Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
#15: Crazy Rich Asians
What was certainly one of the most culturally significant films of the year just also happened to be one of the year's most flat out charming films as well as perhaps my favorite mainstream rom-com since Crazy Stupid Love. Sure, it was formulaic as it followed most of the beats you'd expect from a rom-com, but more importantly it was also heartfelt, consistently funny, and contained a terrific ensemble of charming performers. Stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding also made for a irresistible and root worthy on-screen pairing, while Michelle Yeoh brought surprising nuances to what could've been such a one-note character. This is just one of those movies that made me smile from beginning to end.
#14 Won't You Be My Neighbor
I'll admit that I'm not typically the biggest fan of documentaries, and I'm sadly not very familiar with Fred Rodgers's work, but good lord this was magnificent. By exploring the brilliant and inspiring work that Rodgers accomplished in his career, this was just one of those rare films that you leave the theater wanting to do everything you can to become a better person than you were walking in. Heartfelt and just simply delightful!
#13: Black Panther
Another Home Run that has obviously become a landmark success, but also happened to be one hell of a film in its own right. With a compelling story at its center, an outstanding ensemble cast, a memorable set of characters, a beautifully realized world, and Michael B. Jordan's scene stealing turn as maybe one of the most complex villain performances ever in any comic book film, this is one of the most impressive MCU work to date. Ryan Coogler continues to showcase himself as one of the very best directors of today and it's easy to see why his latest work is quickly becoming an Oscar front runner.
#12: Avengers: Infinity War
This surely just had to be included on the list somewhere, and for good reasons. Sure, given the ridiculous number of characters, Infinity War may undoubtedly feel a little stuffed, but the way the Russo Brothers were able to inject all these different characters and give them each something memorable to do I thought was just beautifully done. Amazing chemistry between these cast members, terrific set pieces, an unforgettable villain performance in Josh Brolin's Thanos, and one heck of a pretty ballsy ending, Infinity War was surely one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of 2018. Fingers crossed that Avengers: Endgame ends this particular saga of the MCU with a bang (I have all the confidence in the world that it will).
#11: Mid90s
There were lots of impressive directorial debuts I believe in 2018, and Jonah Hill's coming of age story was surely one of the best. Funny, honest, surprisingly even relatable, this was clearly a passion project for Mr. Hill and consists of a centered group of young teenagers growing up in 90s LA whom I honestly could've watched interact for hours. The dialogue and the performances from the young cast feel so natural that at times I almost forgot that I was even watching a movie. This was a real special one!
#10: Widows
Steve McQueen's latest has seemed to be quite divisive amongst many filmgoers, and I'm honestly kind of puzzled as to why. Maybe it has to do with my love for the crime genre, but whatever it was, Widows had me captivated from start to finish and I think even had more to say on its mind than your standard heist drama. For me, I loved its slow burn nature as it really did a nice job in fleshing out its complex characters and it also doesn't hurt that it rounded up one of the most impressive ensemble cast in years. Everyone is outstanding here, particularly Viola Davis (obviously) in yet another Oscar worthy turn, Elizabeth Deblicki, and Daniel Kaluuya in as the ruthless mob enforcer. The tension build throughout was palpable, the action was thrilling and the film even left me gasping a few times with some of the twisty directions the plot took.
#9 Hereditary
I loved A Quiet Place, as well as the new Halloween, but in 2018, no other horror film left the kind of unforgettable impact that Ari Aster's haunting film did. What in its opening minutes seemed like it would be your traditional ghost story quickly I think turned into one of the most deeply personal, tragic, unsettling, and sometimes just down right disturbing films about grief I have maybe perhaps ever seen. Toni Collette, who has always been a criminally underrated actress, gives one of the most unforgettable performances of all year in the grieving mother role, while Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne, and Milly Shapiro all deliver superb work as well. This was another directing debut, and it may just have been the very best because Aster crafts this film like he's been doing this for decades.
#8: Eighth Grade
This was almost a painful experience, not because it was like really bad, but simply because of how simply raw and at least from my perceptive relatable it was, watching everything unfold for its main character. Growing up as well as transitioning from middle school to high school can be a real nerve wrecking and often awkward journey for just about anyone, which this film understood as well as any coming of age story I've seen in years. Elsie Fisher really turns in an impressive performance here as a character that I believe just about anyone can relate to in one way or another (unless you were just always the coolest, most popular kid throughout your school years), and Josh Hamilton is really heartwarming as the supportive father. Bo Burnham crafted a real special one with this, one that is easy to see becoming a cult classic years from now.
#7: BlacKkKlansman
Love him, or not, there's no denying that Spike Lee is surely one of the most fascinating filmmakers of today, as his films usually tend to have an important message to convey. This dark comedic crime drama is surely amongst his best work in years, as it features one of the year's best ensembles, a razor sharp screenplay, and an unpredictable yet incredible true life story that feels every bit as relevant in today's climate as it would've in its time period. John David Washington (whom if you don't know, is also the real life son of Denzel Washington) and Adam Driver are both terrific, while it's almost scary how much Topher Grace perfectly resembles a young David Duke. This is bound to be a major player come Oscar season and it absolutely deserves to be.
#6: First Man
This was another one I expected to take Awards season as a front runner, but for whatever I've seen many say how they walked out of Damian Chazelle's latest feeling cold. As clearly seen by its inclusion on this list, I was not one of those folks, as I found it to be one of the most visceral and memorable cinematic experiences of the year. I do have a soft spot for space exploration films, and the moon landing sequence was easily one of the very most incredible scenes from any film this year, but I also appreciated how this film's main focus was really on humanizing the main man that led the charge in this historical event. Ryan Gosling turns in typically great and subtle work, while Claire Foy deserves a Supporting Actress nod for her work as the devoted wife.
#5: Green Book
I know it may seem odd to say that a film about a fairly heavy subject matter made me feel so good inside, but that is exactly what Peter Farrelly's Green Book did and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even with its crowd pleasing charm and feel good nature, this film doesn't use those factors to sacrifice some touching and at times heartbreaking drama. It's also an exceptionally funny, and emotional tale of an unexpected friendship that forms between two men whom basically couldn't be any different from one another, both brilliant portrayed by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in Oscar worthy turns. I could'v easily watched these two play off one another for countless hours, and this is a film I see myself very well going back time countless of times in the future. I deeply loved this and want to watch it again like right now.
#4: Roma
Who knew Netflix films had it in them? Even with Alfonso Curan directing, and all the hype around it, I wasn't sure what to expect with this. For about the first half hour or so, I was sort of thinking to myself "Yeah it's really good and beautiful, but is it really pulling me emotionally?". Then the film continued on, becoming even better and then last 40 minutes or so really struck me in way hardly like any other film did this year. A beautiful work of art from all technical standpoints, as Alfonso Cuaron is one of the most visionary filmmakers of today, but it's really the performers and rawness of the drama that makes this one as special as it is. It's yet another one of those rare films where everything from the acting to the dialogue being exchanged on screen feels so natural that you almost have to remind yourself that you're watching a film. Yalitza Aparicio should be getting a Best Actress nomination for her heart wrenching performance here.
#3: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
After about six movie adaptions in just 16 years, it's easy to feel a bit burnt out on these Spider-Man films, yet here comes this wonderful gem that not only feels like a groundbreaking achievement for the character, but for the animation and superhero genres as well. It's also the best animated film of 2018 by miles as well as the best of the superhero films that were released this year. The animation work is by no surprise jaw dropping, the action sequences are incredible, it's consistently hilarious, the voice cast is amazing, but the screenplay is also one of the smartest and most original of any film to have come out this year, while it also just has a huge heart at its core. The character of Miles Morales finally gets the lovable on-screen representation he deserves, much thanks to the great voice work by Shaemeik Moore and this film might even have my favorite version of Peter Parker yet (voiced wonderfully by Jake Johnson). This is one of those films that just feels like it will only get better amongst new viewings, and I personally can't wait to see more of this universe explored, as well as more of the different incarnations of Spider-Man that we are surely bound to see.
#2: Mission Impossible-Fallout
22 years in, and now 6 films in, this is a franchise that continues to show no signs of slowing down, neither does its main star Tom Cruise. With Fallout, somehow Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have managed to once again outdo themselves here, crafting one of the most spectacular and insanely exhilarating action films in many years as well as the series greatest installment yet. With each jaw dropping set piece, whether it's Cruise himself literally dropping himself out of a plane or learning how to fly a helicopter, the film manages to continuously outdo itself and is absolutely relentless in its pacing. On top of all the ridiculously thrilling action and incredible stunts Cruise is able to accomplish at 56, the story is surprisingly emotionally engrossing, the twist & turns are clever, the ensemble cast chemistry is amazing (Henry Cavil and his famous mustache are wonderful additions here), and the climax here is honestly probably my favorite from any film I saw this entire year. It's also the most personal MI installment yet, as it wonderfully ties in previous installments together without it ever contrived, and I absolutely loved the expansion of Rebecca Ferguson's alluring Ilsa Faust character. I just enjoyed the living crap out of every second of this, I'd even go as far as to say it's one of the greatest action films of all-time for my money.
There was just maybe one movie that left a slightly bigger impact on me, and that film was......
#1: A Star is Born
Bradley Cooper's directorial debut and retelling of a classic story swept me up unlike any other film I saw this year, right from the very first moment it started. The sizzling pairing of both Cooper and Lady Gaga make it one of the greatest romance stories in many years, but it's also just such a compelling and at times gut wrenching look into how personal fame can really impact one's relationship. Right from the incredible, mesmerizing moment where Cooper & Gaga take the stage to perform "Shallows", I knew I was absolutely in for something special, and that special feeling never once went away. Gaga is an absolute revelation here, as she obviously nails every single vocal performance, but also brings out the necessary nuances for the character of Ally, while Cooper I'm honestly not sure has ever been better as an actor than he is here as Jackson Maine (which considering the body of work he's displayed over the years from "Silver Linings Playbook" to "American Sniper", that's saying quite a bit). The soundtrack is one of the very best here in ages, I've been listening to it non-stop and it would be criminal not to mention some of the great supporting work we get from actors like Sam Elliot and Andrew Dice Clay. I was so floored by this film, and as of now, it is my personal pick to win Best Actor, Actress, and Picture at this upcoming Oscar season.
So many outstanding films this year, here's hoping 2019 is just as memorable, if not even more so! Feel free to comment on the films that would be on your list below!
