Ryan and I saw 59 new
movies this year at the theatre. And I am including a Netflix release in my
list here, since the film on my list never got a theatrical release. These are
all films I want to watch again, films that left an impression, or inspired me somehow. The
films in the list are presented in almost the order I viewed them. I may have
mixed them up a bit. The point is, they are not ordered from best to worst or
favorite to least favorite.
And
take note! Just because a film isn't in my list, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy
it, or didn't think it was a great movie, either. I, Tonya, Death of Stalin,
Deadpool 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, The First Purge, RGB, Love, Simon, Lady
Bird, Incredibles 2, these are all really great movies! I think there were only three movies I
watched this year that I didn't really find any value in and do not want to see
again. There are some great movies NOT on my list, and films that probably
deserve some attention like The Hate U Give, but it's not included because,
well, I actually enjoyed the book more. There are some great performances that
aren't included like Michael Shannon in the Shape of Water, where the film
doesn't find its way into my list. Films that I found to be a lot of fun like
Infinity War or The MEG, but just didn't make the final cut.
Okay,
so... here's the list!!
Black Panther
Yes. This movie will likely be on everyone's
lists for 2018. My main attraction to this film is all of the incredible women
who dominated the movie on screen and behind it. In particular, I read an interview before the film came out about the costume
designer who sourced her inspiration for costumes from a wide variety of
African nations and bound them together through one beautiful film. And there's
an incredible
episode of sound exploder about the Killmonger theme. The movie was bright
in both senses - colorful and smart. I can't really find fault with it.
Annihilation
Here's a conversation I had this summer about
Annihilation... Him: "... what I don't get is why did it have to be all
women?" Me: "Would you ask that question if it were all men?"
Him: "No." Then I think he went on to say something like "you
have a point there" but I can't recall the exact wording. This
conversation is *exactly* why we should have more films like this, like
Ghostbusters, like Incredibles 2, like Widows, like Ocean's 8. It should *not*
be special, unique, or "odd" for a film to be led by an all or
predominately female cast. Plus, this film was weird and pretty. Weird and
pretty is good. Good sci-fi, with some really astounding visuals.
Game Night
This movie is fun. I don't think I should have to
justify it any more than that. It has some unexpected turns too, which add to
the value of the story. Plus, this is one of the movies we saw not long after
losing Jack and it made me smile and laugh. I think I'll always be grateful for
this movie for it's levity and charm.
A Quiet Place
For someone who had never directed, and who was
not a fan of horror by his own admission, the guy from the office made a pretty
damn good horror film! I love hearing stories of people afraid to eat their
snacks in the theatre because the film was so quiet. I also love that they cast
a young actress, Millie Simmonds, with the same hearing challenge as the
character she portrays. This shouldn't be unique, but it is, and needs to be
pointed out so that it happens more, right? If the character is deaf, why
shouldn't a deaf actress get the role? She was phenomenal in A Quiet Place. She
made the film work for me.
Isle of Dogs
This films, like most of Wes's movies, is
aesthetically pleasing, a tad emotionally upsetting, and has charming
characters. Plus it has Yoko Ono and puppies! What else do you want? Hmmn? More
cats, I guess...
Bad Samaritan
Here's one of the movies that stuck with me. It's
a messed up tale that you should go see without knowing too much about it!
David Tennant is horrifying. I get the creeps just thinking about it, honestly.
I had to include it on my list even though I don't think I'll rewatch it,
because I want everyone else to watch it too.
Hereditary
Ah, now here is a case for great advertising and
how it can shape your movie viewing experience for the better. Not to spoil
anything... but something happens. Not to spoil anything else... I did NOT see
it coming. I am not sure how to talk about this film without spoiling it, so go
see it and get back to me. Scary, creepy, thought provoking, gross, scary,
beautiful, yikes.
Hotel Artemis
Sterling K. Brown's voice is blissful. Jodie
Foster is a great character actor. Batista clearly really likes acting even if
he isn't the best at it yet. Sofia Boutella is gorgeous and deadly. The film is
simple, pretty, entertaining, takes a turn here and there, but won't leave you
feeling car sick, and Sterling K. Brown's voice is blissful.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
In a post Infinity War world, I think I am
allowed to give any Marvel super hero moves a bit of credit just for standing
up on their own plots. We only saw this movie once, and I can't remember all of
the points that I made, but I distinctly remember walking out the theatre
listing all the things I thought the movie did well. Here's what I can
recall... the Wasp is in the title. She's smart and strong and nothing would
get done without her. The mother figure is powerful and composed, even though
she needs others to help her, she holds her own. Antman is a decent dad.
Especially when you compare him to some of the other father figures in the
movie. The movie was fun and bright and kept its threat level in check. While
Infinity War was great, I put this movie over it simply because I, Katy, would
rather sit down and rewatch Antman and the Wasp over all the avengers sloshing
about in space for two hours.
Jurrasic World: Fallen Kingdom
We saw it twice because it's fun AND scary! Also,
Bryce Howard Dallas's character got some reasonable foot ware this time! The
movers and shakers behind the scenes actually listened to the complaints of
their fanbase and made the change. Plus, that adorable little
baby pachycephalosaurs was, well, adorable!
BlacKKKlansman
I had an intense experience during the end of
this film. Spike Lee chose to show the neo Nazi terrorist attack that took
place in Charlottesville. I had not seen the video footage before then. I'd
seen images, read reports, but chose not to expose myself to the video. So the
end of the movie hit me right were it was supposed to hit. It was akin to
watching the Twin Towers crumble for the first time. It was difficult and
horrible and real. So thank you, Spike Lee. It was unforgettable. Besides that,
the film was intelligent, funny, uncomfortable, thought provoking, and
definitely worth everyone's time.
Blindspotting
I've been a fan of Daveed
Diggs and Rafael Casal for a little while now. I enjoy their music, poetry, and
have been following both of their blossoming careers on Instagram. I knew the
film was coming out for a long while and almost missed seeing it on the big
screen. We drove to Rhode Island, the next state over, to catch it in a cinema,
and I'm glad we did! The film lived up to the hype I'd been fed on IG for
months. Seeing and enjoying the movie was almost like seeing friends succeed. I feel proud. The film also gave me a new
vocabulary word - blindspots. The parts of the world, the perspectives, that
we're blind to due to our lives and experiences. If we as individuals can
acknowledge that we have them, then perhaps we can begin to change our view
enough to see them and see others better for who and what they are in the world
we share. It's a valuable way to think about other people's experiences
compared to my own. And I'm still really enjoying the soundtrack EPs.
Mandy
It is a rare treat to go
see a movie at the theatre and know nothing about it. Well, not nothing... I
knew it was called Mandy, that Nick Cage was in it, and that, according to
Ryan, the poster was pink (because I hadn't even seen the poster!). Unlike most
of the other films on this list, I don't know how eager I am to sit down and
rewatch this movie, but it was one heck of a fun ride the first time around.
Nick Cage is so enjoyable when he goes full throttle into a role. There was
nothing left of the actor by the end of the movie, just this … completely
deranged emotionally driven character. And the lighting was fantastic.
Seriously. When the light alone can make you question what is and isn't really
happening... that's fantastic.
Venom
Another super hero movie
that isn't Infinity Wars dependent! Venom didn't even feel remotely Spider-Man
dependent to me. What Venom was, actually, was a great relationship
movie. The relationship between Eddie and Anne was complicated and real, with
realistic motives by both parties. The fact that Eddie simultaneously won't
give up on Anne, but also sort of likes her new BF is really … nice. Eddie
isn't a jerk. He's just sort of selfish, but he knows better than to let his
selfishness hurt the person he cares about most in the world. It was nice to
see that human dynamic played up against the alien relationship Eddie got
sucked into also. And then there were the special effects, which have made me
pine for a The
Maxx movie! Quick honorable mention to Upgrade, which maybe...
probably... certainly did the whole body possessed/symbiotic relationship thing
better than Venom. If that's what you're into, the action and emotional
transition, maybe see Upgrade instead.
Spider-Man: Into the
Spider-Verse
Ryan talked this movie up,
but I sort of put my blinders up before seeing this BEAUTIFUL, SMART, FUNNY,
WHOLESOME movie. I'm grateful that I didn't pay too much attention to it before
I saw it, because it was SO NICE to see something SO GOOD without knowing very
much. Okay, we all know Spider-Man's story pretty well... but honestly, I am
way more familiar with the white Peter Parker story than the Black/Hispanic
Miles Morales story, so this was a really pleasant change and we need more.
More Miles! Plus, look, more Nick Cage! Oh, and PETER PORKER!? A SPIDER who got
bit by a PIG!? Okay, Marvel, whatever, you do you and I'll get into it. Plus
the soundtrack is uplifting and exciting.
Apostle
This was a Netflix release, and I wouldn't
usually count films we hadn't seen in the theatre, but the world is changing.
So too, are the qualifications for such a list. Apostle was very reminiscent of
The Wicker Man in its format. A man goes to an island inhabited by a cult to
find a person. Things don't go super great. There are some unexplainable and
weird, dark moments that make the film last beyond the viewing experience. It's
a film people can discuss and dissect together after seeing, and I love films
that bring people together through conversation. That, to me, is a marker of
good story telling; the stories that teach us something, make us think deeper
or differently, that give us community.
I'd also like to shine a light on an actress who kept popping up and surprising me this year - Jenny Slate. In both Hotel Artemis and Venom she plays smaller roles, but both are absolutely necessary and both are catalysts for the drama. And she doesn't overplay these roles. She's sort of perfect. I look forward to seeing her in lots more in the future! Mona-Lisa in the HOUSE!
