By Mark Saldana
2018 was another fantastic year for cinema, but it was a particularly exciting year for me. In addition to reviewing hundreds of films this year, and attending my four usual film festivals, I was accepted into the Austin Film Critics Association. With this honor comes even more access to films before their releases. And for the first time in my ten years as a film critic, I am able to complete my year end report before the New Year arrives.
Regarding the films, 2018 was an amazing year for movies dealing with African-American issues. Titles like The Hate U Give, Blindspotting, Sorry to Bother You and Blackkklansman express the anger, pain, and intelligence of Black Americans through the eyes, voices and minds of talented filmmakers. In other films, the life of a 1970s indigenous Mexican housekeeper is spotlighted (Roma), Spider-Men and a Spider-Woman discover they’re not alone in the multiverse (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and a real wonderful human being is honored and celebrated (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?). So without any further ado, here are my top ten films of 2018, plus my choices for honors in more specific categories.
1. The Hate U Give
2. If Beale Street Could Talk
3. Roma
4. Sorry to Bother You
5. Blindspotting
6. You Were Never Really Here
7. Eighth Grade
8. The Favourite
9. Annihilation
10. 1985
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron – Roma
Best Original Screenplay: Sorry To Bother You
Best Adapted Screenplay: If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Cinematography: Roma
Best Score: First Man
Best Foreign Language Film: Roma
Best Documentary Feature Film: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Best Animated Film: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Best Actress: Olivia Colman – The Favourite
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke – First Reformed
Best Supporting Actress: Claire Foy – First Man
Best Supporting Actor: Russell Hornsby – The Hate U Give