2018 in Movies

I am an unashamed movie nut.  For the last post of the year I pontificate on the best and worst from only the movies I went to see. I’ve also included what I considered to be the worst movies of the year, because that’s almost more fun. It was a very good year for movies although I didn’t see as many as I would have liked due to trips to Panama and a major house renovation, but that’s on me. You won’t find my movies on many critics top ten for the year because we go to the movies for different reasons. I go to be entertained not to judge. There were also some incredible movies never making it to the theater, Bird Box and a sneaky guilty pleasure – The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – haven’t laughed as loud at a movie lately as I did for that short.

So Funny!

I’ve also chosen a quote from each of the top ten movies. As you can see I lean heavily towards action (and science fiction) but I think these films are a lot more mainstream than the out of touch film critics whose top tens are usually incomprehensible and barely entertaining. If nothing else the films below (except for the bottom two) were hugely enjoyable. Again this is only one man’s opinion and reflects only the movies I saw this year.

Best Movies of the Year

#1 - Mission Impossible Fallout – I surprised myself when this ended up at #1 but there was no denying the sublime combination of action, plot, acting, and scenery. It’s more impressive as this was a sequel where none of the creative fire has burned out. Cruise may be the ultimate wierdo but the man can make an action movie and force you to care about what’s going on. Best movie I saw all year.

[Ilsa and Benji see Ethan pulling another crazy stunt]

Ilsa Faust: What the hell is he doing?

Benji Dunn: I find it best not to look!

#2 - Black Panther – Lost amongst all the crowing about the social relevance of a major African-American Marvel hero was the fact this was a very good movie. This had all of Marvel’s usual flashes and bangs but also boasted a villain in Michael B. Jordan that brought depth and a healthy dose of screen presence. Bozeman owned the movie, at least when Jordan wasn’t on screen, and a strong, well-written script completed a great movie.

Okoye: Just don't freeze when you see her.

T'Challa: What are taking about? I never freeze.

Shuri: Did he freeze?

Okoye: Like an antelope in headlights.

#3 - Avengers Infinity War – This was almost too big, with too many of Marvel’s superheroes on screen but it somehow worked on almost every level. We’ve spent the better part of a decade waiting for the confrontation with the divot chinned Thanos and it lived (or died) up to the anticipation. The addition of the Guardians of the Galaxy led to some really funny cross over jokes as well as some of the most heartbreaking moments. This movie would have been a disaster unless it was marketed as it was – just Part 1.

Rocket Raccoon: This is Thanos we're talking about. He's the toughest there is

Thor: Well, he has never fought me.

Rocket Raccoon: Yeah he has.

Thor: He has never fought me twice.

#4 – Upgrade – The biggest non-Buster Scruggs surprise of the year as a Tom Hardy look alike leading man is paralyzed early in the movie set in the near future. A tech company implants a chip, called Stem, into his spinal cord which returns movement but with a steep price. This movie really takes off when Stem reveals itself and the enhanced capabilities it brings to the man, again albeit with the aforementioned toll. An eloquent statement on technology.

Grey Trace: Stem, he's got a knife!

Stem: [calmly] I see that. We have a knife, too.

[Grey, under Stem's control, takes the knife from the assailant and stabs him]

#5 - Ready Player One – This wasn’t a surprise because, well, Spielberg and science fiction – always a sure bet. A pop culture bonanza where geeks (guilty) could spend years trying to spot all the easter eggs. A benevolent genius who recently died inserted a competition to inherit his mega-company into the Oasis where any player can be virtually any character he wants to be. The battle for control goes on between Spielberg’s usual plucky underdogs and the evil corporation both in cyberspace and the real world. Again, a guilty pleasure, but so much fun.

Halliday: I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I just didn't know how to connect with people there. I was afraid for all my life, right up until the day I knew my life was ending. And that was when I realized that... as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also... the only place that... you can get a decent meal. Because, reality... is real.

#6 - Deadpool 2 – Ryan Reynolds returns as the anti-hero Deadpool and follows up his very R-rated turn as the hilarious righter of wrongs despite spending most of the movie trying to find a way to kill himself. I know it sounds dark, but this is Deadpool and you forgive a lot. The foul mouthed Pool is pitted against a soldier from the future as well as most of the rest of the world. The movie contains Reynolds usual hilarious side comments directly to the audience which was every bit as entertaining as the first movie – a tough task.

Firefist: [trying to get the collar off of Deadpool's neck] We need a code.

Domino: Try, uh... seven?

Deadpool: Settle down, Captain Lucky, it's not gonna be one number.

[Firefist presses the number 7 and unlocks the collar]

Deadpool: God, that's lazy writing.

#7 - Annihilation – A female centric sci fi/horror movie that allows the audience might have a modicum of intelligence. Natalie Portman shines as a conflicted member of a team sent to investigate an alien invasion behind a shimmering border on the North Carolina coast. There were a lot of sub plots coursing through and while you had to pay attention – that was a good thing. I liked the movie better than the book which is unusual and high praise since I loved the book.

Dr Ventress: It's not like us... it's unlike us. I don't know what it wants, or if it wants, but it'll grow until it encompasses everything. Our bodies and our minds will be fragmented into their smallest parts until not one part remains... Annihilation.

#8 - Sicario Day of the Soldado – One word  (actually a name) – Benicio! Del Toro seizes this movie as the follow up to the original Sicario as he and Brolin team up again to rain havoc on the Mexican drug cartels. An Islamic terrorist tries to infiltrate the border which results in Brolin’s team sent in to stir up trouble. The movie is very bleak which is appropriate given the venue of the US-Mexico border with the all the competing issues there. There is a powerful cast but Benecio steals every scene through sheer presence and also finds a bit of his lost soul by helping the daughter of a cartel kingpin.

Matt Graver: Just to be clear, you wanna see this thing through, I'm gonna have to get... dirty.

James Riley: Dirty is exactly why you're here.

#9 - Green Book – An atypical buddy road trip as an accomplished African-American pianist tours the 1960s Deep South accompanied by a very New York bouncer. This was based on a  true story and it was a fascinating look at the dynamics of the two characters. Mortensen was convincing as an illiterate heavy handed goon type while Mahershala Ali proves the Oscar was no fluke as the multi-layered pianist. It almost makes you believe in redemptive human nature.

Dr. Don Shirley: I am not a medical doctor. I'm a musician. I'm about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South. What other experience do you have?

Tony Lip: Public relations.

#10 – Widows – Another surprise although it shouldn’t have been given the presence of Viola Davis in the lead role as the widow of a high end thief who’s up against the thugs her husband was killed robbing. I didn’t know Elizabeth Debicki before this but she was a nice surprise as she more than held her own with Davis. A smart, edgy film that delivers on a number of levels.

Veronica: [to her gang] Now the best thing we have going for us, is being who we are.

Alice: Why ?

Veronica: Because no-one thinks we have the balls to pull this off.

Honorable Mention:

Venom – sneaky fun with Tom Hardy hilarious when speaking to himself from his internal parasite.

Bad Times at El Royale – awesome cast delivers in yet another 1960s era drama set in a remote Tahoe motel with dozens of secrets.

Peppermint – Just what the doctor ordered, a female John Wick out to avenge her murdered family

Crazy Rich Asians -  Little too formulaic to make top ten but thoroughly enjoyable rom-com

Quiet Place – devastatingly painful film to watch and the most silent you’re ever going to be in a movie theater

Antman and the Wasp – welcome return to the quirky Marvel hero with addition of Evangeline Lily in more prominent role

Worst Movies:

The Oath – the worst movie I saw all year and that’s saying something. I am mystified how you make a bad comedy with this cast. I hate Trump as much as the next guy but this was so strident and over the top that none of the characters made you care about them. I could sense Tiffany Hadish’s embarrassment.

Action Point – this was more predictable in bad cinema with Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass gang getting into the amusement park business. While there were one or two funny moments I found myself cringing, in a bad way, actually feeling sorry for the “actors” that this movie will appear on their IMDB list of accomplishments.

2018 Superlatives:

Best Comedy:  The Spy Who Dumped Me

Best Horror Movie:  A Quiet Place

Best Drama:  Annihilation

Best Romance:  Crazy Rich Asians

Best Action:  Mission Impossible: Fallout

Best Special Effects:   Ready Player One

Best Scene of the Year:  Final Scene in Avengers Infinity War – so poignant as many heroes pay price for Thanos’ seeming victory

I couldn’t leave without at least one photo of New Hampshire perfection – the biggest breakout star of 2018 – BLOG READER THE SEQUEL

And her Cousin who continues to dominate - THE FIRST BLOG READER