Mallard's Top 10 of 2019

1. Parasite- While it’s very cool to see this movie get recognized for the achievement that it is- it’s also disturbing to see the Hollywood elite seeming to enjoy it for all the wrong reasons. This is not a comedy- it’s a modern day horror.

2. Us- I know I’m in the minority for thinking this- but to me, Us was even better than Jordan Peele’s debut smash hit Get Out. I’m not even entirely sure I understand it, but I know that I like it. It’s definitely worth watching more than once. At the very least, Lupita Nyong’o deserved much more recognition for her visceral and layered dual performance. Incredible.

3. Marriage Story- Sometimes a movie seems to exist just for the performances, and this certainly fits the bill. The movie itself is nothing groundbreaking, but Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are so good that you’ll forget you’re watching a movie. 

4. Midsommar- Ari Aster is proving that he’s one of the most exciting young directors around. It isn’t just that Midsommar is F’d up- it’s that it’s F’d up in such a unique way. The color palette, the tone, and the subtle visual effects work together to create a cinematic trance of a film that you have to see to believe.

5. Joker- I’ve heard many say that Joker is too early Scorsese, but I didn’t find it overly derivative. To me, beyond the acting feat of Phoenix, it felt very relevant. When in real life we literally have billionaires trying to buy elections, I think the time is past due to re-examine the world of Batman (Gotham) and how it should be read in 2020.

6. Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood- Tarantino’s clearly in the latter part of his career, and he’s just making the movies that he wants to make. Entertaining, too long, great performances. You should know what you’re getting with QT at this point.

7. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker- I wanted to love this movie so bad. And I do, to a certain extent. It gets a lot right, which is why it’s all the more frustrating the few things that it didn’t. Namely, the retcon of the non-importance of Rey’s parentage revealed in TLJ, and the erasure of Rose Tico, the best new character introduced by Rian Johnson. More than anything, it’s just baffling (but not surprising) that Disney didn’t have a coherent vision for the new trilogy from the outset.

8. Jojo Rabbit- OK this one was a surprise for me. I assumed it would be too over-the-top, but it actually finds the perfect balance between the childlike humor and the gravity of the setting. Scarlett Johansson absolutely should have won Best Supporting Actress for this performance. She did an amazing job- and the kids did, too.

9. 1917- Certainly the most technically impressive film of 2019. The visuals alternate between stunningly beautiful and deeply horrific. The story packs a punch, too, with a simple narrative that will captivate you the whole way.

10. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote- This is the weird little movie that Terry Gilliam has been trying to make for the past 20 years. The most surprising thing? It’s actually good! Definitely not for everyone. But for me, it works as both a film unto itself, as well as a companion piece to Lost in La Mancha, the documentary chronicling Gilliam’s initial attempt to make this movie a reality.

And then here's my #11-20- in alphabetical order... Enjoy!