Year-End List 2019: 15 Best Movies

The end of the year is here, meaning it's now time to definitively list down the finest movies, at least to me, that made their way to the theatres (and now, through streaming services). Over the past twelve months, we've been gifted with a bounty of great films, proving that people are still continuing to find new ways - both big and small - to entertain, excite, and enlighten.

As always, the usual caveats apply: I’m willing to concede that these may all simply be movies that happened to land in front of my eyeballs on the day I needed them to. So yes, I wasn’t able to see every movie this year, so absence from the list may suggest one, I missed it.. or maybe I just wasn't into them.

Welcome to my unprofessional, subjective and completely biased list of the best movies of the year.

Check out all the films I've seen this year, HERE.

Read on to see what made the shortlists and let us know in the comments what made yours.

15. Us

Us was a complex and layered film that demands multiple viewing to really get the whole sense of the movie. It had issues, but the symbolism and imagery on this one was both beautiful and scary.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

14. Shazam!

Shazam! was, indeed, the better Captain Marvel. It didn't reinvent the superhero movie wheel, but it was an extremely well balanced film that had vivid character-driven action and some totally satisfying emotional moments.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

13. The Farewell

NO WRITTEN REVIEW.

12. Marriage Story

NO WRITTEN REVIEW.

11. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far From Home was very much a character film and the fact that it felt more contained felt fresh to me. It was more realised, the narrative flowed better, the balance between the high school romance/comedy and the larger than life superhero stuff was perfect.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

10. Isa Pa, With Feelings

Isa Pa, With Feelings allowed me to think, feel, and experience certain things, which all good movies should. A lovely romantic film that spoke loud and clear beyond words.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

09. Hello, Love, Goodbye

Ang husay!

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

08. Rocketman

Rocketman just made Bohemian Rhapsody look like a mediocre piece of marketing - and I actually enjoyed the latter.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

07. Alita: Battle Angel

I went in with lowered expectations and came out absolutely blown away. Really. Alita: Battle Angel was one of the most visually impressive and most immersive motion pictures I've seen in a while.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

06. Ford V Ferrari

NO WRITTEN REVIEW.

05. Ready Or Not

Funny. Dark. Graphic. Messed up. Ready Or Not was possibly one of the best communal movie experiences I've had in years.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

04. Knives Out

Knives Out was an intelligently laid out mystery crowdpleaser that deliver on all fronts complemented by an outstanding ensemble. Unnecessarily underrated.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

03. Joker

Joker was nothing short of riveting. It's not your typical comic book adaptation with gratuitous action sequences as it was very much a slow burn character study of Arthur Fleck.

FULL REVIEW, HERE.

02. Parasite

The less you know about Parasite, the better. 

FULL REVIEW, HERE. (Although I didn't say much. Haha.)

01. Avengers: Endgame

It’s not highbrow cinema and you can absolutely nitpick the shit out of this and just be that person, but I'm not that person. Avengers: Endgame was a f*cking masterpiece! I really wanted to shed a tear just from the sheer epicness of it all

FULL REVIEW, HERE. FIGHT ME.