Best of 2018: Part 2

The Saga of 2018 quality comes to a close.

5. Blindspotting

In a year that was rich with profound meditations on race relations, “Blindspotting” will probably get buried under the discussions of “Black Panther” and “Green Book,” which is a shame because it’s 3 times the movie and then some.

Observing the relationship between two Oakland hood residents in the final days of protagonist Collin’s parole unveils a timely, complex, emotionally raw, and profound study on the nature of race and the perception of culture under the guise of a tightly edited and imaginatively directed comedy carried by two lead performances worthy of simultaneous Oscar nomination.

Even if “Blindspotting” wasn’t a powerful and emotionally resonant tackling of major issues that the public needs to desperately stop sticking its head in the sand to ignore, it’s so compelling and hilarious that it desperately needs more exposure than it has thus far received.

4. Sorry to Bother You

The type of movie that gives you a little bit of hope for the future of arthouse cinema and even society in general, Boots Riley makes the successful leap to the position of feature director while adding to the already impressive reels of its cast with a sharp critique of capitalism and the institutions that it fuels, feeding into the most toxic societal norms and aspects of human apathy.

“Sorry to Bother You” skews towards the surreal and absurd in its allegories in ways that may not quite gel with everybody but its willingness to carry out the vision of its sharp screenplay with unwavering confidence make it one of the boldest films ever put to screen for wide consumption worthy of every view that it gets.

3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

After nearly a decade of abuse via extreme avarice and desperation induced incompetence, Sony has finally produced something with the “Spider-Man” license worth investing in.

Miles Morales’ coming of age story is told with all of the sincerity and heart that has made the legacy becomes a part of so special and is only enhanced by the production of a movie that proudly and successfully goes out of its way to be one of the most visually unique animated films of the millennium in an age where almost every CGI animated film appears to be cut from the same assets, and with a stellar storytelling approach that brings a poignant metatext to the narrative.

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a masterpiece of animation and the Superhero genre that almost justifies the asinine levels of money that “Venom” made. Almost.

2. Won't You Be My Neighbor

Benefitting from a fascinating and uplifting subject matter, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”  manages to somehow venerate the noble and loving Mr. Rogers even more than he has already been heralded by simply painting a very human portrait of the man and his values that reminds us of how desperately we need someone like him in the world now more than ever.

After witnessing such a specimen of unapologetic human kindness that was allowed to exist in the world, I dare you to not feel at least the slightest bit misty eyed.

1. Searching

I’d be hard-pressed to find a more groundbreaking film to ever see the light of day in a fairly establishment shaking year.

“Searching” manages to take the best aspects of the found footage format at the peak of its pioneering days, and apply it in a capacity that paints the picture of a narrative that is effectively dramatic, emotional, gripping and nostalgic in ways never thought possible using methods I never would have imagined possible to deliver emotions through the most relatable means possible.

It’s a movie so revolutionary in storytelling methodology that you may find yourself asking why nobody’s thought to properly pull it off before until you realize it never could have been properly executed before the age we live in and all without slouching on any areas of film craftsmanship.

The bar has been set highly for 2019. Time to see if it can deliver.

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Right after we poke our heads in on some of the worst films 2018 had to offer.