2019 has officially come and gone, and I've seen everything I'm going to be able to watch for the given year. Keep in mind, I haven't seen everything. I haven't movies like Toy Story 4, Marriage Story, and Ad Astra (just to name a couple).
Honorable Mentions: Shazam, Zombieland: Double Tap, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Happy Death Day 2U
#10: Alita: Battle Angel: My number 10 spot was a toss-up between this and John Wick. This movie's visual style wound up being too hard for me to overlook. And, the movie is pretty much carried by Rosa Salazar as Alita. That also shouldn't take way from some of the stellar supporting cast. This is something I would love to see continue on as a franchise if the possibility is there.
#09: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile: This Netflix movie is pretty much anchored by Zac Efron's performance, and actually gives him a chance to truly shine in a very different role for him that is a far cry from his High School Musical days.
#08: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World: How to Train Your Dragon 3 closed this off with a phenomenal trilogy that continues to progress its heroes forward, as well as having the best villain in the franchise. Add on top of that some beautiful animation, and you've got a film that truly deserves to be recognized.
#07: Joker: Joker may be one of the most surprising movies of the year for me. When I first heard about a standalone Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix, and directed by the guy who made The Hangover and Old School, I was curious, but not excited. Having seen the film for myself, this movie feels like an experience that could actually be game-changer for comic book movies.
#06: Ready or Not: Most people know that I am a horror fan through and through. For me, Ready or Not might have been my favorite of the year. The film truly knows how to balance dark comedy and thrills. Samara Weaving in the lead continues to prove herself as a scream queen. I love how the characters actually have some depth to them, even if it might not appear that way on initial glance.
#05: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: I don't know if this list would be complete without Quentin Tarantino's latest film. It's one of those movies where it simultaneously feels like it has his signature style, as well as being slightly more reserved. Once again, the actors he gets all give spectacular performances, and his knack for dialogue really shines through.
#04: Ford v Ferrari: This feels like a classic underdog story that is exceptionally well-told. I didn't know much of anything about this story going in. At the center of a great movie is the chemistry between Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
#03: Jojo Rabbit: I said in my review that I felt like Jojo Rabbit was something unique. I still stand by that. The acting is excellent on all accounts. There's sort of a darkness to the satire and humor that works because of the World War II era setting. Between this and Thor: Ragnarok, I can't wait to see what else Taika Waititi has in store.
#02: Avengers: Endgame: Avengers: Endgame gets to be this high on the list because it feels earned, especially for someone like me who has kept up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the past 11 years. This feels like a natural conclusion for the heroes who have been there from the very beginning.
#01: Knives Out: Even as I looked through some of my catch up movies for the end of the year, nothing quite came close to the experience I felt watching Knives Out. Everything from the writing, to the acting, to the direction, to the characters, to the mystery itself, just worked for me on a level that kind of surprised me.
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