1. "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"(2019)
If Quentin Tarantino's glorious love letter to 1969 had been five hours long, I wouldn't have complained. That's how much I enjoyed the insanely-detailed world and unforgettable characters he created in his eagerly-awaited penultimate film. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are a dream pairing as an aging TV cowboy and his loyal stuntman/best friend that struggle to adapt to a rapidly-evolving entertainment industry, with Charles Manson's mostly-female killer cult eerily looming in the background. Margot Robbie brings all her beauty and grace to the role of Sharon Tate, a rising star that now gets to be remembered as much more than just an infamous murder victim. QT populates his Hollywood with any performer he wants- Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Bruce Dern, and Dakota Fanning are among the best groups of actors ever assembled. From a sick '60s soundtrack to it's euphoric ending, "Once Upon a Time" is movie heaven.
2. "The Irishman"(2019)
Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese reunite 24 years after their last joint classic "Casino", and we have Netflix to thank for picking up this magnificent epic's $150 million price tag, that no traditional studio was willing to touch. De Niro was digitally de-aged(quite convincingly) to play Frank Sheeran, a sullen WWII vet-turned-mob hitman that became fast friends in the '50s with a powerful Philly crime boss(a reserved Joe Pesci, making a most welcome return). Al Pacino gives his best performance in two decades as towering Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, whose 1975 murder remains one of the great mysteries of the late 20th Century. Steven Zaillian's sprawling screenplay spans fifty years, from the Mafia's vastly-influential, politically-entwined heyday to it's near extinction. Mortality is a major theme, as the film courses with the melancholy reminder that we won't get to see much more of these acting legends or a 77 year old Scorsese's masterful storytelling. That's why I'll cherish "The Irishman" till I'm in the old age home.
3. "Joker"(2019)
Joaquin Phoenix is frighteningly real as Arthur Fleck, a lonely misfit losing his mind in Gotham City in this dynamite drama from DC that dominated film discussions during it's entire fall release. Director Todd Phillips found more inspiration from "Taxi Driver" and "The King of Comedy" than any comic book, in his intimate 1981-set story that touches on topical grown-up issues like mental illness, involuntary celibacy and class disparity to earn those lofty comparisons(Robert De Niro appears, rather appropriately, as a pompous late night talk show host). With all due respect to previous Jokers, we'll still be talking about Phoenix's searing next-level neurosis for a long, long time.
4. "Marriage Story"(2019) Netflix strikes again. The streaming giant made great strides as we closed out the decade, evolving into an independent movie studio responsible for the sort of prestigious dramas that the big superhero-obsessed studios just can't be bothered with anymore. Writer-director Noah Baumbach's deeply personal film is this generation's "Kramer vs. Kramer". Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson give career-best performances as a showbiz couple navigating the pains of divorce and single parenting, while Laura Dern deserved her long-overdue recognition as Scarlett's shrewd lawyer. Neither side is vilified, in a smart, even-handed film that should be a part of everyone's cinematic maturation.
5. "1917"(2019)
World War I(April 6-7, 1917, to be exact) is wondrously recreated by director Sam Mendes in this immersive, expertly-crafted action drama. Roger Deakins' one-shot cinematography echoes "Birdman", immediately placing viewers in the tiring trenches right alongside two young British soldiers(George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman). The visceral aftermath of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich is sure to make it's way into high school history classes and your Dad's still-strong DVD collection. Mendes has certainly lived up to the substantial promise of his Best Picture-winning debut, 1999's "American Beauty".
6. "Toy Story 4"(2019)
The greatest animated film franchise of all time added another charming chapter to an industry-altering saga that began in 1995. Although 2010's "TS3" was damn near perfect, I don't think anyone objected to another 90 minutes with Woody and the gang, which now includes Forky(Tony Hale), a googly-eyed self-loathing spork AND instant fan favorite. After navigating a cavernous carnival and a scary antique store, the return of Bo Peep(Annie Potts) led to an ending that I wasn't emotionally prepared for(assuming this IS the end). I wipe away a tear to declare that Pixar made this world a better place with these films.
7. "Queen & Slim"(2019)
Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith are much more than just a black "Bonnie and Clyde" in this impressive directorial debut from accomplished music-video director Melina Matsoukas. Police brutality is a hot topic in the 2010s, and Lena Waithe's gripping script handles the timely, combustible subject matter with class and precision. The title characters pictured above are forced on the lam because they fight back, becoming wholly sympathetic folk heroes. "Q&S" seems destined to become a cult classic after a relatively quiet theatrical run, and I'm all for it.
9. "Bombshell"(2019) Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie take on Fox News, and I'm firmly in their corner. It turns out that Rupert Murdoch's media giant didn't just divide the country and poison the minds of your grandparents with wildy one-sided rhetoric, women were sexually harassed there as well. Forman chairman Roger Ailes didn't live long enough to see himself get added to a game Jon Lithgow's rogues gallery. Theron and Robbie are both great, and director Jay Roach("Austin Powers", "Meet the Parents") nicely nails down the inherent absurdity of the whole enterprise. I'm glad they made this movie.
10. "Judy"(2019) A riveting and rejuvenated Renee Zellweger gives the greatest performance of her underrated, quarter-century long career as a 47 year old Judy Garland in 1969 London, the last public appearance of her too-short life. The much-loved musical entertainer had a tumultous existence off the stage, but this respectful tribute largely sidesteps the substance abuse and multiple marriages that often overshadowed her professional achievements. Director Rupert Goold does include saddening flashbacks of a teenage Judy(Darci Shaw) tortured by weight insecurities on the set of "The Wizard of Oz", a dark reminder that fame can come with a heavy price.
