Best Films of 2019 [TALKING IMAGES]

[St. Gloede]

Hi all,

What is your top 5, top 10, or top 20+ films of 2019? Please share below!

In this episode Clemmetarey, Filmbantha, Sol, Teproc and I go through our top 5 films in detail.

We also give each film more and more time to each film as we get closer to the top.

The big shock here is that there were only 3 films that are on two lists, and even more shocking, no films were on more than 2 lists.

There were 25 possible slots, and in this episode, we will cover 22. Pretty incredible, and some really big films did not make it into the episode either - don't be mad.

Quick quiz - Can you guess:

1. Each of our favourite films
2. What the 3 films on 2 lists were

Also:

Have you seen all the films you were excited about?
How big is your watchlist?
Which films are you still looking forward to seeing?

Feel free to also compare 2019 to other years. How did it fare?

And of course, please comment on what we say, and the films we list. Do you agree/disagree? There was certainly a few nice disagreement in the podcast, which is also what we want to see more of.

You can listen here:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3GhRXnb6OzOnfae2Uvkvus
Sounder - https://talking-images.sounder.fm/episo ... ms-of-2019

----

The Top 5s: Listen to the Podcast First

Clemmetarey
The Lighthouse
Ad Astra
Le daim/The Deer
Répertoire des villes disparues/Ghost Town Anthology
Boże Ciało

Filmbantha
Uncut Gems
Midsommar
Monos
Sorry We Missed You
Corpus Christi

Sol
Parasite
Jojo Rabbit
Just Mercy
Richard Jewell
Queen & Slim

St. Gloede
A Hidden Life
Martin Eden
About Endlessness
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Honeyland

Teproc
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Motherless Brooklyn
Parasite
Knives Out
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

[Onderhond]

Quick rundown of my favorites before I listen. Still a bit early to make this list. Even though I keep up with contemporary cinema quite well, it often takes 2-3 years for most prominent Asian films to make it to the West, so by the end of next year, this should probably be a bit more stable. These are all the films I rated 4* or higher (hence a top 21).

Deerskin (12), Ready or Not (18) and Weathering with You (20) are the only ones I think could pop up in the podcast, but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

01. 5.0* - Promare by Hiroyuki Imaishi
02. 4.5* - Paris Is Us by Elisabeth Vogler
03. 4.5* - Diner by Mika Ninagawa
04. 4.5* - Chiwawa by Ken Ninomiya
05. 4.5* - Children of the Sea by Ayumu Watanabe
06. 4.5* - Hot Gimmick: Girl Meets Boy by Yûki Yamato
07. 4.5* - The Forest of Love by Sion Sono
08. 4.0* - Guns Akimbo by Jason Lei Howden
09. 4.0* - Last Sunrise by Wen Ren
10. 4.0* - Adoration by Fabrice Du Welz
11. 4.0* - Dancing Mary by Hiroyuki Tanaka
12. 4.0* - Deerskin by Quentin Dupieux
13. 4.0* - High & Low: The Worst by Shigeaki Kubo
14. 4.0* - De Patrick by Tim Mielants
15. 4.0* - Nina Wu by Midi Z
16. 4.0* - Sound & Fury by Jumpei Mizusaki, Michael Arias, Koji Morimo
17. 4.0* - Lost in Love by Jianqi Huo
18. 4.0* - Ready or Not by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
19. 4.0* - No Longer Human by Mika Ninagawa
20. 4.0* - Weathering with You by Makoto Shinkai
21. 4.0* - A Sun by Mong-Hong Chung

Edit: I've seen 298 films from 2019.

[beavis]

I've rated 22 films from 2019 4.5 stars (no 5 star ratings yet, although some come very close)

20th Century, The - 4.5 - tt7969836
Atlantida - 4.5 - tt10749786
Bergmal - 4.5 - tt9296808
Bliss - 4.5 - tt9026524
Dylda - 4.5 - tt10199640
Goldene Handschuh, Der - 4.5 - tt7670212
Hellhole - 4.5 - tt9456372
Instinct - 4.5 - tt8386898
It Must Be Heaven - 4.5 - tt8359842
J'ai Perdu Mon Corps - 4.5 - tt9806192
Liberte - 4.5 - tt10199670
Lighthouse, The - 4.5 - tt7984734
Martin Eden - 4.5 - tt4516162
O Que Arde - 4.5 - tt8212958
Om det Ondliga - 4.5 - tt6817944
Once upon a Time... in Hollywood - 4.5 - tt7131622
Perdrix - 4.5 - tt10228204
Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu - 4.5 - tt8613070
Promare - 4.5 - tt9116358
Tlamess - 4.5 - tt10228180
Vida Invisivel, A - 4.5 - tt6390668
Vitalina Varela - 4.5 - tt8241872

out of a total amount of 170 features watched from this year
they are in alphabetical order, so unranked.

still a lot to see! but on my immediate watchlist are malchik russkiy (maybe this evening...), repertoire des villes disparues, zombi child, dogs don't wear pants, tommaso, this is not a burial it's a ressurection and first cow.

[St. Gloede]

Quick rundown of my favorites before I listen. Still a bit early to make this list. Even though I keep up with contemporary cinema quite well, it often takes 2-3 years for most prominent Asian films to make it to the West, so by the end of next year, this should probably be a bit more stable. These are all the films I rated 4* or higher (hence a top 21).

Deerskin (12), Ready or Not (18) and Weathering with You (20) are the only ones I think could pop up in the podcast, but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

Interesting guesses, only 1 of them made it.

01. 5.0* - Promare by Hiroyuki Imaishi
02. 4.5* - Paris Is Us by Elisabeth Vogler
03. 4.5* - Diner by Mika Ninagawa
04. 4.5* - Chiwawa by Ken Ninomiya
05. 4.5* - Children of the Sea by Ayumu Watanabe
06. 4.5* - Hot Gimmick: Girl Meets Boy by Yûki Yamato
07. 4.5* - The Forest of Love by Sion Sono
08. 4.0* - Guns Akimbo by Jason Lei Howden
09. 4.0* - Last Sunrise by Wen Ren
10. 4.0* - Adoration by Fabrice Du Welz
11. 4.0* - Dancing Mary by Hiroyuki Tanaka
12. 4.0* - Deerskin by Quentin Dupieux
13. 4.0* - High & Low: The Worst by Shigeaki Kubo
14. 4.0* - De Patrick by Tim Mielants
15. 4.0* - Nina Wu by Midi Z
16. 4.0* - Sound & Fury by Jumpei Mizusaki, Michael Arias, Koji Morimo
17. 4.0* - Lost in Love by Jianqi Huo
18. 4.0* - Ready or Not by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
19. 4.0* - No Longer Human by Mika Ninagawa
20. 4.0* - Weathering with You by Makoto Shinkai
21. 4.0* - A Sun by Mong-Hong Chung

Edit: I've seen 298 films from 2019.

Really interesting list, as usual. Will keep a look-out for Promare!

[St. Gloede]

I've rated 22 films from 2019 4.5 stars (no 5 star ratings yet, although some come very close)

20th Century, The - 4.5 - tt7969836
Atlantida - 4.5 - tt10749786
Bergmal - 4.5 - tt9296808
Bliss - 4.5 - tt9026524
Dylda - 4.5 - tt10199640
Goldene Handschuh, Der - 4.5 - tt7670212
Hellhole - 4.5 - tt9456372
Instinct - 4.5 - tt8386898
It Must Be Heaven - 4.5 - tt8359842
J'ai Perdu Mon Corps - 4.5 - tt9806192
Liberte - 4.5 - tt10199670
Lighthouse, The - 4.5 - tt7984734
Martin Eden - 4.5 - tt4516162
O Que Arde - 4.5 - tt8212958
Om det Ondliga - 4.5 - tt6817944
Once upon a Time... in Hollywood - 4.5 - tt7131622
Perdrix - 4.5 - tt10228204
Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu - 4.5 - tt8613070
Promare - 4.5 - tt9116358
Tlamess - 4.5 - tt10228180
Vida Invisivel, A - 4.5 - tt6390668
Vitalina Varela - 4.5 - tt8241872

out of a total amount of 170 features watched from this year
they are in alphabetical order, so unranked.

still a lot to see! but on my immediate watchlist are malchik russkiy (maybe this evening...), repertoire des villes disparues, zombi child, dogs don't wear pants, tommaso, this is not a burial it's a ressurection and first cow.

Woah, Beavis. we are quite in tune. Everything I have seen from your list is 8+, and without spoiling anything you did match 3/5 of my list, and for the ones I'm yet to see, two are at the very top (5) of my watchlist.

Will without a doubt make your entire list a priority.

[Onderhond]

Really interesting list, as usual. Will keep a look-out for Promare!

Looking at your number 1, I would suggest seeking out Paris Is Us by Elisabeth Vogler, which has been linked quite often to the work of Malick (with a bit of Lynch). It's a Netflix film, so if you have a subscription it shouldn't be too difficult to watch it.

Promare is ... quite particular

My ratings for the films mentioned in the podcast (Don't read if you haven't heard the podcast yet):

Don't read if you haven't heard the podcast yet

---- - Corpus Christi
1.5* - Once upon a Time... in Hollywood
---- - Just Mercy
---- - Honeyland
---- - Répertoire des Villes Disparues
2.0* - Knives Out
---- - Sorry We Missed You
---- - Queen & Slim
---- - Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu
4.0* - Deerskin
3.0* - Parasite
---- - Monos
---- - Richard Jewell
---- - About Endlessness
3.5* - Ad Astra
---- - Motherless Brooklyn
3.0* - Midsommar
3.5* - Jojo Rabbit
---- - Martin Eden
2.0* - The Lighthouse
2.0* - Uncut Gems
---- - A Hidden Life

[St. Gloede]

Really interesting list, as usual. Will keep a look-out for Promare!

Looking at your number 1, I would suggest seeking out Paris Is Us by Elisabeth Vogler, which has been linked quite often to the work of Malick (with a bit of Lynch). It's a Netflix film, so if you have a subscription it shouldn't be too difficult to watch it.

Promare is ... quite particular

My ratings for the films mentioned in the podcast (Don't read if you haven't heard the podcast yet):

Don't read if you haven't heard the podcast yet

---- - Corpus Christi
1.5* - Once upon a Time... in Hollywood
---- - Just Mercy
---- - Honeyland
---- - Répertoire des Villes Disparues
2.0* - Knives Out
---- - Sorry We Missed You
---- - Queen & Slim
---- - Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu
4.0* - Deerskin
3.0* - Parasite
---- - Monos
---- - Richard Jewell
---- - About Endlessness
3.5* - Ad Astra
---- - Motherless Brooklyn
3.0* - Midsommar
3.5* - Jojo Rabbit
---- - Martin Eden
2.0* - The Lighthouse
2.0* - Uncut Gems
---- - A Hidden Life

Now that is some very efficient scanning! Well done.

And thank you for the recommendation, will seek it out. I have Netflix luckily. Let's see if it is available in my location though.

Looked up the screenshots for Promare, looks enticing for sure - and I see Beavis supports it as well, so building up some anticipation there!

[Onderhond]

Now that is some very efficient scanning! Well done.

Hah, you noticed! I skipped the conversation on some of the bigger films I didn't like that much/thought were overrated. Not really looking forward to hearing more praise about Uncut Gems or Parasite

And thank you for the recommendation, will seek it out. I have Netflix luckily. Let's see if it is available in my location though.

I think it was produced by Netflix (so not bought), which should mean it's global. The magic of streaming platforms! Instant release in 190 countries.

[Teproc]

Don't think it was produced by Netflix, it was out in theaters here (though I sadly missed it).

[Onderhond]

Don't think it was produced by Netflix, it was out in theaters here (though I sadly missed it).

Hmmm, seems you're right. I remember it was pushed as "the first French Netflix film" at the time, but most news outlets aren't aware that not everything with the red N stamp was made equally. Fingers crossed then.

[Teproc]

I'd say anytime you hear something described as a Netflix original, there's at least a 70% chance that it really isn't. Case in point: I misread your sentence and thought you were talking about Promare, but it turns out that applied to Paris Is Us aswell.

[Onderhond]

Oh, Promare definitely wasn't. That film even got the 4DX treatment
Still pissed that they didn't release it in Flanders. It did get a release in NL, but we couldn't cross the border because of COVID

[beavis]

Will without a doubt make your entire list a priority.

nice!
we are always close in taste I feel
although sometimes you totally dislike a director or movie I love... so no satisfaction guaranteed!

[OldAle1]

I actually listened to this one right away, yay! Now have to catch up with a few others, especially the western one. I don't know peoples' tastes well enough, and don't pay enough attention to new film discussions generally to bother to try to guess any of the choices on 2 lists or anything. Like hearing the disagreements here, and have plenty of them myself - I'm with sol- overall as someone not that fond of Midsommar, and I really didn't like As Astra at all - not much of a Nolan fan but I much preferred Interstellar and vastly preferred Cuarón's Gravity. Whoever it was who talked about how it can't decide what it is, how it's trying to be several things at once that don't really mesh - that's my feeling exactly.

My list is exactly the same as the one I submitted for brokenface's poll 2 1/2 months ago - and the same, apart from #2 which replaced something I'm not gonna bother to look for now from the February poll. Only seen 65 films for the year, and only one film seen since COVID shut everything down. Portrait was the last new film I saw in the cinema, in early March. Four films by women including the top two - that has probably never happened in any other year. And the top two are films I can't imagine dropping much in the future. #3 seems likely to stay in any near-future top 10; below that, who knows.

Given that I still watch most new films in the cinema - or did until March - and that I've spent most of this year focusing on challenges and on my own nostalgic obsessions, I still have a huge potential watch-list - I actually added five films to the list I have saved listening to the podcast, and may add some more from Beavis' list (and maybe even Onderhond's though I remain wary...). I'm definitely in a different cineaste category from a lot of you guys though - Beavis has already seen 170 films from the year and I only have one year in all of film history that I've seen that many films from, and the idea of seeing almost 300 from a year is very nearly impossible for me to imagine.

1. Little Women (Greta Gerwig)
2. Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (Céline Sciamma)
3. The Irishman (Martin Scorsese)
4. Varda par Agnès (Agnès Varda_
5. Waves (Trey Edward Shults)
6. Dolor y gloria (Pedro Almodóvar)
7. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (Joe Talbot)
8. J'ai perdu mon corps (Jérémy Clapin)
9. The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers)
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Marielle Heller)

[Onderhond]

(and maybe even Onderhond's though I remain wary...)

Seeing you liked Asako I & II and Honey Pupu, I think I'd recommend Hot Gimmick: Girl Meets Boy (maybe Chiwawa too) from my list. That film got some terrible reviews, but mostly because it's a pretty atypical manga adaptation (and franchise fanboys are the worst).

[mightysparks]

I didn't participate as I barely have a top 5, but mine would've been:

1. Uncut Gems
2. Ready or Not
3. Joker
4. Vivarium
5. In the Tall Grass

Have only seen 69 films from last year so hopefully I'll have a top 10 within the next year or so. Don't really do watchlists (I mean, I watchlist a lot of stuff but it's not really curated or maintained), and don't really know what else came out so we'll see what I come across.. I've been looking forward to listening to this one (for recommendations and juicy arguments :p ) but it's going to have to wait a little bit.

[St. Gloede]

I actually listened to this one right away, yay! Now have to catch up with a few others, especially the western one.

That's fantastic, and really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Western ep.

Like hearing the disagreements here, and have plenty of them myself - I'm with sol- overall as someone not that fond of Midsommar, and I really didn't like As Astra at all - not much of a Nolan fan but I much preferred Interstellar and vastly preferred Cuarón's Gravity. Whoever it was who talked about how it can't decide what it is, how it's trying to be several things at once that don't really mesh - that's my feeling exactly.

I'm much warmer on both films, but we definitely need more disagreement. To tease an upcoming ep we did a Best and Worst Oscar Winners episode, and that one has some pretty strong clashes.

My list is exactly the same as the one I submitted for brokenface's poll 2 1/2 months ago - and the same, apart from #2 which replaced something I'm not gonna bother to look for now from the February poll. Only seen 65 films for the year, and only one film seen since COVID shut everything down. Portrait was the last new film I saw in the cinema, in early March. Four films by women including the top two - that has probably never happened in any other year. And the top two are films I can't imagine dropping much in the future. #3 seems likely to stay in any near-future top 10; below that, who knows.

I have actually seen less than you, but I am so much pickier than I used to be, and I feel my top 5 is quite settled for now.

Given that I still watch most new films in the cinema - or did until March - and that I've spent most of this year focusing on challenges and on my own nostalgic obsessions, I still have a huge potential watch-list - I actually added five films to the list I have saved listening to the podcast, and may add some more from Beavis' list (and maybe even Onderhond's though I remain wary...). I'm definitely in a different cineaste category from a lot of you guys though - Beavis has already seen 170 films from the year and I only have one year in all of film history that I've seen that many films from, and the idea of seeing almost 300 from a year is very nearly impossible for me to imagine.

1. Little Women (Greta Gerwig)
2. Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (Céline Sciamma)
3. The Irishman (Martin Scorsese)
4. Varda par Agnès (Agnès Varda_
5. Waves (Trey Edward Shults)
6. Dolor y gloria (Pedro Almodóvar)
7. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (Joe Talbot)
8. J'ai perdu mon corps (Jérémy Clapin)
9. The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers)
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Marielle Heller)

I really need to get around to Waves as I loved Krisha, it definitely has top 10 of the year potential. I'm also yet to see The Last Black Man in San Francisco, J'ai perdu mon corp and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - and am fairly interested in the first two - especially J'ai perdu mon corps which I see pop up on several lists.

Will likely do a second push for 2019 films soon - nice tie-in with this thread to, and like you I'll be taking down names.

[St. Gloede]

My number 1 unseen film is still Eric Pauwel's Journal de septembre. Really can't wait for it to become available with English subtitles. There is nothing else I believe to be a top 5 candidate at present, but I'm sure I could be surprised, especially by:

Kiz Kardesler / Tale of Three Sisters
A Vida Invisível
O que arde / Fire Will Come

And now I'm also really interested in Promare.

Some other films on my watchlist:

Adam
Matthias et Maxime
La trinchera infinita
J'ai perdu mon corps
You Will Die at 20
La fameuse invasion des ours en Sicile
Bergmál
Di Jiu Tian Chang / So Long, My Son
The Painted Bird
Weathering with You
Les misérables
The 20th Century
Waiting for the Barbarians
This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection
Il traditore
Zombi Child
Psychomagic: A Healing Art
Marriage Story
Systemsprenger
Fin de siglo / End of a Century
Moffie
The King
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
etc. etc. etc.

[Ivan0716]

1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2. Too Old to Die Young
3. Vitalina Varela
4. A Hidden Life
5. The Irishman
6. Uncut Gems
7. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
8. The Painted Bird
9. The Lighthouse
10. Varda by Agnès

all seen: https://letterboxd.com/ivan0716/list/2019-ranked/


Need to watch:
Saturday Fiction
Those Who Remained
To the Ends of the Earth
Saint Maud
Öndög

[Good_Will_Harding]

My list hasn't really changed much since the poll here and haven't caught up on too many blindspots either - if anything, just some reordering;

1. The Irishman
2. Little Women
3. The Farewell
4. Parasite
5. 1917
6. The Nightingale
7. A Hidden Life
8. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
9. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
10. American Factory

Honorable mentions;

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Ad Astra
Atlantics
Climax
Doctor Sleep
For Sama
Knives Out
Luce
Marriage Story
Motherless Brooklyn
The Souvenir
Us
Waves

[sebby]

I haven't seen a whole lot of 2019 stuff yet. The Vast of Night, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, and The Souvenir would probably be my top 3.

[tourdesb]

Out of 67 movies seen, here is my top 10 :

Brilliant
1. A Hidden Life
2. 1917

Great
3. Ford v. Ferrari
4. Dumbo
5. Vivarium

Good
6. Paradise Hills
7. Gisaengchung
8. Richard Jewell
9. Joker
10. Jojo Rabbit

[Teproc]

Like hearing the disagreements here, and have plenty of them myself - I'm with sol- overall as someone not that fond of Midsommar, and I really didn't like As Astra at all - not much of a Nolan fan but I much preferred Interstellar and vastly preferred Cuarón's Gravity. Whoever it was who talked about how it can't decide what it is, how it's trying to be several things at once that don't really mesh - that's my feeling exactly.

That would be me.

I also much prefer Interstellar, as a sci-fi film with both an intensely personal emotional focus and huge scale, which I think is why I think of Gravity (which I also like a lot) as something different entirely.

Given that I still watch most new films in the cinema - or did until March - and that I've spent most of this year focusing on challenges and on my own nostalgic obsessions, I still have a huge potential watch-list - I actually added five films to the list I have saved listening to the podcast

Out of curiosity, which ones would those be?

And regarding your top 10, Little Women is a film I would have definitely mentioned had we had time for honorable mentions, but we were running a bit long as it was.

[OldAle1]

Out of curiosity, which ones would those be?

Corpus Christi (I'd thought that had already been on the list but no), Deerskin, Honeyland, Motherless Brooklyn, Queen & Slim. I think I had at least vaguely heard of all of them but sometimes it takes somebody's enthusiasm to get on the list. The chance that I'll actually watch any of them anytime soon is, of course, very low given how I'm prioritizing my viewing these days but you never know - I ended up watching a 2019 film last night, in part inspired by this thread (it also qualified for a challenge).

And regarding your top 10, Little Women is a film I would have definitely mentioned had we had time for honorable mentions, but we were running a bit long as it was.

[St. Gloede]

It is quite funny, that after having had a stoic top 5 for quite some time (except About Endlessness, which came quite late), and the episode being recorded over a month ago - that I would get a contender today.

This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection (2019, Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese)



The film is simply stunning in its composition, and makes you feel incredible awe at the surroundings. So many of the shots are films with contrast to the sky - people against surroundings.



But it also opens like this:



This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection quite floored me, as it lures you in with trippy, nightmarish sounds and visuals - slowly centres you, before it unleashes you into a slow brooding and poetic work which is simultaneously gorgeous (obviously) but grieving a loss.



You may be tempted to believe the title in a more literal sense, as we find in our protagonist a grieving, elderly woman, Mantoa, who has just lost her son - but what it really captures is progress vs. tradition, or more specifically cold progress vs. people - as the entire village is set to be flooded with a new dam, and the villagers - all seemingly poor farmers - are to be relocated to the capital.

What we see is the beaurocracy, speeches and push for modernity and leaving all you know - including your dead - in contrast to Mantoa's complete disbelief, bewilderness and sorrow.



The film could so easily have taken the classic route of the underdog fighting back, trapped in a beaurocratic mess, but this is not what the film is concerned with.

And yes, you do have futility - and the idea of the new and old god - and we see how those in positions of power try to nudge the people along:



But this is not really the story.

Even the backdrop of government workers cutting down trees, or the more solemn clarity in the chief informing all that it is the king's land, not theirs - are really the story.

Instead we peer into humanity, and into what stands to be lost. We spend time in the beauty and serenity of the village, we see the bonds form, we see the pain in leaving, we see Mantoa's despair - and we feel it.

8.5-9/10

[prodigalgodson]

Thanks so much for the rec gloede, sounds fantastic!

[mightysparks]

I was pretty surprised to find about 90 titles from 2019 on my IMDb watchlist I use the watchlist function more like a bookmark, 'here's something of interest, check it out later' and might not actually be interested in watching it, but this is what I've got: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls083686497/

Edit: I'm in the process of ranking them, and maybe I should try to keep an active watchlist next year because this is pretty fun and my top 10 'most want to see' would be:

1. Koko-di koko-da
2. The Swerve
3. Monos
4. The Lodge
5. Dylda
6. Harpoon
7. Light of My Life
8. Koirat eivät käytä housuja
9. Yesterday
10. Der goldene Handschuh

[mightysparks]

This was a great ep. I haven't listened to a lot of the podcasts yet, and only ones I was involved with, so hard to compare. But I found it really organic, everyone had well thought-out responses and reflections on the films and I liked hearing everyone's perspectives. The structure worked really well and although it's quite long it doesn't feel like it, I was disappointed when I realised I was close to the end. A few films moved up on my watchlist, one moved down, added a couple new ones. I also found this discussion gave me a better feel for each of the participants and their taste/approach to film: definitely vibe with Tom's taste the most so gonna be stalking his lists from now on

Stealing from Onderhond, my ratings of the films discussed:

Spoiler

6 - Corpus Christi
5 - Once upon a Time... in Hollywood
---- - Just Mercy
---- - Honeyland
---- - Répertoire des Villes Disparues
6 - Knives Out
---- - Sorry We Missed You
---- - Queen & Slim
6 - Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu
6 - Deerskin
6 - Parasite
---- - Monos
---- - Richard Jewell
---- - About Endlessness
6 - Ad Astra
---- - Motherless Brooklyn
5 - Midsommar
6 - Jojo Rabbit
6 - Martin Eden
6 - The Lighthouse
8 - Uncut Gems
---- - A Hidden Life

[tommy_leazaq]

Have seen 53 films from 2019, in which many were mainstream films with B- or lower rating. Ignoring them, here are my picks...

1. The Lighthouse....A+
2. I Lost My Body....A+

3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire....A
4. Midsommar (Dir Cut)....A
5. Cat Sticks....A
6. Jojo Rabbit....A
7. Beanpole....A
8. The Platform....A
9. Uncut Gems....A

10. The Painted Bird....A-
11. The Irishman....A-
12. Pain and Glory....A-

13. The Farewell....B+
14. Jallikattu....B+
15. Truth and Justice....B+
16. Klaus....B+
17. The Two Popes....B+
18. Parasite....B+
19. Joker....B+
20. The Peanut Butter Falcon....B+
21. Little Women....B+
22. 1917....B+
23. The Souvenir....B+

24. Ema....B
25. Ford v Ferrari....B
26. Atlantics....B
27. Bacurau....B
28. Weathering with You...B
29. Marriage Story....B
30. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood....B

[tommy_leazaq]

Immediate watchlist

For Sama (2019)
Wild Goose Lake (2019)
A Hidden Life (2019)
Vitaline avareline (2019)
System Crasher (2019)
So long my son (2019)
Les Miseables (2019)
Honeyland (2019)

[Cinepolis]

Most 2019 movies that interest me still haven't made their way to Germany, like "Koko-di koko-da", "The Painted Bird", "Monos", "The Last Black Man in San Francisco", ...
It feels like less and less movies are relased because of the shrinking interest in cinema.

[cinewest]

Really enjoyed listening to the podcast on the best of 2019, which I experienced largely as a preview since I have seen so few from last year.

It’s enjoyable to get to know the regulars on the air, and hear you all Speak about your choices, as well as describe what attracts or detracts you from various films, and to cinema In general.

One of the things that stood out for me is how much viewer expectations can color one’s experience of a film, and rob one of an important sense of discovery.

Of the films discussed, I enjoyed the few that I’ve seen to varying degrees.

Thought Uncut Gems was outstanding from start to finish, even though I tend to prefer films that slow down and give me more time to breathe. Thought this one was very similar to Good Time only A little better in every way. A definite top 10 for me, but I need to see a lot more before I can say how high it winds up.

On the flip side, I didn’t think that highly of Tarantino’s film, despite some stellar imaginative moments (DiCaprio flipping out in his trailer, Brad Pitt on the roof and visiting the ranch). In fact, Tarantino has become more of a “set piece” filmmaker to me than a storyteller, and he creates fewer and fewer set pieces that don’t seem redundant.
He does still come up with great details and clever ways of reworking Hollywood genres, but but his predilection for b-level junk food started becoming tiresome to me years ago.

Parasite (and Bong) Remind me a bit of Tarantino in terms of the mix of drama and comedy and pulpish, graphic style, but Bong imbues his narratives with more meaningful content than T. That my favorite films from Bong are the first two I saw about 15 years ago, shows that he hasn’t really continued to hold my interest, though and, At best, Parasite will wind up in my top 20, but not climb much higher.

A step up for me was The Lighthouse, which will
Most probably wind up in my top ten for the year for many of the reasons provided in the podcast.

My least favorite, and in the “take it or leave it” category is Knives Out. By no means a bad film, there was just nothing to distinguish it for me compared to the much better filMs of this type that I have seen, like Gosford Park. Played more like aN old TV series pilot than what really attracts me to cinema

[St. Gloede]

Cheers Cinewest! Really happy you enjoyed this episode, and based on the positive feedback we are already starting to prepare for a 2018 episode - though this time we will ensure that at least two people have seen every film.

[cinewest]

Cheers Cinewest! Really happy you enjoyed this episode, and based on the positive feedback we are already starting to prepare for a 2018 episode - though this time we will ensure that at least two people have seen every film.

As I said, I've only seen a few from 2019, so far. but two very good ones left out of the conversation were A Souvenir (Joanna Hogg), and Yang Guang Pu Zhao (A Sun) Chung Mong-Hong, from Taiwan.

[Onderhond]

but two very good ones left out of the conversation were A Souvenir (Joanna Hogg), and Yang Guang Pu Zhao (A Sun) Chung Mong-Hong, from Taiwan.

I listed A Sun

Definitely recommended (and also very accessible since it was released on Netflix). My only problem with Chung's films is that they're becoming progressively worse (read more narrative-based). The quality is still there, but he's such an amazing mood-director that it's a little wasteful to spend too much time on plot/characters. But since it's winning him prizes, he might be going further in that direction.

[cinewest]

Double post in advance

[cinewest]

but two very good ones left out of the conversation were A Souvenir (Joanna Hogg), and Yang Guang Pu Zhao (A Sun) Chung Mong-Hong, from Taiwan.

I listed A Sun

Definitely recommended (and also very accessible since it was released on Netflix). My only problem with Chung's films is that they're becoming progressively worse (read more narrative-based). The quality is still there, but he's such an amazing mood-director that it's a little wasteful to spend too much time on plot/characters. But since it's winning him prizes, he might be going further in that direction.

What’s wrong with plot and/or characters? I am drawn to films that create an interesting mood or felt experience, but that depends on what it is. I’m not in Middle School any more, and too much of what is sensation based is oriented towards the “thrill” of something.

Also, some “mood” filmmakers, like Refn, tend towards the banal in other areas to a point where I finally get sick of them.

Many Short films are good mood pieces, though if I consider my favorite Films, a great many might be called “mood” films, certainly the films of Wong Kar Wai, Terrence Malick, Etc. I think the fact that Chung began as a cinematographer has a lot to do with his ability to convey mood, and I would say that I tend to be attracted to Films with evocative cinematography

[Onderhond]

What’s wrong with plot and/or characters?

I'm rarely drawn to plot and/or characters. They just don't do much for me.

and too much of what is sensation based is oriented towards the “thrill” of something.

I don't really see the relevance of this. There's lot of mood cinema that has little to do with "thrills". Certainly not a film like The Fourth Portrait.
Personally I like both though.

Also, some “mood” filmmakers, like Refn, tend towards the banal in other areas to a point where I finally get sick of them.

Yes, and some narrative directors like Spielberg make incredibly cheesy films. Again, don't really see the relevance of this remark. A style/approach isn't defined by its worst examples.

[St. Gloede]

I was not on the same wavelegth as A Souvenir unfortunately. I read the feature in Sight and Sound, and got extra excited when they were selected as the best film of 2019, but I just do not understand it. Stylistically I did not see anything of note, and it runs like a fairly ordinary mid-range British drama, with slightly loftier ambitions. To be far, the slightly more distanced/muted/stylized acting could be a point of interest, but it was not taking to a degree of stylistic purity that hooks me, it was just a softer element. I did thoroughly enjoy it. It was a pleasant film, with a solid central performance, and some nice scenes - but all I saw was a good film - and I don't see/understand what made it stand out for others. Is it the coming of age, characters and dialog? That did have something extra, and people do push how personal it can feel, but nothing that spellbound me. Would definitely love to hear more from those who loved it.

(Will push A Sun upwards in my current watchlist - it was quite far down the list)

[beavis]

the fact that it is british would have some effect on the sight and sound ranking