Looking over the list of movies released in 2018, I realized how thankful I was to have MoviePass when it was still working the way I expected: endless movies. MoviePass was gifted to me at the end of February 2018, so I was able to take full advantage of its power for the first few months. After the unlimited option slowly declined, I was still able to manipulate my moviegoing by using MoviePass to pay for titles I would never see with viewings (and/or re-viewings) for a short amount of time.
Thanks, MoviePass.
The following lists are small compared to the actual number of movies seen in the theater. It took longer to figure out the worst movies list than any other because there was so much junk spewed from the studios.
After further review, my current lists are as follows: (explanations will follow later)
Top 10 movies of the 2018
10. Suspiria (Dir. Luca Guadagino)
– Although I hated the final 20 minutes or so, the rest of this flick creeped me out and added to the wonderful horror movie year that was 2018. Dakota Johnson’s performance piqued my interest enough to maybe watch those Fifty Shades movies at some point…or not.
9. Eighth Grade (Dir. Bo Burnham)
– This is a calm, direct coming-of-age story about the awkwardness of middle-school and finding one’s self in the midst of it all. Josh Hamilton’s role as her loving, out-of-the-loop (but still trying) dad was great. Their father-daughter, single family dynamic is sweet and real. Check it out.
8. American Animals (Dir. Bart Layton)
– Based on a true story. Great acting, editing, etc.
7. Black Panther (Dir. Ryan Coogler)
and
Avengers: Infinity War (Dir. Anthony and Joe Russo)
– Although these were two different movies, it was most rewarding to see the first before seeing the other. Some may see this as cheating; no problem. Those people didn’t take the time to write a list and I did. ‘Nuff said.
6. Deadpool 2 (Dir. David Leitch)
– Good old-fashioned, inappropriate fun.
5. Hereditary (Dir. Ari Asher)
– As stated earlier, 2018 was a great year for the horror film. I hope this trend continues. Hereditary was true psychological horror at its finest.
4. Bohemian Rhapsody (Dir. Bryan Singer)
– I was skeptical. I was pleasantly surprised. I am doubting there will be a sequel.
3. A Star is Born (Dir. Bradley Cooper)
– This one is a safe bet for Best Picture if anyone really cares about the Academy Awards anymore. Although this is a remake of a remake of a remake (?), it is well shot and acted. Who knew Andrew Dice Clay could throw down on some acting?
2. Halloween (Dir. David Gordon Green)
– This movie surprised me. I was sold on the fact that Danny McBride helped write this screenplay, while David Gordon Green (a McBride collaborator from Eastbound and Down and Vice Principals) directed. I don’t care how many bad (but sometimes hilariously enjoyable) Halloween sequels were made. Just go back and watch the original, then follow it up with this one. I can’t wait for this sequel as long as the same crew is involved.
1. Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (Dir. Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman)
– I was not that excited about this movie upon first seeing the trailers. I thought it looked fun, but I also expected it to be a watered-down version of a story that I was not all that familiar with. I was wrong. This is the best Spiderman movie to date if compared to all the live-action versions. Phil Lord (co-director of The Lego Movie) helped write this story and his stock continues to soar. See this movie in the theaters. See it more than once. See it in 3-D also. Just see it. If the Academy Awards have any substance left, this movie will be nominated for Best Picture. Unfortunately, they will probably have this animation classic losing to the underwhelming Incredibles 2 since Disney owns everything these days.
My 5 WORST movies (that I saw in the theaters) of 2018
5. The 15:17 to Paris (Dir. Clint Eastwood)
– I felt bad for this one because the “actors” were the actual guys involved in this true story. Although I appreciate their bravery, they should probably never act on screen again. I left early and I didn’t feel bad about it because…MoviePass.
4. Damsel (Dir. David and Nathan Zellner)
– The opening credits dance sequence is the best part of the movie. Go ahead and move on to something else after watching that part. Pretentious junk. Thanks, MoviePass.
3. Hunter Killer (Dir. Donovan Marsh)
– Will somebody please remind Gary Oldman that he has an Oscar for Best Actor and does not need to slum in the world of bad Gerard Butler movies?
2. Gemini (Dir. Aaron Katz)
– If I am not mistaken, I believe MoviePass recommended this forgettable piece of incoherent junk. It looked pretty. It ended up pretentious and boring.
1. Like Me (Dir. Robert Mockler)
– I saw a lot of crap this year, but this one is the crappiest. If I were a producer, I would politely ask for my money back.
Top 6 “guilty pleasure” movies (that I saw in the theaters) of 2018
6. Hell Fest (Dir. Gregory Plotkin)
– Total throwback to the 80s slasher film. Although I was disappointed in one of the most annoying characters not getting killed, I am hopeful that will happen in the sequel.
5. The Commuter (Dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)
– Liam Neeson on a train fighting bad guys and ridiculous plot twists. Saw it twice. Thanks, MoviePass.
4. Skyscraper (Dir. Rawson Marshall Thurber)
– The only reason why I have 6 titles instead of 5 in this list is due to the Rock and his script choices. The Rock reigns supreme as the modern day action-movie star. I just wish they would have cranked this one up to an ‘R’ rating and allowed him to get bloody.
3. Rampage (Dir. Brad Peyton)
-GEEEOOOORRRGGE!!! (‘Nuff said)
2. Solo (Dir. Ron Howard)
-Could it have been a little better? Sure. However, this movie was under all kinds of time constraints due to its release date not changing even after directors changed less than a year before its release. Ron Howard did a good job putting this flick together.
1. The Meg (Dir. Jon Turteltaub)
– Statham v. Megladon. Let’s hope there is a sequel.
Mind Stroll 