It may not have been a stellar year, but it was more than satisfactory. Wait, did that disappoint you? Was that not bombastic enough? Well, fair warning, you may not want to read the rest of this rundown then. Not every year is a “great” year for movies as some critics would like you to believe. But 2018 was more than fine, and that’s a start.
Granted, there were some stunning performances that will be hard to forget over the past 12 months. Nicole Kidman in “Destroyer.” Rami Malek in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Willem Dafoe in “At Eternity’s Gate.” Toni Collette in “Hereditary.” Regina Hall in “Support the Girls.” Hugh Grant in “Paddington 2.” Even Tom Holland‘s work in “Avengers: Infinity War” deserves praise. But many those films have asterisks next to them for one reason or another (outside of “Paddington 2” of course). Simply too many movies this year faltered in the story or execution or were over-hyped for one reason or another. Hey, it happens. And it doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything to celebrate.
Frankly, If I had to list the movies I’d want to watch again and again in the years ahead it’s likely only the top three on this list would make the cut. But a top 10 list is a top 10 list and for history’s sake, we’ll stick to the format.
Please note: My list is determined by when I see the film, not by its release date. That is why the stellar “The Rider” ranked high on my list in 2017. Four of the films below will hopefully hit theaters in the U.S. sometime in 2019.
1. “Cold War”
I’ve seen Paweł Pawlikowski’s masterpiece on the big screen three times. I’ll probably try to see it a bunch more. It’s a captivating work that weaves political and musical history into a romance for the ages. Pawlikowski and his creative team compose one unforgettable image after another and Joanna Kulig’s performance is simply a revelation.
2. “Climax”
Gaspar Noé’s latest extravaganza is the most visceral cinematic experience I’ve witnessed in years. Consisting of at least five single-take sequences (perhaps more), Noé mixes choreography and characterization into a mesmerizing piece of work. There are at least 19 speaking parts and Noé somehow finds a way to make almost all of them distinct and, often, unforgettable. And when the film’s storyline takes a drug-induced turn? It’s almost like you’re on the same trip as its victims. A24 is releasing Climax on Mar 1. See it on the biggest screen possible.
3. “The Favourite”
What a masterful script. What performances from Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz (is legendary too hyperbolic to describe all three?). What pitch-perfect direction by Yorgos Lanthimos. What an underrated turn by Nicholas Hoult. What stunning cinematography by Robbie Ryan. What incredible costumes by Sandy Powell. And can we talk about those wigs?
4. “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Barry Jenkins goes three for three in this marvelous adaptation of James Baldwin’s classic novel. He unapologetically challenges the audiences at times, but the result an often visionary work thanks to the immersive contributions of cinematographer James Laxton, composer Nicolas Brittell and three crazy impressive turns by Regina King, Brian Tyree Henry and Stephan James.
5. “Non-Fiction”
Oliver Assayas latest is a massive surprise which, frankly, is so good it’s stunning it wasn’t France’s foreign language film submission. Assayas’ script has a ton to say about society’s love and hate relationships with the digital age in the context of a trio of conflicting romances. That sounds like well-read territory, but Assayas somehow finds a way to make it remarkably fresh (and in the context of literary publishing no less). And, once again, Assayas provides the platform for Juliette Binoche to deliver one of the best performances of her career.