be new films to people, but if one or two classics sneak in the list, who can blame me.  The other goal is to try and recommend a wide variety of movies, from animated flicks and documentaries, to Indy films and big blockbusters. I’m also breaking down the recommendations into categories.

THE FUNNY BONE

The Dead Don’t Die

Ok so I’m immediately breaking my no contagion rule with a zombie outbreak movie.  Since the cause for the outbreak is never mentioned in the film I’m not really breaking the rule.  Jim Jarmusch creates a very dry since of humor and makes a fun movie.  If you want to continue the supernatural theme bookend it with Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive.  The ladder fits more into the Obscure movie category but is still great to watch.

Airplane

Yes I am serious in this recommendation.  It’s a classic comedy that I quote often and laugh at every time I do.  It’s always good to have a go to film and this is one of them.

Pride(2014)

There are multiple films called Pride.  The one I’m recommending is the 2014 title about members from London’s LGBT community and their quest to support the striking minors.  It’s an incredible true story with lots of laughs.  This movie will fit nicely on the thinking movies and Hopeful movies portion of this list.  This is one of those movies that everyone I’ve shown this to has fallen in love with.

THINKING MOVIES

Lion

Movies can be both heartbreaking and hopeful.  Lion does both and does it well.  It’s a true story that shows a family being separated and the lengths one goes too, so family can be reunited.  It’s got a great cast as well and is will start some great conversations about family and technology as well as different cultures. 

Dark Waters

Mark Ruffalo is an incredibly talented actor.  He shines in supporting roles like Spotlight and Foxcatcher as well as leading roles like in Dark Waters.  This film follows a true lawsuit and will make you look at your everyday life twice.

The Farewell
I recommend this one with a bit of caution.  The movie deals with a terminal illness and how the family keeps it a secret.  It’s still a great film that can create a lot of discussion.

HOPEFUL MOVIES

The Biggest Little Farm

This documentary was originally going to be listed under fun for the whole family but belongs very much in the hopeful category. The movie tells the story of two first time farmers creating a sustainable farm on 200 acres.  The movie show cases the struggles and high points of the protagonists.  This movie brings a lot of cheer and if you’re going to be stuck at home that’s a good thing.

The Princess Bride

An obvious choice for this category but it’s a fantastic movie that is very, very hopeful.  Plus it’s fun for the whole family.

Hidden Figures

There’s a lot to think about in this movie and a lot more to bring one hope.  The movie follows three African American Women as they go above and beyond to help launch America into outer space.  The movie deals with some heavy topics like racism.  It does all this in a PG format, so its family friendly as well.  I do think some children may get bored with the movie, it’s a straight forward drama, with no big explosions or unnecessary over the top musical numbers that would come in a stereotyped kids film.  That doesn’t mean the story isn’t compelling with many stand up and cheer moments.

OBSCURE MOVIES

The Peanut Butter Falcon

I absolutely love this movie!  It’s a unique adventure flick, reminiscent of Huck Finn.  The movie follows a young man with downs syndrome (the lead actually had downs syndrome) as he follows his dream to attend a wrestling school.  It’s a sweet indy movie that checks a lot of good boxes.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco 

This movie goes in a lot of different directions in the first two acts and it all comes together in the third.  For that reason it crosses over nicely into the thinking movies category.  It’s a unique movie that may require two or three viewings.

Bernie

Jack Black stars as a Texas mortician who becomes a murderer and the town folks want to find him innocent.  This movie is a perfect example of TRUTH IS STRANGER THEN FICTION.  The plot sounds a grim but it’s a lot of fun to watch.

FORIEGN FILMS

Parasite

Parasite is the first foreign language film to win the best picture Oscar and second to win the directing category.  Like other films on this list, it double dips in other categories, primarily The Thinking moves category.  The film showcases different classes in South Korea, but like I said when I put it on my top ten list that can be applied to almost any country.  The last act gets intense and the movie is well worth watching.

The Intouchables

Easily my favorite foreign film.  In this time of quarantine  and uncertainty it’s great to watch a movie where the message is to help one another.  If you’re not into foreign films or want to see the story again Bryan Cranston remade it as an American movie called The Upside.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Kubo and the Two Strings

Animated movies have a stereotype of being strictly kids films.  Some films like Home fit that stereotype.  Kubo & the Two Strings breaks that stereotype.  The movie creates a thrilling, edge of your seat adventure that features many entertaining aspects for all ages.  There’s a love story, magic, adventure, among others.  It’s a kids film that plays for adults as well.

Hugo

Yes I’m recommending a family film directed by Martin Scorsese.  It’s a blast and a half to watch.  The film works for all ages and gets better with time.  It has an ensemble cast, as well, that includes Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley, and Jude Law.  The Paris Train Station setting adds to the mystery created in the story.  Whether you’re a child or child at heart this film is a must see.

GUILTY PLEASURES

Rocketman

The movie is about Elton John and his music.  It’s a blast to watch and I guarantee you will be singing along almost instantly.  It’s a great way to pass a few hours. 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri 

I’m not really sure where to fit this title so I’m putting it in guilty pleasures.  I absolutely love this movie that, that both Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell took home Oscars.  It’s a bit serious with some great one liners sprinkled into the dialogue.  The movie is a bit on the dark side but still has a big heart.  The best line I’ve heard about this movie was when my Dad and I saw it in theaters a few years ago.  His quote was “If I knew what it was about I wouldn’t of come to see it.  I’m glad I didn’t know what it was about because I can’t see myself missing this movie.”

Book Club

Diane Keaton leads an incredible ensemble and the movie is just PURE FUN!

My 2020 Oscar Wrap Up

That’s a wrap on the 92nd Annual Academy Awards and the 17th Annual Oscar viewing party!

Folks seemed to enjoy the night, as they have the past many years!  During the night I presented 21 rounds of trivia games and

Parasite Director

the three prediction contests.  (For those curious what I awarded the for the shoulda/woulda/coulda and 2019@the movies see below.  The winners are labeled.). For those wondering Mary, my dad, & Joe won the three prediction contests.

I’m pleased with the winners this year.  I loved seeing Parasite become the first foreign film to win best picture.  It’s a unique and thought provoking movie that is worthy of the award.  It defeated frontrunner 1917, which is another film I really enjoyed and was pleased in took him three Oscars.  

My favorite speech was given by Joaquin Phoenix when he won lead actor for his performance in Joker.  Kudos to him for making his point his way.  I’ve loved his work ever since I saw him in Gladiator.  He’s been worthy of this award for many films like Walk the Line, The Master (BRILLIANT FREAKING MOVIE), I’m Still Here, and others.  I’m glad he won.

I loved seeing Elton John win again as well.  Rocketman was snubbed from many categories and I loved the song that won.

The one category I would change is supporting actress.  I wasn’t a fan of Marriage Story, though Laura Dern was good in it.  Was she better than Scarlett Johansson in JoJo Rabbit?  No she wasn’t.

As for the ceremony itself, I have never hated an Oscar presentation more than this one.      First there were too many musical numbers.  I didn’t care that Eminem came back to finally perform his Oscar winning song from 15 plus years ago.  I didn’t even like the singer during the “IN MEMORIAM” segment and am really disappointed she’s doing the next Bond song.  If I wanted to see that many music numbers I’d go to an open mike night or watch the grammies.  

Moving on with my disgust with the presentation what good did not having a host do?  You opened the show with a less than mediocre musical number and had two former hosts (Steve Martin & Chris Rock) give the traditional host opening monologue.  Frankly Billy Crystal, Hugh Jackman, and Neil Patrick Harris all did that combination of opening song and dance and monologue better.  Then you had a voiceover introduce celebrities so they could introduce the actual presenters of the awards.  How much time do you really save with that?  An actual host does the exact same thing and ties the presentation together.  An actual host would have been preferable.  (I’d love, for the producers next year, to think outside the box like when Hugh Jackman was selected.  Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen DeGeneres are way too safe of a choice. Though that is a way too safe of a choice to host the Oscars is still better than a no host).

The presenters, for the most part, were good.  I loved being the guy from The Peanut Butter Falcon present.  That was a brilliant movie and to have some one with down syndrome present goes along way for diversity.  It needed less TV stars and more movie stars presenting.  I get Ray Romano was in one of the best picture nominees and Julia Louis Dryfuess has a new movie coming out but their still TV stars.  Mix it up more as well.  There wasn’t a balance of stars of today and actual Hollywood legends.  There needs to be an appeal, in presenters, across generations.  

In the end I’m pleased with the winners, not so much with the presentation.  Hopefully next year things will be better.

WINNERS LIST

SHOULDA/WOULDA/COULDA CONTEST

BEST PICTURE BEST ACTOR BEST ACTRESS

__Bombshell   _X_ Taron Egerton Rocketman __ Awkwfina  The Farewell

__Dark Waters __ Michael B Jordan Just Mercy _X_ Annette Bening The Report

__The Farewell __Mark Ruffallo Dark Waters __ Lupita Nyong’o Us

__Just Mercy

__Knives Out 

__Richard Jewell

_X_ Rocketman

BEST DIRECTOR               BEST SUPP ACTOR BEST SUPP ACTRESS

_X_ Clint Eastwood Richard Jewell __ Jamie Foxx Just Mercy   _X_Anne Hathaway Dark Waters

__ Dexter Fletcher Rocketman __John Lithgow Bombshell     __ Nicole Kidman Bombshell

__ Lulu Wang The Farewell _X_ Sam Rockwell JoJo Rabbit    __Jennifer Lopez Hustlers

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY BEST DOCUMENTARY

__Bombshell __Dark Waters                    __ Apollo 11

__The Farewell _X_Just Mercy __ Ask Dr Ruth

__Ford V Ferrari __Motherless Brooklyn       __ Bathtubs Over Broadway

__The Report __Richard Jewell                       _X_The Biggest Little Farm

_X_ Rocketman                             __Maiden

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE   BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE     BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

__Abominable __Arctic                             __The Biggest Little Farm

__The Addams Family __The Farewell        __ The Farewell

__The Lego Movie 2 __ Shadow                 _X_ Ford V. Ferrari

_X_Spies in Disguise __Transit                   __ Parasite

__Wonderpark _X_The Wandering Earth                        __ US

2019 @ THE MOVIES CONEST

WORST FILM: __Aladdin __Brittany Runs a Marathon __ Midsommar _X_ Little Women __Where’d You Go Bernadette
BEST SEQUEL: __Angel Has Fallen __Doctor Sleep __Glass __Godzilla 2 __Jumanji: The Next Level __Shaft _X_Toy Story 4 

BEST DRAMA: __1917 __Bombshell __Ford V Ferrari __Just Mercy _X_Once Upon a Time in Hollywood __Parasite __Richard Jewell

BEST COMEDY: __The Dead Don’t Die __Good Boys _X_Jojo Rabbit __Late Night __Long Shot __Stuber __The Upside

BEST ACTION MOVIE: _X_Angel Has Fallen __Cold Pursuit __Hobbes & Shaw __John Wick 3 __Miss Bala __Shaft

BEST SCI-FI: __Ad Astra __Captive State __Godzilla 2 __Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker _X_The Wandering Earth

BEST HORROR/THRILLER: _X_Doctor Sleep __Glass __Greta __Hotel Mumbai __It Chapter 2 

__The Lighthouse __Us

BEST INDY FILM: __JoJo Rabbit __Last Black Man in San Francisco __The Mustang _X_The Peanut Butter Falcon

BEST FAMILY FLICK: __The Great Alaskan Race _X_Nancy Drew & The Hidden Staircase __Playing with Fire __Toy Story 4

BEST BRITISH MOVIE: __1917 __Blinded by the Light __Downton Abbey __The Good Liar __Official Secrets _X_Rocketman

BEST POLITICAL FILM: _X_The Best of Enemies __Bombshell __Long Shot __Official Secrets __The Report

BEST CAST: __1917 __Bombshell __Just Mercy _X_Knives Out __Once Upon a Time in Hollywood __The Upside

BEST DETECTIVE: _X_Daniel Craig Knives Out __Adam Driver The Report __Edward Norton Motherless Brooklyn

BEST STUNTS:__Angel Has Fallen _X_Ford V Ferrari __Hobbes & Shaw __Hotel Mumbai __John Wick 3 __Playing with Fire

BEST SENIOR CITIZEN: __Diane Keaton Poms __Ian McKellen The Good Liar _X_Maggie Smith Downton Abbey

BEST FIGHT: __Hospital battle Angel Has Fallen __Fight to desegregate schools Best of Enemies __Parking lot melee Glass _X_Home invasion Once Upon a Time in Hollywood __Backyard brawl Parasite __Lupita Nyong’o V Lupita Nyong’o Us

BEST HERO: _X_Gerald Butler Angel Has Fallen __Tom Hanks Toy Story 4 __Taraji P Henson The Best of Enemies

BEST SIDEKICK: _X_Jamie Bell Rocketman __Nick Nolte Angel Has Fallen __Richard Roundtree Shaft

BEST VILLAIN:  _X_Idris Elba Hobbs and Shaw __John Lithgow Bombshell __Joaquin Phoenix Joker

BEST SOUNDTRACK: __Blinded by the Light __Once Upon a Time in Hollywood _X_Rocketman __The Upside __Yesterday

BEST POLITICIAN: _X_Annette Bening The Report __Morgan Freeman Angel Has Fallen __Charlize Theron Long Shot

BEST VOICEOVER: _X_Edward Norton Motherless Brooklyn __Brad Pitt Ad Astra __Charlize Theron Bombshell

BEST KISS: _X_Helen Mirren & Ian McKellen The Good Liar __Domhnall Gleeson & Elizabeth Moss The Kitchen __Seth Rogen & Charlize Theron Long Shot __Himesh Patel & Lily James Yesterday

BEST REAL LIFE PERFORMANCE: __Christian Bale Ford V. Ferrari __Taron Egerton Rocketman __Jamie Foxx Just Mercy __Margot Robbie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood _X_Mark Ruffalo Dark Waters __Renee Zellweger Judy

BEST CAMEO: _X_Real folks of the story Dark Waters __John McCain The Report __Colin Firth 1917

BEST LINE: _X_“Respect is not a debate. Normal is.” Ask Dr. Ruth __“Friends are the family you choose” The Peanut Butter Falcon ___“You have to kill the man you were born to be, in order to become the man you want to be” Rocketman

BEST CGI CHARACTER: __The Sharks 47 Meters Down: Uncaged __The Monsters Godzilla 2 _X_Woody & Buzz Toy Story 4

BEST REVIVAL: __Kiki’s Delivery Service __Maltese Falcon __The Matrix _X_Planes Trains & Automobiles __South Pacific

A Preview Blog of the 92nd Oscars

It’s the end of January and the Oscar should be four weeks away.  This year is the rule that proves the exception.  They’ve been moved up to just past the Superbowl.  So in just under ten days Hollywood’s biggest night will take center stage.

Let’s start with this years best picture nominees.  Some great movies made the list: Parasite, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Jojo Rabbit are all competing for best picture and all three made my top ten list of 2019.  The war flick 1917 made the best picture list, but I saw it after I made my top ten list.  I still loved that movie.  I hated Little Women and Marriage Story.  It annoys me that they took best picture spots from excellent movies like Rocketman and Bombshell.  I enjoyed Joker and Ford V Ferrari and am ok with their inclusion for best picture.  I’d be ok with them being excluded as well but am not complaining.  The Irishman rounds out the best picture list.  I was ho hum on that movie.  Martin Scorsese has lost the best director Oscar for better movies: Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Aviator, Hugo.  Hell he’s been snubbed for better movies, chiefly Taxi Driver.  The Irishman was too long.  I don’t mind long movies, hell The Aviator was three hours.  The parts of the story I thought were good focused around Al Pacino, who seemed to be phoning in his performance.  Focusing on that would of created a tighter story and overall better movie.  Every coin does have two sides and the Joe Pesci was excellent in the movie.

In other categories Knives Out earned a well deserved original screenplay nomination while Toy Story 4 leads the animated feature pack.  Kathy Bates gave a fantastic performance in Richard Jewell and has earned a well deserved supporting actress nomination.  Rocketman was snubbed for costume design but am excited that it’s up for original song.  It means Elton John will be performing on the telecast.

Transitioning on to the telecast it has been announced that Elton John will perform his Oscar nominated song from Rocketman.  However there’s at least six other musical performances, maybe a seventh.  It seems this is more like the grammies.  If I wanted that I would of watched the grammies, not a movie award show.  The choice of no host disappoints me as well.  I understand why it happened last year and it seems there was no search for a host at all this year.  I was really hoping for an out of the box host like Hugh Jackman, who knocked it out of the park, or Seth Mcfarlane, who had his moments.  Hell I would have even settled for a safe choice like Jimmy Kimmell or Ellen Degeneres.  I enjoy watching a celebrity host the awards.  It ties everything together nicely for me.  I’ve enjoyed watching Steve Martin and Billy Crystal do it over and over again.  I really want to see Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman return.  I would love to see Melissa McCarthy or Julia Louis-Dreyfus take on the role at some point.  Same with Ewan Mcgregor.  I think he’d bring a great bit of class to the role.

A handful of presenters have been announced to shake the winners hand.  Last years acting winners were the first announced and since then Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been announced to take Oscar’s stage.  I’m excited that Zack Gottsagen of The Peanut Butter Falcon will be presenting.  I’m assuming he’ll be presenting with Shia LaBeouf.  So there’s that to look forward to seeing.  

Sometime after the Oscars I’ll post my thoughts on the show and winners.

My Top 10 Films of 2019

2019 is coming to a close, finally.  Looking back on the year, it sucked personally.  I’m glad it’s winding down and hoping that hindsight is 2020.  At least I got to go to the movies.  Truth be told it’s what kept me together-and it did it more then it should.  The idea of going to Daniel Craig’s final Bond film (No Time to Die), in 2020, more exciting to me than Christmas morning, and it’s what is giving me that extra something to keep going.

In visiting the cinema during the year, I was excited to see a wide range of films.  There were some incredible foreign flicks (Parasite, The Wondering Earth) released this year along with some truly original blockbusters (Rocketman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and some really special indy films (The Last Black Man In San Francisco, The Peanut Butter Falcon).  The summer saw it’s normal sequelthon and I continued to waste my time at Disney remakes like Dumbo and The Lion King.  At least Pixar held up to its usual high standard with the incredible release of Toy Story 4.  With three releases this year I’m worn out of Marvel flicks (Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Spiderman: Far From Home), but still really enjoyed the different perspective and how dark the DC release Joker turned out to be.  I always enjoy seeing some great films on the big screen for the first time.  This year some of those classic titles include The Maltese Falcon, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.  Plus getting to see The Polar Express and The Matrix on the big screen again where both treats.

Here’s to the 2019 movies and those to follow in the upcoming twelve months!

Before you get to the list I have a personal note: I take a lot of time, pride, and effort when making this list.  Over the past few years many have torn my list apart with much criticism and frankly I find it offensive.  I don’t do it to you and am tired of it happening to me.  That’s why I haven’t blogged as much this year, though I miss it dearly.

With that said here are my ten favorite movies from the year that is 2019:

10. Doctor Sleep

There was no film I was more two sided about this year than the sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.  On the positive side of the coin was how much I enjoyed the novel, Ewan McGregor in the lead, and the fact that a sequel that a sequel to The Shining was coming to the big screen.  On the hesitant side of the coin was my love for The Shining, a brilliant movie that is turning forty in 2020, and the fact that it was two and a half hours.  Luckily the positive side of the coin prevailed.  The movie played nicely as a sequel to the movie and as an adaptation of the book.  It was everything I wanted: suspense with some great scares, an intriguing story (with out a good story there’s no point in watching a movie), and some incredible performances.  

9. The Last Black Man in San Francisco 

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is truly one of the most original and ambitious movies of 2019.  There’s a lot going on in this movie and is one that must be talked about at length.  I like that in a movie.   There’s a powerful message behind the film and how it comes across is subtle.  I hate when films slap its message across my face and am glad this one didn’t do that.  

I must admit I didn’t fully understand it when I walked out of the theater and after multiple viewings on DVD more sticks out to me.  This one will stick with me for years to come.

8. The Best of Enemies

I am a sucker for stand up and cheer moments in movies and the ending to The Best of Enemies had the best stand up and cheer ending of 2019 The film portrayed an important and uncomfortable piece of local history.  The movie is set in Durham NC and I love seeing stories from my home state on the big screen.  That fascinated me. Sam Rockwell, who is one of the greatest actors out there right now, and Taraji P. Henson both gave great performances in the film.  If a movie can make me uncomfortable and stand up & cheer with it, while teaching me a something, then that’s two hours well spent.

7. Rocketman

This movie is why I love going to the theater to see movies.  It was an awesome blend of music, story, and fantasy that the audience got into.   Everybody their loved the music, the subject matter, and let it be known, during the movie, that they were having one hell of a good time watching it.  It was a visual and audio experience that was just that, an experience.  I was a fan Taron Egerton going into the movie and came out just loving his performance as Elton John.  Fun fact Elton John co-starred with Taron Egerton in the Kingsmen sequel.  If this film doesn’t win the Academy Award for best costume design the Motion Picture Academy is doing their job wrong, it’s easily the best costumed film I’ve seen in a few years.  Considering the source material it should be.

6. Richard Jewell

Let me get this out of the way first: the movie is not on this list because it’s directed by my favorite filmmaker Clint Eastwood.  However that fact doesn’t hurt.  I got caught up in the slow burn of the story immediately.  I knew how the movie was going to end and was still on pins and needles during key events.  The supporting cast, Sam Rockwell, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, & Olivia Wilde were all fantastic in their respective performances.  However Paul Walter Hauser (I Tonya, Blackkklansman) was incredible in the title role.  I love that Clint Eastwood cast a lesser known actor in what will be a career making performance.  

5. Toy Story 4

There is no love/hate relationship between me and Pixar, it’s all love.  Toy Story 4 continues that tradition.  Its predecessor, Toy Story 3, still remains the best of the franchise but it set an incredibly high bar.  When your coming off a near perfect movie coming close to besting it is an accomplishment unto itself.  Toy Story 4 took me on a beautiful journey that’s about friendship and standing up for the those who can’t stand up for themselves.  Along the way the journey made me laugh, cheer, and put a lump in my throat.  Any film that can do all that in 100 minutes is a film worthy of being on this list.

4. JoJo Rabbit

What can I say about JoJo Rabbit?  This is one that is very difficult to write about without spoiling the events of the film.  Let me start by saying I did not laugh harder at any other movie I saw this year then I did while attending this one.  All the jokes were well paced and hilarious.  The film balanced its comedy very nicely with very tender moments of sweetness. One of the things I hate the most is when a movie slaps its point across my face.  I find it insulting to my intelligence as a human being and a movie goer.  I appreciated that JoJo Rabbit makes its point about the horrors of war subtly and in a very entertaining way.

3. The Peanut Butter Falcon

You can easily draw a line between the plot of Huck Finn and that in The Peanut Butter Falcon.  Both are great adventure stories, for fans of all ages.  I was impressed throughly with Shia LaBeouf’s performance.  Though I’ve enjoyed some films he’s been in (Lawless, Fury) this is the first time I’ve been wowed by his acting talent.  He’s easily outshined by Zack Gottsagen, the real star of the movie.  I am in absolute love with the casting director for actually casting an individual with down syndrome in the role.  He is the heart and sole of this movie and is a pleasure to watch perform.  His eagerness to have fun, in the film, is contagious and jumps off the screen.  Do yourself a favor and see this charming movie, you will not regret it!

2. Parasite

The trailers, for this incredible film out of South Korea, made it look like a horror flick.  Parasite is pretty far from being a horror flick.  At the heart of the film is a story about the different society classes of South Korea.  This film could have just as easily been set in any country around the world, not just South Korea, and still been as meaningful.  This movie took me out of my comfort zone while rooting for all the various characters.  I love how it blurs the the black and white of the good and the bad into a line of grey.  That makes for a complex movie that warrants much discussion.  Honestly of the films I saw this year this is the one I want to show to people, so I can have the discussions about it face to face.

In terms of foreign films, it’s not only the best I saw of 2019, but one of the best I have ever seen.

1. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

When I first heard that Tarantino was doing a film featuring Charles Manson I got really excited.  I admit once I heard the full premise of this movie I got a little disappointed that the movie didn’t focus on Manson.  The trailers turned that disappointment into excitement and what a ride this movie was! Normally I’m skeptical of films that are almost three hours long but that didn’t bother me with this one.  I loved all the characters, both fiction and non fiction. I thought they blended together nicely.  I’ve always thought Tarantino’s strongest point as a filmmaker was his writing.  He crafted some great one liners, a unique story, and one ending that will stuck out among the many films I saw this year.

THE BEST OF THE REST:

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: VICE

Every year I publish this list between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.  I tend to miss a movie that’s released wide after the new year or something I haven’t seen that is out during that week.   I always like to acknowledge that there’s some really special films that don’t make the list.  I call this The One That Got Away.

This years one that got away is Vice.  Christian Bale leads an incredible ensemble about former vice president Dick Cheney.  Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell are at the top of their game in this movie.  I loved how the story was crafted.   It showed the rise to power of the former Vice President from an intriguing source.  Needless to say I am a big fan of this movie.

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE (supporting or lead): Zach Gottsagen The Peanut Butter Falcon

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE (supporting or lead): Renee Zwelleger Judy

SCREENPLAY (original): Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

SCREENPLAY (adapted): JoJo Rabbit

THE TOP OF THE DECADE:

The end of the year is a special one.  It concludes the decade.  Below are some of my favorites from the past decade.

A quartet from 2012 Argo, The Master, Skyfall, and Zero Dark Thirty top the list.  Hell or High Water, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Spotlight all follow very, very closely.  Others that I loved include but not limited to Beginners, Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, Foxcatcher, Margin Call, Moonlight, Spectre, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and Trumbo.

With all that said, meet me at the movies.  I’ll be the one gulping down the oversized soda.