Best Films of 2018

Jason Clarke is superb at playing an unlikable character. In this he plays a real-life unlikable schmuck... and he does it well.
For this first time I will actually say Ed Helm's performance was impressive. I think he should stick to this type of acting rather than be cast in comedies in which he doesn't deserve to be.

This is actually one of Redford's best performances. What ruins is the unnecessary story between his character and the very dull Casey Affleck's character. If it just stuck with his illegal hobby, his two comrades and his new love interest the film would have been a well-paced delight.

Director: Paul Greengrass
His 10th movie
My 8th movie watched from the director

I'm thankful I finally got to see this movie, because it really clarifies all that happened that day and in the aftermath. It was truly horrific, really tough to watch. The first act was reminiscent of Greengrass' "United 93" but then he spends a lot more time focusing on a critically-injured survivor, the monster and his trial, and the country's political handling.

It gets long and I feel they could have cut a half hour out of it, but it's still effective and at least a unique approach to a film about a violent event.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Films - Paul Greengrass
It's Just a Date

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Location: Oslo, Norway

Rated 6.4/10

Rated 6.4/10

Actually not a bad comedy here. Leslie Mann is the main draw, but the rest of the cast turns in decent performances. Many of the scenes are unnecessarily silly and gag-inducing; but that's what comedies like to do, I suppose.

Rated 6.5/10

Rated 6.5/10

The energy of Jack Black and the infinite talents of Cate Blanchet turn this kids movie into something better than maybe it had the right to be.

Rated 6.7/10

Rated 6.8/10

Director: Ben Lewin
His 8th movie
My 1st movie watched from the director

It's rare to see Paul Rudd play it serious, but when he does he nails it. I think this movie may have suffered from awkward direction and writing. I can also see the ending being too unspectacular to really draw a healthy audience. Too bad because it's an interesting WWII story the cast does a fine job.

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Performances - Paul Rudd
The Incredible Collection of WWII Stories

I was looking for a jolly holiday with Mary... what I found was a slipshod attempt to recreate magic from a classic.
Yes, Emily Blunt is delightful, but the direction, writing and editing killed this movie. I'm not sure how looked at the structure of this movie and all its scenes and thought it would actually work. This is was a high-production value movie with the high caliber cast that seemed to be directed by an amateur. This is strange since I rather revere Rob Marshall and gave him a pass with his other mess, "Into the Woods". Looks like the reverence will have to end.
The movie relied on old animation and a likable cast to save it. In the end it was fine enough family movie, but it's sad to think how great the original was in comparison. I know it's not always fair to compare, but alas I feel I must.

There are some great cameos and fine new songs, even if half were unnecessary to the story.

If you want to relive the magic of Mary Poppins watch "Saving Mr. Banks". That is a wonderful movie all on its own but does very in recreating that magic.

Rated 6.8/10

The latest example of poor comedic writing, casting (Enough Ed Helms!) and editing. This movie had a lot of potential but only became fairly entertaining and funny. Where are the new comedy classics??

At least TV still knows how to do comedy.

Rated 6.9/10

Rated 6.9/10

An electric performance from Carrey Mulligan brings life to a mostly lifeless movie... but perhaps that was the point... she is in a lifeless town and in a lifeless marriage with a lifeless kid.

Rated 6.9/10

A comic-book fan's dream come to life. Though, I did watch it with my kid, who wanted to watch it immediately after watching it and he hasn't read a comic book at all. So, maybe it's just a likable movie...
I found several animation sequences to be impressive and the variety of Spider-Man characters made it interesting.
Otherwise I found this felt like I was watching an animated show from the 90s. That's not an entirely bad thing, I watched those... just didn't find either amazing.

But how about that voice cast? Wow.

Rated 7.0

A modest coming of age in a time of jazz uncertainty. Some white kids from the 'burbs head to south central and get some needed culture and understanding. A story brimming with excitement for what is to come for them and for music...

Rated 7.0

Rated 7.1/10

This Tarantino wannabe has a lot going for it, but it falls flat for the most part and wants to be too much like Tarantino, especially "Hateful Eight". Still dug it overall.

Rated 7.0/10

Director: Jacque Audiard
His 8th movie
My 3rd movie watched from the director

Audiard has such a controlled style to his direction and is great at capturing unusual characteristics in familiar characters. The story is interesting enough, but the direction the story goes is what is really interesting and did not expect that ending.

Added to Lists:

John C Reilly - Top Ten Performances (Honorable Mention)
American History Through Movies
The Rush of Gold
Best Westerns
The Desplat Scores
Top Ten Films - Jacque Audiard

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Location: Oregon, USA

Rated 7.1/10

Perhaps the most unfairly maligned film of the year. People gave it low ratings because it is emotionally manipulative. Oh, so sorry you were forced to tear up at a sad or happy moment because this little movie forced you to. What's wrong with being reminded of your feelings?

Director: Wash Westmoreland
His 5th movie
My 1st movie watched from the director

Added to Lists:

Top Ten Performances - Keira Knightley
Favorite Writer Biopics

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Location: Paris, France; Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, France

7.1

A fun teen movie that took queues from the right classics and made it its own on top of that. Unlike in some teen movies, most of the main characters are likable.

Rated 7.1/10

The story of the ridiculously influential Doug Kenney and the group of people who changed comedy forever... for the good.
It's pretty funny even if it's nowhere near as funny as the material they came up with.
Will Forte leads a well-known cast and he keeps it under control, not making it too weird.

Rated 7.2/10

I had been wanting to watch this, and with her passing, no better time. There isn't anything innovative with the form here, but the documentarians laid out her life, relationships, career, and societal impact rather effectively.

Dafoe is brilliant and Schnabel puts his unique thumbprint all over the filming. It's depressing, but that is to be expected, what wasn't expected is that it was still somehow life-affirming.

Rated 7.2/10

All the silliness of the first one with less of the laughs.

Rated 7.3/10

If you like "Veep" you will likely enjoy this one, as it's also created by the witty mind of Armando Iannucci. Even with it being a subject absolutely care nothing about the dialogue and characters keep this one going. It takes a dull subject and effectively livens it up.

Rated 7.3/10

I am still really into this franchise. The story is well-constructed, the acting still there, and of course... montages still on point!

Rated 7.4/10

Rated 7.4/10

Rated 7.4/10

Rated 7.4/10

A nice, straight-forward story of RGB making an important change in the landscape of gender equality in the US. Felicity Jones is likable as always and Armie Hammer plays another perfectly cast Harvard student/grad, but they completely underused the indelible Kathy Bates.
The ending is nice and the movies song, "Here Comes the Change" should have been nominated or an Oscar.

Rated 7.5/10

Director: Sebastián Lelio
His 7th movie
My 1st movie watched from the director

A beautiful and painful story of 'forbidden' love, memories of the past, and dealing with the present. The three leads turn in impressive performances. So much feeling and emotion going on beyond the dialogue. The cinematography provides cold and warm at the same time, perhaps allowing the viewer to decide what to feel, depending on what they believe in.
The story is engrossing throughout, and in a realistic dialogue and pace, plus the ending is very strong, which makes me question why the mediocre ratings?

Added to Lists:

My Favorite Sapphic Stories
My Favorite Sapphic Scenes
Top Ten Performances - Rachel McAdams
Top Ten Performances - Rachel Weisz
Top Ten Performances - Alessandro Nivola

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Location: Northwest London, England, UK

Rated .5/10

I appreciate the genre bend and I was impressed by the acting. The story was barely there. The ending was sudden and strange...
I think the director, Lanthimos, has a unique eye and messed-up sense of humor, which I'm all for; but this was not his most successful. Knowing this it's strange this was the one that got the Academy's attention.

Rated 7.5/10

Rated 7.5/10

Rated 7.6/10

Rated 7.6/10