2018 Movies of the Year

10. Black Panther / Avengers: Infinity War
I'm doing a bit of a cheat to squeeze in extra movies on my list and I don't have enough to separate the two Marvel entries in my reckoning.  I think after seeing pretty much all of the Marvel movies in the past several years - despite never being a comic book movie fan before them - I was pleased / surprised / overwhelmed by the "Snap" and all that came before it in the near finale of the multi-year, multi-film experiment that has broken box office records and turned me into a massive fan of comic book movies.  On the other hand, Black Panther was refreshing, exciting, awe-inspiring and simply inspiring to see POC centered in a movie this big and this awesome (and with the box office to prove it).  Whether it's a "better" film than Infinity War - probably, I mean it will be up for Best Picture (and might even win) but I probably enjoyed Infinity War more coming out of the theatre.  Both great movies and everyone has seen them.  The rest of this list is way, way, way more obscure :) 

9. Leave No Trace
Debra Granik - whose last film ("Winter's Bone") launched the career of Jennifer Lawrence - returns after a lengthy hiatus for this wonderful, spare character-study of a father and daughter who live as far off the grid as possible - in a state park / wilderness in Oregon, until park rangers discover them and force the duo to reintegrate (however slowly and distantly) into society.  This throws chaos into their relationship, as the father (played brilliantly by Ben Foster) is suffering from acute PTSD and cannot be around people but the daughter (just as brilliant Thomasin McKenzie) starts to like the idea of forming friendships with others.  Handled with a depth and poise of writing, acting, and directing rarely seen in big-screen movies these days, this indie film is a much watch for anyone who missed it this year (which is pretty much everyone since it probably made less than Infinity War did on some random Thursday in its first month).

​8. Searching
This movie should not have been good.  It takes place 100% on a computer screen - mostly in FaceTime and/or the camera of a MacBook filming John Cho desperately searching his daughter's computer for clues after she mysteriously disappears one random night following a study session with a classmate.  But Cho is wonderful, the mystery is great, and the scenes are so gripping that you can't quite help but ignore the "on-screen"ness of it all;  in fact, I would say that this is the only way this story can be told, as it explores the missing teen's life through her online life, which was very different than the life that her father had known about.  It's available right now on streaming services and I highly recommend.

7.  Blackkklansman / The Favourite
Two very likely Best Picture nominees are grouped together here almost entirely so I can squeeze another film into my Top 10 list.  The latest Spike Lee film, about a black policeman who infiltrates a local KKK chapter planning violence in the 70s has some great acting, great writing, and solid direction in a fascinating true story that ends with a political statement that caps the entire film to make it resonate so strongly with the profound racism still present in our society - now, more than ever, more openly by the president of the fucking country.  Sad.  But a great movie.

​The Favourite is indie director Yorgos Lanthimos's latest and most accessible film - a period drama set in 1706 England - and it's a hilarious, biting, incredibly well-acted and filmed picture that captivates for almost its entire running length, as two scheming women fight for the love / adoration / spoils of being close to Queen Anne during a war with France.  Olivia Colman is so amazing in this part - she's a favorite for Best Actress as well - and I remember her so fondly from the first gripping season of Broadchurch.  Here she plays a self-centered, somewhat daft, often angry spoiled queen who yearns so much for love that her every turn of biting phrase reveals more and more how sad her existence is despite being queen of England.  Rachel Weisz gives another star turn as the kick-ass Lady Marlborough, Anne's long-time friend and confidante who is also secretly running the country at wartime, while Emma Stone does an acceptable British accent as a usurper attempting to make her way up from scullery maid to regain her status as a Lady.  The movie doesn't quite stick the landing in its conclusion but it's so perfect for so much of its running length I highly recommend.

​6. A Quiet Place
A thrilling adventure from former Office actor John Krasinki, one of the most suspenseful movies I've seen in a long time.  Yes, it probably doesn't make a ton of logical sense if you think about it too long but I was surprised and absorbed and if you've wasted your time with Birdbox this winter, you know how difficult a quality thriller / horror film is to make.  

5. The Hate U Give
I wrote about this movie earlier this year in a post here.  Great novel, really great movie, and it is necessary viewing for those who don't quite understand police violence against POC in this country because it doesn't enter their lives.  Make it enter your life (at list by viewing at a safe distance and gaining a great measure of empathy for an experience you need to understand as an American). 

​4. Eighth Grade
By far the funniest movie I've seen this year - and also a horror story of its own - this is Bo Burnham's directorial debut about a young woman suffering through the hell that is eighth grade in a suburban high school.  Funny and smart and really, really moving, and Elsie Fisher's role as the lead is so natural and strong - you ache with every pained face she makes and root for her so wholeheartedly you can't help but feel for single father Josh Hamilton trying to guide her through.

​3. Free Solo
2. Minding the Gap
I discussed both of these documentaries in detail last month and they have reached the very top of my favorite films of the year.  Please read my writeup and go watch these movies.  
FREE SOLO IS ON IMAX SCREENS STARTING THIS WEEKEND JANUARY 11TH

. Minding the Gap - dir. Bing Liu (2018)

​1. Roma
Alfonso Cuaron's latest masterpiece is a sweeping personal story of his childhood in middle class Mexico of the 70s, focused on his nanny at the time, and her hidden story taking care of a family that treats her like family, sort of, but also considers her the help.  It's a quiet, small film but told with such bold, brilliant, breathtaking cinematography in reflective black-and-white, that it captivates the viewer through its languid first half, which makes its more thrilling / devastating / momentous second half so impactful that it brought me to tears.  It's a Netflix release and you can watch it on there - and you should - but if you can, please see it on a big screen for the amazing direction and the best sound I think I've ever heard in a theater in my entire life.  It will be up for Best Picture and in my opinion is easily the best film of the year.

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​Honorable Mentions (Please note I've "only" seen about 50 films this year, so I haven't seen many "Best Picture" potentials such as A Star is Born, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Venom.  They are not considered here).

Love, Simon
We the Animals
Mission Impossible: Fallout
A Simple Favor
Crazy Rich Asians
Blockers