by
Julien Faddoul
5. The Death of Stalin
For the year’s most superbly sustained satire; one that succinctly conveys inhumanity with wit. It renounces certain historical-movie conventions, choosing not to adopt any kind of restorative interpretation of the material (most of the cast all use their native accents, no matter how diverse) and intertwines comedy and horror with such audacity that it risks total alienation.
4. Widows
For the year’s greatest prestige Hollywood drama. By far, really. Both the sociopolitical commentary and the character-drama are consistently engrossing. The concerns are grim but the outlook is hopeful and astute, and the cast is an absolute dream.
3. Life and Nothing More
For an exquisite, penetrating, superbly acted slice of kitchen-sink sadness on America’s social sickness, assembled with remarkable simplicity. The kind of art that should vehemently be championed.
2. First Reformed
For a striking work of strange existential beauty. One of the most searing films about faith ever made and one asks important and saddening questions without relying on one-dimensional nihilism.
1. If Beale Street Could Talk
For as close to an exemplary adaptation of Baldwin as one could hope for. In its depiction of swooning first love, its socio-political outrage, its illustration of the philosophies of solitude and solidarity, its extraordinary use of camera movement, sound design, editing and performance: it is superb work from all involved.
My Top Ten
6. Support the Girls
7. Private Life
8. Cold War
9. Incredibles 2
10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical)
Bodied
Isle of Dogs
A Quiet Place
The Rider
Films I'm Sad to Have Missed
All Square
American Animals
Araby
Assassination Nation
Barbara
Beirut
Bisbee ’17
Blaze
Border
Claire's Camera
Come Sunday
The Children Act
Crime + Punishment
The Day After
Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?
Dim the Fluorescents
Disobedience
Dumplin'
El Mar La Mar
Galveston
Gemini
The Great Buster
The Green Fog
Hal
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Hannah
How to Talk to Girls at Parties
Infinite Football
Ismael's Ghosts
Jane Fonda in Five Acts
The King
Let the Corpses Tan
Let the Sunshine In
The Little Stranger
The Long Dumb Road
Love, Gilda
Measure of a Man
Mom and Dad
Monrovia, Indiana
Night Comes On
1985
Outside In
Please Stand By
PROTOTYPE
Shoah: Four Sisters
Skate Kitchen
Song of Back and Neck
This Is Our Land
The Third Murder
Tyrel
Unsane
Watergate
Werewolf
Who We Are Now
Films I'm REALLY Sad to Have Missed
A Bread Factory (I & II)
24 Frames
SPECIAL CITATIONS:
The Most Overrated Film of the Year: A Star is Born
The Most Underrated Film of the Year: Bodied
The Most Pleasant Surprise of the Year: Stan & Ollie
The Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Ralph Breaks the Internet
The Film That Drove Me the Most Crazy This Year: Black Panther
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