2019 has been such an exciting year for me in the world of film, I attended my third BFI London Film Festival, broke my PB for number of films watched in the cinema in one year, attended a whole bunch of film premieres and made it onto the press line for the first time. I have also started writing for The Film Magazine which is so exciting for me, to be able to write for someone else is a huge achievement. Safe to say it’s been a year of ups and downs, but I guess it wouldn’t be new year’s eve if we didn’t start looking at the things we’re proud of and the things we’d do differently. I ticked off two bucket list items this year, one was to visit Nashville, anyone who knows me knows how much I love country music and to visit Music City was a dream come true. I also got my first tattoo, obviously it’s film themed, ‘whatever it takes’ is now permanently inscribed onto my left ankle, one of the most powerful lines from my number one film of the year, Avengers Endgame. Whatever it takes originally refers to the Avengers doing exactly that to defeat Thanos, for me, it means I will do whatever I can to find true happiness and success.
For me, true happiness comes in many forms, but one of those is pure escapism. Anything I can do to avoid mundane, every day life, is a must. Which is where cinema comes in and 2019 did not fail in finding some amazing (and not so amazing) escapism.
My top ten of 2019 consists of superheroes, Jedis, little women and kings, but most of all it consists of heart and gumption and all things that are important to me.
10. The Peanut Butter Falcon
The first film I saw at this years BFI London Film Festival, The Peanut Butter Falcon is exactly what I wanted to see from an indy film, heart and soul is oozing out of this beautiful low budget production. Shia LeBeouf makes a couple of appearances in my list this year and I can’t wait to see what he pulls out of the bag next, his performance in this particular film is compelling and addictive.
9. Ad Astra
I saw somewhere that someone dubbed 2019 ‘The Year of Pitt’ and I am absolutely fine with that. What with this and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood gracing our screens this year, I think it’s safe to say Pitt is finally being taken seriously as an actor and not just a pretty face (even though he absolutely does have a pretty face). I loved Ad Astra, it’s breathtaking cinematography will be with me for a long, long time. The story might have fallen a tad short in places but soon picked itself back up with the stunning visuals and powerful performances.
8. The Farewell
Safe to say I’m totally obsessed with Awkwafina so when I first heard about The Farewell I made sure I wouldn’t miss it. A beautifully powerful story about wealth, language barriers, cultural differences and above all family. Awkwafina is incredible in it, as is her on screen grandmother, Shuzhen Zhao, the two of them bring something totally real to the story and anyone who has had a close relationship with their grandparents will be able to relate.
7. Le Mans ’66
James Mangold is a film maker I will always go out of my way to see his latest work. Walk the Line still remains in my top 5 favourite films of all time and Le Mans ’66 didn’t disappoint. A fairly comfortable plot is perfectly combined with stunning cinematography, a beautiful score and absolutely breathtaking sound design. Damon and Bale have a formidable on screen chemistry which makes you laugh and cry in all the right places.
6. The Lighthouse
Earlier this month I went to a surprise screening at Picturehouse Central hoping I would get an early look at Little Women. When the title credits came up for The Lighthouse I was close to leaving, I had heard cautious reviews about it from the film festival that made me not want to see it. I figured I was already in the cinema and it would be embarrassing to leave before it starts. So I sat through it, after 10 minutes there was no chance I was leaving until the credits rolled. Two of the best performances I’ve ever seen and the most intricately confusing, messed up and compelling script I’ve witnessed in a long time. Up until this point I would never have rated Robert Pattinson as much of an actor, it’s moments like this I love to be proved wrong.
5. The King
You didn’t really think I’d make a top 10 of 2019 without including a Chalamet film, did you? The King is the last film I would expect this cast to star in, Timothee Chalamet is the king of indy coming of age films, Robert Pattinson (again!) is a sparkly vampire, Ben Mendelsohn is Star Wars, Ready Player One and Captain Marvel. Not the gabble of actors you’d expect to see in an epic costume drama, but it worked. I don’t know how or why but it worked and I have watched it 3 times since October.
4. Honey Boy
Shia LeBeouf makes the list for the second time, working alongside the great Lucas Hudges and Noah Jupe in this semi-autobiographical drama, written by Shia and directed by upcoming documentary maker Alma Harel, Honey Boy is powerful and charming, heart breaking and joyful and above all, full to the brim with heart and passion.
3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
I don’t care if people don’t agree with me on this one, in fact, I don’t care if people agree with me on any of them. I loved it, I also loved The Last Jedi and I also loved Force Awakens. The Rise of Skywalker is the perfect ending to the greatest film franchise in the galaxy. Imperfections? yes of course, find me a Star Wars film without imperfections. Full of passion? Absolutely. In JJ we trust.
2. Little Women
Obviously. Why wouldn’t this be on my list? It’s perfect.
I actually didn’t know this story at all before seeing this new retelling of it, but I’m quite grateful for that. I think if I’d been able to compare it to any past production of it I may not have loved it as much as I did. The performances felt so wholesome and really resonated with my relationship with my sister. I see myself in each of the March sisters, as I’m sure most viewers do. Florence Pugh was, yet again, a stand out for me in this film, she really is one to watch and I can’t wait to see her in Black Widow next year.
1. Joker
Joaquin Phoenix has been one of my favourite actors before it was cool. When I heard he was going to be playing The Joker I probably audibly groaned and said something contrived like ‘he’s too good for a batman film!’. Well, I was wrong wasn’t I? I actually do still agree that he’s too good for a batman film, which is why I was ecstatic when Joker was exactly the opposite of that. I homage to some of the great films of the late 70’s/early 80’s and easily one of the best performances I’ve ever seen, Joker is a perfect film.
1. Yep – I’m having two, it’s my blog, you can’t stop me.
Avengers Endgame, obviously.
Probably my favourite film of the decade, I saw it 8 times at the cinema. I’ve watched it multiple times since the cinema. I actually watched it last night.
I got a line from it permanently printed on my skin.
Need I go on?
2019 has been wicked, I can’t wait for 2020. Be prepared for me to go on, and on, and on about Dune because that’s easily my most anticipated film of the next 12 months.
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