Top 10 movies of 2018

As 2018 finally draws to a close it is that time of the year when we all compile our top 10 lists for the year. Now 2018 was a weird year for me, at the halfway point of the year I bemoaned the quality of film this year however now that the entire 12 months has passed, I think it is fair to say that is has been a stellar year for film. I am not one to compile honourable mentions as I feel they are undercut the entire point of top 10 lists but in this case, I must make an exception.

                                                           

Honourable Mentions

Roma

Now for many this is scandalous to not be in the top 10 and I might even agree myself though Roma misses out on my list just because I enjoyed the actual top 10 a bit more. However, make no mistake Roma isn’t just a film, it is film albeit cliché to say such. Alfonso Cuaron has poured his heart into Roma serving as both director and cinematographer which is where this film should surely be winning this awards season. One of the most noticeable aspects of Roma is the intimate, small scale drama which works in its favour often reminding me of Ozu’s work with Cuaron reflecting his own life in his work

First Reformed

Another film that in any other given year would surely be placed in the top 10 but in First Reformed Paul Schrader crafts a piece that is solely driven by an excellent Ethan Hawke, who is given the movie to carry and give a timely, character study of earth and religion. As an atheist, I found this enamouring. When I finished the film, I liked it a lot, but the more I thought about it the more I fell in love especially with the final scene which can be read in a multitude of ways, perhaps even the best final scene of 2018. First Reformed has one of the hallmarks of a great film in that it stays with you long term after watching it.

Now onto the top 10 which has been hard to finalise, but I eventually managed to nail it down.

10) Widows

                                                               

                                                                             Image Via 20th Century Fox

Can you believe it has been 5 years since Steve McQueen directed the Oscar Winning 12 Years A Slave? I certainly can’t, and it was wonderful to have this man back on the movie scene. From the opening juxtaposed, breath-taking sequence this film knows it is about to deliver a treat. Anchored by great performances from Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez and the MVP Daniel Kaluuya. Widows is not just another generic heist movie, it is a character study of loss, and inner conflict. With some beautiful cinematography Widows pushes the genre further forward. A great ensemble piece that never feels overstuffed, and one I can not wait to revisit in coming years as I feel there is more to be discovered in rewatches of Widows.

9) Crazy Rich Asians

One of the most pleasant surprises of the year was Crazy Rich Asians. I heard a lot of buzz about this film but did not expect for it to impact as profoundly as it did. In a genre where it is easy to misfire, Crazy Rich Asians delivers beloved characters, with a beautiful, remixed soundtrack. Anchored by heart-warming performances who drive the narrative to a new level Crazy Rich Asians won’t be on too many peoples lists this year for me it would be remiss to not include given the theatrical experience.

8) Cold War

Roma might not have made it but there is still one foreign language film in my top 10. A short film at 90 minutes but the narrative is so nicely woven to cover over a decade of story.  One of the common themes for my top 10 is character, a story is nothing without character and Cold War is no exception. Though the ending is bittersweet, our characters feel in a natural place. With striking cinematography, and a steady hand directing Cold War is not just one of the best films of the year but also most underseen so if you get a chance you should really check this terrific film out.

7) Avengers: Infinity War

What is there to say about this that hasn’t been said across the internet over the last 6 months? Marvel promised an epic conclusion to this 20 plus movie arc and they may just about deliver, Avengers: Endgame pending of course. With so much character and spectacle to juggle the task for the Russos was high, one might have expected them to fail but they do not just pass but thrive. Hard to shock audiences especially with the abundance of comic book movies we now experience but the creative heads of Marvel managed to satisfy and shock viewers. Avengers: Infinity War is an event movie, the like we have not seen since Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

6) A Star Is Born

                                                                

                                                                         Image Via Warner Brothers Pictures 

Well that Bradley Cooper, he can act AND direct who knew. And that Lady Gaga she can act as well as direct. My expectations going into A Star Is Born were sky high given the trailer was my favourite for the year not to mention being excited since the entire production was brought together. Well the movie delivered and then some. A soundtrack that swept the movie charts, performances that were breath-taking and sure to be frontrunners this awards season it is hard to see where A Star Is Born slipped up and it just might be the best version of this story despite being the 4^th rendition 

5) Mission Impossible: Fallout

I never grew up with the Mission Impossible series like I did Bond, and I only watched the entire series for the first time within the last 12 months however Fallout solidified this series as one of Hollywood’s premier IP’s least of all in terms of quality. In Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie set the bar high but with Fallout they obliterated the bar to deliver one of the all-time great action films, helped by a terrific ensemble cast that is would be unfair to pick just one who was superior.

4) A Quiet Place

One of the earlier films of the year has still managed to hang into the top 5 because it is just that good. With a terrific directorial debut from John Krasinski who looks as if he’s been working behind the camera for decades, strong leads through Krasinski, Blunt, Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds who gave one of the most performances from a younger actress in a long time. One might think the premise of A Quiet Place could see it descend into a generic horror piece, however this is far from the case. Krasinski maintains the thriller, tense atmosphere which are almost Hitchcockian. It is just a shame that it looks as though A Quiet Place won’t be a player this awards season as I feel it deserves it immensely.

3) Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse

All one can really react to this is that the hype is well and truly justified. One of the most innovative films in recent memory. Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse will do for animation what Pixar did in the late 90s. Furthermore, this opens new genre storytelling methods particularly comic book movies. Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse has so much heart and character, putting that centre stage over dramatic set pieces. This is a film that should be given all the recognition that is humanly possible.

2) Hereditary

Toni Collette delivers a career best performance in a film that is within the horror genre but feels something more and crosses genre boundaries more than traditional, mainstream horror helped by indie studio A24. A quiet, slow burn that really ramps up. We often forget about the craft that goes into movie making but with Hereditary and my number one is clear to see. Filmmaking is an art that needs to be mastered and honed with this on display in Hereditary. A film that is impactful but requires multiple viewings to really gleam the most from it. Hereditary would have been number one most years but there is just one film that is amongst my favourite in recent years let alone 2018.

1) First Man

                                                                      

                                                                                      Image Via Universal Pictures

A masterpiece in filmmaking as Damien Chazelle continues to prove himself to be one of the premier filmmakers working in Hollywood today. From Whiplash to La La Land and then First Man which reflects how far Chazelle has come as filmmaker in a short space of time. Undoubtedly a character study on the man of Neil Armstrong himself, and Gosling delivers the best male performance of the year in reflecting the struggle and self-doubt Armstrong went through in his adulthood. However, the film becomes something more, a celebration of Armstrong. It is the anti-Apollo 13 and that is not a slight on that film but praise for Chazelle willing to subvert expectations of a film about the moon landing. With a chilling score from Hurwitz (The Landing is without a doubt the best piece of music this year), and spine-tingling action sequences First Man can be compared to many films, but it is without a doubt the years best.

All in all 2018 has been a strong year for film, and as we look forward to 2019 its time to celebrate the great art of 2018 and hope 2019 is just as good.