20 Must See Movies of 2019

Did you know I gave more perfect scores in 2019 than in any other movie year in my life? 10 perfect scores this year! I had 3 or 4 last year. That doesn't make the movies flawless, but that does mean I loved them so much I couldn't talk myself out of giving them perfect scores. I have a TON of movies from 2019 I'd love to recommend. Here are my favorites.

And, for those interested in my very indulgent nerd-dom, I listed my personal awards for best of the year at the bottom.



HONORABLE MENTIONS:

John Wick 3

Shazam

Peanut Butter Falcon

Spider-Man:Far From Home

The Last Black Man in San Fransisco

Brittany Runs a Marathon

Joker

Dolemite is My Name

Hustlers

The King

Little Monsters

20. Booksmart. 4.5/5 

This is lady Superbad, but executed with more style and grace thanks to the loving direction from Olivia Wilde. Booksmart assembles as cast that makes the material come fully alive: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Fieldstein, Skyler Gisando, and Billie Lourd are fantastic. Boomsmart is heartfelt, and easily the funniest movie of the year.

*

*

*

*

*

19. The Farewell. 4.5/5

The Farewell joins a short list of movies to leave me weeping by the time the credits rolled. Brilliantly written and directed with tenderness, Lulu Wang delivers a movie full of beauty and pathos. Awkwafina and Shuhzen Zhao give two of the best performances of the year. This is a must see.

*

*

*

*

*

18. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. 4.5/5 

Director Mariel Heller uses the paint by number splot to her advantage, using it as an opportunity to get imaginative with her craft. It feels like something Fred Rogers would have approved of. And Tom Hanks, again, disappears into a phenomenal performance.

*

*

*

*

*

17. Ford V Ferrari. 4.5/5

Matt Damon gives one of the best performances of his career (and one of the most under-appreciated) alongside the always remarkable Christian Bale. James Mangold steps up to the plate, and shows us that he is the king at making crowd-pleasing art. Funny, heartfelt, thrilling, and brilliantly executed, Ford V Ferrari is just my speed.

*

*

*

*

*

16. The Two Popes. 4.5/5

As a man a of faith, and even more so as a pastor (though not catholic), The Two Popes has outstanding emotional and spiritual resonance for me. As a movie fan, I never wanted it to end. The script and the performances really do belong in the conversation of “best of 2019.” The Two Popes is only a little bogged down by minor pacing issues and some hyper-active cinematography/editing. Other than that, it achieves precisely what it sets out to do.

*

*

*

*

*

15. The Lighthouse. 4.5/5

The Lighthouse is a bizarre, experimental and expertly crafted fable about the dangers of male suppression, and what horrors could happen when the constructs that keeps our primal urges in check are gone. Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe are revelatory. It’s not for everybody, but I loved it.

*

*

*

*

*

14. Little Women. 4.5/5

I've never read the source material, nor seen a previous adaptation of it, so I had zero sentimental attachment to Little Women when I stepped in the theater. Additionally, being that I am not a woman, nor do I have any sisters, there was very little on paper for me to attach to. So, it’s a testament to brilliance of writer/director Greta Gerwig that I not only loved Little Women, but it’s one of my favorite movies of the year. She has also assembled an extraordinary cast. Soarse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep, and Laura Dern do so much to make these characters come to life. It’s beautifully shot, consistently entertaining, and very moving. I’m so insanely happy to exist in the same world as this movie. What a treasure.

*

*

*

*

* 

13. Rocketman. 4.5/5

A biopic as imaginative, quirky, and glamorous as its subject. Dexter Fletcher’s directorial eye is impeccable, and Taron Egerton gives an Oscar worthy performance, one in which he is actually singing the songs. It’s whimsical, moving, and, most importantly, turned me into the biggest Elton John fan I know.

*

*

*

*

* 

12. Us. 4.5/5 

Jordan Peele has again crafted a frightening and socially conscious film. Even if it isn’t as thematically concise as Get Out, Us is still made with expert precision, filled with laughter and thrills. If there is any justice Lupita Nyong’o will garner serious Oscar consideration.

*

*

*

*

*

11. Jojo Rabbit. 4.5/5

Writer/director Taika Waititi has crafted a compassionate, thoughtful, irreverent, entertaining, hysterical, and heartfelt anti-hate satire. He harnesses a bright color pallet and a wide aspect ratio to compliment his dark humor (very reminiscent of Wes Anderson), and perfectly adjusts the hue and camera work to really hit home the more sobering elements. Scarlet Johansson gives a tender and charismatic performance, alongside some really good work by Sam Rockwell, Thomasin McKenzie, Stephen Merchant and Waititi himself. But it is breakout Roman Griffin Davis who shines the brightest.

*

*

*

*

*

10. Ad Astra. 5/5

Ad Astra owes a lot to existential films like The Tree of Life and 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is a compelling and contemplative story about one man searching the stars to find his father. With Brad Pitt giving one of his best performances, and astounding visuals, writer/director James Grey explores themes of faith, obsession, generational curses, and love. I understand why it may not be for everyone, but Ad Astra is my type of film.

*

*

*

*

*

9. Knives Out. 5/5

Knives Out combines Rian Johnson’s brilliant storytelling and dialogue with direction just stylish enough to work in service of the project, never distracting. He truly is an artist in a league of his own. Every cast member is given an opportunity to shine. Funny, earnest, suspenseful, Knives Out is one of the best crowd pleasers of the year.

*

*

*

*

*

8. Honey Boy. 5/5

From the moment the Honey Boy started to the moment it ended I was totally at the mercy of the artists at work. There was not a second I wasn’t fully engaged. Shia LeBoeuf, Noah Jupe, and Lucas Hedges are utterly remarkable. Honey Boy will stay with me for a long time.

*

*

*

*

*

7. Uncut Gems. 5/5

An unrelenting and powerful morality tale about the ways foolishness and excess steal our ability to appreciate the beautiful things in life. It feels like a panic-attack playing out over two hours, in the best way possible. Adam Sandler gives the performance of a lifetime proving that, when he wants to be, he’s not just good, he’s one of the best. The ending left me shook, but it was exactly what it needed to be. I loved Uncut Gems. 

*

*

*

*

*

6. 1917. 5/5

I’ve heard a few critiques of this film that it’s great film making, but it’s just spectacle, there is no soul. I’m sorry, but that is absolute nonsense. Yes, it’s spectacular. From a film-making point of view 1917 is pure movie magic, and the sheer level of craft on display would be enough for this to earn its glowing reviews and awards praise. But it is also full of emotion. Mendes brilliantly weaves the character development throughout the action, making the more tender moments rise as some of the best in the film. 1917 is a movie that will be talked about and revisited over and over for decades to come.

*

*

*

*

*

5. The Irishman. 5/5

I watched this movie, by myself, twice in one day. I haven’t done that with a movie since I was in middle school. Add to it that the movie is 3 and 1/2 hours long, that’s 7 hours of my day, and that speaks to the level of sheer artistry on display here. The last hour and a half alone has some of the best moments in a film I’ve ever seen. The Irishman is a crime epic in league with the best of all time.

*

*

*

*

*

4. Marriage Story. 5/5

In one of the most competitive years in film of my life, Marriage Story is one of the best.
The best acting of the year.
Directed with precision and pathos.
Tender.
Painful.
Compassionate.
Intimate.
Gut-wrenching.
Beautiful.

*

*

*

*

*

3. Avengers: Endgame. 5/5

This is the finest achievement in the MCU, and that is saying something. It is the culmination of 10 years and 22 films worth of content. An impossible task executed with superb capability. It really is the perfect version of itself.

*

*

*

*

*

2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. 5/5 

Heartfelt, sweet, beautiful, tender, moving... I’ve never used these adjectives to describe a Tarantino movie until now. And for the first time, a Tarantino movie left me in tears. Every second of this movie oozes with the writer/director’s love for old time Hollywood and movies. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood serves as a fable for the artist to show the audience what’s in his heart. Of course, there is plenty of the Tarantino weirdness and violence, but it would not be authentically true to this auteur if those elements were absent. DiCaprio and Pitt relish their screen time, projecting such an infectious chemistry it reminds you of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Pitt just might be giving the performance of a lifetime. Margot Robbie floats through the movie almost like an angel. Her performance and Tarantino’s direction make Sharon Tate haunting in the most beautiful ways. All in all, I’ve never loved a Tarantino movie this much this instantly. I usually have to sit with his work for a while before falling in love with it. Given time, it has officially dethroned Pulp Fiction in my book as Tarantino’s best work.

*

*

*

*

*

1.    Parasite. 5/5

For Parasite to not only top my list, but easily top my list, tells you a little bit about what kind of picture we’re talking about. If we pay attention to it, art can be a prophetic voice which calls out the conditions that tear apart our humanity. Pay attention to Parasite. Not only does it deliver its urgent message with nuance and clarity, but it is easily one of the most engaging, expertly made films I’ve ever seen. At times satiric comedy, at other times disturbing thriller, words fail to summarize just how phenomenal this movie is. You really just have to see it to believe it.

:::: The Tony Awards::::

Best Director
1. Sam Mendes. 1917
2. Bong Joon Hoo. Parasite
3. Martin Scorsese. The Irishman
4. Quentin Tarantino. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
5. Noah Baumbach. Marriage Story

Best Actor
1. Adam Driver. Marriage Story
2. Adam Sandler. Uncut Gems
3.  Leonardo DiCaprio. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
4. Joaquin Phoenix. Joker
5. Taron Egerton. Rocketman

Best Actress
1. Renee Zelwegger. Judy
2. Charlize Theron. Bombshell
3. Lupita N’Yongo. Us
4. Scarlet Johansson. Marriage Story
5. Soarse Ronan. Little Women

Best Supporting Actor
1. Shia LeBeouf. Honey Boy
2. Tom Hanks. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
3. Brad Pitt. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
4. Noah Jupe. Honey Boy
5.  Joe Pesci. The Irishman 

Best Supporting Actress.
1. Jennifer Lopez. Hustlers
2. Laura Dern. Marriage Story
3. Margot Robbie. Bombshell
4. Zhou Shuhzen. The Farewell
5. Florence Pugh. Little Women

Best Adapted Screenplay:
1. Greta Gerwig. Little Women.
2.Steve Zailian. The Irishman
3. Taika Waititi. JoJo Rabbit
4.  Lulu Wang. The Farewell
5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 

Best Original Screenplay:
1. Bong Joon Hoo. Parasite
2. Shia LeBeouf. Honey Boy
3. Noah Baumbach. Marriage Story
4. Quentin Tarantino. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
5. Andrew McArten. The Two Popes

Best Cinematography:
1. 1917
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3. Parasite
4. Little Women
5. The Irishman

Best Original Score:

1. Joker

2. 1917

3. Marriage Story

4. Little Women

5. Parasite