Gadi Elkon’s 18 Favorite Films of 2018

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:

 

 

 

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