So, this is a little late. Every year I like to present the Shaynies, my version of the Oscars but with a bunch of different Best Picture categories (picking just one movie to win Best Picture with the amount of diverse offerings is kind of short sighted and dumb). And yeah, I know the Oscars were a few months ago and we’re a quarter of the way through 2020. But in my defence, I usually try to coincide the Shaynies with the Oscars, which were super early this year, and it was around the time I normally would have posted them that the world started to lose its mind. Besides, it’s not like we can talk about the movies playing right now or in the near future anyway. (I have more thoughts on that double-edged sword here).
But be all that as it may, here are the 2019 Shaynies, my favourite movies from last year broken into specific categories. While there are still a few movies from 2019 that I need to catch (Jojo’s Rabbit, 1917 and Parasite are at the top of that list and wouldn’t you know it, I just happen to have a bunch of time on my hands), these are the movies I enjoyed the most last year. Make no mistake, there were plenty of others that made me smile, but these ten stand out the most when I think about the movies from 2019 that didn’t make me regret parting with the price of admission.
As always I tried to keep possible spoilers to a minimum, but some of these movies are over a year old, so if I do spoil anything, that’s kind of on you at this point.
Now stay safe, stay happy and enjoy.
Favourite Action Movie: While John Wick 3 was pretty slick, the one action movie I kept thinking of while compiling this list was Angel Has Fallen, the third instalment in Gerard Butler’s story about secret service agent Mike Banning. While I really liked 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen, I wasn’t a big fan of 2016’s London Has Fallen. Which is why I was so surprised by Angel. In the first two movies, we got to see Banning redeem himself, return to his rightful place as the best line of protection for the world’s most powerful elected politician and battle entire armies. So it was kind of refreshing to see Banning’s story come full circle, forced to accept that age and injuries have caught up to him while he’s being hunted by the same government he once championed. Watching him confront that painful reality and embrace his new role as a father provided a thread of nuance in between the gunfights, the explosions and the fist fights. It’s not the kind of thing you expect from a Gerard Butler movie, let alone an action flick. Angel Has Fallen wrapped up Banning’s adventures with a nice, uncomplicated little bow and it would be a shame to see them spoil it with further exploits.
Favourite Animated Movie: I was genuinely shocked that Frozen 2 (which was yet another entry in the billion dollar club for Disney last year) was snubbed for even a Best Animated Feature nomination by the Academy (who in turn decided to award it to the amusing but less entertaining Toy Story 4). While some people complained that sequel lacked the same epic vibe of the first Frozen, I enjoyed it just as much. Watching the mystery surrounding Elsa’s powers and her parents death slowly peeled away and the genuine growth among all the characters was a fun ride. And while Elsa, Anna and the rest do live happily ever after, their status quo is heavily shaken by the by the time the end credits roll. After seeing Frozen 2, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that Disney’s creative powers are setting the table for some truly epic world building in the Frozen universe.
And can we just give Olaf his own Oscar for most hysterical comic relief already?
Favourite Comedy: While most people would probably classify Jumanji: The Next Level an action comedy, I laughed more during this movie than anything else I saw at the multiplex last year. I was a big fan of the previous Jumanji and was worried that they were rushing the sequel. But Next Level was a great time and full of genuine laughs. It broke out a few new tricks (the multiple body switching was a nice twist) and the new characters served to enhance the core group instead of diluting them. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s trademark chemistry was on full display, once again Jack Black was a riot to watch and you could tell every member of the cast was having fun. Not only was it a fun watch, but it made you hungry to see what they have in store for the inevitable sequel.
Favourite Comic Book Movie: With all due respect to every other movie in this category, this was a no-brainer. Like Infinity War before it, Avengers: Endgame was an experience, a narrative buffet eleven years and over twenty other movies in the making. And while it wasn’t the best movie ever made (arguably not even the best comic book movie ever made), it didn’t disappoint. Endgame wasn’t just a mere movie, it was a conclusion to an entire saga, a pivot to the future AND a springboard for a handful of other characters and DisneyPlus shows. Considering everything it was supposed to accomplish, it could have gone sideways a thousand times. But it managed to check off every box it was tasked with and became the highest grossing movie in history along the way. Again, Endgame wasn’t just a movie, it was, for lack of a better word, a product crafted from the ground up, and it was crafted perfectly to pull off everything it had to do. And as the dust settles from the roller coaster ride that was Endgame, a new generation of heroes and a new breed of story is rising to fill the void left by the original heroes, some of whom have earned a well deserved retirement.
Favourite Drama: I didn’t actually expect to enjoy A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood. My memories of Mr Rogers are vague at best, Tom Hanks initially felt a little out of sync playing Fred Rogers and the movie was actually structured so that the iconic children’s host was a supporting character in a movie that was supposed to be about him. Yet somehow it pulled it off and I have to admit that I was fighting a feel or two by the time the end credits rolled. Hanks did manage to immerse himself in the skin of Rogers and even though he wasn’t the main character, the movie gave us a fleeting and precious insight into the workings of a man entire generations saw every day but few if any truly understood. It also revealed the true heights of heroism a good, peaceful man achieve with neither fanfare or ambition. It was a genuine eye opener.
Favourite Horror Movie: Like 2018 before it, 2019 was hardly a banner year for horror movies. But having said that, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark did stick out as a lone (kind of ) bright spot in an otherwise boring selection. While it will never be confused for a horror classic, Scary Stories had it’s share of moments. And having it take place during the long shadows of Hallowe’en was a nice touch (it was released during the mercilessly steamy days of August). But the real secret of the movie’s appeal was how effortlessly it evoked the helplessness of children besieged by fear and terror. We all know how it feels to be convinced that we’re being hunted by the monster in the closet or the hungry shadow hiding under the bed, only to have our parents indifferently or impatiently dismiss our fears. And if the adults in our lives, the people who are supposed to keep us safe in an unforgiving world full of horror, weren’t interested in doing their jobs, what hope was there for us? Scary Stories was able to make me feel a sliver of that cold, doomed certainty all over again.
Favourite Popcorn Movie: For all the hate this movie got in the weeks leading up to its release, Captain Marvel was a fun ride that didn’t demand anything of its audience. It was an entertaining appetizer to Avengers: Endgame and a decent introduction to one of the new heroes who will carry the MCU’s torch forward. Brie Larson was able to silence many of her critics with her efficient portrayal of hero Carol Danvers, and while many of them continued spouting their venom online, Captain Marvel’s billion-dollar plus global gross proved the MCU had become a bullet proof brand and that both Larson and Captain Marvel were here to stay.
Favourite Science Fiction Movie: None. There were a few sci-fi flicks I had high hopes for, and they all either bombed or fizzled out. In fact Ad Astra, a movie had huge hopes for, was one of 2019’s biggest disappointments for me. 2018 had a similar problem, but Upgrade was able to pull it out of the fire at the last minute. No such luck for 2019 though, as every science fiction movie I saw was either bad or a painful disappointment. Given how many movies have already been postponed, rescheduled or cancelled given the COVID-29 pandemic, 2020 may not be much better..
Guilty Pleasure: Sandwiched in between Marvel’s Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame, Shazam! was a victim of poor timing and lacklustre marketing. But it reminded me how much fun comic book movies can be and why so many of us adored super heroes growing up. It was a simple story of good versus evil, of innocence versus cynicism. It introduced us to Billy Batson, a kid who had every reason to give up hope and turn his back on a cold and indifferent world. But instead he found both hope and a new family in spite of himself. Shazam! was no Wonder Woman or even Aquaman, but it was a solid, fun movie that deserved better. Thankfully it looks like Warner Bros. and DC agree and a sequel is on its way.
Overlooked Gem: Forget James Bond, Knives Out was the movie Daniel Craig was born for. And one that allowed Rian Johnson (who both wrote the screenplay and directed it) to put all the Star Wars hate behind him. Knives Out was a smart ride that answered the question of “who did it” at the very beginning but still had plenty of mystery to unravel. Not only did Craig turn in a brilliant performance as renowned private detective Benoit Blanc, but Ana de Armis and Chris Evans (post Captain America) offered highly entertaining performances as well. And when Johnson announced that there was more on tap for detective Blanc with Craig on board to reprise the character, well it was Christmas for movie fans.
Favourite Performance: Despite my . . . conflicted feelings on Joker, Joaquin Phoenix absolutely deserved his Oscar for Best Actor. Tom Hanks eventually disappeared into his role as Fred Rogers like few others could and I just spent an entire paragraph admiring Daniel Craig’s performance in Knives Out. But can we just show some love for the cast of Jumanji? Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan were joined by Awkwafina as the avatars real people inhabit in the fantasy world of Jumanji. But with the added twist that this time, each avatar was inhabited by at least two different real worlders, with their performances adjusted to reflect the new hands pulling their strings. Johnson, for example, portrayed an elderly, cynical grandfather before reprising Spencer, the introverted, unsure teenager. And Black actually played three different roles, each with convincing hilarity. Don’t get me wrong, none of them were Oscar worthy, but the entire ensemble deserves some kudos for their human bending performances.
Favourite Scene: It isn’t a single scene so much as a collection of them. The final twenty minutes or so of Avengers: Endgame was perhaps the most memorable time I spent in a theatre last year. Nearly every hero to ever grace an MCU screen faced off against Thanos and his invading hordes. It gave the old guard their respectful due (and be honest, who didn’t cheer when Steve rogers lifted Mjolnir and went one-on-one with the Mad Titan for a round or two?) while giving nods to the heroes who will carry the MCU’s torch moving forward. And that scene where everyone bid Tony a tearful goodbye following his sacrifice to defeat Thanos? Forget about it. Watching Steve pass the mantle of Captain America to Sam after finally living the life he deserved with his true love was an equally moving touch. And the cherry on top was replacing the traditional post-credit scene with the sound of Tony forging his first suit of armour, becoming the hero that launched the whole thing. They were all pitch perfect moments that could have been movies on their own. And they made for one hell of a movie going experience.
Don’t forget to wash your hands on the way out.
Image via Collider
