Murtada Gives Thanks
Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 10:33PM This year I'm thankful for these 10 movies that made 2019 a great time at the movies.
Atlantics
For Mati Diop’s audacious jumping without a net storytelling.
Beanpole
Because it has it all all. Murder, revenge, blackmail and most importantly twisted psychological warfare.
Bacarau
Marginalized folk have always been presented as stereotypes in white people movies the masterstroke here is to inverse that and give us stock white colonial villains. Genius.
Clemency
Afre Woodard gives the performance of the year. Enough said.
The Farewell
Lulu Wang maintains the taut line of friction and love between in-laws, between generations, and between families with different cultural values. What a sharp and incisive script.
Hustlers
For the joy it gives the audience, for the clever critique of power structurs and because we all have not lived until we saw Jennifer Lopez dance around a pole to Fiona Apple’s “Criminal”.
Invisible Life
For melodrama done right with such a depth of feeling.
Judy
For how Renee Zellweger found a core of sadness within her Garland that's palpable and moving.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
For its whimsy, for its precise image composition and for Jonathan Majors' deft portrayal of an oddball character that could’ve become a caricature with a lesser actor.
Pain and Glory
Because we cherish the beautiful memories and enduring bond that the characters in Pain and Glory have. Pedro Almodovar has them with Antonio Banderas, with Penelope Cruz, with Cecilia Roth. We have them with Almodovar and his movies.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Celine Sciamma showed us how powerful cinema can be by framing the distance between her characters, making the audience feel it in their guts as Marianne (Noemie Merlant) and Heloise (Adele hanael) come closer to each other physically and emotionally.
Wishing everyone good times with friends and family this holiday break.
Reader Comments (5)
Seriously, the only reason Alfre Woodard is not the front runner right now is because not enough pundits saw Clemancy. She is THAT good. Make it happen people!
Alfred for the win. We need a miraculous feat to inspire hope for 2020.
I'm a strongly agree to some of your picks: Invisible Life, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Beanpole and Alfré Woodard. If only she and Mary Kay Place make it to the final five, 2019 in movies would be totally worth it.
"Atlantis" is so overrated. Maybe supernatural stuff is for everyone but me or I just don't get the meaning of the film, the metaphor behind the plot.
White pundits throwing extra doubt on Woodard when what influence the have could make her a lock is criminal yet expected.