Here’s the list of my favorite movies from 2018, in countdown order. You’ll notice that a couple of them have dates from previous years. That’s because although they were completed earlier, they weren’t released in the U.S. until 2018. I should probably do these in alphabetical order, because the order is liable to change daily, but today this is my order. Oh, and these aren’t necessarily the best films of the year; they’re the ones I enjoyed the most. For those who think I should have included this title or that title? I refer you to the name of the blog. Enjoy!

15. Madeline’s Madeline (2018): I’m not sure what to say about this one. As far as experimental films go, it’s about as experimental as it gets. Some films work to get us inside the head of our protagonist. This particular protagonist, however, is suffering from an unspecified mental illness, and through disorienting camerawork and dissonant audio, we’re right there with her. Newcomer Helena Howard plays Madeline, who has a volatile and somewhat co-dependent relationship with her mother Regina (Miranda July). Madeline’s one pastime is neighborhood theater, where she practices under the eye of director Evangeline (Molly Parker), who seems to have become somewhat of a foster mother to Madeline. It soon becomes apparent that Evangeline may have an ulterior motive in taking Madeline under her wing. So many of my choices this year were made because of outstanding performances. And of all of them, Howard’s might just be the best. If you think you can get beyond all of the filmmaking weirdness, try not to miss it. If it helps, remember the opening lines of the film: “what you are experiencing is just a metaphor. The emotions you are having are not your own. They are someone else’s.” It’s a hell of an introductory performance.

14. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018): If you go to see this dark comedy expecting a Melissa McCarthy in the vein of Spy or The Heat, don’t be surprised if you’re disappointed. This McCarthy has all of the wit and bite of old, but with nearly none of the likability. It’s a good thing she’s got Richard E. Grant to team up with, because the shared moments between them are some of the best in the film. Based on a true story, the film documents how Lee Israel (McCarthy), a once successful biographer, and Jack Hock (Grant), her gay best (and only) friend/partner in crime, discover that a lucrative market exists for letters written by famous celebrities. All it takes to get rich is to possess some of those letters…or to be someone who knows enough about the celebrities to create believable forgeries. The draw for this one isn’t the story, but the chemistry between the two leads.

13. The 12^th Man (2017): This film is a remake of Nine Lives (1957), the true story of Jan Baalsrud, a saboteur working against the Nazis in occupied Norway. His 11 companions are captured, but Baalsrud escapes. His plans to make it to Sweden run smack up against the brutal cold and harsh conditions of the Norwegian winter. Wounded, starving, and woefully unprotected against the elements, Baalsrud depends upon a handful of citizens to aid and shelter him from the Nazis, a crime punishable by death should they be caught. Although Baalsrud became a folk hero to inspire the resistance, in his eyes, it was those who risked their lives for him who were the real heroes. Don’t miss this one, if only for the performance by Thomas Gullestad, an amazing physical transformation that ought to rank up there with DeNiro in Raging Bull and Bale in The Machinist.

12. The Endless (2017): Looking at the description for this film on IMDB, I have to say that it’s not one that would have normally caught my attention. There are so many low-budget films out there that are poorly made and poorly acted. This isn’t one of them. True, it isn’t going to win any Oscars, and there are some problems with the ending, but the overall premise of the film was fascinating, and deftly handled by directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who also play the lead siblings in the film. I don’t know if I could do the convoluted plot justice in such a small space, but the short version is this: two brothers who years ago escaped from a UFO doomsday cult receive a mysterious taped message inviting them back. In search of closure, they return, only to find out that things are even weirder than they remember. And what’s in that locked shed? I know it looks like a cheap indie, but it’s currently standing at 93% fresh at Rotten Tomatoes, so it looks like I’m not the only one who enjoyed it. Give it a shot, especially if you like thought-provoking science-fiction mysteries.

11. Three Identical Strangers (2018): This one has made its way onto a number of “best of” lists this year, and for good reason. It’s a one-two punch of a film. Or rather, it’s a heartfelt hug followed by a kick right in the balls. A set of triplets, separated at birth and adopted by different families, discover each other’s existence. It’s a great examination of the question of nature vs. nurture, as the boys discover various commonalities and differences. And then everything takes a bizarre and horrific turn, addressing nature vs nurture in a way that will shock you.

10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018): Full disclosure: I’m a fan of the Coen brothers, so I tend to give them a little more leeway with the quirkiness level of their films. This series of vignettes, sometimes humorous, sometimes bleak and disturbing, is often quirky. They’re all set in the Old West, and all the wagons circle around the idea of death, so to speak. My favorite segments? The titular story, with Tim Blake Nelson as Buster, and “The Girl Who Got Rattled,” with Zoe Kazan and Bill Heck as members of a wagon train on its way through dangerous country.

9. The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man (2018): Probably not the best documentary of the year (Three Identical Strangers, maybe?), but I can’t resist the combination of a bunch of great “and then Bill Murray showed up!” stories and a heartfelt message about living one’s life to the fullest, living in the moment. I can only hope that one day I, too, will have a Bill Murray story.

8. Eighth Grade (2018): I don’t think I loved this one as much as others did, but it was good enough to make the list, primarily on the strength of Elsie Fisher’s performance. It’s a fearless performance from such a young actress, and rightfully garnered her a number of award nominations. If you have a child around that age, I recommend watching it together. Both of you might gain some insight into the other.

7. Hold the Dark (2018): Disturbing and compelling, it’s almost undone by its incoherence. But what’s here is engrossing, nonetheless. It keeps you on the edge. I never knew where this was going, and that’s probably a good thing. I enjoyed Jeremy Saulnier’s previous efforts (Blue Ruin, Green Room), and although this one is a little on the mystical side, it has that same gritty feel. Jeffery Wright plays writer and wolf expert Russel Cole, who is summoned to the Alaskan wilderness to track down wolves who have killed a young boy. Solid performances by Wright, Alexander Skarsgard, and James Badge Dale help offset an underdeveloped subplot about Native American mythology. Be warned there is quite a bit of VERY graphic and realistic violence here.

6. The Kindergarten Teacher (2018): In this American telling of the 2014 Israeli film, about a teacher so convinced that one of her students is a poet-savant that she enters into a downward spiral of questionable behavior, it’s Maggie Gyllenhaal who makes believers of us. Even as we wonder how on Earth this woman can continue doing what she’s doing, Gyllenhaal’s performance is so nuanced that we can’t imagine her character doing anything else. It is a cringeworthy film at times, and sad and disturbing as well. But well worth a watch.

5. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018): The story isn’t anything new. Typical band film—they get together, rise to stardom, have a falling out, then get back together for one last hurrah. We’ve seen it before. The magic here comes from a phenomenal performance by Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, and some great support from Tom Hollander, Ben Hardy, and Lucy Boynton, among others. Queen fans will love it, but you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy the ride.

4. Leave No Trace (2018): This is one of those films that will never get the notice it deserves, and that’s a shame, because it is excellent. As of this moment, it’s sporting a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Stellar performances by both leads (Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie) propel it forward, without a wasted moment. I loved Director Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone, and she repeats the magic here, giving us a film that is small in scope but large in emotion and honesty.

3. Possum (2018):
Bag is open, growing wider.
What’s inside it, man or spider?
Little boy, don’t lose your way.
Possum wants to come and play.

I really dug this one, but it’s also probably the one on this list I’m most hesitant to recommend. It’s not for everybody, and I can’t even imagine a summary that would do it justice. Regardless, here’s the basics: Sean Harris (M:I – Fallout’s baddie) plays a puppeteer who returns to the house he grew up in, with the creepiest puppet you’ve ever seen in your life in tow. The house is dilapidated and the only person still living there is his uncle, and the status of their relationship, much like most of the film, is a mystery. This film feels for all the world like an old British psychological horror film from the 1970s, so if you like those (I do), you’ll probably like this, too. Be warned, though. It creates more questions than it answers. (I like that too!) It’s also creepy as hell.

2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018): In any other non-Impossible Mission Force year, this would have easily topped my list. It’s not so much as a movie as it is the culmination of 10 years of Marvel films (which may be why it seems to be getting some shade—people could be getting tired of the MU). The Russos keep a lot of plates spinning in this one, and they do it well. Superhero filmmaking at its finest!

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018): This is currently my favorite series, and other than a slight stumble with the second entry, they keep getting better and better. This entry doesn’t require having seen the previous one, but I think it makes it a richer experience. You don’t need to know much more than that. Tom Cruise saves the world. And runs like the wind!!

A Shitload of Contenders (in alphabetical order): Annihilation (2018); Burning (2018); The Favourite (2018); Ghost Stories (2018); Green Book (2018); The Rider (2018); Searching (2018); Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018); A Star is Born (2018); Summer of ’84 (2018); Sweet Country (2017)

There were a number of films that I had high hopes for, but they just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Biggest Letdowns of the Year: Beautiful Boy (2018); Mandy (2018); Peppermint (2018); Proud Mary (2018); Venom (2018)

There are about another two dozen films that I thought might make the list, but never had a chance to see.