... or has 2019 been a shocker at the movies?

It's hard to pull down 10 excellent movies from this year. Let alone the volume of, say, 1999, which was a pretty staggering year of quality.

Can't quite work out if it's my tastes are changing, I've not seen enough movies, or if, yes, 2019 is a shocker.

Thoughts?

Here's a little guide to what BFI thinks is some of the best: https://www.bfi.org.uk/best-films-2019
Rotten Tomatoes: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-2019/
Wired: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/best-films-2019
Time: https://time.com/5737103/best-movies-2019/

I've not seen more than a handful of any of the listed films, so I can't really say.

Probably there were about seven on that list that reading the premise I'd be interested in seeing.

Sadly, I’ve only seen one of the movies on this list (The Irishman) and read the scripts for four others (Joker, Pain and Glory, Uncut Gems, The Lighthouse). Again, sadly, I’m very out of the loop when it comes to movies these days. Between family and work, my free time to actually watch a movie is severely limited.

I liken movies to my taste in music. There’s not a whole lot out there I’m interested in really, but they are out there. You just need to look a little harder. Actually, I’d probably like more movies than I actually think I do. That’s why Scorsese is like putting on an old shoe — you know it’ll be comfortable. If they start making Nike’s in wide widths I’d start buying the cooler, hipper shoes.

I don't watch that many movies these days, but it seems to me that there has beed many movies that I wanted to see this year. I just didn't manage to get myself to the theater. But I recently got a great curved wide screen at home and top notch headphones that keeps out all outside sounds, so now watching at home is quite satisfying. And, I can watch horror again without scaring the dog and the cat with the horror sounds. ;D

Films I liked in just the last couple of weeks (from 2019) are Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, It, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Films that I really want to see are Dr Sleep, Ford vs Ferrari, Knives Out and A beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

I went with my son and grandson to see Frozen 2 last Friday in 3D. We all hated it and walked out after 20 minutes. My grandson found the folding seat more interesting than the movie and my son and I looked at each other, WTF??? How on earth is this movie rated so high!!!  :)

Your lists also made me realise just how little exposure films get nowadays.

Unless they are a Disney or Warner Brothers film, or they're on Netflix, they don't get mentioned. You'd have to read specialist magazines, or websites to be aware of their very existence. I'm sure I used to be far more aware of what was out there without having to hunt for it.

IMO - it is not just you.

Definitely not just you. I'm working on my top 10 list for this year as I do every year. Based on past experience, I'd say there're quite a few films in the mix that feel way more like top 20 films. And perhaps one or two that just aren't that great and merely beat out the many, many less great ones. I mean, there was a point I would've included Crawl in my top 10. I enjoyed it, but I'd be the first to admit that one is dumb as bricks and nothing to write home about even judging it on its own merits.

I used to think when someone complained about the lack of good films in a given year, they simply hadn't sought out enough films. Not sure where I stand on this now. I've still got a handful I need to catch up on, but I'd like to think I watched the majority of what was on my radar in 2019. Even so, I've been increasingly less excited about films coming out the past few years. Definitely prioritize music and podcasts these days, at least as far as how I'm spending my leisure time. Hard to pin down an exact cause; I chalk it up to a mix of factors, both personal and in regards to the current state of cinema broadly.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films I've not seen more than a handful of any of the listed films, so I can't really say. Probably there were about seven on that list that reading the premise I'd be interested in seeing.

Do you hve a favourite for the year to date?

Quoted from StevenClark Sadly, I've only seen one of the movies on this list (The Irishman) and read the scripts for four others (Joker, Pain and Glory, Uncut Gems, The Lighthouse). Again, sadly, I'm very out of the loop when it comes to movies these days. Between family and work, my free time to actually watch a movie is severely limited. I liken movies to my taste in music. There's not a whole lot out there I'm interested in really, but they are out there. You just need to look a little harder. Actually, I'd probably like more movies than I actually think I do. That's why Scorsese is like putting on an old shoe & you know it'll be comfortable. If they start making Nikes in wide widths I'd start buying the cooler, hipper shoes.

Yeah, I think part of the problem is that few movies are giving you that incentive to make the time either. It feels a little like the wonder has been lost.

Quoted from AngryBear I don't watch that many movies these days, but it seems to me that there has beed many movies that I wanted to see this year. I just didn't manage to get myself to the theater. But I recently got a great curved wide screen at home and top notch headphones that keeps out all outside sounds, so now watching at home is quite satisfying. And, I can watch horror again without scaring the dog and the cat with the horror sounds. Films I liked in just the last couple of weeks (from 2019) are Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, It, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Films that I really want to see are Dr Sleep, Ford vs Ferrari, Knives Out and A beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. I went with my son and grandson to see Frozen 2 last Friday in 3D. We all hated it and walked out after 20 minutes. My grandson found the folding seat more interesting than the movie and my son and I looked at each other, WTF??? How on earth is this movie rated so high!!!

Keen to see what you think of Doctor Sleep. I must admit to really enjoying it.

Quoted from ScarTissueFilms Your lists also made me realise just how little exposure films get nowadays. Unless they are a Disney or Warner Brothers film, or they're on Netflix, they don't get mentioned. You'd have to read specialist magazines, or websites to be aware of their very existence. I'm sure I used to be far more aware of what was out there without having to hunt for it.

Yeah, I definitely think there's something in that. Eyeballs are completely saturated with the big marketing spend, and it it sucks up all the energy.

Quoted from eldave1 IMO - it is not just you.

Yeah, it does feel like a weak year. Do you have a favourite of the year to date?

Quoted from JamesMcClung Definitely not just you. I'm working on my top 10 list for this year as I do every year. Based on past experience, I'd say there're quite a few films in the mix that feel way more like top 20 films. And perhaps one or two that just aren't that great and merely beat out the many, many less great ones. I mean, there was a point I would've included Crawl in my top 10. I enjoyed it, but I'd be the first to admit that one is dumb as bricks and nothing to write home about even judging it on its own merits. I used to think when someone complained about the lack of good films in a given year, they simply hadn't sought out enough films. Not sure where I stand on this now. I've still got a handful I need to catch up on, but I'd like to think I watched the majority of what was on my radar in 2019. Even so, I've been increasingly less excited about films coming out the past few years. Definitely prioritize music and podcasts these days, at least as far as how I'm spending my leisure time. Hard to pin down an exact cause; I chalk it up to a mix of factors, both personal and in regards to the current state of cinema broadly.

Yeah, I am finding myself watching a lot of movies, and feeling a real sense of diminishing returns. Keep thinking about getting to podcasts, but never seen to arrive there.

It definitely feels like there's a huge hunger out there for story > spectacle, and TV has been fulfilling much of that need.

Enjoyed Crawl as well, but maybe 10 years ago, it'd not really be too much in the thinking. The only movie I feel I can recommend (i.e. perhaps it's not that well seen) is Hotel Munbai. It was such a visceral punch in the gut. Exceptionally well made. And then Doctor Sleep stands out for paying such a beautiful tribute to The Shining.

I haven’t seen many new productions this year but some of them were very upsetting. I’m not happy with Tarantino’s last for instance. Maybe it’s my luck or something but I wasn’t happy with what I’ve seen. Joker was powerful though although extremely depressing to the point that I can’t recommend it to anyone. I’ve also seen a few others that were not nomination worthy but  should have been taken their budget into consideration. So ultimately, yes I agree with the top post.

Best I've actually seen this year?

Avengers End Game.
Joker.


Everything else was forgettable to the extent, I've already forgotten them.

TV is far superior to feature films these days and it shows, I think that's a major factor. Why go to an expensive cinema when you can get just as good (if not better) quality at home on the TV?

And thus, the folks who make movies only invest in the safest of bets, mainly sequels and reboots and you end up with safe, predictable entertainment.  

I still enjoy going to the movies and watching a film though. I go pretty much every weekend as I have a monthly pass that allows me to watch as many films as I want.

It's not just you...

But I still love the whole movie/cinema experience.

Long may it reign.

There were a bunch of films in 2019 that I thought did some legitimately new, interesting stuff:

In Fabric
The Souvenir
Burning
Monos
Border
The Day Shall Come
High Life
A Bread Factory

And Parasite, Teen Spirit, A Vigilante, Braid, Birds of Passage, Giant Little Ones, Harpoon, Dragged Across Concrete, The Beach Bum, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bliss, One Cut of the Dead, and Booksmart were all super solid entertainment. I could think of more, I'm sure.

The further you stray from Hollywood, the better it gets...

But mainstream film definitely had a boring year.

I haven't been to the cinema in years. I would like to see Joker, but I can wait until Netflix has it. It took me two evenings to finish The Irishman. I enjoyed watching it, but I think I enjoyed the aging thing the most. I didn't even know Joe Pesci was in it until five minutes of him being on screen.

I forget half the time what year a movie came out, Deadpool's trailer  made me cry and people would make jokes about it but I waited so long for that film to be made as a fan of Deadpool and as a nerd.

I went into The irishman thinking it was the same story as Kill The irishman, boy was I wrong hahaha.

1999 was my favorite year in film. I know that's a bold statement, but it's the birthplace to some of my all-times. Because of that, I've been lucky enough that a lot of little theaters near me have been having 20th anniversary screenings so I've seen more movies from 1999 in theaters this year than current productions.

However, I've also been disappointed by what I've seen up until the last couple of months/TIFF. Parasite was hands down my favorite film of this year, but there were a few other worthy ones: The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Waves, Honey Boy, The Farewell. Also, some fun surprises: Brittany Runs a Marathon, Villains, Ready or Not. Unfortunately, a lot of the gems weren't promoted well and went underseen. Hopefully the 2020's have more to be excited about (and more from the talent here)!

Quoted from kev 1999 was my favorite year in film. I know that's a bold statement, but it's the birthplace to some of my all-times. Because of that, I've been lucky enough that a lot of little theaters near me have been having 20th anniversary screenings so I've seen more movies from 1999 in theaters this year than current productions. However, I've also been disappointed by what I've seen up until the last couple of months/TIFF. Parasite was hands down my favorite film of this year, but there were a few other worthy ones: The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Waves, Honey Boy, The Farewell. Also, some fun surprises: Brittany Runs a Marathon, Villains, Ready or Not. Unfortunately, a lot of the gems weren't promoted well and went underseen. Hopefully the 2020's have more to be excited about (and more from the talent here)!

Yes!

Month isn't done yet, but here's my tally so far, in no specific order:

Avengers Endgame
Dolomite Is My Name
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Toy Story 4
The Curse of La Llorona
John Wick 3
Aladdin
Crawl
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Peanut Butter Falcon
Booksmart
The Ligthhouse

Gotta admit I've slept on Booksmart. I made several points to catch it in theaters back when it came out but forgot each time. Heard good things, and seems like something lighter/refreshing compared to the films I've prioritized this year. Meanwhile, The Irishman is still on my list, but the runtime has got me cautious.

I agree, this year was lacking in quality flicks. My favourites were Under the Silver Lake, Dragged Across Concrete, and Parasite. Was really looking forward to The Lighthouse, though I fell asleep because it was a late showing and I was stoned earlier. Definitely need to rewatch that even though what I did manage to see wasn't what I was expecting or hoped for. Also, Doctor Sleep was no where near the calibre of The Shining. Still need to see Marriage Story, The King, and El Camino, and I have very high hopes for Uncut Gems to become my new favourite for 2019.