The Flickering Myth writing team present our top ten movies of 2019…
2019. A year that has seen Disney dominating the multiplexes, the Mouse House setting records left, right and centre (not least Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, which dethroned 2009’s Avatar to become the highest-grossing film of all-time). It’s seen legendary filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese making the jump to Netflix while trashing Marvel Studios for not being “cinema” enough. It’s seen a comic book movie becoming the first R-rated release to break a billion dollars at the box office, whilst simultaneously picking up the kind of critical acclaim that puts it right in the mix for Oscar recognition. It’s seen the end of the Infinity Saga, the Skywalker Saga, and Fox’s X-Men saga, and it brought us Cats…
As another year draws to a close, the writers here at Flickering Myth have been casting our votes for our favourite movies of the past twelve months, which we’ve aggregated to compile our list of The Top Ten Movies of 2019. So, let the countdown begin!
10. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Luke Perry, Margaret Qualley, Mike Moh, Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Lorenza Izzo, and Maya Hawke.
In at #10 this year is Quentin Tarantino’s ninth (and reportedly penultimate) film, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, the iconic filmmaker’s love letter to the final days of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
“For those that love cinema, well, considering the plot dealing with fading popularity and father time (not to mention the leading stars themselves opening up winding down and how acting is a young man’s game), this could be perceived as Tarantino’s swansong and him leaving behind a goldmine of knowledge for the next generation of filmmakers. If they ever want to make a movie half as good as Tarantino has ever made, they will study Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood ears wide open and eagle-eyed.” – Read our full review here.
9. The Lighthouse
Directed by Robert Eggers.
Starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson.
At #9 is The Lighthouse, the second film from The Witch director Robert Eggers, which sees Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson delivering outstanding performances as two lighthouse keepers on a remote island who find themselves plunging into the depths of madness and desperation.
“The Lighthouse is a tale of madness that, while laden with symbolism and the fantastic, is incredibly realistic. The horrifying truth is that these events can happen to anyone, and sometimes actually did. It is the fear of being alone which drives men mad. This may not be the horror movie we expected or the horror movie we wanted, but by Jove, it’s the horror movie we desperately needed and the horror movie we deserved. The mind is a horrific place without the light of humanity that shines upon it.” – Read our full review here.
8. Us
Written and Directed by Jordan Peele.
Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Evan Alex, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Kara Hayward, Anna Diop, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon, Madison Curry, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
After enjoying crticial and commercial success with his debut feature Get Out (our #3 pick for the best movies of 2017), actor and comedian turned filmmaker Jordan Peele delivered another superb slice of psychological horror this year with Us, our writers’ eighth favourite movie of 2019.
“Forget all the talk of which prestigious filmmaker Jordan Peele is going to replace, as that’s an insult to his talent; he’s the first Jordan Peele, a superb filmmaker that can blend different styles of horror and social commentary distilled with his own trademark brand of humor. Us is both gruesome and challenging, the kind of movie worth dissecting on multiple viewings and one that demands to be instantly reanalyzed upon its ending… A phenomenal piece of work that will leave you pondering it long throughout many nights, and assuredly with the lights on.” – Read our full review here.
7. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Anjelica Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Mark Dacascos, Lance Reddick, Jerome Flynn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tiger Hu Chen, Asia Kate Dillon, and Jason Mantzoukas.
Three entries in, and the John Wick franchise continued to go from strength to strength as director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves served up more spectacular action with Chapter 3 – Parabellum, our #7 movie of the year.
“If George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road was the legendary filmmaker showing youngsters how it’s done, this is Chad Stahelski firing back. Much like Chapter 2, Chapter 3 leaves you begging for more. At this point, the John Wick movies are becoming a new drug, so go get your fix. Prepare for more than war, prepare for constant exhilarating anarchy.” – Read our full review here.
6. Joker
Directed by Todd Phillips.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro, Brett Cullen, Frances Conroy, Douglas Hodge, Shea Whigham, Marc Maron, Bryan Callen, Bill Camp, Josh Pais, Glenn Fleshler, Dante Pereira-Olson, and Brian Tyree Henry.
DC Films’ resurgence continued this year as they stepped away from the DC Extended Universe with Joker, The Hangover director Todd Phillips’ ‘gritty character study’ which saw Joaquin Phoenix delivering an unforgettable turn as the Clown Prince of Crime.
“While Phillips is no Martin Scorsese, he certainly came to this project with something to prove, and the result is a shockingly measured and formally precise piece of work, operating in tantalising tandem with one of our greatest living actors… Sure to ignite fierce debate on both ends of the political spectrum, Joker is bold and provocative in measures that make even the grittiest superhero tentpoles seem safe. Joaquin Phoenix is a revelation.” – Read our full review here.
Click below to continue on for the top five…
