It’s that time of year again, my top ten movies of the year. The criteria for selection: All films to have been released in the UK during 2019, and seen by me in a cinema.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood – The film I was most concerned about turned out to be my favourite of the year. I didn’t particularly enjoy Quentin Tarantino’s last film, The Hateful Eight, do we really need another movie about Charles Manson, and most significantly, is he capable of the sensitivity needed to tell the story of the horrendous murder of actress Sharon Tate?
The Irishman – Martin Scorsese’s epic tale of mob hitman Frank Sheeran based on the novel I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. This is not Goodfellas part 2, it is more thoughtful and sombre film than Scorsese’s previous entries into the gangster genre. A masterpiece by a true master of cinema, the three and a half hour runtime is justified! 
Styx – Unbelievably this is just Wolfgang Fischer second feature, and more than a decade after his debut. If All Is Lost is an existential crisis, Styx is a commentary on one of the biggest world issues today. The title tells you all you need to know: In Greek mythology Styx is the river between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Passengers must pay the ferryman, if they have no money they must remain on the river for 100 years.
Midsommar – I visited rural Sweden for midsummer a few years ago, while I’m pleased to report there was no murder or mutilation, it is a really big deal. If you hated Hereditary, you will really hate Midsommar! I was mixed on Hereditary but loved Midsommar. The film looks amazing and is disturbing rather than scary, the near two and a half hour runtime flew by. Once again Florence Pugh proves she is the most exciting and talented young actor working today.
Apollo 11 – The rare inclusion of a documentary on my bets of year list. Made up of NASA footage shot at the time of the moon landings. Much of it on 65mm. With no voiceover and no talking heads, it’s a wonder the film can hold the attention for its 93 minute runtime. The key word here is wonder, because the film is filled with wonder, it is nothing short of stunning.
Burning – Its best to go into Chang-dong Lee’s Korean thriller with as little background information as possible. Wonderfully ambiguous that keeps you guessing until the end and ultimately asks a lot more questions than it answers.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? – True story of celebrity biographer Lee Israel based on her own memoir detailing her decent to rock bottom. Written and directed by Marielle Heller with both flair, and humanity. Melissa McCarthy’s gives her best performance to date, Richard E. Grant is as brilliant as ever.
If Beale Street Could Talk – Barry Jenkins adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel. Brilliantly conveying a novels internal monologue in a way that last years On Chesil Beach failed to do. The acting is first rate throughout, but the true triumph of the film comes in its direction and construction.
The Nightingale – I have been waiting five years Jennifer Kent’s follow up to The Babadook, it was worth the wait. What has been tagged as a revenge thriller, but it is so much more than that, a damning indictment of colonialism it is brutal but never gratuitous.
Under the Silver Lake – The downside to David Robert Mitchell’s follow-up to It Follows is that it has a feel someone trying to emulate David Lynch or the Coen brothers. The plus side, is that it looks amazing and has some great moments of flair. It doesn’t always work but it so bold it deserves to be seen.
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