Top 10 Films of 2019

It's the end of the year which means it is time to round up all the films I've seen and rank the best of them. Unlike last year, I'm going to do my Top 10 favourite because I've seen so many more great movies this year and my 10 favourite are all great at the very least. Also, I'm still not going to do a worst of the year list because I don't see the value in complaining about the films I didn't like and I've only seen 2 films this year that I feel I could label as bad in any way, even though neither of them are. So, let's get started!

Before we get into the Top 10, here are some honourable mentions:

- Joker - A very haunting and unnerving experience that I was thoroughly engaged in but didn't leave me with the urge to revisit.

- A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - A delightful return with more top-notch jokes and beautiful animation. 
- Fighting with My Family - A surprise I only just saw recently that really inspired and entertained me consistently from start to finish.

10. Rocketman

Upon rewatching, this film grew on me hugely. Rocketman is a fabulous film with an excellent lead performance from Taron Egerton, who is becoming one of my favourite actors, and was disgracefully snubbed at the Oscars this year. It also features some wonderful musical sequences that keep it exciting as well as some genuine heart from a lot of its great performances. I really enjoy this one and I can only see myself loving it more and more with time. 

9. Le Mans '66

I really like it when a film takes a fun and enjoyable approach to a story that could otherwise be really dramatic and dull. Thankfully, that's what happened here. Le Mans '66 has two great performances from Matt Damon and Christian Bale as well as some really exhilerating and thrilling race sequences. It frequently had me laughing as well as gripping the side of my seat. The drama is also not neglected as there is a suitable amount in the film but the it all feels very tonally balanced and it enhanced the tension as the film went on. This is definitely a film I'll be revisiting as it was just a ton of fun to sit through.

8. Apollo 11

The most overlooked film of the year, and perhaps the most tragic snub at the Oscars in the Documentary category. I have heard hardly any people discussing Apollo 11, and wrongly so. This masterfully crafted work of art uses amazingly captured footage of the iconic mission to the moon and has you thoroughly engaged and astonished the whole time. The footage can be a bit blurry at times and the dialogue can be difficult to decipher, but the film deserves massive praise for what it was able to do, so those are just tiny nitpicks. I have this on DVD and can't wait to revisit it. You should certainly watch it too as it needs all the attention it can get.

7. Yesterday

This is the most underrated film of the year. I can understand why people were somewhat Marmite-y on Yesterday as it may not utilise the genius concept in the best possible way for some people nor does it have too much originality, but I love it nonetheless. The film just has me laughing consistently, smiling frequently, and feeling the urge to stand up and sing and dance. The two leads are also very likeable and the comedy is great. As I said, I wish the film focused more on Jack, the main character, having the intention to show the world how significant The Beatles were instead of gaining his own popularity, but that doesn't scream huge missed potential as what the film does do is more than fine by me.  

6. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Of course this had to sneak a spot onto the list! The Lego Movie 2 brings more of the same great humour, character, spectacle, and general madness that the previous installments have had, but it also thrives on elements that make it stand out from what has already been in this series with catchy and funny songs, as well as a more complex narrative that particularly struck a chord with me. The only issue is that the film is a bit illogical at times, but not enough to be distracting. So, I love this one and it's a shame that we probably won't see any more from this series, and its even more of a shame that none of the great work in this franchise was rewarded with an Oscar.

5. Spider-Man: Far From Home

It's difficult to make a terrific sequel, but it is even more difficult to make a sequel that follows on from the biggest film of all time, and that's why Spider-Man: Far From Home is as amazing as it is. The characters are more endearing, the action is much more inventive and fun to watch, the story has a lot more meaning and relatability to it, and overall it's just another great entry into the Marvel Universe. For a character as frequently seen as Spider-Man to still be the star of brilliant films like this is simply terrific, and I hope this only goes on and on. 

4. Jojo Rabbit

A very recent entry into the list, but a very deserving one. Taika Waititi, one of my favourite directors, helms this charming film that has a ton of clever jokes, really smart writing, brilliant performances, and a sweet story that does make light of some dark aspects of World War II, but in a way that is completely justified due to the great protagonist. Not much else to say other than it's absolutely wonderful! Can't wait to check it out again.

3. Knives Out 

The best writing of the year accompanied by some of the funniest and most engaging performances of the year in a film filled with some of the best cinematography, direction, music, set design, colour palette, editing, and basically everything else of the year. I find it very difficult to fault this film aside from a portion that drags compared to the pace of the rest of the film. But, honestly, that can so easily be overlooked that I might as well ignore it altogether. The fact that this is also an original work makes it even better. I love this film so much and I can only see myself loving it more and more once I rewatch it. 

2. 1917 

If there's one film that took my breath away in terms of being a stunning and gripping piece of cinema, it has to be this. 1917 is a masterful work of art. Roger Deakins' impeccable cinematography, Sam Mendes' excellent direction and writing, the remarkable score, sound, acting, aesthetic and, once again, essentially everything else just impressed me to a very high degree. It has truly used every filmmaking component to its advantage, and it has resulted in a fairly surface-level plot being turned into one of the most engaging, enjoyable, emotional, and generally phenomenal films of not just the year, but the entire decade. I think you can see why I waited until I'd seen this film before I made this list. 

1. Avengers: Endgame 

Yeah, you knew this from the start, one may say it was inevitable. Truth be told, I could easily put Knives Out or 1917 at the top spot, but there's only one film that came out this year that truly reached me on an emotional level. One film that has me grinning and cheering like an idiot at certain points. One film that gives me a rush of excitement that I doubt I could get from anywhere else. And one film that is unbelievably satisfying for the entirety of its three-hour runtime. And that film, is of course Endgame. The mere thought of this film makes me smile, I have such fond memories attached to this film, and it serves as a strong reason why I'm glad I was born when I was. Too late to experience the original Star Wars trilogy, too late to witness the Live Aid concert and the prime time for some of my favourite artists, too late to live through the Disney Renaissance, and too late and too soon to around at the turn of a milennium, but I was born just in time to experience the climax of the infinity saga at a crucial moment in my life... and that makes me feel extremely lucky indeed. Also, in case you haven't had enough of me having a go at the Academy this year, HOW ON EARTH DID STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, WHICH HAS PERHAPS THE MOST UNORIGINAL SCORE EVER, GET OSCAR NOMINATED FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCORE WHEN AVENGERS: ENDGAME, WHICH IS SUPERIOR IN EVERY SENSE, DIDN'T?!?!? This may be the year when I just lose all respect for the Oscars.

So, those were my Top 10 films of the year, and what a year it was. Unfortunately, 2020 doesn't have a great deal of things to look forward too. I won't bother doing a post dedicated to what films I'm excited for, but I will highlight some here:

- A Quiet Place Part 2 - Loved the first and this looks even better

- The King's Man - Massive fan of the first two and this looks just as good

- No Time to Die - Really enjoy these newer Bond movies and look forward to this finale

- Tenet - Love a bit of Nolan and this looks very intriguing and equally mind-bending

- Black Widow - Long overdue, but glad to see it finally happening

Also, I'm going to do a massive ranking of my favourite films of the decade soon, and there will be a lot of films on there, around 30-40! Don't expect it too soon as it has been very difficult to piece together.