My Top Ten 2018: Gene Gosewehr
My list, no doubt, reflects what a populist movie-goer might compile by the end of the year. For that I do not apologize, I only say that I’m pleased that my list has exactly nothing in common with Blake’s list.
#10: Deadpool 2
Maybe funnier than the first; not sure it’s as strong emotionally when it tries to be, but if this isn’t the best post-credit scene ever I don’t know what is!
#9: First Man
As a Purdue graduate just like (exactly like) Neil Armstrong (puffs pipe), I feel an overbearing sense of offense that there wasn’t a single Purdue flag in this entire film! Seriously though, there is a jazz musical cue in this at the point in which they discover a spacecraft they were searching for that is worth the price of admission alone. And I swear the seat in my old-fashioned 2D theater was shaking with every takeoff.
#8: Mission: Impossible — Fallout
A masterful action film, perfectly weaving years-long storylines and pivoting off of Ethan Hunt’s character flaw (if it is one). There is even a scene solely for a verbal description of Ethan’s dilemma; usually a no-no, but it somehow works without bogging things down. Cavill is a good addition but my only two complaints are with the execution of his character; 1) For as hulking as he is, and the reputation he holds, he sure isn’t too effective in many fight scenes. 2) I really would’ve preferred his true part in the story to have been a better reveal. Far too easy to spot. Regardless, I haven’t felt this tense in a standard action flick in a while. The stunts are amazing and Hunt’s love for his team remains a strong undertone that the film continues to play off and I loved that.
#7: Black Panther
This strikes me as one that will get better as I rewatch it. And it is already very good! Such a thorough expansion of the character and the world of Wakanda. Not only is this dealing with real world parallels of racism, slavery, and ability leading to responsibility, but there is both a general and specific examination of grievances against Wakanda. That’s tough to pull off! Michael B. Jordan owns every scene. Coogler knows exactly how to handle him. We get a couple of the best female characters in the entire Marvel universe. And we get a very satisfying arc from the lead.
#6: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
While Spider-Man might be the superhero with the most overtold origin, Into the Spider-Verse finds numerous ways to put a new spin on everything and force the audience to rethink the traditional line of great power imbuing us with great responsibility.
#5: Ready Player One
Talk about being completely engulfed in a world and taken along for the ride. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen, constantly looking for every pop culture Easter egg or clue. This movie is cookie-cutter made for millennials, playing off love for technology, social media, and all things that detach us from the world to ultimately leave us with a good lesson about unplugging from devices and plugging into the real world.
#4: A Star Is Born
Getting chills and nearly brought to tears in the same movie is a pretty solid indicator for me of its quality. Lady Gaga was excellent, I felt like she was channeling feelings from her own life and letting us all witness her joy and trials. Bradley Cooper and Sam Elliott are an amazing pairing, and this is the greatest range I think I’ve ever seen from Elliott. Nearly every character earns compassion AND ridicule at some point. Loved almost every minute of it!
#3: Creed II
I’m not crying, you’re crying! There were so many ways this movie could’ve just rehashed the Rocky 4 storyline, and there were so many ways that it did… and it was still amazing! None of it felt “done already”: Viktor Drago had built in sympathy, Adonis was traveling the same path that Rocky was in Rocky 3 in needing to discover what he was fighting for. And in so many ways this was like a poem of true manliness in how it explored Adonis’ family, his motivation, his identity, and his relationship with Rocky. Viktor Drago was nearly as imposing as his father and the character tension was so well handled. That added a very valuable element I wasn’t expecting.
#2: A Quiet Place
I hate subjecting myself to intentionally having the life scared out of… myself. I can count on one, maybe two hands the number of horror or thriller movies I have purposefully set down to watch in the last four or five years. I am far from an expert in critiquing this genre, but man I think this movie was terrific! Not only did this check all the boxes for jump scares, predictable scares, and “that was such a slow reveal why did I jump 3 feet out of my seat“ scares, the weight of hopelessness in this world was heavy. John Krasinski deserves every round of applause for A Quiet Place.
#1: Avengers: Infinity War
Usually, I intentionally try not to have a superhero movie as my favorite movie of the year. I like to try and pick less of a blockbuster, maybe something a bit under the radar, so I look more cinematically informed. Heck with that! Infinity War is an amazing culmination of a years-long story. The convergence of so many characters and plotlines is a superlative feat, and it accomplished this while laughing in the face of every critic that says Marvel can’t do a good villain.
