The Best Movies of 2018
2018 had some major ups and downs, but one thing is for sure: Movies are still good.
A lot of times, I find doing any sort of year-end lists to be an extremely flawed ordeal. The process of recapping an entire year’s worth of content — movies or otherwise—is an unabashedly subjective endeavor based on any number of variables. Obviously it’s all opinion based, but unlike other ways of critiquing and analyzing pop culture, the end-of-year recaps are, well, a lot longer. Trying to think back all the way to the beginning of the year, combined with how I feel at the current moment, plus the factor of recency bias make deciphering a year’s worth of experiences a maddening sort of practice.
However, if there’s one thing I could say with the strongest of convictions, it would be that 2018, like 2017 before it, offered an abundance of delightful movies for a wide spectrum of tastes and preferences. And for me personally, 2018 was also a year that had a lot of important things transpire — so much so that I couldn’t recap it well even if I tried.
A lot happened, believe me. I grew apart from friends, had family issues, and people I cared about passed away; you know, the usual personal life turmoil that everyone experiences, and I’m not going to bore you all with the minute details. But there was also a great deal of good that happened to me, and it mostly revolves around one simple fact: 2018 made me feel again.
I don’t mean to sound melodramatic, but for a long time I’ve struggled with that. I’ve struggled with caring about what’s happening, especially in regards to myself. However, this year was different. I didn’t exactly overcome my problems of self-apathy, but for once I felt like, just maybe, I could. I made new friends (including ones that have long alluded me: girls!! I know right?!? I think they don’t totally hate me either!), started a radio show that (for some reason) more than one person found moderately entertaining, and I was even given a job opportunity. The lattermost is especially crazy, because it probably means that someone looked at my body of work — including this stupid blog of mine—and decided “Hey, this kid might be decent.”
That’s really something, and it means a lot to have heard words of encouragement from others when, for years now, I’ve still been stuck wondering about whether or not I should be alive.
I still haven’t figured that out; I still don’t know why I’m here. But for once, I think these kinds of esoteric questions have been pushed to the back of my mind, instead of lingering in the blatant forefront of my everyday thoughts. That has to mean something, right?
Anyways, sorry for the rambling there. l guess it’s appropriate that, no matter how much I might grow, a staple of my personality will always be my propensity to get way off track.
Here are my top-10 movies that I saw in 2018:
10. Game Night
Jason Bateman is so weird. Like, every year, this man finds his way into some strange, but weirdly entertaining and unique project. Game Night, directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, is one of these latest such projects.
A black comedy about a group of friends who bond over their love for board games, Game Night is one of those movies that shouldn’t work nearly as much as it does. It’s deceptively smart, and a lot of times feels like a parody of old David Fincher-esque mystery-thrillers. Seriously, the amount of times I laughed during this movie by myself, in a dark room with nothing but my laptop, is remarkable (or disturbing, depending on how you look at it).
Also, I demand that Jesse Plemons be given every Oscar. Not just for this year, but every year before it.
9. Avengers: Infinity War
I often lament the discussions that permeate from so-called *Movie People* when it comes to comic book movies. Ridiculing the genre, essentially, because it doesn’t tell “human stories” is still one of the most exceedingly pervasive and pretentious bits of analysis that occurs in the movie land sphere.
Avengers: Infinity War is, in many ways, a deeply flawed film. There’s an over-reliance on the audience caring about a relationship between Scarlet Witch (a character handled so poorly by Marvel that it’s borderline offensive) and Vision, pacing issues, a spotty script (Rocket practically ruins this moment), and an admittedly convoluted story.
In spite of this, there’s simply not enough flaws to take away from how undeniably fun Infinity War is. It’s in many ways the Empire Strikes Back of the MCU, and is objectively one of the most impressive achievements ever made in the history of film (e.g. ostensibly being a sequel to 18 movies, featuring basically every A-lister in Hollywood, Spider-Man and Star Lord being in a scene together and people actually knowing who the latter is, etc.). If there was ever a movie that felt like a “Greatest Hits” album, Infinity War fits the bill with spectacular results.
8. Annihilation
If there’s one word I would use to describe Annihilation, it would be “daring”. Rarely do I see a movie completely bank on its material without any hesitation—or, seemingly, any kind of reservations about whether or not the viewer will even understand what the hell is going on. There’s something absolutely lovely about that, and even more so in this case since that sort of ambiguity tends to be reserved for the more arthouse-minded pieces.
Director Alex Garland crafts a sci-fi experience that is best described as a lucent acid trip about self-destruction — or like if 2016's Ghostbusters was directed by Stanley Kubrick. It’s a film I can’t even remotely guarantee everyone will even tolerate, but it’s one that everyone should experience.
7. Set it Up
2018 was not-so-secretly the resurgence of the rom-com. With movies like Crazy Rich Asians, To all The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Love, Simon, a genre that has largely dissipated over the 20 years managed to breathe new life again. It was an unexpected development, to be sure, but even more surprising was how my favorite of this year was actually the Netflix-exclusive Set it Up.
The film isn’t anything groundbreaking like the others I mentioned, but it simply just works. It’s predicable, yes, but the real power of Set it Up is it’s two main stars, Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch. They’re two young movie stars you haven’t heard of, and their ability to be so effortlessly charming is what makes Set it Up one of the year’s most surprising hits — and I’m sure we’ll be seeing lots more from both of them soon enough.
6. A Star is Born
Yes, it’s been done before (many times), but I’m all-in on the phenomenon of A Star is Born. Naysayers will bring up the deeply flawed third-act of this directorial debut from Bradley Cooper, but even they won’t deny the breathtaking, near-flawless production of everything else. The playing of “Shallow” is one of the best stretches of a film I’ve ever seen, and the chemistry between both Cooper and Lady Gaga (!) is something that highlights how magical cinematic experiences are still very much possible.
Every film has issues, but the ability for A Star is Born to succeed despite the uncertainties heading into it (e.g. Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper’s first time directing, the main song needs to be good, and the aforementioned fact of it having been done before) is a remarkable achievement that deserves to be celebrated. It’s a relatively safe bet to win Best Picture, and it doing so will receive no dissent from me.
5. Mission Impossible: Fallout
Have you ever audibly laughed during a movie not because there’s something humorous taking place, but because of how brilliant it is? Well, that’s what my Dad and I did when we saw Mission: Impossible-Fallout this past summer. Tom Cruise has been doing absurd action films for decades, and has been largely successful doing so. But still doing such at his age — for a franchise that’s been around since 1996—is an astounding achievement. Not only is Fallout one of Cruise’s best films, but it is easily one of the best action films of the last decade.
There’s really not much else to say, because by now you what’s going on; the only question is whether or not you choose to accept it.
(I’m sorry)
4. Black Panther
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? A cultural phenomenon, multi-faceted social commentary, and perhaps the epitome of what comic book films can be, Black Panther is the movie that defined 2018 and has already cemented its legacy as one of the biggest movies of all-time. More than most on this list, it succeeds in nearly every general facet of filmmaking — from emotional depth, to satisfying action, or even the costume design — and triumphs above the preconceived notions of superhero stories.
I have to admit, it’s going to be pretty cool to see Black Panther as a Best Picture nominee. Not only will it satisfy my annual desire to see the Oscar’s actually recognize genre-films as a whole (and also show me they pay attention to the things that are actually happening in pop culture, which they barely do) but because the simple optics of what it represents — for the people it represents — has to be something special.
3. Minding the Gap
Minding the Gap, directed by young first-time filmmaker Bing Liu, is an astonishingly poignant documentary about a group of friends navigating through the trials and tribulations associated with adolescence.
While on the surface it may look like a piece focused on skateboard culture, this is merely a façade for diving deeper into the young teens’ actual lives — including Liu himself—and the masterfully executed story of innocent bliss and tragedy. The waning moments of the film, especially, put everything into a grander perspective, and is as complete of a message as you’ll see in any film of this nature.
The film is raw and unrelenting in its subject matter, but the impact it leaves on you, regardless of your personal background, will be far more profound and insightful than you might expect. It’s a beautiful, sincere, and oddly optimistic documentary that I didn’t know I needed.
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I don’t need to gush about my love for Spider-Man anymore; I’m sure you all get it by now. So instead I’m just going to say how, for the first time in a while — and perhaps ever—Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a movie that made me truly feel happy to have my ethnic background represented (#PuertoRicanPower). I don’t like to submerge myself too deeply into the whole “Representation Matters!” zeitgeist of media criticism; not because I don’t agree with it, but because I think there are times when people make some dangerous assumptions about how others feel about being represented.
But what’s so remarkable about Spider-Verse — along with its terrific voice acting, surprisingly emotional story, brilliant script, and all-time beautiful animation—is how it is able to handle the theme of diversity in such a smart, non-preachy manner. The representation is just natural, and this kind of almost nonchalant attitude it exudes is what made me fall in love with it. Just simply hearing Miles Morales’ mother talk to him in Spanish while getting ready for school was an unexpectedly touching moment for me.
It’s truly amazing that, after all these years, this character still finds new ways to make me smile — and I’ll forever be grateful for that.
1. Eighth Grade
Eighth Grade, directed (somehow?) by comedian Bo Burnham, is my favorite movie that I saw in 2018. It’s as endearing as it is cringeworthy, but the latter feels especially true — and, astonishingly, isn’t a bad thing. I laughed consistently throughout, because there’s a layer of relatability in Eighth Grade that makes it as memorable as any movie I’ve ever seen. But it’s a story with plenty of heart-wrenching emotion, too.
It’s just. So. Damn. Real.
And that’s the thing: 2018 was the year in which I felt more comfortable with being vulnerable, and no movie expressed that more than this small tale of an eighth-grade girl trying to accept herself. In a world that seemingly does everything it can to make you feel meaningless or inept, it is immeasurably heartwarming to see a movie that stresses “No, you’re fine. You are enough.”
