This year’s crop of films has a showcased a solid uptick in profitable docs and an indie gems. The year started out much stronger and has been a bit of a light fall season. There are some wonderful foreign films that have stood out nicely. You’ll see in my favorites that I’m not much a fan of A STAR IS BORN, outside of DP Matthew Libatique’s work, and also I have leaned heavily on strong women behind the camera. The travesty of the Golden Globes once again not recognizing any female directors is appalling. Granted I missed Debra Granik’s LEAVE NO TRACE, and still found multiple women vying for best director. Overall I think the early summer/spring blockbusters and surprises continued to shine. I hope you’ll enjoy my picks for awards winners and my favorite 18 films of 2018.
Here are my picks for a few selected awards and my favorite 18 films of 2018.
AWARDS FOR 2018:
Best Adapted Screenplay – An ear to the grindstone slips past the hip kiddos.
5. Deborah Davis & Tony McNamara – THE FAVOURITE
4. Wes Anderson – ISLE OF DOGS
3. Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, & Brian Hayes Currie – GREEN BOOK
2. Bo Burnham – EIGHTH GRADE
1. John Krasinski, Bryan Woods & Scott Beck – A QUIET PLACE
Best Original Screenplay – Veteran writer of female leads has enough to pass up a sweet touch of James Baldwin.
5. Audrey Wells – THE HATE YOU GIVE
4. Beau Willimon – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
3. Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, & Kevin Willmott – BLACKKKLANSMAN
2. Barry Jenkins – IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
1. Nicole Holofcener & Jeff Whitty – CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME
Best Editing in a Film – Duality of Two Queens captured perfectly nudges a twisting tale of a unique cop.
5. Joe Bini – YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
4. Barry Alexander Brown – BLACKKKLANSMAN
3. Hank Corwin – VICE
2. Plummy Tucker – DESTROYER
1. Chris Dickens – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
Best Cinematography in a Film – Robbed of an Oscar last year Rach gives us the best Marvel film.
5. John Mathiesin – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
4. Charlotte Bruus Christensen – A QUIET PLACE
3. Robert Richardson – A PRIVATE WAR
2. Alfonso Cuaron – ROMA
1. Rachel Morrison – BLACK PANTHER
Best Supporting Actress – Angry Lynne Cheney slips past the angry childish Abigail
5. Elizabeth Debicki – WIDOWS
4. Margot Robbie – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
3. Nicole Kidman – A BOY ERASED
2. Emma Stone – THE FAVOURITE
1. Amy Adams – VICE
Best Supporting Actor – The homeless drunk barely slips past the virtuoso piano player
5. Daniel Kaluuya – WIDOWS
4. Josh Hamilton – EIGHTH GRADE
3. Michael B. Jordan – BLACK PANTHER
2. Mahershala Ali – GREEN BOOK
1. Richard Grant – CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME
Best Actress – One Eyed Journalist fights to the bitter end over the corrupt & beaten-down cop
5. Kiera Knightly – COLETTE
4. Saoirse Ronan – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
3. Olivia Colman – THE FAVOURITE
2. Nicole Kidman – DESTROYER
1. Rosamund Pike – A PRIVATE WAR
Best Actor – Viggo transforms himself again to sweep past the Queen and the VEEP
5. Yoo Ah-In – BURNING
4. Rupert Everett – THE HAPPY PRINCE
3. Christian Bale – VICE
2. Rami Malek – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
1. Viggo Mortensen – GREEN BOOK
Best Director – Young Comedian makes the best film about teen angst ever & slightly nips the lady behind Mary
5. Lynne Ramsay – YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
4. Spike Lee – BLACKKKLANSMAN
3. Alfonso Cuaron – ROMA
2. Josie Rourke – MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
1. Bo Burnham – EIGHTH GRADE
18 FAVORITE FILMS OF 2018:
