We can perhaps track my physical recovery by my attendance at entertainment events: In 2017, I saw 172 musical performances, while in 2018 that total jumped to 444. And while I only saw 22 new-release films in the theater in 2017, in 2018 I was back in the high life again with 39. It was also the year of my crash-and-burn dalliance with MoviePass. Finally, I must pour one out (from a jumbo concession-stand Coke) for the Edgewater Multiplex, which closed in November. It was always a nice, mellow experience going there, driving along the Hudson, strolling through the massive lobby, checking out posters for upcoming films, pretzel bites heating up if it wasn’t too early in the day, down the long corridors to so many screens, outside afterwards, pulling around back to the exit, geese chilling in the far corner of the parking lot. I miss it. But now, my favorite flicks.
10) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs I’m counting this as a theatrical release but you Coen boys better watch it — we want a real movie pretty soon. Regardless, the anthology format seems to have energized the brothers, and they pack these stories with music, action, hilarity, gorgeous scenery, and a little food for thought. A streaming good time.
9) Ben Is Back With this and Boy Erased, young Lucas Hedges had a terrific end of year. But this effort, written and directed by his dad, Peter Hedges, had a consistently of tone and building tension that made it particularly good. We clearly saw the toll that addiction can take on a family and a community, even the “nice” ones.
8) The Favourite Not nearly as dark as director Yorgos Lanthimos’s previous two films, likely because he wasn’t involved in the writing. Nevertheless, excellent performances from Emma Stone and Olivia Colman (and to a slightly lesser extent, Rachel Weisz) dominate this comedy-of-manners which becomes a tale of rivalry. Add in a strong score and clever cinematography, and film stuck with me.
7) Black Panther Ah, remember our happy days on Wakanda? Director Ryan Coogler swung for the fences on this one and came through big time, creating an awe-inspiring world. Performances were strong throughout and the action was thrilling. But what took this well above the ranks of standard comic-book fare was a compelling, mature storyline with a topical, shifting moral center.
6) A Quiet Place This one scared the bejesus out of me! And was also scary good. Kudos to John Krasinski — no, really, that guy — for co-writing, directing, and co-starring. Of course, his “family in a post-apocalyptic land” script probably has a bunch of blank pages, because there is a whole lot of silence, very effectively used. No spoilers but, if they hear you, they hunt you! Scary!!
5) Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Strictly as biography, this was a bit lacking: I craved more background info and a clearer sense of chronology. But as a reminder of the amazing impact of Fred Rogers on generations of children, and the more-important-than-ever concepts of kindness, friendship, love, and community that he gently espoused — this is absolutely essential viewing.
4) Annihilation Natalie Portman leads a crew of smart, kick-ass female action heroes on a government exploratory mission into a bizarro zone that has randomly appeared… and now is growing. The deeper in they go, the weirder things get, with hints of Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now. The result is one of the best sci-fi films I’ve ever seen.
3) BlackkKlansman Spike Lee brought us this wild, mostly-true tale of a 1970s African-American police officer who infiltrates a Ku Klux Klan chapter in Colorado. Great casting top to bottom and the heavy topic is lightened with lots of laughs. The ending was unexpectedly powerful and really knocked me for a loop, as Lee transforms this compelling time piece into an absolutely crucial and urgent movie for today.
2) Ready Player One Maybe wait a decade or so for a revival, because this really deserves to be seen on the big screen — like, IMAX-big — in 3D. Steven Spielberg pulls out all the stops creating a virtual world jam-packed with ’80s pop culture references. Yes, there’s a story, and a fairly decent one at that, but watch this movie for the immersive fun. It’s like nothing I’d seen before, and I loved it.
1) Fahrenheit 11/9 That dangerous orange idiot is president, and Michael Moore wants to know “How the fuck did this happen?” In looking for answers, he refuses to place simple blame on the Russians or James Comey (Bill Clinton, the New York Times, the DNC, and even our hero Obama get their share of credit for the current shitstorm) or to put faith in easy fixes such as impeachment or Bobby Mueller. It’s a bleak picture, but Moore doesn’t leave us without hope. Quite the opposite. He introduces us to some of the brightest progressive lights out there, from candidates to activists to teachers. And while this film was released in time for the midterm elections, it’s just as important now as a call to action. Moore implores us to roll up our sleeves and get to work, to at last bring about a government that matches our ideals.
Honorable mentions: Disobedience, First Man, Isle of Dogs, Three Identical Strangers, One October
Worst movie: Holmes & Watson (runners-up: The Commuter and A Simple Favor)
New releases I saw in a theater this year: 40 (including 1 late-2017 release, not considered in these rankings)
My best-of lists from: 2017/16, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009
You can check out all my movie reviews by clicking here.
Jack Silbert, curator