As a whole, my favorite films of 2019 are of a darker note than their 2018 counterparts. I don’t know if that’s saying something about me, the film industry, or the world at large, but 2019 went grim in a lot of ways. But, it wasn’t all bleak, and so even among the gloom shines rays of hope and inspiration – something we’ll need a lot of this year.
With that, here is PART TWO of The Best Films of 2019 – The Top Ten.
10. The Farewell
Wang’s sense of self (fictionalized in the film by the amazing Awkwafina), becomes a clash of morals, with elements of both Chinese and American cultures weighing in for good or bad. This inner conflict is laid bare on the screen in often beautiful, understated ways, but also in hilarious bursts of family awkwardness. READ THE FULL REVIEW
9. Jojo Rabbit
While very funny, Jojo is also immensely sobering, offering a first-hand look at the civilian cost of war and the courage it takes to resist in the face of radical fanaticism. READ THE FULL REVIEW
8. Dolemite is My Name
Eccentricities are everywhere, but through it, heart and humanity shine on. READ THE FULL REVIEW
7. The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a reminder that movies can, and have been many things in the last 100 years, and that under the right direction, astonishing stories of stunning beauty come in all shapes and sizes, despite current trends. READ THE FULL REVIEW
6. Uncut Gems
An overarching pall of spiritualism, mysticism, and superstition blankets Howard’s unbroken string of foul-ups, indicating the possibility of fate or a divine plan – or that the universe doesn’t give a shit and you’re on your own. READ THE FULL REVIEW
5. Pain and Glory
Like much of Almodóvar’s work, Pain and Glory is a film full of rich color and artful presentation, but it’s the journey and the performances that resonate long after it’s over. READ THE FULL REVIEW
4. Knives Out
Knives Out plunges into the canon of great whodunnits with affection and reverence, and comes out the other side as one of the year’s most entertaining films. READ THE FULL REVIEW
3. 1917
Picturesque countrysides are contrasted with death and mud that lie only a few hundred feet away from each other and serve as a constant reminder that war is not only real, but is waged on family farms and in the streets of village neighborhoods. READ THE FULL REVIEW
2. The Irishman
This is a film that takes work, but the breadth of its emotional sprawl and the pure distance it covers breaks it free of its genre constraints and firmly places among the great masterpieces. READ THE FULL REVIEW
1. Parasite
Whether it’s a warning, requiem, or affront probably depends on which side of the fence you live on or which tax bracket you belong to. But make no mistake, Parasite exists as a statement—and it’s a damned effective one at that. READ THE FULL REVIEW
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.