1. Parasite (기생충)
Full of social commentary, with a big couple of life lessons to tell to its audience, Parasite starts as a simple comedy/drama and then it turns into something completely different. You watch the characters develop and you star wondering why are you rooting for them. The narrative and directing abilities of Bong Joon-ho are what makes this movie so special. It's a movie you can respect and love at the same time, made to put a spell on both critics and audiences. And it features such a shocking third act...!
2. Marriage Story
I believe Marriage Story is a movie with the ability to touch hearts in very different ways, because you can feel related to that couple in one way or another. But don't get me wrong: it isn't showy filmmaking, in fact, the director sacrifices a more showy directing style so he can let his screenplay shine through the cast amazing performance. Both Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver some of the last decade best acting I've ever seen from a leading duo - they've never been better, which says a lot I guess. Love it for the acting, love it for the words, love it for the score and love it because it feels real and raw.
3. Knives Out
It has been years since the last murder mystery movie I've seen (or a remarkable one at least), but Knives Out starts from the obvious and then it starts digging - and that's when the movie goes beyond its genre. The ensemble cast is amazing, but both Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas are the standouts as the funny leads (and it's refreshing to see Chris Evans in a non-MCU movie). A thrilling, sometimes funny, crime movie, Knives Out is sophisticated, well acted and well executed. One of the biggest surprises of the year to be honest.
4. Ford v. Ferrari
James Mangold's latest is exactly what it promises to be: a joyous ride of a movie! An old-fashioned tale of two Davids fighting against a Golias (and I won't spoil who Golias is), Ford v. Ferrari can be thrilling, romantic, funny and inspiring at the same time. Led by two true movie stars (Damon and Bale, with Bale being truly exceptional here), with great editing and sound work and a story worth telling, this is a truly "personal" favorite able to appeal to a large spectrum of audiences.
5. Jojo Rabbit
Because "life is a gift, we should celebrate it" vibe of Jojo Rabbit, the movie might well be one of the most special movies of the year. It's not a feel good movie the trailer makes you believe - it has plenty of drama here - but it's a movie that makes fun of fanaticism, showing how ridiculous it is not having your own mind. With the help of a fantastic ensemble cast and one of the best child performances in years from Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit will catch your eye because of the colors, your ears because of the score and your heart because it is one of the most emotionally satisfying cinematic experiences of the year.
6. The Nightingale
A breathtaking movie! The Nightingale is as shocking as it is challenging and - in the end - you feel a sense of relief. It's an impactful movie and director Jennifer Kent makes her voice heard with this one. With a star-turn from Aisling Franciosi as the leading lady and a study about the darkest human impulses, this movie will be hard to forget. Yet, it's brilliant!
7. The Peanut Butter Falcon
One of the most feel-good movies of the year, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a rare gem of a movie about humanity and empathy. Not sure if it is a comedy or a drama, but you'll be able to carry its sweet soul for days. LaBeouf, Gottsagen and even Johnson, all deliver charming turns and build compelling characters that make you root for them. It's a simple narrative, yet it's told in one of the most beautiful ways I've seen this year. Less is more here.
8. Little Women
It might well be the best cinematic adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. Everything feels so fresh in Greta Gerwig's movie! A-class acting from a phenomenal ensemble cast, specially from Florence Pugh - who exhales true movie star charisma and she's able to turn Amy into a multidimensional and complex character - gorgeous costumes, a stellar score from Desplat and a narrative styles that's both effective and challenging for the audiences.
9. The Traitor (Il traditore)
Big, bold, thrilling and show-stopping! Marco Bellochino's The Traitor is one of the best mafia movies I've ever seen. With a great central performance from Favino, The Traitor benefits from a narrative that combines perfectly with Bellochino's directing style. What we see in The Traitor is a director at the best game of his craft telling us a true crime-gangster tale that feels real, gripping and raw.
10. Papicha
It's not a perfect film, but it's a movie easy to love and hard to forget. A movie about being alive and about the evil that overshadows what makes us humans. It's also a movie about female self-expression and the concept of "being a woman": social standards v. self-identity. As a man, Papicha made me think and re-think some aspects of everyday's life and it worked as a reminder that not everybody has the right to chose their own way.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Irishman
THE GUILTY PLEASURE: Aladdin
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