I watched plenty of movies in theaters last year and some of them I didn’t get around to reviewing because I’m super lazy, rather than listing what is in here I’ll just tell you now that neither 1917 nor Parasite will be in this review as I have much more to say on those than I could fit in this already long list.

First things first, Ford v. Ferrari. A retelling of the famous historical showdown between the two rivaling automotive companies that caused Ford to push its limits and invent the now famous Shelby Mustang. I feel as if everyone who worked on this movie was enjoying themselves and putting their all into it. The film was directed by James Mangold and starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon in a tense and personal conflict. It’s not something for everyone but if you’re a big fan of history, cars, or the cast than this is a good film to watch.

Next film on my list is Richard Jewell, directed by Clint Eastwood.

July 27, 1996. Atlanta, Georgia. 1:20 AM. Centennial Park. One Eric Rudolph plants a backpack carrying 3 homemade pipe bombs surrounded by masonry nails. The package was made in such a way that it blow the shrapnel into the crowd, the bag was messed with at some point pointing the bags predicted trajectory upwards. One Richard Jewell is on the scene, a security guard at the Centennial who finds the package and calls it into investigation. As soon as the package is revealed to be a bomb Richard and the rest of security hurriedly evacuate the crowd from the scene, 3 minutes into evacuation the bomb goes off. The bomb injures 111 people and kills 2 (one indirectly as he died from a fatal heart attack running away from the scene of the evacuation). The news totes Richard Jewell, the man whom found the package as a hero, until it is discovered that he is a prime suspect of the event. This causes him to be questioned and ridiculed by everyone from the media to the FBI whom strips him of his dignity, privacy and integrity.

The film is closely related to these events and is a slow burn drama that focuses on what happened to Richard Jewell and his family after the event. Its not the best film of the year but is certainly a good film that warns about the dangers of the media and how it can affect ones life.

The next film on the list of movies I watched one too many times in June and still haven’t written shit for is Midsommar, the second large theatrical release by Ari Aster (director of Hereditary). There’s a lot I want to say about this movie but I have no way to word it just yet. The movie has subtle details that help immerse you into the film and help you feel more attuned to each character as they deal with their struggles. Every time I’ve watched this film I’ve seen something new that just freaks the ever loving fuck out of me and makes me reconsider my previous viewings of the film. I love this film and it grows on me every time I watch it. The best way I can describe it right now is that its definitely not for everyone and that’s okay, I had a panic attack the first time watching the film but something about it just seems so special. It definitely was subbed at the Oscars. Hopefully I can expand more on it in the future but Midsommar is more than just a horror movie if you give it a watch.

Another great film I saw was Knives Out! Directed by Rian Johnson, the film pays homage to classic whodunnit films like Clue, with an all star cast consisting of talented people like Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Katherine Langford, and Lakeith Stanfield. Everyone gave it their all and the film is packed with details small and large that all interweave into the plot and themes of the film. A fun murder mystery that will be a classic film to rewatch over the years.

Another film I saw but never got around to reviewing is Alita Battle Angel (I’m too lazy to write transitions right now don’t @ me). A fun action-packed film that is a marvel to look at. Honestly I had no hope for this film as it had seemed like it was to be another failed adaptation of anime and manga the the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Death Note, Dragon Ball Evolution, and Ghost In The Shell. Luckily it wasn’t that, becoming one of the few faithful adaptations of its source material and a beauty to watch. It is now the standard we should expect from anime adaptations and hopefully the film will help to improve others in the future. It’s not perfect but it’s better than most movies in its genre.

Another adaptation that was fun to watch was Pokémon Detective Pikachu. The film follows Tim Goodman (played by Justice Smith) and his father’s Pikachu (Ryan Reynold’s) when they discover that Tim’s father may not be dead. They go all over Rhym City in hopes of finding any leads and stumble upon a mystery bigger than they could’ve imagined. The film is fun and lighthearted, sparking a sense of adventure and creativity into the viewers. It was a genuinely fun time watching a part of my childhood be adapted into a beautiful stylish film that packed full of details and easter eggs. Hopefully more video game adaptations take notes and continue to improve.

Another fantastic film I saw from 2019 was Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig. The film has an original score that brought me to tears and was one of the most emotional movies I watched. The camera work, costume design, lighting, and acting were all absolutely fantastic. There was always a way differentiate between what was going on in the past and in the present bring some more impact to it’s most emotional moments. It’s a film that is more than worthwhile watching.

The most surprising film I saw from 2019 from an acting standpoint was Uncut Gems, directed by the Safdie brothers and starring Adam Sandler. This film is best entered blind so I won’t say much about it but I will say that watching this film has given me hope that Adam Sandler will take more chances in the roles he plays. I also wish to see more from the Safdie brothers and Uncut Gems was definitely snubbed at the Oscars.

Next film on this list isn’t that much of a good film but I still enjoy it, probably out of some sick sense of self torture? Playmobil: The Movie! A simple plotted musical that is chocked full of dumb writing. Something about the film though brings me back though and I just can’t explain it. I don’t expect anyone to watch it or like it at all, but I did, and this is my review so whatever.

The last movie on this list is also an animated film that I thoroughly enjoyed but didn’t feel like it emotionally connected with me. Toy Story 4! The fourth mainline film in the Toy Story franchise to come out of the corporate cogs of Disney and Pixar. The film’s animation was good, the characters were fun, the acting was fine, and the plot was fine. It wasn’t anything special and just felt like more of the same thing. Theres a lot of questions that you can ask about the films universe but Disney rather just introduced and rehash new merchandise for kids to buy. You’re emotional in the moment but after you leave the theater you go “well that was fun.” The film doesn’t stick with you in any important way but rather is just a fun adventure with more of the same stuff in a new coat of paint.