Year Ender 2019: From Avengers Endgame to Knives Out, 11 Hollywood Films That Impressed Us the Most This Year

With the year 2019 coming to an end, let's look at how Hollywood has fared in the past year. If you happened to be someone associated with Walt Disney Company, then 2019 has been a year of some huge ups and downs. 2019 had Avengers: Endgame become the highest-grossing film of all time. It has also become the highest-grossing Hollywood film in India of all time. Disney also scored hits in Aladdin and The Lion King remakes, as well as Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2. Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker is also performing well at the time of writing this article. Year Ender 2019: Midsommar, Booksmart, The Souvenir and Other Underrated Hollywood Movies of the Year That are a Must-Watch.

But Disney doesn't own all the good films made this year, even though it made some very entertaining ones. In this special year-ender feature, we pick up our favourite 11 Hollywood films of the year. The movies have been chosen purely based on the ones that have been released in India in 2019, or we managed to see them on OTT platforms like Netflix and Prime Video this year.

Honourable Mention - Fighting with My Family

Who thought a biopic on popular wrestler Paige, produced by WWE Studios, would turn out to be such a charming film? Fighting With My Family, directed by Stephen Merchant, is a lovely underdog tale, that breaks stereotypes, while also being a bitter-sweet take on sibling rivalry.

The performances from Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden and Vince Vaughn are wonderful, while Dwayne Johnson has a nice cameo in the film too. Fighting With My Family Movie Review: Florence Pugh As Paige Pulls Off a KnockOut Act in This Heartwarming Biopic.

Now on to the main list...

Avengers: Endgame

Martin Scorsese may not want to call this as a film, and we agree. Avengers: Endgame is not just a film, it is the biggest cinematic event of the year, and a near-perfect culmination of three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Expertly directed by the Russo brothers, Endgame is filled with some very glorious character moments, fine performances from the cast, especially Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johannson, and terrifically executed scenes. The final hour of the film is just a glorious fanboy experience that will exalt you, depress you and ultimately, win you over. Avengers EndGame Movie Review: Marvel’s Superhero Film Is an Emotionally Wrenching, Enriching FanBoy Experience That Goes for Your Heart!

Booksmart

You may call it the Superbad of this decade, but Booksmart, directed by actress Olivia Wilde, evolves beyond the similar premises. The two leads, Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, are absolutely fabulous, and they get some excellent support from the ensemble.

Booksmart is wild, raunchy and hilarious, but beneath its wacky exterior, it hides a heartwarming story of friendship and a coming-out tale. Booksmart Movie Review: Olivia Wilde’s Directorial Debut Will Make You Long For Your School Days.

Rocketman

The Elton John biopic, Rocketman does nearly everything right that last year's Bohemian Rhapsody was criticised for not being. It is an outstanding musical with some very inventive film-making and possessing a courage to get into the risque portions of the singer's life.

Not to mention, an excellent performance from the young Taron Egerton with Jamie Bell and Richard Madden also lending in wonderful actors. Rocketman Movie Review: Taron Egerton with Elton John's Flashy Pizzazz Makes This Biopic Ultra Extravagant!

Toy Story 4

I would still say that Toy Story 4 was a needless film, seeing how beautifully the last film had concluded. Kudos to the writers and the makers for making even this needless film live up to the high quality benchmarked by the franchise. If the third film was about passing ownership, then the new film delves empathetically into giving yourself a chance over pleasing others. Not to mention, its bold take on existential crisis for a film that is aimed at kids.

The animation is top-notch, the new characters are excellent, the voice-cast does great work as always, and the return of Bo Peep is wonderfully done. Toy Story 5 could happen, even if you want it or not, but if it lives up to the lovely experience that has been Toy Story 4, then bring it on! Toy Story 4 Movie Review: Disney-Pixar Gives an Emotionally Satisfying Closure to Woody’s Arc (Hopefully).

Us

After Get Out, anything involving the name of Jordan Peele automatically becomes hot property. There were really high expectations from his sophomore effort, Us, which thankfully delivers on most counts. A horror-thriller, laced with dark humour, Us is a smart commentary on the social divide, just like how Get Out tackled racism and apartheid.

The movie has some very memorable, haunting visuals, is filled with surprising twists and a brilliant performance from the lead actress, Lupita Nyong'o. Us Movie Review: Lupita Nyong’o’s Stupendous Performance Backs Jordan Peele’s Crazy Vision in This Horror Thriller.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

If you went to watch this film, thinking you are going to see the recreation of the Sharon Tate murder, and you came out disappointed, blame it on yourself. For you should have realised by now what a subversive filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is, who really doesn't bother following facts and history, and instead makes a captivating film inspired by real events.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may have thrill elements and involves Sharon Tate, but it is, in actuality, an enjoyable ode to Hollywood of the swinging sixties. It is a treat to watch Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, both in top form, work together, and the dark humour infused throughout, especially in the bloody finale, is trademark QT! Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Movie Review: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt Indulge in a Zany Bromance in Quentin Tarantino’s Darkly Delightful Ode to Cinema.

Joker

A film about a Batman villain without showing the superhero, that too directed by The Hangover director, shouldn't really have mattered much. But Joker turns out to be an immersive piece of cinema that lets you question each and every scene in the film, while being mesmerised by the proceedings.

The movie may veer a bit too close to its inspirations - Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy - but it is a near brilliant psychological thriller with a cracker of a finale. And if Joaquin Phoenix doesn't get an Oscar nomination for his brilliant performance, then there is no justice in the world! Joker Movie Review: Joaquin Phoenix Redefines This Iconic DC Villain With a Beautifully Disturbing Tale.

The Irishman

While you may not agree with Martin Scorsese's views on Marvel film, you really can't deny that he is a very proficient filmmaker for whom age is merely a number. In his '80s, Scorsese has reignited his favourite genre - crime drama -  with a searing masterpiece in The Irishman.

Based on the real-life disappearance of the union leader Jimmy Hoffa in the '70s, the movie is a three-and-a-half hour-long epic with excellent performances from the veterans, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and especially, Al Pacino. Sure, the de-aging VFX may not be up to the mark and some of the supporting cast members are underutilised. But by the time The Irishman is done with, it harks you back to a time when cinema was more character-driven than being technical gimmickry. The Irishman Movie Review: A Vintage Martin Scorsese Extracts Brilliant Performances From Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci in Netflix’s Crime Drama.

Marriage Story

From one Netflix to another, Marriage Story, directed by Noah Baumbach, is not an easy watch at all, especially if you are married. Peeling off the cushy layers around the marital union, the director gets into a stark excursion of how love doesn't really need to be bound by marriage, which can even stifle the emotions in dire circumstances.

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver bare it all emotionally as Nicole and Charlie and they keep you invested in this heartbreaking journey of separation. Their no-holds-barred long argument scene is one of the finely executed scenes of the year, and stays with you days after the movie is done with. Marriage Story Movie Review: Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver's Emotionally Charged Performances in This Separation Drama Will Leave You Moist Eyed.

Ford v Ferrari

With Ford V Ferrari, James Mangold delivers a highly engaging, occasionally exhilarating ride. It is based on the famous defeat of old war dogs, the Italian-based Ferrari by the American-made Ford for the first time at Le Mans '66. Christian Bale and Matt Damon make the protagonists likeable enough to make us connect with their small victories from the start to the end.

The final race sequence is extremely gripping and technically brilliant, with a bitter-sweet conclusion. Indubitably, Ford V Ferrari should find itself among the top films based on racing. Ford v Ferrari Movie Review: Christian Bale, Matt Damon Set the Trail Blazing in James Mangold’s Spirited Racing Drama.

Knives Out

After shaking off the flak he received for the divisive Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson returns to his comfort zone of making engaging mystery thrillers. And his latest effort, Knives Out, turns out to be a smart investigative thriller with bountiful of surprises.

The ensemble cast is smartly used with Chris Evans (playing against type), Daniel Craig and an excellent Ana De Armas standing out. Knives Out Movie Review: A Brilliant Murder Mystery Anchored by Daniel Craig's Exemplary Performance.

Agree with our pick of movies? Share your thoughts about them in the comments section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 27, 2019 08:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).