Mike's Musings: The Top 10 Movies of 2018
I've said it before and I'll say it again: 2018 was a terrible year for movies. I mean, it was downright awful. With so many remakes, reboots and an unending plethora of superhero movies, there was little that was original. That's not different than any other year, but it was more so in 2018. Or at least it felt like it. The pickings were so thin that even I preferred to stay home and watch something of my choice more often than not.
If anyone has noticed, my reviews have been coming out in trickles over the past few months. Even ones of older movies. It's not because I'm worn out or disillusioned by my favorite pastime (although both are true to an extent). It's that I've been taking a coding boot camp these past few months. Working full time and taking a coding class 12 hours a week doesn't leave a lot of time for movie reviews. I meant to post links on Facebook and Reddit to old reviews that not many had read, but that never happened. As a result, readership has gone down. Ah well. I never did it for the numbers anyway. I do it for myself.
As awful as this year was for movies, there were some that left an impression. Some were hits, others were strictly relegated to the art houses, and one was a direct-to-DVD release that didn't have the marketing to find the audience it deserved. So without further delay, here are the best films of 2018.
10. Black Panther. I didn't expect this movie to be this good. It's a superhero movie (a genre that I am utterly bored with)| and an entry in the MCU (whose entries are so similar that they almost feel like cut and paste jobs). But Ryan Coogler has a lot of talent, and does a tremendous job with the narrow creative field he is given. I haven't seen "Fruitvale Station" or "Creed," but based on this, the man has some serious talent. Add in Andy Serkis, who is a true chameleon if there ever was one, and Angela Bassett, and you've got a winner.
9. Deadpool 2. I was one of the few people who wasn't raving about "Deadpool." The problem with that movie for me is that it had no plot of any interest. Sure, the gore and the potty mouthed, self-aware lead set it apart, but attitude can't sustain an entire film. With the sequel, the film takes the character and puts him into a story that is worthy. Everyone has upped their game in this second installment. The action is better and the film is often uproarious. The only reason it isn't higher on this list is because it doesn't have that same energy the second time around.
8. Love, Simon. Watching this movie was like taking a trip back in time to when I was in high school and had first admitted to myself that I was gay. The fear, the awkwardness, the double life...it's all here. What I really appreciated in this movie is that it understands that there is going to be a fear of rejection no matter what. As an outsider like us, anyone could see that Simon's parents and friends would think nothing of the fact that he was gay. To him, it doesn't matter. The fear is overwhelming. It's those moments of recognition that made this such an affecting film. And finally there is a gay character who isn't a stereotype. Simon actually rejects becoming one in the film's funniest scene. This is a great movie on its own, but essential viewing for straight people who know someone who is gay. And especially if they don't.
7. I, Tonya. This is a holdover from 2017. But this is such a unique movie that I haven't forgotten it. Not only does it tell a compelling story about a flawed, but interesting, woman, but it does so in a unique way. I can't remember any other film where the characters knew they were in a flashback and refuted what is going on. Add to that a stunning performance by Margot Robbie, and you've got a movie that is both funny and sad.
6. Ready Player One. It's actually unthinkable that Steven Spielberg wasn't the only choice to direct this movie. The eternally optimistic Spielberg was in one way or another the genius behind some of the most influential movies in the 1980 and 90s, and this is a movie that celebrates that legacy. It's a bit too broad to rank alongside his best works, but it's a thrilling ride and a lot of fun. Once again, Spielberg reminds us all why he is the most famous filmmaker working in Hollywood today.
5. The Nun. "The Nun" has one goal: to scare the living hell out of a viewer. Character development, subtlety and nuance are irrelevant. This is about visceral, violent shocks and unending, unbearable terror. On that level, it is a success. There was a thick and encroaching sense of dread and doom, and one of cinema's most terrifying creatures is lurking about. Nuff said.
4. The Endless. In general, I don't like movies that intentionally underplay everything. When I want to watch a horror movie, I want to be scared out of my mind. When I want to watch a comedy, I want to laugh out loud. I don't want to watch a movie that thinks it's "too cool for school" in this regard. As if abandoning subtlety is automatically a bad thing. With "The Endless," however, such a decision enhances the film. Filmmakers Aaron Moorehead and Justin Benson know how that realism doesn't mean bleeding out human emotion. Their characters are normal people in a decidedly not normal situation. They create a psychological mind game with characters who are understandable, if not always sympathetic. What makes this film work is its patience and balance. They start out with a simple situation, then add a layer. And another. And another. The pacing is almost perfect, allowing each new development to marinate before they add another. After this movie, I'm an instant fan. I can't wait to see that they do next.
3. The Meg. I imagine that there are some who are skeptical that I put a ridiculous monster movie in the top three of the year. As if I should be above enjoying a summer action movie and should have chosen a deeper movie that shows a new light on the human condition. Nonsense. There is just as much room from movies like "The Meg" or "Anaconda" as there are for movies like "Farewell, My Concubine" or "Once Were Warriors." The point is that it's done well, and if it is, it should be celebrated. It may be absolutely ridiculous and a bit dumb, but it's also a hell of a lot of fun. I enjoyed this movie so much that I went back and saw it a second time the very next day. You can't ask for much more than that in a summer action movie.
2. Leave No Trace. This is the antithesis to "The Meg." Last years giant shark movie was loud, brash and exciting. "Leave No Trace" is slow, bleak and downright depressing. But it is tremendously effective at what it does, and I won't soon forget it. I really hope it doesn't get overlooked at Oscar time, but it may be too downbeat for them. This isn't a movie that one "enjoys" in the strictest sense of the term. But it is effective and the two lead performances are extraordinary.
1. They Shall Not Grow Old. Peter Jackson has done something unbelievable: he has, as much as possible, brought the past to life. The soldiers in his documentary have long since passed, but he has made sure that their stories are never forgotten. Four years were spent making this film, using state of the art technology to take us back to The Great War in a way that no one else has been able to. While purists and cynics can debate his methods, no one can deny his success or that it was done with the utmost respect. The men in this film belong to the ages, but Jackson has made sure that their stories belong to us. And for that we should be eternally grateful.
If anyone has noticed, my reviews have been coming out in trickles over the past few months. Even ones of older movies. It's not because I'm worn out or disillusioned by my favorite pastime (although both are true to an extent). It's that I've been taking a coding boot camp these past few months. Working full time and taking a coding class 12 hours a week doesn't leave a lot of time for movie reviews. I meant to post links on Facebook and Reddit to old reviews that not many had read, but that never happened. As a result, readership has gone down. Ah well. I never did it for the numbers anyway. I do it for myself.
As awful as this year was for movies, there were some that left an impression. Some were hits, others were strictly relegated to the art houses, and one was a direct-to-DVD release that didn't have the marketing to find the audience it deserved. So without further delay, here are the best films of 2018.
10. Black Panther. I didn't expect this movie to be this good. It's a superhero movie (a genre that I am utterly bored with)| and an entry in the MCU (whose entries are so similar that they almost feel like cut and paste jobs). But Ryan Coogler has a lot of talent, and does a tremendous job with the narrow creative field he is given. I haven't seen "Fruitvale Station" or "Creed," but based on this, the man has some serious talent. Add in Andy Serkis, who is a true chameleon if there ever was one, and Angela Bassett, and you've got a winner.
9. Deadpool 2. I was one of the few people who wasn't raving about "Deadpool." The problem with that movie for me is that it had no plot of any interest. Sure, the gore and the potty mouthed, self-aware lead set it apart, but attitude can't sustain an entire film. With the sequel, the film takes the character and puts him into a story that is worthy. Everyone has upped their game in this second installment. The action is better and the film is often uproarious. The only reason it isn't higher on this list is because it doesn't have that same energy the second time around.
8. Love, Simon. Watching this movie was like taking a trip back in time to when I was in high school and had first admitted to myself that I was gay. The fear, the awkwardness, the double life...it's all here. What I really appreciated in this movie is that it understands that there is going to be a fear of rejection no matter what. As an outsider like us, anyone could see that Simon's parents and friends would think nothing of the fact that he was gay. To him, it doesn't matter. The fear is overwhelming. It's those moments of recognition that made this such an affecting film. And finally there is a gay character who isn't a stereotype. Simon actually rejects becoming one in the film's funniest scene. This is a great movie on its own, but essential viewing for straight people who know someone who is gay. And especially if they don't.
7. I, Tonya. This is a holdover from 2017. But this is such a unique movie that I haven't forgotten it. Not only does it tell a compelling story about a flawed, but interesting, woman, but it does so in a unique way. I can't remember any other film where the characters knew they were in a flashback and refuted what is going on. Add to that a stunning performance by Margot Robbie, and you've got a movie that is both funny and sad.
6. Ready Player One. It's actually unthinkable that Steven Spielberg wasn't the only choice to direct this movie. The eternally optimistic Spielberg was in one way or another the genius behind some of the most influential movies in the 1980 and 90s, and this is a movie that celebrates that legacy. It's a bit too broad to rank alongside his best works, but it's a thrilling ride and a lot of fun. Once again, Spielberg reminds us all why he is the most famous filmmaker working in Hollywood today.
5. The Nun. "The Nun" has one goal: to scare the living hell out of a viewer. Character development, subtlety and nuance are irrelevant. This is about visceral, violent shocks and unending, unbearable terror. On that level, it is a success. There was a thick and encroaching sense of dread and doom, and one of cinema's most terrifying creatures is lurking about. Nuff said.
4. The Endless. In general, I don't like movies that intentionally underplay everything. When I want to watch a horror movie, I want to be scared out of my mind. When I want to watch a comedy, I want to laugh out loud. I don't want to watch a movie that thinks it's "too cool for school" in this regard. As if abandoning subtlety is automatically a bad thing. With "The Endless," however, such a decision enhances the film. Filmmakers Aaron Moorehead and Justin Benson know how that realism doesn't mean bleeding out human emotion. Their characters are normal people in a decidedly not normal situation. They create a psychological mind game with characters who are understandable, if not always sympathetic. What makes this film work is its patience and balance. They start out with a simple situation, then add a layer. And another. And another. The pacing is almost perfect, allowing each new development to marinate before they add another. After this movie, I'm an instant fan. I can't wait to see that they do next.
3. The Meg. I imagine that there are some who are skeptical that I put a ridiculous monster movie in the top three of the year. As if I should be above enjoying a summer action movie and should have chosen a deeper movie that shows a new light on the human condition. Nonsense. There is just as much room from movies like "The Meg" or "Anaconda" as there are for movies like "Farewell, My Concubine" or "Once Were Warriors." The point is that it's done well, and if it is, it should be celebrated. It may be absolutely ridiculous and a bit dumb, but it's also a hell of a lot of fun. I enjoyed this movie so much that I went back and saw it a second time the very next day. You can't ask for much more than that in a summer action movie.
2. Leave No Trace. This is the antithesis to "The Meg." Last years giant shark movie was loud, brash and exciting. "Leave No Trace" is slow, bleak and downright depressing. But it is tremendously effective at what it does, and I won't soon forget it. I really hope it doesn't get overlooked at Oscar time, but it may be too downbeat for them. This isn't a movie that one "enjoys" in the strictest sense of the term. But it is effective and the two lead performances are extraordinary.
1. They Shall Not Grow Old. Peter Jackson has done something unbelievable: he has, as much as possible, brought the past to life. The soldiers in his documentary have long since passed, but he has made sure that their stories are never forgotten. Four years were spent making this film, using state of the art technology to take us back to The Great War in a way that no one else has been able to. While purists and cynics can debate his methods, no one can deny his success or that it was done with the utmost respect. The men in this film belong to the ages, but Jackson has made sure that their stories belong to us. And for that we should be eternally grateful.
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