It’s time to look back on my favorite films of 2019! Before I do that, I want to share a quick look at the past decade and the films that have shaped it. I’ve always loved film since I was a child, but this is the decade that it became a huge deal to me. I began writing about it, studying it, and analyzing it. I started my blog in 2013, and this website soon after! To celebrate this significant moment, I put together this video, highlighting some of the biggest and best moments of film in the last decade. You can watch it right here!
Now, it’s time to share my Top 10 Films of 2019! It was difficult to put this list together because there were so many movies that I loved this year!
10. The Irishman
Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino
By now, you’ve probably heard all about Martin Scorsese’s mafia epic. Probably something along the lines of “it’s three and a half hours long” or “they used de-aging technology to make the stars look younger.” Yeah, that’s all true. This is three and a half hours long, but guess what? The story doesn’t drag. It draws you into the world of Jimmy Hoffa, hitmen, and horrific organized crime. Following the path of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and his descent into the underbelly of the mob, The Irishman is a reflection on life and loneliness. The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa has always fascinated me, so to see the film unfold was tense and intriguing. Al Pacino’s performance was my highlight of the film. However, it’s great to watch the cast full of stars including Deniro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin, and Ray Romano work together. With this film, Scorsese proves he is still in his directorial prime.
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Any negative feedback can kindly make its way to the next movie on the list because The Rise of Skywalker rightfully secured its spot here. I will defend this movie and sequel trilogy from any negativity. The trilogy wraps up as the Resistance squares off against the First Order one last time, and Rey finally learns her true lineage. It’s a wonderful and exciting space opera that offers thrilling action, compelling insight on good vs. evil, and the hope of redemption. The arc of Rey and Kylo Ren’s force bond offers up a complexity that is endlessly compelling. I’m not talking spoilers, but that final act was pretty much everything I needed in a Star Wars movie. It might be divisive, but it sure did work for me. The Rise of Skywalker captivated me through its entirety and has led to multiple viewings at the theater.
8. Avengers: Endgame
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo
“Wow, Rebecca. Are you really putting the final Star Wars AND final Avengers back to back on your list?” - you wonder reading through the rollercoaster that is this Top 10 list. YEAH, and they shall rest next to each other peacefully in their respective spots. 2019 has left me emotional with the end of some of my favorite franchises. As a fan, it’s been a wild ride worth every second. On a deeper level, the thought that I will never see Chris Evans as Captain America again is haunting. I will overcome this dark time, though.
Avengers: Endgame is a cinematic event like no other. It’s a culmination of 10 years of Marvel films leading to one epic conclusion. I’ll never forget seeing it opening night in a packed theater that had the heat blasting at a level I didn’t know was humanly possible. Everyone was slowly sinking into what I believe were the early signs of heatstroke, yet no one could leave the theater because we had to know what would happen to our favorite heroes. Could they defeat Thanos? Who would die? Everyone left that theater in an overheated emotional tailspin, but it was worth every second.
7. Hustlers
Starring: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart
I did not expect to like this movie at all. The previews made it look cheap and exploitative. I was surprised to find that Hustlers was something entirely different than its marketing campaign suggested. Director Lorene Scafaria takes on the story that inspired the 2015 New York Magazine article exploring the world of strippers who hustled Wall Street brokers out of their money during the financial crisis. It’s thrilling, bold, and emotional. It feels like a Martin Scorsese film on steroids due to the subject matter, fast-paced editing, and brilliant musical choices. Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu command every second of their screen time as women attempting to gain control in an environment that is spiraling out of control.
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Starring: Matthew Rhys, Tom Hanks, Susan Kelechi Watson
It’s no secret that I’m a Mister Rogers fan. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is one of my favorite documentaries of all time. If you haven’t watched it, please rent it some time. It is so beautifully moving. After that theatrical experience last year, I wondered what it would be like to see a film adaption of his life. Truthfully, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is not a biopic about Mister Rogers. It’s about Lloyd Vogel, a cynical journalist who profiled Rogers for Esquire magazine. As director, Marielle Heller frames the whole film like it’s an episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. It’s wildly creative and proves that even adults can learn a ton from the techniques of Fred Rogers. Tom Hanks plays Rogers with a sense of profound grace, kindness, and compassion, nailing his mannerisms. The entire film is like a therapy session with important themes on grief, forgiveness, and love. Taking on Mister Rogers is no easy task, but I’m certainly grateful for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
5. Rocketman
Starring: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Madden
Listen, we need more musicals in the world. I want people to sing about their lives in every movie, but it would be weird if Tom Cruise did that in Mission: Impossible or Robert Downey Jr. did that in The Avengers, so I get that it’s not a realistic scenario. Rocketman delivers on providing a stylistic musical that soars to new heights. Instead of just telling the story of Elton John’s life, it sets up a fantastical account from childhood to stardom. The musical sequences are whimsical, sad, and epic, each more kaleidoscopically eye-catching than the last. They move the story of Elton’s life forward while making you want to get up and dance. (There’s no doubt this will get turned into a Broadway musical.) Taron Egerton turns in one of the year’s best performances as Reginald Dwight/Elton John, a scared boy trying to figure out his true identity vs. stage persona.
4. Marriage Story
Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Alan Alda
Netflix is on fire this year with the release of The Irishman, The Two Popes, and Dolemite is My Name, all films with major awards buzz surrounding them. The one that captivated me the most is Marriage Story. Writer/director Noah Baumbach turns in an expertly crafted screenplay paired with unforgettable performances by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. It would be easy to write this off as just a “divorce movie,” but it’s so much more than that. Marriage Story takes the viewer through the strained relationship of Nicole, an actress, and Charlie, a theater director, as they navigate the terrain of divorce with their young son. The film explores the emotional impact of both sides of a divorce. It’s easy to find yourself picking a side of the Nicole and Charlie debate (interestingly enough, different people I talk to pick different sides), but the point of the film is to show the toll a divorce takes on both parties. It’s an emotionally raw portrait of a relationship in shambles. Did I mention there are two scenes where the lead characters sing about their feelings? This may not “technically” be a musical, but it has elements sprinkled in, and for that, it receives bonus points from me.
3. 1917
Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman
Sam Mendes’s 1917 is a technical masterpiece quite unlike anything else. The story of two soldiers on a mission to deliver a letter into enemy territory is tense, emotional, and compelling. Roger Deakins's gorgeous cinematography is filled with jaw-dropping shots. Not to mention, he makes the whole movie look like it’s filmed in one continuous long take. How does he do it? I’ll never know, but it’s unbelievable to watch. Every second of 1917 has you on the edge of your seat waiting hoping the mission will be successful. It’s a filmmaking masterpiece that you must see on a big screen.
2. Jojo Rabbit
Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson
A satire about Nazi Germany doesn’t sound like the best idea for a movie, but Jojo Rabbit manages to toe the line of satire, drama, and thriller seamlessly. Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) is a young boy blinded by the propaganda of Hitler’s youth camps. His only wish in life is to serve Hitler and the Third Reich. His devotion is so intense that he sees Hitler every day as his whacky imaginary best friend. When Jojo finds out that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) has brought home a young Jewish girl, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), to hide in a spare bedroom, Jojo’s world is turned upside down. Director Taika Waititi crafts the film with a sense of stylistic wonder and terror. This is a coming-of-age tale in the darkest time imaginable. Even in the darkest places, there is still hope and the film illustrates that wonderfully. Child actor Roman Griffin Davis (who has never been in a film before!) leads a stellar cast through one of the year’s most brilliant films.
1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie
There was never a doubt what would make its way to number one on this list. This film has everything I love: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, the 1960s, and Hollywood. I don’t want to brag or anything, but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was released on the eve of my birthday. It’s as though the studio executives gifted my favorite film of the year on a silver platter.
The film is a sprawling epic snapshot of a town on the precipice of change. Quentin Tarantino brings every set to life, with extreme attention to detail, transporting the viewer back to late 1960s Hollywood through TV ads, music, and movie references. Following the journey of TV Cowboy Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), the two are out of time as their beloved town brings a wave of uncertainty with the changing landscape of the 1970s on the horizon. As Rick begins his descent into oblivion, a new face begins her rise to stardom in Sharon Tate. The three will cross paths unexpectedly once upon a time…in Hollywood.
