Top 10 Films of 2018.
My Top 10 films of 2018.
Honourable Mentions.
Black Panther: One of Marvel’s best of all time. Michael B Jordan proved to the world that he is amongst Hollywood’s elite. Chadwick Boseman’s acting elevates the film into Oscar territory. Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o and Letitia Wright are all deserving of becoming leading actresses in blockbusters over the next few years. Ryan Coogler made a moment in culture which will be remembered for years to come. Wakanda forever.
Love, Simon: There have been far too many films over the last few years which have failed to understand teenagers. Writers often fill their teenage films with writing which doesn’t remotely resemble reality. Love, Simon is mature, true and treats its audience with respect. Greg Berlanti handles the themes of social media, sexuality and friendship with tenderness seldom seen in Hollywood. Nick Robinson’s performance as the titular Simon is a revelation. Robinson deserves award recognition for the performance which will surely catapult him to stardom.
Searching: As a media student I have big dreams of making content to entertain people. Aneesh Chaganty is clearly a man who dreams became a reality this year with Searching. Chaganty had been making shorts for years before making his directorial feature debut with the mystery thriller. The story which is told through social media never once feels like a gimmick. Chaganty’s direction is flawless. John Cho gives his best performance to date as a father who will do anything to save his daughter. Searching is never preachy, contrived or ludicrous. If you haven’t seen the film yet do yourself a favour and watch the opening 5 minutes. The best opening to a film since Up.
Isle of Dogs: Wes Anderson is a unique director. No one on earth has a vision like his. My favourite Anderson film is Fantastic Mr. Fox and dogs are my favourite animals. Isle of Dogs was always going to win me over. The ensemble is terrific; Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton are the standouts. The story investigates the relationship between man and dog. The cinematography and direction are wonderful. Isle of Dogs plays out like a storybook. After losing my dog this week this film has been in my mind a lot. Dogs are extraordinary creatures unlike any other on this planet. Isle of Dogs is a film which pays tribute to dogs and tells an unforgettable story.
Creed II: This film had a lot riding on it for me. Creed was my favourite film of 2015. Rocky IV is my favourite Rocky film of all time. A follow up to these two films was destined to disappoint. However, Creed II does the impossible. The sequel is outstanding. Michael B Jordan is immense as Donnie. The performance by Jordan is as impressive physically as it is emotionally. Stallone takes a step back to allow the generation of characters to breath. The Dragos return to screen is glorious. Creed II manages to create sympathy to the most hated villain in film history. Steven Caple Jr. marks his Hollywood break in style. Creed II is not just an amazing Rocky film but an amazing film in every sense.
A Quiet Place: I was super late to the party on this one. I only watched it two nights ago, but this film hit me hard. Krasinski’s direction and performance are both phenomenal. Emily Blunt is as amazing as you expect from her. The film scared the daylights out of me. If you were able to watch this and then go up your own stairs without pretending you were a ninja than what is wrong with you? A Quiet Place is a film I need more time to dwell on. As it stands I’m a huge fan and can’t wait to return for repeat watches.
With all that said and done let’s make our way into the top 10 films of the year!
10: BlaKkKlansman
9: Game Night
8: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
7: Avengers: Infinity War
6: Widows
Steve McQueen followed up his Best Picture winning 12 Years a Slave with a film based off a 1983 ITV miniseries. Widows is a gem of a movie. It masterfully tackles an array of subjects in this masterfully crafted film. The film was built up as a revenge heist film. The strategic planning of the heist is much more intelligent than the other big heist film of the year Oceans 8. Every piece of the jigsaw is crafted and fit into place by the characters in the film. McQueen is not interested in having a heist which only works if the audience suspends their disbelief. McQueen wants his film to show how the planning of a heist can be just as dangerous as the heist itself. The Widows themselves are all played brilliantly by their respected actresses. Viola Davies is a master at acting using only facial expressions. You could watch the film on mute and Davies battle with grief would still leave you with chills. The standout of the widows is Alice; played by the fast-rising star Elizabeth Debicki. Debicki’s performance as Alice is one of the most complex performances of the year. The downward spiral her character goes on is painful to watch. Despite all that Alice goes though. Debicki still manages to bring laughs to the heavy film. Widows is not just a heist. The film also deals with prejudice in politics. The battle for mayor between Colin Farrell and Brian Tyree Henry’s characters. The contrast between these two characters is perhaps the most powerful statement that Widows makes. The best direction of the year comes in the tracking shot of Farrell travelling from a run-down neighbourhood to his mansion. Daniel Kaluuya follows up his breakout role in Get Out with a turn that will terrify you. Kaluuya as Jatemme is the most unorthodox villain since The Joker. You’ll never look at Hip-Hop or the bowling alley the same way ever again. Widows was sadly overlooked by audiences upon its release. The world needs to take notice. McQueen is on the midst of a power run. Whatever the director tackles next; if it’s half as good as Widows we are in for another stroke of genius.
5: Annihilation
Annihilation is one of the most polarising films of the year. Even if you take a quick glance on Rotten Tomatoes you’ll see that the critics have it at 88% while audiences have it at 66%. In my eyes Annihilation is one of the most thought-provoking pieces of film I’ve seen in a long time. The film centres around a group of scientists who go on a top-secret mission into an unknown area where the laws of nature don’t apply. The cast is jam packed with talent. Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac all deliver outstanding performances. The thing that sets Annihilation apart from any other film this year is its uniqueness. There are concepts and images on screen which you’ve never seen on screen before. The world of the Shimmer is mind blowing to see on screen. Cinematography can often go a miss in Science fiction these days. Sometimes a Science fiction film can get so caught up in its creations that it forgets to create an immersive world. Director Alex Garland crafts a world which will leave you in awe. Even in the quieter moments of the film you will still be immersed by the imagery on screen. Garland is one of the most underrated directors in the world. It’s a real shame that this film is a Netflix exclusive. The world deserved to see his vision on the big screen. Rob Hardy may be the best cinematographer in the world right now; another film he works on appears later in the list. Garland has not only created a film with beautiful images, but the plot is magnificent. Natalie Portman gives my favourite performance of her career in Annihilation. Portman brings the best out of those around her to create what might be in a weird way the female version of Predator. A more intelligent and layered version at that. Annihilation ranks as high on my list for one scene. If you’ve seen the film, you know what scene I’m talking about. I don’t know about the rest of you but despite all the beautiful landscapes in Annihilation. There is one scene which will haunt you for a long time after the credits stop rolling.4: A Star is Born.
In the shalalalalalalaalowwwww. A Star is Born has been my choice to win Best Picture at the Oscars from the moment I heard Lady Gaga’s rendition of La Vie En Rose. A Star is Born being a five-star film was a major shock. This was Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut. Cooper chose a film which had already been made already been remade before. The star of his film was a pop-star who had never starred in a feature film before. The film had no right to be as wonderful as it was. There was no indicator that this was coming; but man was I happy to be wrong about a film. A Star is Born is the kind of film when while your watching you’re aware that you’re in the middle of watching a classic. The old school Hollywood vibes is vibrant throughout. In many ways it’s the opposite of La La Land. Both are tributes to classic Hollywood. But either La La Land made you feel like you could take on the world. A Star is Born destroys your emotions throughout its run-time. Cooper delivers arguably the best performance of his career as the grizzled music veteran. The performance is boosted by Cooper’s voice which I would gladly listen to on the radio. Cooper’s direction is the strongest debut since Chazelle in Whiplash. Cooper did his research of the music industry which allows the film to dig deep into the highs and lows of stardom. Lady Gaga commands the screen in her performance as Ally. Gaga manages to make the transformation from a nobody to a superstar compelling. Gaga gives a performance which excels in its vulnerability, might and commanding onscreen presence. Gaga reminds of a modern Ingrid Bergman. Sam Elliot gives a nuanced supporting performance as Jackson's brother which shows how addiction can ruin a relationship. The performance, score and cinematography are all destined to be iconic. Here’s some advice I wish I was given before I watched A Star is Born. Bring tissues because you will be an emotional wreck by the end of it.
3: Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Before Fallout, the Mission: Impossible series had already gifted cinema with multiple films amongst the action genres finest. For a 6th film to not only top the 5 which came before it but to be one of the finest action films of all time is crazy. Tom Cruise receives a lot of flack for his antics behind the scenes. There is no denying that his performance here has cemented his status as a legend. Cruise at the age of 56 is putting himself through stunts which no one in their right mind would ever attempt. Cruise is not only an action man but also delivers in the emotional parts of his performance. From his facial expressions to his tone of voice; Cruise lets you know that Ethan Hunt is relying on sheer luck to pull off his mission. Ethan Hunt is a character who Cruise has protected with all his might. Unlike many other actors who tarnished their iconic characters reputations. Cruise treats Hunt with the care that the character deserves. Henry Cavill’s performance as August Walker is so good that it makes up for Justice League. I always thought Cavill was too bland to make it in Hollywood. His performance here made me look like a fool. Cavill is a badass who deserves aggressive roles which he can sink his teeth into. Director Christopher McQuarrie deserves an Oscar nomination. To pull off the set pieces attempted in this film is extraordinary. The bathroom fight, halo jump, the motorbike chase or the helicopter fight could all win best action scene of the year with no one raising an eyebrow. The action will blow your breath away. McQuarrie gives the action room to breath and never cuts them off too early. Instead he allows each sequenced to have as much time as it needs to flourish. Mission: Impossible – Fallout will put a huge grin on your face from start to finish. This is action done right. Now we wait for the 7th instalment where Cruise will probably go to space.
2: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
1: Bad Times at the El Royale.
My number one pick of the year goes to Bad Times at the El Royale. A breath of fresh air hit me when I seen this October. A film completely original which wasn’t based off anything else. The film takes place in a hotel known as the El Royale. Set over one night, 7 strangers all containing dark secrets hope to make it to the morning in one piece. The ensemble cast is my favourite of the year. Jeff Bridges plays a sly priest who you can’t help but feel sorry for. Jon Hamm plays a character who for all purposes seems like Don Draper but instead charming and cool he’s racist and sexist. Dakota Johnson reminds the world that she is an outstanding actress who should never have been near the Fifty Shades series. Lewis Pullman brings not only laughs as the maintenance man but also tears with his broken innocence. Cynthia Enrivo steals Bad Times as Darleen Sweet; a young soul singer who gets up in the madness. Enrivo deserves a Best Supporting Actress Nomination for her debut performance. The young actress demanded that she was allowed to sing on camera live in the film. The scenes in which she sings amplifies the tension to infinity. Did I mention that El Royale features Chris Hemsworth in his first villainous role? Yes, it is just as glorious as it sounds. Hemsworth is having a blast playing a piece of shit and it gives the audience a detestable villain for the ages.
Drew Goddard did a phenomenal job as director for the film. His direction at first glance is Tarrantinoesque. Upon further inspection it’s clear that Goddard has made a unique piece of cinema., The lack of studio interference has allowed Goddard to create a film which is so damn cool. The film varies in genres. You’ll be going the pendulum of emotions watching it. The script which Goddard also wrote is full of exchanges between characters which last for long periods of time but your glued to every last word. The film clocks in at 140 minutes but you’ll have such a good time that you’ll not even notice. This is the man behind the scripts for The Cabin in the Woods and The Martian. This is far and away his best piece of work to date. Bad Times at the El Royale posses a swagger which very few films attempt to pull off today. The cinematography is outstanding. The soundtrack will etch itself self into your mind. If you’re looking for something fun and original than this is the film for you. Who knows it may end up being you favourite film of 2018 too.
Thank you all for reading and I look forward talking film with you all in 2019!
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