Programming Director Mike Kamison Shares His Top Ten Films of the Year
It’s that time of the year again. After having seen just over 100 new releases, I’ve compiled this list of those films that stood out. I tend to enjoy movies that are shocking, forward-thinking, and expand the scope of what filmmaking can do — and these are the titles that I believe did so!
10. High Life
Auteur Claire Denis experimented for the first time with a genre film and the results are confounding. HIGH LIFE stars the brilliant actor Robert Pattinson (yes, that Robert Pattinson) who, post-Twilight, has become one of the most daring and dynamic indie stars. Pattinson plays a space-monk on-board a prison colony orbiting the Earth. This film will alienate some, enthrall others.
9. Private Life
Okay, so Tamara Jenkins’ return to film (after the fantastic 2007 The Savages) is my only film on the list without theatrical distribution. I wish we could have played this on our screens, because it is designed for our audiences. Smart, funny, touching, and meticulously researched. This film taught me so much about assisted pregnancies and adoption that, if it wasn’t for the amazing performances from Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti, it is also as educational as the best documentaries.
8. If Beale Street Could Talk
Barry Jenkins is undoubtedly the best new filmmaking talent of this decade. His Best Picture winner Moonlight was a revelation and BEALE STREET is a fitting follow-up. Gorgeously shot with a score that makes me tear up just humming it in my head. These two newcomer actors are something to behold and if Regina King doesn’t win an award for her performance as the passionate soon-to-be grandmother, then the system is rigged.
7. Shoplifters
If you are unfamiliar with Japanese director Koreeda’s work, SHOPLIFTERS is a great entry-point. This quiet story of an unconventional family of impoverished misfits is heartwarming and honest. It’s a slow, meditative, and you will absolutely fall in love with each character.
6. The Favourite
Whenever Yorgos Lanthimos’ name is attached to a film, I am immediately drawn to it. THE FAVOURITE is his most accessible to date, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t feature the Greek director’s hard-to-watch brand of pitch-black comedy. Stone, Weisz, and Colman all play off one another so expertly and the cinematography rivals Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon.
5. Madeline’s Madeline
Experimental film is alive and well! This criminally underseen film was some of the most electrifying and bold filmmaking choices in recent memory. Director Josephine Decker has several other worthwhile titles, but this one really hooked me. Go into it expecting to be taken on a journey through the subconscious and you’ll make it to the other side completely floored.
4. First Reformed
New Hollywood legend Paul Schrader wrote the best script of the year, hands down. This Bergman-inspired film about faith, the environment, and big business is NOT what I expected going into the theater. The dialogue is at once conversational and academic. I don’t think Ethan Hawke will win Best Actor for this performance, but I certainly believe that he deserves it. Be prepared to hold your breath through the heart-pounding finale.
3. Vox Lux
In a year where Lady Gaga won everyone’s heart in A Star is Born, Natalie Portman created a gritty, troubled, unlikable, but sympathetic Lady Gaga-esque character. VOX LUX is a challenging film to say the least. This movie is certainly not for everyone, but I loved it. The music was composed by pop-star Sia and experimental crooner Scott Walker and looks like a bizarre mash-up of those two artists visually.
2. You Were Never Really Here
Lynne Ramsay is probably my favorite working filmmaker. Her films are so precious to me and reflect such painstaking mastery of filmmaking, that I am okay with how long it takes in between her releases. YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE stars Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled veteran turned vigilante who rescues young girls from captivity. The film isn’t for people who tend to avoid violent films, but Ramsay is masterfully careful when it comes to the more gruesome details, and most of the violence happens off-screen.
1. Sorry to Bother You
Musician Boots Riley made his first film at 47 years old, and it was well-worth the wait. After having honed his craft in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, he came out with the most audacious, socially-aware films of the year. It’s messy, chaotic, and a ton of fun. You will see hints of other filmmakers in his style, but this movie is a truly singular experience that cannot be summed up in a synopsis. I can’t wait to see what else Boots has up his sleeves.
What do you think of this list? Share your Top Films of 2018 with us in the comments below.
