30 Second Critic's Top 10 films of 2019

1917- brilliantly shot and acted film about a perilous journey by two soldiers in World War I. While I cheated and saw it New Year's Day, it deserves to be on my list for 2019.
Parasite- Class warfare that is remarkable in its simplicity and yet and full of surprises.
The Nightingale- A difficult but important film that is just remarkable featuring incredible performances. 

JoJo Rabbit- brilliant Nazi satire with a great cast and starring in his film debut, a terrific Roman Griffin Davis

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood- Tarantino does it again. Brilliant with amazing work from Leo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. People who didn't like it, just didn't get it.
Uncut Gems- A high energy drama set in the world of the NY Diamond Exchange starring an electrifying Adam Sandler.

The Irishman- Excellent true crime story with a different point of view. Masterful performances from DeNiro, Pesci, and Pacino as well as a master class in directing from Martin Scorsese.

Marriage Story- emotional, raw and real, the story of a failed marriage with outstanding performances by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

Motherless Brooklyn- Edward Norton wrote the screenplay, directed and stars in this throwback to 1950’s New York. An absorbing detective film noir with a great score and plenty of atmosphere.
Blinded by the Light- based on a true story, a joyful celebration of the trans-formative power of music. In this particular case, the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Honorable Mention-

The Mustang- Deeply moving and powerful film about the bond between man and animal.
Her Smell- amazing performance by Elizabeth Moss as an out of control rock star.

Maiden- inspirational documentary about the first all female sailboat crew to sale in the Whitbread round the world race.

Avengers: Endgame- a perfect ending to a remarkable entwined series.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker- satisfying ending to a staggering saga.

Rocketman- Fanciful take on Elton John’s life with a terrific performance by Taron Egerton.
Honey Boy- Shia LeBouf bares his soul in this autobiographical story.

Bottom 10 films of 2019

Midsommar

Glass

The Dead Don't Die

Ad Astra

Knives Out

Stuber
Everybody Knows

Luce

Queen & Slim

Midsommar (Yes, it made the list twice)

Bombshell

       Based on the true scandal surrounding Fox News Chief Roger Ailes and the sexual harassment suit that got him fired, this new drama features an all star cast. 

        The film stars Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil. Kayla is a fictional character drawn from various female women who worked for Fox during Mr. Ailes Tenure. John Lithgow co-stars as Roger Ailes and the film also features Allison Janney, Connie Britton, Kate McKinnon, Rob Delaney, Mark Duplass, Malcolm McDowell, Stephen Root and Robin Weigert.

          Of the three female leads, Ms. Theron shines as Megyn Kelly in amazing makeup and an accurate representation. Ms. Kidman's Gretchen Carlson, while a good performance seems like she's in a different movie, even though she is the one to initiate the lawsuit against Mr. Ailes. Ms. Robbie also does an admirable job representing a number of women harassed by Mr. Ailes. Mr. Lithgow plays Ailes like a leering Jabba the Hut ( a Star Wars reference in case you are not familiar with the reference).

           Director Jay Roach tells the story from the point of view of the three women and has plenty of facts to work with in the script by Charles Randolph. The plot sticks to the surface and never really digs deep in the scandal. It's a scandal of sensational proportions but never really explodes as advertised by the title. 

           Earlier this year, Showtime presented the 10 part mini-series "The Loudest Voice" which covered the same story in more depth and a terrific Russell Crowe as Mr. Ailes.

Uncut Gems

           Adam Sandler is electrifying in this new drama from the Safdie Brothers. Set in the world of the NY Diamond Exchange, Mr. Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a jeweler with a terrible gambling habit. He is juggling his family life, his mistress, his debts, and trying to stay one step ahead of loan sharks, all while trying to close the biggest deal of his life.

            Co-written (along with Ronald Bronstein) and directed by the Safdie Brothers, the film opens with a very unconventional scene and once Mr. Sandler appears, takes off like a shot. His energy level is contagious and the rest of the great cast are all sucked into Howard's maelstrom. The film co-stars Idina Menzel, Julia Fox, Lakeith Stanfield, Eric Bogosian and as himself, basketball superstar, Kevin Garnett.

            Mr. Sandler, not known for many dramatic roles, is pure dynamite. He is in almost every scene and carries the story on his back. Howard is a hustler, a cheat, a liar, and a degenerate gambler but Mr. Sandler plays him with a vulnerability that makes you root for him even as his self inflicted troubles mount. 

            The story is intriguing enough but it's Mr. Sandler's Adrenaline that propels the film to another level. You will leave the theater dazed. An Oscar nomination is a pretty safe bet.

Little Women

     A new remake of the classic story of the March sisters by Louisa May Alcott is  version for our times. While it's set in 1860's New England, this new version, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, has a very contemporary tone.

     The cast is excellent. The four sisters are played by Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy, Eliza Scanlen as Beth,and Saoirse Ronan as Jo. Ms. Ronan was born to play this part and is just wonderful as the most free spirited of the four. The film also stars Timothee Chalamet as Laurie (popping in and out of scenes like a jack in the box), Laura Dern as Mrs. March, Meryl Streep as Aunt March, Tracy Letts as Mr. Dashwood, Chris Cooper as Mr. Laurence,  James Norton as John Brooke, Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer and Jane Houdyshell as Hannah.

     The production design, cinematography, and costume design are impeccable. The film is visually stunning in every way. Certain scenes could be stand alone works of art. Credit Ms. Gerwig and her team for outstanding work getting every detail of the period right. The story itself moves in an odd non-linear way. Using flashbacks continuously throughout the film, the story jumps back and forth through time like a pinball, sometimes making it hard to figure out when particular scenes are actually happening. It also runs a bit long at two hours and fifteen minutes and could have used a bit more trimming around the edges.

                 Once you do get used to the structure and odd pacing, it's a very enjoyable family film, perfect for the holidays. Ms. Ronan is an obvious standout, as she is in all her films, but I also found Ms. Pugh a delight (deserving of more starring roles herself) and of course Ms. Streep, even in a small role is always excellent. This is a "Little Women" for the ages.

Richard Jewel

        As he did with recreating real life events in "Sully", director Clint Eastwood's new film recreates the actual events around the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and the hero turned suspect.

        The film is basically a docudrama following the story as it happened, including the controversial speculation around a reporter's methods for getting inside information from the FBI ultimately leading to casting public suspicion on Mr. Jewel.

         The film paints an ugly picture of FBI and media tactics to bend the truth as they see fit. Clearly Mr. Jewel was a hero, discovering the bomb and being the first to warn people and the police. However, the FBI in their haste to find a suspect, turn their attention to Mr. Jewel after a tip of his odd behavior in the past. Once the media gets wind of the suspicions, Mr. Jewel's life becomes a nightmare.

          As Captain Sullivan, who was clearly a hero, became a target of the FAA in "Sully", the same parallel can be found in Richard Jewel. Mr. Eastwood has found his niche in telling these types of stories. And what makes them so compelling is the great casting he finds to recreate them. Jon Hamm is the determined but sloppy FBI agent, Sam Rockwell, the lawyer who rises to Mr. Jewel's defense, Olivia Wilde is the reporter eager to do anything to get a story, Kathy Bates is Mrs. Jewel, Richard's mother and in a breakout performance, Paul Walter Hauser is Richard Jewel.

             Mr. Hauser has had small roles in "Blackklansman" and "I, Tonya" but here he is the center of attention and he is just terrific as Richard Jewel.   

The Aeronauts

        Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones reunite for this remarkable adventure. Based on the true story of  James Glaisher, a British scientist and early meteorologist, the film is about the ascent he made in a hot air balloon on September 5th, 1862 rising almost 35,000 ft setting a new world record for the time.

         Mr. Redmayne plays James Glaisher. Ms. Jones play Amelia Wren, a fictional composite of two daredevil women balloonists who pilots the balloon for Glaisher as he takes all sorts of meteorological readings as they climb higher into the atmosphere. Ms. Jones steals the film being put to the test in many harrowing scenes. 

         The film starts mid-flight and we learn through flashbacks how Glaisher meets Amelia and how the flight comes together. Co-starring are Himesh Patel as a fellow scientist, Tom Courtenay as Glaisher's father and Vincent Perez as Pierre Wren, Amelia's husband. As the flight continues, the back story is filled in by further flashbacks.

         Directed by Tom Harper, the film is a technical marvel. The visuals are stunning. You will be hard pressed to tell the difference between actual sky and CGI.  The scenes of ascension are just majestic and beautiful but there are tension filled moments of sheer dread as well that will have you on the edge of your seat. 

         Produced by Amazon studios, the film is streaming on Amazon but also playing in select theaters. Do your best to see it on a big screen to really appreciate it's beauty and adventure.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

      Well, I'm satisfied. Yes, the story is a bit rushed and there are too many balls in the air at once but the final film in a 42 year old series is a gratifying tribute to the saga that ultimately answers questions and ties up loose ends.

       J.J. Abrams has co-written (with Chris Terrio) and directed a remarkable film that falls just short of greatness.  I can't say it's entirely his fault though, as it's impossible to to achieve greatness in a series filled with incredible moments from the very beginning that, at this point, have become second nature. Mr. Abrams tries very hard though and I think fans will appreciate the effort. Rather than try something completely new, he draws on elements first introduced by George Lucas and pays tribute to the memories of Star Wars past.

      The cast from the previous two films returns and Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, and John Boyega are never better as the next generation of heroes. Mr. Driver in particular is having quite the year in film. From his remarkable dramatic performance in "Marriage Story" to the  central villain in a space opera, he is just amazing bringing depth and gravitas to Kylo Ren. Ms. Ridley has become an aspiring hero.  Mr. Isaac supplies most of the humor tossing out one-liners even at the most perilous moments, lovingly evoking Han Solo, mostly at the expense of C3PO. Plenty of familar faces and droids are present and accounted for as well. Mr. Abrams even throws in a surprise or two.

                     Visual, to be expected, are fantastic, the action thoroughly exciting and there is plenty of emotional drama to bring the story to a close.    As to the title, Mr. Abrams keeps us guessing right to the end.  And if this is truly the end, well you know what they say, "when one door closes, Disney opens another one".

Jumanji: The Next Level

 

      Starting out a year after the first sequel to the original film, this new adventure is strictly for fans of the series.  The original cast of video game avatars, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillian, and Nick Jonas are all back as well as Morgan Turner, Alex Wolf, Madison Iseman, Colin Hanks, and Ser'Darius Blaine as their human counterparts. New cast members for this sequel are Danny Devito, Danny Glover, Awkwafina and Rory McCann.

        It's a great cast having a great time , not taking themselves too seriously. While the plot simply takes the game of Jumanji to the next level of difficulty, it is much more sentimental than the first sequel and not quite as humorous. It does have its funny moments, usually at Mr. Johnson's expense but as our heroes move through the game, things get more serious, as the action gets more intense with lots of "eye popping" CGI work.

     This is a summer "popcorn" movie for the holidays. Pure escapist fun but it will be confusing for some not familar with the back story. And of course, it leaves the door open for the series to continue in a mid credit scene at the end.

Marriage Story

      Interesting title for a film that starts out with a couple beginning divorce proceedings. Nicole is an actress who prefers the west coast and is filming a TV pilot and Charlie is a stage director about to open a show on Broadway. They have an eight year old son named Henry and for undisclosed reasons (at first), we learn almost immediately that they planning a divorce and will live bi coastal sharing time with Henry. 

      As the story progresses, we learn more about the marriage and why they are getting divorced. What starts out amicable with a mediator soon turns sour when actual lawyers get involved. What follows is complex, heartbreaking, raw and even humorous at times, but always emotionally real.

      Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, this is an honest examination of two people that have reached a breaking point in their lives. Scarlett Johansson plays Nicole and Adam Driver plays Charlie. Their chemistry together is undeniable. Ms. Johansson is terrific and deserves a best actress nomination but Mr. Driver takes his role to another level. He is just amazing and will definitely be nominated with a good shot at a best actor award.

               The film co-stars Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, and Alan Alda as various lawyers employed by Nicole and Charlie. Ms. Dern is excellent as always but her character is very similar to the role she played on HBO's "Big Little Lies". Mr Liotta is terrific as the high priced definition of a shark and Mr. Alda does wonders as a lawyer with a warmer, friendlier approach. Azhy Robertson plays the son, Henry, wise beyond his eight years. Also co-starring are Julie Hagerty as Nicole's mother and Merritt Wever as her sister.

               Mr. Baumbach has made some excellent films over the years but this is his best yet.

Queen & Slim

          The story of a young black couple who go on the run after killing a policeman in self defense during a traffic stop gone wrong, this new drama is both a representation of being black in today's America and a tragic love story.

          As a white man in America, I can't relate to the screenplay by Lena Waithe but I can empathize with the characters as they drive from Ohio to Florida with the hope of staying one step ahead of the law. As they make their way across the country, they become folk heroes to the black community. Strangers help them evade the police while others are not to be trusted. Support for them grows into a protest against police violence that only leads to more violence.

      Jodie Turner-Smith plays "Queen" and Daniel Kaluunya plays "Slim". Bokeem Woodbine co-stars as "Uncle Earl" and Chloe Sevigny, Flea, and Sturgill Simpson have small but significant cameos.  Ms. Turner -Smith and Mr. Kaluunya have great chemistry, especially portraying two people who couldn't be more different and don't even like each other very much at first. Thrown together into a nightmare situation, they inevitably grow close over the course of a six day manhunt.

       The ending is inevitable but along the way, the message gets muddled. The script is filled with many plot contrivances. It's occasionally suspenseful and frequently on point but also asks a lot of it's audience to accept what happens.

Waves

      A very intense new drama that tries hard to reflect society today through the eyes of one affluent family. While the family is black, the circumstances that affect them could easily happen to a white family as well. When Tyler Williams, a high school senior and promising wrestling star develops medical issues, his life starts to spiral out of control. As his problems mount and his home life begins to crack under internal and external pressures, tragedy seems inevitable.

      Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays Tyler, featured predominantly through the first half of the film. His parents are played by Sterling K. Brown ( a departure from his role as Randall on "This is Us") and Rene Elise Goldsberry as his step mother. His sister Emily, played by Taylor Russell, actually carries the second half of the film when there is a sudden but deliberate shift in perspective and tone. The film also features Lucas Hedges (while a terrific young actor, too old now to still play a high school senior). and Alexa Demie as Alexis, Tyler's girlfriend. 

       Trey Edward Shults wrote and directed the film. He uses light and music as a hypnotic palette that at times, creates a dreamlike atmosphere, especially in the second half. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross did the moody score which compliments the story perfectly. Mr. Shults has written a cautionary tale that will haunt you for some time, especially if you have teenage children.

Knives Out

          Yes, the knives are out but the blades are pretty dull. Even an all star cast can't save this progressively tedious "who dunit". Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the film tries hard to create an Agatha Christie atmosphere but Mr. Johnson tips his hand early and then weaves a convoluted final reveal. How can we take the mystery seriously when a major plot point involves a character who throws up when they lie?

           Films that load their cast with multiple stars usually don't really succeed and this one is no different. Chris Evans, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Toni Colette, Christopher Plummer, Ana de Armas, Lakeith Stanfield, Jaeden Martell, K Callan, and Frank Oz are all suspect, whether they are family or police. It's definitely a case of "too many cooks, spoiling the broth". Mr. Johnson has to juggle so many characters, he can't possibly give everyone their due. Daniel Craig, as a Private Investigator with a terrible southern accent, has much of the screen time and has the honor (or dishonor) of trying to explain the final plot twist.

                No one in the cast even seems to be enjoying themselves, except for Mr. Evans who is happy to shed his "Captain America" persona. Ana de Armas as the private nurse, Marta, is the least known of the cast and actually ends up with the most to do.

                If you must, wait for cable and watch it as a double feature with the most recent, "Murder on the Orient Express". It will kill YOUR evening.