The 2019 Cinema Touch Awards - DIRECTOR

by

Julien Faddoul

5. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – Marielle Heller

For taking a shapeless and slightly mawkish script and salvaging it with expert direction. Her typically light touch and surrealistic interludes profoundly complicate any sense of sentimentality.

4. The Irishman – Martin Scorsese

For both a subversion of his style and a kind of compendium of his major themes of avarice and jealousy, murder and guilt, loyalty and betrayal, identity and regret. One gets the sense that Scorsese is atoning for something, tearing the film from himself as an act of purgatory.

3. Deadwood – Daniel Minahan

For assured work in each shot. Regardless of whether one is familiar with the series, this is an indispensable piece of cinema: Milch’s grace and elegance is buoyed by Minahan's superlative staging, incomparable period detail and one of the most staggering ensembles ever assembled.

2. Little Women – Greta Gerwig

For topping herself and securing her position as a major filmmaker. Gerwig strengthens the severity of the situations and relationships from the Alcott novel, while still retaining the comfort and sweetness that made it so popular with readers.

1. Parasite – Bong Joon-ho

For the year's most masterful display of cinematic technique. Although I've always admired director Bong (particularly The Host and Mother), I've never been 100% sold on one of his films until Parasite. This is his most thoughtful and arresting film to date.

Runner Up: High Flying Bird – Steven Soderbergh

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