A combination of a publication break and some personal travel plans conspired to keep me away from the movie theater in time for this edition of the Sun Day. So, I thought I would take an early look at the year in movies so far.
2019 has actually been an outstanding year for decent films.Ā Close to two thirds of the movies Iāve reported on have been worth seeing. Last year less than one third were worth my time or yours, and that of course is always one manās opinion. In addition there are some (purportedly) excellent films coming out before the end of the year, we of course have to wait and see.
Iāll start with the five best movies Iāve seen this year. Heads and shoulders above all is Judy, one of the two or three best films of the past several years. Renee Zellwegerās portrayal of Judy Garland is unsurpassed, if you havenāt seen it youāre missing out. 2.) Lion King, the photorealistic animation directed by Jon Favreau is a sight to see, and the story isnāt all bad, particularly if like me youād never seen it before.Ā The fact that it is still running on stage after 8000 + performances speaks for itself. 3) Downton Abbey, better than ever on the big screen, with some twists in the plot that alone made it worth seeing. The Abbey will never be quite the same after the King and Queen come for an overnight visit, and it looks like the door might have been left open for the story to continue. 4) The Art of Racing in the Rain, the story of a racecar driver and his dog Enzo, named after you know who.Ā The dog narrates the story, voiced over by Kevin Costner. I will never forget the closing scenes, one of them with Enzo in the passenger seat of a Ferrari, top down while his master roars around the track at 200 MPH. 5) Yesterday, a creative and entertaining story about a brief glitch in the universe, and when it was over three things had changed.Ā Thereād never been cigarettes, Coca Cola, or the Beatles. Only one person remembered the Beatles, and it happened to be a young singer and composer, who had copies of all their music. Let your imagination run with that one.
The best performances Iāve seen so far, 1) Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland in Judy. Renee does all the singing and sounds almost as good as Judy herself 2) Hamish Patel as Jack Malik in Yesterday, already an accomplished singer and guitarist, literally brings the world to a halt as he performs the Beatleās music, rising from a small town ānothingā to the worldās most popular singer/composer. 3) Cate Blanchett in Whereād You Go Bernadette (with apologies to my friend Ed.) Cate shines as a depressed and displaced architect, who regains her āmojoā in Antarctica, as her family tries to find her amongst the penguins and the frozen tundra. 4) Rob James Collier, as Thomas Barrow the beleaguered Butler in Downton Abbey. His first visit to a gay bar is an eye opener for him, and ultimately the police who break in and arrest all. Itās a moving scene as he ultimately survives and gets back to the Abbey unscathed but shaken.
5.) The list would not be complete without Parker, the phenomenal Golden Retriever who played Enzo in The Art of Racing in the Rain. Dog lover or not, you will be enamored with him as you sit through this one. 6) Finally Dumbo, from the movie of the same name. This is not an animated film, only Dumbo is, but youād never know it. This is a great story, and will play your heartstrings up and down as the little guy becomes part of a tug of war.
Finally the worst movie so far, and the biggest disappointment, Ad Astra, staring Brad Pitt. The only movie (so far) that I walked out on, as bad as it gets.
And a brief comment in closing about Joker (with apologies to my friend Shawn). It breaks my heart to see a movie like this breaking box office records. When I saw a warning posted on the door of the movie theater about the contents of this one, I was taken aback. I have not seen it nor will I.
There will no doubt be some winners coming out the last two months of the year. I will endeavor to get to the best ones and report on them.
