Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit; Devastatingly funny. Feels like a Wes Anderson directed Monty Python film. Equal parts whimsical, stylistic and gallows humour. Cast is so good at playing the humour without sacrificing the horror of the situation. A real triumph of filmmaking. Sheer comic genius; A+

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Birds of Prey; Insanely well directed psychotic blend of DC Comics characters. A literal funhouse of action scenes with fresh fight styles and staging. All the leads exhibit complete joy inhabiting their roles and playing up the chaos and irreverence. Lots of fun; A-

Little Women

Little Women; Latest adaptation reflects our current times as much as it envisions the era. This has mixed results, as the casting works but the narrative lacks a cohesive through line. Still, it’s not a shame for each generation to have its own adaptation of this beloved book; B

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons

John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons; A definite must see. Leguizamo’s one man shows are always delightful, filled w/heart, humour & a joie de vivre (often displayed through dance & music). This one exceeds its predecessors with a bite & relevance both grand and personal; A

The Kid Who Would Be King

The Kid Who Would Be King; Family film made in a way not often seen anymore. Earnest, in certain elements, w/love for the lore in its storytelling. Visual effects on a budget level that serve its purpose. Easy choice for children not quite teens, ready for a more mature movie; B

Alita: Battle Angel

Alita: Battle Angel; Everything you’d expect from the creative minds of Rodriguez & Cameron. Interesting visuals, choreographed action scenes and an attempt at building mythology. Whether we care about it all is another matter. I was entertained but not left wanting more; B

Joker

Joker; Realistic portrait of what could potentially manifest a monster borrows heavily from gritty 70s films. Stylistic yet believably shot and acted, you will believe a Joker could exist through the stages the film endures. An origin story worth investing time with; A-

Kareem: Minority of One

Kareem: Minority of One; Interesting profile of a one of a kind athlete. Would like more personal reflections from him and his contemporaries than the factual recount of his life events but there’s enough to sustain interest. Great to see a momentous baller get his due; B+

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

X-Men: Dark Phoenix; Stellar cast could do so much more in a film worthy of their talents. Motivation is cloudy and our connection to the characters minimal, making this another run of the mill comic book movie; C+

The Best and Worst Films of 2019

At risk of waiting until July for my meagre list of the top 10 films and 5 worst films I saw in the calendar year 2019, I offer a less flowery, reflective intro to my year end review in order for it to be made available for HOLLYWOOD'S SECOND BIGGEST NIGHT!!! (a.k.a. - the Golden Globes).

Despite all the changes in my life, the changes in streaming entertainment and movie theatrical distribution, I still somehow manage to maintain a steady average of movie viewing both in and out of the theatre for the past 19 years of maintaining this blog. This year I managed to view 35 films, most of those on 26 trips to the theatre (I rewatched 4 films). The others are either streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+ or renting through Cineplex Store or premieres on Crave. I also managed to watch 3 on the two cross country flights I took early in the year.

I find that my new film viewing suffers from using my entertainment time on mostly rewatching previously viewed films (so easy to do in this day and age) or taking in the quality television series (notably, I enjoyed Living with Yourself, Dickinson and Kidding as binge worthy shows). That, and my Plants v. Zombies Heroes addiction.

This year's list is presented in alphabetical order, as none stood tall above the others. Overall it was a year overpopulated with Disney tentpole films, enjoyable, entertaining, but not all that surprising.

10. Aladdin; I was seriously worried about this film. The original Disney animated film is among my favourites and I'm not a huge Will Smith fan. However, I was happy that he took it in his own direction and more than pleased with the chemistry between the new Aladdin and Jasmine actors. Guy Ritchie added some of his craft at combining comedy and action sequences and Disney spent lavishly on the sets and design. The result is a Prince Ali number that seems grander than the animated version, simply because it appears to be real. This works in favour of the film at times and against it at others, as the animated fire and look of the Cave of Wonders held more menace in animated form. Still, I'm accepting of the fact that both versions exist and can find fans for both versions, allowing younger people to rediscover these friends like no other.

9. Avengers: Endgame/Captain Marvel; It's no small feat to shepherd a decade's worth of films towards both an epic culmination of character arcs while simultaneously ushering in a new era of superheroes, led by the most powerful hero who happens to be a woman in a genre overrun with male leads. Yet Marvel Studios nailed the landing on both, mere months apart, setting box office records in the process. The heart of these movies lies in the talent they cast, and with Brie Larson, they've found themselves another actor bold and brazen enough to have us follow her through the next decade of Marvel madness. It's a testament to the entire filmmaking team that these actors and characters get used so effectively in the minimal amount of screen time they have in a film this huge. Which is why I'm sandwiching them together in order to make more room for more films in this top 10, as tradition calls for.

8. Frozen II; No, not Frozen "eleven", as it appears to be (though I'm not surprised if this continues to spawn that many instalments). A sequel that challenges its audience to grow a little bit older with the characters (it's in the first song, people!!) and reveal a darker past. The animation is insanely good, even if the story line jumps around a bit, conveniently so as to speed things along. I have a confession to make; I've seen this three times in the theatre. Granted, I was called upon to chaperone so that's my excuse. A second viewing was to see what the new 4D theatre experience is like. Seemed like a perfect fit, given the elemental nature of the film. It makes movie going more akin to a theme park ride, and since this was THE year of Disney for my family and I, it seems fitting that our first foray into 4D was Frozen II. I may actually prefer this one over the original, even if the songs aren't as catchy.

7. The Great Buster; Perhaps what I love most about seeing this documentary this year was having seen it in a restored 105 year old cinema with my daughter. Sharing the love of cinema by viewing a showcase of silent film's greatest visionary in a movie house not unlike the original setting for his original audiences was truly magnificent. It gives me great joy to know that there are philanthropists out there willing to sacrifice the time and money to maintain a movie going experience similar to what the art form launched itself with. Here's to the love of cinema that places like the Playhouse, the Westdale, the Elora Gorge, the Film House, the Alamo Drafthouse and other art house theatres across the globe offer to the movie going public. Buster Keaton would be proud to know his legendary oeuvre continues to be screened in restored palaces of cinema.

6. The Grizzlies; In a year that continued to push representation of under served communities, it was refreshing to see the mainstream distribution and long release window for a film about (and starring) Inuit youth. Running as counter programming to Avengers: Endgame, this tiny film offered plenty of heartbreaking moments and uplifting scenes to rival the box office behemoth. With a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 94 ratings on the day of writing this) and a critical consensus of 79%, this is certainly a crowd pleasing film that will open up some awareness about several issues in the north. More importantly, it displays the beauty of the culture and Indigenous acting community, ready for more showcasing in cinematic circles. It will remain one of Canada's better home grown sports films and hopefully offer more opportunities for the cast and crew involved in its storytelling.

5. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum; The final film I saw this year, ringing in 2020 with a violence level I forgot existed in movies. There was a time when I'd watch a ton of action films, as they dominated the box office and video stores. Having not really seen my share in some time, and then falling right smack dab into the middle of the brutal hand-to-hand combat killing machine that Keanu Reeves has perfected in this trilogy of chapters was a real eye opener (and for those that have already seen this, you know what I mean by using that term). The reason these films stand out is the level of style and verisimilitude combined. As the box office has drifted towards fantasy violence and space alien disintegration of bodies, the extremely high body count of actual human on human violence comes across as quite shocking.

4. Jumanji: The Next Level; As you can tell, this list is purely fun and certainly not filled with heady, thoughtful artistic cinema found on most year end top 10 lists. So, it was a pleasure to watch these four return to promote this film. Honestly, I enjoy watching this group interact off camera more than I do seeing them on camera. Jack Black's Jablinski Games videos during the filming and promotion are a hoot and make me want to see a third edition, just for the Behind the Scenes content it will create. Gillan is highly underrated for her comedic and action ability and adding DeVito and Glover brought about a poignancy I didn't think imaginable for this franchise. The typical body switching premise gets great mileage from this group, as growing old and even bestial offers plenty of comedic fodder to play around with. Sure, it's premise is nonsense, but once you let go it takes you for a great ride.

3. Klaus; One of the shames of the streaming era is how quality entertainment can get overlooked underneath the plethora of content that's out there. With little fanfare or promotion (especially compared to the Disney+ counterpart, Noelle), Klaus came along and crafted a Christmas tale that looked so original in its animation style, yet timeless in its exploration of Christmas traditions. It's a real hidden gem, with a wonderful voice cast that serves the story with their comedic sensibility and timing. There's pathos underlining the narrative, and any good Christmas movie worth annual repeated viewings knows how to mix humour, heart and hijinx. Much like Elf did over a decade ago, Klaus enters itself into the Christmas season pantheon and deserves a place on the mantle alongside perennial classics for years to come for its unique and refreshing approach to the season's classic retellings of discovering Christmas spirit.

2. The Lion King; This reimagining of the original animated film isn't so much on this list for reasons similar to what Disney did with the Aladdin live action remake, as this doesn't try to tread new ground or offer anything but an almost shot for shot retelling of a beloved classic. What it lacks in storytelling changes or updates (why try to improve on perceived perfection?) it more than makes up for in advancing a photorealistic animation process so true to life that it's going to be hard to distinguish between reality and artistry. Calling it a "live action" version is a disservice to the animators, or maybe it's a more accurate description of how visually stunning and detailed this is. Having the characters be embodied as realistic looking animals changes the narrative somewhat, making some scenes more powerful in their realism. Just one of Disney's hits from 2019 that I could have included on this list.

and the number one film, that despite the alphabetical presentation of this list, truly was my favourite film I saw in 2019...

1. The New Romantic; I truly adored this film. Probably more than I should have. I love a fresh take on old tropes, (see other entries on this list) and I especially love me a romantic lead that banters in that quirky manner of old screwball comedies or like Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. Much like that film, which was a real star making turn for Kendrick, Jessica Barden deserves recognition for her exuberant performance. The film is fun, frisky and flippant towards romance, yet attempts to hang on to the old notions of romance after all. At first I thought viewing it on an airplane was the source of my extreme fondness but I've found myself catching it on Crave TV and having to sit and watch it through to the end each time. Barden and her co-stars just have a loveable quality to them, as the film caught lightning in a bottle with the cast, many of whom got noticed around the same time as this film's release.

Honourable Mentions: Aquaman, Booksmart, Kayak to Klemtu, Mary Poppins Returns, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Toy Story 4. Any of these could be swapped out with similar entries on the top 10 and on any given day, I certainly would consider one of these to be superior to its counterpart on the list. I would certainly claim all these entries to be rewatchable and equally enjoyable.

Which can't be said for the following five films. Ladies and gentlemen, the Top 5 Worst Films of 2019...

5. Invisible Essence: The Little Prince; I love this book too much to have an hour and a half exploration of the text be so boring and drawn out. Despite the documentary's title, this study fails to get at the essence of what makes the Little Prince such a beloved novel. It certainly tries, and mines some interesting individuals to tie together to demonstrate the invisible essence but it ultimately comes up empty in the end. It should feel more profound but instead falls flat on its face. As I stated in my original review, a second or third reading or viewing of the animated film would do plenty more to unpack the themes and philosophy contained within. It didn't help that we saw this in that 105 year old theatre I mentioned above in the middle of a summer heat wave BEFORE the theatre was outfitted with air conditioning. Context is everything.

4. Missing Link; This was a real let down. Normally a studio's track record of success and imagination (see Pixar) has me running to the theatre in blind faith for the trust built by the studio. I have constantly sung the praises of Laika Studios and their one of a kind craft of stop motion animation wizardry. However, the initial previews for this movie had an off putting aroma to them that shocked me when Laika's name was attached. I held out for subsequent previews and things only appeared worse. I skipped out on rushing to the cinema, and ultimately extremely thankful that I didn't waste any money on this dismal entry that I wish could be struck from the list of innovative and creative work from Pixar's best challenger. From top to bottom, there's little to no redeeming qualities. We can only hope it's a small misstep for this great studio.

3. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms; Whatever the heck this was trying to be is a mystery to me. There's so much to be blamed for its financial failure, including the employment of two directors, an ill timed release date and a story devoid of character or action that is more stunning to look at than to follow along to. The highlights are dance sequences that are head scratchingly surrounded by opulent and lavish production that bears no weight or interest, as though half of this was a Narnia movie sandwiched around a Christmas ballet set in Alice's Wonderland. It's difficult to figure out exactly what the point of it all is, while simultaneously wondering if you care enough to make the mental effort to even try and piece it all together. The answer is no.

2. Men in Black: International; This film is proof that after Thor: Ragnarok, I would watch Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth in anything. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. I would still watch these two in another film worthy of their humour, wit, and attitude. It's just sad to see them languish in a franchise that deserves better. The Men in Black series has a great premise and a history of amazing alien design courtesy of Rick Baker. So why this film falls so flat and is so abysmal is beyond me. It's like having all the ingredients to make the perfect dessert and concocting a twinkie. Sure, it's a dessert, but it belongs sitting on a shelf in some studio until the end of all times and not presented on a plate for our viewing (dis)pleasure. Half-baked, fully deformed, it may sadly be the demise of what could have been a lovely resurrected franchise.

and the worst film I saw in the year 2019...

1. Room for Rent; Ever feel trapped on an airplane and forced to watch something akin to a slow motion train wreck for longer than you could possibly endure? That's what this film felt like. I was invested, having made my airplane movie selection. There was no turning back. Starting another movie would mean it wouldn't finish before my flight landed. I had to see it through to the end. And to the end I did. Every painstaking minute. I tried to look away. I tried seeking reading material but I already read the in-flight magazine. Plus, I had to see what would happen with this creepy context and the comedic actors I recognized from better material elsewhere. Turns out, it doesn't pay off. The laughs never come. The story never plays out to reveal any interesting twists, turns or truths. This room shall remain vacant forever.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum; Stylistic, violent, creative and kinetic. Body count climbs as Keanu kicks butt. Stunt work is insane and action shot spectacularly. Wick speaks minimally and lets his skills do plenty; A

Spies in Disguise

Spies in Disguise; Enjoyable bit of entertainment due to fun voice cast. The animation utilizes the medium to stretch scenes silly yet also delivers explosive action scenes. Could have spent more time on story and character development but seems to expect a sequel for that; B-

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; Checks all the expected boxes without offering much in the way of surprises or innovative elements. Enjoyable fan service but filmatically staid. Humorous elements welcome in an over serious narrative obligated to wrap up three trilogies; B

Jumanji: The Next Level

Jumanji: The Next Level; Twisting conceit of previous film makes for another enjoyable experience that feels familiar yet fresh at same time. Cast plays perfectly inhabiting new roles. Action scenes are much like a video game but it’s the heartfelt moments that surprise most; A-

Frozen II

Frozen 2; Goes dark but grows up with its core audience. Animation exceeds original’s details. Storyline makes a few jumps and songs not as catchy but still classic and well animated while suiting the story. Sámi elements are quite interesting. Love the earth giants; A

Klaus

Klaus; Refreshingly original visual style and take on a Christmas animated story. Captures the whimsical spirit of Christmas classics of the past, with a character turn reminiscent of Scrooge or George Bailey. Voice cast is stellar and lend heart and humour to it all; A-

Noelle

Noelle; Chalk up another Christmas movie that merely exists as a reminder that it’s that time of year. It’s no classic like Elf, though it tries to be. Kendrick valiantly attempts to inhabit the spirit of Ferrell but the script doesn’t have enough originality or surprises; B-

Forks Over Knives

Forks Over Knives; Documentary conveys important points about a whole food plant based diet low in highly processed, sugar and oil and its positive impact on chronic diseases. However, style and approach leaves a lot to be desired, mired in conventions and lacking creativity; C+

Pokéman Detective Pikachu

Pokémon Detective Pikachu; Better than you’d expect. I want to experience more of what a Pokémon infused world would be like. Like a Roger Rabbit toon world, the film plays the combined elements wonderfully. Voice acting of Reynolds makes it all the better. Good fun; B

The Old Man & the Gun

The Old Man & the Gun; Distinctively throwback in its storytelling & design. Actors shine in style of 70s filmmaking, quietly owning the screen & our hearts. Redford is a revelation, reminding us how great he is. The definition of “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.”; B+

Missing Link

Missing Link; Laika Studios’ first fail. Fails to tell an interesting story or offer us characters to care about (they’re all bland & unlikeable). Fails to even wow us with its normally groundbreaking stop motion animation. Seriously needed to be reconsidered in early stages; C-

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood; Evokes mood & menace of era w/masterful performances yet still underwhelms in its rewriting of history. Seems one of our most beloved filmmakers is more in love w/his own fancies than the audience’s journey, though we will follow him anywhere; B+

The Lion King

The Lion King; Impressively spectacular photorealistic animated remake looks stunning. The original was already cinematic in its shot selection, so it hews closely to the angles and imagery. Voice cast excels and delivers lines both familiar and surprising with much delight; A-

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far From Home; Fun instalment makes some leaps that are unexplained yet don’t deter from offering an amazing, exciting ride. Cast continues to excel but loose ends from Homecoming are ignored for further extensions of the Avengers storyline. Keep focus on Spidey!; A-

Invisible Essence: The Little Prince

Invisible Essence: The Little Prince; A great idea that doesn’t quite deliver. Better off using the time to read the book again instead of watching this. Hearing the different people reading the text aloud is more enticing to watch than any attempts at insight; C-

Yesterday

Yesterday; Fun premise explores some of the potential fallout of a world w/o Beatles, yet wants to remain a rom com at its core. This both grounds the film but also grounds it to a halt at times. Still, actors/director fulfill their roles wonderfully in service to the story; B

Booksmart

Booksmart; Earns its female Superbad comparison (which is high praise) while offering angles missing from teen party genre films in the past. Excellent casting and chemistry amongst all involved allows for preposterous circumstances to be grounded in real relationships; B+

Toy Story 4

Toy Story 4; Introduces some fun, new characters which only goes to show how much this series needs to be retired. Animation is top notch and would be better applied to new, original material. And Randy Newman’s music has overstayed it’s welcome by about 4 movies; B+

Men in Black: International

Men in Black: International; Script and direction seriously fails the talent of the leads. Would love to watch Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth in anything but this disaster. Retains none of what made previous MIB films fun or visually interesting. Unfortunate misfire; D

Aladdin

Aladdin; Best aspects are the additions to the story, though recreated scenes worked well too, as the casting is quite good. Jasmine and Aladdin have great chemistry and the F/X are fantastic. Smith’s genie is his own but not as good as the original or stage musical; A-

The Grizzlies

The Grizzlies; Despite a white hero narrative & associated tropes, the film exposes mainstream audiences to swath of issues affecting Inuit youth. It’s thoroughly entertaining. Talented cast demonstrate how well prepared we are for more Indigenous stories starring FN actors; A-

Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame; Brilliantly displays why extraordinary actors were cast to play these roles. Emotional payoffs aplenty alongside the witty humour we’ve come to enjoy from the MCU. Lovingly crafted to close out character arcs 10 years in the making. Truly impressive; A

The Great Buster

The Great Buster; Wonderfully compiles highlights of Keaton’s career w/o shying away from hard times. Narrative is structured to celebrate his genius, w/insights from a wide variety of industry players. For the uninitiated, it’s a perfect intro. For fans, it’s a great recap; A

Shazam!

Shazam!; Heavy emotional context made light by silly superhero antics is an odd tonal balance. Actors make the best of it, while the film has an 80s aesthetic about it. Fun but choppy, as though the tone made edits difficult to piece together. Still, overall entertaining; B

Dumbo

Dumbo; Solid, family fare, though not that joyous (much like the original). Keaton relishes his villainous role with a zealous turn. Dumbo is animated with cuteness while the story and danger surrounding him is anything but; B+

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel; Larson has a lot of fun in the role, making the character playful, strong, vulnerable and complex. Marvel continues to find the right balance of tone between action, comedy and drama. Nice to see Jackson’s role increased; A-