USA TODAY International Edition
Recapping the top movies of 2019 so far
It’s been kind of a rough start at the box office, but 10 gems stand out
Folks, let’s be real: It’s been kind of a rough year at the movies. ❚ Sequels are tanking left and right. No one’s seeing the good stuff. And there really hasn’t been anything astounding yet, whereas we’ve had “Black Panther,” “Get Out” and “Sing Street” (a personal fave) in recent years before all the Oscar-ready flicks hit later. ❚ Plenty of quality films are still to be had, though, especially if you know where to look: More than ever, it pays to go deepdiving on Netflix or poking around digital platforms for diamonds in the rough. ❚ While we’re waiting for a mega second half of the year, where “It: Chapter Two,” “Frozen II” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” all loom as heavyweights, here are the best movies of 2019 so far (through June), ranked:
10. ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’
Since we’re in the middle of the Keanuaissance, it’d feel wrong not to have Keanu Reeves in here. His Duke Caboom is a highlight of “Toy Story 4” and he’s so good playing a meme-able, jerky version of himself in “Always Be My Maybe,” but there’s nothing quite like seeing him get knocked down and get up again – over and over – as the Chumbawamba of laconic, well-dressed, totally deadly assassins.
Where to see it: In theaters now
9. ‘Apollo 11’
Putting out a high-profile documentary for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing is the definition of a no-brainer. Director Todd Douglas Miller doesn’t phone it in, however, and creates something special by stripping down the story. Instead of recruiting an A-list narrator or enlisting talking heads, Miller chronicles the Apollo 11 mission using just archival footage and audio. It adds a new dimension to the famous event hearing Neil Armstrong’s “That’s
one small step for man” in the context of casual conversation or listening to chatty launch-control types break the news of the Chappaquiddick incident to one another, without taking away any of the inherent drama of the moment.
Where to see it: On iTunes, Amazon and digital platforms
8. ‘Fast Color’
In this wholly original take on the superhero genre, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is magnetic as a former drug addict on the run from those trying to study her remarkable abilities, and her journey takes her back to her rural home, her estranged mother (Lorraine Toussaint) and daughter (Saniyya Sidney) – both of whom also can do extraordinary things. There’s an intriguing post-apocalyptic scenario, and the superpowers are neat to behold, though the real thrill comes from the magic of the main female characters mending what’s been shattered between them.
Where to see it: On iTunes, Amazon and digital platforms
7. ‘High Life’
Still scratching your head at the thought of Robert Pattinson as the new Batman? Watching this trippy, twisty sci-fi drama will get you up to speed on just how good an actor the “Twilight” vet really is. Pattinson plays a broody sort stuck in space who raises a baby and is the last surviving member of a cosmic mission to harness the energy of a black hole. (The guy also is used for his sperm, which is a much longer story.) Imagine Stanley Kubrick doing “The Martian” with the “Interstellar” effects budget, and you get a sense of director Claire Denis’ ambitious, slightly psychosexual thriller.
Where to see it: On iTunes, Amazon and digital platforms
6. ‘See You Yesterday’
Director Stefon Bristol’s excellent Netflix adventure (produced by Spike Lee) is on the surface an homage to “Back to the Future” – complete with a winking nod from Michael J. Fox in a cameo – featuring two super-smart African American teens (Eden DuncanSmith and Dante Crichlow) who invent time-travel technology. It becomes much deeper than that, however, as one of the kids desperately tries to uses the gadgetry to save a loved one wrongfully shot by police. The film is an affecting and thought-provoking exploration of a never-ending cycle of violence and the onus on young ones to help break it.
Where to see it: On Netflix
5. ‘Long Shot’
Politics seemingly is everywhere and inescapable these days, but at least Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen’s romantic comedy is an appealing gem for all parties. He’s the schlubby journalist whose activism gets him in trouble, she’s the powerful secretary of state running for the Oval Office (vote Charlize 2020!), and, sure, you know they’ll fall for each other. But there’s an underlying
“we’re all in this together” vibe to the story that makes “Long Shot” feel so right in divided times.
Where to see it: In theaters now
4. ‘Avengers: Endgame’
Everyone knew Marvel’s most Marvel-ous superhero epic was going to make a gazillion dollars and have just as many characters. The fact that it was also surprising, tear-jerking, fist-pumping and actually somewhat coherent over the course of three hours is pretty much a miracle. “Endgame” paid off so much of 10-plus years of storytelling before it unleashed a breathless final confrontation with Josh Brolin’s A-list big bad Thanos, and wrapped up the fantastic arcs of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) with a chef ’s kiss.
Where to see it: In theaters now
3. ‘Wild Rose’
“Talented young singer trying to make it” is a familiar refrain: It hasn’t even been nine months since “A Star Is Born” rocked us hard. But Tom Harper’s rousing “Wild Rose” gives the trope a winning Scottish lilt and a spitfire in Irish breakout Jessie Buckley. With shades of Janis Joplin, her Rose-Lynn Harlan is a Glaswegian woman fresh out of the slammer with a big voice, even bigger dreams of being a Nashville country star, and two little kids who need her as much as she needs the Opry.
Where to see it: In theaters now
2. ‘Us’
Leave it to Jordan Peele to turn Hands Across America into something completely unnerving. A worthy followup to “Get Out,” “Us” is a purer horror tale with subtler social messaging as it puts a family through absolute hell by introducing them to their killer doppelgangers. There are so many highlights – eerie imagery, wonderfully dark humor – though chief among them is an absolutely awards-worthy turn by Lupita Nyong’o in dual roles, including the year’s best villain in Red. (Sorry, Thanos.)
Where to see it: On iTunes, Amazon and digital platforms
1. ‘Booksmart’
With no warning whatsoever, Olivia Wilde – yes, that Olivia Wilde – just redefined the teen comedy for an entire generation and cemented herself as the coolest director in Hollywood. Her rowdy tale of two overachieving and lovable nerd girls (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever) who finally let loose the night before high school graduation – with a colorful crew of multidimensional school chums in tow – will leave your heart three times bigger, give you six-pack abs from laughing so hard, and resonate with anyone who’s ever wanted start a revolution with a BFF.
Where to see it: In theaters now