10. Tolkien

The life and legacy of one of literature’s greatest ever storytellers, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was brought to the screen in a tale of beauty and magic in Tolkien and the partnership of director Dome Karukoski and stars Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins made for something very special. Shot with an enchanting eye for the lavish, Tolkien brought together gorgeous imagery with a powerful story of passion, friendship and love and explored how these themes and experiences shape our lives and make us into who we are as individuals. It was a tribute to the power of creativity and after watching this film you couldn’t help but be inspired to create something by it.

9. Aladdin

When it comes to live-action adaptations of classic Disney films, Guy Ritchie’s loud and action-packed rendition of Aladdin certainly takes poll position as being the best adaptation so far. Will Smith brought all of his considerable blockbuster star appeal to this cinematic work and absolutely shined in his performance as The Genie with plenty of light and energy. Newcomers Mena Moussad and Naomi Scott had undeniable chemistry as star-crossed lovers Aladdin and Jasmine, and their charming performance and magical vocals put the sparkle into this tale. Packed together with Ritchie’s trademark rock n’ roll flair and bursting with colour, Aladdin sprinkled plenty of magic for audiences and it was an absolute wish come true.

8. Ad Astra

Director James Gray journeyed to the very edge of our solar system and into the soul of one man in this introspective and breathtaking science fiction film that demanded to be seen on the biggest screen possible. A slow-burn tale of man’s quest for knowledge and his truest self, Ad Astra enchanted its viewers with the phenomenal cinematography of Hoyte van Hoytema, and Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has never been better with a character that tested every part of himself as a performer. Ad Astra was a film in the grandest scheme of things and was bound together with innovative and thought-provoking ideas related to man’s search for meaning and a desire to explore the cosmos. It has been some time since I can remember seeing a science fiction film of such power, and Ad Astra certainly achieved its mission of delivering the extraordinary.

7. Ford v Ferrari

The adrenaline kicked in at over 7000 RPM here in Ford v Ferrari and all-star director James Mangold captured the passion, competitiveness and brotherhood of the track in a perfect tribute to the golden age of racing. Stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale were perfectly paired together as racing legends Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles, and their joint pursuit of glory on the track absolutely amped up audiences. The film’s racing scenes were wild and uncontrollable and literally put audiences in the driver’s seat and captured the essence of what it means to go fast.

6. Booksmart

When it came to cinematic originality this year it doesn’t get more impressive than actress turned director Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut Booksmart. Packed full of original ideas and some of the best comedy delivered all year, it was a riot of a watch from beginning to end and you were sure to rock out in your seat here. Starring the genius combination of Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as over-achieving know it all’s Molly and Amy who realise that they’ve done high school all wrong and decide to go crazy for one night only, Booksmart delivered all the goods and then some, re-writing the teen comedy genre in the process. Every single frame of this incredible film was packed full of entertaining goodness and you most definitely found your groove with this one.

5. Hustlers

The hustle was on in this flashy, loud and outrageous true story of a group of women who decided to use their very unique talents to make their own version of the American Dream come true. Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu were super-fly in this one and whether they were strutting about the stage, or staging their own unique enrichment schemes you couldn’t look away. Fun, smart, clever, scandalous and incredibly sexy, Hustlers was a film that absolutely took its audience by surprise and made for one of this year’s most memorable film experiences. 

4. Avengers: Endgame

When it comes to blockbuster films that will define this last decade then it is easily Avengers: Endgame that will reign as the gold standard of what a blockbuster movie experience is. As the culminating event of just over a decade and 22 feature presentations from Marvel Studios films, Avengers: Endgame was the defining moment of one of modern cinema’s greatest ever sagas. Epic moment after epic moment was brought together in this incredible piece of cinema and when our heroes finally assembled, in one of the great moments of cinema history, we knew we had witnessed the extraordinary. They don’t get much bolder or grander than this and this was a film that tugged at all of your emotions and pulled every string of your heart. It was utterly marvellous in every sense of the word.

3. Long Shot

They say opposites attract and they certainly don’t get more different than Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen and these two phenomenal performers were an absolute hoot to watch in 2019’s standout romantic comedy Long Shot. Packed together with incredible laughs and plenty of flirtatious moments, Long Shot was a love story that had plenty to say about both attraction and what we should look for in the ones we love…along with that classic comedy that we’ve come to love from Rogen and director Jonathan Levine. Packed full of light and warmth, this one had me in a fit of uncontrollable laughter and I absolutely loved the journey that Charlotte and Fred underwent to find their own special kind of love. Long Shot was a hilarious and impactful watch from beginning to end and it was sure to leave a smile on your face.

2. Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi is a director of incredible spirit and warmth and his work on the sensational Jojo Rabbit proves that he is a filmmaker who rapidly deserves to take over Hollywood thanks to his incredible talents. While on the surface Jojo Rabbit presented itself as a light-hearted comedy, there was much more driving this cinematic feat and at its core was a film of amazing depth and power with a strong focus on themes of love, tolerance, acceptance and freedom. It presented a powerful and sincere message in our very turbulent era and is one of the most powerful statements to come from any working artist in Hollywood today. In my opinion, it was far and away the most important film of the year and its impactful story was sure to strike a chord with all who watched it.

1. Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood

But now, the moment that everyone has been waiting for, when it comes to the best film of 2019 there is only one answer…and that answer is of-course Quentin Tarantino’s ninth feature film, Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood. This tribute to the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age tracked the fortune of two fading stars in an age of rapid change and was packed full of swinging style and bound together by one incredible narrative. It was a piece of cinema that demanded to be seen on the biggest screen possible. In all, I saw this film four separate times at the cinema and it was a thrilling experience each and every time. Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood is a revelatory piece of cinema and Tarantino was working at the top of his game with this one. It’s as if every part of his career was pointing him in the direction of this masterwork and the revered filmmaker, along with his dynamic duo of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt absolutely delivered with this incredible feat of filmmaking. They just don’t get much better than this.

Images: Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Roadshow Films

The post SpicyPulp’s Top 10 Films of 2019 appeared first on SpicyPulp.

Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation.

First time director Olivia Wilde absolutely goes for it here, and her on-screen talent shifts behind-the-camera for one amazing directorial debut. Wilde handles the film’s narrative of “what if two best friends discovered that they did high school wrong, and had one night to make up for it” perfectly, and her narrative allows her plenty of freedom for fun. As a director, she really takes her audience on a journey, as her two protagonists, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever), set out to prove that they are actually indeed capable of having fun. While there’s plenty of whimsy on display here, Wilde’s focus on the girls’ friendship is what really gives the film its soul. Booksmart is an amazing debut for Wilde and I’m well up for seeing her behind-the-camera again as soon as possible because her talents know no limits.

In terms of casting it doesn’t get much better than Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as Molly and Amy and these two are the complete package. Set up as over-achieving know it all’s at the beginning of the film, you gradually learn that maybe these two aren’t as smart as they think they are, and their discovery that there’s more to life than just achievements and future plans is handled perfectly through these two performers and Wilde’s direction. Feldstein and Dever really deliver on screen with a naturalness to their characters and you certainly buy into the deep friendship that these characters share for each other. However their wild night certainly tests their friendship, and the actresses really bounce off one another with all the crazy drama that they have to contend with. Molly and Amy are a really endearing pair and this is all thanks to the sublime performance of Feldstein and Dever.

While Feldstein and Dever are at Booksmart’s core, if the film does have a scene stealer then it is without-a-doubt Billie Lourd as the extremely eccentrically loud Gigi! This girl might literally be the living embodiment of hedonism gone amuck and her constant presence throughout the film fills Booksmart with a real National Lampoon quality to it. Lourd’s Gigi is definitely the devil on the girls’ shoulders and she’s constantly guiding them in the most strange and savage direction. Gigi’s character really helps to elevate the film’s narrative and she’s an absolute blast!

Those seeking a comedy kick are also in for a real treat with Booksmart, because this film is laugh-out-loud hysterical! Wilde plays fast and loose with the comedy here, and it’s her use of the unexpected and the contradictory that really leaves the audience giggling here. While I can’t dive into the comedy too deeply without running into the risk of spoilers I will say that there were certain key moments, including The Panda scene and Molly and Amy’s interactions with a sketchy pizza delivery guy, that certainly brought out the laughs for me. However, the clincher for the comedy here was definitely the Barbie World scene and the way in which Wilde shot it was just hilarious!

Along with being packed out with sensational comedy, Booksmart is also a very real and heartfelt look at contemporary teenage life and just what it means to be a young person in 2019. While it’s big on the laughs like all teen comedies are, Booksmart, like American Graffiti and American Pie before it, really focuses in on the emotional lives of its characters, and how they’re trying to figure out what the world means to them and just where they sit in it. Wilde’s film is extremely heartfelt and you really feel for Molly and Amy as they suddenly try to live their entire teenage existence in a single night, and have to deal with all of the emotions that come with it. Booksmart is a terrific new entry in the coming-of-age category and it definitely needs to be celebrated for the scope and emotion that it brings to the genre.

Booksmart also features an incredible soundtrack which really elevates the visuals and emotional drama that is present on the screen. Its strong emphasis on music really helps to communicate the film’s narrative to audiences. My personal favourite piece of music from the film is Perfume Genius’s “Slip Away” which is used in a key scene to build out Booksmart’s underlying romantic and dramatic tension, and its seamless integration with the beautifully shot images of cinematographer Jason McCormick really highlight the adolescent experience that the characters are going through. Booksmart absolutely gets its musical score right and it really elevates the emotion and the narrative that Wilde is telling with her film.

Booksmart is a total A+ ride for moviegoers and Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut stands out as one of the most original pieces of cinema seen all year. Audiences will be buzzing after they see this film, and there’s a whole lot of fun to be had.

Image: Universal Pictures

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