The Super Network

Alright, I know what you are all thinking: why am I finally posting a top 10 of 2019 list in February when nearly every other film critic has already posted theirs back in late December or early January? If you have been following my writings since I’ve first started writing for the SuperMarcey.com 10 years ago, it’s pretty common knowledge by now that I always leave my top 10 of the year much later than everyone else. Why is that do you ask? The main reason being spend both January and February trying to catch up on some films that I may have missed or didn’t get a chance to check out from the previous year. Also since a lot of the big Oscar contenders usually come out in cinemas in Australia around that time, I like to wait and watch those just to see if any of them have potential to being on my list. So what did I think of 2019 overall in cinema? I have to admit… I didn’t think that 2019 wasn’t a particularly great for films. Don’t get wrong, I didn’t think it was a bad year or anything like that. In fact there were a lot of truly fantastic films that came throughout it. It’s just compared to both 2017 and 2018 which thought were amazing years, 2019 just felt merely ‘good’ to me. I’m not sure why though but I think that it might be that despite a few stand outs, a lot of the films I saw during 2019 were just fine overall and nothing too amazing. Still there was a lot that I did love from last year, which made this list pretty easy to write. Now before I go into my final official top 10 films of 2019 list, here are all my honourable mentions of the year. Enjoy!

NOTE: I’ve only included films that were officially released in theatrical/home media/streaming platform in either Australia, the U.K. or the U.S. during 2019. However some films that I saw at film festivals in 2019 won’t be included if they haven’t had a official release in either of those three countries yet.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS (In Alphabetical Order):

Amazing Grace

The Art Of Self-Defense

The Beach Bum

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Blinded By The Light

Bliss

Dolemite Is My Name

The Farewell

For Sama

Glass

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

High Life

Hotel Mumbai

I Am Mother

The Irishman

Iron Fists And Kung Fu Kicks

It: Chapter Two

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

Joker

Knives Out

Lords Of Chaos

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Marriage Story

Midsommar

One Cut Of The Dead

Pain And Glory

Toy Story 4

Us

…And now onto my official top 10 films of 2019…

10. A HIDDEN LIFE

(Dir: Terrence Malick)

“While its near 3 hour runtime may put some people off, I was simply enthralled and mesmerised by it from beginning to end. Terrence Malick’s latest is an absolutely sublime and visually stunning film that’s a return to the narrative storytelling style of his earlier work.” 

9. THE LIGHTHOUSE

(Dir: Robert Eggers)

“Even though I’m still taking it all in, its fair to say that I absolutely loved it. THE WITCH director Robert Eggers’ sophomore effort is an truly captivating and brilliantly crafted psychological horror film that keeps you engrossed from start to finish. Robert Pattinson & Willem Dafoe were both phenomenal!‬”

8. APOLLO 11

(Dir: Todd Douglas Miller)

“Wow. Just wow. This was an absolutely phenomenal and visually spellbinding documentary on one of mankind’s greatest monumental achievements that’s a riveting experience from beginning to end. The restored archival footage of the event just looks simply amazing.‬”

7. BY THE GRACE OF GOD

(Dir: François Ozon)

“While it’s François Ozon least-feeling Ozon film to date, it’s definitely without a doubt one of his best. This is an absolutely powerful film that tackles its very disturbing subject matter in a complex, layered and sensitive way. The performances are all fantastic. ‬”  

6. THE AUSTRALIAN DREAM

(Dir: Daniel Gordon)

“This documentary about Adam Goodes and the seismic racism that he received during his time as a player in the AFI is one of the best documentaries that I have seen in a long time. It’s a powerful, shocking, thought-provoking and surprisingly even hopeful film that’s an absolute essential viewing for all Australians.”

5. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD

(Dir: Quentin Tarantino)

“One of the best films of the year and pitch perfect in every way. While it’s director Quentin Tarantino’s most loosest film to date in terms of story, it’s still very much strongly rich in character and themes. It’s funny, captivating, nostalgic and brilliantly crafted/acted. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie were all dynamite!” 

4. THE NIGHTINGALE

(Dir: Jennifer Kent)

“Wow. I’m completely stunned. Director Jennifer Kent’s follow-up to her debut film THE BABADOOK is an absolutely powerful, riveting, gut-wrenching and brilliantly made tale of revenge that uses its story to confront us with the horrors of Australia’s colonial past. All three leads were all just simply astonishing in their roles.”

3. AVENGERS: ENDGAME

(Dir: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo)

“After 11 years and 22 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered their absolute magnum opus in the franchise with this truly spectacular fourth instalment of THE AVENGERS series. It was everything I wanted from a blockbuster and more. It’s hugely entertaining, hilarious, moving, captivating and completely awesome!”

2. DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE

(Dir: S. Craig Zahler)

“While BONE TOMOHAWK writer/director S. Craig Zahler’s latest will definitely be his most divisive film to date due to its long running time and controversial elements, I honestly think it’s without a doubt his best work yet. It’s an incredibly absorbing film that I found to be equally tense, riveting, bizarre, challenging and thought-provoking.”

1. PARASITE

(Dir: Bong Joon-ho)

“Oh, man. Believe the hype, everyone! This was absolutely incredible and without a shred a doubt Bong Joon-ho’s best film to date. This was a truly original, unpredictable and darkly satirical comedy/drama that’s brilliantly put together in every single way. The cast, script and direction were all just pitch perfect. It’s a true blue masterpiece that definitely deserves the spot of being my number one film of 2019 for sure.”

Well, there you have it. Those are my official top 10 films of 2019. Agree or disagree? Let your voices be heard in the comments below or on the official Super Network Facebook page!

Article written by Bede Jermyn