Top Five Films of 2019, So Far

John Chester and Emma the Pig in "The Biggest Little Farm"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

5) The Biggest Little Farm - We’ve had a few great documentaries in the first half of 2019, and director John Chester’s reach-for-your-dreams account of him and his wife, Molly, building a farm out of a desolate piece of land is an absolute joy.  Chester provides a thorough look into how the farm came to be, the science behind its many aspects, and the ingenious ways in which he, Molly, and their team address the problems that arise.  The gorgeous camerawork highlights the countless details of the inner workings of the farm, both technical and biological, and to see the farm evolve over time from emptiness to lushness is to witness a vision come true for Chester and Molly.  There’s a sense of wonder in this movie that’s made even more potent because you see the rewards of the persistence in bringing the farm to life, and it’s an inspiration to viewers to go out and pursue their aspirations because this film shows that anything is possible when you set your mind to something.  When you watch this movie, you’ll realize that you’ve never seen a farm quite like this one.

Taron Egerton in "Rocketman"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

4) Rocketman - While biopics about musicians tend to feel identical to each other, director Dexter Fletcher’s exuberant film about Elton John transcends the conventional, just like its subject, to bring us a rollicking and emotional view into the life of the iconic singer.  Taron Egerton solidifies himself as a bonafide star in the lead role, doing his own singing and transitioning into the role as he leaves it all out there on the screen.  The boldest move of this film is how it succeeds as both an in-depth examination of Elton and a full-fledged musical, staging several of his numbers as song-and-dance sequences, with one of the most notable being “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” a sequence whose energy offers pure excitement.  There’s vibrancy and drama to spare as we explore Elton’s success and demons, and thanks to all involved, this film is a tribute to the enthusiasm that Elton presented to his audience, making this a movie that his fame and genius deserve.

Matthias Schoenaerts in "The Mustang"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

3) The Mustang - While this drama from director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre may seem like your typical man-befriends-animal narrative on the surface, this film has more going on than it will have you believe.  The story follows Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a prisoner in a correctional facility, who’s given a chance at rehabilitation by taking part in a program where inmates train wild horses.  Schoenaerts delivers an understated, yet raw performance as the taciturn prisoner who doesn’t see any hope for himself, until be begins bonding with his horse.  This is a tender and emotional story of redemption that never feels the need to over-sentimentalize anything, knowing full well that great acting and subtle storytelling is more than enough to pull you into something that’s on this small of a scale, but leaves a huge impact. 

Lupita Nyong'o in "Us"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

2) Us - After Jordan Peele impressed audiences with his directorial debut in “Get Out,” he has continued to build his stature as a top-tier filmmaker with his second feature, where he tells the story of a family who goes on vacation to their lake house, only to be confronted one night by a family that looks just like them.  Lupita Nyong’o gives a shattering performance as the matriarch of the family and her chill-inducing doppelgänger, bringing an intensity that’s in sync with the craziness that unfolds.  Having seen this movie twice, you have to marvel at how Peele allows you to pick up so many small details upon additional viewings, just as he accomplished with “Get Out.”  He shows an ability to move between low-key horror and in-your-face horror, while still imbuing the viewer with an abundance of clues that prove his talent for making us search for things upon revisiting the movie, things that might not be so obvious the first time around.  Peele is a filmmaker who can entertain, frighten, and make us think, and I’m sure he has other film ideas in mind that will do the same.

Honor Swinton Byrne and Tom Burke in "The Souvenir"
Photo Credit: Imdb.com

1) The Souvenir - Written and directed by Joanna Hogg, this romantic-drama unfolds a little bit at a time as it explores the relationship at its center, in a story about an aspiring filmmaker, Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne, daughter of Tilda Swinton), who falls in love with an enigmatic man, Anthony (Tom Burke).  Byrne gives a terrific breakout performance as a young woman who’s working towards her artistic ambitions, while also trying to find out the secrets to Burke’s character, and Burke is just as great as an individual who’s near unreadable at the start, but then begins to unveil himself.  This is one of those movies where you’re not sure where it’s heading, and this makes us pay extra close attention to what happens.  It’s romantic, mysterious, and engrossing, with Hogg’s achievement in establishing mood inviting us into the lives of these characters as we wait to see what becomes of the couple’s relationship.  By the time that the movie ends, there’s so much left to decipher, which makes this film an enthralling experience as you keep working to piece the mystery together as you leave the theater.  This movie doesn’t offer many answers at first, but if you think hard enough, you’ll find them.