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Friday, December 14, 2018
FILM
The Ten Best Films Of 2018
Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible - Fallout".
Paramount
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Friday,
December 14,
2018
The verdict on the 2018 film year: A better year for film than in 2017.
More films of inclusion hit the big screens in the U.S. and Canada. There
were visions that were inventive, fascinating and stunning. Here is my
list of the ten films that stood out in the memory in 2018.
10. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -
FALLOUT (Paramount; July release)
Tom Cruise outdoes (and injures) himself in the mission to bring the best action
film this early part of the century to the big screen. Against the odds of
his death-defying exploits he succeeds. Especially with Christopher
McQuarrie at the helm Mr. Cruise has proven to be a true daredevil, doing all of
his own stunts as always, but upping the ante including jumping out of a plane
and hanging off a helicopter. The film itself matches the indefatiguable
star's relentless energy and audacity.
Russell Hornsby, Regina Hall, Amandla Stenberg and Common in "The Hate U Give".
Fox
9. THE HATE U GIVE
(20th Century Fox; October release)
George Tillman Jr. directs this powerful and inspiring adaptation of Audrey
Wells's phenomenal best seller about a Black teenager who has to wrestle with
her conscience after her former boyfriend is murdered by police. A fine,
rich, refreshing film that combines discussions of racism, race consciousness,
activism, womanhood with a story about standing up for what is right.
Amandla Stenberg is terrific as Starr Carter, the young girl who comes of age,
as is Russell Hornsby as her dedicated, loving father.
Viola Davis in Steve McQueen's "Widows".
Fox
8. WIDOWS (20th Century
Fox; November release)
Steve McQueen's cool, yet hard-boiled drama about politics, entrenched systems
and the American Dream, as set in Chicago, is a riveting, beautiful-looking
showcase led by the brilliant Viola Davis as a character who has to recover $2
million in one month after her husband and his crew steal it from a political
candidate. What a performance from Ms. Davis, her best yet on film.
The ensemble cast too is excellent, especially Michelle Rodriguez as one of the
title characters. Written by Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen.
Yalitza Apricio in Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma".
Netflix
7. ROMA (Netflix; November release)
Alfonso Cuaron's epic film breathes with life, feeling and anticipation.
This very personal look at the director's childhood Mexico is adorned with
memorable, specific insignia that defines its breathtaking elegiac imagery.
Absorbing, delightful, dramatic and anchored by the amazing performance of
Yalitza Apricio as the housekeeper who keeps a dysfunctional family intact
during turbulent times.
The cast of "Shoplifters", directed by Kore-Eda Hirokazu.
Magnolia
6. SHOPLIFTERS
(Magnolia Pictures; November release)
The Japanese filmmaker Kore-Eda Hirokazu returns with one of his very finest
films about a family whose very young poverty-stricken children shoplift in the
markets and stores of a Japanese prefecture. This drama looks at class,
money, deception, childhood, innocence, love and opportunity. The pace and
ease of this film is such a delight and one of the most enjoyable and
heartbreaking film experiences this year. Magical, melancholy and
marvelous work, with some unforgettable performances.
Cres Chuang and Bamboo Chen in Hsin-Yao Huang's "The Great Buddha+".
Cheng Cheng Films
5. THE GREAT BUDDHA+
(Cheng Cheng Films; January release)
An engrossing journey into the grim, evil heart of politics, sex, power and
socioeconomics defines this clever, satirical look at contemporary hierarchies
and generational gulfs. Hsin-Yao Huang's admirable film has abundant
personality, charm, appeal and wit, with a touch of the macabre and sordid.
This is one of the most admirable and biting films of the year, and one that
keeps you off-balance. You are never able to be completely comfortable
while watching, and in some ways Mr. Huang's film is a Rohrshach test.
4. QUINCY (Netflix;
September release)
In the only film on this list that a woman directed, Rashida Jones (and
co-director Alan Hicks) directs her legendary father Quincy in a documentary
that shows the sheer breadth of Mr. Jones's genius and staggering (as well as
life-threatening) work ethic. I was blown away by the depth and tenacity
of Quincy Jones's ongoing life, much less the already-known 60 years of eclectic
accomplishments in music production, composition and artistry. This
must-see film is a loving naturalistic, cinema-verite kaleidoscope filled with
great stories, home video, music (listen for the end credits song "Keep
Reachin'" by Chaka Khan) -- and miracles.
Quincy Jones, in a photo glimpsed in Rashida Jones's and Alan Hicks's
documentary "Quincy".
Netflix
3. BLACK PANTHER (Marvel Films/Disney; February release)
Ryan Coogler's towering, phenomenal epic film goes beyond the superhero genre to
be a superbly crafted film all on its own, standing apart from the Marvel comic
book stable. A compelling, fully-realized story about a kingdom in turmoil
is punctuated by Hannah Beachler's distinctly African, extraordinarily-detailed
production design, Rachel Morrison's cinematography and the performances of
Danai Gurira and Michael B. Jordan (along with Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "All The
Stars" end credits song), all helped make Mr. Coogler's billion-dollar box
office smash the biggest cultural and cinematic touchstone of the year.
Danai Gurira in Ryan Coogler's "Black Panther".
Disney
2. FIRST REFORMED (A24;
May release)
This hardly-seen film with Ethan Hawke's outstanding performance as a tormented
pastor of a Dutch Calvinist church in upstate New York is Paul Schrader's finest
hour as a writer and a director. The tightly-edited and sparingly-directed
film, reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman's muted but profound work is full of
discreet images. There's one image of jarring symbolism that is a
penetrating experience I won't soon forget. A powerful, psychological
drama. This challenging and philosophical ride stayed with me for a long
time. Mr. Schrader's quiet film is an intense journey into morality,
faith, theology and the meaning of existence.
Ethan Hawke in Paul Schrader's "First Reformed".
A24
1. BLACKkKLANSMAN
(Focus Features; August release)
Having seen Spike Lee's best film ever sixteen times on the big screen this year
there was no doubt -- and obviously this is a clear declaration: I have never
ever seen a film like this before. Then again, you've never heard of a
true story quite like this: a Black man infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan. Ron
Stallworth did just that as a rookie cop, the only Black police officer in
Colorado Springs, in the 1970s. No one would believe this story if you
merely told them. But on the big screen in Mr. Lee's very capable hands
this unbelievable story is an electriying, highly entertaining and powerfully
arresting experience. If the majority of Mr. Lee's film is a slow-burn
along a long fuse of humor, history, lies and cinematic refutations relating to
racism and violence, the end is a stick of dynamite that explodes in your lap.
No film experience in 2018 conjured up such a sacred, intimate space for
audience members in a theater, and Mr. Lee has his greatest directing effort and
film here. Jordan Peele produced this one, and he hits a grand slam.
John David Washington and Laura Harrier in Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman".
David Lee/Focus Features
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