Ann and Stan: In 2018, Americans continued to love movies. We watched them on DVD and Blu Ray, we streamed them on our phones, tablets, laptops and TVs and, yes, we continued to enjoy them in an enclosed space with people seated around us -- the barbershop!
2018 continued the trend of offering a ton of superhero movies but not a lot for adults.
So imagine our surprise when Oscar winner Helen Hunt returned to the screens. Twenty years after AS GOOD AS IT GETS, there she was in another comedy: MID90s.
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She gave an inspired performance as 13-year-old, skateboarding Stevie. Why she wanted to be billed this go round as Sunny Suljic, we don't know. But like her earlier work in THE GLASS HOUSE under the name Leelee Sobieski, choosing a pseudonym really freed Helen up. Brava, Helen, brava.
Now . . . the best films of 2018.
1) SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.
Boots Riley writes and directs a film and it's the finest of the year. Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson deliver strong lead performances and the supporting cast includes Danny Glover delivering another memorable performance. We should also note Armie Hammer who is carving out a memorable career in the same way Faye Dunaway has -- by making legendary films. Like NETWORK, CHINATOWN and BONNIE & CLYDE, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU is a film classic.
2) LEAVE NO TRACE
Debra Granik's drama is another great film for the year. Ben Foster is dealing with Post-Traumatic Syndrome and trying to raise his daughter (Thomasin McKenzie) but the government moves in because they don't want him living on public land. The rest of the film is a response to that and an exploration of our natural rights.
3) 55 STEPS
This film is based on a true story and works because of the realism and because of the performances of Hillary Swank and Helena Bonham Carter -- both women should be Oscar nominated. The film deals with informed consent and the right of the patient to determine their treatment.
4) WIDOWS
Steve McQueen's film twists and turns and offers an amazing lead performance by Viola Davis. In fact, everyone delivers a great performance: Robert Duvall, Michelle Rodriguez, Brian Tyree Henry, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Hass . . . A tight heist thriller with real surprises.
5) BOOK CLUB
Jane Fonda's starred in some great comedy films including CAT BALLOU, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN and 9 TO 5. But who could have guessed that, at the age of 80, she would star in the summer's biggest comedy. That's what BOOK CLUB was. And Jane was part of a lead cast that also included the great Diane Keaton and Candice Bergen. Mary was okay. We would have preferred another actress, honestly. Maybe a woman of color? But Jane, Diane and Candice delivered. They went for the laughs, yes, but never at the expense of the characterization. Praise should also go to Andy Garcia who hasn't been this fresh since GODFATHER III. A funny movie that's about so much more than many critics gave it credit for.
6) ANT MAN AND THE WASP
Characterization is one of the reason this film really succeeds. Unlike most superhero films, this can be watched over and over (unlike most superhero films of late, we should say -- Tim Burton's films can be watched over and over and any Superman film with Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder can be as well). Paul Rudd creates a real character once again and the Ant Man's relationship with his daughter remains real and sympathetic. Michael Cena and T.I. are back to provide both context and humor. Evangeline Lilly gets to develop more as she becomes the Wasp and you root for her and her father (Michael Douglas) to find her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer as the original Wasp). All that and a magical performance by Laurence Fishburne and a spooky new character essayed by Hannah John-Kamen? This is a film you can watch repeatedly and always find something to enjoy.
7) SUPERFLY
Director X really worked with visuals in a way that no other director did this year. The colors flashed off the screen -- not since Roger Vadim has a director explored colors in this manner. Trevor Jackson is a strong lead who should have a promising career based on this film alone. It zips in high energy mode and is among the best action films of the decade.
8) SECOND ACT
As critics of color, what do we think of 'mainstream critics'? We think they miss a great deal. SUPERFLY didn't reach them, most films with leads of color don't. Jennifer Lopez has made a great comedy but the mainstream critics want to sneer at it. Their loss and their stupidity. It's hilarious. And audiences get that. Which is how this film that's been sneered managed to rake up nearly $22 million domestically in nine days. Poor ''mainstream" critics -- they wanted to kill the Latina star but her fans aren't letting them. The film will easily make double its shooting budget despite the attacks. See it for J-Lo, see it for Leah, see it because you love funny films, see it for diversity and for a film where a woman is the lead.
9) MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.
This is much better than the 1974 film. In fact, only Lauren Bacall's performance (ridiculed by some in real time) manages to hold up in the 1974 version. This go round? Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, Leslie Odom Jr., Josh Gad, Penelope Cruz, Tom Bateman, Olivia Colman, Willem Dafoe and, yes, Kenneth Branagh are wonderful and they create an ensemble performance the way a good theatre group does. Branagh also directed the film and he's sure footed and hits every needed note -- that includes the ending which segues into "Never Forget" (sung by Pfeiffer) which further expands the meaning and the mood. We hope Branagh does follow up with THE DEATH ON THE NILE remake.
10) A QUIET PLACE
Since this unique film scored big at the box office, seems everyone's trying to imitate it. But they aren't John Krasinski -- who starred in the film, directed it and co-wrote it. Even with Emily Blunt doing her usual ain't-I-good self-reflective performance (no, she's not), the film triumphs. Again, credit to Krasinski for a thriller like nothing we had seen before. But like everything we seem to be seeing since. We're being kind but you know what films we're talking about, right? Like the one on NETFLIX right now, right? Remember, when John Krasinski delivered this film, there was really nothing like it.
Now, C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"