2018 will soon be done, and I spent it reviewing over 30 different films. Most of them were average and even more were below average. I can recall a few films, though, that were great and will remain with me in the next year and years to come. Here are my seven favorite film viewing experiences of 2018. If you would like to read my full review for any of these films, click the link in their title.
Who could have guessed that one of the biggest films of the summer would be a documentary about a chidlren's TV show? This gem by director Morgan Neville is a retrospective on the career of Fred Rogers, an ordained minster and Television show host who wanted children across the world to know that they are loved and capable of loving. Mr. Rogers knew the best way to reach children would be through TV, so he created his own show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Rogers' show addressed important topics such as death, divorce, war and relationships in a manner that families and children could understand and appreciate. Neville's documentary puts the signifigance of this show in theatres and in homes across the United States. When I saw this film's trailer in March, I was excited, and I wanted to watch as much Mister Rogers as possible. This, however, drastically impared the film's ability to surprise me. The unique information in this film is nothing short of what is readily available on Wikipedia, and I knew most of it from watching and reading about the show. What made my experience watching it in theatres worthwhile was seeing how the film made a connection with its audience. People were laughing, crying, singing and I think someone behind me was dancing. I too was a part of these moments. While this documentary did entertain me, I was mad that the film did not accurately address Rogers' motivations. Rogers was a devout Christian whose beliefs motivated his actions and life choices, so it is surprising that this documentary does not cite Rogers' core beliefs as the reason why he created his show. The film only takes a few minutes to glance at Rogers' faith and says, "Hey, look at that. That's interesting. Ok. Let's look at something else." Despite the film's misgivings, it did remind audiences about the joys of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and it lead some people to go back and watch episodes from Rogers' heart warming show. Several complete weeks of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episodes are on Amazon Prime, including the first five episodes, and they are well worth anyone's time and attention.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is massive, and its films have become less like movies and more like episodes in a serial with the Avengers films being the season finales. When the MCU announced they were releasing Black Panther as their 18th film, I was nervous that the film would rely too heavily on concepts and story points from previous MCU films. The film, however, was a complete stand alone adventure, which made me ecstatic. From the music to the locations and the production design and costumes, Black Panther immerses audiences in a remarkably well developed world. On top of this it is inhabited by well designed characters, each one portraying a unique persona. It is engaging watching how these charcters mature and grow as the film progresses. The story is full of depth and intrigue that writer and director Ryan Coogler makes the most of with every frame and every line. Unfortunately, though, as the film is so well crafted in delivering its message and importance during a viewer's first time, the film has little to offer on its second round. The mysteries this film introduces are compelling, but as they are all answered at the end of the film there is not much room for imagination. This could be due to the film's nature as a fable, it tells a story full of archetypal positive and negative role models who teach the main character different values. This is done to illustrate the growth in the main character who learns how to better himself by the end of the film. It's a classic battle between good and evil and learning to discern the true differenc between the two. Black Panther makes for an engaging and thrilling experience that most audiences will enjoy without having to rewatch. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up to the viewer.
This year Christmas came on a soaring sleigh in one of the greatest family films of the decade. Brother and sister Kat and Teddy Pierce are on adventure with Kurt Russell starring as a Santa Claus on a mission to keep the spirit of Christmas alive and well. This is a film that revitalizes the spirit of Christmas through a new take on traditional characters and values. The Christmas Chronicles offerse thrill a minute action, adventure and comedy. Each moment is genuine and adds a level of depth and enjoyment to the experience. There is quite a bit to appreciate about The Christmas Chronicles (the brilliant performances, the wild nature of its scenes and the heartfelt family values it depicts), but I most appreciate how this film is uniquely different from past Santa Claus movies. In most Santa movies belief in Santa determines how much Christmas spirit there is, and whether Christmas will come or not. In The Christmas Chronicles it doesn't matter whether someone believes in Santa or not. What matters is whether they believe in themself. Having confidence in onself when one is doing the right thing is an integral message in this film. Once audiences understand the message this film is conveying, the film's earlier ambiguous moments become more clear, which can make audiences want to experience this film again and again. The Christmas Chronicles is a Christmas classic in my book, as I am sure it is in others. I cannot wait to watch it again next year.
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#4 Darkest Hour
Biographical pictures are usually good for one thing, Oscar bait. They tend to feature enough good stuff to get them nominated and remembered for about three months. This is not the case with Joe Wright's Darkest Hour, a true triumph. Gary Oldman brings Prime Minister Winston Churchill to life through a towering performance that won several best actor awards. Oldman puts his blood, soul and sweat into this film, igniting Darkest Hour's speeches that were written and given by Churchill. The screenplay consists of firey back and forth debates between the various cast members. The deliberations in this film are not comprised of unknown jargon but compelling dialogue. Darkest Hour's powerful rhetoric is understandable and engages audiences in what Churchill's plans are and how he will achieve them. Aside from one fifteen minute segment near the end of the film, where the action seems to hault and mumble, the film's plot is fast paced and entertaining. Beyond all of this, the most surprising aspect of Darkest Hour is its immersive eye catching cinematography. The camera moves seemlessly through the set and is never content to stay put. It captures events from different and sometimes bizzare angles. It even uses natural settings to frame characters and add depth and energy to this incredible film. To put it plainly this film achieved victory. It successfully tells the story of Churchill's rise to power and the remarkable rhetoric he used to propell a nation. Some biographical pictures are forgotten as time progresses, however I am certain I will not forget this film about one man who dared to stand up and speak up for his country./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59124873/RPO_TRLR_0173.0.jpg)
Steven Spielberg has directed a multitude of beloved films, including E.T., Jurassic Park, Jaws and the Indiana Jones trilogy. When Spielberg announced he was directing a new film based on Ernest Cline's Ready Player One, I was elated. I would get to see me first Spielberg film in theatres. I read the book and then by chance I was able to watch the film two days before it opened in most theatres. I can say from firsthand experience that there are few things quite like experiencing Spielberg movie magic in theatres. The CGI worlds within Ready Player One are incredibly detailed and appear lifelike. This film has the power to engage viewers through visual stimulation alone. As I was watching this film, there was one scene that shocked me so much it made me fly up and out of my seat and into the one behind me (good thing the theatre was relatively empty). The story Spielberg tells through this film is riveting. Compared to Cline's novel, it is a phenomenal improvement. As the book relied heavily on references and inside jokes as its main form of entertainment, Spielberg's screenplay and characters have the power to grab and thrill audience members who might not understand any of the film's references. Anyone can find enjoyment in this film. Though there are some less than good moments in this film, they do not detract from the film's overall experience. Spielberg's Ready Player One is an amazing film that is sure to entertain audiences for years to come.
The Mission: Impossible film series began in 1996. With each new installment came a new director helming the film. This has always been one of my most favorite aspects of the series. When I heard that Christopher McQuarrie, the writer and director of the fifth film in the series, was going to write and direct a new sixth film, I was worried. Though I do like the fifth film, Rogue Nation, I was anxious about there being a returning director in the series. In preperation for what I figured could be a big dissapointment, I watched and wrote about all five previous Mission: Impossible films, so they would be fresh in my mind. As I was watching Mission: Impossible - Fallout in theatres, the other five films faded away in mind, due to the thrilling experience this film offers. Mission: Impossible - Fallout stars Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt who is willing to put his neck on the line to give audiences the best stunt work he can give. The action in this film is record breaking and phenomenal. The visuals in this film are mesmerizing, as the IMAX shots are engrossing and the lighting creates a cinematic atmosphere unique to each scene. The script is also well crafted and strings together a story that propells Cruise through the film, rather than drag him along like the previous films often do. The story also centers around Hunt's difficult choices in his mission to recover stolen plutonium. Hunt can either take the more challenging moral high ground or do what is amoral and easier to get the plutonium back. This inner struggle alongwith the film's grand scale outer struggles supply an adrenaline rush so strong, I had to experience it again in theatres. Now that I own it on Blu-Ray I plan on watching it long past the new year. I will also add how the title has multiple meanings. (1. Nuclear fallout 2. Fallout as consequence of actions 3. Fall from grace).
#1 Lady Bird
Thank you so much to my readers, and I pray you have a happy new year. Here's to 2019 and the new experiences sure to come with it!
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