2019 Top Ten List (runners-up)

And now to unveil my annual top 10 films of the year. Same format as previous years: I rank my choices for the top 10, and then an alphabetical list of the ten runners-up. Films are eligible for this list if they first played a theater in 2019 in Columbus, Springfield, or Dayton. This means "2019" films that did not get here until 2020 will be eligible for next year's list, such as 1917 or Just Cause. Meanwhile, two films eligible for 2018 Oscars are in my 2019 top 10.

A word about Netflix. If it played a theater, it is eligible for me. If it did not play a theater, it is not eligible. A theater in Columbus did play The Irishman, Dolemite Is My Name, Marriage Story, and The Two Popes, among others. (Klaus and I Lost My Body did not play until 2020.) American Factory did play Dayton in 2019, so it is eligible, but just missed my top 20.

Before listing my top 10, here are the runners-up, in alphabetical order:

Avengers Endgame. To wrap up all the storylines it did, and actually stick the landing, is a truly amazing feat. Who would have thought a superhero movie would be this perceptive about mourning?

Better Days. This was a hit in its native China, but is relatively unknown here. This is a much more honest look at the effects of high school bullying than I have ever seen in an English language film.

Dolemite Is My Name. The main failing in truly capturing the ragtag charm of Rudy Ray Moore's films is that Eddie Murphy really is too charismatic to play him. But that is my main criticism of one of the funniest films this year.

The Farewell. Sure it captures the difference between American and Chinses culture. But really this film is for everyone who has a grandmother.

A Hidden Life. It's a bit too long, but only Terence Malick could have made this film. His style captures the mindset of an Austrian who during World War II refused to swear loyalty to Hitler.

JoJo Rabbit. Another approach to Adolf Hitler is this comedy which shows the emptiness in the hatred that drove him through the eyes of an innocent boy.

Pain and Glory. Antonio Banderas delivers his best work ever while essentially playing the film's writer-director Pedro Almodovar.

Rocketman. Usually jukebox musicals are not this good. It helps that Elton John's music is better than most.

Toy Story 4. Who would have thought there was this much good material left in the Toy Story franchise?

Western Stars. Bruce Springsteen perform his new album live. It's that simple. But he's one of the best musical storytellers alive.