Movies I Watched 2019
For the third year, I am posting the list of movies I watched in 2019. To reiterate, this is all movies I’ve watched this year, regardless if they were released in 2019. This may be movies I’ve re-watched, movies I am watching for the first time from previous years, or movies premiering in 2019 that I just had to catch, all including at home, in the theater, or on the go.
I love going back through my list to see what I was interested in, what movies I revisited and what I thought about them in the moment.
It’s a fun exercise that just takes a bit of discipline to remember to log, but either then that, gives an interesting bit of medium term nostalgia.
The 2019 List:
Gone with the Wind: Great! A bit long, but still fantastic all the way around — story, characters, acting, production design, production value. Avtrue classic. Home 5-Star
The Commuter: Just okay. Easy mindless thriller with not much to say. Uses too much camera style trickery during action scenes to take away from the thin story. But mildly entertaining without much commitment. Home 2-Star
Life of the Party: Standard actor gag movie. All jokes written around the actor’s abilities. Not great with weak story and characters, trying really hard for laughs rather than letting them come naturally. But still some funny random moments from secondary characters like the one played by Mya Roudolph. Home 2-Star
Pain & Gain: Interesting. Not quite what I thought it was going to be, while being exactly what I thought it was going to be. I still enjoyed it and was entertained, but it was a little more grounded than I thought it would be for a Michael Bay film. I guess since it was based on a true story, it was already sexed as much as it could be while still telling the actual story. Had interesting ideas they played with and along with making a bunch of bad dudes, not likable, but tolerable. Had more to say than I would expect from a MB movie. Home 3-Star
Fyre Fraud: Hulu documentary about the Fyre Festival boondoggle. Highly stylized factual telling of the story, that I thought was done really well. I liked for many reasons, including it’s distinct style choices, it’s density of information, and its plot structure. It gave both factual information and insight into the larger, always connected modern era that we currently live. Home 3-Star
Fyre: Netflix documentary about the Frye Festival boondoggle. More traditional documentary, that had less set up and hard information, but leaned more on a storytelling point of view. Had a few more on the ground interview subjects that helped put you in the center of what it was like to be apart of the chaos. The lead up to the festival, was slower, but the feeling on the ground really came through in the second part of this movie. Home 3-Star
Black Klansman: Solid, funny movie. Thoughtful, engaging, and interesting, but didn’t have anything that grabbed or pulled at me. It might be because of its light hearted nature of storytelling to such an ugly subject matter. For that it felt original. But the biggest thing I took away from it was that John David Washington was fantastic. Someone I will be watching for. Home 3-Star
Casino Royal: One of my favorite modern Bond films. This is a movie of its time, but still wears well going on ten years plus. It reset the series perfectly, and has all the panache and appeal you could ask for in a Bond film, or any spy film for that matter. It threads that tight line between realistic and fantasy perfectly. Where the later films have gotten a bit more edgy, gritty, and bombastic, this one knows itself and feels comfortable in it’s perfectly tailored suit. Home 4-Star
Quantum of Solace: I really like this movie, which is like swimming against upstream in the overall feeling of this movie. But it did a few things that are rarely seen with these types of sequential movies and that is continued continuity. It picks up exactly where the last one left off, with a tone and vibe that jolts to the next level. Taking away the normal slow build of a sequel, catching up with out characters, we jump in head first. While the rest of the movie can be hard to track at time and feel a bit frenetic, I enjoyed the pace and putting Bond uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory. Home 4-Star
Sky fall: Still swimming upstream, I did not like this Bond film quite as much as the general consensus. While it has the style and swagger of classic Bond films, it is only surface deep. It seems to be leaning too hard into nostalgia an idea of Bond, rather than just enjoying itself. I particularly didn’t like the final sequence, feeling cold and distant, pushing away from what this current set of films have been trying to do, humanize Bond. Home 3-Star
Spectre: Continuing my contrarian streak with Bond films, I really enjoyed this movie. It has all the set pieces, modern intrigue, carefree wit, and while still having its bad guy bravado. I never mind a little retcon mixed in either. Home 4-Star
Antman and the Wasp: Mostly forgetable, but like Paul Rudd in this role and Evangeline Lilly suiting up was fun. And I liked the Bad Bitch. Fills in plots beat for the larger universe. (Which probably why it’s foregtable). Home 3-Star
Avengers Infinity War Damn near a perfect movie for my tastes. I rewatched this in the lead up to Avenger’s Endgame, and it holds up. I have not always been a huge fan of the MCU, but this made it all worth it. Taking it to the end of the line and not holding anything back is the ultimate setup for the finale. Home 5-Star
Captain Marvel: Not great, not bad. Very bland. More of the same for the MCU. A bit of a disappointment since they hit so well on A:IW, but that movie is the exception that proves the rule that Marvel movies lack a lot of personality. Also, it was to be a bridge film from the old MCU to the new one. But weird villains, weird execution of theme, with an occasional decent moments. Wonder Woman, it is not. Theater 2-Star
First Man A pretty good film, that didn’t quite hit me where I was expecting it to. But it did have really great moments, especially the realism to the space flight, gave a life like portal of those tense moments and made them palpable. Home 3-Star
Heat: Classic that sort of holds, sort of doesn’t. But knowing the moment in time that it was made, it’s a damn good action movie with wild set pieces. Still a classic and not a the type of film that is made anymore. Home 4-Star
Collateral: A film that I loved when it came out and still love now. While an imperfect movie, all of the moments it needs to hit, it nails. This was when Tom Cruise was still willing to go outside the box and try something new. Also Michael Mann is nearly unmatched in style and mood (Fincher). Home 3-Star
Apollo 13: Still exciting and extremely well made film. Captures the essence of the moment without the cliches or on the nose issues. Just a simple movie with fantastic performances. Home 4-Star
Elizabeth Holmes Documentary: Decent documentary, that had easy fodder from it’s subject. Nothing over the top or original, just a well made documentary that does a good job of connecting the dots, explaining the story, and send you home with a satisfying ending. Home 3-Star
Vice: Not quite as strong as Adam McKay’s other dramedy ‘The Big Short’. Had a feeling of less constraint and focus, but I do appreciate the attempt to take different approaches with telling a story, which makes it a still engaging film. This has been his style, which I like, along with the subject and topics he chooses to focus on. I will continue to want to see more of what he does. Home 2-Star
Fifty Shade of Freed: A two hour music video montage. Home 1-Star
Avengers: Endgame: Really liked it. While not quite as strong as the penultimate before it (that is an extremely high bar), they still nailed the ending. I was into it the entire time. With so much anticipation and expectations, I can’t envision a better way to end the series. Theater 4-Star
Anchorman: This is a movie that to me gets better with each viewing, especially as my appreciation of Will Farrell and his type of comedy continues to grow on me. Home 4-Star
Pineapple Express: Not good. A stoner movie trying to be a stoner movie, all the troupes included. Too absurdist for my tastes. Rare missfire by Seth Rogen. Home 1-Star
Baby Driver: A re-watch that I enjoyed a little bit better on a second viewing. But mostly lived up to what it was for me on the first viewing. While the chase scenes are great and an original story, it just doesn’t totally click for me. Home 3-Star
Cock Blocker: Good, funny, easy movie. Doesn’t nail everything and could have been stronger, but solid effort and has it’s moments. Home 3-Star
Date Night: Just okay. It’s one of the small concepts that they try too hard to pull funny out of and it’s just not there. Too many forced situations, with forced humor from low hanging fruit. Home 2-Star
Passengers: Decent movie, with an engaging premise and great chemistry between the leads. Enjoyable. Home 3-Star
Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation: Good solid entry into the franchise. Slightly more forgettable than the previous film, but continuing the serialized storyline, going even deeper into it, which I enjoy. Good easy fun. Home 3-Star
Knocked Up: Hilarious and still holds up. Even better now when I was in the position of expecting a baby. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are fantastic and the best part of the movie. Home 5-Star
Lost River Not sure what I watched. A lot of subliminal thoughts and ideas being expressed in an unusual plot or narrative. I thought this could be interesting, being Ryan Goslings director debut and had NWR vibes. Either needs multiple viewings or is just a bad movie. Hard to tell. Home 2-Star
Mission Impossible: Fallout: Really great action and tension with the spy craft aspects. A bit hard to track at time because of all the spy intrigue and double crossing, but it all flattens out in the end. Some top notch chase scenes. Home 4-Star
What to Expect When Your Expecting: Honestly nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. I say this is a highly underrated movie. Really approachable and easy fun watch. Home 3-Star
Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade: Classic that holds up viewing after viewing. I actually think this is my favorite Indiana Jones movie. It has it all, action, humor, history, touching story. The be thing about Indiana Jones, is how much he gets put though the ringer, including in the tank rescue attempt set piece. It is an amazing sequence. This is after the escape sequence. And all leads to the grail games sequence. Just so many great cinematic moments. Home 5-Star
Goodfellas: The only Scorses movie that I can rewatch over and over again. Such a classic that created what are now mob cliches. One of DeNiro’s quieter roles that allows for Liotta and Pesci to shine. It’s a wild ride. Home 5-Star
The Changeup: A below average movie, with below average laughs. Pick a lot of low hanging fruit, but has some funny moments because of the Reynold and Bateman pairing. Home 2-Star
Signs: I love this movie. This M.Night’s most heartfelt movie. It has such a confidence and precision to it. It’s working one many levels, while it expands out, but then brings it all home in the end. All while playing on the fear and terror of the unknown. Home 4-Star
A Star Is Born: Loved how this movie was made. Tells a well worn story well, giving it a great contemporary life and energy. This is how remakes are suppose to be done. If I wasn’t distracted by a baby, i think this movie would have really grabbed me even more. Gaga and Cooper were fantastic. Home 3-Star
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse: The hype was satisfied. Really fun and enjoyable film that works hard to subvert expectations and does it with easy and grace. Home 4-Star
The Old Man and the Gun: A movie that starts out somewhat interesting, then peaks and stays at that flat initial level. Doesn’t really push forward. Didn’t really like it. Home 2-Star
The Birds: Eerie and unsettling, but a movie of it’s time. Doesn’t hold well to contemporaries, but I love the progressive nature of it’s characters, the focus on them, and the helplessness of everyone. Home 4-Star
Red Sparrow: A decent spy thriller and I always enjoy Jennifer Lawerence. Some decent moments of suspense and intrigue that held me through to the end. Home 3-Star
Murder Mystery: Lame movie that has everyone phoning it in. Make no attempt of making a twist on the genre. No real satire either. Just a situation to make some bad jokes. At least sometimes a few of the jokes are funny. Home 2-Star
The Laundomat: Good and Smart. But not quite as smart and clever as I was hoping. They still made a complex story fun, entertaining, and understandable. The forth wall explainer interstitial were hilarious. Home 3-Star
Stepbrothers: Dumb funny movie. Absurdist that I can get behind. Watch it. Laugh. Home 3-Star
The Long Shot: Funny movie with solid characters and story. Comedy that has to play a fine line with it premises to stay somewhat original and not cliched. Straddles that line pretty well, with some moments better than others. Home 3-Star
Hobbs and Shaw: Good, but not quite the fun and joy of the previous installments of the FF franchise. Seems to be missing the heart without the rest of the crew. But still a good time with some ridiculous set pieces. Home 3-Star
Christmas Vacation: One of the most quotable movies of all time. Home 5-Star
Home Alone: Classic that is a joy to rewatch year after year. Always picking up small new gems with each rewatch. I’ve noticed the details they cover to make this a legitimate as possible as to how someone could leave their child at home. Home 5-Star
A Christmas Story: As perfect a movie as you can get. Home 5-Star
The Irishman: Not bad, but far from great. This is a standard mob movie from Scorsese, that doesn’t do anything new or different, and to be honest I don’t like this structure. It feels like a mob documentary (like many of Scorsese’s mob movies). They show you how a specific world operates, but I don’t have any connection to the players in the story. They are all bad people with little redeeming qualities. Home 3-Star
Ounce Upon a Time in Hollywood: Just though it was okay, but it was an interrupted viewing experience. Need another watch to get a better sense. There are definitely parts that I love, but not a whole lot necessarily happens. I have to see if there is a deeper level that I am missing, but it doesn’t feel like a traditional Tarantino movie, which is the lens I am watching it through and may have thrown me off. Home 3-Star
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