July is here which means we are midway through the 2019 film year. So what are the winners of the year so far? I am here to breakdown my Top 10 of the year so far:
10.) Shazam!
DC films got this one right, great cast, fun story and a shockingly enjoyable light hearted film. I still love the third act joke that flips the big sky battle trope of all these superhero films. I won’t spoil it incase you skipped this one but it is worth a watch if you did skip it.
9.) Always Be My Maybe
You can find this fantastic romcom on Netflix. I really didn’t expect much from a Netflix movie but the chemistry between Ali Wong and Randall Park is incredible and something I could watch over and over. Not to mention the representation in this film for Asian Americans is fantastic and Keanu Reeves cameo alone could easily keep this in my favorite films at the end of the year.
8.) How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I’m a sucker for kids movies good or bad. I’m a bigger sucker for great kids films and this franchise has been one of my favorites so I was thrilled that the final entry delivered. Not only was this the most stylish and beautifully designed version of the franchise but it was an emotional conclusion to the story of hiccup and toothless. Turning the focus onto toothless this time & giving him a love story helped give this a different feel from the previous two films also.
7.) Stuber
This film comes out this month but I got to see a special extremely early sneak peak back at Awesome Con in April. Needless to say this film felt like a real 80’s throwback as far as buddy buddy comedies go. Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista are a comedy duo we need more of. I am afraid this film will fly under everyone’s radar in the middle of summer but as far as a break from big blockbusters this is an original comedy that delivers and isn’t afraid to go certain places that other films might hold back on.
6.) Spider-Man: Far From Home
The true conclusion for the Infinity Saga of the MCU is a fun and entertaining adventure. This one answers any questions we have left from the events of Endgame while also setting up the future of the MCU all while giving us a friendly foreign Spider-Man adventure.
5.) Midsommar
It’s no secret that I loved Ari Asters Hereditary released last year. This time around he delivers a psychological break up film that is actually pretty funny. This sun drenched horror film is disturbing at times but provides plenty of laughs that might seem out of place with what’s actually happening on screen. I can see this film dividing audiences but you will absolutely be discussing this one for months after seeing it and I personally love movies that invoke that much debate and discussion. Not to mention Florence Pugh is tremendous, I will compare this with any other performance this year and argue that she should be in the running for best actress.
4.) John Wick 3: Parabellum
The Keanu-sance continues in 2019 with another installment of John Wick. This time following the events of Chapter 2, picking directly up from that ending this non-stop action film continues to change the game.
3.) Us
Similar with Ari Aster, It is no secret that I love Jordan Peele. I was interested in seeing his sophomore outing and he delivers with a Twilight Zone style movie. Peele is quickly becoming a master of horror and suspense. This film keeps you on the edge of the seat and showcases how Peele is able to go from thrills and scares into comedy with the drop of a hat.
2.) Toy Story 4
I was skeptical heading into this one but Pixar lands the ending for the fourth time. Honestly, why did we need a 4th Toy Story? Not only did these feel like a cash grab at first but after the perfect ending of 3 it seemed like something we really didn’t need. But surprisingly this is not a cash grab and 100% fits perfectly in the fold of the previous three films. It’s impressive being able to make a good movie but also adding new characters like Forky, Bunny & Ducky, and once again I mention Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom, who you instantly fall in love with is an accomplishment on it’s own.
1.) Avengers: Endgame
This film delivers in every way it hyped and then some. It is really impressive what the Russo Brothers accomplished in this epic conclusion to a story that has been told since Iron Man. The jokes work, the visuals are beautiful, the script is emotional and perfect, everyone involved is acting to the highest of their abilities and it shows that everyone cared. Not to mention this film does feel like an actual ending instead of just another film in a series of films.
