This was a hard year to pick a Top Ten. I did my due diligence. I have seen about 90 movies that came out in 2018. There are lots of good movies, but very few that blew me away. Number 1 on my list, Won't You Be My Neighbor, definitely did blow me away when I saw it back in June at the Nantucket Film Festival. The other ones that really filled me with joy when I saw them were, Bohemian Rhapsody, On the Basis of Sex, and Spider-Man into the Spiderverse. Only four of my Top Ten overlap with the Best Picture Nominees for the Oscars, Roma, Vice, Bohemian Rhapsody, and The Favourite. The others are good too, especially Black Panther, but there are only 10 spots available. So here they are...
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1. Won't You Be My Neighbor?
This is the feel-good film of the year and isn't even nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary. The writers at the New York Times predicting the Oscars gave it Best Documentary anyway. I was too old to have watched Mr. Rofers when I was a kid but it doesn't matter. Won't You Be My Neighbor will make you feel better about the world and make you marvel at how ahead of his time Mr. Rogers was. You can stream it now.
2. If Beale Street Could Talk
This movie is directed by Barry Jenkins who directed Moonlight the Oscar winner two years ago. If Beale Street Could Talk isn't even nominated this year except for Best Adapted Screenplay (it's based on a James Baldwin novel) and Best Supporting actress for Regina King. It did win Best Picture and Best Director at the Independent Spirit Awards. If Beale Street Could Talk is a lovely, sad film about two star-crossed lovers with a great cast and music.
3. Roma
This film based on the director Alfonso Cuaron's childhood in Mexico is in Black & White and in Spanish with subtitles. But Roma is nominated for Best Picture, Best Foreign Film, Best Director, Actress, and Supporting Actress. It is an excellent movie. But Roma kicks it old school. Not only is it shot in B&W, but it is also has long scenes with people talking and no car chases. Roma is also controversial because it is a Netflix film, and Steven Spielberg, no less, thinks it shouldn't qualify for Oscar nominations. You can see it anytime on Netflix.
4. First Man
Obviously, I was going to like this film about one of the pivotal moments in my life, but it's actually very well done and strives for the kind of accuracy seen in Apollo 13 and The Martian. As a kid, I was obsessed with Gemini and Apollo, and followed every moment. I had my parents make special arrangements when I went to summer camp in July 1969 so that I would have access to a TV throughout the mission. Ryan Gosling is Neil Armstrong and does his usual amazing job playing this role which is very understated. Claire Foy, best known for playing Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, is very good as Armstrong's wife. This movie sank without a trace and has only a nomination for Best Visual Effects. It deserved better.
5. The Favourite
This is one of the best films of 2018, starring two of my "favourite" actresses, Rachel Weitz and Emma Stone, as well as Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne. They are all nominated for Oscars. The Favourite is definitely a romp but it also has an edge to it, and it's mostly a true story. It is a joy to watch these three great actresses play off each other. The cinematography, production design, and costumes are all nominated for Oscars also. They are just divine.
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
I didn't know what to expect from this movie. I loved Rami Malek from Mr. Robot, so I wanted to see it and I wasn't disappointed by Bohemian Rhapsody. In fact, I loved it. Malek and the other actors playing the band members of Queen were perfectly cast, and the last part of the movie showing Queen's performance at Live Aid filled me with joy. So, ignore Rotten Tomatoes on this one and stream it.
7. Spider-Man into the Spiderverse
This new take on Spider-Man (there are so many in the multiverse) had lots of good buzz and it did not disappoint. The many spider-people (and animals) that get together to save the multiverse really re-energize this somewhat tired part of the Marvel universe. There are two Peter Parkers, Peni Parker, Gwen Stacy, Miles Morales, and, of course, Spider-Ham. The late, great Stan Lee also makes an animated appearance. You don't need to be a kid to enjoy this movie.
8. On the Basis of Sex/ RBG
These two movies are linked, of course, but I watched both of them recently and they are very complementary. I recommend doing them as a double bill. Felicity Jones is fab and looks so much like the young RBG that it is spooky. This may be my favorite Armie Hammer role playing RBG's wonderful husband. On the Basis of Sex and RBG were two of my few feel good movies of the year. Left-wing wack-jobs like me will feel nothing but joy and inspiration. Please stream these.
9. Vice
In case you are having moments where you wish W were president again, Vice should disabuse you of that notion. Dick Cheney is the epitome of the banality of evil and this film really brings it home. Written and directed by Adam McKay, who did the The Big Short, Vice completely blows up the 4th Wall, and paints a surreal portrait of the former VP. The actors, all nominated for Oscars, include an unrecognizable Christian Bale as Cheney, Sam Rockwell as W, and Amy Adams as Cheney's wife. Adams' performance is scary as hell and Rockwell is perfect as W. This movie may not be as good as The Big Short, but you have to see the scene where Dick and Lynn do Shakespeare.
10. Isle of Dogs
I love me my Wes Anderson. I will be forever grateful to him for rescuing Bill Murray and bringing him back to us, beginning with Rushmore. Like with the Coen brothers, I don't like all of Anderson's films but I want him to keep making them. Isle of Dogs is weird and great. How do describe a movie about dogs banished to an island of garbage that is is Japanese with subtitles except that the dogs speak English? Isle of Dogs is a really sweet movie.
Honorable Mentions:
At Eternity's Gate
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Ben is back
Black Panther
Black Panther
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot
Eighth Grade
Green Book
Incredibles 2
Juliet, Naked
Leave No Trace
Mid90's
The Old Man and the Gun
Operation Finale
A Private War
Puzzle
Woman Walks Ahead
