the (global) best (and worst) of 2019
As before I'm trying to sum up the most memorable of the staggering 495 titles I've seen in the past year (thanks to festivals, streaming and illness-induced immobility).
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45 titles
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly-formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.It's boring to name this the best film of the year, and yet it unquestionably was. Bong Joon-ho has been pretty much the world's most innovative film maker since "Mother" ten years ago.
- DirectorWojciech SmarzowskiStarsArkadiusz JakubikRobert WieckiewiczJacek BraciakThree Catholic priests meet to celebrate the anniversary of an event which could have taken their lives. Their experiences and motivations to serve as priests are extremely different, and soon each of them will have to face new challenges.Most scathing critique of the Catholic Church caused a scandal upon release in Poland, and pretty much sums up everything that's wrong with religion in general.
- DirectorNadine LabakiStarsZain Al RafeeaYordanos ShiferawBoluwatife Treasure BankoleWhile serving a five-year sentence for a violent crime, a 12-year-old boy sues his parents for neglect.Only released in early 2019 after its festival round, this is an instant classic and affirms that Nadine Labaki is the world's most important female director.
- DirectorMari SelvarajStarsKathirAnandhiYogi BabuA law student from a lower caste begins a friendship with his classmate, a girl who belongs to a higher caste, and the men in her family start giving him trouble over this.Very rough around the edges but a real punch in the gut on caste limitations. And the action is handmade and brutal. Social issues kept Indian cinema going strong this year.
- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsAdam DriverScarlett JohanssonJulia GreerNoah Baumbach's incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together.Of course it will bag Netflix's best picture award and almost everything else. Clearly the best US film this year, though I have issues with the man getting off as much more likable - surprising since Baumbach's partner is Greta Gerwig.
- DirectorRobert EggersStarsRobert PattinsonWillem DafoeValeriia KaramanTwo lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s.The other best US film of the year (well, half Canadian). What a feast for eyes and ears, and Dafoe's new career best. He's getting stronger and stronger these past years.
- DirectorOliver Siu Kuen ChanStarsAnthony Chau-Sang WongCrisel ConsunjiSam LeeA paralyzed and hopeless Hong Kong man meets his new Filipino domestic worker. The two strangers live under the same roof through different seasons, and as they learn more about each other, they also learn more about themselves.Another delightful thespian pairing happens in this probably best Hong Kong film in a decade. Very well handled, very good script, could have used a trim or two.
- DirectorAbu Bakr ShawkyStarsRady GamalAhmed AbdelhafizOsama AbdallahA Coptic leper and his orphaned apprentice leave the confines of the leper colony for the first time and embark on a journey across Egypt to search for what is left of their families.Best off-the-beaten-track film I've seen this year. Very low budget, with an appropriate focus on the main two characters and a glimpse at Arab culture otherwise completely unknown.
- DirectorCristina GallegoCiro GuerraStarsCarmiña MartínezJosé AcostaNatalia ReyesDuring the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture.Another female director to watch is Cristina Gallego, who found unforgettable imagery for her indigenous gangster epic.
- DirectorLijo Jose PellisseryStarsAntony VargheseChemban Vinod JoseSabumon AbdusamadA portrait of a remote village where a buffalo escapes and causes a frenzy of ecstatic violence.Another very well directed and photographed piece by a locally famous, but as of yet internationally ignored film maker who could be the next Tarantino.
- DirectorAri AsterStarsFlorence PughJack ReynorVilhelm BlomgrenA couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.And as American directors go, nobody made as much a name for himself as Ari Aster with this predictable, yet delectable visual delicacy. Best music, best set design in my opinion.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroAl PacinoJoe PesciAn illustration of Frank Sheeran's life, from W.W.II veteran to hit-man for the Bufalino crime family and his alleged assassination of his close friend Jimmy Hoffa.As for veteran directors, of course Scorcese's swan song is a masterpiece, but be my guest if you feel a bit frustrated by it. Almost four hours, almost no women, and while that fits the story, I can see no reason whatsoever why a woman would want to watch this. And with that budget, 10-20 other films could have been made.
- DirectorCraig BrewerStarsEddie MurphyKeegan-Michael KeyMike EppsEddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.Much to my own surprise I loved Eddie Murphy in this. Most of us wrote him off decades ago and here is at the top of his act. What a performance. (Oversized) chapeau.
- DirectorVetrimaaranStarsDhanushAmeer SultanRadha RaviA young carrom player in north Chennai becomes a reluctant participant in a war between two warring gangsters.Dhanush is now pretty much the hottest name in Indian film internationally speaking, and this is definitely his best work to date. The scene stealer is Andrea Jeremiah though, who will quite likely feature more prominently in the sequel.
- DirectorAnubhav SinhaStarsAyushmann KhurranaNassarManoj PahwaIn the rural heartlands of India, an upright police officer sets out on a crusade against violent caste-based crimes and discrimination.Another film tackling caste, Ayushmann Khurrana's performance saves an otherwise slightly too extended runtime and/or simplistic storyline.
- DirectorHans Petter MolandStarsStellan SkarsgårdBjørn FlobergJon RanesA grieving widower moves to the country where a chance encounter rekindles memories from his past.Otherwise confusing because of unannouced switches of time lines, Stellan Skarsgard does display once more his gift for simple, effective delivery. Also best European photography this year.
- DirectorVikas BahlStarsHrithik RoshanMrunal ThakurNandish Singh SandhuBased on the life of Patna-based mathematician Anand Kumar who runs the famed Super 30 program for IIT aspirants in Patna.A bit surprising in the acting department was Hrithik Roshan's solid performance here, given that he's been the proverbial pretty boy, the script was at times sloppy - and rubbing his skin with Khol to make him look more Tamil took some getting used to.
- DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsOlivia ColmanEmma StoneRachel WeiszIn early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.Who else but Olivia Colman deserved the Award more this year? Good thing they got it right. The film itself is a bit too meandering for me.
- DirectorMay el-ToukhyStarsTrine DyrholmGustav LindhMagnus KrepperA successful lawyer jeopardizes her career and threatens to tear her family apart after engaging in an affair with her teenage stepson.Another very strong performance by a seasoned actress, Trine Dyrholm. Perhaps the most difficult part of the year.
- DirectorLulu WangStarsShuzhen ZhaoAwkwafinaX MayoA Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.Also very good dual female performances by Awkwafina and Shuzhen Zhao in a film that otherwise too strongly resembles Ang Lee.
- DirectorZakariyaStarsSoubin ShahirSamuel Abiola RobinsonSavithri SreedharanStory of an African football player and a local football club manager from Malappuram, Kerala.Another very good performance from someone you never heard of: Savithri Sreedharan
- DirectorAlejandro LandesStarsSofia BuenaventuraJulián GiraldoKaren QuinteroOn a remote mountaintop, eight kids with guns watch over a hostage and a conscripted milk cow.Another excellently photographed film from Colombia, which also features a brilliant score and tight audacious storytelling.
- DirectorHouman SeyyediStarsNavid MohammadzadehFarhad AslaniFarid Sajjadi HosseiniThe story of a gang of drug dealers in the south of Tehran who has sheltered many youngsters and orphans from the streets. Shahin and Shakoor who are brothers are leading the gang but when it is collapsed creates a crisis in their family and their lives. Two brothers are making crystal meth in a hidden laboratory in middle of nowhere in an urban jungle, however, they do care for the honor of their neighborhood. All of a sudden, mobile footage on their sister's phone begins spreading everywhere which causes some strange incidents.Very courageous script considering this was made in Iran, where it's becoming more difficult than ever to push the limits of the acceptable.
- DirectorMuayad AlayanStarsAdeeb SafadiSivane KretchnerIshai GolanThe affair of a married Palestinian man and a married Israeli woman in Jerusalem takes a dangerous political dimension when they are spotted in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving them to deal with more than their broken marriages.Again, very well and concisely written, just occasionally testing the boundaries of disbelief.
- DirectorKongdej JaturanrasameeStarsJennis OprasertPraewa SuthamphongSaheoiyn AophachatSue, the crazy girl that feels as if she was born in the wrong place. But the craziest thing she's ever done is that she is about to leave everything behind, including Belle.Very good coming-of-age drama with far more mature dialogue than any recent American film of this kind.
- DirectorChiwetel EjioforStarsChiwetel EjioforMaxwell SimbaFelix LemburoAgainst all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.Chiwetel Ejiofor not only acted and directed, but also adapted the script. One can really see and feel his affection for the subject. Am acting-to-directing debut well done.
- DirectorFrant GwoStarsJing WuMan-Tat NgZhi WangWith the sun dying out, a group of brave astronauts set out to find new planet for the whole human race.Best silly SciFi flick in my opinion, but I admit I dislike the new Star Wars films (too much in love with the old ones) and Marvel superhero drivels (too much noise).
- DirectorFabio GrassadoniaAntonio PiazzaStarsJulia JedlikowskaGaetano FernandezCorinne MusallariAgainst a heavy cloak of secrecy, a 12-year-old girl smitten with her handsome classmate ventures deeper and deeper into the enchanted Sicilian forests to find him, unaware of just how thick is the mystery behind his strange disappearance.One of these films that get too little attention upon exhibition, and then you watch it by chance on TV or inflight a year later. Very creative use of silence and light, very poetic in spite of the grim subject matter.
- DirectorKantemir BalagovStarsViktoria MiroshnichenkoVasilisa PerelyginaAndrey Bykov1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.The "I don't like it but I think you should watch" film of the year. Like most Russian festival fare, it is bleak beyond belief, but its use of light, filters and positioning makes it memorable.
- DirectorVasan BalaStarsAbhimanyu DasaniRadhika MadanMahesh ManjrekarIt is a story of a young boy Surya who has a rare condition of Congenital Insensitivity to pain meaning he can not feel pain, and he sets out to learn martial arts and hunt down muggers.Best action film in terms of hot leading actor. Silly story but the editing, the stunt choreography and the guy are worth the watch.
- DirectorVikramaditya MotwaneStarsHarshvardhan KapoorPriyanshu PainyuliAshish VermaThe origin story of Bhavesh Joshi, an Indian superhero, who sets out to fulfill his slain friend's wish to clean and reform the country, by training himself to fight and wearing a mask.Best (non)superhero action film. Trying to be realistic, it ends up being surprisingly dark, which is probably why it flopped. On the road to cult.
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsKim Da-miJo Min-sooChoi Woo-sikA high school student with amnesia tries to uncover what has happened to her. All leading her into deeper troubles ultimately revealing a darkness she could not have imagined.Best action film in terms of kicking ass. While John Wick 3 might have had more kick for the buck, it also featured a visibly aged lead with hardly convincing agility. This one has younger leads convincingly going for the kill.
- DirectorJérémy ClapinStarsHakim FarisVictoire Du BoisPatrick d'AssumçaoA story of Naoufel, a young man who is in love with Gabrielle. In another part of town, a severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.Best animated feature, given that America is out of ideas and Ghibli is on hiatus. Very personal, very fast, quite romantic and extremely French.
- DirectorTamara KotevskaLjubomir StefanovStarsHatidze MuratovaNazife MuratovaHussein SamThe last female bee-hunter in Europe must save the bees and return the natural balance in Honeyland, when a family of nomadic beekeepers invade her land and threaten her livelihood.Best documentary (by far). Most docs these days try too hard to be relevant or informative. This one simply observes, and the result is rigidly cut down to the essential.
- DirectorMariano LlinásStarsElisa CarricajoValeria CorreaPilar GamboaA film in six episodes, connected by the same four actresses, full of various subplots that play with narrative and different cinematic genres , everything structured in an unusual way.Best experimental feature. Impossibly long at first, it draws you into its concept, and one even gets used to the stories ending in the middle of nowhere. And shooting 800 minutes with next no money is quite a feat.
- DirectorChristiaan OlwagenStarsSchalk BezuidenhoutHannes OttoGermandt GeldenhuysDrafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's travelling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity.Best queer-themed film. Not only achieves 80s period feel with very little means and budget, but also packs in the whole gamut of South African absurdity without feeling overloaded.
- CreatorCraig MazinStarsJessie BuckleyJared HarrisStellan SkarsgårdIn April 1986, the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union suffers one of the worst nuclear disasters in the history of mankind. Consequently, many heroes put their lives on the line in the following days, weeks and months.Of course, this was the best TV series. What an experience! Everything was marvelous, if this had been a very long film, it would be the best one of the decade. Acting, photography, cinematography, camera, script, even scene length check all boxes. Perfect.
- StarsYûto UemuraMike HaimotoShin'ya TakahashiFollowing a tragedy, Thorfinn embarks on a journey with the man responsible for it to take his life in a duel as a true and honorable warrior to pay homage.Best anime series. You have to watch those to keep up with the zeitgeist. Obviously in response to Game of Thrones, this epic is even bloodier and darker.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsJoaquin PhoenixRobert De NiroZazie BeetzDuring the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.Most over-hyped film of the year, nay, the decade. It plays out exactly as one expects it to. Joaquin Phoenix plays the Joker exactly as one would expect him to. Apparently this is good enough for a lot of people, but there are zero surprises. I fell asleep in the middle.
- DirectorJordan PeeleStarsLupita Nyong'oWinston DukeElisabeth MossAdelaide Wilson and her family are attacked by mysterious figures dressed in red. Upon closer inspection, the Wilsons realize that the intruders are exact lookalikes of them.Most wasted opportunity. Peele is the most over-hyped director of our time, given how much he steals. "Get Out" benefited from millennials not knowing "The Shining" or "Stepford Wives". This one has a good premise - a black family in a classic 70s white family horror - but drowns it in absurdities.
- DirectorVictor DanellStarsChristoffer NordenrotLisa HenniJesper BarkseliusSweden faces a mysterious attack while Alex tries to reunite with his youth love, Anna.Most messy mess. Tries to be too many things at once and fails to deliver on any single one.
- DirectorGail MancusoStarsJosh GadDennis QuaidKathryn PrescottA dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.Most unbearably sentimental. I own 7 dogs and can therefore tell that they are not people. Good dog films deal with their animal traits (like Hachi or Red Dog). Horrible dog films pretend they're humans in disguise waiting for us in Heaven - once we have had them killed. Yuck.
- DirectorRichard BillinghamStarsPatrick RomerRichard AshtonJustin SalingerPhotographer Richard Billingham returns to the squalid council flat outside of Birmingham where he and his brother were raised, in a confrontation and reconciliation with parents Ray and Liz.Worst social-themed film. A misguided Loach knock-off, this one presents poor people at their very worst, without the Loach touch of sympathy. Probably OK for Thatcherites in favour of abolishing the NHS.
- DirectorNadav LapidStarsTom MercierQuentin DolmaireLouise ChevillotteA young Israeli man absconds to Paris to flee his nationality, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary.Worst prize-winning film. Berlin is developing a distinction of crowning films everybody hates. This one tries to hide its absence of plot with Godard-like antics.
- DirectorClaire DenisStarsRobert PattinsonJuliette BinocheAndré 3000A father and his daughter struggle to survive in deep space where they live in isolation.Worst film of the year. With a high budget and famous leads, this one manages to fail on every conceivable level - acting, story, set design, music, photography. A complete disaster.