By Mark Saldana
We have reached both the end of 2019, as well as the end of another decade. I have now watched my final screeners and attended my last screening of the year. 2019 got off to a bit of a slow start with most of the top films saved for the end. The year not only marked the return of veteran filmmakers Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, but also offered fantastic work from younger generations of directors.
2019 also sparked some debates and discussion over the definition of cinema and how it has changed from generation to generation. I suppose this discussion comes at a the perfect time, as one decade comes to a close and another is set to begin. As cinema changes and evolves, one can only hope that talented filmmakers with substantial material to offer will continue to find their audiences among the masses. I, for one, love the variety of movies available, but am concerned about the state of independent cinema. We will have to see what the next decade offers, but until then, let us celebrate the impressive work of talented artists who made an impact this year and during the 2010s.
So, without any further ado, here are my picks for the top movies of 2019, along with my selections for more specific film categories. At the end, I have also added my top movies between 2010 and 2019. As always, it has been a pleasure reviewing films for TVR, and I wish to thank everyone for their wonderful support. Happy New Year!
My Top Ten Films of 2019:
- Parasite
- Waves
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco
- Marriage Story
- Uncut Gems
- The Farewell
- Midsommar
- Pain and Glory
- 1917
- A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
Honorable Mentions: The Mustang, One Cut of the Dead, Avengers: Endgame, I Lost My Body, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Irishman
Best Director: Bong Joon-ho / Parasite
Best Original Screenplay: Parasite
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Best Actor: Adam Driver / Marriage Story
Best Actress: Elisabeth Moss / Her Smell
Best Supporting Actor: Sterling K. Brown / Waves
Best Supporting Actress: Laura Dern / Marriage Story
Best Editing: 1917
Best Cinematography: 1917
Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite
Best Documentary Feature Film: Apollo 11
Best Animated Feature Film: I Lost My Body
My Top Ten Films of the Decade:
- Cloud Atlas
- Moonlight
- Parasite
- Room
- The Hate U Give
- The Social Network
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
- Gravity
- The Artist
- Birdman