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My Favorite Films of 2019

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Hello Dayton MostMetro!

When asked to write a “Best of ” list about movies, it’s hard to decide what to write.  First off, it’s so subjective…do people really want to read about my personal tastes or should I look at films scholastically and determine what is the “best” in regards to craft?  In addition, what should I include – only films that got picked up for distribution? only films that screened in this market?  only films that got a release this year?

Here’s what I’ve decided.  The following list is a collection of films that I saw and loved this year.  (Though some films didn’t play until 2019 in Dayton, movies like CAPERNAUM and IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK and THE FAVOURITE are not on the list because I saw them in 2018.)  And contrary to popular belief, not all the films on the list screened at THE NEON!

I should make it known that I have not seen every film that got a release this year…once in a while, a film even plays at THE NEON that I can’t fit into my schedule.  I tend to shy away from science fiction (though not always), most horror movies and films with gratuitous violence and/or machismo-driven male plot lines (a la Tarantino).  (I have not yet seen THE IRISHMAN – as I intend to see it on our big screen on NYE.)

Here they are. 15 Favorite Films of 2019 (in alphabetical order):

AMERICAN FACTORY – Julia Reichert & Steve Bognar’s masterful documentary is stunningly heartfelt and equally scary.  It’s a call to action from and regarding America’s workforce (which also happens to be filmed in our own backyard).  I’m so happy for Julia & Steve’s success with this film!

BELLE EPOQUE – This little French gem with Daniel Auteuil and Fanny Ardant has not yet found a distributor in the US, but its existential ETERNAL SUNSHINE vibe is so much fun…I hope it makes its way to the States soon.  Here’s a trailer:

THE BLONDE ONE – I love a good, slow-paced, foreign film that’s beautifully shot and fraught with honest sexual tension…especially when I can empathize on some level.  This film is a slow burn, and I love it.  (It played at The Dayton LGBT Film Festival.)

BOOKSMART – This generation’s CLUELESS is smart, fresh and so endearing…the best teen comedy in years!  I watched this film on a flight to Germany…and again on the flight back. Beanie is a treasure! (trailer is for mature audiences)

CIRCUS OF BOOKS – This endearing doc about a straight Jewish couple who ran one of the most famous gay adult bookstores in the US while raising three children is poignant, personal and a great history lesson.  (This film screened as part of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival – there is no trailer yet.)


THE FAREWELL – This runaway hit is billed as a comedy, but it’s so much more.

JOJO RABBIT – My feelings about this film ebb and flow…today it happened to make the list. The child performances are extraordinary, and the production design is flawless.  This film has a lot to say about how our children are often taught to hate – and how easy it is to spread misinformation.

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO – This poetic film isn’t getting much year-end discussion, but I absolutely loved it – from the performances to the score to the cinematography.

LITTLE WOMEN – Thoughtful and exquisite! I complain about movie runtimes a lot.  (I wish MARRIAGE STORY and WAVES were both 15-20 minutes shorter.)  But this film seemed rushed at times…I think it would be stronger with a slightly slower pace and perhaps a runtime of 20 minutes more. Regardless, this is a gorgeous film with a beautiful structure.

PAIN & GLORY – Almodovar’s best film in over a decade…and that’s quite a feat (JULIETA and THE SKIN I LIVE IN are also quite strong from the last several years). This quiet film is full of rich performances, inventive storytelling and fantastic production design.

PARASITE – Must be seen.  This film changes genres on a dime and has so much to say about class.  Full of surprises and beautiful to look at – even when dark and disturbing.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE – This film will get a release in early 2020, and it is sublime.  I can’t wait to see it again.

ROCKS – This film has not yet been picked up for distribution.  It’s a gorgeous and heartbreaking story about a young girl trying to take care of her younger brother and herself after her mother has disappeared (again). There is sadly no trailer for this – just a clip.

THE TWO POPES – This film isn’t just a chamber piece – though simple moments between these two brilliant actors are certainly worth studying.

UNSETTLED – Winner of this year’s Audience Award at The Dayton LGBT Film Festival, this story about LGBT refugees in America is touching, timely, thought-provoking and powerful.

Don’t get me wrong.  There are many more solid films from this year.  There are movies with standout performances (like HARRIET) or incredible cinematography (like HONEYLAND) or great messages (like BIGGEST LITTLE FARM) or fascinating central subjects (like SOUND OF MY VOICE or PAVAROTTI) – but it’s the “Top 15” that really spoke to me in their entirety.  That said, these other films are certainly worth mentioning (also in alphabetical order): A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BOMBSHELL, CLEMENCY, DARK WATERS, GLORIA BELL, HONEY BOY, HOPE GAP, HOW TO BUILD A GIRL (here’s Beanie again!!),  THE KINGMAKER, MARRIAGE STORY (sometimes I want to switch this with JOJO RABBIT), STRAIGHT UP, VARDA BY AGNES, and WAVES.

For the sake of trivia, here are the top 3 highest grossing films of 2019 at THE NEON:

#1 – JOJO RABBIT.  #2 – DOWNTON ABBEY.  #3 – HARRIET.   (LITTLE WOMEN could possibly join the list, but it will be split between 2019 and 2020.)

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

See you at the movies,

Jonathan

TIFF 2019 – Day #5

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Hello Most Metro!

Today was my fullest day so far.  I’m so glad I had an auxiliary battery for my phone.

MARRIAGE STORY was my first film of the day.  “Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach’s incisive and compassionate portrait of a marriage breaking up, and a family staying together, stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, and co-stars Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta.” (taken from TIFF catalog)  Within the first five minutes of this film, I wrote “It’s incredible” in my notes.  The script is fantastic, the performances are right on, and material is taxingly honest, and the supporting cast are lovely additions to the mix.  At one point, I felt like “this is getting to be too long” (a feeling I’ve had numerous times this year), but then I reconciled it by thinking “getting a divorce is tedious and insufferable – so maybe that’s the point…perhaps it suits the material to be a little too drawn out.  In a very clever marketing strategy, there are actually 2 trailers for MARRIAGE STORY…watch both in one sitting below.

After my first screening, I went to a delightful hour+ event in which Allison Janney was interviewed about her career – along with clips that illustrated some of her cinematic touchstones.  This was a pretty hot ticket, and Allison’s mother Macy was the person who scored the ticket for me.  In the coming days, I believe that TIFF will post this interview on-line, and I’ll make sure to share the link with you if I find it.  Allison is funny, smart, gracious and a great storyteller – it was a delight to hear some of her personal history.

After listening to Allison, I got to see her new film – BAD EDUCATION.  “Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, and Ray Romano star in this fact-based dramedy directed by Cory Finley (Thoroughbreds), about an infamous school-larceny scandal that rocked Long Island in the early aughts.” (taken from TIFF catalog)  This film is pretty terrific (though I questioned some of the motivation for the queer content)!  The story’s upsetting subject matter is handled in such an interesting fashion and Jackman’s performance is unlike any I’ve seen him give before.  Janney is also in top form, and I think this film will get snatched up in no time.  Below is the image being used with this film…there is no trailer yet.

THE TRUTH – with two leading ladies I adore – was next on my list. “Acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (Shoplifters, Like Father, Like Son) first film made outside his native Japan stars Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche as a mother and daughter in the film industry whose professional collaboration triggers long-buried resentments.” (taken from TIFF catalog)  My “review” of this film might be a little unfair because I was a bit tired when I walked into this screening.  The first half hour was pretty wonderful, but then my eyes got very heavy and I fought to stay awake.  Ultimately, I kept feeling like I wanted the pace to pick up – but maybe that was just my exhaustion speaking…or maybe it was a little too slow.  At the end of the day, I think it’s a nice film…but it won’t get the roll-out that SHOPLIFTERS did for this director.

TWO POPES was my last film of the day.  Fernando Meirelles and Jonathan Pryce and others from the team introduced the film, and Meirelles said that the reason he likes Pope Francis so much is because he wants to build bridges when so many leaders want to build walls.  Of course that deservedly got a huge round of applause. “In 2013, progressive incoming Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) and conservative outgoing Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) debate the best path forward for the Catholic Church, in this surprisingly funny chamber piece from Oscar-nominated director Fernando Meirelles (City of God).” (taken from TIFF catalog)  That description kinda sums up the film…but not really.  It’s not just a chamber piece, it’s a pretty big, fully realized film with two incredible central performances.  I’m not a Catholic, thus I can never understand the ways of the church, but I’ve always felt like the regality surrounding the papacy seems to contradict some of the church’s messaging…and it appears that Pope Francis holds a similar sentiment.  This film made me appreciate him more. Through flashbacks and archival footage, we get a much bigger picture than just two Popes chatting.  Though the film loses a little steam in its third act, I think audiences will nonetheless adore it.  I hope Netflix does a theatrical release – more than just a couple cinemas. (I personally know many people who don’t subscribe to Netflix who would love to see this movie.)

It’s time to call it a night. Four more films are on the docket for tomorrow.

Thanks for checking in!

Jonathan