1. BLACK PANTHER:
The movie had a darker tone, the characters were great, and the performances were fantastic. There wasn't random humor thrown in. The action was actually amazing. The political storylines were well written and made the audience care about what was going on. It felt more like a DC movie, which is the comic book universe I gravitate towards. I'm honestly not too familiar with Black Panther overall, which is probably why I appreciated it more, but it really is a phenomenal movie that celebrates African American & African pride as well as celebrating black history & culture. We are introduced to the world of Wakanda-an incredibly advanced technological society fueled by vibranium with awesome warrior women & tribes following the aura of the Black Panther. Wakanda is visually amazing-all the colors and larger than life atmosphere make it unique. The look of Wakanda is actually based off Blade Runner (in my Top 20 movies of all time). There are two big political viewpoints represented throughout the movie from respective characters. It's interesting watching where loyalties and beliefs lie as the movie unfolds. There are twists presented that give us insight into why characters are following a certain path. There is a fantastic depiction of traditional African culture blended with a fantastical element of the advanced Wakanda. It's really a great dynamic! The performance by Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa was phenomenal-probably the best work of his career thus far. Michael B. Jordan was excellent as Erik Killmonger, his best work since Vince Howard in Friday Night Lights. I sided with Wakanda, but fully understood where Killmonger's animosity was coming from. These were two solid male performances that presented shades of gray approaches to what we were watching. There was no black and white, right and wrong in what was going on. I agreed with both characters to an extent. Daniel Kaluuya (who I honestly hope pulls off the upset win at the Oscars for his amazing work in Get Out) was a great side character as W'Kabi with a lot of motivations and thoughts about the direction Wakanda should head. It all stems around Ulysses Klaue, who has caused so much grief for his family, and he wants to see some justice. Martin Freeman was great as the CIA fighter pilot-he had great comedic timing when he had to, and he understood the cause of Wakanda, and stood with the troops even when he was out of his element. It's honestly something to respect. Andy Serkis was absolutely nuts as Ulysses Klaue, and I couldn't get enough of it. He really stole a lot of the scenes he was in based on his eccentric attitude. Serkis has never disappointed in anything he's done from Gollum/Smeagol in Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit (which also starred Martin Freeman) to Caesar (his work in the new Planet of the Apes trilogy is fantastic) to Snoke (the only thing I liked about The Last Jedi), he has always managed to create something memorable and make it matter. While these male characters were great (especially T'Challa & Erik Killmonger), we can't really talk about the greatness of this movie without mentioning the incredible females in this movie. It's hard to pick a favorite, because each of the three main female characters had their own strengths to love about them. I really enjoyed Letitia Wright's Shuri-T'Challa's younger sister. She was hilarious, intelligent (very scientific), sarcastic, & cute. She has so much charisma, and she basically keeps Wakanda running. She was the woman with the iron fists-her battle look was awesome. Lupita N'yongo (an actress that is truly one of the most fantastic actresses in the business) delivered a deeply layered performance in the character of Nakia. She is a wardog who basically spies around the world for Wakanda, and protects Wakanda. She never loses her belief system, and even her romantic connection to T'Challa doesn't derail her from the fact that if something doesn't seem right, you don't have to follow it. You can challenge it. She is a great voice for Wakanda. She has the guts to go against the grain. She walks into the lion's den on dangerous missions. Everything she does is for the betterment of Wakanda. She's always conflicted, but even while she may be conflicted about what to do, she never loses her path, which I love. She also is one heck of a warrior-she really can do it all! Then, we come across the ultimate bad ass general, Okoye, played by Danai Gurira. Some may know her as Micchone from The Walking Dead, and she's even more fearless here. She is an incredible fighter. She's all business. She defends the throne. I think it speaks to her character that she will stand by the throne even if she doesn't respect the person sitting on it. In many ways, she is respecting tradition. She is loyal to tradition. It's definitely something to respect. All of these women are unique in their own ways, and at the same time, they're all such strong, intelligent, powerful, beautiful women that run & protect Wakanda. In my opinion, without these glorious Glamazons, Wakanda wouldn't be as strong as it is. The strength lies in the female. The action in this movie is so amazing to watch. The South Korea scenes are so gorgeous-the colors blended with the awesome technology helmed by Shuri and fast pace of T'Challa blended together to create something truly special. The challenge scenes were gritty, brutal, and well choreographed. The final battle scene was epic. T'Challa (rising to reclaim Wakanda like Sting in WCW from Hollywood Hogan & the nWo) leading the charge with the Dora Milaje against Erik Killmonger was very well done. The cinematography by Rachel Morrison was so fantastic, and captured the grit and emotion of the battle. There was physical and emotional battles going on that resonated with the audience. Ryan Coogler directed an incredible movie with an awesome cast. Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, & Sterling K. Brown also rounded out a wonderful cast in respective cameo roles that all meant something in order to further the story. I mentioned these three, because each was a conscience to a main character, and Coogler made sure everything was fleshed out and told a complete story. In my opinion, everything was explained well. The characters were deeply layered, and I understood every character's stance and emotion through every step they took and every word they spoke. Black Panther will go down as a truly remarkable moment in cinema. It's one of the greatest comic book movies ever made, and simply, one of the best movies I've seen in some time. I'm so impressed with this cast. These characters have so many dimensions you don't even need the special glasses to see them in a 3D showing. The story & political perspectives were deeply layered, and well written. I think Erik Killmonger's final sentence was perfect for what this movie represents for so many people of color, and it might be one of the most powerful sentences in movie history. The action sequences captured raw physicality, feminine strength, as well as raw emotion. I really encourage everybody to see this movie. It's one of a kind, and in many ways changes the guard for movies.
2. ANNIHILATION:
Annihilation is a total mind bender that twists the audiences at every turn of the movie. There are several layers to this movie that keep you on the edge of your seat. I was so enamored with the actual scientific part of this movie, but I never expected to be so entranced by the end of this movie. This movie impressed me so much. It's such an achievement in artistic cinema, with a thoroughly woven story rounded out by a predominantly female cast with a world unlike anything you'll find in a movie. Natalie Portman leads the charge as Lena, a biologist, who goes on a mission following the mysterious return of her husband from a secret mission. Natalie Portman is one of the better actresses in Hollywood. At least two of her roles are all time favorites of mine, and this one is now part of the group. She goes on an expedition with four other women played by Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, & Jennifer Jason Leigh. Every supporting cast member had a moment to shine in some way, especially Rodriguez & a brilliant performance by Oscar Isaac as Portman's husband, Kane. Each member of the team has a scientific or medical background to find out why others have not returned from this mysterious world. While they are going on this mission, one of the most intriguing parts of each character is they're all dealing with some dark self-destructive behavior leading to their downfall, and this mission, in a way, is meant to purify them. That's one of the biggest things going on in this movie-the purification of the human soul. Conversations explain what is going on with the characters and the world we're walking into with these characters. Our characters encounter a strange world where the laws of nature do not apply called The Shimmer. The Shimmer is the most visually amazing place I've ever seen. The use of color in this world is gorgeous, and makes everything pop more. Also, the use of darkness at times really adds to shock, and there's at least one scene that is so legitimately terrifying that I couldn't stop shaking from how frightened I was. Sheer brutality and perfectly executed horror sold many parts of this world. The further they walked into The Shimmer, the more twisted the world became. I wouldn't last 24 hours in The Shimmer. I can definitely tell you that. I also think the horror elements blended with the overall mystery & science of the world created in The Shimmer are so unique to the science fiction genre. It's such an ambitious movie that I feel succeeds on all levels. It's a world building movie fueled by tension, and the most memorable finale I've seen in some time. Everything that happens to the characters is original, and truly unpredictable. You can't believe what you're watching. It's so beautiful and unique. I was into everything going on, really enjoying everything, and then the final act completely pulled me in and left me absolutely loving this movie. The lighthouse scenes are out of this world! Much like Ex Machina, Garland brings another third act that gave explosions of color and emotion unlike anything you'll ever feel. It's amazing to watch-the cinematography mixed with the visuals are on another level. What really sells these incredible visuals and twisting story points is that menacing and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. The Alien is one of the best instrumental themes I've heard for a movie, and it sells each second of this lighthouse scene better than anything you can imagine. This movie is your imagination taken beyond the fifth dimension. The fifth dimension would run in fear of The Shimmer. The Lost Souls Room in Beetlejuice is a relaxing vacation spot compared to The Shimmer. Whenever you see a lighthouse after watching this movie, you'll immediately get chills. The ending is open to interpretation, but at the same time, I have seen this twice, so I have pieced together more of the details and occurrences to try and fully grasp everything. It's one of the best movies in the last decade, and one of the better science fiction movies you'll ever see. It honestly may end up being my favorite movie of 2018. It's really going to take a lot to top it. The world of The Shimmer-the look, the colors, the unique world overall, the lighthouse scenes, the fantastic cast, the character's journey, the thought-provoking story, and one of the best soundtracks in years (that synthesizer will hit you hard) make this a definite 5/5, and one of the legit most ambitious movies ever with a deep look at the human soul interwoven into a dark, unnatural world with bits of light, a kaleidoscope of color, and hope hidden amidst the chaos within. Alex Garland is a force in the science fiction genre, and I can't wait for his next project.
3. LOVE, SIMON:
This was a great coming of age story dealing with central theme of a teenage battling with his gay identity. The performances were solid. I enjoyed the story a great deal. Nick Robinson was excellent as Simon-trying to navigate who he is on the inside, as well as trying to navigate high school with this secret. The secret e-mail exchanges were interesting to watch. I was the only guy in the theater watching this, and thought it was great. Girls reacting to things in movies is a truly remarkable experience. The reveal of who Blue is was greatly accepted by the audience. The move is well written. The cast is fantastic. I am really into those teen based dramas in movies and television, and Love, Simon out a twist on the traditional romance story by putting forth the importance and acceptance of gay relationships. There's some great scenes throughout this movie, and smart dialogue at several points.
4. READY PLAYER ONE:
Ready Player One is absolutely amazing! If I had to pick what my overall favorite movie of the year is, it's definitely this! This is why I go to the movies! If you're a fan of movies, pop culture, pure excitement, and a fun storyline in general-this has it all! The Oasis is the most incredible visual experiece I've ever seen. What a year for visuals alone between this and The Shimmer in Annihilation! The overall storyline had great homages to Steven Spielberg and classic horror as well that made this movie keep flowing. There was never a slow point to this movie. It's fun! It's exciting! Tye Sheridan looks like a young Steven Spielberg so much. I loved the different character designs. This is a movie about preserving imagination, as well as the characters finding a way to save the reality they reside in. I saw this movie three times in theaters. Every time I saw it, I picked up different details from pop culture. The big battle sequences were awesome. The video game aspect of it was always fun, and kept me guessing where the next key was. Amazing movie that really impressed me start to finish! Both San Diego & New York Comic Cons need to have an Oasis style experience in some way.I think that would be epic! Just imagine creating your own unique avatar to navigate different worlds, getting a chance to experience your favorite movies firsthand, and battling IOI. It would take a lot of effort to make this work, but it would be so worth it.
5 AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR:
Avengers: Infinity War is a pretty solid MCU movie overall. I normally dislike the MCU, but this was a combination of everything the MCU has been building towards, and while there was still far too much comedy, it had a darker tone, and some great scenes to make this a entry into the official Top 15 for this year. . Thanos was fantastic. I love the Black Order (to nobody's surprise). I had emotional moments, because my favorite MCU character is dead. I did like that the Guardians of the Galaxy had a big part in this-my favorite MCU related movies, and Wakanda being the setting for the finale.. This is a movie about Thanos-which I'm glad it was. Put the focus of the movie on a character that has layers and makes me want to watch this. There was a cameo I marked out for (not Stan Lee), however, I quickly became very upset in that very scene. People that know what I'm talking about can figure out what character is my favorite in the MCU and what cameo made me mark out. I don't think I'll like Endgame nearly as much, because unfortunately, The Avengers will end up defeating Thanos. Who wants to see that? It's the team from the first movie, and everybody knows how much I love that movie? Insert sarcasm here. In all seriousness, Thanos, the Black Order, the battle sequences, the gauntlet, and the inclusion and importance of the Guardians of the Galaxy made me like this. I really love the darker tone that was sorely needed in the MCU. The comedy is mostly from GOTG, so it didn't bother me as much as it normally would in the MCU. The Footloose dialogue is definitely laugh worthy. "is it still the best movie of all time?" "It never was." I burst out at that. Great emotion. My favorite performances: Josh Brolin (hopefully, he stays doing motion capture-he's better with that than actual live performances), and I love Gamora, so Zoe Saldana being an integral part of this movie was great. I agree that this is a Thanos movie. There are so many side Avengers I just don't care about, though. That's my issue overall. I'm supposed to somehow care about Falcon, for instance. I just don't. I saw an Ebony Maw Funko Pop and a Proxima Midnight figure today that was incredibly detailed. As a Black order fan, I'm thinking of getting them. The beginning of Avengers: Infinity War is one of my favorite beginnings to any comic book movie. I tend to like villains overall more, and this was all Thanos and Black Order winning the day. It's so similar to the beginning of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in some ways with Shao Khan, Sindel, Ermac, Rain, and Sheeva coming down and ruining the celebration of the Earth Realm winning Mortal Kombat/Loki (that's right, Loki, not Thor) ending Ragnarok. Very similar comparison. i need more Ebony Maw! Man, I love that character. He's a dark priest guiding Thanos to his destiny. Thanos isn't going to have Maw in the next movie, so he's up the creek without a paddle and a whole in the boat!
6. TAG:
You have to love walking into a movie theater and enjoying a movie more than you thought you would. Tag is that type of movie! It's one of my favorites of the year mixing good physical comedy, some surprising dramatic twists, and a really good ensemble cast that kept the movie flowing. Every cast member had a moment to shine. This is a great movie about hanging on to not only the inner child in us, but staying connected to people in our lives. Really well done!
7. BLACKkKLANSMAN:
What an intense movie, but one that delivered with great performances particularly by John David Washington as Ron Stallworth, Adam Driver as Flip Zimmerman, and Laura Harrier as Patrice Dumas! There are so many view points to look at to give so much emotional depth to this movie! Each group, whether it's the Black Panthers or the Ku Klux Klan gives you a look at what they're about. The speech at the Black Panthers rally is fantastic-amazing delivery. Topher Grace's David Duke makes you feel like you're watching a cult leader. There's some great dramatic scenes that really hit you hard! There's some pretty decent comedy at times-especially, the Polaroid scene at the Klan meeting. I burst out laughing at that. The case is intriguing to follow. The dialogue is powerful, and really well done all around. The tension in the movie is always amazing to watch. I recommend seeing it! The overall movie's theme, tone, performances, and plot were excellent!
8. CRAZY RICH ASIANS:
The story is really good! There's some intense drama from these characters, and some really well placed comedy when it was needed. It was a beautiful movie about culture, romance, tradition, old school vs. new school-so much going on that kept me invested in everything! Constance Wu was awesome as Rachel Chou-great performance that hopefully gets talked about more! She had so much grace and bravado! The women in this movie are absolutely gorgeous-absolute goddesses physically, and so strong emotionally! The Astrid character is amazing! Gemma Chan stunned me immediately! Michelle Yeoh was fantastic as Nick's mother, Eleanor! She had such a commanding presence throughout the movie that really embodied the intimidating presence of the Young family! Awkwafina was hilarious, as were the scenes with her family! Everybody in that family stole a scene! The Singapore scenery was beautiful! The food looked so tasty. I wanted dumplings so badly watching this! Let's face it: Asian cuisine is some of the best food in the world, and the food scenes demonstrate this well! The wedding scene was gorgeous-the colors, the traditions of the culture on full display. I get emotional in movies, and I was tearing up a lot in this one, but the wedding ceremony really hit me! First, the kids in their dress up clothes with the flowers-so cute, the bride walking on water,, and Rachel and Nick looking at each other the whole time-I'm done! Hey, I'm a guy that likes his romantic comedies. Get over it! The story threw some good twists that had the theater gasping! From start to finish, this is one of the finest movies of 2018-romance, culture, solid performances, intriguing characters, strong women at every turn, and a movie that hit me right in the feels during the entire run time!
9. ASSASSINATION NATION:
Odessa Young's performance as Lily Coulson in Assassination Nation is one of the very best female performances of 2018! Her character arc feels so complete to me starting out strong at the beginning leading to a sense of vulnerability and fear in the middle with everything going to her finally gaining her confidence and power back in the end. Lily's commentary and monologues about everything goingon were deep, in your face, and well acted! Such an intense movie that definitely is a great blend of Heathers, The Purge, and God Bless America-I think that's a pretty accurate description. Everything is turned up to full volume in terms of everything going on around us currently. They really nail every major social issue being dealt with in some way or another. Really amazing movie in two acts that is definitely filled with social commentary and overall statements about the millennial era! I loved both parts of the movie, and while it's certainly not for everyone, it's definitely a movie that will stick with you. Definitely some bloody moments in the movie, but one of those scenes is Lily physically gaining her power back, and I loved that. I hope to see more from Odessa Young, because this movie shows you how great she can be for years to come. This movie is in your face throughout the entire run time. You don't have a chance to catch your breath with the intensity of the movie, but I think that is the overall intent from the start. I
love the Assassination Nation soundtrack! It's a modern soundtrack, but the music really captures the intensity of the overall movie, and I think it's supposed to as it's overall commentary on so many major social issues! One of my favorite movies of the year easily with one of my favorite female performances by Odessa Young as Lily Coulson. I really like Hari Neff's performance as Bex as well. Bex: Oh My God! I love this song! She snaps her fingers, and 100 starts playing! What an apropos song for the overall theme of the movie, especially when you think about Tommy Genesis, and what she represents in terms of being an underground, rebellious rap star, and of course, her verses are laden with, shall we say, provocative language. I think that's pretty cool! I love the girls decked out in their red jackets, and overall attitude to gain power and show how strong and versatile women are! Lily is the leader, but Bex is the spirit of the group. They deal with a lot of things that makes them vulnerable and full of fear in the middle of the movie, but they physically and emotionally fight their way through their obstacles standing tall, which I loved! The core group of girls doesn't put each other down! Lily Coulson-Odessa Young's performance in this is so amazing-one of, if not, my favorite female performance this year! This girl feels the gamut of emotions, and by the end of the movie she's physically and emotionally stronger than ever! I absolutely loved that! Her monologue at the end when the girls are mobilizing is fantastic! The emotion and attitude she delivers it with is electrifying! I love her opinions, and overall aura! Lily is awesome! I really want a Funko Pop or some kind of action figure of her. I doubt that will ever happen, but I so want one. Bex-she is confident in her own skin! She's an inspirational character for anybody that struggles in the LGBTQ community! Her overall look and demeanor is so bad ass! I'm a straight male, but I'm sympathetic and supportive of others as we are all human beings and deserve to be treated right no matter what! Hari Nef is phenomenal in this role! I'd get a Funko Pop or action figure of her as well. Girls standing tall through so many obstacles! A lot happens in this movie, but the second act of this movie just gets me so pumped, especially watching the girls fight back physically and show everybody they're not weak! They're stronger than ever, and the bond between them is what makes them strongest. The overall powerful messages in this social media world we live in. It really exaggerates everything and creates mass hysteria that I can't help but be entranced by. So many colors, and over the top raw emotion is just jaw dropping to watch. This movie says a lot on so many topics, and I think that's impressive. It has a fantastic, modern soundtrack-I love the songs in this movie. I'm not a huge fan of most modern music, but the artists, and songs go well with the overall aura of the movie, and gives even more pulse to the movie.
10. A STAR IS BORN:
A Star Is Born shows us that good movies still exist. I love the Judy Garland version from 1954. The newest version was really good overall! The performances, the music, and the story were deeply emotional, and felt authentic at all times. Lady Gaga proved just how talented she truly is in this movie. Fantastic acting by her, and what a powerful voice. I find Lady Gaga to be one of the best people in music, and it's not only for her awesome theatrics or her persona. It's her voice that's also great. I was very impressed with her acting. I feel the character of Ally was also written to incorporate Lady Gaga's real rise to stardom as well, which is a reason why her performance delivered on all levels. I'm not a big Bradley Cooper fan, but, man, did he deliver an incredible performance as Jackson. He captured the struggle of substance abuse and fading stardom so well. Cooper definitely put his all into this project, and you can tell based on how good he was here, it was something he really wanted to do. I think he also directed this, which deserves praise, because it was well done on that front. I think Cooper deserves a nomination as well, but he could also get a Best Director nod as well. If I was him, I'd want the Best Actor nomination here, because you should want your legit best acting performance to be honored officially. What emotion by Cooper throughout this movie. The chemistry with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper was excellent! The performances were powerful! The movie was great! I highly recommend seeing this. Many times, remakes are ehh, but sometimes, you get a remake that's just as good, if not better, than the original. I think A Star Is Born succeeded as a well done remake with some modern flair, while maintaining the integrity of the previous versions. Great stuff here!
11. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY:
I'm absolutely amazed at how good this movie is! Rami Malek easily gave the best male performance of 2018 as Freddie Mercury! He's such an incredible actor-one of my favorites in the industry currently due to his work as Elliot in Mr. Robot! He had the look, the sound, the attitude, and the aura! Queen is one of the best bands ever. I honestly already liked most of their songs, but hearing their music in this just makes me appreciate them even more! The Live Aid performance had the packed theater I was in singing along to every lyric! I really loved the way it was shot as well! Amazing emotion throughout! Great dramatic moments that definitely made me start crying! Rami's monologue's as Freddie were phenomenal, and really brought you into the heart of Freddie Mercury, because Rami's performance was just so believable and heartfelt at every step of this movie! Family was a motif of this movie, and beautifully presented through Mary, Queen, and Jim. I loathe Paul with every fiber of my being-he deserved to be fired for villainy! This is one of the legit best movies of the year with believable, emotional performances (particularly by the man that deserves an Oscar and a Golden Globe, Rami Malek), fantastic music, and at times, even really good comedic moments that hit the mark! This is a movie that shows that biopics can indeed be good! Yes, many times, biopics can be ehh, but this one is just amazing cinema that needs to be seen, especially, in our society today.
12. WIDOWS:
What a fantastic movie! The acting was superb! The action sequences were really well done!The pace was slower, but it really worked, because it resulted in more character development, which is a good thing. I think Veronica Rawlings is Viola Davis's best performance to date, and I've seen pretty much all of her work. Her story was the main focus of the movie. Her acting was powerful. Her emotions were amazing to watch. She commands the screen whenever she's on it. It was really cool seeing Michelle Rodriguez (one of my favorite action stars) in such an important project like this. I don't really think Elizabeth Debicki was as good as other people were saying, but that's just my view. I really wasn't into the Alice character at all, and her performance was just so-so in my opinion, but I think Cynthia Erivo's Belle stood out as a memorable, powerful performance. Erivo was the standout of Bad Times at El Royale, and continues to be impressive here. Daniel Kaluuya was an amazing villain. He was so calculating, and watching him act on screen without talking was pretty interesting to watch. The twist really worked. It was a simple one, but it was effective, and led to some great moments in the third act. The overall movie has powerful messages of female empowerment, political corruption, police brutality, etc. Viola Davis stole the show, but I think Daniel Kaluuya had his moments as well. I feel everybody got a chance to shine so that was good to see. Talk about how the overall themes, story, characters, twists, action sequences, dialogue, and camera work were on point throughout the movie. Gillian Flynn wrote the script, and it really did well in selling the mystery aspect of the movie and characters, and Steve McQueen's directing was fantastic. Definitely a favorite of mine this year!
13. CREED II:
There comes a time when a sequel is just as good, if not, better than the original. Just got back from seeing Creed II! What an incredible movie! Interestingly enough, my favorite Rocky movie is Rocky IV, which is great, because the events of that movie help shape a lot of this movie. This really delivered on all fronts-action, raw emotion, acting, etc. Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson are two of the legit best actors in the industry at the moment. Their chemistry as Donnie and Bianca is even better in this movie! I felt the emotion between them, because the chemistry with the actors was believable. There wasn't just focus on the Creed front, but you get a better look at the Drago side of things as well. i thought it was a great idea to give two perspectives where you can feel for both fighters. It makes the movie matter more. Sylvester Stallone gave a fantastic performance as Rocky Balboa-his best role of all time IMO, and Dolph Lundgren was great as Ivan Drago here. There was a lot of fight sequences, but the final fight sequence in Russia was intense, so well choreographed, and just impressivve to watch! One of the best scenes of 2018! The entrances for both were pretty amazing as well! The intimidating presence of Viktor Drago was incredible. The fight was gritty and in the packed theater I was in we all were on the edge of our seat enjoying each punch and turning point. This fight represented so much-it was about family, pride, and legacy on all fronts! Amazing sequel, amazing movie on its own merits. This is a movie that deserves recognition for best picture, acting performances, and technical awards across the board! I highly recommend this. Even if you're not a huge fan of the Rocky/Creed series, this is worth it as a straight up good movie by itself!
14. GREEN BOOK:
Green Book is an excellent movie! I'm glad it has a few Golden Globe nominations! Viggo Mortensen's performance as Tony "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (I kept laughing at people pronouncing his last name wrong, because it's happened to me countless times-it seriously isn't that hard. Sound it out!) is one of his best. He played a very convincing Italian overall, and portrayed the working class aspect of his character really well. Mahershala Ali was excellent as the sophisticated musical genius, Dr. Don Shirley. Ali is becoming one of the best actors in the industry IMO! I think Mortensen stole the movie, but Ali really gave the movie it's overall soul. The chemistry with Mortensen and Ali was excellent! The dialogue was entertaining when it had to be, and definitely provided great commentary on the racial tensions of the time in the 1960s. I really liked watching Tony's character change throughout! He maintained what made the Tony character so entertaining throughout the movie, but there were definite moments where you could tell that this was a different Tony two months later. Shirley's lessons on etiquette and society are enthralling! Ali really made the Shirley character appear larger than life! The initial meeting between Tony and Shirley is a really good scene. You see two different ways of life, as well as two unique individuals that you want to take a journey with immediately! The music was amazing! Those piano concertos were impressive! The acting is excellent! The dialogue is great! Viggo Mortense, Mahershala Ali, and Peter Farrelly all deserve nominations! It was great seeing Linda Cardellini's as Tony's wife, Dolores as well! I definitely recommend this! It's an awards season movie, and luckily, one that deserves to be included in the nominations as opposed to many over the last few years.
15. AQUAMAN:
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Here's my 5 honorable mentions for the year:
GAME NIGHT:
Game Night is an extremely entertaining movie! The cast is fantastic, especially Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Jesse Plemmons (a definite show stealer), & Kyle Chandler. The whole real life game scenario was really fun to follow-it was like a more extreme version of Clue, but at the same time, it has it's own fun story to tell. Is it just me, or is Rachel McAdams immune to aging? She might have the best smile in Hollywood. You can tell everybody had a ton of fun making this. There are nice twists thrown in. There are some really good laugh moments. There's many memorable scenes that all tie into a bigger picture. There's mystery, comedy, a decent amount of drama, and some cheesy factors that all blend together to make something fun for everybody. Game Night is worth a watch IMO!
LIFE OF THE PARTY:
I like to watch chick flicks from time to time, and this was a fun one. There was a good mix of comedy and drama throughout. Melissa McCarthy was on top of her game here-she had some great physical comedy moments. The dialogue was pretty funny overall, but when it needed to be serious, the movie did well with it. Molly Gordon was fantastic as the daughter, Maddie. The mother/daughter relationship felt natural, and I liked watching them bond throughout the movie. Amidst all the chaos that happens to McCarthy's Deanna, Maddie is constantly positive and supportive of her mother, which I liked seeing. Maddie's sorority sisters had unique personalities that made them stand out. Gillian Jacob's Helen really stood out. Her character's story can't be spoiled, because it really factors into her emotional maturity level overall. At least, that's the impression I got. I think Adria Arjona is one of the most gorgeous girls in the world currently (she was Dorothy in the underrated Emerald City show that got cancelled after one season-still pissed about that), but her character Amanda's still worried she'll never be in a solid relationship, and Jessie Ennis's Debbie character is a fangirl and feels out of place at times (like we all do). Their acceptance of Deanna from the outset was really cool to see. The movie has a powerful female solidarity message-you can be who you want to be, do what you want to do, don't let anything hold you back. Matt Walsh plays such a perfect villain as A-1 douche Dan, and Julie Bowen (one of my favorites) is great as the villainess, Marcie. You can tell Julie had fun with the role. Dan is so ugh, but he's supposed to be. Some great scenes that stick out to me are the restaurant scene (where a really good twist comes into play-the theater I was in was packed, and we loved it-we all laughed so much), the party scenes, Deanna rallying the girls about their fears while making her lasagna, her oral presentation (McCarthy's physical comedy was at it's best here), Deanna meeting her roomate, Leonore (funny performance by Heidi Gardner), the wedding crasher scene that everybody in the audience loved, because Dan deserved it, and Christina Aguilera performing Fighter (probably my favorite song of hers honestly). Ben Falcone did a tremendous job here. it thoroughly entertained me when it had to. Melissa McCarthy gave her best performance in a while IMO, Molly Gordon is great here as Maddie,, Helen, Amanda, Debbie, Maya Rudolph was hilarious (and I usually don't find her funny), Julie Bowen and Matt Walsh play the perfect villains, all the scenes matter in some way, and add up to make a movie that deserves to be seen. Don't listen to the critics-it's better than i thought it would be, and I'd gladly see it again.
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A SIMPLE FAVOR:
Anna Kendrick is simply awesome! She's gorgeous, and her charisma is just amazing to watch! Her Stephanie character was really interesting, and was the character I rooted for the whole movie. Blake Lively was really good here-solid performance. It was basically Serena Van Der Woodsen with the volume turned up just a little bit (because, IMO, Serena would do some of these things as well, and I also just loathe the SVDW character), but Lively's performance here was good. I think Kendrick balanced it out really well, and carried the movie. Anna's a very underrated actress overall, IMO! I think Blake had a lot of fun with this movie as well. I mean, working with Kendrick, will do that IMO, but her character was just so interesting. Stephanie and Emily's characters had so many layers that kept the movie fun, and the dark tone was impressive. There's a lot going on in this movie. It's kind of a modern version of Diabolique, with a few tweaks here and there. Some of it can definitely come across as far-fetched, but it's a movie, and I personally like the way they spun the story from beginning to end. There's definitely a lot of great mystery elements. Those elements combined with the layered characters of Stephanie and Emily, carried by the performances of Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively make this a fun experience for the movies, and an overall favorite of mine. I usually loathe Paul Feig's movies, but I actually really liked this one.
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS:
Keira Knightley is simply fantastic in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms! Keira's energy was excellent! Her look was amazing! She stole the show for me! Keira has always been one of my favorite actresses. Seeing her just own the screen every time she was on it was great to see! What a fun movie! I don't care what critics are saying-this was an awesome fantasy movie! I loved the theme of each of the four realms. I liked the costumes and color schemes. I thought Mackenzie Foy was fantastic as Clara! I liked the Oz/Narnia/Wonderland vibe! This is the type of movie I like to see, and I came out of the theater really enjoying it. I also have a Sugar Plum Fairy Funko Pop! I just loved what Keira did with the role, and the look of the character was awesome.
WELCOME TO MARWEN:
I absolutely loved this movie! I had a blast watching it! The doll world of Marwen was so cool with the intricate characters and overall subplot. The character designs were awesome, and the world was intricate and beautifully designed. The coolest designs for me were Daja, Carlala, GI Julie, and Nicol, but each doll looked amazing overall. I love the imagination present at every turn of the movie. The action sequences, particularly the last big battle sequence are some of my favorite scenes of 2018! The mix of fantasy and reality was interesting to watch. Robert Zemeckis is one of my favorite directors working on two of the best movies ever IMO: Forrest Gump and Back to the Future, and now he's created this movie that I really enjoyed as well. There's great messages of how integral and important women are to society (loved that) and the presentation of Mark's eccentric nature was important as it showed that his eccentricities are actually essential to him being the amazing person he is. It was also cool to realize that this was based on a real story. Mark Hogancamp's art and imagination is an incredible thing and this movie takes it's audience into a colorful world of intrigue, female empowerment, the overall essence of a person, and amazing fantasy elements to create a movie that might be derided by critics, but appreciated by people who like abstract movies with a purpose (like me). Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Eiza Gonzalez, Janelle Monae, and Merritt Weaver were fantastic. Carell had good chemistry with all of these actresses. These women brought him back and helped him heal in so many ways from the vicious assault perpetrated on him, and while Mike deals with obstacles and setbacks, he is eventually able to overcome through the encouragement of these women, and the world he creates. His fantasy world becomes his reality in many positive ways. I really loved this movie, and hope to see more people appreciating this movie for the fun world and the character study of Mark Hogancamp. Also, I would definitely buy a few of those dolls for my dresser as well, particularly the Carlala one.
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