Best Movies of 2019

The Best Movies of 2019
by Reid Fishman

There were no great movies in 2019, but there were a lot of good ones, including some really good ones.  And although the award shows like to focus on a select few, showering them with accolades that are usually driven by profits and politics to which most of us are not privy, the truth is that there are many “smaller” films that might make you laugh, smile, cry, or just think.  With that said, here are a few caveats regarding my movie preferences:

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• My favorite movies have both a good plot and well-developed characters.
• I don’t like movies about nasty people doing awful things to each other.
• I also don’t like “descent into madness” movies, although the actors tend to garner praise for those roles.
• I enjoy movies that either entertain me and/or in some way uplift me.
• I don’t watch a lot of animated films, although occasionally, one might make the list.
• I don’t include documentaries on my list—it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
• I tend to like films where the script is fresh and interesting.
• I’m not invited to free movie screenings, nor do I get to meet the casts or directors.
• I am not a film "critic," and as such, I don’t write negative reviews.  I respect most filmmakers for trying to produce their art, so if a well-known or well-regarded film is not listed above or below, it’s quite possible that I saw it but did not like it enough to recommend it.

I also don’t list movies I didn’t enjoy.  This year, that includes “Marriage Story” (mundane), “Joker” (nasty, not entertaining), and “Judy” (see above comment regarding descent into madness).  Each of these movies contained superb acting performances, and while I applaud those performances, I can’t in good conscience include the movies in my list.

So, with that, below is my list of the Best Movies of 2019, in inverse order.  Also, at the end, I’ll provide a few awards that you won’t see at the Oscars.

39.     “Plus One”

Written and directed by Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer, this is for the romantic comedy fan in each of us.  The film is about two friends, played by Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid (son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid) who are single and each invited to many weddings.  Not wanting to always be seated at the “singles table,” they concoct a plan to serve as each other’s “plus one” (hence the title).  The film is occasionally sexy, sometimes silly, but mostly, just fun.

38.     “Dark Waters”

Written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan, from an article by Nathaniel Rich, this Todd Haynes-directed movie tells the true story of the 15-year struggle of the residents of Parkersburg, West Virginia to hold Dupont accountable for polluting the water and causing countless health issues.  Mark Ruffalo plays the lawyer representing them, and the movie features excellent supporting performances by Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, and Bill Camp.  While overly somber, this is a story worth telling and a movie worth seeing.

37.     “Yesterday”

Given that this movie was written by Richard Curtis and Jack Barth, and directed by Danny Boyle, it should have been better than it is, but it is intriguing and generally entertaining, which is why I included it.  The plot focuses on a worldwide glitch in time, after which certain people and events are wiped from the collective mindset, most important of such is the existence of The Beatles.  However, the lead character, a struggling musician played by Himash Patel, remembers them and their songs.  He starts singing them publicly and soon becomes an international sensation, praised by the likes of Ed Sheeran (who plays himself).  His manager, who yearns for his affections, is played by Lily James, who is always fun to watch.  Although somewhat meandering, this is a good movie and a “must see” for diehard Beatles fans.

36.     “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”

Directed by Richard Linklater and written by Linklater, Holly Gent, and Vincent Palmo, Jr., this oddly entertaining movie stars Cate Blanchett as a formerly well-known architect who is becoming increasing dissatisfied with her life and eventually disappears.  Her husband (played by Billy Crudup) and daughter (played by Emma Nelson) begin searching for her, as she tries to re-find herself.  With a supporting cast that includes Kristen Wiig, Megan Mullally, David Paymer, Lawrence Fishburne, and Steve Zahn, this is a quirky but captivating movie with some beautiful cinematography.

35.     “Charlie's Angels”

Written by, directed by, and co-starring Elizabeth Banks, this is a fresh take on an old franchise.  The cool thing about this movie is the emphasis on strong women, while not trying to make the women seem like men.  The enjoyable script enables the actresses to shine, including Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska.  This is just a good way to stay in and have fun watching a modern take on a previously dated story.

34.     “Last Christmas”

This is a romantic comedy with a twist, but I can't tell you what that is without ruining the movie.  Directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Bryony Kimmings and Emma Thompson (who also has an unusual supporting role), it tells the story of a woman (played by Emilia Clarke) who works as a Christmas elf and, through a series of seemingly chance encounters, meets a man, played by Henry Golding.  The performances are terrific and the screenplay is interesting.  What's also fun is the soundtrack, which includes several songs by George Michael, including the title song.

33.     “Ad Astra”

James Gray directed and co-wrote (with Ethan Gross) this film about an astronaut (played by Brad Pitt) who is sent into space to find out why some pulses, that are negatively affecting the universe, are emanating from a space station that had been manned by his father (played by Tommy Lee Jones).  The story is interesting, and the visuals are often riveting, even if the pacing is slow.  One of the best performances in this movie is turned in by Ruth Negga as a Mars station commander struggling with a past that overlaps that of Pitt’s character.

32.     “Anna”

This Luc Besson film features an outstanding lead performance by Sasha Luss as a troubled woman who gets recruited as a model and an assassin.  The movie takes you through several twists and turns leading to a very satisfactory ending.  Excellent supporting performances were provided by Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Cillian Murphy.  It's definitely a violent, action film, but also an interesting spy caper.

31.     “Hustlers”

This is the most ambitious undertaking yet from up-and-coming director Lorene Scafaria, and it tells the story of a group of strippers who carry out a scheme to defraud their “clients.”  Written by Scafaria from a magazine article by Jessica Pressler, this film features excellent performances, especially by Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and Julia Stiles, as the reporter.  This film reaffirms that when J-Lo sheds her tabloid persona and decides to act, she can be really good at it.

30.     “Spider-Man: Far From Home”

Superhero movies have become a major part of American pop culture, and this is the first of several such movies listed here.  Directed by Jon Watts and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, this is a thoroughly enjoyable action film in the new Spider-Man franchise.  Starring Tom Holland, with excellent support from Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisa Tomei,  and John Favreau, most of the action is set in Europe, while maintaining the hero’s small-town feel.  This has an interesting plot without being overly convoluted, and as a result, it’s quite entertaining.

29.     “The Report”

This is a political drama written and directed by Scott Z. Burns.  It tells the true-life story of Daniel Jones (played by Adam Driver), who is hired by a senate committee headed by Diane Feinstein (played by Annette Bening) to research and prepare a report about the torture techniques engaged in by the US Government after 9/11.  Although at times overly procedural, it effectively sheds a light on a dark stain in recent US history.

28.     “Shazam!”

In another take on a classic comic book character, Zachary Levi plays a young boy, living in foster care, who is zapped into the form of an adult with super powers.  Directed by David F. Sandberg from a script by Henry Gayden, the fun of this film is that although his body is fully grown and powerful, the lead character still has the mind of a child, and the movie uses that to its full comical and action-oriented potential.

27.     “The Aeronauts”

In a modified version of the true story of meteorologist James Glaisher on one of his historic balloon flights, Eddie Redmayne plays Glaisher, and for the movie, the balloon is piloted by a character played by Felicity Jones (the actual balloon pilot was Henry Coxwell).  Set in 1860s England, the goal of the flight is to go higher than any person had ever gone, in order to learn more about clouds and weather.  The two leads continue the excellent chemistry they displayed in “The Theory of Everything” in this film, directed by Tom Harper from a script by Harper and Jack Thorne.  The other star is the marvelous cinematography, which is as delightful as the interesting story.

26.     “Captain Marvel”

Written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and co-written by Geneva Robinson-Dworet, this story features a more modern female superhero than Wonder Woman involved in an intergalactic war between alien species.  Brie Larson shines in the lead role, with supporting performances by Ben Mendelsohn, Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, Annette Bening, and Djimon Hounsou.  While not a perfect movie, it is a very entertaining action romp.

25.     “Long Shot”

Directed by Jonathan Levine from a screenplay by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah, this film revolves around a recently fired, highly principled, stoned-out journalist (played by Seth Rogen) in an unconventional romantic relationship with his former babysitter (played by Charlize Theron) who is running for president.  The script is funny and a bit outrageous, as is the chemistry between the two actors, which leads to a surprisingly entertaining movie.

24.     “Ford v. Ferrari”

Directed by James Mangold from a screenplayby Jez Butterworth, John Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller, this movie tells the story of Henry Ford II's quest to embarrass Enzo Ferrari by beating his race team at Le Mans.  With excellent performances by Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, and Caitriona Balfe, it features well-developed characters, an interesting story that is not exactly complimentary of Ford corporate executives.

23.     “Queen & Slim”

Director Melina Matsoukas and screenwriter Lena Waithe have put together an interesting story of fugitives on the run.  However, unlike other such movies, the criminals, played expertly by Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner Smith, are sympathetic characters who have only killed one person.  Unfortunately for them, that person was a police officer, and although the shooting was justifiable, based on a racist traffic stop, it launches a nationwide hunt for the lead characters.  This is a surprisingly tender movie, given the subject matter, and one definitely worth seeing.

22.     “The Farewell”

This film is set mostly in China and stars Awkwafina (who was amazing as the best friend in “Crazy Rich Asians”) as a young woman who learns that her beloved grandmother (played by Shuzhen Zhao) is very sick, but hasn’t been told of the severity of her illness.  The family, living in New York and Japan, return home together so they can say farewell to the matriarch, under the guise of returning for a wedding.  Written and directed by Lulu Wang, this is a poignant, and uplifting story about family and the merger of different cultures.  See it on a big screen, because the subtitles are kind of small.

21.     “Late Night”

Mindy Kaling wrote an excellent screenplay about a self-righteous, overbearing talk show host (played by Emma Thompson) who hires a female writer (played by Kaling) in an attempt to save her flagging ratings.  Directed by Nisha Ganatra and with excellent support from John Lithgow and Max Casella, this is a look at the inner workings of late night TV and the difficulty of merging public and private lives, while still managing a few laughs.

20.     “The Lighthouse”

This is a claustrophobic movie about two lighthouse keepers, played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, confined to the “rock” on which the lighthouse and the residence stand in the 1890s.  Written by Robert and Max Eggers, and directed by Robert Eggers, it is an intense, psychological movie with amazing black and white cinematography.  You’ll never look at a lighthouse the same again.

19.     “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

I was too old to fully appreciate Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and I thought it was like a sedative for children.  However, seeing Tom Hanks portrayal of Fred Rogers has shed new light on what he did and why he did it.  Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, and directed inventively by Marielle Heller, it's really about a magazine writer (played by Matthew Rhys) coming to grips with his past and his relationships with the help of Fred Rogers.  With excellent supporting performances by Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper, and Enrico Colantoni, this is a movie worth seeing. 

18.     “The Upside”

Directed by Neil Burger in 2017 but not released until early in 2019, this movie tells the story of a quadriplegic billionaire (played by Bryon Cranston), his assistant (played by Nicole Kidman), and the man he hires to be his caretaker (played by Kevin Hart).  The screenplay by Jon Hartmere and Eric Toledano, crackles with humor, pathos, and irony, especially in the hands of such a wonderful cast.

17.     “Booksmart”

In her first feature film directorial effort, Olivia Wilde helms this terrific film about two high-achieving teenage girls (played by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) who are about to graduate high school and realize they haven’t had any fun.  What ensues is a romp through a momentous night that culminates the next morning at the graduation ceremony.  Written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman, this film features supporting efforts from Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Victoria Ruesga, Mason Gooding, and Skyler Gisondo.  It explores teen angst, sexuality, and wealth discrepancy, while still managing to have fun.

16.     “Avengers: Endgame”

The year’s best superhero movie, this features many of the characters in the Marvel universe and the actors who have played them in the movies.  While being one of the most epic Marvel movies, it’s also one of the most personal, in which several well-known characters are killed off.  Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Sean McFeeley, the cast is like a Hollywood who’s who, all combining their efforts to create a wonderful adventure.

15.     “The Two Popes”

It’s always amazing to watch two brilliant, experienced actors playing off each other.  In this case, it’s Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce as the last two popes—Benedict and Francis—in discussions with each other about their history and views, in a relationship which began as oppositional but evolved into mutual respect.   Written by Anthony McCarten and directed by Francisco Meirelles, this film traces the history of the Catholic Church from the 1960s to the present and tackles difficult issues such as sexual abuse and the church’s failure to stand up to dictators.

14.     “Good Boys”

Directed by Gene Stupnitsky from a screenplay by Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, this is a very unusual slice of the lives of three sixth-grade best friends, with very different personalities, who together embark on a journey that will redefine how they view each other and the world.  It is mostly funny, with some very dark moments.  The boys are played by Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, and Brady Noon.  This is a little movie that will make you smile and occasionally gasp.

13.     “Us”

Last year, writer/director Jordan Peele (formerly of Key and Peele) redefined the horror genre with “Get Out.”  This year, he’s taken the same genre in an entirely different direction with “Us,” a film in which the lead characters are terrorized by their own doppelgangers while learning about their own faults and dark sides.  Lupita Nyong’o is outstanding in the lead role, and is supported by Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and Evan Alex.  It is a terror-filled, reality-bending experience.

12.     “The Irishman”

While this Martin Scorsese film occasionally feels like “Oldfellas,” it is still an excellently acted, well-written slice of the history of the intersection between the mob and organized labor.  Written by Steve Zaillian from a book by Charles Brandt, it is set mostly in Philadelphia and features a lot of the mafia names we all knew during their heydays and subsequent demises.  It also traces the rise and fall of Jimmy Hoffa and even illustrates a theory about his death.  If nothing else, it’s nice to see Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel in what is likely their last mob movie together.

11.     “Knives Out”

This is a very clever movie, written and directed by Rian Johnson that harkens back to the best murder mysteries of days gone by.  The excellent cast includes Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, and Christopher Plummer, and every time you think you’ve got it figured out, something happens to change your thinking.  This is what going to the movies used to be like, and it’s nice to revisit that feeling in a high-quality production.

10.       “Bombshell”

We all read about Roger Ailes, his gross sexual misconduct, and his eventual ouster as head of Fox News, but in this movie, written by Charles Randolph and directed by Jay Roach, it is portrayed brilliantly by a cast that includes Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margo Robbie, and John Lithgow (as Ailes), supported by Allison Janney, Malcolm McDowell, Kate McKinnon, and Connie Britton.  You leave the theater feeling simultaneously enlightened, dirty, and ashamed that this could have happened (literally) right under our noses.

9.       “Blinded By the Light”

At the beginning of these reviews, I mentioned liking movies that entertain and/or uplift me.  Well, this is the true story of a young Pakistani man (played by Viveik Kalra), in 1987 England, who is introduced by a friend to the music of Bruce Springsteen.  Through the lyrics of “the boss,” he is able to break out of his family doldrums and gain the confidence he needs to succeed in a country where he constantly faces persecution.  Directed by Gurinder Chadha from a screenplay by Chadha, Safraz Manzoor, and Paul Mayeda Burges and based on a book by Manzoor, the movie’s direction is inventive, with lyrics flying around the screen while the young man’s growth becomes more evident.  Yes, it was both entertaining and uplifting.

8.       “Jojo Rabbit”

This is a very strange movie that was written, directed, and co-starring Taiki Waititi.  At first, I was put off by a movie about a young man in WWII Germany who idolizes Hitler, until I realized how it represents everything that the Third Reich was against.  It stars Roman Griffin Davis as a 10-year-old boy who befriends a Jewish teenager played by Thomasin McKenzie (whom I cited last year as a young actress with a great future.  It also features great supporting performances by Waikiki, Scarlet Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Rebel Wilson.  If you can get past the scenes of Nazis and a comical Hitler, this movie is very enjoyable and leaves you wanting more.

7.       “Just Mercy”

Alabama in 1989 was less than hospitable to a black man accused of killing a white girl, but that’s the backdrop for this true movie about Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan) and his founding of the Equal Justice Initiative.  Among the cases he is defending in the movie is the abovementioned case of Walter McMillian (played expertly by Jamie Fox).  The fact that all this took place in the town where To Kill a Mockingbird was written and set is described in the script by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Lanham, and Cretton’s direction is taut and appropriately solemn.  With outstanding supporting performances by Brie Larson and Tim Blake Nelson, this movie and story will stay with you.

6.       “Parasite”

I missed this the first time it hit the theaters because I thought it was a low-budget horror movie.  And while there is certainly some horrific scenes in this film by writer/director Bong Joon Ho, it is really a tangled web of intrigue that intersects three families in a tale of poverty, wealth, greed, and deception.  Kang-ho Song plays the head of a poor, deceptive family inserting itself into the lives and home of a wealthy family, headed by Sun-kyun Lee and Yeo-jeong Jo.  I can’t say much more without a spoiler alert, so I recommend you just see it.

5.       “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood”

Writer/director Quentin Tarantino has experimented before with movies that bend history toward a different ending.  In this case, the story is loosely based, in part, on the Manson clan and the Tate/LaBianca murders.  But it also tells the tale of what it’s like to live on the edge of stardom, as Leonardo DiCaprio plays a washed-up TV star and Brad Pitt plays his long-time stunt double, in 1969 Los Angeles.  With an eclectic supporting cast that includes Margo Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Bruce Dern, Al Pacino, and the late Luke Perry, this movie features a last hour that will likely win Brad Pitt an Oscar and make you remember it for a long time.

4.       “Harriet”

Although the movie’s authenticity and focus have drawn some criticism, there is no disputing that this is a powerful story about one of America’s greatest civil rights legends—Harriet Tubman—who was a pioneer in freeing slaves via the Underground Railroad.  Directed by Kasi Lemmons and written by Lemmons and Gregory Allen Howard from Howard’s book, this movie features excellent performances by Cynthia Erivo (in the lead role) and Leslie Odom, Jr., and it focuses, in part, on Tubman’s visions and perceived connection to God.  The view of Tubman as an 1800s action hero may be overdone, but her strength, conviction, and inspiration will live on forever, in part, because of this movie.

3.       “Pain and Glory”

The films of Pedro Almodovar are always a joy to behold, and this is clearly the most personal and autobiographical movie from Spain’s greatest writer/director.  Here, the lead character is an aging movie writer/director, played by Antonio Banderas, who is battling pains and ailments, and reconnects with his past as that past reconnects with him.  This is one of those movies I hated to see end, because the storytelling is crisp and each character is well-developed and well-acted by a supporting cast that includes Penelope Cruz, Asier Etxeandia, Leonardo Sbaraglia, and Nora Navas. 

2.       “Little Women”

If you type “Little Women” into the search bar of IMDB.com, the list of movies and TV series based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic will fill up a screen or two.  That’s why, when I first heard about the latest filming of this amazing story, I had my doubts.  Then, I learned it was directed by Greta Gerwig, and my interest was tweaked.  What Gerwig has done is reinvigorated the story by reimagining it, reorganizing it, writing a wonderful screenplay, and casting an excellent, age appropriate cast that includes Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, and Florence Pugh, whose work in this film should garner a lot more roles.  Each line is crisp, well-thought-out, well-delivered, and advances the story in a way most earlier versions failed to do.  Alcott’s vision of the March sisters has never been in better hands, and a classic has been reborn.

1.       “1917”

The hero’s journey has been a theme of literature since the first words were recorded, and this movie does that theme proud.  Directed by Sam Mendes and written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns, it tells the story of two men who have to cross treacherous terrain and enemy territory to deliver a message that may save 1600 lives, one of whom is the brother of one of the men.  But what Mendes has crafted is not your classic war story, filled with bluster and glory.  Rather, the men encounter substantial negativity from their own colleagues who are tired of war and the whims of the military.  It occurs in World War I, when killing was personal and often involved hand-to-hand combat.  There are also scenes of tenderness amidst strife, as well as the seemingly endless drudgery of making your way across scorched earth and dead, often decomposing, bodies.  The cast includes Lance MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Daniel Mays, as well as Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch in small, but meaningful roles.  This is an impactful movie that will not be easily forgotten, and as such, is the best movie of 2019.

So, that’s my list today.  It may change tomorrow, so please let me know if there are other movies you feel that belong.

The Reid Awards

And now, for the fourth year, I will present awards based entirely on criteria that only I understand:

·       Breakout Actor of the Year: In the past, this award has gone to Alicia Vikander, Mahershala Ali, Michael Stuhlbarg, and John David Washington.  This year, I’m giving it to Cynthia Erivo, whose work in the lead role of Harriet should earn her many more roles of substance.

·       The Future Meryl Streep Award for Best Young Actress: Last year this award went to Thomasin McKenzie, who justified it with her wonderful performance in this year's Jojo Rabbit.  This year, the award goes to Kaitlyn Dever, one of the stars of Booksmart.  Streep has always been able to convey complex emotions with a subtle glance, and Dever displays the same quality.  Look for her in many interesting roles moving forward.

·       Best Child Actor:  Jacob Trembley was previously amazing in “Room,” and this year, he displayed outstanding range in “Good Boys.”  You’ll be seeing a lot more of this young actor.

·       Most Consistent Director:  If this were a lifetime achievement award, it would go to Pedro Almodovar, whose career is the definition of consistent excellence.  But in terms of young directors, I’ll give it to Greta Gerwig, who has already made “Lady Bird” and “Little Women.”  She shows a knack for telling stories, directing young actors, and promoting strong women’s roles unlike most others in the industry.

·       Best Actor/Producer:  This is a new award honoring an actor who has successfully navigated the role of producer, and it goes to Brad Pitt.  In the last decade alone, the movies he’s produced or co-produced (as the actual Producer, not the titular Executive Producer) include:

o   Kick-Ass

o   The Tree of Life

o   Moneyball

o   World War Z

o   12 Years a Slave

o   By the Sea

o   The Big Short

o   Ad Astra