2 more wonderful things to
note about 2018:
1 – Documentaries like Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, RBG and Three Identical Strangers did record-breaking
box office last summer. And I personally think that Fahrenheit 11/9 is the best work that Michael Moore has ever done.
2 – Small indie films such as Eighth Grade, Will You Ever Forgive Me? and First Reformed have had long theatrical
runs and have received critical praise and been showered with both nominations
and wins for countless awards.
My 10 Best Movies of 2018:
Black KkKlansmanCan You Ever Forgive Me?
Green Book
A Star is Born
Ben is Back
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Fahrenheit 11/9
If Beale Street Could Talk
What They Had
First Reformed
The Best Film of 2018 is BlacKkKlansman
because it is the
one that affected me the most. Spike Lee was unabashed in dealing
with the real issue of racism in this country and I think he deserves the
highest recognition for it. And BTW - because he is way overdue for it. Spike
has only been nominated for an Oscar twice in his illustrious career – and
never for Best Director. How is that even possible? In 2016 he got an Honorary
Oscar for some reason but it is time he win a real one for Direction.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is my Favorite Movie of 2018. It is a small indie gem and
Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant are both brilliant in it. I was hoping it
would be Richard E. Grant’s year to (finally!!!) be acknowledged with awards, similar to Sam Rockwell’s last year, but it is not panning out that way.
Green Book is a perfect movie across the board
(casting, direction, script, tone, message, etc.) and director Peter Farrelly
proved that he can do a lot more than toilet bowl humor. I truly don't
understand the cultural backlash that Green Book has gotten. It has been
compared in a disparaging way to Driving Miss Daisy because many feel
that Do the Right Thing was overlooked in 1989. I agree with that
observation but I do not necessarily think it was Driving Miss Daisy's
fault. In addition, I have friends of color who refuse to see Green Book
which makes me sad because I did not see any “white savior” scenario playing out.
This true story of an unlikely friendship renewed my faith in humanity and the
bridges we can build when we take the time to understand one another's
differences.
With A Star is
Born, Bradley Cooper spent 4 years and a great deal of sweat equity
envisioning & creating this epic movie with a beautiful result and great
performances all around. Cooper took on a massive challenge to elevate his
status as a filmmaker in Hollywood. ASIB was made in the tradition of
Old Hollywood and films of the 1970’s because it takes it’s sweet time to tell
a story. It is strange to me that ASIB has not been winning anything all
season except for the song “Shallow.” Earlier in the season I predicted it
might win everything. Although Glenn Close has been sweeping up awards so far,
I still believe that it is Lady Gaga’s year and I am hoping that ASIB's
recently launched “For Your Consideration” ad campaign helps Gaga on Oscar
night. Lady Gaga dug deep to play Ally and never looks or acts like Lady Gaga
for one moment in the film, even when Ally’s star is indeed born.
Ben is Back was the biggest surprise of the
year. I usually don’t like suspense – but this film shines a light on the
reality of addiction and we got to see a very different side of Julia Roberts.
Great job by father and son director and star Peter and Lucas Hedges. It was
incredibly well-done and deeply affecting.
If Beale
Street Could Talk is a beautiful love story and incredibly well cast. Every
single actor delivers and it is a brilliant debut by KiKi Layne. It shows a
refreshing portrayal of a poor black family onscreen. I was deeply touched by
the unflinching support of this family for each other no matter what. I would
nominate Bryan Tyree Henry for Supporting Actor for that one unforgettable
scene with the equally compelling Stephan James about the reality of being a
Black man in America. All of the acclaim has fallen on Regina King, who
absolutely deserves it, but it is absurd that Beale Street is not in the
Best Picture category, that KiKi, Stephan & Bryan are not nominated for
anything this year and that director Barry Jenkins was overlooked as
well.
What can I say
about Won’t You Be My Neighbor? First, see it if you have yet to and
before the Tom Hanks biopic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is
released later this year. Second, it is a balm for the soul in these troubled
divided times.
Fahrenheit 11/9 should be required viewing for
every American citizen, regardless of party affiliation. It tells the real story
about how colossally the Democratic National Committee screwed up the Democratic nomination in 2016 and
examines in painful detail what is actually happening when a zealot, like our
current president, gains power.
Compared to other
plays and movies I have seen about Alzheimer's recently, What They Had
is a keen representation of dealing with Alzheimer’s and how it can tear apart
a family. This film deals honestly with denial, fear and the tough choices a
husband and adult children are forced to make when their matriarch falls ill.
We need more films like this to educate people about the horror and reality of
dementia and Alzheimer’s.
First Reformed is truly like no other film I have ever seen and a perfect
showcase for Ethan Hawke’s unique talent. It is a modern commentary on the
hypocrisy of organized religion being run by big business and a cautionary tale
about climate change. Legendary auteur Paul Schrader, whose first screenplay was
Taxi Driver in 1976, is nominated for Best Original Screenplay for the first time this
year.
Other Observations from 2018:
Overlooked: Robert Forester &
Michael Shannon in What They Had
Biggest
Disappointment: First Man
Worst Movie (possibly ever): Life
Itself
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