The Ten Best Movies of 2018
2018 was chalk full of some really interesting movies. I always make my best of year list a top ten with an additional number or two and a couple of Honorable mentions. This usually gets me to thirteen or fourteen, because it is way too hard to restrict myself. While I didn’t love anything quite as much as my top three films from last year (2017 Top Ten Movies), I feel like there were a solid twenty to twenty five movies worth mentioning this year. To be honest, it was gonna be either short or long because after the initial five, I really struggled with the order. They aren’t perfect films, but all of them did some interesting or unusual takes on their topics that I haven’t really seen done before. I noticed this year had a heavy leaning toward family dynamics specifically between parent and child. Or at least, that is where my preferences leaned toward. Here is my choice for the Ten Best Movies of 2018… which goes to twenty… three… plus seven more.
All of the following movies were competing in some way or another to be at the bottom of my ten list. Depending on your taste, these films have some strong, unique elements that come highly recommended. In a different year, perhaps with some tweaks, any of these may have cracked the top ten.
23. BLACK PANTHER
22. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
21. TULLY
20. LOVE, SIMON
19. ON THE BASIS OF SEX
18. BOY ERASED
17. THUNDER ROAD
16. VICE
15. INCREDIBLES 2
14. SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
13. CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
12. BLACKKKLANSMAN
11. ROMA – Alfonso Cuaron (GRAVITY, CHILDREN OF MEN) delivers one of the best films of the year on Netflix. Actually a lot of my favorite movies are on Netflix this year. Unfortunately, his artistry and brilliant technique as a story teller, utilizing a beautiful black and white cinematography is almost lost on the small screen. While I greatly admire the direction, the story of a family’s maid in Mexico City during the 1970’s takes some time to get moving. However, the last couple of scenes are some of the most powerful of the year.
10. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT – Forget Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson or Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise is arguably the best action star ever. His ability to leap into such death defying stunts while being aware of his performance and the camera is better than anyone. Director Christopher McQuarrie utilizes Cruise’s ability to the maximum, creating a sweeping action film that is a blast to behold.
9. PRIVATE LIFE – Heart-breaking and hilarious, PRIVATE LIFE follows a city couple who are coming up against all the difficult road blocks in conceiving and adopting a child. Great performances from Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti through a thoughtful screenplay, PRIVATE LIFE should almost be required viewing.
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