A new year is now upon us and that means a whole host of new films to escape into, but before we step too far into 2019, let’s have a look back at my ten favourite films of 2018.
Honorary Mention – The Greatest Showman
I first watched this Boxing Day of 2017, but considering I watched it a further two times at the cinema, bought the Blu-Ray and the soundtrack has been an almost constant companion on car journeys for the last 12 months, it would be wrong not to be included, somewhere, within my list.
10. Unfriended: Dark Web
This is quite an unusual choice, especially when you compare it to some of the powerhouses that have been released this year, but I went into the cinema with absolutely no idea what to expect and came out completely surprised. The story was gripping and flowed easily but the real selling point for me was that almost the whole movie was played out as though we were watching it on a laptop screen. Unusual yes, but totally worked.
9. Aquaman
The last film I watched in 2018 turned out to be one of my favourites. Visually stunning with a strong cast, Aquaman delivered in a way that Justice League could only dream of. I am also reliably informed that the costume design and cinematography were, and I quote, “Spot on” when compared to the comic books (DC New 52, if you’re interested).
8. Bohemian Rhapsody
Compelling performances from Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy and Joseph Mazzello help tell the story of the legendary rock group Queen and their flamboyant frontman, Freddie Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody is a treat for the ears as well as the eyes and, I’ll call it now, Rami Malek will get an Oscar nod for his performance.
This practically perfect sequel to a time-honoured classic just had to be included in my top ten. Emily Blunt was absolutely delightful as the titular character, taking the iconic role and making it truly her own. Brilliant animation and stunning musical sequences makes this a must-see.
6. A Quiet Place
Minimal dialogue, minimal characters, maximum impact. Word of warning: this film is not suitable for nachos.
5. I, Tonya
The re-telling of the infamous story of figure skater Tonya Harding, I, Tonya was an entertaining, emotional roller-coaster from start to finish. The fantastic portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship lead to an Oscar win for Allison Janney and a nomination for Margot Robbie.
4. Solo: A Star Wars Story
As someone who is not really a fan of the original six movies, Solo increased my investment into the Star Wars franchise with a funny, actioned-packed and visually stunning romp of a movie. Alden Ehrenreich did an excellent job portraying such an iconic and well-loved character. By Hollywood standards, it was a massive flop but that says more about the fickleness of the fans than the quality of the movie.
3. Molly’s Game
Is there anything better than a story that seems far-fetched and unbelievable but actually turns out to be based on real-life events and people. Molly’s Game is one of those movies, and yet again, Jessica Chastain delivers a powerful performance as the titular character.
2. Christopher Robin
I’m not really a Winnie-the-Pooh fan, I know of the characters but had never really read the books or watched the movies as a kid but this film is an absolute delight to watch from start to finish. I was genuinely and literally smiling the whole duration of the film. If you want something that is going to lift your spirits and brighten your day, this is, without a doubt, the perfect film for you.
1. Shape Of Water
It’s not very often that Mark and I will disagree on a film but Shape Of Water completely divided us. Mark hated it, whilst I fell in love with it from the get-go. The acting is superb, the costuming is amazing and the set design is incredible. To top it all off, we actually got to see this a couple of weeks before it’s official release date. A well deserved Oscar winner and hands down, my favourite film of the year.
2018 was a great year for movies and there were some strong contenders that didn’t make it into my list. Thank you for taking the time to read my post, I would love to hear you’re thoughts and your favourite movies.
Interesting list – I want to watch all of these! I only got to the cinema once in 2018, to see Crimes of Grindelwald.
The book ‘Molly’s Game’ is good, of which the film is based on.
I kept meaning to read Molly’s Game, maybe I’ll do it this year. 😀