My Top Films of 2018
Hereditary takes a strong lead as my favorite film of the year, and as no surprise to me, it’s an A24 film. They have been dominating my top film lists the last 3 years. I saw Hereditary in theatres twice, which is something I don’t often do. I’ve gotten chills every time I’ve spoken about it with someone, and even just rewatching the trailer now I found myself gripping my face with both hands.
The Suspiria remake was an incredible force of a film whose subtleties and contortions have been haunting me since seeing it on the Cinerama Dome’s big screen. I rewatched the original with Goblin performing the live score a few weeks later and was reassured how much the r2018 film was not just a simple remake, but a beautiful reimagining of the original story. Both films standout as two different works of art that hardly deserve comparison.
I found The Favourite to be another ludacris masterpiece from Yorgos Lanthimos. I’ve been drooling over this man’s absurd violence from the beginning and can’t seem to get enough. I’m positively delighted that his style has somehow slipped into the mainstream.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary full of the heart and hope that we need in these trying times. Tears were wiped by tissues literally being passed around the theatre. Seeing that film felt like a healing session of therapy and I left the theatre inspired. Might I suggest watching it with your Mom if you haven’t seen it already.
And coming in at number five is a film I hesitated to put on this list. Wildlife is no masterpiece, but I thought it was a beautiful directorial debut from Paul Dano. Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performances are powerful and hit you right where it hurts.
I would like to close out this list by saying I watched all of these in theatres. I know we’ve all been rallying and championing the importance of the communal theatre-going experience lately, but I cannot stress how valuable that is! Had Suspiria only been released on Amazon, I would’ve never been able to squirm and squeal in my seat surrounded by everyone else doing the same at Beyond Fest, or have a tissue box passed to me while watching a clip from Mister Rogers. Everyone, I beg you - get out there and support your local cinemas, and see films with your community!
Links to trailers below.