My Top of 2018 + Oscars commentary
One of these years I’ll publish this maybe at the end of the calendar year rather than 2 months into the next year. But this is not that year! Again I had to rush in the first few weeks of 2019 to see some of the films of 2018. And even so, I have not see all the films nominated for Best Picture as I usually intend to do. My blindspots? Vice and The Favourite. I’ve heard one of these really is great to the point that I even honored it in the title of this post. (Eh? See what I did there?) If you have seen any of those or others not mentioned here, please comment and let me know your thoughts and recommendations.
I saw a total of 37 films that came out this year. I also had the opportunity to see two classic films that saw rereleases in 2018: 1968’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, honoring its 50th anniversary, and Schindler’s List, honoring its 25th anniversary. These are two of the greatest films of all time and deserved some recognition as well, so holla!
Unlike previous years, this list is perfect and my top 10 are not influenced by any bias whatsoever. So just accept what I have to say. Obviously, the Oscars disagree with me. They think they know what the best 8 films of 2018 were (they can choose 10. Just choose 10 next year!). I agree with some but disagree with others, as you will see. I decided to expand my honorable mentions this year by also including some honorable moments—scenes from films which weren’t close to my top 10 but still offered something beautiful and impressive to cinema in 2018.
One last note: I'll do my best to keep any comments/discussion as spoiler-free as possible, but there's always the chance something may be given away. So be careful out there.
Now, without any further adieu, here are a few...
Honorable Mentions/Moments
In no particular order.
“Shallow” - from A Star Is Born
Though the film itself didn’t make my top 10, this moment may be one of the best moments of the year. Anchored by powerhouse vocals from Lady Gaga, this moment comes early in the film and sets the bar immeasurably high for everything else that follows. Unfortunately, I feel like the 90 minutes that follow never quite reach these heights. The rest of the film is fine and both performances by Bradley and Stefani (I had to look up her real name) as well as one of the best supporting roles of the year by Sam Elliott. The camerawork and direction in this scene from the film is superb, but some of Cooper’s choices aren’t quite as effective. That being said I’m okay with the nominations this film has received and this song is a lock for Best Song.
The Rider
I finally saw this film last week after my brother told me months ago that it was one of his favorite films of the year. It may very well climb the ranks but as of now when I’m writing this post it sits just outside my top 10. It has some of the most beautiful cinematography of the year and some very impressive long takes. Additionally, the narrative is semi-biographical as the lead character Brady, played by real-life rodeo star Brady Jandreau, displays for the audience his road to recovery after a traumatic brain injury he suffered. The opening of the film shows Brady removing staples from his head post-surgery. Apparently that wasn’t any kind of makeup trick, as this was raw footage of the actor actually removing his dressing in real life, too. It’s a very interesting bridge between documentary and narrative. The story chronicles how this rider pushes through life after he is no longer able to do the thing he was most passionate about. Had I seen this film before I finally passed my PANCE exam when it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to pursue my career as a PA I might have been affected in an entirely different way. Regardless, I will watch this again and again for the stunning way that director Chloe Zhao captures the relationship between horses and their riders.
Avengers: Infinity War
This film is a miracle. Finally, after 10 years of build up, it has all come to this. Well, this and then part 2 (Endgame) coming out in April 2019. To be honest, that’s probably why I didn’t have as high a reaction to this as I expected because it seems obvious where it’s going but they only had the time to do half the story. Contrast that with The Empire Strikes Back, which had one of the biggest cliffhangers in cinema history. Back then moviegoers had to wait 3 years to see if that happened. And the Star Wars universe and Lucasfilm wasn’t the powerhouse it is today so even then it was still possible that a third part would never happen. But nowadays we KNOW Marvel will resolve the loose ends after only 1 year. Despite my problems with the film, it has some amazing moments. The meeting of various Avengers with the various Guardians of the Galaxy is fun and the way the Russo Brothers crafted those exchanges while maintaining the unique and strong personalities of each character is a masterwork in storytelling. The moment Thor lands in the fields of Wakanda is chill-inducing. And the devastation wrought by one large fisted man snapping his fingers left a collective gasp over my audience. There may not be another movie-going experience quite like that for some time.
AND NOW...MY TOP FILMS OF 2018, STARTING WITH...
10. Mission: Impossible - Fallout
This film is action gold. Tom Cruise is a national treasure. How many actors have jumped out of a plane 106 times to get footage for a HALO jump scene that lasts no more than 5 minutes of screen time? Sure, there are moments of cheese with screenwriting but Chris McQuarrie and Tom Cruise really know what they’re doing here. With McQuarrie back at the helm following Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, it’s the first time a director has returned to this franchise. And it carries forth the plot of the previous film, too. Apparently McQuarrie is signed on to make 2 more films set to release in 2021 and 2022 that will film back-to-back. All I can say is this might be the best action franchise out there right now. You’d be hard pressed to find anything to compare with its stellar fight sequences, insane stunts, elaborate and inspired set pieces, and characters that the audience cares about. I can’t wait for what’s next, though how can they top this one? I guess we know who the first man to Mars will be and which director will bring back the footage for us mere mortals to enjoy.
9. Eighth Grade
This is where I start to mention films that the Academy really dropped the ball on. Eighth Grade is a heartfelt study of a young girl at the end of her eighth grade year and it deserves award recognition. The screenplay is perfect and the acting is superb. Elsie Fisher plays this eighth grader and is fantastic. The film is equally terrifying and lighthearted. It’s interesting that now that I’m older I relate much more to the older characters in these kinds of films, specifically Kayla’s father. I fear for everything my daughter will face in her life and hope that she will always trust me enough to tell me everything that she is going through. If you were a fan of 2017’s Lady Bird then this film will be right up your alley. And for everyone else just watch it as well. I laughed out loud. I cried. I was a nervous wreck, but I came away feeling like I revisited my eighth grade years while also catching a glimpse of what the current generation is going through with social media being such a key part of their growing up.
8. Free Solo
The first documentary on my list. I saw this with my brother-in-law Hayden and we were squirming in our seats from how crazy some of these shots were. As inspiring as the story is of Alex Hannold’s free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite, I can’t get over how stupid you would have to be to do something like that. That being said watching this film was exhilarating as I could witness this awesome feat from the comfort of a theater seat. It is an inspiring testament to pursuing a passion and accomplishing greatness. Above that, Alex’s climb was an execution of perfection, as even the smallest mishap when he was up 1500 feet would have led to his death. What he did took an incredible amount of practice so he would know exactly where to put his fingers and feet on the rock face during his ascent. What we get as an audience is a great character study of artists or athletes pursuit of perfection and some of the most beautiful shots of any film here.
7. Roma
Many people may have heard of this, or seen it in their Netflix suggestions. Please don’t let the black and white camerawork prevent you from seeing this. It has some of the most vibrant shots of any film this year. The black and white services to tell us that this is a story of memories of childhood and specifically the caretaker in direct Alfonso Cuaron’s life who did so much for him and his family so thanklessly. It is a timely film as tensions relating to the border and immigration are so high right now. Often we go about our lives and there are individuals all around us who have a big influence on us but we see them more as supporting roles in the movie that we are starring in. This film shows us the beauty of those roles and how they are stars in and of themselves. Alfonso Cuaron has always been a master behind the camera and this film is no exception, featuring moving tracking shots, marvelous single take sequences, and so much life and wonder filling the entire frame of the film. While not my top pick to win Best Film at the Oscars tonight, it is undoubtedly deserving. And what’s more, it’s an easy film to access. Just hop on your Netflix and add it to the queue now.
6. First Man
It’s a shame this film endured so much senseless controversy surrounding what people were calling the “de-Americanizing of the moon landing". Rumors spread that Damien Chazelle (Best Director winner for La La Land only 2 years ago) refused to show the planting of the American flag on the lunar surface. I’ve seen the film, and I saw the American flag. So everyone calm down. It is more patriotic that any film I’ve seen in a while though through the nuanced way that Chazelle shows the science and sacrifice that went into putting someone on the moon. In our era we are surrounded by before-and-after photos which shortchange us hiding the most important part of all: the patience and diligence and hardwork that went into reaching the goal. This film studies those years and weeks and days leading up to the launch of Apollo 11 and we see the way it affected the First Man, Neil Armstrong. It’s a shame this film was not nominated for Best Picture. I think the stupid controversy really hurt its chances, but its raw portrayal of one man’s quest to achieve the impossible. On top of that we get one of the best performances of the year by Claire Foy who plays Armstrong’s wife. She adds another level to the humanity of this American hero that we often just see for that thing he did and not who he was as a person.
5. Blindspotting
The Variety quote on the poster above says what needs to be said about this film: “If ever there was a film open America’s eyes, this is it.” Set in the city of Oakland 3 days before Collin’s 3-year probation is up, we see him struggling to make it to the end. It’s no secret that America is still grappling with race. Who knows how much longer this will be the case, but for me this film opened my eyes to the reality of gentrification in some of America’s metropolitan areas and the differences between the black experience and the white experience. Police shootings of unarmed black men are a real thing that blacks deal with that I will never fully comprehend. This film speaks to the differences we see in each other and encourages us to change our perception of others, to see each other as the brothers and sisters that we really are. The acting in this film is phenomenal. Daveed Diggs (both Lafayette AND Jefferson of Hamilton fame) plays Collin and his white friend Miles is played by Rafael Casal. These two actors are best friends in real life and this freindship and mutual love of the city of Oakland drives their work both in music and film. They cowrote the screenplay and should be receiving more recognition for their work here. This is a glaring omission from the Best Picture nominees (seriously, Academy, you can pick 10! Why’d you stop at 8?!).
4. Minding the Gap
Another documentary on the list?! I know, I’m crazy. But after I saw this film I couldn’t get it out of my head. It’s the story of 3 young men (in the poster from top to bottom: Bing, Zack, and Keire) growing up in Rockford, Illinois and how their lives have evolved over the years. Their childhoods had all been touched by domestic abuse in some way, which is what drove them to skateboarding as a means of therapy. The bonds they formed together gave them a feeling of family that they somehow lacked at home. Bing Liu, one of the three men, directed this film, and even includes some of the home footage he took of the the boys skateboarding from years ago when they first met. The scenes of the young men skateboarding around the city are mesmerizing. Each of them is a skilled skater and watching them is like witnessing art unfold around the streets of their town. But the film is much more than that, as it examines the effects their pasts have had on their present, whether its trying to reconcile with the abuse both seen and endured or trying to navigate the cycle of alcohol abuse and domestic violence that seems inescapable. One scene alone raises this from skateboarding documentary to a higher art as Bing shows the past and present of these three young men colliding with each other and the way he edits between their stories delivers more emotion that about anything I’ve seen all year. This is my pick for Best Documentary tonight.
3. BlacKkKlansmen
Spoiler alert, my last two films aren’t nominated for Best Picture, so this here is my choice for the Oscar for Best Picture. Spike Lee has created a masterpiece here. It has all the fun and energy of a buddy cop story, but intercuts that with hard-hitting realities of racism. The end of the film has a prologue that packs a wallop of a reality check for us. Set in the early 1970s, too many of the injustices we see in the film are things that have barely changed, if at all, in the decades since, at least in some corners of the world, including our own. It’s a shame the John David Washington isn’t getting any credit for his work here. He is sharp, smart, and powerful in his performance and should have been nominated. But Lee finally got a Best Director nomination, and he deserves the win in my book. One scene in particular features footage from a century-old film, Birth of a Nation, which was a ground-breaking film at the time in its use of parallel editing, where it showed two different narratives happening simultaneously but cutting back and forth between the two. You might say that sounds simple, but that’s because the way we make films today is still very much the same and that’s owed to the techniques developed 100 years ago by D.W. Griffith. The problem is that film is racist. Extremely so. And it was used by various white supremacist groups as a sort of rallying cry to grow their numbers in the 1900s. Lee effectively cuts between a KKK screening of that film while showing a gathering of a black student union as they listen to an older gentleman recount a lynching he had witnessed around the time of the release of Birth of a Nation. It is a powerful and important scene and a testament to the power of cinema to deal with the darkness of our past and how we need to make a better present for us and our children to live in. Spike, I’m rooting for you tonight.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
When I heard we were getting an animated Spider-Man film at the end of 2018 I was not excited at all. Since 2002 we have had 6 Spider-Man films with 3 different actors in the role of Peter Parker. The most recent, 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, was a refreshing take with a great villain and a scrappy young Peter Parker played by Tom Holland, who perhaps embodies the role better than any of his predecessors. So why were we getting YET ANOTHER Spider-Man film? I’ll tell you why. Because the characters in this universe have rich, colorful, varying stories to tell. And that is exactly what we get in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Throughout the course of the film we meet 7 different Spider-characters, each based on some iteration of the comics since Spider-Man’s first appearance in 1962. It is a testament that “anyone can wear the mask,” something Stan Lee always advocated for but which has not been the case in various depictions we’ve seen over the years. Miles Morales is the newest to don the mask in this film and it is an inspiring origin story for his character while also serving as a redemption for an alternate universe’s Peter Parker who had began somewhat of a recluse and apathetic after he had lost so much that he loved. Come to think of it, that arc sounds very similar to my #2 film last year of 2017, The Last Jedi. And both are deserving of all the praise in the world. Into the Spider-Verse’s animation style and adherence to the comics is a thing of beauty. It is a refreshing take on animation where everything mainstream since Toy Story has felt so derivative. There are moments that feel like panels ripped straight from comic book pages. Without shoehorning any racial politics into the film, the director and screenwriters just matter-of-factly show how anyone, even a biracial kid wearing a hoody with his shoes untied or a girl with short hair, is just as capable of being a superhero as anyone. That is something we all need to remember.
MINOR SPOILERS IN THE VIDEO BELOW: The video below is from a moment later in the film when the hero has his big moment. It is inspiring and the soundtrack is electric. Rey regularly requests to see “Spider-Man show” after the first time I showed her this clip and she gets caught up in his jumping, flying, and swinging, maybe almost as much as I do.
1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
It’s rare for me to put 3 documentaries on my top 10, and unheard of that I would have one at my #1 slot. But this film should be required viewing for every human being. Maybe all these documentaries are a testament to the kinds of things that are going on in the media and the world around us. Seeing real, rather than fictional, stories of people rising above circumstances and just being good is something that I needed more of this year. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? delivered on that in spades. If you haven’t seen this yet do whatever you can to see it. It’s baffling that this wasn’t nominated for Best Documentary in the Oscars, especially considering it’s won almost every other documentary award out there. Madison and I had one of the most memorable cinematic experiences as we watched this film. We found ourselves crying at multiple moments throughout the film. When the credits rolled, and the lights slowly started coming on you could feel the collective whimpering of the audience in our full theater. I’m sure each one of us wanted to hug every person in there. It’s hard watching this at times, because it seems like this kind of genuine kindness and care is gone from the world, but I’d like to think that it can still be there if we just take the time to be loving, to be thoughtful, to be neighborly.
And that’s a wrap. Hopefully you are persuaded to see something you wouldn’t have seen otherwise because of my thoughts. And please, leave your thoughts or your top 10 or whatever. That’s the point of art isn’t it? To create discussion and to feel a sense of community.