By Christian Ceja
February 21 2020
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10. Knives Out
This year has been an eventful one regarding movies. I saw 73 2019 features and there are around 10 other movies that would have made it into the top 10 in a different year that failed to squeeze into this list. To start off my top 10 list I have Knives Out written and directed by Rian Johnson who previously directed Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi. Knives Out is a comedy and a whodunnit romp that features a star studded ensemble. Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Shannon are just a segment of the cast. With a movie that houses many big names Rian Johnson does exceptionally well in making the audience doesn’t forget a single character and he makes sure each character gets their voice. Each character is not only memorable but has an integral part to the story thanks to Rian Johnson’s immaculate writing. This movie is a hit as both a mystery and a comedy. This movie had me howling several times and I can assure you that no substances were involved on my end. As a whodunnit the mystery is well preserved and I was second-guessing myself all throughout the movie up until the very last scenes. Not only was this movie absolutely fun to watch but it’s also one of the most meticulous screenplays of the year due to its twisty and corkscrew-y nature.
9. Midsommar
Next on the list is Ari Aster’s sophomore effort, Midsommar. Midsommar is a horror movie that revolves around Dani, played by Florence Pugh. After witnessing a family tragedy in the beginning of the film, Dani joins her boyfriend and a group of graduate students who travel to a small commune in Sweden to write their thesis on the Midsommar festival as a getaway from the events of the beginning of the film. The Swede festivities escalate into something the group of young adults would never wish to ever witness. This movie is unrelenting with the cruelty it shows on the screen and it doesn’t wait to get into the horror. This movie is gruesome and contains imagery that will be etched into the forefront of your mind after watching it. The movie doesn’t rely on jumpscares nor clichéd horror-movie devices. In fact, this movie takes place in broad daylight for the majority of the film. Not only does this film feature scenes that will have you pondering over the next few nights after watching it but it’s also gorgeously shot. The movie shows off the greenery of Sweden beautifully and the villager’s costumes and production was also something to behold. Midsommar is a gem that left a mark on me after watching it.
8. Little Women
Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, is the 5th adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s original novel. Little Women is a coming of age movie centering around an American family of sisters during the civil war. I just want to preface this film by saying that everything in this film just works together to provide and seemingly complete film. The production design perfectly encapsulates 19th century America. There were a few scenes where the cinematography was breathtaking. The film jumps back and forth between when the sisters are teens and when they’re adults. The time jumps are seamless and the pacing of the moving is unperturbed by them. This movie is a highly emotional affair. Greta Gerwig perfectly conveys the familial bond each of the sisters have and that is where the strength of the film lies.
7. Transit
Transit is one of 2019’s biggest surprises. I first came across this movie at my local arthouse theater. I looked up the movie on Metacritic and I was astonished by it’s relatively high rating of 82. German native, Christian Pletzold, wrote and directed this film. This movie is an adaptation of Anna Segher’s WW2 novel under the same name. Despite the setting of Transit resembling a Nazi-occupied France during WW2 it is entirely set in a modern backdrop. Meshing a contemporary setting with a world war 2 setting makes for a aesthetic that’s frozen in time. What sold this story for me was the emotional beats. I grew an attachment to Georg, the main character who’s played by Franz Rogowoski, and there were times in the film where I felt my heart sink. On top of that the screenplay itself is a gem. The script is written like a finely woven fabric. Each thread is has it’s purpose.
6. Climax
Climax is the latest film from one of contemporary cinema’s most controversial directors, Gaspar Noe. Climax follows a dance troupe as they perform their last practice session before their big competition. The troupe starts celebrating their last practice session with music and sangria when, suddenly, a snow storm traps them inside the auditorium and the sangria that every dancer drank has everyone feeling a bit odd. The opening dance sequence of the movie is mesmerizing. It was all done in a single long take. This movie does not shy away from long takes and tracking shots. Mesmerizing is the word I would use to describe the entire movie. The movie turns into a nightmare with the lights of the auditorium changing and flashing. Each intoxicated dancer is moaning, groaning, tripping and dancing throughout the film. The atmosphere of the movie becomes a living nightmare. The camerawork is enchanting and at times it seems as if Gaspar Noe is flaunting, but I am glad isn’t restraining himself. This movie is technically astute because of Gaspar Noe’s direction.
5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – This movie is unlike other films because the movie happens to focus around. This movie is by far the most wholesome movie of the year and it’s almost therapeutic.
4. Pain & Glory
Pedro Almodovar’s Pain & Glory is a film that is semi-autobiographical and it shows in the best way. Pain and Glory takes the viewer along Spanish filmmaker Salvador Mallo’s (impressively played by Antonio Banderas) life from his youth all the way down to the twilight years of his career. The movie beautifully tackles themes of aging, drug use, and the seeking of inspiration for creating art and Pedro Almodovar wraps up the entire movie with a masterful ending.
3. The Lighthouse
This movie was shot in 16mm black and white with a narrow 4:3 aspect ratio and is one of the best looking movies of the year and has my favorite performance from an actor this year as per Willem Dafoe. This movie oozes personality as it explores sailor culture and mythology in a way I’ve yet to see before.
2. Uncut Gems
The Safdie Brothers have created an anxiety induced cinema. Uncut Gems is one of the most stressful, and exhilarating movies of the year and it features an unrecognizable Adam Sandler. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster ride.
1. The Irishman
As a general disclaimer all of these picks are my own opinion. I truly believe The Irishman is the best film of 2019. It’s grand. It’s epic. It’s witty, charming, funny, and memorable. This movie is a culmination of Scorsese’s work featuring many of his past and frequent collaborators like Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino and they all deliver sharp and memorable performances.
If you want to check out my ratings for the other 63 2019 releases I watched in 2019 you can do so at: https://letterboxd.com/denirosmole/list/movies-of-2019-ranked/
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