Top 10 of 2018

A harrowing and brutal depiction of journalistic integrity in the face of global conflict, "A Private War" tells the admirable story of Marie Colvin, a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times in the UK. With Rosamund Pike in the lead role, this movie impresses as both a personal journey and a championing tale of brave journalists. Colvin had her demons and vices, so she's not sugarcoated as a saint; rather, she becomes a spearhead into the idea of global awareness: we in the first world should know about the atrocities in places like Libya, Syria, etc. Pike dominates in one of her best roles ever, perhaps one of the best lead performances of 2018, and the movie is filmed like a pseudo-documentary as cameras are mounted onto moving vehicles to document the horrors of war. The score is subtly subdued into bombs by the end, and we're left with a truly thought-provoking and cathartic experience.

You can't have dry eyes watching "Beautiful Boy." While it is a shameless tearjerker addiction drama, this movie prides itself on a wonderful cast of flawless performances. Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet are both emotional powerhouses, with Carell playing a laid-back but concerned father and Chalamet playing his son who is severely addicted to meth. The movie's twists and turns are accurate and heartbreaking, ultimately inspiring audiences to care and do better with their own loved ones. David and Nic Sheff's story is told out of chronological order, which may seem odd at first, but it all ties nicely together as we see both father and son grow from the painful experiences. "Beautiful Boy" refuses to be overly optimistic or hopeful in its depiction of drug addiction, but it also isn't horribly depressing. It finds the sweet spot in the middle and proceeds forward as a drama worthy of the tears.

THIS is the movie about race, opposition, and eventual harmony that America needs right now. Two characters, Tony (Viggo Mortensen) and Don (Mahershala Ali), represent two sides of the same coin. Tony is good-hearted and gets things done, but he lives in the past full of prejudice. Don is positively progressive but suffers internally, being told where he can and cannot fit in life. When the two take a road trip through the deep south in 1962, these themes come alive through a flawless script. Mortensen and Ali are both spectacular; Ali deserves the Best Supporting Actor win for this much more than 2016’s Moonlight. Complete with a musical score that complements the thematic material, "Green Book" is 2018’s “feel-good” movie with a profound message at its core.

A little kindness can go a long way. Mr. Fred Rogers certainly believed that, and this wonderful documentary explains that concept in the most profound way. "Won't You Be My Neighbor" is simple in its execution, but manages to parallel so much with Mr. Rogers popular children's program. Racism, the Kennedy assassinations, and terminal illness all make appearances as to how this brilliant man approached children and helped them learn. This documentary should be required viewing for everyone, but especially educators of young children. Without trying to take aim at controversy or be stylistically innovative, "Won't You Be My Neighbor" inspires the best in us with cheerful subtlety and absolutely beautiful messages.

This is the fourth time that "A Star Is Born" has been remade. And this one knocks it out of the park. By tackling both sides of the story instead of just focusing on the cliche story of a female lead's rise to fame, Bradley Cooper's rendition of this classic tale is full of life, power, and sorrow. Both Cooper and Lady Gaga inhabit fully fleshed out characters, examining a psychology of codependency and alcoholism within the competitive world of stardom. Cooper stages many of the movie's best scenes with poignant lighting and cinematography, giving us time to reflect instead of whisking away to the next moment. He and Gaga have impeccable chemistry; both deserve all of the award nominations coming their way. And to say the music is spectacular would be a gross understatement. The rock n' roll meets country vibe is perfect for the setting, and complements both Cooper and Gaga's stunning vocals. "Shallow" may be the favorite and most popular song, but "I'll Never Love Again" houses the film's raw emotional power. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga should take a bow.

Now we have Marvel's true return to form! After the incredibly insightful "Civil War" in 2016, the studio seemed to just churn out extremely entertaining flicks without getting at the heart of something greater. "Black Panther" therefore makes for a wonderful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, telling an earnest story for the contemporary culture that is so seamless, it never ventures too far into political territory. T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) represent two sides of the same coin for African American representation: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X respectively. Both have legitimate grievances and both have good suggestions for a better future; their methods however separate them. Its entire construction is absolutely brilliant, mirroring the civil rights themes in the original comics as well. The writing is witty and smart, and the humor completely supersedes "Thor: Ragnarok." The sibling banter between T'Challa and Shuri (Letitia Wright) is comedic gold. And not since the first "Iron Man" in 2008 has a Marvel movie stood alone so well without having to desperately cling to the other installments in the franchise. The performances are wonderful all around, and the sleek production design pulls off a very modern and imaginative look. Thank God there's no giant CGI villain or climactic explosion - because those are so overused now. Finally, the mix of tribal African music with contemporary hip-hop beats is utterly fantastic, linking a connection between the two and making for a very listenable soundtrack. With all of its riveting (and obligatory) action, "Black Panther" is a conscious tale of race relations within a dynamic setting - certainly one of Marvel's best.

For a movie about Neil Armstrong's monumental journey to the moon, you wouldn't expect silent intimacy to be a central theme. Yet, Damien Chazelle's "First Man" focuses on the quiet, intimate moments between Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and his wife (Claire Foy), leading up to his life-changing and history changing mission. Interspersed are several intense (perhaps even vomit-inducing) sequences of spacecraft action, but it's all realistic instead of sensationalized cinema. The movie is constantly bringing us and its characters back to reality in profound (but again, quiet) ways. Gosling especially plays his part with poignant facial expressions and reactions. The scene on the moon itself stands out as one of 2018's highlights, giving us the one moment where things seem fantastical in an ultimately gritty story. Justin Hurwitz's score is absolutely innovative and beautiful to help the movie flow and pack an emotional wallop as it should.

Alfonso Cuaron’s most personal film may follow the trend of excruciatingly slow movies with artistic flourishes, but have patience. Once you reach the halfway mark, "Roma" becomes a riveting powerhouse of a film. Following the daily routines of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), the maid to a middle class family in 1970s Mexico City, Roma tells us a very human story that helps us recognize the dignity and worth of every human person – and its methods are visceral. Cuaron has specialized in long, uncut takes throughout his career (see "Gravity" with Sandra Bullock), and this technique illustrates some truly breathtaking shots in "Roma." Washing a concrete driveway has never been so beautiful. A trip to the movie theater has never looked so gorgeous. A beach has never looked so good in black-and-white. A lot of the action therefore happens in real time, making some of the movie’s saddest moments even more painful. As modernity and political turmoil creep in, the movie becomes a slow-burner narrative with truly authentic characters at its center. "Roma" is easy to access as a Netflix film, but try and find a way to watch it on the biggest screen you own; it’s worth it.

Take the beautifully sympathetic plight of motherhood, tweak it with just enough of a fresh take, and add in some raw, unapologetic imagery and you have "Tully." Formatted as a character study on an overworked mother who hires a night nanny to watch her (third) newborn, this movie is not only a glorifying tribute to all mothers, but to our innate need to understand ourselves before moving onto bigger things in life. Charlize Theron embodies her character's strengths, failings, flaws, and eccentric nuances so well that we end up caring all the way into the last frame of the film. The movie doubles down with a sort of twist that nails all of its oddities home, and reinforces an idea that we learn from ourselves more than anyone, especially as we bring the joy of children into this cold world.

We've seen movies about stardom before, but while many of those movies tug at heartstrings while still having compelling stories, "Vox Lux" is eager to peel back the layers of manipulation and sadness of fame. The film can feel a bit overcrowded at times, because it encompasses everything from school shootings to drug abuse in its short runtime detailing the life of a popstar, but I for one love these films that offer so much to unpack. It's both a cultural commentary AND a character study. Natalie Portman is unstoppable - dare I say her work here is even more fragile and terrifying than what she pulled off in 2010's "Black Swan?" Every bit of her dramatic charisma as a performer melts into a truly complex and demanding performance. The entire movie carries itself with a decidedly indie vibe - it has some slower European elements combined with more conventional editing. It's a great balance. "Vox Lux" also has some of the best costume designs of the year. And then the music - I really don't want to give too much away, but we don't get much of the pop music until the final act - but it sends the message perfectly. The bits of original score from Scott Walker are haunting and beautiful.