Booksmart: This was probably my favorite - I mean this movie has everything I love to love about a film - smart, funny, (great music), this was enjoyable from start to finish and I've seen it a few times now as a result. The premise is two smart girls who are graduating from high school having spent all their time studying and suddenly realizing all the other kids are getting into great colleges too except they didn't spend all their time studying. They try to spend the night before graduation making up for it. If it sounds formulaic it is in a kind of way, but it also completely turns the usual tropes on their heads and infuses a smart feminist girl centric sensibility on something that may have been done before, making it new and awesome in the process.
Jo Jo Rabbit: This is a close second for me. How do you make a serious movie about nazi's and nazi youth and still manage to make it funny while packing in some pretty important social commentary? It's not an easy trick. Does having Hitler as an imaginary friend sound funny? Not really, but it definitely is. This movie had some mixed results with some people but I found it to be a very fresh take on a topic that's been explored many times before.
Us: I honestly liked Get Out more but I thought this second horror installment from Jordan Peele. The thing is it's very hard to describe, but because it did keep me on the edge of my seat, and sent me to google for a few days afterwards looking up all the symbolism I do recommend it if you're into being scared.
American Factory: I really dig a good documentary, honestly I will scan through the documentary options on netflix, HBO, PBS and Apple for an hour trying to find one I haven't seen that looks good - it might be my favorite go to genre of movie. This one was really great and is available on netflix. The story of what happens when a Chinese company takes over a glass factory (for car glass) in the United States trying to impose Chinese work culture on an American workforce. The result is fascinating.
Knives Out: This felt like something from a former era of movie making - like a movie I might have seen when I was growing up. I enjoyed a re-vamp of the who-dun-it and the plot was really good as well as the acting. There's some social commentary going on beneath the surface here too, which I also enjoyed picking out.
Honey Boy: I don't know if you know very much about Shia LeBeouf but this movie is based on his childhood. In the movie Shia actually plays the role of his own father. He wrote this while he was in rehab and filming it was part of his therapy. He found the content so emotionally difficult he could only shoot some of the scenes one time. I think knowing the background of the film and how they shot it makes it more enjoyable, maybe if you didn't care about the backstory it would be less interesting but I really liked it.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: I became interested in this while watching a instagramer from LA share shots of whole streets Tarantino recreated to ensure his 70s Los Angeles was picture perfect. It is amazing the level of detail that went into this. If you don't know anything about the Manson Family or the Tate/LaBianca Murders then this will be a confusing film for you - but for a Manson expert like myself this was a great movie. I did not expect to have such a visceral response to the ending - and I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it but it is surprising and I found it to be very satisfying (although violent, which I honestly am very squeamish about violence but still liked this). Also Brad Pitt and Leonardo are delish so there's always that too.
Ad Astra: Oh did someone say Brad Pitt? Yes he is delicious here too. I enjoyed this. It's a quiet exploration of space and the future - but also really just about being human. Beautifully filmed and a great message. If you're into something a little more slow and contemplative, this is a good film.
Parasite: this was a movie I kept hearing about and looking forward to all year. It did not disappoint. A social satire that really looks at classism and works on multiple levels. I know some people will avoid it because it is a foreign film but I loved it and highly recommend you give a try. It will surprise you.
The Farewell: I really like Awkwafina and this movie is largely a vehicle for her to shine. Funny and touching at the same time it is a movie about family and culture and complicated dynamics within the process of dying and saying goodbye. That sounds terribly depressing but this movie really isn't at all.
Gloria Bell: This was another kind of quiet little number that I really loved for it's take on empowerment of the main character who is in her mid life, a divorcee, trying to find happiness and meaning. Maybe because I am also a divorced person in mid life I found this very relatable. I love Julianne Moore and think she's a fantastic actress.
Knock Down the House: okay guys I know this one might not be that popular with folks who don't like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but I LOVEd this. Such an empowering and inspiring film about what the power of the individual with passion to make a change in the system. It made me practically want to run for office I'm telling you. I feel like anyone could be inspired by this even if you don't agree with the politics. Made me cry guys, a lot.
Marriage Story: This also made me cry A LOT. It's a beautiful film that almost feels like a play. I love Adam Driver and I loved this story. I saw it in the theatre which I am really glad a I had a chance to do - but it is available on netflix even though it's only been out a while. Divorce is horrible. So the subject matter is very serious and sad - but at the same time, I loved how things resolved and I related to a lot of this (again being divorced is it's own kind of thing that makes you a lot more in tune to things married people may not quite understand as well). There's also a fun performance in here by Alan Alda who I really like too. And Lara Dern is great. Just see it.
Fyre: I am not so much choosing this for the brilliant filmmaking as I am for the jaw dropping idiocy of this whole thing. I was MESMERIZED by this story guys. Fantastic. There's another doc on this topic too that was a Hulu doc (this is the netflix released one) and I watched both to get a better picture of the overall story. And then I went into a google rabbit hole, so any movie that makes me do that is great.
Little Woods: This might be one a lot of people missed. The acting and the filmmaking is great here. A story about poverty and what some people will do (or have to do) to make a living when there's barely any options.
And now for my top 10 pics of the DECADE! (but honestly maybe not really I am just going to share 10 movies from the decade I really think you should see if you haven't)
