Mallard's Top 10 of 2018

1. Eighth Grade- Bo Burnham's directorial debut is an amazing achievement. It's the most honest portrayal of junior high awkwardness that I've ever seen on screen. Elsie Fisher absolutely should have been nominated for best actress- it's crazy how good she is.

2. Hereditary- Another directorial debut (Ari Aster) and another one knocked out of the park. The twist at the end of the first act will floor you, and it never lets up until the final frame. One of the best horrors I've seen in years.
 

3. Thoroughbreds- I'm sensing a theme here. Cory Finley's directorial debut gives us the story of two teen girls with wildly different personalities who hatch a plot to murder one of their step dads. The tone is perfectly caustic and dark, and Olivia Cooke is amazing as the girl with no emotions. We also get to see Anton Yelchin's last on-screen performance, which- of course- is incredible.

4. Annihilation- From the writer and director of Ex Machina, Alex Garland. When a mysterious force field begins expanding territory, Natalie Portman and an all-female military / science expedition make the dangerous journey inside to investigate the nature of the unknown shimmer. What starts as a conventional sci-fi premise turns into a truly unique vision of... I don't even know what. 

5. The Favourite- Fun Fact, this one's the only best picture nominee to appear on this list, and it is much deserved. From the singular mind of Yorgos Lanthimos, this period piece is totally unconventional in the best way possible. The production design and cinematography alone make it worth seeing, much less the perfect blend of dark comedy, impeccable dialogue, and three of the best performances of the year.

6. First Reformed- From the writer of Taxi Driver, Paul Schrader brings us the harrowing story of a highly conflicted pastor dealing with the fallout of a parishioner's suicide, and the environmental radicalism that he imparts. Ethan Hawke brings Reverend Toller to life in such a visceral way; in my opinion it's the best performance of his career, and it should come as no surprise to anyone that he wasn't nominated for Best Actor.

7. Sorry to Bother You- Boots Riley's (you guessed it) directorial debut is another victory of 2018. Confidently eccentric in style, and the substance underneath is a damning portrait of capitalism and racism in modern America. 

8. Can You Ever Forgive Me?- Melissa McCarthy is phenomenal in a bit of a change-of-pace role for her, taking a break from the slapstick comedies that were starting to wear out their welcome. Here we have a smart, funny, and honest little movie about a couple of sad, unlikely friends in 1991 NYC engaged in a relatively harmless criminal endeavor. Directed by Marielle Heller. 

9. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs- A six part anthology from the Coen Brothers, all taking place on the American frontier, and ranging in tone from goofy, to strange, to downright depressing. The Coen Brothers are obviously confident storytellers, and here they get a chance to flex those storytelling muscles in a variety of ways.

10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse- I'll be the first to say I was skeptical about this one going in. What's up with the all the different Spider-men? And a spider pig, really? All I can say is, it works. Go ahead and watch it and tell me that it doesn't. The story of Miles Morales and the spider-verse won me over in a big way. 

And lastly, here's #11-20, unranked in alphabetical order.