The Best Movies of 2018

First, let me say that I believe this is one of the worst years for movies in my lifetime (which is starting to get pretty damned long).  Normally, my lists of the best movies of the year include at least 20 films, but this year, there were only 16 that I can recommend and none that I think are among the best of all time.

If you know me and/or have read my list before, you probably know a few things about my movie preferences:

·         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 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.

·         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.

Normally, I also don’t list movies I didn’t like, but this year there were several highly acclaimed movies that I absolutely hated including “If Beale Street Could Talk" (absurdly slow pacing), “Vice" (snide but not funny), and “Bohemian Rhapsody" (offensive to gay people).  So, with that, below is my list of the Best Movies of 2017, in inverse order.  Also, at the end, I’ll provide a few awards that you won’t see at the Oscars.

16.     “The Favourite”

This goes against my predisposition against movies about nasty people doing awful things to each other, because that’s exactly what this movie is.  However, it is done so well, with such outstanding actors, that I included it anyway.  Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, this film shows a portrait of a queen who is unfit to govern (played by Olivia Colman) and her relationship with two women (played by Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone) who vie for her favors and the right to control her.  The acting is superb and the script is sarcastically witty, but the best thing about it is the skewering of British royal society.  One other thing to note is Lanthimos’s repeated use of a “fisheye” lens.  You may or may not like it, but it certainly gives the film a different look.

15.     “First Man”

This is the second collaboration between director Damien Chazelle and lead actor Ryan Gosling (the first being “La La Land”).  This one, written by Josh Singer from a book by James R. Hansen, explores the life of Neil Armstrong from the death of his young daughter to his historic first steps on the moon.  With a supporting cast that includes Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, and Corey Stoll, this film focuses mostly on Armstrong’s character, his inner demons, and what drove him to success.  While the pacing is somewhat slow, it presents an interesting picture of the level of complexity of the man we all saw as a national hero.

14.     “Ready Player One”

Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline (from Cline’s book), this is a thoroughly enjoyable action film about finding the keys in a video game that will lead to fame and fortune.  What makes the film even more interesting is that much of it is set inside the video game, using highly advanced animation.  Starring Tye Seridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Simon Pegg, and Mark Rylance, Spielberg again breaks new ground by combining traditional themes, pop-culture references, and cutting edge CGI, to make a fun movie ride.

13.     “Venom”

In this movie, directed by Ruben Fleischer, a reporter is bonded to an alien entity who is here to invade Earth but instead takes a liking to our planet and decides to protect it against his fellow aliens.  What makes this film so enjoyable is the interplay between the reporter (played by Tom Hardy) and the alien who inhabits him.  The script, by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, and Kelly Marcel, based on a Marvel comic character, is funny, inventive, and completely enjoyable.  Supported by Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Woody Harrelson, Jenny Slate, and Reid Scott (which happens to be my first and middle names), Tom Hardy brilliantly alters between bravado and bewilderment.  I hope they make a sequel.

12.     “Game Night”

Directed by John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein, this comedy action film is fun from start to surprising finish.  Starring Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, and Kyle Chandler, this movie starts off as a group of friends getting together to play games, but ends up as a romp through the criminal underworld.  Written by Mark Perez, it boasts several twists and turns, and an outstanding comedic performance by Rachel McAdams.  It’s the kind of movie they used to make, and I wish they’d make more like it.

11.     “Mission: Impossible—Fallout”

Hands down, this is the best and most enjoyable of the Mission: Impossible films starring Tom Cruise.  And why shouldn’t it be?  It’s directed by Chistopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”), and features supporting roles by Henry Cavill, Michelle Monaghan, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Alix Bénézech, Angela Bassett, and Wes Bentley.  The script by McQuarrie and Bruce Geller is inventive and full of plot twists.  Sit back and enjoy a fun thrill ride from start to finish.

10.       “Leave No Trace”

You may not have heard of this movie, but it’s a quiet, indie gem directed by Debra Granik (who also gave us “Winter’s Bone), about a father and daughter living under the radar.  Written by Granik and Anne Rosellini, this is a touching portrayal of a man (played by Ben Foster) who doesn’t fit in society, and his loving teenage daughter who does much better in communal surroundings.  It is a little movie that you can’t stop watching, primarily because of the outstanding performance by Thomasin McKenzie as the daughter.

9.       “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Of all the Spider-Man films of the past 20 years, this is probably my favorite.  It tells the story of a boy named Miles Morales who becomes Spider-Man and has to work with counterparts from other dimensions to save the universe.  Oh, and it is animated—directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman.  Written by Rothman and Phil Lord, the characters are voiced by actors including Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Lily Tomlin, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Nicholas Cage, Liev Schreiber, Kathryn Hahn, and Chris Pine.  The plot is inventive, the script is witty, and the action is non-stop.  What’s not to like?

8.       “Black Panther”

Ryan Coogler makes really good movies, so when I learned he’d be directing this film about a Black superhero, I was very excited.  He did not let me down, directing one of the year’s biggest blockbusters and critical successes.  This film is pure enjoyment and features outstanding acting by Chadwick Boseman in the lead role, with support from Michael B. Jordan, Nupita Nyong’o, Daniel Gurira, Martin Freeman, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Basset, and Forest Whitaker.  Written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole from the comics of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, this is a great story in the Marvel universe and a movie that does it justice.

7.       “BlacKkKlansman”

This is director Spike Lee’s best movie in years.  It tells the true story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, who decides to infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.  Played by John David Washington, Stallworth can put on a “White voice” when on the phone, but had to enlist the help of a fellow, Jewish detective (played by Adam Driver) to play the role in person.  Written by Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmot, the sometimes humorous script would be funnier if it wasn’t true.  This is a really good movie.

6.       “A Star Is Born”

Each of the last four generations has had a version of this film.  My grandparents enjoyed the 1937 original starring Janet Gaynor and Frederick March.  My parents’ 1954 installment featured Judy Garland and James Mason.  I remember the release in 1976 of the version featuring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.  My son’s generation has this movie, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who also directed and co-wrote it with Eric Roth and Will Fetters.  The plot is always the same: a younger, female performer is discovered and taken under the wing of an older, established male star, and they fall in love as the woman achieves success while the man’s career falters as he succumbs to addiction.  The songs and the cast differ, but the plot remains.  In this version, Lady Gaga establishes herself as a legitimate screen presence while Bradley Cooper enhances his fine acting resume with an excellent directorial effort.  With supporting roles by Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, and Anthony Ramos, it is a terrific addition to this historic movie lineage.

5.       “A Quiet Place”

Who knew that John Krasinski would be such a great director?  Maybe his real-life wife, Emily Blunt, who costars with Krasinski in the year’s best horror film.  The plot involves a family trying to survive after the Earth has been overrun by vicious creatures who are blind but hunt via sound.  As such, most of the film is performed in sign language (with subtitles).  Written by Brian Woods, Scott Beck, and Krasinski, this is a harrowingly intense film that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.  It also features an amazingly deep performance by Millicent Simmonds as the daughter.  If nothing else, it’s interesting to watch Emily Blunt’s character deliver a baby alone and in silence as a creature hovers nearby.

4.       “Crazy Rich Asians”

This is a groundbreaking film in that it is a mainstream movie directed by an Asian director and starring an entirely Asian cast.  Aside from that, it is just plain fun…perhaps the most fun you could have at the movies in 2018.  Directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, from the book by Kevin Kwan, it tells the story of a very wealthy, handsome young man from Singapore (played by Henry Golding) who goes to New York and falls in love with a middle class professor (played by Constance Wu) who doesn’t know about his wealth.  When they travel together to a wedding in Singapore, she learns quickly what she has gotten herself into and how she is viewed by his high-society family and friends.  What ensues is a romantic comedy that is actually both romantic and funny.

3.       “Mary Poppins Returns”

Unlike “A Star Is Born,” this is not a remake.  It’s not even really a sequel, because it occurs many years later when Michael Banks (played by Ben Wishaw) has grown up with children of his own.  Unfortunately, his wife has died and he has fallen on hard times, with the bank (where his father had worked) about to foreclose on his home.  That’s when Mary Poppins (played by Emily Blunt) returns to nurture the children.  She happens upon a lamplighter (played by Lin-Manuel Miranda) who remembers Mary from when he was young, and together they lead the children on a fun (sometimes animated) romp, while trying to save the family home.  As a child, I loved the original movie, and a few years ago, I also enjoyed “Saving Mr. Banks,” which focused on the making of that movie and the drama behind the books by P.L. Travers, on which the movie was based.  So, it’s no wonder that I enjoyed this film, directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee, John DeLuca, and Marshall.  I also enjoyed the songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and the joyful animation and dance numbers.  With supporting performances by an all-star ensemble including, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Dick Van Dyke, and Angela Lansbury, this is pure movie magic.

2.       “On the Basis of Sex”

Directed by Mimi Leder, this wonderful movie is about the early career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, focusing specifically on her attempts to guarantee equal justice under the law for women.  When you watch this film, it almost strains credibility to think that our entire justice system during most of the country’s history leading well into the 20^th century did not recognize women as equal members of society, and this movie describes that issue in depth, as well as the tremendous efforts it has taken to right this wrong.  Starring Felicity Jones, with excellent support from Armie Hammer and Justin Theroux, and written by Daniel Stiepleman, the movie also shows the tremendous support Ruth received from her husband, Martin Ginsburg.  It is a shame that such a well-made movie did not receive more accolades and nominations, but it should be seen by everyone.

1.       “Green Book”

I remember hearing music by the Don Shirley Trio when I was growing up in the 1960s.  It wasn’t jazz, pop, soul, or classical, so it did not receive a lot of radio play.  It featured a piano virtuoso named Dr. Donald Shirley, and it was intricate and beautiful.  I had forgotten about that music until the release of Green Book, the story of Don Shirley’s tour of the Midwest and deep South to promote his music.  To do so, he hired a driver named Tony (Lip) Vallelonga because of Tony’s ability to deal with “difficult” situations.  This movie features Oscar-worthy performances by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen as their characters learn about each other and face the obstacles of Shirley’s being Black and gay while performing in the deep South during the Civil Rights era.  Directed by Peter Farelly and written by Farelly, Brian Currie, and Nick Vallelonga (Tony’s son), this is an outstanding movie that delves into issues related to racism and prejudice both in the South and the North, and it traces the transformation of two men who learn from each other.

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 and Mahershala Ali, and Michael Stuhlbarg.  This year, I’m giving it to John David Washington.  I’ve been watching Mr. Washington for a few years on the TV Series “Ballers,” but in BlacKkKlansman, he brought it to a new level, and I’m looking forward to his next role.

·         The Future Meryl Streep Award for Best Young Actress: Hands down, this year, the award goes to Thomasin McKenzie, who sparkled in “Leave No Trace.”  This is a young woman who can convey a wide range of emotions without saying anything.

·         Best Child Actor:  You can’t think of “A Quiet Place” without recalling the tender pain on the face of Millicent Simmonds, who is actually deaf.  She may be the next Marlee Matlin.

Most Consistent Director:  This new award goes to the person who keeps directing outstanding movies, and I’m giving it to Ryan Coogler, who has directed three full-length movies: Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther.  Not a bad start to a directing career.