Tyler Howat’s Top 10 Films of 2018.
10. Hereditary
Hereditary came out of nowhere, taking the horror – and the film – world by storm. It’s bonkers, freaky, disturbing, and emotionally wrenching. It’s a horror film, but it’s much more a film about the tragic implosion of a family.
9. First Man
First Man is a poignant, tense portrait of a complex man as he journeys toward destiny. Ryan Gosling’s Neil Armstrong is not merely the charismatic Boy Scout we met in The Right Stuff, but a flawed, difficult, driven man set on making history. This is a different follow-up to La La Land than we expected from director Damien Chazelle, with much less warmth and feeling than that musical, but with no less of an impactful story. First Man is no Apollo 13–it’s not inspirational or emotional, but it’s no less gripping or moving.
8. Ralph Breaks the Internet
Ralph Breaks the Internet is a genre-busting, heartwarming film with positive, profound messages about friendship and, of course, prolific hilarious pop culture in-jokes. I would compare it to Inside Out for its nuanced yet on-the-nose manifestation of the internet in all its positive and negative forms. It’s a delightful, family-friendly film for the holidays that outstrips its progenitor and other sequels from this year.
7. Leave No Trace
One of the more quietly powerful films of the year, touching on issues of family, government, society, veterans, and what it means to love. Ben Foster is quietly broken and Thomasin McKenzie appropriately and effectively channels Jennifer Lawrence in Debra Granik’s follow up to Winter’s Bone. Similarly infused with nature and family, Leave No Trace is not as bleak as its predecessor, though Granik has once again discovered a star in the making with McKenzie.
6. Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Fallout is such a strong entry in this epic franchise. Everything about it is turned up to 11, bringing everything from the previous few films together into a satisfying, cathartic filmgoing experience.
5. A Quiet Place
With the mood and atmosphere of an M. Night Shyamalan film and the pathos of both the brilliant Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, A Quiet Place stands out among so many other films of its kind. On paper, this isn’t anything special: a post-apocalyptic thriller with strange creatures trying to kill our protagonists. But everything else makes it a film apart.
4. Won’t You Be My Neighbor
In short: this is the most heartwarming film I’ve seen this year. I dare you to put up all your armor and avoid shedding only a single tear.
3. BlacKkKlansman
An important, timely, unflinching, uncomfortable, hilarious piece of cinema that pulls no punches and shines a spotlight on the insanity of racism. This is required viewing for America today.
2. A Star Is Born
1. Eighth Grade
