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The Best (and Worst) Films of 2019: The Middle

This third tier is the "Just Fine" group of average or slightly above flicks that are passable but it wouldn't be the end of the world if you never got around to seeing them. Basic but filling. Like a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

#57. Just Mercy

As heartbreaking as the true story is, this courtroom drama drags on well past it's welcome. Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson feel utterly wasted and the predictable plot lacks any energy or passion whatsoever. It's such a painfully familiar formula that if you've seen the trailer, you can assuredly predict every beat this film hits.

#56. Spider-Man: Far From Home

I love the cast of the new Spider-Man series but I still feel like it lacks the personality of Sam Raimi's adaptations. Gyllenhaal makes for a pretty fun antagonist but it feels a little too similar to Iron Man 3's Mandarin to really stand out. And with so much time spent on Peter Parker and his High School cohorts the series is starting to feel like the comic book equivalent to Harry Potter with it's imbalance of action being overshadowed by high school drama.

#55. Crawl

Crawl wasn't necessarily a bad film, just nothing about it really stood out. From the creative team of Alexandre Aja and Sam Raimi you'd expect a little more sizzle. It's a decent way to spend 90 minutes, utilizing it's confined setting and simple premise to create an effective thriller but it's nothing crucial by any means.

#54. Wine Country

Wine Country is a familiar feel good dramedy without the belly laughs of a straight comedy and not enough character development to really sell it's emotional angle either. Perhaps the biggest thing holding the film back is Amy Poehler's central character being the least engaging of the group. Still, it's a pretty fun cast to spend a weekend Wine tasting with, even if it's not an earth shattering experience.

#53. Rim of the World

McG's Netflix career rebirth continues with another preteen tale of adventure, this time centered on a group of camp kids trying to survive an alien invasion. And while it's fun to see the filmmaker throwing everything he can at this tribute to the young-adult adventures of yesteryear, it definitely struggles to truly identify it's own voice or audience. While the film centers on kids, there are plenty of jokes that definitely shouldn't be consumed by younger audiences, even though that's probably the only audience that can enjoy a film with this immature of a tone.

#52. The Fanatic

The directorial debut of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst is surprisingly not terrible. It's actually pretty fascinating to watch it all unfold, mostly due to the captivating performance from John Travolta who commits 1000% to his role as the obsessive fanboy named Moose. His performance teeters between over the top hilarity and breathtakingly pathetic, absolutely anchoring the film. Also, it's a welcomed return for the now bulked out Devon Sawa.

#51. Fighting With My Family

My interest in professional wrestling pretty much ended the same time WCW as a company ended. But there's definitely plenty of potential in a pro wrestling superstar origin story. The problem with Fighting With My Family is that it's hard to feel like this isn't much more than WWE feel good propaganda. It's a fairly predictable underdog success story that feels decidedly safe to protect the WWE brand. Nick Frost and Vince Vaughn provide some laughs along the way but mostly, this hits with very little impact.

#50. Avengers: Endgame

I enjoyed Infinity War a great deal but the ending pissed me off. We all know the bad guys always lose in these movies, so why even pretend that this was a permanent defeat for the Avengers? And then it's not enough to have invincible superhumans from across the Galaxy teaming up to break every rule of physics imaginable - but now they can travel through time as well making everything matter even less because it can all be undone. It's just become so self involved and predictable at this point that I can't really see this as anything but another episode in the most expensive mini series ever made. But if you've stuck with the series this long, I say go ahead and dive in, you'll probably find Endgame enjoyable during some point of its 3 hour journey. But if you're not a fan of Marvel or have become a little beat-down with superhero fatigue, this isn't really going to win you over in any way.


Check out our Full Review here.

#49. Missing Link

Everyone's favorite Pixar alternative, Laika Studios, returns with a film about a worldly explorer who embarks on a journey to reunite a Sasquatch with his Yeti cousins. It's cute enough, if ultimately forgettable due to it's fairly bland cast of characters. Zach Galifianakis and Hugh Jackman infuse as much personality as they can into this somewhat dry comedy but overall the film just lacks the imagination of their previous features.

#48. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Marielle Heller does her best to separate her film from last year's hit documentary, Won't You Be My Neighbor, but ultimately it's hard not to want more of Mister Rogers in your Mister Rogers movie. Instead Tom Hanks is relegated to a supporting role in his own film and while the infusion of surrealist elements of the television show add a quirky charm to the proceedings, this individual case study isn't nearly as fascinating as Rogers himself and inevitably leaves you wanting a bit more.

#47. Good Boys

While the joke of seeing pre-teen kids get into mature situations beyond their understanding is a fairly one note premise, it's still pretty funny nonetheless. Much like Blockers or Booksmart, Good Boys takes the familiar high school teen comedy formula and tells the same story from a new perspective. And while the characters at the center of the story don't have a whole lot of depth, their innocent and good-natured disposition makes for an endearing set of tour guides through the life of a millennial middle schooler.

#46. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

While the phrase "PG-13 horror" may cause most genre fanatics to turn and run quicker than a Platinum Dunes logo, the sub genre can serve as an engaging gateway drug for younger viewers discovering horror for the first time. Scary Stories is a great encapsulation of that - a pre-teen horror starter pack that's a little more threatening than Goosebumps but not quite as horrific to necessitate an R rating.

#45. Paddleton

Mark Duplass' latest indie dramedy definitely wreaks of the ironic saccharine flavor those familiar with his work will quickly recognize but it's the performance of Ray Romano that helps buoy this film above just another sad boy mumble core exercise in celebrating life's glorious un-eventfulness. The tragic ending doesn't really carry much emotional weight due to Duplass' lifeless performance but the relationship between Romano and Duplass make the film worthwhile in spite of it's botched climax.

#44. Glass

M. Night Shyamalan's highly anticipated final chapter in his Unbreakable trilogy doesn't end with the cinematic showdown you'd expect. Rather, Shyamalan weaves in yet another twist to the narrative to help tie the seemingly unconnected stories in an surprisingly satisfactory fashion. And while it's light on action, it's the long winded exposition with Sarah Paulson's Dr. Ellie Staple that really weighs down what would have otherwise been a phenomenal conclusion to the series.

#43. Dragged Across Concrete

S. Craig Zahler continues to establish himself as one of the most promising breakthrough filmmakers working today with this latest feature. While the story drags on a bit too long and the exchanges between Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn aren't nearly as fun and quirky as they seem to think they are, the camera work in the finale make it almost all worth it. Zahler is an exceptional director, I just wish he'd tighten up the length of his scripts a bit.

#42. High Life

A high concept sci-fi social commentary, High Life is a fascinating premise that lacks a fulfilling payoff. Robert Pattinson and Mia Goth deliver phenomenal performances but once the film establishes it's motives - it doesn't seem to have anywhere to go. Which is a shame because the foundation here makes for one of the most intriguing sci-fi concepts in years.

#41. Triple Frontier

The majority of J.C. Chandor's film makes for a highly entertaining heist caper, the likes of which have become far too rare these days. But aside from the vague themes of greed, the conclusion doesn't feel all that satisfactory. It's a fun r-rated thriller with an intentionally frustrating ending, it's just hard to not to leave feeling a little frustrated yourself.

#40. It: Chapter Two

Even Stephen King himself, in his most self deprecating cameo to date, points out his knack for less than stellar endings to his stories and It: Chapter Two is unfortunately just the kind of sub-par ending he's referencing. The adult counterparts of the Loser's Club (as star studded as the lineup may be) lacks the chemistry that made the first chapter so much fun and while Pennywise himself is much scarier this go around, the circumstances surrounding his demise leave a lot to be desired.


Check out our list of the Top 10 Stephen King Films of All Time

#39. Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi has had one hell of a meteoric rise in Hollywood but his daring satirical take on Adolf Hitler, as ambitious as it may be, isn't nearly as successful as one would hope. The comedy leans almost entirely on the shock value of Waititi's over the top caricature of an imaginary Hitler and the vast tonal shifts of slapstick comedy to introspective drama are too erratic to fit together in any meaningful way. It's a bold effort with a hopeful message, Taika's construct is just a little too sloppy to totally pull it off.

#38. The Two Popes

Essentially just serving as a showcase for Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes features phenomenal performances in an otherwise limp premise. Hinged entirely on conversations, the film has 0 momentum and without previous knowledge of the situation, lacks the proper historical framing to really give the proceedings much importance.

#37. The King

David Michod crafts a beautifully looking film in the King, boasting some powerhouse performances from Timothee Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, and Robert Pattinson - but it's just too damn long. The story is interesting enough, it just moves at such a slow pace that it's hard to make it through it all without really feeling that run time in a single sitting.

#36. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

The most visually stunning directorial debut of the year, Joe Talbot's film may drag a bit in the story department but it's an absolutely breathtaking showcase for the director and it's two stars - breakouts Jimmie Fails and Jonathan Majors. I can't wait to see what these three tackle next after such a bold arrival on the indie film-making scene.

#35. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time... is Tarantino at his most personal and consequently his most self indulgent. His unbelievably slow build climax formula is pushed passed the breaking point and the final 20 minutes of carnage (as glorious as it is) can't quite make up for how dull the previous 2 hours are. I understand the lament against Hollywood churning out kid friendly reboots of every existing IP on the planet but when your alternative to people wanting to relive their childhood is to relive your own with a literal recreation and a nostalgia fueled trip to 1969; it's hard to sympathize. The "get off my lawn" cry of my nostalgia is better than your nostalgia is dangerous territory to occupy and ultimately what makes this Tarantino's weakest film to date, even if it has a pretty wild ending and some inspired performances.


Check out our Full Review Here.

#34. Booksmart

Olivia Wilde elevates a fairly predictable script into a big, dumb, fun comedy with a touch of sentiment - it's just not quite the cultural revelation it makes itself out to be. There are plenty of rah rah girl power quips sprinkled throughout but this is still just a lesser Superbad knock off. It may be unfair to constantly pigeonhole the film as Superbad's little sister but when it literally stars Jonah Hill's real life little sister (Beanie Feldstein), it's hard not to see it as anything else. It's definitely funny, I just expected a film called Booksmart to be - you know, smarter.



#33. Dolemite Is My Name

In a welcomed return to R-rated comedy, Eddie Murphy delivers his finest performance (outside of voicing Shrek's Donkey) since the late 1990s. The story of Rudy Ray Moore is a fascinating one but the production never really fully embraces the 1970's aesthetic the way it should. Instead it feels like a cheap costume party that could have been more fully developed by a more detail oriented director. It's a solid film but could have really been something special in a more capable director's hands.

#32. El Camino

With El Camino, creator Vince Gilligan offers a fun ride down memory lane, even if it's ultimately just an unnecessary epilogue. Again, it's fun revisiting the Breaking Bad universe with all of it's sights and sounds recreated pretty flawlessly but for anyone who isn't already familiar with the series - this can pretty easily be written off as fan service of the highest order. The cinematic equivalence to buying extra side mission DLC for Grand Theft Auto. A fun extension but in no way essential.


Check Out our list of the Top 10 Movies Based on TV Shows Here.


#31. Little Women

Greta Gerwig follows up her breakout directorial debut with a heartfelt and charming ensemble piece that may be a bit too safe, but certainly revels in it's charismatic performances. The stunning cast is absolutely buzzing with chemistry making the familiar story a fun excursion, even if it's worn terrain.

#30. The Peanut Butter Falcon

A heartfelt, offbeat indie dramedy starring Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson (who are both surprisingly charming here); The Peanut Butter Falcon is sure to put a smile on anyone's face. It's definitely got it's overly cutesy moments but it doesn't necessarily lean on being overly syrupy either. LaBeouf does a phenomenal job of keeping the film grounded in a harsh and realistic setting while maintaining a hopeful optimism in spite of that. But it still feels a little too safe to really earn more than fairly easy applause.

#29. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

Chad Stahelski is in ultimate flex mode with the stunts in this movie. They're seemingly endless and yet you can't turn away. For better or worse, John Wick: Chapter 3 isn't much more than a 2 hour fight scene. Occasionally there's a change of scenery or some different props to mix what John Wick is killing people with - but mostly you're just continually picking your jaw up off of the ground as you watch Wick blast through what has to be close to a hundred assassins in a cacophony of chaos. It's truly something to behold and maybe the most graphic main stream action film this decade. Just don't pay too much attention to minor details like dialogue or plot and you'll enjoy yourself.


Check Out our Full Review Here.

#28. Zombieland: Double Tap

Even though virtually every new character that this sequel introduces is pretty unbearable, the core ensemble and well written story makes this a more than viable follow up and the rare comedic sequel that does all it can to retain the quality of it's predecessor. With plenty of fun new zombie kills and laughs along the way, Double Tap progresses the Zombieland story into interesting new territory that makes this 10 year anniversary a celebration more than the obligation I feared it would be.




View the Rest of the 2019 Tiers Here:



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