Staff Picks: Best Films of 2018
According to the staff and volunteers that powered the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas in 2018, The Favourite was, well… their favorite movie of the year! It shows up on more lists below (seven) than any other film and is overall the highest-ranked on those lists. Runners up include Eighth Grade (five lists, one #1 spot) and First Reformed (five lists, two #1 spots).
As we look back on our favorite films of 2018, remember that you can see award-winning films and your classic favorites while drinking a beer in our two art house theaters at SteelStacks in 2019! NOW PLAYING / SPECIAL SCREENINGS / COMING SOON
RYAN HILL, ARTSQUEST PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR
1. Eighth Grade
I didn’t know you could smile while you cringed until I saw this movie. Nothing is forced and nothing is sacred at the same time; it’s easily the pound-for-pound winner of the year for me.
2. Widows
A heist movie where the heist isn’t really the thing. Tightly directed; Viola Davis remains one of the best of our time.
3. Shoplifters
There’s so much heart in this film.
4. The Favourite
The dance scene is the funniest movie bit of 2018. The ending is… well… I still don’t know.
5. Three Identical Strangers
I’ve seen enough documentaries to be able to pretty much predict where they’re going and how they’re getting there. I had no clue through this film, it is arguably the most riveting of the year.
6. First Reformed
Ethan Hawke lifts this film, but Paul Schroeder’s detached direction is the low-key champion.
7. Tully
Charlize Theron will not get the credit she deserves for this solid piece of writing from Diablo Cody.
8. If Beale Street Could Talk
My first take on this film was that it was too slow. I now realize it was pretty much just right.
9. Madeline’s Madeline
Best third act of the year, or weirdest third act of the year? Hint: it’s both.
10. Blindspotting
Chewed me up and spit me out. If you can combine intensity with hilarity, you got me.
Just missing this list: Roma, Cold War, Black Panther.
ANTHONY DESANCTIS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY COORDINATOR
1. Roma
2. Eighth Grade
3. Shoplifters
4. A Star is Born
5. Paddington 2
6. The Hate U Give
7. Never Look Away
8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
9. Blindspotting
10. Ready Player One
2018 was definitely a year where I saw more foreign films than in past years. And I’m certainly glad I did. Roma is a masterpiece. This will be a film dissected in film classes for years to come for its breathtaking visuals and intimate storytelling. Alfonso Cuaron is one of the best filmmakers working today. And everyone should see Shoplifters and Never Look Away. When I went to Sundance at the beginning of the year, I was one of the first people to see Eighth Grade. And it’s been in my head ever since. Easily one of the most honest and relate-able films I’ve seen. Bo Burnham makes one hell of a directorial debut, as do Bradley Cooper and Carlos Lopez Estrada with A Star is Born and Blindspotting respectively. If anyone wants an instant pick-me-up, I suggest you watch Paddington 2 immediately. The Hate U Give is a tragically underrated film that I hope develops a strong following as the years go on. I had me in tears multiple times. And I never though an animated Spider-Man film would knock my socks off as much as it did, but WOW WOW WOW. It’s self-aware and pokes fun at itself while still honoring all the mythology that came before. And yes, I’m probably the only person I know who liked Ready Player One as much as I did, but it had me smiling from start to finish. It made the fan boy in me happy and reminded me of the blockbusters Spielberg is so well known for. It shows he can still make punk rock.
ADDYSON YOUNG, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY COORDINATOR
1. Leave No Trace
This film is so beautiful. The cinematography is spot on and the story of love between a daughter and father is truly touching.
2. Eighth Grade
This film was so awkward and I loved every cringy second of it. If you’ve ever been 13, you will relate to this film.
3. RBG
I already knew I loved the Notorious RGB, but this film really just affirmed how Kick-A** she truly is.
4. The Favourite
Just watch it, okay? Then we can talk about how delightfully strange this film is? Also, costumes!… and bunnies?
5. Won’t You Be My Neighbor
I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING!
6. Boy Erased
It’s a hard watch, but oh so worth it. Nicole Kidman also is positively wonderful.
7. A Quiet Place
I don’t usually like scary movies but this one I thoroughly enjoyed. Even if my shoulders did ache afterwards from tensing them up the entire movie.
8. Isle of Dogs
I almost adopted every dog in the Lehigh Valley after watching this film.
9. A Simple Favor
Critics dubbed this film as unrealistic, but, as a true crime podcast nerd, I thought this story was wonderfully insane.
10. The Spy Who Dumped Me
This is not a “good” movie, but g*ddammit if it’s not enjoyable anyway. There may be some plot holes, but Mila Kunis and Sam Heughan and Kate McKinnon in a pink sparkly suit fighting bad guys (we actually never really find out why they’re bad though) all over Europe is a win in my book.
Honorable Mention: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
It saddens me to put this film so low on my Top Ten (editor’s note: it’s not even in her Top Ten), but contrary to the seemingly popular opinion, I did enjoy this film. It’s no Harry Potter, for sure, but I’ll take all the wizarding world film, movie, plays, etc. I can get.
RICKEY NEGRON, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY ASSISTANT
1. Roma
2. The Favourite
3. First Reformed
4. A Star Is Born
5. Eighth Grade
6. Blindspotting
7. Hereditary
8. A Quiet Place
9. Green Book
10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Honorable mentions: Black Panther, The Hate U Give, BlackKklansman, and Crazy Rich Asians.
CATHERINE FORD, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE
1. And Breathe Normally
Suspenseful while pulling at your heart strings. Wonderful script and some of the best acting I’ve seen this year.
2. A Kid Like Jake
Claire Danes turns in one of her best performances as well one of the best performances I’ve seen this year by any actress. It received mixed reviews but I was moved but the story, acting, and script.
3. Eighth Grade
A wonderful coming of age film.
4. Can You Ever Forgive Me
Melissa McCarthy was wonderful in this film as well as a strong supportive cast. Although I knew the story, I was kept on the edge of my seat watching this film.
5. BlackKklansman
Well written script and acting. It uses history to offer commentary on current events; it’ll be known as one of Spike Lee’s best.
6. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Subtle but strong script and acting. Chloë Grace Moretz gives a strong performance in the lead role.
7. Isle of Dogs
Very entertaining and creative especially if you are a dog person, though that’s not necessary to enjoy the film. Both entertaining and meaningful.
8. Roma
Beautifully filmed, artistic, and moving.
9. The Cake Maker
Israeli director Ofir Raul Graizer’s first feature-length film is a drama about an unusual relationship.
10. The Favourite
Wonderful script and well-acted. I wasn’t always sure what was going on, but I was entertained. After watching the film with a group of friends we spent a couple hours discussing the film… that always means something.
Honorable Mention: Boy Erased
Nicole Kidman gives a strong performance as does Russell Crowe as his parents and Lucas Hedges as Jared. Unlike Miseducation of Cameron Post, this film is set in 2003 and focuses on a personal story where as Cameron Post gives insights to all the kids and adult counselors.
ROBERT DANIELS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE
1. First Reformed
2. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
3. Lean on Pete
4. Sorry to Bother You
5. Mandy
6. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
7. The Favourite
8. The Other Side of the Wind
9. Shoplifters
10. Game Night
In lieu of something wise or witty about each film, I submit the next twenty, which I feel some degree of bad about leaving out:
11-30: Roma, Upgrade, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Blindspotting, Assassination Nation, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, First Man, The Old Man & the Gun, The House That Jack Built, Paddington 2, You Were Never Really Here, Let the Sunshine In, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Hereditary, Isle of Dogs, Burning, Disobedience, Fahrenheit 11/9, The Rider, Thoroughbreds.
LAUREN TOCCI, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE/CO-CURATOR, FIRST SATURDAY HORROR SERIES
(presented in no particular order)
Black Panther
A Quiet Place
A Wrinkle in Time
A Star is Born
Hearts Beat Loud
Won’t You be My Neighbor
Annihilation
Roma
Avengers: Infinity War
The House with a Clock in its Walls
Putting this list together was a different experience this year. Insofar as it’s not common when your favorite movie of the year happens so early in the first quarter of the year. Black Panther for so many reasons is a special film, fantastic directing and truly emotionally anchored performances. Won’t You Be My Neighbor has the simultaneous ability to warm your heart and make you cry a river of tears. What I think mostly ties these films together are the compelling conversations they cause, the breath of fresh air filmmaking, and mostly the heart and resonance at the center of each story.
ADRIANNA GOBER, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE/CO-CURATOR, FIRST SATURDAY HORROR SERIES
1. The Favourite
2. Madeline’s Madeline
3. The Rider
4. Knife + Heart
5. Minding the Gap
6. Shoplifters
7. Holiday
8. First Reformed
9. Shirkers
10. Sorry to Bother You
Honorable Mention: Support the Girls
JASON PAULUS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE
1. First Reformed
2. A Star Is Born
3. The Favourite
4. Burning
5. Mid90s
6. Vox Lux
7. You Were Never Really Here
8. Blindspotting
9. Roma
10. Wildlife
JEN SUWAK, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Won’t You be My Neighbor?
3. Mandy
4. Black Panther
5. BlackKklansman
6. Halloween
7. A Quiet Place
8. Three Identical Strangers
9. Annihilation
10. Aquaman
STEVE ABRUZZESE, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Sorry to Bother You
3. Won’t You be My Neighbor?
4. Mandy
5. BlackKklansman
6. Three Identical Strangers
7. Halloween
8. A Quiet Place
9. Black Panther
10. Annihilation
