Here are my favourite films of 2019 ranked from ten to one. Subject to my opinion and what I saw, of course.
Honourable mentions: Rocketman, Yesterday, Toy Story 4, Knives Out, Blinded by the Light, Little Women, Avengers: Endgame (highest-grossing to date!)
- The King
- The latest film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Immaculate set design and costumes and gritty fight scenes. Historically inaccurate at times and, though he gave a good performance I found (unpopular opinion) pretty-boy Timothee Chalamet miscast as the martial king Henry.
- Marriage Story
- About a rich white liberal divorce with all the legal nastiness. Sad and compelling. Stars Scarlett Johanson and Adam Driver.
- Dolemite is my Name
- Eddie Murphy stars as ambitious but down and out comedian Rudy Ray Moore in 1970s Los Angeles. With zero experience he directs and finances a homemade kung-fu themed Blaxploitation film. Murphy’s best performance in years.
- Jojo Rabbit
- The latest from director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnorok). A shy boy and proud Hitler Youth finds out his mother is harbouring a Jew. Waititi is hilarious as a camp Hitler, his imaginary best friend. Quite moving toward the end.
- El Camino
- A sequel movie to the tv show Breaking Bad (2008-2013). Rivetting conclusion to Jesse Pinkman’s story.
- 1917
- Two British soldiers travel through no man’s land to halt 1500 men from advancing to their deaths. Thrilling and harrowing: brings the horrors of trench warfare to life.
- A colourful and violent ode to 1960s Los Angeles.
- Joker
- A disturbed and impoverished clown turns violent. More psychological thriller than DC flick. Dark but engaging. We live in a society.
- Mob epic from Martin Scorcese. Suspenseful and thematic.
- Well crafted, topical and deeply unsettling. A Korean language film and only non-English one to make the list.
What were your favourites? What should/will win Best Picture at the Oscars? What were the best foreign-language films? Let me know in the comments below!
From the Parapet 