Friday, January 10, 2020

2019 - IN REVIEW: TOP TWENTY BEST FILMS: #20 - 11

Let's get onto the good stuff finally.  I am not going to do any honorable mentions, this is it, my top 20 of 2019, and while the title of this list states that these are the "best" films of 2019, that is not really the case, these are my "favourite" films of 2019.  Alright, enough talk, lets begin with my:

TOP TWENTY BEST FILMS OF 2019


20. TONE-DEAF

This is a film that I gather will be unique to my “best of” list of 2019, as the latest film from Richard Bates Jr is one that has been beset with unfavourable reviews. It is a film that has been universally panned but for me, I thought “Tone-Deaf” was absolutely hilarious and I loved every minute of it. I just seem to “get” Richard Bates Jr and his movies, as this is the third of his four movies that have made it to my end of year list. Only his sophomore effort, “Suburban Gothic” failed to make an impression on me, with his debut film “Excision” totally blowing me away. When I say that I “get” him, I do not mean that I am superior in intellect in any way and those that dislike the film must be void of intelligence, rather that I just seem to be on the same wavelength as Bates Jr, at least in a tonal and comedic sense. His latest film is a very dark comedy about the battle between baby boomers and today's millennials; the fact that they do not gel together and think that the other's way of lifestyle lacks any credence. The boomers think the millennials lack a hard work ethic, whilst the entitled millennials believe the boomers have no sensitivity towards the planet, people's feelings and work with racial stereotypes only. Battle lines are drawn when young millennial Olive rents a countryside house from a widower named Harvey, who thinking he doesn't have a huge amount to live for, decides to tick off a certain item from his bucket list, namely killing someone. And what better person to kill than the representation of the world he hates today. Amanda Crew and Robert Patrick are both hilarious as the archtypes of their generation, each possessing killer comic timing armed with Bates Jr's very funny script. When the film gets dark, this impressive director does not skimp on the blood and gore either. Some of the funniest moments in the film have to do with Harvey's dream sequences who keeps dreaming of modern art baffled by just how it qualifies as art in the first place. However my favourite moment comes right near the end when Harvey forces Olive to play the piano for him; the very piano where he witnessed his wife committing suicide in front of. Olive, believing she is some kind of musical prodigy, starts playing and only a couple of bars into it, is forced to stop with him yelling “Stop! Stop It! YOU'RE JUST AWFUL!!”, but when Olive looks at him quizzically and says “what?”, Robert Patrick had me on the floor with his bewildered delivery of the next line, “YOU DIDN'T KNOW???”. Oh my god, I was in hysterics! Anyway, I know the film only has a rating of 4.8 currently on imdb, but I say give “Tone-Deaf” a chance; you may be like me and end up loving it!


19. A RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK

Ah, there is nothing like the political minefield of liking a Woody Allen film. Anyway.....the latest film from Allen is an absolute delight and my favourite film from him since “Vicky Christina Barcelona” from 2008. It is about a young college student, Ashleigh, who gets an interview with famous director, Roland Pollard, that is to take place in Manhattan. Being as this is a place they have always wanted to go together, Ashleigh and her neurotic boyfriend, Gatsby, decide to make a weekend of it. When Ashleigh meets up with the filmmaker, her interview expands into something more as she finds Roland during a moment of self-doubt and worth, even pondering retirement. She is invited to a screening of his latest film to give her opinion, which begins a day of wacky misadventures with a large number of people she meets from the movie world. Meanwhile, separated from his girlfriend, Gatsby wanders the city, bumping into old friends and finding himself on set of a modern “film noir” movie where he does a scene with the sister of his ex-girlfriend. Gatsby and the girl, Chan, spend some time together, and Chan amusingly messes with Gatsby's mind, getting him to think some “funny business” may be going on with Ashleigh and Roland. Not only that but Gatsby remembers that his mother is having her annual party this weekend, and he is determined not to go, and must attempt to dodge his mother or anyone that may know her. This very funny comedy, bordering on screwball, is one of Woody Allen's best. He has cast the film wonderfully, and everyone gives stellar performances. The cast is filled with stars the likes of Jude Law (who is almost unrecognisable), Liev Schreiber, Rebecca Hall, Diego Luna and Selena Gomez and they are all fantastic, giving light, fun, vibrant performances. The main stars are Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning, and they are so good. Chalamet performs completely different than in any other film I've seen him in, and he is just amazing, proving that he appears he can do know wrong (at least onscreen), but it was Fanning that I was most surprised in due to her brilliant comic timing. She is often at the centre of my favourite moments in this film due to her chipping in with the silliest comment at the perfect time. I loved her in this! Finally, Manhattan has never looked better (in the rain), thanks to the expert cinematography from the master Vittorio Storaro. I must admit that I was surprised by how much I loved Woody Allen's latest film; Oh! And I adore the poster for the film too.


18. DOCTOR SLEEP

As many people have already noted, Mike Flanagan did himself no favours in attempting to follow-up one of the most beloved horror films of the 1980's, “The Shining” directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is a classic of the genre and is so well known, that you do not have to have seen “The Shining” to know certain scenes from it: the “Here's Johnny” axe attack being the ultimate example. So how on Earth did Flanagan have the balls big enough to believe he had it in him to not only deliver a worthy follow-up to the Kubrick classic, but to also create his own film that stands on its own two feet?? Truthfully, I do not know how he convinced himself other than he obviously believes in his own talent, because he succeeded in doing both those things supremely well. As big a horror fan as I am, I have to admit that I am not a massive fan of “The Shining”. It is an expertly made film, no doubt about it, but I find the film a cold experience, lacking in emotion and I think that Jack's transformation happens far too quickly without natural progression. “Doctor Sleep” on the other hand is filled to the brim with emotion, but this has always been a strong focus of director Mike Flanagan's work. There is a genuine human connection between the audience and Danny, as he struggles with being an alcoholic and going down the same path his father did. We care about his plight, which makes the ending of the film when he goes back to the Overlook Hotel to fight his mental demons, that much stronger. Away from Danny, and “Doctor Sleep” also works so well as a horror film; it is dark, scary and mean. Early on, Flanagan lets his audience know that he isn't messing around when he brutally kills a child character. From this moment, you know that anyone in this world could die. The highlight of the film is Rebecca Ferguson who plays the film's main antagonist, Rose The Hat, the leader of the Top Knot cult. I never suspected that Ferguson had this in her, as she is terrifying in the role, but what I also liked was that she also had a vulnerability within her too. There is a classic scene when she believes that she has infiltrated the young girl's mind, only to find the tables turned and the girl is in her mind. The terror she feels in this moment when she realises she is not in control is expertly played by Ferguson in this moment. And I loved her entire look too. There is loads of praise I could heap on “Doctor Sleep” (the recreation of the Overlook Hotel and the classic moments within it are just spot on), but all I will say is that this is a fantastic horror film and to give the film a chance, because you will not regret it. The fact that this film flopped at the box office is just the most ultimate tragedy because it is one of the smartest and original horror films to grace cinema screens in ages, and importantly, it is also very scary. One final note, I must say that currently Mike Flanagan is the best horror director we have working today.


17. MARRIAGE STORY

My favourite Ingmar Bergman film happens to be 1973's “Scenes From A Marriage” which is about an unhappy couple engaged in conversations about love, infidelity, loneliness, fulfilment through marriage and identity. The extreme honesty in these conversations and situations that Bergman presents us make it at times a painful experience to sit through, but it is also so powerful at the same time by how human and real it all is. Noah Baumbach's “Marriage Story” is almost the modern equivalent to Bergman's film, even though stylistically they are both very different and narratively, the story's differ somewhat too. What is the same though is that extreme honesty that permeates the film, and just how painful it can be watching the characters going through their divorce. Another thing that is the same is that I also loved “Marriage Story”, despite and because of how painful it is. Baumbach has never been the visual stylist Bergman was, but he excels at giving his actors the space to be their characters and the security to be so vulnerable when they break down. “Marriage Story” is really an actor's piece and Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver have never been better. Despite the title, the film is really about the divorce of Nicole and Charlie (played by the aforementioned actors), and what I really loved about the film is that Baumbach never favours either of the characters, representing both sides fairly. He is not afraid to point out though that even when both parties enter divorce wanting to be fair to the other person, it is such a destructive process that it inevitably becomes about “winning”. He particularly seems sour in regards to lawyers and the law, who appear at times to focus more on their client winning than listening to exactly what their client wants. Baumbach has never been afraid to use autobiographical moments in his film, and his own recent divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh no doubt helped in creating the film's honesty. Another aspect of the film that is great is that the film isn't just about two people divorcing, rather it is two people divorcing whilst attempting to stay together as a family, as the two share a young son together. There is a heartbreaking moment when Adam Driver's character expresses that by Nicole and their son moving to another state, it will be as if he loses the ability to ever parent his son again, and that he needs his son to know that he fought for him. However, the greatest scene in “Marriage Story” happens towards the end, when Nicole and Charlie meet up away from the lawyers in an attempt to deal with their problems fairly for each other. What starts off as a conversation with good intent ends up descending into the most vicious name calling with one of them exclaiming that they wished the other dead before breaking down in tears. It is a long scene and a tour de force from both Driver and Johansson, and again, it is so so painful. I cannot stress just how great these actors are in “Marriage Story”, and how good the film is itself. I wont lie to you and say that it is a fun time at the movies, but it is definitely a film that will make you feel. It is a stunning achievement by all involved.


16. KNIVES OUT

Rian Johnson's latest film, the murder mystery “Knives Out” was probably the most entertaining and out and out fun film that I saw all year. Not once in the whole two hours was I bored, nor did my attention ever waver, rather I was totally enthralled by this twisting, turning murder whodunnit. Whilst I was not one of those who hated Johnson's Star Wars outing, I must admit I was extremely happy when I saw him commit to “Knives Out” as his next film as it felt more in line with the kinds of films he made earlier in his career, such as “Brick” and “The Brothers Bloom”. Johnson has cobbled together quite the amazing cast here with big names filling out most of the roles. What I also like is that Johnson has used most of these actors against type, and they all excel in these different roles. I was particularly impressed by both Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Johnson, but really everyone is great, with Ana de Armas being the standout, which works out well for the movie as she is the story's main character. It is obvious that the entire cast is having a ball making this film, especially Daniel Craig, who plays the “Jessica Fletcher” role with a deep fried southern accent. “Knives Out” is also quite the visual feast with Rian Johnson and his regular cinematographer, Steve Yedlin, giving the film a bright and stylised appearance with some impressive camera moves and angles thrown in for good measure. These types of films are only as good as the mystery within them, and “Knives Out” ticks that box beautifully, whilst being as convoluted and confusing as you would expect, but by the end it all makes sense. Lionsgate's official synopsis of the film describes it as such: “When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.” As you no doubt have guessed by now, Detective Blanc “suspects foul play”. This is just a fun time at the movies, and I am pleased to hear that Johnson is currently righting another instalment of Benoit Blanc's misadventures of crime.


15. THE VICE OF HOPE

One of the very last films that I saw in 2019, I immediately fell in love with the beautiful sadness of this Italian film from director Edoardo De Angelis. “The Vice of Hope” is set in a seaside town just outside of Naples, known for its lawlessness, where its inhabitants suffer in poverty doing whatever it takes to survive. Our main character, Maria, is a participant within the black market of selling babies, but who finds her job increasingly difficult to do when she, herself, falls pregnant. She starts to lose her cold edge, suddenly seeing these mothers-to-be as real people rather than just a transaction. Things become increasingly hard for Maria when she allows one of the pregnant women escape to let her keep her baby, as her employers find her decision to do so traitorous, and thus want to find Maria and kill her. To make matters worse, is that she has fallen under the spell of the vice of hope (hey, that's the title); believing that perhaps things in her life could get better and have meaning if she were to have her child. However, in the dark world of drugs, prostitution, addiction and the trafficking of children, surely hope is only the beginning of more pain, as the chances of escaping such a world while deep within it, are next to none. To be honest, I have no idea why I loved this film so much. Do not get me wrong, it is superbly directed, well shot, has a fantastic lead performance from Pina Turco and is chock full of emotion, so I am not blind to the fact that this is a great movie, but sometimes you just connect to a film and its characters right from the get-go and that is exactly what happened to me with “The Vice of Hope”. I just loved it so much. The film has a kind of urban fairytale quality to it too which may be another reason it resonated with me so much, which is similar to De Angelis's previous film “Indivisible”. I thought the film's neon soaked cinematography was wonderful, and sometimes when done well, sadness can also be beautiful. There is a wonderful scene about half way through the film when Maria and friends end up at an old amusement park and ride one of the old attractions. In this moment we see Maria at her happiest, as she almost appears to regress back to her childhood, forgetting the seriousness of her current life and enjoying this one moment. And sadly, that is exactly what it is, because even as you are watching it, you have a sense that this moment will be as happy as Maria will ever find herself. I must make mention of the performance of Massimiliano Rossi who plays Carlo Pengue in the film, the only character who appears to have any human decency within him. He is so warm and full of empathy, even though his life is also touched with sadness. What made his performance stand out so much though was that he was also in “Indivisible” playing a character totally lacking in human decency; a character I hated with a passion, and I couldn't believe it when I realised they were both played by the same man. Anyway, there is a lot more going on in “The Vice of Hope” that I have yet to mention too, so if you get a chance, I recommend seeing the film. Most people do have a problem with the film's ending, and I must admit that it was the only part that I didn't love, mainly because it seems to go against the tone and feeling of the rest of the film, but it is growing on me.


14. ANGEL OF MINE

I saw “Angel of Mine” at MIFF this year, totally unprepared for how much I was going to love it. It is an Australian film directed by Kim Farrant whose previous film, the Nicole Kidman starring “Strangerland” I didn't really connect with. That was not a problem with Farrant's latest film as it hit me like an emotional gut-punch. “Angel of Mine” is a dramatic thriller that sees a mother, Lizzie, grieving for the daughter she lost years earlier in a hospital fire, become convinced that the young sister of her son's friend, is actually her daughter. Going off her meds and becoming more and more infatuated with the idea that her daughter is still alive, Lizzie starts to lose her grip on reality and begins to regularly stalk the family in attempt to spend time with Lola, the little girl. As her obsession grows, it becomes increasingly dangerous for everyone involved, including Lizzie. While there are lots of things that I loved about “Angel of Mine”, the main reason is because of the very intense performance from Noomi Rapace as Lizzie. She is simply fantastic and gives everything in this role, to the point that she is incredibly scary at times. She is also able to convey the immense sadness a parent must feel when they lose a child, and Rapace is truly heartbreaking in some scenes. But really it is her intensity that is so impressive. She is known for going deep into roles, but it has been some time since I have seen her attack a role as aggressively as she does that of Lizzie; amazing performance! Rapace has a worthy foe in Yvonne Strahovski who plays Claire, the mother of Lola. There are a number of times when they come face to face and Strahovski is strong enough to hold her own against Rapace and command her half of the scene. The girls are centre stage of “Angel of Mine” but are ably supported by both Luke Evans and Richard Roxburgh who play the husbands. I particularly liked Roxburgh's soft and sensitive performance, and the way that he doesn't immediately demonise Lizzie, understanding how much the poor woman must be going through after losing her daughter. There is an unexpected empathy in him that actually feels very real and human. Besides the performances, I also loved the look of “Angel of Mine”; cinematographer Andrew Commis has created a lush looking world where colours stand out, even though they may be more on the pastel side. It is an incredibly beautiful looking film, and an added pleasure is that the film was shot here in Melbourne too. I must admit that I have been disappointed in the response to “Angel of Mine” and actually expected it to make more of a mark than it ended up doing. It came and went from cinema screens in Australia very quickly, and when it hit home video in America, I was dismayed by people describing the film as a “Lifetime” type movie. It is nothing of the sort! It is deep, meaningful, emotional, painful and very human. It deals with themes of loss, the struggle to move on after suffering a tragedy, mental illness, intuition, and obsession, and I recommend “Angel of Mine” wholeheartedly. I really hope more people see this film, as not only is it impressive as a drama, it is also a cracking thriller too.


13. KNIVES AND SKIN

This film came out of nowhere and is totally amazing! The thing that is mentioned most when people talk about “Knives and Skin” is David Lynch's “Twin Peaks”, and as much as I am a fan of Lynch, over the years I have begun to realise that anything considered a little weird or different, often gets branded with the term “Lynchian”, although very few of these films are even close to having the same feeling as a David Lynch film; they are just weird. As such, I now tend to stay away from things deemed to be “Lynchian” because they rarely are, and yet, something kept clawing at me to give “Knives and Skin” a chance, and boy am I glad that I did. By the time the film was over, I thought it was something very special. And yes, it did indeed have that David Lynch feeling to it while, importantly, also being its own thing. The story of “Knives and Skin” is about how a midwestern community reacts when a schoolgirl goes missing. While initially the town appears to be the perfect place to live and bring up a family, the truth is much less appealing as most people are lost, and just trying to make their way through life, as we are witness to their private moments and the darker underbelly of the town. As you can see, the comparisons to “Twin Peaks” are apt, and yes, “Knives and Skin” is also very weird too. The most amazing thing though is that “Knives and Skin” is also (kind of) a musical as characters regularly burst into song. Ok, I should note that most of these scenes do take place during choir practice but there is one song where all the characters of the film take part in the singing moment, including the missing girl, and it is just sublime. It would take a lot of guts to attempt a scene like this, because the chance of it falling very flat are big, but writer/director Jennifer Reeder gets it just right, making it a highlight of this great film. Like a lot of the films on this list, “Knives and Skin” is also a very painful film as most of the characters are going through something, but it is the portrayal of the lost girl's mother that is just devastating. Marika Engelhardt is shockingly good as this poor mother barely existing in a day to day life. Her body is there, but she is no longer present, swallowed by her enormous grief. She dresses in her daughter's clothes (and her bra, as she tells someone) for the whole film and appears in a daze throughout. There is something so heartbreaking about it all. I find this film hard to talk about because it is full of different characters and plots, and so many weird things happen in the film, but it all feels true to the world Jennifer Reeder has created and to her character's experiences. This is definitely not a film for everyone, but those that like something a little different, and not of the norm, I cannot recommend “Knives and Skin” enough. It is a revelation and I cannot wait to watch it again.


12. BIRDS OF PASSAGE

Going into my viewing of “Birds of Passage”, I actually had no idea what I was walking into. Although I hadn't seen “Embrace of the Serpent”, the previous film by director Ciro Guerra, I was aware of it and assumed that “Birds of Passage” was another journey through a culture I was unaware of, like that film. I had no idea that I was about to be witness to the most incredible gangster story I've seen in a very long time. Set in a small village in Colombia, Rapayet and his family inadvertently get involved in the trafficking of marijuana. While it initially makes them all wealthy, both greed and the corruption of wealth causes the family and the small village where they live, to be ultimately destroyed. “Birds of Passage” blew me away! From a filmmaking perspective, it is a sublimely made film. Right from the opening frame, you know you are in great hands, as the film is beautifully paced and expertly shot, but it is the story that is just so compelling. I think the thing that I loved most about “Birds of Passage” was the way you see the traditions and culture of this small community begin to mean less and less to the group as they become more corrupted by money. At the start of the film, we are witness to this beautiful mating dance ritual that means everything to the community, with one character being chastised just for showing up late to it. They all look out for one another and they are like one big family. However as soon as the drugs enter the picture, it all changes, with paranoia setting in, no-one trusting anyone or looking out for one another anymore. Suddenly the beautiful old patriarch of the group becomes like the “Godmother” willing to kill anyone threatening their new business. The film becomes very violent but it is also filled with the most beautifully surreal moments too, that give “Birds of Passage” a uniqueness. While I guess you could say that the film is predictable in where the story ends up, it is the impressive journey getting there that makes you forgive the familiar conclusion. Not only that, but the final shootout at the mansion in the desert is something else. It is the exclamation point to this fantastic movie!


11. BLISS

I was a big fan of Joe Begos's previous two films, “Almost Human” and “The Mind's Eye”; both films were a throwback to the 80's style of genre story, with their influences worn proudly on their sleeves. Begos's new film, “Bliss”, is something completely different and took me totally by surprise. The film is about a young painter, named Dezzy, who hasn't produced a piece for months. With the bills pilling up, and no money coming in, Dezzy turns to hallucinogenic drugs hoping for some inspiration. She hits up a dealer friend, who supplies her with a new strain called “Bliss” but explains to only take a little as it is super strong. She doesn't listen and takes a massive hit of the drug, causing her to go through some sort of trance before blacking out. When she wakes though, she sees the beginning of a new painting, and its good. She takes another hit in an attempt to finish her masterpiece that then sees her descend into a hell of drug addiction, casual sex and insanity. Except this time when she wakes up, she is covered in blood, and very hungry for another hit. Joe Begos has created one of the best horror films I have seen in ages. The film is exhausting as it never slows down for an instant, with both the camera and Dezzy constantly moving. It is so full on, that I wasn't even sure whether or not I actually liked or hated “Bliss”. The last time this happened to me, where I was so disturbed by a film that I couldn't initially tell how I felt about it, was Richard Bates Jr's debut film, “Excision”, but like that film, I also ended up realising that I actually loved “Bliss”. While his first two films appeared to be riffs on John Carpenter, this time around Begos has created an experience that Gaspar Noe would be proud of. It is raw, it is intense, it is visceral, it is gritty and it is kinetic. There is actually a quote on the trailer that compares “Bliss” to a marriage of the films of Noe and Abel Ferrara and I actually think that is a spot on comparison. Speaking of the trailer, I must admit that I am super annoyed that they give away the type of horror film this ends up evolving into. It is a great surprise and like everything else in this film, I was not ready for how far Begos would go with it. “Bliss” is a ridiculously bloody film by it's end and I freaking loved all of the practical special effects on display here. Thankfully the film is also only 80 minutes long because as I mentioned above, at the constant insane pace that the film moves, it really is an exhausting experience and any longer, I think would've worked against the film. I cannot speak highly enough about “Bliss” and recommend it to all horror nuts. It is certainly different from the norm, and may not be for everyone, but I found it a hugely rewarding experience. I must also give a shout out to actress Dora Madison who goes above and beyond in her portrayal of Dezzy and who is in every scene of “Bliss”; just like the film itself, she is simply outstanding.

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