Ivy's Top Ten Films of 2019
Looking back, 2019 was a great year for film, especially for women filmmakers. When I was thinking of which films to include in my list, I was struck by how many films I’ve seen this year that were directed by women. Now, I don’t know whether this is simply a cause of my own selective viewing habits or whether it is symptomatic of a wider positive change in the industry, but whatever it is, I’ve been happy to see increased representation. As always, it’s hard to make a definitive list, however, these are the films from the past year I’d personally encourage people to see.
Just a little caveat before I get into my ranking regarding the differences between US release dates and the rest of the world. As I’ve recently moved back to the UK from the States, I’m basing my list on the films which have been released in the UK in 2019, rather than in the US. Because of this, there are a few films like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite and Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse which I’m sure might’ve made my list if I had the chance to see them. Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait until early 2020 for their UK releases. But with that aside, here are my favourite ten films of 2019…
10. The Souvenir
Joanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical tale may have earned her the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, but on my list, it will have to settle for the ten spot. Honor Swinton Byrne stars as Julie, an aspiring young filmmaker struggling to break out of her privileged bubble whilst embroiled in a toxic relationship with an older man named Anthony (Tom Burke). Hogg occasionally veers into the over-indulgent, but the film evinces a real sense of intimacy and pain as Julie remains involved with someone dealing with addiction. The Souvenir is beautifully shot and earns its place at the tail end of my list with bonus points for its cameo performance by Richard Ayoade.
9. Booksmart
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut breathes fresh air into the coming-of-age comedy. Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) played it safe throughout high school to get into elite colleges, but on the day before graduation, the pair realize that they missed out on all the fun. In a last-ditch effort, they roam the streets of L.A. searching for a party where they hope to finally let loose and have the best night of their lives. What might sound like a trite remake of films like Superbad and Dazed and Confused, Booksmart stands on its own as one of the most well-rounded teen movies of its kind. Full of charm, cringe-worthy moments, and laughs to boot, Wilde delivers an instant feel-good favourite.
8. Knives Out
Well, I do declare! Who would’ve thought a who-dunnit would make my list? With a cast including the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Colette, Christopher Plummer, and Don Johnson, Knives Out is an all-star murder mystery that certainly took me by surprise. When a private detective (Daniel Craig) and police lieutenant (LaKeith Stanfield) try to uncover the truth behind the death of famous crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Plummer), everyone gets more than they bargained for when lies start to unravel and motivations become exposed. Director Rian Johnson unexpectedly hits all the right notes with this Agatha-Christie-style comedy-thriller that leans into its own parodic form with great effect.
7. Birds of Passage
Greed, revenge, and family intermingle in Ciro Guerra’s and Cristina Gallego’s visually stunning epic: Birds of Passage. Set in the late 60s and 70s, a Wayuu family becomes entangled in the Columbian drug trade, forcing them to negotiate between tradition and the prospect of material wealth. Under the pressures of their changing social order, conflict arises within the family and wider community that spirals, quite ruinously, out of control. With striking cinematography, it’s a beautifully disarming tale of crime and passion that will linger in your mind’s eye long after watching.
6. For Sama
One of the most affecting documentaries I’ve ever seen, For Sama tells the story of Waad al-Kateab and her family as they struggle through five years of uprising in Aleppo, Syria. As their city and life crumbles around them, al-Kateab documents her community’s resilience and determination in the face of brutal air-strikes and relentless attacks on civilians. Torn at the prospect of fleeing the rebel-held city for the sake of her new-born daughter, Sama, al-Kateab depicts the difficulty in choosing to fight for freedom when the cost might be the lives of the people you care about most. Heart-breaking and viscerally honest, this is without a doubt one of the most important films to be made in recent years.
5. The Farewell
Lulu Wang pulls on the heart strings with this bitter-sweet tearjerker that follows a Chinese American family coming together to say goodbye to their terminally ill matriarch, Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao). Awkwafina stars as Billi, who has to reconcile traditional Chinese values with her own emotions as the family decides whether to tell Nai Nai about her diagnosis. Based partly on her own life, Wang delivers a tragicomedy that certainly feels authentic and heartfelt. Break out the Kleenex, it’s a weepy one!
4. Monos
Concealed on an ethereal mountaintop somewhere in the South American wilderness, a band of rigorously trained teenagers are tasked with guarding a prisoner of war by an enigmatic militia called ‘the Organisation’. When the group are forced to negotiate democracy and codes of morality, their relationships become increasingly strained in this Lord of the Flies-esque tale. Brutal, poignant, and unforgiving, Alejandro Landes’ masterpiece left me both awestruck and deeply unsettled.
3. Bait
Bait is probably one of the most unique films I’ve seen this year, both stylistically and thematically. Set in Cornwall, the film follows Martin (Edward Rowe) as he struggles to make ends meet in a small fishing village forever changed by the growing number of wealthy tourists crowding out locals with second homes and side-hustles. Mark Jenkins draws on contemporary political and class-related tensions to paint an astute and acerbic picture of the current British landscape. Shot on 16mm film, and hand-processed by Jenkins himself, this film has a distinct quality that–alongside the intriguing sound design–results in a highly memorable and affecting cinematic experience.
2. Marriage Story
I’m a big Noah Baumbach fan–Frances Ha is one of my all-time favourite films–so it’s no surprise to me that his latest film comes in at a very close second in my annual ranking. That being said, I’ve been disappointed in some of his most recent works (While We’re Young in particular), so I was really hoping Marriage Story would restore my faith in Baumbach. Luckily, it did. Everyone is talking about Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson’s performances as Charlie and Nicole, the story’s central couple in the throes of divorce, and I’m completely on board with the hype. As Charlie and Nicole try to negotiate custody and their changing relationship, tensions mount and communication breaks down. Baumbach has an affinity for family dramas, and he’s hit the nail on the head with Marriage Story. Truthfully and painfully, he depicts the bitterness that arises during the process of separation. It’s not all doom and gloom; there are plenty of moments that will make you smile, plus (spoiler alert) Adam Driver sings Sondheim’s ‘Being Alive,’ which stands as one of the best moments in recent cinematic history. All in all, Marriage Story is a remarkable film. If you missed it in theatres, it’s on Netflix so there’s really no excuse not to see it!
1. Little Women
Coming in at number one on my list of favourite films of the year is Greta Gerwig’s phenomenal adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. A much-loved tale, Little Women tells the story of four sisters coming of age in Concord, Massachusetts in the years following the Civil War. Whilst this is a period film, Gerwig brings something quite special to her retelling that feels surprisingly modern and yet honest to Alcott’s words. It’s wonderfully acted, and with a cast including some of my favourites –Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet–it would be hard for me not to love this film. Charming, heart-warming, and desperately sad at times, I was smiling through tears from start to finish, and I left the theatre wanting to live through it all over again. Power-couple Gerwig and Baumbach are releasing their ‘Barbie’ film soon, and whilst I’m certainly waiting with bated breath, I can’t wait to see what they can come up with.
