MOVIE: Our top ten movies of 2019

THE year is almost at an end, and there have been some cracking films for us to enjoy over the past 12 months.

And the good news is that some of the best flicks of 2019 are still to come.

Our number one pick is Taika Waititi’s ‘Jojo Rabbit’, already out in the States, and opening here on January 1.

It’s a heart-wrenching, heart-warming, anarchistic and often hilarious tale of 10-year-old Jojo, a Nazi youth member during WWII, whose imaginary buddy just happens to be Adolf Hitler.

Waititi (‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’), both directs and stars as Jojo’s far-right friend, in a film that will stay with you long after the credits role.

Second place goes to the Bo Burnham written and directed coming of age
story, and surprise summer hit, ‘Eighth Grade’, about an introverted young girl navigating her final year before high school.

And if you’re wondering where all the bombs and explosions are, third place goes to the soon to be released wartime masterpiece, ‘1917’, expertly directed by Sam Mendes with spectacular visuals from acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins.   

Rounding out our list is ‘Joker’, ‘The Irishman’, ‘Sorry We Missed You’, ‘Honey Boy’, ‘Marriage Story’, ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and ‘Booksmart’. No doubt you will have your own favourites.

One film unlikely to make it onto anyone’s yearly top 10 list is this week’s new release, ‘Jumanji:The Next Level’.

Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart return for more immersive video game antics with the help of franchise newbies, the two Dannys, DeVito and Glover.

There seems to be endless amusement to be had with people switching bodies, and if you find that hilarious, (and much of the audience at our screening did), knock yourself out.

We couldn’t help wondering why you would take the comic genius of Kevin Hart and ask him to play an unfunny pensioner, (when he switched back the laughs immediately returned) but overall it’s perfectly fine popcorn fun for the kids, and will no doubt do a bomb at the box office.

Paul O’Rourke