My Top 10 Movies Of 2018

MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2018

It's that time of year again to look back at my favourite movies released over the last 365 days of cinema and arbitrarily order them by preference. Yep, it's my top and bottom 10 of 2018, and boy what a year it was. Not at the cinema of course, where most of the major movies were simply cookie-cutter Hollywood blockbusters with as much likability as a damp sock in your kebab. Rather, it was a year of troubling political news, Brexit, celebrity deaths, natural disasters and Twitter being dominated by Piers Morgan acting like a berk. Actually, come to think of it, maybe it's best to leave 2018 in the past where it belongs and head off into pastures new where I'm sure the aforementioned Morgan won't make an utter boob of himself.

But before we contemplate what joys 2019 has in store for the world, let's have a look at what movies made 2018 that little bit more bearable. Now, as some of my regular readers will know, I left my post as the film critic for Black Country Radio in May of last year to concentrate on fatherhood and as a result, my cinema going was drastically cut short. So, as is always the case with any list or opinion page, take these choices with a pinch of salt. I barely scratched the surface of everything I wanted to see and I'm sure given the time, this countdown would look very different indeed. However, I still saw more than enough films to compose a list so let's get on with. Here are my top 10 movies released in the UK in 2018.

First some honourable mentions :

'Isle Of Dogs'

'Bohemian Rhapsody'

'Rampage'

'Black Panther'

'Unsane'

'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'

'Love, Simon'

'Mary Poppins Returns'
'Incredibles II'

'Halloween'

'Spider-Man : Into The Spider-Verse'

'Hotel Artemis'
'The Post'

'I, Tonya'

All of these movies are great and are worthy of a spot on any list of the best movies of 2018. However, for me personally, there were 10 that were even better :

10) 'A STAR IS BORN' -

Bradley Cooper's evocative musical drama is a stunning directorial debut filled with memorable songs, an engaging story and a dynamite central performance by Lady Gaga.

9) 'AVENGERS : INFINITY WAR' -

It may not be the best film in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe but for pure entertainment value and film-making craftsmanship, 'Infinity War' is one of the great cinematic achievements of our time.

8) 'YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE' -

Lynne Ramsay doesn't make many movies but when she does, she makes them better than any of her Hollywood contemporaries. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a career best performance in this brooding and brutal psychological thriller that delves deep into the darkest corners of the human subconscious and refuses to let us escape.

7) 'MOM & DAD' -

Few things are more enjoyable than a classic Nicolas Cage freakout and in Brian Taylor's insanely twisted horror-comedy, he is let loose with incredible results. Never has he been so out of control yet so enjoyable in a movie.

6) 'MISSION IMPOSSIBLE : FALLOUT' -

There are films by which all others are judged and future action movies are bound to be held against the adrenaline-fuelled majesty of Christopher McQuarrie's 'Mission Impossible : Fallout' - the sixth and arguably the best entry in the high octane franchise.

5) 'THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD' -

A cinematic experience like no other, Peter Jackson's deeply moving World War I documentary takes well worn footage from the trenches and updates it utilising the most modern of technologies with breathtaking results.


4) 'A QUIET PLACE' -

The move from the small screen to the big screen is rarely an easy one but John Krasinki makes the transition with fearsome bite. 2018 was a great year for horror cinema and sitting atop the blood-spattered tree is this intensely nerve-wracking slice of fear that will leave you speechless.

3) 'THE SHAPE OF WATER' -

Out of all the great things that happened in the world of cinema in 2018, few were as joyful or as cathartic as Guillermo Del Toro receiving his long deserved Academy Award for this beautiful, haunting and intimate romantic fantasy. It's no 'Pan's Labyrinth' but it's damn great nonetheless.

2) 'COCO' -

Right up until the last few days of the year, Pixar's lavish and moving animation wore the crown for the best movie of 2018. However on December 30th, a usurper appeared on the horizon and swiftly stole it's title. That being said, 'Coco' is still an absolute masterpiece.

1) 'BLACKKKLANSMAN' -

Without a doubt, the best movie of 2018 is Spike Lee's terrific 'BlackKklansman', a funny yet horrifying biographical drama that recounts the astonishing true story of a black police officer going undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970's. Blending laughs with scenes of devastating terror and anger-inducing political commentary, 'BlackKklansman' is not an easy watch at times but it is a deeply rewarding one nonetheless and sees director Lee on his best form in years. The Oscars race may be heating up but in my opinion, the race has already been won.