What a great year for movies! As I mulled over what films I wanted to discuss for my annual writing duties, I was truly torn to narrow down the choices from 20 to 15 to the eventual list below. We saw everything the past twelve months from the newest technologies such as digital de-aging to the oldest styles where filmmakers used 100 year old cameras for their work. With so many joyful cinematic experiences added to the ol' mind palace, I feel compelled to share some of the other films which almost made the list.
Some standout performances this year included Tom Hanks' transformation into the beloved Mr. Rogers for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Taron Egerton delivered Rocketman to the screen in a visually delightful musical every bit as electric as Elton John's songs. Head and shoulders above the crowd for me though, was Paul Walter Hauser in Clint Eastwood's Richard Jewell which is perhaps the most impressive performance I saw this year.
Some industry and fan favorites didn't make the cut this year as well. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was good but a bit exhausting in length and by-the-numbers for Tarantino. Avengers: Endgame was wholly entertaining but suffers the same fatigue of too long of a runtime and just not living up to Avengers: Infinity War. 1917 is a visual masterpiece but offered little else in the way of distinguishing itself from the many war movies which precede it.
Movies which were better than they should have been: Hustlers, Good Boys, Ford v Ferrari, It Chapter Two, Dark Waters, Deadwood: The Movie, Booksmart, and Motherless Brooklyn.
Movies which were worse than they should have been: Dark Phoenix, Us, Ad Astra, The Dead Don't Die, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Terminator: Dark Fate.
On to the best of the best...