Best of 2018: Top 10, Bottom 5 Movies

We've reached the end of 2018, and that means it's time for me to share my favorite films and the five I liked the least. I always save this for the last day of the year so I have the most amount of time to see movies. I've seen about 120 new movies in 2018, so I've done some homework. And this list narrows it down to my favorites, in ascending order, and the five most disappointing, in ascending order.

We all have our takes on films, so leave a comment and offer yours! Cheers to movies in 2018.

Top 10:
10. The Favourite—This weird movie topped a lot of critics' lists, and I liked the film. It features three great performances from Olivia Coleman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone, and a wild story. The direction from Yorgos Lanthimos is solid, and the way this film is put together makes it wildly unexpected. The dialogue is what really sticks with you.

9. Mary Poppins Returns—There was a lot riding on this film, which is a long-awaited follow up to a classic. When "Mary Poppins" debuted in 1964, it won five Academy Awards and became a classic. This one might not end up with the same enduring legacy, but Emily Blunt is great, so, too, is Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Rob Marshall does a nice job putting it all together. With all the pressure on this film, I thought it delivered.

8. Green Book—This historical film is a journey through the racism and cultural issues in the South, but really it's a tale of friendship between two mis-matched men thrown together. And it's a credit to Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen that they make this work, and director Peter Farrelly who puts it all together.

7. Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse—Sometimes movies surprise you, and this was one. They started advertising it last December, and I didn't know what to make of it. What I got when I finally saw it was a wonderful, rich story with great characters that takes a well known hero and genre and presents it in a fresh and original way.

6. First Man—Not everyone loved Damien Chazelle's third feature film, but I thought it worked. Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy give great performances in a film that tells the story of the space race through the deeply personal story of Neil Armstrong and his wife.

5. The Hate U Give— Based on the novel by Angie Thomas, this timely tale of race, violence and fear in America was like a gut punch at times. That's a credit to director George Tillman, Jr., but moreso to Amandala Steinberg, who plays the lead and carries the film. This was one of the most emotional experiences I had at the theater this year.

4. Black Panther—A lot of the Marvel talk went to "Avengers: Infinity War," and I get it, but that movie was a disappointment to me. "Black Panther," on the other hand, was a masterpiece and one of the most fun films of the year.

3. A Star is Born—Another film with a lot of pressure, as a version of a film that's been re-made many times. But it delivers thanks to the vision of Bradley Cooper the director, and the performances of Cooper and Lady Gaga. In a supporting role Sam Elliott is great, too. And the music really works.

2. A Quiet Place—This was the scripted film of the first part of 2018, and yet many seem to have forgotten it at the end. I thought the idea was genius and really worked. And unlike Netflix's trendy "Bird Box" released last weekend, this one had rich characters and performances. I loved John Krasinski and Emily Blunt in this, and thought Krasinski gave us one of the best scenes of the year.

1. Won't You Be My Neighbor—Documentaries aren't always widely seen, but it's worth seeking this one out. The story of Fred Rogers, and his vision for making a better world by reaching out to the children is beautiful. There was no movie that touched my heart more this year.

Bottom Five:
5. A Wrinkle in Time—This was a high profile offering that completely fell flat. It was beautiful to look at and had a great cast, but it completely lost the heart of the Madeline L'Engle novel and failed to include what made the story special. That left this adaptation a beautiful, albeit empty, experience.

4. 15:17 to Paris—What Clint Eastwood tried to do here was noble. He cast the real heroes in a movie version of their story. But it was dry and the lack of professional acting experience showed. Instead of being a beautiful tribute, this turned into an awkward chore.

3. I Feel Pretty—This comedy was trying to tell some kind of moral story. I don't know what it is, and the film didn't work at all. It wasn't funny, but rather just a train wreck that showed the shine is off the Amy Schumer experience.

2. Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle—This long gestating take on "The Jungle Book" debuted more than two years after the other version hit theaters. This one was on Netflix with a limited theater run, but it was heavily promoted. Let's just say watching it for a bit tells you why they waited two years and didn't try to compete with the Disney take.

1. The Happytime Murders—I love the Muppets, I like noir, and I like comedy. This was to be a fusion of the three. I thought it would be a delight. It isn't. It's awkward, uncomfortable and crass. It was a low point in my movie watching in 2018.