I finally caught up with everything I needed to see, so now it's list time.
1. The Lighthouse
The only film from 2019 to make my best of the decade list. Two of the best performances of the year that are being completely ignored in awards certificate, a trip to insanity that never lets up or makes you feel comfortable at all, and one of the purely unique films of the year. Please watch this.
2. Parasite
This was the only film to challenge The Lighthouse for the top spot this year. It is purely enjoyable for the first hour until the nightmare sits in. It's fun, it's twisty, it's relevant, and all the performances are stellar. Another can't miss for the year, and my pick to win everything it can at the Academy Awards this year.
3. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I have always been a fan of Tarantino and the characters he builds, but I really think this is his best work since Pulp Fiction. It does have some old timey Hollywood wankery in it, but overall it has his best dynamic of two friends on screen, Brad Pitt will finally get an Oscar, and it has the most explosive finale of the year. Part of me wishes it were his last film, since I think it perfectly encapsulates everything about what Tarantino is and isn't.
4. The Irishman
This is one of Scorsese's best, straight up, and it's a shame Pacino and Pesci have to compete in the same category just to lose to Pitt. It's slow burn for sure, but you really do get the sense you're living what is happening with how long we stay with these characters. And the scene with Pesci and de Niro decided the fate of Jimmy? Best of the year for me.
5. Knives Out
Rian Johnson follows up the second best Star Wars film with the best murder mystery in years. The twists are fun and not overly telegraphed, Daniel Craig is lovably ridiculous, and it's just pure fun. I hope for many more sequels to this.
6. Midsommar
Hereditary is my favorite movie of the decade, and what a worthy follow up for Ari Aster. A nice pleasant daytime experience for a horror movie? Hell yeah. As a side note, please watch the director's cut of this film, which is only available on iTunes digitally. It's the superior experience and boosted this film up my list after the initial viewing.
7. In Fabric
Probably the most obscure movie on my list, one that went critically overlooked and didn't get the usual A24 marketing for their home runs. It reminds me of a David Lynch coven movie, in the best way possible, and one that I think will become a cult classic in the coming years.
8. Little Women
I didn't talk about Florence Pugh in Midsommar above, but goddamn if I won't here. She has had one of the best single years in Hollywood I've seen in a long time, and now she gets a Marvel movie in May. She is amazing in pretty much everything that she graces the screen in, and is the brightest star that came out of 2019. But this movie had an entire cast of incredible performances, and made you care about everyone. I hated Lady Bird with a passion, but this movie has reignited my interest in seeing where Greta Gerwig goes.
9. Uncut Gems
No movie has ever almost given me a panic attack like this one. I am not even exaggerating, I have never been more uncomfortable in a film than I was watching all the wrong decisions being made in a row without an inch of room for a mistake. It also serves as a reminder that Sandler makes shit film by choice, which is very depressing.
10. Booksmart
What a breakout for basically everyone involved with this movie. As someone who isn't the biggest fan of comedies, this hit all the right buttons, and Billie Lourde as Gigi is perhaps the hardest I've laughed at a movie character in years.
The Rest:
Marriage Story: The viewer feels everything that happens in this film, and Adam Driver deserves all the awards.
Ready or Not: The surprise of 2019 for sure. Samara Weaving made an incredible final girl, and there's as many scares as there are laughs.
The Farewell: How a movie went from critical favorite to nothing at the major awards is a fucking joke.
Shadow: A movie I literally bought because of how good the 4K disc is, but was shocked at how much more this movie was than its looks.
Ad Astra: You like slow, weird sci-fi with Brad Pitt? If not, you'll now realize this was something you were missing.
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