I’d held off on finally doing up this list as I wanted to see The Irishman, The Lighthouse & Knives Out (the less said about that last one the better) before I finalized it. I have now seen them and am ready to share with the world what they’ve all be waiting for:
Joey G’s top 10 films of 2019.
- Parasite, Dir: Bong Joon-Ho
It’s every bit as good and better still than you’ve heard. It was the easiest pick I’ve ever had at number one and would also top my best of the decade list were I to make such a thing. - The Irishman, Dir: Martin Scorsese
The whole package is extraordinary, but the last hour in particular hit me hard. I have spent a lot of time, and even more in the last few months, thinking about mortality and the passage of time and this particular elegy on the subject absolutely floored me. - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Dir: Quentin Tarantino
I saw this twice in the theatre in 3 days. I rarely get to the theatre, let alone to the same movie more than once, these days. I was utterly captivated by every minute and the more I think about it the higher in my Tarantino rankings it seems to climb (currenlty sitting at number 3 behind Inglourious Basterds and Kill Bill) - The Lighthouse, Dir: Robert Eggers
It’s hard to believe there are three movies above this on this list. Almost any other year this would be a shoo-in for number 1. The best looking and sounding movie of the year and just incredible performances from Dafoe and Pattinson. - Pain & Glory, Dir: Pedro Almodovar
This could make a good double-feature with The Irishman. I haven’t seen his whole filmography, but this sits pretty high in my Almodovar rankings. - Midsommar, Dir: Ari Aster
This really impressed me. I liked it so much it makes me want to go back and rewatch Hereditary in case I’m wrong about it. (I thought it was boring, stupid and badly written). Some visuals from this movie are seared into my memory forever. - The Dead Don’t Die, Dir: Jim Jarmusch
I suspect in a few years people are going to rediscover this movie and realize how great it is. The deadpan comedy and molasses-slow pacing, laconic even by Jarmusch standards, is like catnip for me. I’ve watched it several times now and it gets better on every rewatch. - Us, Dir: Jordan Peele
Impeccably made, truly scary, and an absolute BLAST to watch. I suspect, like the Jarmusch, that it will reward rewatches immensely. - Dolemite is My Name, Dir: Craig Brewer
I am a sucker for movies about scrappy underdogs making movies. I was already a fan of Rudy Ray Moore and the original Dolemite so this was just utterly delightful. Also, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed seeing Eddie Murphy giving a shit about a movie he was in. - The Beach Bum, Dir: Harmony Korine
There is a scene with Martin Lawrence in this movie that is the funniest scene of any movie all year.
That’s as good a top 10 as I can recall having.
I haven’t watched, nor really cared, about the Oscars in several years now, but it still made me happy to see Parasite do so well. I only have lists going back to 1999 but this was the first year that the best picture winner matched my number one! Closest before this was in 2007 when No Country For Old Men– my number 2- won (There Will Be Blood was my number one).
Currently Playing: A.L. Lloyd – “An Evening with A.L. Lloyd”
Currently Reading: SLOW HORSES, Mick Herron
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