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Films must-watch 2019
Reviews
Uncut Gems (2019)
Never been so excited about a basketball match !
Uncut Gems is one of those films when you watch it, you feel unconfident about all that's going to happen. It's a very original story, directed by visionary directors - and starring a FANTASTIC Adam Sandler. It is so intense to watch: emotional and thrilling at the same time, and that's what I love in films, when they can bring those weird sensations into your body. The ending is just WTF? (But in a positive way). It was shocking and so sad at the same time. I didn't expect it at all. I also love when movies make you ask questions at the end of it, and Uncut Gems did that. It's a pure gem for me, of course, sometimes there was some little holes in the plot, but they were needed to calm down the audience a little bit.
PS: The Soundtrack and original music is INSANE
1917 (2019)
Perfect in its way!
1917 is the story of brotherhood and friendship during the war. What's beautiful in 1917 is that it's a very simple story, a basic plot but told with so much ambiguity and depth.
Like Roma last year, 1917 is definitely an immersive film, it enhances the conditions of human beings during war. The one-take technic makes it more immersive and easily brings emotions, suspense and tension to the simple plot.
Technically, it's 10/10. The cinematography is PERFECT. The set decoration is so specific and accurate. The score brings emotions and the sounds and effects are intense. It seems that all reunites to make it a good movie.
Now, why 9 not 10 out of 10. I think it misses something that could have made it the best of the year. And that missing thing is definitely on the plot which is too simple, and predictable for me. I think they could've had one more emotional climax of an intensity like no other scene in the film, it would've been perfect. Not saying that there's no emotional scene of the film (there are plenty actually), but those scenes are like on the same level of emotional degree. Another one with a little bit more would've fit perfectly.
Now, I think it's still a frontrunner for Best Picture, though there are so many great films in competition that I think everything's possible now.
The Two Popes (2019)
A Very Kind Buddy Movie!
(Before starting, I'd say I've also watched and rated 9/10 the documentary "Hail Satan" which I think y'all should watch too lol)
For me, The Two Popes is the buddy-movie of the year. The script is funny, as well as inspiring and Moving. I found the dialogues perfectly shaped, making it easier to watch.
At a certain point, I almost thought it was real, like a documentary or a reality show, not just acting. The similarities of the actors (mainly Pryce) to the characters they play are troubling. It is gueninely immersive.
Now, I'd like to talk about the way this film teaches so many things, so many morals. I won't spoil anything but this shows humanity (that's it): a human is never flawless, and kindness deals with that. This Movie is a pure lesson of kindness, of friendship.
To end with, I met Pope Francis this year during his trip to Madagascar, I've learned so much things from him, from what he's doing (even though I'm not catholic at all), and this Movie is a good tribute to the good man he is, truly.
Hail Satan? (2019)
A genius satire ! (Not what you think)
I always thought satanists were worshipping evil until I saw this documentary.
As a Christian, I was a bit confused on whether it was blasphemy to christianity or not. Actually it's not. Satan here is not what you think, but a representation and symbolism of pluralism, of liberty of religion. In that way, you can be Christian and Satanic at the same time (watch the film, you'll understand better).
The message is that we are living in a society where everyone, regardless their religion, should be treated equally, even if they don't fit to the majority of people or community. Hail Satan? through the satanic temple is a satire to the fact that America is a Christian nation. It is even a mockery to the real theist satanism which worships evil for real, it encourages people to recognize the fact that everyone can cohabit with each other.
The only fact that upsets me is that somehow, the satanic temple is sometimes disrespecting other religions with their "rituals" (which are not Real rituals), but I think the Baphomet protest was a genius idea to reach their goal.
Just keep in mind (if you are religious) that the people in this film don't mind actually about worshipping Satan. They just want to protest about inequality, and the fact that Christianity is more privileged and enhanced in America than other religions, and that Christianity dictates the rules in America, a nation where freedom of religion is in the constitution.
Climax (2018)
A New Movie Experience!
"Climax" is intriguing from the very first scene introducing the cast and the premise. The émotions of fears and suspense are here from the very beginning. It has such an intensity, numbed with that brilliant cinematography and soundtrack. Then, it turns onto a very realistic impromptu scene with a terrific tearful and angry story that will only makes you speechless. It also delivers such an irony and satire about life itself, and ends with an extraordinary long shot drama where "Living in collective seems to be impossible". Climax is a real new experience into the horror and psycho genre movie for me. Seemed shocked but deeply intrigued and concerned.
The Souvenir (2019)
A Bad Souvenir for me!
First of all, I am sure "The Souvenir" was good to a lot of people. I mean, if it got 92/100 on Metacritic and ended up in the year-end lists of so many reviewers, it's for something.
Now, I'll be frank, I didn't finish it. It was sooo slow and so painful to watch. I gave it a chance After watching the first 30 min but then, I was so bored, yawning every minute I think. I can understand the depth of the picture, and for people saying what's the point? The point is clear, the message is clear (Love is blind somehow) but told with so much darkness and a horrific storytelling. I mean, it's like this film was voluntarily done to bore the audience, to "force" them to think about the plot. For some other pictures, it works, but it didn't for this one (to me).
That said, actings from the 2 main characters are fabulous. Cinematography is OK. Costume design and soundtrack as well (you were really into the 80s watching it) but ... UGH! It was not for me, unfortunately.
Booksmart (2019)
I FELT IT!
You know what is for me a great picture? It's a picture that brings you the most emotion, emotion including grief and anger. With Booksmart, emotion came so easily, from laughters to sadness and compassion. This film brought tears to my eyes!
I really don't get those bad reviews from the audience when a movie like this can not only convey emotional moments but also when it can teach you things about life. It really brought me to think about my life, like, really. Of course, the plot seems like a bit of "not really realistic" but the emotional goals are reached so it doesn't really matter. Since Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name, this is the most experimental picture about youth I've seen. More, the music chosen fits perfectly in every situation and scene of the movie, with an admirable directing debut from Olivia Wilde.
The Farewell (2019)
Human and cultural !
The Farewell, is a little Independent film, not technically well made but emotionally satisfying. The story tells about a young woman and a family, trying to get closer of their dying grandma. It shows Chinese and Eastern cultural identities and the humanity that culture involves.
It is a Crowd-pleaser film, that will bring you emotion and tell you so many thing. However, it's thenmovie to watch if you really want to cry or have intense moments of emotion. It's a sweet little drama so don't expect too much. Overall, I really liked spending my time for this movie, mainly with a family member.
Joker (2019)
A ½ excitement for an average film!
I'm kind of mixed about this Picture and was a little confused about rating it. Globally, it is no way a bad movie, neither a very good one. The film is boring during the first half, and exciting in the second half. It is easily understandable, and the plot is clear, however, it's painful to watch sometimes. The films contains no positivity, no optimism. All seems sad and bad. Then, what's good about it? It's a psychological film, so you can "enjoy" an evolution of the character, and of the set. Then, there is a real excitement felt during the last 30 min of the film, plus a brilliant Oscar-worthy acting by Joaquin Phoenix, and political allusions about the bad time we are living now. It can make you aware and think about the situation, but doesn't give you any solution at all. Overall, it's an exciting but too much violent movie. Quite frankly, Best Actor in a Leading Role is the only Oscar it could get, and maybe a little chance with Best Film Editing and Original Score.
Dolor y gloria (2019)
Pure Almodovar !
A bit skeptical in the beginning, Almodovar knows how to capture your feelings and curiosity within the first minutes. The Picture is crafted with a brilliant cinematography and memorable acting by Antonio Banderas. The film explores the subjects of childhood, love, family, drugs and once you're really in, there's no way to escape. 2 hours would seem so short.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Full Emotion in HQ please!
I had a very high expectation for "Parasite", I believed the hype and I was right! 'Parasite' is what we can call a high level motion Picture in terms of everything. The story itself is funny, intense, terrific and dramatic at the same Time. You go through a lot of emotion, from an enormous laughter to an enormous sadness, to compassion and suspense. It shows not only a society problem but also a suggestion of solution. More, the film is perfectly directed, written and shot, to make you intro it easily. The unanimous Palme d'Or is 100% deserved. See it by yourself, believe the hype, and you'll never want it to finish. Congratulations Bong!
Taxi Driver (1976)
Intriguing only after you watch it!
So "Taxi Driver" is basically a film that makes you think and try to understand, about the storyline for 2 hours. You never see any direct explanation during the film and try to wonder what is going on?
It's all about craziness. It's a mathematic problem, when you should solve both Schrader's theories and Scorsese's mind to translate Schrader's theories. It's complicated. One of those films who wins the Palme d'Or in Cannes. Though, it's bizarre how you still think about the film after you've watched it, how you still try to understand why he tried to kill Palantine? For example.
You have a lot of theories about the film. Just try to appreciate it and believe in your views and interpretations.
127 Hours (2010)
Breathtaking!
127 hours was released 9 years ago and it's the first Time I see it. Never been attracted to the plot describing a film in a single place with a single man. But, when I decided to watch it, I was blown away, got emotional. Danny Boyle is actually one of the best. I felt adrenaline watching this and I absolutely admire the courage of Aron, perfectly interpreted by Franco, doing all the things and hoping to continue his life. The message says you not to give up. Loved it! Plus, the directing really brings you inside the film with Franco. This is one of the film you can feel though it's actually impossible that you'll live the same situation.
10/10 from me
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Technique saved the monotony of the film!
"If Beale Street Could Talk" is a very beautiful film to watch. Technically, it is perfect. Barry Jenkins (Directing) and James Laxton (Cinematography) were robbed for Oscar nominations, they deserved it. The cinematography and above everything, the music is perfect and makes it more intriguing, and keeps you into watching the film until the end. That said, if you put out all of those technical stuff, the story itself seems too basic and simplistic for me. The story was slow and a little bit flat. All the movie was saved by the beautiful shots and music. Still, the story is touching but just too monotonous.
Beoning (2018)
An in-depth troubling thriller!
"Burning" is a film of unparalleled mystery that, instead of being a mere entertainment, becomes a complex box of riddles. The slowness of the first hour of the film, makes you wonder what is the goal? Where is the story? Then it becomes more and more intriguing, exciting to such an extent that you do not want the film to end anymore. "Burning" keeps you going for hours, makes your heart beat faster, and makes your brain think more than usual. For me, the film is a masterpiece, in its realization that in its history. The actors are just sensational. The only downside for me is the quite considerable length of the introduction of the film to the thriller, which could take away the envy of some people to finish it. But patience is worth it, Burning strikes in the depth.
Boy Erased (2018)
Important but told too softly!
Boy Erased is a very important film, not only for LGBTQ people, but also for everyone who don't know yet what is really going on. Still today, LGBTQ people are marginalized in all countries in the World, and still, 150+ countries don't recognize Gay couples, and consider them as abnormal. Boy Erased puts this issue into a screen to question those people who are still in the ignorance of what is the reality behind the relationship between God and gay people. Does God really hate them, or are the humans trying to insist on that point? Still, we don't know. No one has talked directly to God yet as far as I know. The 2 hours of Boy Erased and the life of Garrad Conley are just trying to Say: Whatever our faith is, we are all humans, we only have one life and there are Things we can change, there are we can't, because we're born this way. The film is simply an inspiration for everyone who tries to have an integrity among everyone and make good deeds around them.
Now, why only 7?
Boy Erased might be socially very important, but as a motion picture, it should have been better. They should have added more scenes (like violent scenes) to make it have even more impact.
With some better actings, some emotional sets, and some more technical editings which would have enhanced the violence of those acts told and shown in the film (like they did on "Moonlight"), it would have been more successful in its goal to reach the unreachable conservative audience. It might ruin the "adaptation" you may say, but it wouldn't have ruined the story itself.
That said, Boy Erased is still a very good movie and deserves all the attention it has now.
Eighth Grade (2018)
Pictured Honest Advices to All of Us!
"Eighth Grade" is a well-written film by Burnham who doesn't hesitate to talk straight about reality. That film is so real and enhance thé life of so many Young people scared about growing old.
This film, as simple as it is, Can give courage to those people afraid of facing their current lives, and even more scared about facing their future. Eighth Grade is just tons of advices mixed into a motion picture to make young people feel confident as they really are.
I'm not giving more than 7 because it seems like there are something missing, like more deep and emotional scenes should be added, but the content is clear and the message is sent.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Breathtaking, mindblowing, heartmelting, entertaining
Bohemian Rhapsody is for sure one of best musical biopic of the past 10 years. I don't think it decreases the legacy of Queen or Freddie's neither.
The film has just some scenes that brings the emotions that should be brought when you watch a drama film, when you watch a musical film.
There are just more than one single climax, you don't feel goosebumps only once. Plus, Rami Malek's acting is perfect, and other members show some extraordinary similarities with the real Queen members. The timing between music, drama and storytelling is just on point and as a Queen lover, you just fall in love with this film, which talks Friendship, love, music and passion. I mean it's a crowd-pleaser film, and don't Say this often, but critics are horribly wrong.
This film is PERFECT: The storytelling: perfect, the acting: perfect, the music: perfect. I don't really find any failure with this movie, but unfortunately, it's not winning best picture because: 1) its social message is less important than other films this year 2) Some films are technically more sophisticated than this one.
That said, how the hell this Masterpiece got only 49/100 rating by the critics ? How Dare they?
Vice (2018)
A terribly hysterical satire!
Vice is actually a very hysterical and ironical movie that in my point of view shouldn't be told like that.
On the one hand, it is hilarious and the characters are so well-played by the actors. But in my opinion, this film is too political. I mean, it's like an undeserved revenge to the acts done by Potus and VP at that time, which are past now.
Vice targets Cheney and hits him hard with a perfectly-written satire by McKay, but that said, everyone has its political view and it's hard to blame and target Cheney hard for what have been done between 2001-2008, and tell his bad manners in a film. I thought movies were made for everyone, and it shouldn't be Hollywood's purpose to change Republicans into Democrats. This movie even brings hatred and division to some people.
All that said: I think Bale's work is perfect, make up artists' works were perfect. The satire itself is well-written and provocative as I think, the director wanted it to be. "Vice" 's message was clear but not that fair I think. It's difficult to give it 10/10 as its message can divide people and disrepect someone still alive and still living in America.
Beautiful Boy (2018)
More than a film!
Beautiful Boy" is a very objective film. It's not the film that want to entertain the audience. The objective of this film goes far beyond. Forget about the technics, the budget ... And focus about what the film has to tell you. The message is clear: Drug is a very bad thing, for you who take it, and for Your family - which is the most important thing you Can have. I don't really care about the quality of the adaptation, or the way it differs to the book, "Beautiful Boy" should be seen because not everybody reads, and the way Chalamet and Carell are acting in the film makes it immersive and not matter how much, relatable. BEAUTIFUL!
Green Book (2018)
Smart storytelling of the Humanity enhancement!
Green Book is litterally the celebration of Friendship and Humanity in 2 hours! It just melts Your Heart to see the mutual understanding between the two main characters in the film that It really goes out of the screen! Green Book has a simple storyline but a strong message to share: That despite differences and diversity, we are all humans. Farrelly tells it perfectly in the film. What I like in Green Book that I might not like in other films, it's that It goes straight to the point, to what It should tell first. Mahershala Ali's acting is stunning, that I think he's a true contender for a second Oscar; Mortensen's performance is breathtaking as well. Green Book is the proof that you don't have to bring tons of technics to have a good movie, or to be recognized at the Academy Awards for example. A strong story is enough, and stories are the main power of movies in our society.
The Old Man & the Gun (2018)
Slow but enjoyable film!
Brilliant and sweet acting by Redford and Affleck. The film not only talks about criminality but also, about humanity. I liked that the criminal here isn't always represented as "THE EVIL" knowing everyone is human and despite all the Bad Things human Can do, it Always has a positive side. The films relates also Friendship and love to me, because no matter what, love is love ; people are humans. However, what I disliked about the film was the little disorder and long storytelling of the first 30 mn which also should had more actions, but the remaining parts were definitely enjoyable.
Roma (2018)
Magically immersive !
I expected so much about Roma, and I got the unexpexted: Simplicity! The film is a visual and emotional immersion to the simple Life of that family, with their maid. Roma simply captivates, the story told is that kind of story that can happen in real life, in a real family ... It shows humanity and reality! Yes it is not like those extraordinary stories who won Oscars (The Shape of Water, Birdman, Three Billboards ...) It's simple but Magic, it will make you fall in love with ... love, life and make you conscious to share love to everyone around you. Technically, Roma is just "Perfect", beautifully shot and edited. Thank God we have Cuarón in our lives to make those beautiful movies.
Mommy (2014)
Stunning!
"Mommy" is one the best films I've ever seen in my entire Life. Dolan plays with our emotions all along the film. The actings and cinematography are so real that you do deep into it the first minutes you watch it. It tells a lot about love and life and how to spend it, it tells a lot about being strong and fight for what you love, despite the numerous problems you can fight. It's simply a Masterpiece !
The Children Act (2017)
Soft film but Brilliant acting by Thompson!
The film itself is a good drama, but watching it seems a bit like watching "The Young and the Restless". There wasn't a scene that gave you that feeling like you feel real emotions watching the film. You just feel sadness from the beginning to the end. No breaking moments. That said, the story has a message to be told, is in a pragmatic and possible context and can make you think about what is morally right or not. The screenplay is soft. It could've been better !