I've been thinking a lot, quite often, about the films from 2018 that have stood out to me the most, as well as what they collectively represent. For one thing, many of them deal with the fears of growing up in this current day and age, especially for parents regarding what their children are being raised in. Many of these films also offer hopes and changes that can ideally be pursued, and not just mere audience escapism for two hours. Finally, considering last year's Best Actress Oscar-winner Frances McDormand and her stance on "inclusion riders" in Hollywood during her acceptance speech, the strongest films and stories this year, regardless of age, race, gender, personality, ethnicity, culture and the like, tell us, "Anything is possible."
Before I get into that, here are some notable mentions that didn't quite make my list, but I still liked. (You can read my reviews for each of these films by clicking on the respective film title.)
A movie that finally gives the Transformers franchise back some dignity, with a smaller, more involving, story, and few robots at the center, not to mention a perfect Hailee Steinfeld cast opposite the yellow VW beetle. Real, genuine heart, as well as massive (and clear) action sequences, plus original G1 designs of the characters from the cartoon series of the 1980s. Now that's "more than meets the eye."
A.A. Milne's timeless plush characters from "Winnie the Pooh" are brought to CGI life in director Marc Forster's live-action update, centered on a grown-up version of the titular character (a brilliant Ewan McGregor), who is reminded of his childhood and his important role as a family man. Voice actor Jim Cummings (who has voiced the "bear of very little brain" for the last three decades) deserves long-overdue praise.
This National Geographic-produced documentary chronicles the journey of free solo climber Alex Honnold as he climbs El Capitan, an incredible yet dangerous feat. A thrilling and unexpectedly moving experience that sets a new benchmark for "anything is possible," puts you right up there on the climb and doesn't let go.
In this inspired account of the real-life friendship between Italian-American bouncer Tony Vallelonga and concert pianist Don Shirley in the 1960s Deep South, Viggo Mortenson and Mahershala Ali, respectfully, give two of the year's best performances in a story not so much about tensions between races, but between classes and cultures.
If faith-based films have another benchmark to turn to, they have this well-made dramatization of the life of MercyMe frontman Bart Millard and the story behind the hit song, "I Can Only Imagine". The film does suffer from a few corny moments, but its heart is in the right place with the central conflict and relationship between Millard (Broadway actor J. Michael Finley) and his abusive father (Dennis Quaid). A worthwhile viewing.
Wes Anderson's second stop-motion feature (after 2009's Fantastic Mr. Fox) is a terrific achievement. While not really a film for children, due to its mature themes and some content concerns, its animation style, superb voice cast (especially the canines who populate this world), first-rate filmmaking and storytelling techniques will intrigue and engage true cinephiles. As Bill Murray's baseball mascot Boss would say, "Wow!"
***
And now, here are my favorite films from 2018:
The most operatic of the Mission: Impossible films to date, this sixth installment finds IMF agent Ethan Hunt searching for an escaped adversary, while questioning the notion of orders, choices and walking away from them or not, and what is considered "for the greater good." The emotional weight, personal stakes, and complexities do make the film convoluted at times. Still, it stands as big, epic, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat, in the best sense of those words, with Cruise still pulling out all the stops in full-on (and real) action, including a 360-degree helicopter drop and a 25,000-foot HALO plane jump. Talk about Cruise control!
Arcade "bad guy" Wreck-It Ralph and go-kart racer Vanellope journey to the World Wide Web in search of a spare part for the latter's game. It becomes an adventure that is, perhaps, the best visualization of our current social media world, as well as an amalgamation of pop culture and Disney references in the late decade. (It even addresses and pokes fun at the many tropes of Disney princesses since the 1930s--yes, they're all here, too.) But the film's central relationship drives everything, resulting in a deeper story and rare sequel that takes a radical departure from its predecessor without abandoning its heartstrings.
A worthwhile successor to the 1964 Disney classic, based on P.L. Travers' beloved books about the "practically perfect" nanny who changes the lives of the Banks family. Emily Blunt lovingly makes the role (originated by Julie Andrews) her own, while Lin-Manuel Miranda adds cheeriness to this showstopping experience that represents what family films should be. And wait 'til you see the lovely (hand-drawn) animated sequence. A wonderful, magical film.
An astounding, haunting and raw look at NASA's near-decade-long journey to get to the moon, with the story of Neil Armstrong at the center. With skillful direction from Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land), engrossing performances from Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy (as Neil & Janet Armstrong, respectively), and phenomenal technical achievements in sound, practical effects, photography, and music, this is, to date, the most grounded space-related film of the decade, practically and emotionally.
Director and co-writer Debra Granik (Winter's Bone) adapts Peter Rock's novel "My Abandonment" into a story of a father-daughter who live off the outskirts of Oregon, and are forced back into society, only to escape again. A thoroughly moving and aching look at PTSD, family dynamics, the concept of home, and our relationship with nature, with Ben Foster and newcomer Thomasin McKenzie delivering exceptional performances.
Director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom)'s excellent documentary on the life of pioneering children's television host Fred Rogers chronicles the late auteur's upbringing, and his ideals in educating children and helping them through life via his television series, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Rogers, now more than ever, represents the kind of example and inspiration we need.
The most microscopic view of Twenty-First Century social and adolescent anxiety. Bo Burnham's writing and directing is an impressive debut, as is breakout star Elsie Fisher's thoroughly-relatable performance of a precocious teenage girl during her last week of middle school. Gucci!
The year's most striking film image belongs to Emily Blunt hiding in a bathtub, pregnant and panicking, from frightening creatures. A high-concept horror-thriller centered on a family in a post-apocalyptic world, where any noise leads to death, doesn't sound like much at first. But director/co-star John Krasinski, screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and an expert sound team at ILM have crafted, in a way, a silent film for the genre (and a game-changer, at that), centered on the fears of parenthood, with very poignant and emotion-driven performances, rounded out by Krasinski, real-life wife Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe. A Quiet Place makes more than mere sudden noise.
An unprecedented feat of creativity, imagination, animation and filmmaking, Spider-Verse follows a new Spider-Man, Miles Morales, on a mission to stop the villainous Kingpin from using a technological device from tearing New York City and other worlds apart. Miles is joined by fellow webslingers from multiple dimensions (including an older Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, manga whiz Peni Parker, detective Spider-Man Noir, and the cartoonish Spider-Ham), transcending generations, ages, ethnicities, genders, and genres. A cinematic game-changer that puts a new, um, spin on the theme that anyone can be a hero.
Based on the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, Black Panther has deservedly become a worldwide phenomenon. (And not just for people of color, might I add.) It doesn't walk or talk or feel anything like a "superhero" story. Everything about this film is so first-rate and radical, from production design to visual effects (the world of Wakanda is amazing) to writing to directing (thank you, Ryan Coogler) to producing (thank you, Kevin Feige). And its well-rounded characters (played by Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita N'Yongo, Dania Gurira, Leticia Wright, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, Winston Duke, Daniel Kuluuya, Forrest Whitacker, Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis) couldn't be better, providing significant cultural relevance and themes that are powerful; others, challenging; and others, inspiring. If you only see one Marvel Cinematic Universe film in your life, this is the one to see!
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