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Monday, December 16, 2019
THE YEAR'S BEST FILMS
The 12345678910
Best
Films Of 2019
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Monday,
December 16,
2019
Not much to say--except that these films speak to me, and spoke to me in
2019--and speak for themselves.
Aretha Franklin in 1972 during her live recording of the
album "Amazing Grace" in the same-titled documentary .
Neon
10. AMAZING GRACE
(U.S. film distributor: Neon)
One of the most euphoric and divine
experiences I've ever had in a cinema. This previously unreleased and
abandoned television experience of Aretha Franklin's two-night performance in
Watts, Southern California at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in 1972
for her live album was recovered, converted and polished into a spectacle that
hit me deep in the heart and filled me with joy, spirit and wonder. Ms.
Franklin was a pure technician, musician and artist, authoring her craft not
only with talent but skill, intelligence, fulsome dedication and commitment.
What a master conductor and arranger she was, too. Unforgettable on the
big screen and in life, as the Queen Of Soul will always be. Directed by
Sydney Pollack.
9. GLORIA BELL
(A24)
Sebastian Lelio directs and co-writes (with
Alice Johnson Boher) this film based on his own 2013 film "Gloria" about a
middle-aged woman who encounters life after divorce and tries to find her place
in it as she seeks a new start. A thoroughly authentic story that evokes
mature adult, realistic 1970s independent film. Julianne Moore does her
best work on film since "Safe". Highly effective cinematography by Natasha
Braier.
Julianne Moore in the title role in "Gloria Bell",
directed by Sebastian Lelio.
A24
8. 1917
(Universal Pictures)
Based in part on true
events Sam Mendes expertly directs a film that is almost entirely one unbroken
shot that represents a chasm or tunnel into the soul of war and man that hasn't
been put on screen since "Saving Private Ryan". Only this film, simpler in
some ways but no less layered, is better. George McKay is excellent in a
lead role but the real star of 1917 is Roger Deakins, whose cinematography is
off the charts superb. Dennis Gassner's production design is astounding.
First-class filmmaking.
George McKay in the film "1917", directed by Sam
Mendes.
Universal
Lupita Nyong'o, who plays two roles in Jordan Peele's
"Us", plays Red here.
Universal
7. US
(Universal Pictures)
A harrowing psychological experience, Jordan
Peele's US jarred me into reality with its powerful social commentary about
materialism, identity, selfishness, duality and contradictions. Peele
constructs a complex and indicting movie that operates as a satire about the
United States and the people living in it, hence the title. A marvelous
and disturbing film grounded in brilliant acting by Lupita Nyong'o, Evan Alex
and Madison Curry. Peele's screenplay is also a gem.
Antonio Banderas and Cecilia Roth in Pedro Almodovar's
"Pain And Glory" (Dolor y Gloria).
Sony Pictures Classics
6. PAIN AND GLORY
(Sony Classics)
A film director comes to terms with his own
mortality and the highs and lows of his life as he recalls them. Pedro
Almodovar's very personal drama teems with love, sorrow, emotion and the
admiration of loves and movies. "Pain And Glory" ("Dolor y Gloria") is a
showcase for Antonio Banderas, here with his best work on film. Mr.
Almodovar's screenplay is crisp, biting, wistful and full of double entendres.
Adorned with color, beauty and a fine supporting turn by Penelope Cruz, and the
ever-reliable score of the great Alberto Iglesias.
5. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN
FRANCISCO
(A24)
Jimmie Fails and Jonathan Majors in Joe Talbot's "The Last Black Man In San
Francisco".
A24
This film is about love and male relationships
in San Francisco of a bygone era, the bonds between heterosexual Black men in a
San Francisco that has left Black people and numerous other people behind in a
shifting era of gentrification, technology and rapid transplanting. What
Joe Talbot does, in his feature film directing debut, is create a tapestry of
the soul of San Francisco, a golden era of the past into a coldly indifferent
present. Mr. Talbot and childhood friend Jimmie Fails, whose story this is
(he stars as well), combine to make this film a warm, elegant paradise of pain,
joy and loss. Terrific acting by Jonathan Majors and Rob Morgan.
4. QUEEN & SLIM
(Universal Pictures)
Jodie
Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya in
"Queen & Slim", directed by Melina Matsoukas.
Universal
Melina Matsoukas makes a triumphant feature film directing debut with a superb
script from Lena Waithe about Black love being boxed in from all sides in a
racist society. Claustrophobic, pulsating and suspenseful, Matsoukas
pushes every scene with urgency, complexity, conundrums and tension in a
sensationally brilliant directing effort. Jodie Turner-Smith in her
feature film acting debut in a lead role is staggering as the Queen in the
film's title. Daniel Kaluuya ("Get Out") is also notable here in a film
that is about choices. Shot wonderfully by cinematographer Tat Radcliffe.
3. THE IRISHMAN (Netflix)
Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman".
Netflix
Thelma Schoonmaker is the arguably the biggest reason for the excellence of "The
Irishman". Granted, there's the fine directing by Martin Scorsese (only
"Goodfellas" is better than this latest), the greatness of Joe Pesci in a
supporting role, and the all around bravura acting from Anna Paquin, Robert De
Niro, Al Pacino and the entire cast. But "The Irishman", even at three
hours and 29 minutes, is an editor's film. Ms. Schoonmaker engineers the
performances and achieves a heartbeat, a language amidst silences, thoughts and
nods. Editing defines this film, and is chiefly why Mr. Scorsese's
"Irishman" is so good and eminently rewatchable.
2. PARASITE
(Neon)
Choi Woo Shik, Song Kang Ho, Jeong Eun Lee and Park So Dam
in "Parasite", directed by Bong Joon Ho.
Neon
Orchestrated with complete confidence and
authority by Boon Jong Ho, "Parasite" represents a society of haves and have
nots in South Korea in such a devastating and insidious way. One of the
great appreciations of this fine satire is its ability to entertain and unsettle
at the same time, while remaining rigorously disciplined to tell a second story
which is at the heart of this well-written, well-made effort. The
production design by Lee Hau-Jun is spellbinding.
1. ONCE UPON A TIME...IN
HOLLYWOOD (Sony Pictures)
Margot Robbie in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In
Hollywood".
Sony Pictures
Quentin Tarantino is problematic in several ways (his overruling of Uma Thurman,
who did not want to drive a car led to her severe spinal injuries on the "Kill
Bill" set; the ties to Harvey Weinstein and denials of knowledge of the latter's
assaults and predatory violence.) The misogyny in his films including this
one troubles me and I still to this day wrestle with it, and in some respects
with why I found this film to be so brilliant.
Even so, "Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood" is the best film of the year and the
best Mr. Tarantino has ever directed and written. Starring Leonardo
DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, in his finest work to date, "Hollywood" is about many
things: degrees of masculinity, male violence against women, male bonding and
the moviemaking process in an insular 1969 Tinseltown sealed off from a
turbulent America. Fueled by a live-wire script, a great soundtrack and
excellent detail and production design by Barbara Ling, "Hollywood" is an
endlessly entertaining, deeply-layered experience that tells a larger truth
about Hollywood, America and mythmaking.
Also great in 2019: "Waves", "Clemency", "The Farewell", "Toni Morrison: The
Pieces That I Am", "Last Christmas", "Dark Waters", "Uncut Gems", "Bombshell",
"Where's My Roy Cohn?", "The Souvenir", "Mike Wallace Is Here", "Captain Marvel"
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