Every year, I keep a running list of the best movies I’ve seen this year. By the end of the year, I usually end up with a Top Ten and another 5-15 mentions. Here’s my 2019 list.
To get on my year-end list, a movie has to be one that thrills me while I’m watching it and one that I’m still thinking about a couple of days later.
THE BEST OF THE YEAR
Nomadland: The fierce authenticity of Frances McDormand’s performance and Chloé Zhao’s genius with nonprofessional actors illuminates this extraordinary film with humanity. Streaming on Hulu.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: A searing revelation of the impacts of racism, with charged performances by Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis. Streaming on Netflix.
The Personal History of David Copperfield: That master of social satire, Amando Ianucci, brings Charles Dickins’ masterpiece to life in this vivid and brilliantly constructed film. Streaming on Amazon, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.
Sound of Metal: This psychological pressure-cooker is super intense ride, but there’s a satisfying payoff. Both Riz Ahmed’s performance and the sound design are Oscar-worthy. Amazon (included with Prime).
The Father: Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman deliver heartbreaking performances in this unsettling exploration of memory loss. The Father is scheduled to be released on February 26.
Driveways: I can’t think of a more authentic movie about intergenerational relationships than this charming, character-driven indie. The more I think about Driveways, the more I admire it. It also features the final performance – so genuine and subtle – by Brian Dennehy. Driveways is available to stream on all the major platforms.
The August Virgin: Eva is 33 and not where she wants to be in life, so it’s time for a reset. In this lovely and genuine Spanish film, her only plan is to be open to the possibilities. It has streamed on Virtual Cinema.
Another Round: Writer-director Thomas Vinterberg once again explores human foibles with humor and cold-eyed insight – and profoundly to boot. Mads Mikkelsen is stellar. I watched Another Round on Virtual Cinema at Laemmle.
Mayor: The camera shadows the intrepid mayor of the Palestinian city of Ramallah as he goes about his daily adventures. Director David Osit, in just his third feature, has created a masterpiece of cinéma vérité that informs us about human foibles and aspirations, nestled within the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Streaming on Virtual Cinema, including at Laemmle.
Mank: David Fincher’s portrait of troubled talent in Classic Hollywooda is a black-and-white beauty of a film. Amanda Seyfried is great as Marion Davies. Streaming on Netflix.
The Whistlers: In this absorbing crime thriller, a shady cop and a mysterious woman are walking a tightrope of treachery. The Whistlers was a hit at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, but COVID-19 impaired its 2020 theatrical release in the US. You can stream it from Amazon, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.
The Truth: Writer-director Hirozaki Koreeda’s latest wry and authentic exploration of human behavior is a showcase for Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche. Koreeda, such an insightful observer of behavior, cuts to the core of his characters’ profound humanity. The Truth is streaming on Amazon, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.
Black Bear: Making full use of Aubrey Plaza’s unique gifts, this dark comedy is edge-of-the-seat movie and a cauldron of surprises. Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play.
Before the Fire: In this year’s Must See at Cinequest, the only escape from an apocalyptic flu pandemic is a woman’s long-estranged rural hometown – but the scary family who traumatized her childhood is there, too. Written by its female star Jenna Lyng Adams, and the first feature by its female director Charlie Buhler, this indie thriller rocks.
Other movies to mention
- Owners: This dark Czech comedy takes a jaundiced view of human foibles – as if penned by a modern Czech Mark Twain. Recognized as the year’s best film from the Czech Republic, this was the best international film at Cinequest.
- Inez & Doug & Kira: A tangle of love, friendship and bipolar disorder – and obsession. Another American indie at Cinequest.