1917
Following two young soldiers through the fog of war, you are transported to the World War I front lines. Director Sam Mendes and Cinematographer Roger Deakins immerse you in the world of our leads Blake (played by Dean-Charles Chapman) and Schofield (played by George MacKay).
The biggest strengths of this movie are the outstanding cinematography and editing, which creates the illusion of being one continuous shot. The set designs are intricate and fully engulf you in the harsh realities of trench warfare.
As I watched the movie, I was astounded by the look of it and how it impacted me emotionally. It put me on the ground with Blake and Schofield, allowing me to feel their anxiety and fear that, at any moment, a new adversary would appear. Definitely a movie best suited for a theatrical visit.
Ford v Ferrari
Professional driver Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale) strives to compete in the legendary Le Mans and works incredibly hard to realize this dream. Meanwhile, two great car companies compete in an epic automotive rivalry.
Don't be discouraged by all the car terms. The movie contains all of the nuts and bolts talk that will make car buffs happy, yet still is able to make the car novice feel welcomed as well. The racing scenes are wonderfully shot, showing the power of the cars as well as the skill of the drivers.
I was skeptical of this movie initially because I am not knowledgeable about cars. As the movie progressed, I found myself buying into the story of Ken Miles and enjoyed seeing his character on screen more and more. The technical bits about cars was balanced by truly stunning visuals of the racing, making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The Irishman
Martin Scorsese delivers another exquisite film featuring some of Hollywood's greatest names: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. The movie details the life of a hard working man (played by Robert De Niro) who is courted by the mob to do their dirty work. He eventually befriends the teamster union's head, Jimmy Hoffa (played by Al Pacino).
Scorsese expertly navigates the life of a normal man through the less-than-glamorous ranks of the mob, while giving each of his major three actors adequate time in the movie to make their impact felt. Pacino specifically is magnetic while on screen.
Due to the overwhelming acting and directing talent involved with this movie, I thought this was a must watch, despite the 3.5 hour run-time. The movie definitely felt it's length at times, but it did captivate me as well. Al Pacino was electric each time he was on screen. For me, he definitely stole the movie. Overall, I didn't feel there was anything special to it. Just another excellent Scorsese film.
JoJo Rabbit
A young boy (played by Roman Griffin Davis) dreams of being part of the Hitler youth and frequently speaks of his desires to his imaginary friend, Hitler (played by director Taika Waititi). Through interactions with the people closest to him, he begins to doubt whether allegiance to the Nazi party is really as glamorous as he was lead to believe.
JoJo Rabbit walks a thin line of being a comedy about Nazis and a drama about the atrocities of the Holocaust. I went into this movie expecting pure comedy but was stunned by just how hard it hit me emotionally. Taika strikes this balance perfectly. Thomasin McKenzie who plays a young Jewish girl hiding from the Germans (Elsa), is magnificent in her role. Scarlett Johansson also shines as JoJo's mother, grounding the sensationalist imagination of a child into a more relatable motherly love.
I can't find anything bad to say about this movie. Taika inserts his unique sense of humor throughout, but it never takes away from the emotional impact. I laughed. I teared up. I actually audibly gasped at one point. If that doesn't fully explain how great I thought this movie was, I don't know what will.
Joker
A man in need of help slowly descends into madness as he is continuously neglected, discarded, and beaten down by society.
Joaquin Phoenix mesmerizes as the Joker, creating a dark, disturbing role that is meant to make you uncomfortable. He is about as close to a lock as one can get for Best Actor. Joker also shines in cinematography, as well as score, ensuring that this is one of the better movies of the year.
I felt deeply disturbed watching this movie. During multiple points, there was a sense of great discomfort watching Joaquin on screen, which is a testament to him as an actor. If you're looking for an uplifting movie, this is not it. It leans into darkness and despair, which I'm assuming is what makes it an apparent Oscar darling this year.
Little Women
A group of talented sisters try to find their place in the society while fighting the inequalities and stereotypes placed upon them by a male dominated world. Through the eyes of Jo (played by Saoirse Ronan), the importance of family is made apparent.
The true strength of this movie is the wonderful chemistry of this extremely talented cast (Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, and Laura Dern) . Director Greta Gerwig fosters an environment that allows a sense of comfort among the women. Greta adapts the well-known novel in a new way, incorporating a non linear style of storytelling that drives home the growth of all the characters.
This was another film that I was initially wary about, foolishly thinking it was a boring book report brought to life on screen. Instead, I was treated to a charming tale about an incredibly close family of women trying to do the best they could while their father was away at war. At multiple points throughout the film, I was struck by how utterly delightful the character interactions were. If you're looking for a movie to counteract the lows of Joker, this might be the best choice.
Marriage Story
Nicole (played by Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (played by Adam Driver) struggle through the process of divorce, illustrating the difficulties of communicating effectively with the added complication of a child who gets caught in the middle.
Obviously the two leads are phenomenal in this movie, making their arguments, disagreements, grievances, and points of view so realistic and heartfelt that, depending on the moment, you find yourself in agreement with either of them. Another strength of this movie lies in the supporting cast, who equally matches the intensity of the leads. Laura Dern (Nicole's lawyer), Ray Liotta and Alan Alda (Charlie's lawyers) are scarily accurate versions of divorce lawyers.
I was immediately hooked from the opening lines, but the rest of the movie never let me down. I was enthralled by how realistic the dynamics of this relationship seemed. They love each other, but somehow that love has faded. I think most people, whether they have been through a divorce or not, can relate to such a feeling. I enjoyed going on this roller coaster of emotions with the characters.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino once again delves into an alternate version of history as he explores the lives of fictional actor Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stunt man Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt) during a time when Charles Manson was gaining a cult following.
Tarantino leads a star-studded cast in his ninth film, transporting the viewer to 1969 Los Angeles. Tarantino's masterful ability to convey a story, combined with the stellar yet understated acting of DiCaprio and Pitt, take this film to an Oscar worthy level.
I was captivated by DiCaprio and Pitt's acting in this movie, as they were both playing washed up Hollywood hacks, which of course is far from reality. It's hard not to get caught up in the story-telling, even when it takes very Tarantino-esque twists and turns. For me, it's not on the level of Inglorious Bastards, but certainly an interesting alternate history take.
Parasite
The foreign language representative in the Best Picture race from South Korea. Director Bong Joon-ho highlights a universal struggle: the widening gap between rich and poor. Kim Ki-woo (played by Choi Woo-shik), living in the slums of South Korea, gets an opportunity to work for a rich family. Slowly, the rest of Ki-woo's family gains employment for this rich family, hence the name Parasite.
Bong Joon-ho creates a story that transcends cultures and language barriers. The one inch barrier of subtitles, as he called it, truly does limit one's ability to see amazing films. This cast, led by Song Kang-ho, Cho Yeo-jeong, Park So-dam, and Jang Hye-jin, among many other fantastic performances, draws you into their lives and their struggles.
I am a perfect example of someone who struggles with that one inch subtitle barrier. This is why Parasite was the last of the Best Picture contenders that I saw. I heard the buzz. I heard the hype. I was just scared that I couldn't get into the movie. I could not have been more wrong. The subtitles were just a minor part of the movie since the actors and story were so clear, despite the fact that it was in Korean. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and encourage anyone who may be fearful of subtitles to see this movie!
OTHER MOVIE QUICK HITS
Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler dazzles as a lowlife jewelry dealer in New York, getting into trouble with sports gambling debts. The Safdie brothers keep you on the edge of your seat with an anxiety driven masterpiece. In my opinion, it should have been nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor.
Dolemite Is My Name
Eddie Murphy charms as a down on his luck comedian convinced that he is destined for fame and stardom. A hilarious yet poignant story about someone working hard to put themselves onto the world stage. At the very least, this movie deserved some set or costume design love from the Academy.
Two Popes
Two leaders of the Church discuss the biggest issues Catholicism faces today. Jonathan Pryce plays the more liberal Pope Francis, and Anthony Hopkins plays the more conservative Pope Benedict. Both lead actors were nominated for Oscars, but the movie was left off Best Picture.
Endgame
I wrote an entire post about Endgame being snubbed for a Best Picture slot. You can find that post here.
PREDICTIONS!
The Academy chooses their winner based on a preferential ballot, so I'll do the same here. This is my Oscars Best Picture 2019 ballot:
- 1917 (My pick for Best Picture winner)
- Parasite
- JoJo Rabbit
- Marriage Story
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Joker
- Little Women
- The Irishman
- Ford v Ferrari
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