Top 10 Films of 2019

No I haven't seen Uncut Gems, or Hustlers, or Judy, or The Lighthouse, or Parasite…yet…

However with the Oscars come and (long) gone, I can firmly say these are my Top 10 Films of 2019…also maybe you can check some of these films out while we're all socially distancing ourselves amidst the pandemic.

10. Klaus
Directed by Sergio Pablos
Starring Jason Schwartzman, JK Simmons, and Rashida Jones

As someone who loves the Christmas season, and grew up on hand-drawn animated films, Klaus was a real gift. The animation? Beautiful. The story? Familiar but at the same time unique. The voice cast? Spot on, from Jason Schwartzman as the spoiled protagonist who learns to love more than himself, to JK Simmons as a pitch-perfect Santa Claus, or Klaus. I truly see Klaus becoming the next great holiday classic, and I'm sorry but it should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, not Toy Story 4.
(Original Review)


9. Frozen 2
Directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee
Starring Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, and Josh Gad

Klaus getting nominated for Best Animated Feature, but Frozen 2 not getting nominated is almost like some tragic but necessary trade-off. Frozen 2 is wonderful achievement by Disney, in that it's truly a worthy animated sequel. It's not better or worse than it's predecessor but sits as a nice companion to it. It advances the characters in the right direction, which are brought to life with amazing vocal performances and stunning computer animation. I do wish they fleshed out the mythology a little more but still, it sticks the landing. Oh and the music is still stuck in my head. Not too hate on Toy Story 4 (Because I don't hate it) but Frozen 2 was definitely the better Disney sequel of last year.
(Original Review)


8. Shazam
Directed by David Sanberg
Starring Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, and Jack Dylan Grazer

Shazam was a ton of fun. It's part 90's film, part modern superhero film, and honestly it stars my hero Chuck Bartowski aka Zachary Levi so there was no way I wasn't going to end up loving this. But regardless of my subjectiveity Shazam is easily one of the most unique, fun, and heartwarming superhero films in recent years. Levi is his usual charming, hilarious self in the titular role, which was practically made for him. Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer are amazing talents for their age. The script allows Angel, as Billy Batson, to carry the heavier, more dramatic moments while Levi handles the comedic, energized moments. Grazer handles both sides of the story well and plays off both of his co-stars with ease. As much as I enjoy it, the film does start to lose its pacing in the third act, and director David Sanberg's horror-film background does show up a little too much at times. I didn't write a full-review for Shazam so I went a bit more in-depth here, but it was another mark in the win column for DC. It's a special kind of movie-magic, like lightning (heh) in a bottle.


7. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Cate Blanchett

I swear this is the last time I'm going to talk about the 2019 Oscar for Best Animated Feature category…but look. As the year went on, the already slim chances of the third How To Train Your Dragon film taking home the trophy dwindled and dwindled. That much was clear. Regardless, it doesn't sting any less, seeing another Toy Story film take the Oscar away from another How To Train Your Dragon film. They could have given it as like a "win for the franchise" Oscar like The Return of The King…Not the right year I guess. Alright, End Rant. The How To Train Your Dragon film ends the fantasy/coming-of-age story on a beautiful, resonating note. As the final film it hit all the notes it needed to, while giving viewers all that we expect from the franchise: Wonderful animation, lovable characters, and a story that sucker punches you right in the heart (I ugly cried). You fall in love with the relationship of Hiccup and Toothless all over again and my God it hurts so much but it's alright. Then of course there's the absolutely epic score from John Powell, who was also robbed of an Oscar nomination. The How To Train Your Dragon trilogy is one of the best animated film trilogies-no, one of the best film trilogies to ever grace the silver screen. The third film might not be the best but it wraps everything up in a perfect package.
(Original Review)


6. Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
Directed by Rob Letterman
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton

As a Pokemon fan for the majority of my adolescence and kinda still to this day, Detective Pikachu was a gift. It was such a surprise. It's so simple, but so much fun. Adapting one of the spinoff games instead of the main ones was a gamble that paid off well, and Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the titular character. The big draw of course was seeing all our favorite Pocket Monsters on the big screen, and they look amazing. Come for the Pokemon, stay for the fun (sometimes silly) storyline. Detective Pikachu is just a fun time at the movies.
(Original Review)


5. Knives Out
Directed by Rian Johnson
Starring Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig and Chris Evans

I couldn't tell you the last time I left a theater feeling as "jazzed up" as I did when I left my screening of Knives Out. Rian Johnson delivers an instant classic of a whodunnit, as only Rian Johnson can. There's so many twists and turns along the way, I was locked in until the credits rolled. Along the way of course are plenty of amazing performances from a hella great ensemble cast. Ana de Armas is wonderful, Daniel Craig is a delight to watch, and Chris Evans gives an unforgettable performance that's a stark contrast to good old Captain America. Knives Out leaves a real impression on you as a modern-day, Agatha Christie-like mystery. It's unique, compelling, and I can't wait to watch it again.

4. Joker
Directed by Todd Phillips
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Robert DeNiro, and Zazie Beetz

I left Knives Out jazzed up. I left Joker shook up. That's right, Joker left me "shooketh". It's a chilling portrayal of a character that could very well exist in our world. Yes it's an origin story for Batman's greatest enemy, but this hardly feels like a superhero film. This is a character study with Batman elements peppered in for flavor. By taking issues of mental illness and social class and applying them to these iconic characters, it makes them almost more tangible, accessible. At the center of all of this is Joaquin Phoenix, playing a character we sympathize with, and slowly start to fear. Was there ever any doubt he was going to get the Oscar? The cinematography is great. The Academy Award-winning score is haunting. All the pieces were there to make Joker the memorable film that is, and why it resonated with audiences all the way through awards season.
(Original Review)



3. Jojo Rabbit
Directed by Taika Waititi
Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, and Taika Waititi

I love Jojo Rabbit and all its powerful, unique, beautiful weirdness. I think it's such an important film for our time, in that it shows us when we're being taught so much how to fear and hate, we can learn to understand and love instead. While there have been so many World War II films, this one takes it in a different direction, putting Nazi Germany through the eyes of an innocent child. While the cast is amazing, and full of old favorites, the two young leads carry the picture. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Taika Waititi are all amazing. The film has such a beautiful visual style, and has got plenty of clever, offbeat humor. Jojo Rabbit makes you smile and breaks your heart at the same time. I stand by my belief that it's a must-see film.
(Original Review)


2. Rocketman
Directed by Dexter Fletcher
Starring Taron Edgerton, Jamie Bell, and Richard Madden

Rocketman is a biopic like you've never seen before, and it's a musical like you've never seen before, because it's a true, musical biopic. It's such a flashily, positive spectacle, which is perfect for the subject matter, the life of Sir Elton John. The new renditions of classic Elton John tracks are amazing, only adding to his already wonderful discography. Taron Edgerton gives a career-defining performance as Sir Elton, and he's backed by wonderful supporting performances from Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard. But what really gives Rocketman its lasting power is its story about a young man learning to love himself and be true to who he is. Again I think that's a really important message for our time. Sure Rocketman may follow the classic guidelines of a biopic, but it's heart, music, and message make it stand out above the rest.

Before we get to what I'm sure you already know is #1, some honorable mentions:

Yesterday: Quite possibly one of the most unique concepts we've gotten on film in a long time. Definitely an underrated gem that slipped under most of our radars.

Spider-Man: Far From Home: Even better than Homecoming, this film takes the MCU Spider-Man to exciting, emotional places. The film's packed with amazing visuals, and wonderful, hilarious character moments.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood: A heartwarming story that shows the true power Mr. Rogers had, not just on children but adults. No one but Tom Hanks could play that man.

The Irishman: Peak Scorsese. It's his usual gangsters/brotherhood faire, elevated with themes of legacy and mortality. Every scene captures your attention, and the performances from the three leads are truly some of their best work.

Marriage Story: Such a real, bittersweet look at love and how it can survive during and after a divorce. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are amazing.

Ford V Ferrari: A great story about partnership/friendship. The racing scenes are incredibly well-edited, and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: I don't need to explain myself to you...

And some others I haven't seen yet but want to: Just Mercy, Richard Jewell, Us…

…So yeah.

1. Avengers Endgame:
Directed by Joe & Anthony Russo
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and the rest!

The finale to the first saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was an unforgettable experience to witness for the first time on the big screen. I cheered…a lot. I cried…a lot. Well, it's what you would expect when one follows a series and its characters for almost half of your life. There was plenty of surprises, iconic visuals and moments. The cast members give some of their best work of the franchise. Alan Silversti's music is legendary (He deserved a damn Oscar nomination, and a win too.). It wraps everything up while also setting the stage for what could come next. We're approaching it's one-year anniversary and honestly the film is just as good as it was the first time I saw it. I only wish I could erase my memory and see it for the first time again. Avengers: Endgame was a near-perfect finale to one of the largest stories ever told in cinema, and was truly a defining moment for film in 2019.
(Original Review)

So if there's one big takeaway from all this is I guess that I think a lot of films deserved more from the Oscars this year. Klaus deserved more. How To Train Your Dragon 3 deserved more. Jojo Rabbit, Rocketman, Endgame all deserved more. But hey watch what you like and own it. All entertainment is subjective right? And hey maybe revisit some of these films while you chill inside and away from other people while the world falls apart? That's what I'm doing. And probably catching up on some films I missed. I mean I haven't done a review for The Rise of Skywalker yet…maybe when it's safer I'll go to the store and buy copy…

Film Review - "Avengers: Endgame"

*deep breath*…Ok, I'm ready.

Avengers: Endgame
Directed by Joe & Anthony Russo
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and the rest!

When I was younger, my love and interest of superheroes was fairly tame. I loved the idea of superheroes, drawing and writing stories of my own, but I never read the comics. I followed the likes of Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man on their respective animated series and films, who were at the time, the three popular and most well-known by the general public. The likes of Iron Man, Captain America, or even Ant-Man weren't on people's minds. But then, there was an idea…

Marvel began producing their own films, with the characters they still had rights to (a story for another day), and setting them all in this shared continuity. A cinematic universe. So when the time was right, they could do a big crossover film with these heroes known as The Avengers. As someone who loves and studies film, and works in video production, the storytelling concept of a cinematic universe really fascinated me. I didn't rush to the theaters to see the first Iron Man, in fact I watched it on-demand with my mom a quiet weekend months later. Things changed rather quickly.

I was as invested as the rest of the public, going to the theaters on opening weekends to see Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and so on. When I went to college, I met friends who knew all about these heroes from their days in comic books, and broadened my understanding of this Marvelous World and made me an even bigger fan. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became a major part of my life, their lives, and many others. We would have reunion weekends at least once a year to see the latest installment, and we would be in contact throughout the year discussing all the latest news, trailers, etc.

This is a long-way of saying, eleven years after this first saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame was poised to bring it to a grandiose, epic, and emotional conclusion. Boy, did it ever…

The spoiler ban has lifted but out of respect for the few that haven't seen it yet, I'll keep the plot summary brief. After suffering a devastating loss at the hands of the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin), which resulted in half of the universe being snapped out of existence, the Avengers left behind must pick up the pieces. As a true team, they strive to find a way to reverse the damage and resurrect their dusted friends, family, and allies. That's the barebones.

Finales are hard to do. Just ask any show-runners of a television series that's concluded. Endgame is the series (or season depending your viewpoint) finale of a 22-episode, cinematic television series. Everyone has or had in their mind an idea of how The Infinity Saga of the MCU should have concluded. All entertainment is subjective, and while I personally had my own thoughts and expectations dismissed (As will all of you), this film is as close to perfect as perfect could be. It's what a finale should be. It's jam-packed with amazing character moments, epic scenes of drama and action, and plenty, PLENTY of moments that will have you clutching your handkerchief. I admit I cry at movies a fair amount, but damn, the bar's been raised…a lot.

Infinity War was an MCU film that was not for the uninitiated. You couldn't go into it cold turkey, or having only seen a small portions of the films that came before it. Endgame is no different, in fact it is even more so not for the uninitiated. The amount of MCU films you've seen prior will undoubtedly reflect your level of enjoyment viewing it. Back on Infinity War, while it and Endgame are a two-part installment, they are very different films. Specifically, while the former had a lot of balls in there and was very fast-paced, the latter has a much more mainstreamed storyline, and goes a bit slower. Not to say that's a bad thing. There are some slow parts in the first half, but conversely in that first act are a lot of wonderful, very entertaining character moments.

That's really why we've devoted ourselves to this cinematic universes, because of its compelling characters, which is my segway into talking about the cast. It's no secret that this film has been billed as the final outing for many of the franchise's longest standing cast members, and in Endgame they turn in some of their very best work. Robert Downey Jr. deserves some sort of Oscar for his work as Tony Stark/Iron Man. The amount of charisma and heart he has put into this role, it's nothing short of iconic. Chris Evans is Steve Rogers/Captain America. Cap is given some of the very best moments in the film, and Evans delivers them all with the same gravitas and emotion of a true leading man since he first picked up the shield in 2011. I don't think enough has been said about all the good work Chris Hemsworth has done as Thor. His ability to juggle the comedic and emotional sides of his character is remarkable. Not everyone's going to like what the Russos do with Thor in this film, but it does work. Thor has had one of the most-fleshed out character arcs throughout the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Scarlett Johansson does a lot of heavy-lifting as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. She's not just the emotional core of the original Avengers team, she's the emotional core of the film, and it was really nice to see her talent on full-display. Jeremy Renner, who has often been sidelined and overlooked as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, is a true highlight here. He's given a lot of material to work with in Endgame and he runs with all it. Karen Gillan continues to be a personal favorite as Nebula, and seeing her work with the Avengers, opposed to say the Guardians, is a lot of fun. I don't want to go down the list of the entire cast but lastly, I want to mention Josh Brolin as Thanos. Thanos has become one of the greatest villains of all time, largely in part to his performance. Avoiding spoilers best I can, but the Thanos in Endgame is a stark contrast to the one in Infinity War. While Thanos is a self-proclaimed messiah who takes no true pleasure in his mission, here he's far more evil, ruthless, and threatening. Brolin works wonders with this side of the character.

Much like Infinity War, Endgame's production design is truly a comic-book come to life with some remarkable shots, settings and set-pieces. I can't wait to see what artists do with some of this stuff at my local comic-cons (Sorry, wallet.). I know I said Composer Alan Silversti gave some of his best work in Infinity War, but I changed my mind. Here is where he gives his best work. Obviously he worked on both films back to back, and you can hear a lot of the same themes and pieces in the score, but he truly saved the best for last. This is some of the best music a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever had, and if he isn't even nominated for an Academy Award I will set every copy of Bohemian Rhapsody on fire (I stole the framework of this joke).

I have come to love the Marvel films as much as I love the films of Disney and Pixar. They inform a lot of my opinions and taste in film and television, but they've also become a large part of my identity. These films have enforced lifelong friendships. I look around my apartment right now, and there is a Captain America magnet on my fridge, a throw pillow on my couch, a hand-crafted mini-surfboard with his shield hanging on my wall, and a Funko Pop of him fighting Thanos on my entertainment center. And it's some bizarre coincidence that three of this franchise's leading men are all named Chris, and the Chris that plays my favorite superhero is also from Massachusetts, but I digress.

The experience of Avengers: Endgame is unforgettable. Once in a lifetime. It's an epic, emotional conclusion to a story that began eleven years ago. Obviously, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue on, but it'll never be as it was. Nothing has ever or probably will ever touch this historic achievement of feature-film storytelling. Ten years from now, it's unclear if the superhero genre will still be as strong, or will have gone quietly to the sideline similar to the western. Rest assured, no one will soon forget the cultural impact of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and how The Infinity Saga, its first chapter, came to a ground-breaking conclusion with Avengers: Endgame.

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Credit to my friend Derek for this, the best work in Photoshop anyone has ever done ever.