The list:
1. RomaLots has been written about this beautiful tribute by Alfonso Cuaron to his childhood in Mexico. I'm not sure how to add to it. But there is something really special about watching a movie focused on the character who is normally relegated to the background. Yalitza Aparicio's Cleo is a marvel, showing every inch of her character's humanity. The movie is funny and tragic, joy-filled and heartbreaking. Its slow-pacing allows you to appreciate the beauty of Cuaron's visuals. It's just a really special movie.
2. Sorry to Bother You
I love this movie. So much. It is just weird and wonderful. I went in knowing nothing, and I'm so glad I did. It's hilarious, political, and surreal- satire at its finest. It features intense social commentary about capitalism and racism, and does it with a style both ridiculous and completely recognizable as our world. LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Armie Hammer are all great (as, frankly, is David Cross, as Stanfield's "white voice" that makes him such a successful telemarketer). A movie experience unlike any other I had this year.
3. Three Identical Strangers
No movie has stuck with me over the course of this year more than this one. It's is one of those "if it wasn't real, we would call it unbelievable" stories. Bobby Shafran shows up for college, only to have everyone act like they know him calling him Eddy. Turns out, he has an identical twin brother he never knew about. But then the story gets printed as a feel-good piece in the local newspaper. And David Kellman sees a picture of two hims standing next to each other, and realizes he's the third. That's just the beginning of the movie (and what is laid out in the trailer, for those accusing me of spoilers (I'm looking at you, Cole)). The twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the examination of nature versus nurture has kept me thinking about this movie months after I saw it.
4. Black Panther
What do I need to say about Black Panther? I mean, literally, there are 10,000-word think pieces written about it. I will just add that I loved the entire experience of seeing this movie, and it still gives me chills. The set design and costumes of Wakanda. The performances (especially Michael B. Jordan). The impact of a nearly all-black superhero cast. The "Tolkien white guys" (a joke that reveals my nerdom because I will never get tired of it). The power of seeing so many different versions of a "strong female character." The moral quandary of the plot. I just really love this movie.
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse
The newest entry into a very bloated world of Spider-Men basically revolutionized animation, but, more importantly, it's just a great movie. It's so cleverly done, fitting an entirely new story within the world(s) that have already been built. The cast is unreal, breathing so much life into the characters (also, Nic Cage). It's full of clever easter eggs and cameos, but what's most special about it is the story and Miles Morales. This was the escapism I needed this year.
6. The Favourite
Olivia Colman. Olivia Colman. Olivia Colman. God, I love her. She is just wonderful in this weird and fantastic movie. Ostensibly a period piece, featuring a dance scene with vogue-ing, and a strange, but effective use of fish-eye lenses. Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Nicholas Hoult are all wonderful as well, but the movie is Colman's. Her confusion, pleasure, anger, joy, jealousy, humor, and heartbreak are all vividly portrayed. A wacky and wonderful movie.
7. A Quiet Place
I still have chills from this movie. This was one of those special theater experiences, when you realize how silent the room you're sitting in is, despite being filled with people. We were all transfixed, and scared to make a sound. Emily Blunt is so great in this movie, and John Krasinski gets extra points for writing, directing, and starring. The first ten minutes set up exactly what type of movie this is (I was not ready for that), and I'm not sure I moved in my seat after that point. Are there plot holes on a second viewing? Sure. But my first time viewing of this movie was special.
8. BlacKkKlansman
There are many things to love about Spike Lee's latest movie. But the part that sold me was the way it tied the events of the time to today's world. After a mostly humorous film (even though you still feel the terror of a black man and a jewish man together infiltrating the Klan), I was shocked to find myself sobbing at the end. Spike Lee is a master at directing people's emotions, and he played me like a fiddle. Once again, strong performances all around (John David Washington and Adam Driver are both especially great). And while he has made better movies (*cough cough* Do The Right Thing), it was really fantastic to see Spike Lee get a long-overdue nomination for Best Director (it's legitimately shocking that this is his first one).
9. Vice
Look, I'm sure Rami Malek is fantastic in Bohemian Rhapsody (I didn't see it, because I do my best to avoid giving my money to movies directed by pedophiles (a horrifyingly harder task than it should be)), but I just don't understand how anyone could give a better performance than Christian Bale did as Dick Cheney (and, yes, much could be said about Christian Bale's past- thus the challenge in trying to take a moral stance in what movies you see...). Bale just disappeared into this role. I get chills every time I see clips from it. But it's not just Bale- Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, and the rest of the cast are amazing, too. Where it succeeds most as a movie, for me at least, is in tying everything Cheney did to where we are today in the political landscape (a theme this year it shares with BlacKkKlansman). It's not exactly a fun time at the movies (I compare my viewing experience most closely to Adam McKay's other recent political examination- The Big Short), but it is one that sticks with you.
10. (tie) A Star is Born and Annihilation
A Star is Born
Look, Lady Gaga was born to play this role. And you only remake this movie if you have Lady Gaga. It was meant to be. It's almost frustrating to watch someone so musically talented (which is completely on display here with a killer soundtrack that deserves every accolade it's been given) be so good as an actor, too. She's so great in this movie. As is Bradley Cooper, who mastered that voice and learned to be a rock star. Their chemistry is unreal (as further demonstrated by the Oscars). Sam Elliot is Sam Elliot- gruff and great. I didn't expect to love this movie, but boy do I.
Annihilation
The joys of watching a sci-fi movie featuring a mostly female cast. I didn't quite expect the impact watching these women warriors and scientists heading off into the unknown "Shimmer" would have on me, but it was strangely profound. Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac are great, but the real star of this movie is the eerie visuals from inside this nonstop mutation- plants growing in the shape of humans, a bear that screams with a human voice, different species of flowers growing from the same branch. It gives the whole movie such a dreamy and surreal quality, while maintaining its extreme tension. The best I've seen of this genre in a long time.
Honorable Mentions:
Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Infinity War, Can You Ever Forgive Me, Crazy Rich Asians, Eighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk, Ocean's 8, The Hate U Give, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Widows, Won't You Be My Neighbor
The Extras
Best Actor: Christian Bale, Vice
Runner-up: There is none. Christian Bale wins everything.
Best Actress: Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Runner-up: Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Best Supporting Actor: Richard Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me
Runner-up: Nicholas Hoult, The Favorite
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, Vice
Runner-up: (tie) Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk and Elizabeth Debicki, Widows
Hardest Movie to Leave Off the Top Ten: Widows. Just a great and underrated movie.
Best Movie Based on a Book I Loved: Crazy Rich Asians. A fantastically entertaining movie, bringing back the romantic comedy and featuring an almost entirely Asian cast. Beautiful to look at and will make you so hungry.
Worst Movie Based on a Book I Loved: Ready Player One. This movie is just TERRIBLE. When I heard Spielberg would be directing it, I thought he might be one of the only people who could pull it off, because he could get the rights to all the other properties that are so critical in the book (which includes a man obsessed with 80's pop culture). But, wow, did I hate this movie.
Honorable Mention: Dumplin'. I didn't hate this movie, but it took away so many of the parts that I loved about the book, and made me angry at the erasure of characters and themes that the movie should theoretically be lifting up.
Best Movie About Ruth Bader Ginsburg: While On the Basis of Sex is totally enjoyable, gotta go with the documentary, RBG
Movie I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With: Eighth Grade. I really loved parts of this movie (which just so purely captures the experience of eighth grade). But I also hated it, because it just so purely captures the experience of eighth grade.
