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Exploring our favourite films in the year 2018
In this blog series, George and Matt from the Monitor Audio team explore their favourite movies from the last 20 years.
Our selection of films may not be critically acclaimed or box office hits, but have stood the test of time as our favourite movies.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know your favourite movies from the year 2018 on Facebook and Twitter!
If Beale Street Could Talk - George's Top Pick
Dir: Barry Jenkins | Annapurna Pictures
Based on the novel of the same name, director Barry Jenkins delivers this tragic drama about a man arrested for a crime he did not commit.
The story introduces Clementine (KiKi Layne) and Alonzo (Stephan James), childhood friends, growing up in New York, destined to become lovers later in life. Despite most New York City landlords refusing to rent apartments to black people, in early 1970, Clementine and Alonzo meet Levy (Dave Franco), a Jewish landlord, who agrees to help them. Questioning why he wants to help them, he tells them he enjoys seeing couples that are in love, regardless of their race.
In a grocery store, where mostly white people shop, a man harasses Clementine, until Alonzo throws him out. Witnessing this, Officer Bell attempts to arrest Alonzo, with no care for the previous incident. The white grocery store owner confronts Bell and calls him out for his racist behaviour, as Alonzo is reluctantly released. In another incident, a woman is raped, as Office Bell pins the case on Alonzo. Officer Bell testifies that he saw Alonzo fleeing the scene, and soon pushes the victim to identify Alonzo in a line-up. Due to Alonzo’s romantic relationship with Clementine and friend Daniels previous convictions, neither of them are considered a credible alibi, despite both being with him at the time. Behind bars, Clementine tells Alonzo that they are expecting. Clementine’s family invite Alonzo’s family over to dinner to tell them, but the news is not welcomed. Alonzo’s father Frank (Michael Beach) and Clementine’s father Joseph (Colman Domingo) meet to discuss how they will pay for Alonzo’s legal fees, as Alonzo’s mother Sharon (Regina King) travels to Puerto Rico to talk to Victoria, the victim of the rape. There she admits being told to point our Alonzo.
After constant trial delays, Alonzo eventually accepts a plea deal. Behind bars, Clementine and Alonzo Junior share dinner together with Alonzo, hopeful for his eventual release.
With stirring scenes, this story emphasises an important message. Jenkins poetic but jarring love story is heartbreaking, highlighting the callous brutality and racial injustices that still exist today.
A Quiet Place - Matt's Top Pick
Dir: John Krasinski | Paramount Pictures
This eerie horror, starring and directed by John Krasinski, follows two parents raising their family in a terrifying post-apocalyptic world.
We follow Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) seeking supplies in an abandoned town. Along with sons Marcus and Beau and daughter Regan, they’re careful not to make a sound. Upon exiting the shop, whilst barefoot in the street, the family communicate in sign language with Regan, who is deaf. Regan takes an electronic toy for younger brother Beau, but on their way back to their home, sightless extra-terrestrial creatures take Beau, when the toy emits a loud sound.
A year later, the family are still coming to terms with the loss of Beau. Despite being ineffective, Lee continues to tweak Regan's hearing aids, using miniature amplifiers in his attempts to restore her hearing. In the year that’s passed, Evelyn is expecting, as Marcus reveals to Lee that Regan takes full responsibility for Beau. Whilst in labour, Evelyn steps on a nail in the basement and when a picture frame smashes, it alerts the creatures. As Evelyn switches an emergency light to inform her family, she hides, desperate not to make a sound during her contractions. As they make it back to the house, Marcus sets off fireworks as a diversion, as Lee takes Evelyn and their newborn baby to a basement hideaway. Regan and Marcus hide on a grain silo, but when they fall in, the creature stalking Evelyn comes after them. Surprisingly the creature is frightened away. Unaware that the creature’s weakness is the high-frequency sound omitting by her cochlear implant, Regan and Marcus make it back to Lee.
Regan and Marcus are able to reunite with Evelyn and the baby, when Lee sacrifices himself to distract them. As one of the creatures approaches them, Regan uses a nearby microphone to amplify the feedback from her implant, realising it can harm them. As more creatures approach, the family prepare themselves.
Dialogue-free, A Quiet Place is refreshing, focusing on terrific performances throughout. With a distinctive spin on the usual science fiction horror genre, Krasinski delivers a truly atmospheric thriller.
You Were Never Really Here
Dir: Lynne Ramsay | StudioCanal
Based on the novel of the same name, director Lynne Ramsay brings us a psychological thriller about a man hunting a human trafficking network.
Set in New York City, we meet Joe (Joaquin Phoenix), living and caring for his elderly mother in the home he grew up in. Whilst suffering with severe PTSD from his time as an ex-member of the armed forces, he also suffers flashbacks from his traumatised childhood. His violent father abused both Joe and his mother, leading to suicidal thoughts.
With previous training in both the military and FBI, Joe now works as a hired gun, specialising in rescuing trafficked girls. At his local convenience store, Joe collects payment for a previous job from Angel, a middleman between Joe and the handler. Joe lets Angel know that his son Moises had seen him, therefore knows his address, forcing him to cut ties with Angel. The handler, McCleary (John Doman), provides Joe with a new job, to recover Nina, the daughter of State Senator, Albert Votto. Joe meets with Votto, who doesn’t want any authorities involved, due to his political position. After picking up supplies, Joe heads for the address Votto provided, holding and interrogating a man outside. After determining the general layout and number of guards, he enters and dispatches them; safely bringing Nina to a motel. After learning of Votto’s apparent suicide, crooked cops take Nina away, but Joe manages to escape. He soon learns that government agents have killed McCleary, Angel and Moises. Back at his home, he finds his mother murdered, but soon captures and interrogates an agent, who tells him that Governor Williams (Alessandro Nivola) was behind it. Despite having the urge to end his own life after burying his mother, he continues on for Nina’s sake, following Williams around the city. Upon entering his home, Joe finds Nina, who has already killed him.
In order to gain favour with Williams, Votto had sold Nina to Williams as part of a prostitution scheme. Covered in blood, Joe takes Nina to a nearby diner and once again, despite wanting to end his life, Nina persuades Joe to continue on with their day together.
With his brutal methods, Phoenix is chilling as the quiet and ruthless killer, living a personal hell. A harrowing film from Ramsay, who offers a slow but calculated build up to a satisfying and truly surreal finale.
The Mule
Dir: Clint Eastwood | Warner Bros.
Directing and starring, Clint Eastwood’s poignant drama tells the true story of a war veteran who became a drug courier for the Cartel.
Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood) is well known in the community as an award-winning horticulturist. Whilst spending all of his time growing daylilies, Earl has no time for his family, now estranged from his ex-wife Mary. After missing his daughter Iris’ wedding, we catch up with Earl ten years later; now facing financial ruin, as his flower businesses has driven him into foreclosure.
Still on speaking terms with granddaughter Ginny, after attending her wedding rehearsal, he meets a bridesmaid who mentions a company requiring drivers at short notice. After collecting a duffel bag and a cell phone from a group of Mexican Cartel at a local garage, he drives across state lines delivering unknown goods. He doesn’t look inside the duffel bag for the first few trips and is paid extremely well. Due to his age and race, Earl faces little suspicion, leading the drug cartel to give him larger amounts of drugs and cash, as he starts to become friendly with the various cartel members. Earl uses his payment to settle his financial problems as well as helping to pay for his granddaughter's wedding. DEA agents Bates (Bradley Cooper) and Trevino (Michael Peña) are brought in to track the gang’s movements. Now the most successful mule in the organisation, during a run, he bumps into Bates, who is staking out a motel, completely unaware that the man he is looking for is right in front of him. After cartel boss Laton is murdered by Gustavo, he takes the reigns. Midway through his first run for him, Earl stops to spend his final moments with Mary, before she passes away. After attending her funeral and spending time with daughter Iris, he continues with the job.
The gang members allow Earl to continue the delivery, upon learning of the funeral, but he is soon stopped and arrested by Bates. Despite being painted as a war hero, Earl stops his lawyer and pleads guilty to all charges. We last see Earl growing daylilies in the prison garden.
This dramatic and surprisingly soft-hearted tale starts at a slow pace, but quickly delivers when it matters. The Mule is well layered, compelling and in his last acting role, it’s a wonderful farewell from Eastwood.
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg | Warner Bros.
This fun thriller, from director Steven Spielberg, follows an orphaned teenager, as he battles others to find clues within a virtual reality game.
Using a virtual reality universe called OASIS, millions of people around the world escape from the harsh reality, in the year 2045. When James Halliday, the creator of the popular simulation dies, he leaves a pre-recorded message, stating if anyone can reach the Golden Easter Egg, they will have full ownership of OASIS.
In the first of three challenges, a street race, Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), uses his avatar, called Parzival, to participate. Alongside many others, Wade’s online friends, Aech and Art3mis (Olivia Cooke) also take part. After multiple failures, he visits a simulated archive of Halliday’s life and receives a clue, with help from the Curator (Simon Pegg). This time, as the race starts, Wade drives backwards, successfully navigating past King Kong and finishing the course to receive the first of three keys from Anorak, Halliday’s avatar. Together Parzival and friends find clues for the next challenge, as Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn), the CEO of OIO, finds out Wade’s identity and becomes intent on bribing him to win the contest. After Wade rejects Sorrento, his aunt Alice is killed. The group follow a clue and find themselves at the Overlook Hotel from The Shining. There, Art3mis completes the challenge and wins the second key. As Sorrento kidnaps Samantha, who’s avatar is Art3mis, the group head for Castle Anorak on Planet Doom, as a full-scale battle commences. Samantha escapes and as Mechagodzilla fights the Iron Giant; Sorrento’s army is pushed back; forcing him to detonate a bomb, wiping out every avatar. With an extra life, Parzival reaches a games console, to complete Halliday's favourite Atari 2600 game and win the final key. Despite Anorak giving him a contract to take control of OASIS, he refuses to sign. Anorak transforms into Halliday and congratulates him for passing the true challenge, receiving the Golden Easter Egg.
As Ogden Morrow, the games other creator reveals himself to be the Curator, he joins Wades team to help them run OASIS.
This entertaining action adventure has countless cameos, from 80s horror, 90s sci-fi and a heap of superheroes. This epic cinematic ride from Spielberg is full of nostalgia, allowing you to sit back and enjoy.
A Star Is Born
Dir: Bradley Cooper | Warner Bros.
Directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, this romantic drama follows a deeply troubled musician falling in love with a young and vibrant singer.
Whilst secretly struggling with alcohol and drug abuse, famous country rock singer Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) continues to tour. After a show, he ventures out to a local drag bar, where he first encounters Ally (Lady Gaga), a singer-songwriter and waitress. After a spellbinding performance, Jackson spends the night at the bar with Ally, encouraging her to perform her own material.
Despite her reluctance, Ally agrees to accompany Jackson at his next show, even singing on stage with him. As they become romantically involved, she goes on tour with him and visits his family ranch. Jackson’s older half-brother Bobby steps down as his manager, after an altercation, upon finding out that he had sold the property. Jackson’s demons are clear to see, as Ally witnesses him inebriated on multiple occasions. Rez Gavron, a music producer, becomes Ally’s manager, as she starts to perform on her own. After an impromptu proposal, Jackson and Ally get married, despite his drinking starting to spiral out of control. As Ally’s profile grows, Jackson disapproves of her new image, as she is nominated for a Grammy Award. Jackson wets himself and passes out on stage, during Ally’s acceptance speech for Best New Artist. Jackson recovers in a rehabilitation program and mentions a previous suicide attempt along with recent tinnitus problems. After a few months in rehab, Ally cancels the remainder of her tour so she can care for Jackson. After Bobby and Jackson reconcile, Rez berates Jackson for his behaviour, stating that he is harming Ally’s career. After Ally leaves for one final concert, Jackson hangs himself in their garage. Despite her despair, Ally comes to understand that it was no fault of hers and vows to continue singing in Jackson’s memory.
After a flashback reveals a song Jackson wrote for her, Ally prepares to continue on, introducing herself as Ally Maine.
With wonderful choreography and storytelling, A Star Is Born is both touching and intimate. With some breathtaking vocal performances, this musical remake from Cooper is authentic and heart breaking.
Vice
Dir: Adam McKay | MGM
Director Adam McKay brings us a biographical drama, following Dick Cheney on his long and troubled journey to become U.S. Vice President.
In his early 20s, Cheney (Christian Bale) is a struggling alcoholic and is arrested for driving while intoxicated. Now working as a lineworker, his wife Lynne (Amy Adams) threatens to leave him, unless he cleans himself up.
Just seven years later, Cheney is an intern for Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell), Richard Nixon's economic adviser. After overhearing about a secret bombing of Cambodia between President Nixon and his Secretary of State, he realises the true power the United States Government hold. Rumsfeld acknowledges Cheney’s perception and acumen and both are relieved when Nixon resigns, due to the Watergate scandal. As Gerald Ford is sworn in, Rumsfeld is named Secretary of Defence as Cheney takes the position of White House Chief of Staff. At just 37 years old, Cheney suffers the first of five heart attacks, during a campaign speech to become a Wyoming representative. This followed Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter being sword in, replacing Ford. He wins a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, thanks to his wife Lynne, who continued his campaign. Following Reagan’s inauguration as President, Cheney continued to work hard and during the Gulf War, in 1989, Cheney is appointed Secretary of Defence for president George H. W. Bush. Despite wanting to run for president, Cheney retires, to ensure there is no media scrutiny toward his daughter Mary, who reveals she is gay. During the 2000 presidential election, Cheney comes out of retirement to become George W. Bush’s (Sam Rockwell) running mate. Under a strict set of conditions, Cheney gains more power as VP than any before him, taking control of military and foreign policies.
Cheney oversaw various events during his tenure as second in command, including the immediate U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, following the September 11 attacks, ultimately leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and the rise of various militant jihadist groups.
Whilst watching through your fingers, with Bale portraying him, it’s difficult not to like Cheney. Despite it being highly dramatised and in some places, historically inaccurate, it’s still an outrageous watch.
Isle of Dogs
Dir: Wes Anderson | Searchlight Pictures
A beautifully crafted stop-motion sci-fi flick in classic Wes Anderson style.
In a dystopian Japan, an outbreak of Canine Influenza spreads through a fictional city. With the risk of the virus transferring to humans, the city’s Mayor banishes all dogs to “Trash Island”, despite a scientist stating that he’s close to a cure. The first dog deported, named Spots, serves as a bodyguard for 12 year old orphan Atari, the mayors distant nephew.
Six months later, Atari hijacks a plane and flies it to Trash Island, now known as the Isle of Dogs, to search for Spots. After crash-landing, Atari is rescued by a pack of dogs lead by Chief, a stray dog. They fend off a rescue team sent by the Mayor to retrieve Atari and help him find Spots. Back in the city, the scientist finally develops a cure and shows the results to the Mayor, who dismisses it. The scientist is later assassinated by the Mayor’s hatchet man Major Domo. Tracy, an American exchange student investigates and finds that the Mayor is responsible for the outbreak, seeking to eliminate dogs as his cat-loving ancestors tried to do 1000 years ago, but were foiled by a Samurai boy resembling Atari.
When separated from the others, Atari discovers that Chief is Spots brother, then shortly after becomes reunited with Spots. They learn that the Mayor is rounding up the dogs to exterminate them with gas. Tracy confronts the scientist’s colleague Yoko Ono, who confirms the conspiracy and gives her the last vial of the cure. At the Mayors re-election ceremony, Tracy presents the evidence of corruption. Atari and the dogs arrive and test the serum on Chief, curing him, then presenting a haiku about rekindling the relationship between human and dog. Touched by his words, the Mayor calls off the extermination. However an enraged Major Domo tries to kill the Mayor, and attacks Atari and Spots. One month later, Atari becomes the new Mayor and has all dogs reintegrated in society and cured of the flu.
The craft-work feel of the animation and whimsical music make this adventure a must watch.
Suspiria
Dir: Luca Guadagnino | Amazon Studios
In a remake of the classic Italian horror film, Luca Guadagnino directs this star studded adaption.
Landing in Berlin in 1977, Susie (Dakota Johnson) heads to her audition at the Markos Dance Academy, after another student Patricia disappears, after revealing to her therapist Dr. Klemperer that the school’s matrons are a coven of witches who worship the Three Mothers.
Susie befriends another classmate Sara (Mia Goth) and her dancing quickly attracts attention from the artistic director of the academy, Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton). Another student Olga is suspicious of Patricia’s disappearance and accuses the matrons of being responsible. Attempting to flee, Olga becomes trapped in a room. Whilst Susie performs for Madame Blanc, her movements are translated violently to Olga, mangling her body. The matrons drag her away with large hooks. The coven conspire to use Susie as a host body for Mother Helena Markos, an aging witch who is head of the coven. Susie quickly climbs the ranks as Blanc’s protegee, earning the lead role in an upcoming show. Becoming suspicious about the matrons, Dr. Klemperer approaches Sara to look into Patricia’s journals, which leads her to a concealed corridor to the inner sanctum of the coven, finding one of the large hooks and delivering it to Klemperer.
On the opening night of the show, Sara returns to the sanctum and finds Patricia, but is caught by the matrons. Sara emerges halfway through the performance, dancing in a trance, and Klemperer witnesses Susie and Sara’s eyes changing colour as they dance. Klemperer disposes of the hook and Patricia’s belongings, but upon returning home he encounter’s his wife, who has been missing since the war. As they walk, his wife disappears and Klemperer discovers that he had been fooled and lead back to the coven. Susie is led to the sanctum, where the other girls are sacrificed. Blanc attempts to intervenes but is almost killed by Markos. At this point, Susie reveals that she is Mother Suspiriorum, one of the Three Mothers, there to cleanse the academy of Markos and her supporters, summoning death to kill them.
Dealing with themes of abuse of power, the remake isn’t as bombastic as the original, but a brilliant cast brings a new layer to the unsettling nature of the story.
Love, Simon
Dir: Greg Berlanti | 20th Century Studios
In a first for a major Hollywood film, this rom-com from Greg Berlanti focuses on a gay teenage romance.
Simon (Nick Robinson), a closeted gay high school boy learns from his friend Leah (Katherine Langford) of an anonymous blog of another closeted gay student at their school known as “Blue”. Simon begins communicating with Blue by email under the name “Jacques”. They confide personal details to each other, but their email conversation is accidentally discovered by fellow student Martin, who blackmails Simon into setting him up with his new friend Abby or he will reveal his secret.
At a party, Simon’s other best friend Nick reveals that he has feelings for Abby, however Simon subdues them because of his agreement with Martin. He begins to suspect another student Bram to be Blue, but walks in on him and a female student kissing. After a couple of suspicions of other classmates being Blue, Simon comes out to Abby who reacts positively. At a school football game, Simon tells a pestering Martin to “go big or go home” to court Abby and takes to the field to declare his love in front of the whole school. Abby rejects him, humiliating Martin. To turn attention away from himself, Martin shares an online post outing Simon on Christmas Eve. After his sister tries to comfort Simon, he shuts her out and avoids his frantic texts and calls from his friends. He decides to come out to his parents on Christmas day who are surprised yet supportive. However, due to the lying and hurt caused to cover up the blackmail, his friends alienate him and Blue tells Simon that they should stop talking due to the emails being leaked.
Desperate, Simon posts a confession online, apologising to his friends and seeks out Blue to meet him at the school fayre. After amending his relationship with his friends, Simon heads to the Ferris Wheel where he meets Bram, revealing that he was Blue all along.
Simon’s life gradually returns to normal and begins a relationship with Bram. In a fresh spin on the coming-of-age film, Love Simon is a heartfelt teen comedy that truly hits the zeitgeist.
Honorable Mentions:
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Dir: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman | Sony Pictures
First Man
Dir: Damien Chazelle | Universal Pictures
Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug | Warner Bros. Pictures
Searching
Dir: Aneesh Chaganty | Sony Pictures
Night Comes On
Dir: Jordana Spiro | Samuel Goldwyn Films
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