29 thoughts on “Movie Podcast Weekly Ep. 319: Top 10 Movies of 2018”

1. Dudes, Jay allowed me to share my Top 10 Non-horror Films of 2018, but it’s a bit of a mess. For one thing, I’m still kind of undecided on my “Horror PSAs” as we call them over on HMP, films that are maybe horror adjacent, but not quite horror. I have the hardest time with thrillers (especially crime thrillers and especially-especially serial killer crime thrillers) that I’m still not sure how I’m going to classify Searching, You Were Never Really Here, The House That Jack Built or The Chase. Any of those could have made this list or honorable mentions if they don’t make my horror list. Somehow, The Chase slipped my PSA mind and actually made it onto this list, even though I reviewed it as a horror film over on Horror Movie Podcast.

   Also, and this is mainly a PSA for Dino’s benefit, I somehow I totally spaced Mission Impossible: Fallout. I would have definitely had Fallout at 10 if I dropped The Chase and I’d have happily included it as an honorable mention. Sorry, Dino. I owe you one.

   Lastly, “Wild, Wild Country” would be #2 if I were considering television series and “Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives” would be my #3 if I were considering stand-up specials.

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   • Thanks, Josh. I loved that you sent us your list. -J

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2. I like that when Andy tells Jay he “sucks at this” he says that it is “200 episodes in” when in fact this is episode 319. Haha

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3. Re: Avengers Infinity War.

   It is a complete film. From beginning to end, the entire film tells a complete story, far more so than the previous two entries of the Avengers franchise. The problem, I’m home, is that most of the podcast have incorrectly identified the protagonists of the film. This is about Thanos. The Avengers are his antagonists. They are set up to oppose him. And so it seems incomplete when he overcomes them and wipes out half of existence.

   But that was the story all along. It’s not I complete. He did it. They’re gone. It may be they find a way to undo it, but that’s a whole new story. They lost their Infinity War.

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   • I haven’t even seen Infinity War yet, but Jay’s comment about not liking that it felt like a part 1 still bugged me. It’s the 19th(!!!) film in the MCU. The 19th! If you want a MCU film that wraps up on its own without needing a part two, watch any of the previous 18(!!!) films in the series. Once you reach the 19th film in a series, surely you should be given some wiggle room in dealing with the fact that an entry in the series isn’t complete.

     The MCU has been one of the biggest hits at the box office of our generation. By this point, with the 19th f’n film, everyone knows that there will be a 20th film and likely multiple more films even if the film series would suddenly become a box office bomb, so if you’re going to see MCU #19 on the big screen, chances are, you’re going to see MCU # 20, MCU #21, and MCU 22 on the big screen as well.

     Jay’s complaint about Fellowship of the Ring feeling like a part 1 is far more fair than complaining about MCU #19 being a part 1.

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     • I guess I could tolerate and accept Part 1 better if they just weren’t going to undo most of it in Part 2. It just seems like some sort of exercise in futility. Overall, I did appreciate the film, though. It’s a very fun one-time watch, and I rated it pretty high.
       -J

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   • Good point, Redcap. You are correct. Thanos would be the protagonist, technically, and yes, in that case, Thanos completes a story arc as far as he’s concerned. Good point.

     Incorrect or not, though, 97% of the movie-going public are going to view the Avengers as the protagonists. But yes, I agree that Thanos would technically be the protagonist. Nice analysis.
     -J

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     • I can’t help that 97% are going into yhe film with false expectations, it’s just not something lit of people expect. Which is often true in epucs when the bad guys win… We expect in horror and gangster films, they just did it in a superhero movie this time.

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4. Oh, and a HUGE correction on the use if “cliffhangers”… Perks of Being a Wallflower got it wrong. Then literary device has been in use for many years, prominently featured in the Arabiic 1,001 Arabian Nights. The term itself came from Thomas Hardy who left a character hanging from a cliff and is often misapplied to Dickens due to the popularity of an earlier serial story he wrote.

   Drop that mic.

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   • Yeah, Karl. Dumb-dumb…
     -J

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5. Hey J,
   Thanks for another awesome show. It was awesome to hear so many horror movies embraced by the listeners this year. I was bummed however that Revenge didn’t get any love from the hosts – hopefully J it made your list on HMP. 🙂 Andy and Ryan if you are reading this please check out Revenge. I would love to hear what you think. Cheers!

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   • I know it’s a weird distinction, but for anyone who might care… Last year I saved 100 percent of my Horror picks for HMP. (When you have two shows about movies that crossover with listenership and subject matter, it’s difficult for them not to cannibalize each other.) But I got complaints. So, to try to preserve my Horror list somewhat, but to appease my critics from last year, I included more of the “mainstream,” broadly accessible Horror picks (like, “A Quiet Place”) over here on MPW, where the listeners might actually watch them. Then I saved all the hard-core Horror fan picks for HMP’s list. -J

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   • I’ll get right on it Marton. Hang tight.

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     • Um…nevermind. This looks dumb, and I don’t want to watch a horror film with subtitles.

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       • Well done Andy, You just made me laugh out loud. 😀

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6. Wish I saw Vice on Christmas Day. If I had, it definitely would have made my top 10. Had to make that December 26th deadline tho. Is there anything in the “Year of Release” rules about movies that come out he last week of the year?

   Can’t wait to hear this episode!

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   • “Is there anything in the “Year of Release” rules about movies that come out he last week of the year?”

     Oh boy, is there… Searching “year of release” here on the site will give you all sorts of reading material. In short: opinions differ, so best to make up your own mind 😉

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   • Ha ha. Yes, it’s a real can of worms. Nutshell: For me, I used IMDb’s Release Info page ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6644200/releaseinfo ) and for the “official” release date for MPW and HMP, I personally pick the FIRST U.S. release date when the film is **WIDELY** available, meaning, wide in theaters or on VOD. In other words, I don’t count any festivals, premieres or foreign release dates of the film. The first WIDE U.S. release date is what I use, and yes, many people disagree. -J

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7. ** HI ALL **
   SORRY! I TOTALLY SPACED THE DRAWING FOR THE WINNER OF THE GIFT CARD! I WILL ANNOUNCE IT IN EPISODE 320 — AND POST THAT RESULT HERE. SORRY.
   -J

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8. It’s OK, Jay. I understand that everyone else would just get mad and suspect favoritism if you drew “film critic Cody Clark” out of a hat and read my name on the show. No need for an elaborate charade. Just put the card in the mail.

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9. Always have a great time with the end of year list. Glad I managed to send my list correctly. I’m seriously on an island when it comes to my love for Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald. So glad to see Ready Player One get so much love. I do agree that the book is far superior to the movie, but I really enjoyed the movie nonetheless. Always felt the same about John Carter. Except John Carter was released over a 100yrs ago and not nearly top of mind for people these days. But I digress.

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10. The birdbox creature that was cut from the movie. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsIJco-lVAj/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1eebxfe6vzrqy

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    • It’s just one of many… We see so many different drawings and they all have a Cthulhu Mythos look to them. Thinks also what is warned about in The Call of Cthulhu, the presence Of Ones and their star spawn creatures the sight of which will send people into bouts of frenzied madness. The lucky will die quickly, others will be lost.

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      • Yes i know, but there is the final stage. This is what they planned to bring to the production.

        You start of with a sketch, it ends up as final cg model or practical fx. This is not something you do from start to finish, and on set as mentioned in the post without making choices before hand. The final word was just cut it out and let be imagine what it could be.

        Everything is always one of many so i dont really get what you mean with one of many., because you concept stuff before really making it. But this was made to final spec. Since it was mentioned in the ep, thought it was cool to show. This was what they wanted in the show, although cut out, they prefered it over the other concepts that where done.

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11. Hi there, thanks to the team for this outstanding episode!
    Now I cannot resist sharing again my top 10 and a few thoughts, if there is enough space to do so in here 🙂

    1- Ready Player One – Not the average blockbuster, the film combines a fascinating Easter egg hunting with action, comedy and countless references to the 1980s’ pop culture. I loved the Shining-based sequence, it was so unexpected and brilliant!

    2- Mandy – This is also number 2 in my top 10 of horror movies, so why change what I commented there: it is a beautifully shot and hypnotic story, and the soundtrack is haunting. I would define the second half of the film as a glimpse into Hell for the wild at heart.

    3- Let The Corpses Tan – I liked Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s previous films, which were a stylish homage to the Italian Giallo. I also enjoyed a lot Let The Corpses Tan, for different reasons. It is an experimental spaghetti western movie with the atmosphere of the French crime films of the 1970’s, it’s also funny at times and visually stunning.

    4- A Simple Favor – This was fun to watch, especially this dark crime comedic flavour that the film has all along.

    5- Overlord – I loved this combination of realistic wartime action and dreadful Nazi experiments. This is a stylish B movie nicely packaged with violence and gore but also intelligence.

    6- Mission: Impossible – Fallout – This is an action-packed ride as expected and the plot may become, well, somehow unclear at some point. But this installment works as well as the previous ones, it is fun, and it features tremendous action sequences.

    7- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – I particularly liked the relationship of the characters played by Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson. The satirical aspect of the film is balanced with a dark humor that I liked too.

    8- Avengers: Infinity War – Not a great fan of the MCU I must admit that this installment was surprisingly enjoyable, and dark enough.

    9- Upgrade – Stylish and well-paced B movie. There is no pretentiousness in there, this is entertainment and I love it.

    10- Red Sparrow – I was expecting an action-packed drama, but this was not exactly that. In fact, I appreciated the rather realistic tone of the film and its audacity when it comes to torture scenes and sexual power struggle.
    (Honorable Mention) 11- Anon – The film’s vision of the future and the related lack of privacy is intensely sad, even desperate at times. Interesting and elegant, like a film noir and a sci-fi flick combined. But it was boring to see those graphics representing the augmented reality so often.

    (Honorable Mention) 12- A Quiet Place – I got enthralled by the very first sequences of the film, where the tension was almost palpable. Then it was highs and lows, but the overall experience was really good and scary at times.

    (Honorable Mention) 13- Death Wish – This could have a been a guilty pleasure in my list, but I do not find this is a bad movie. It is an entertaining homage to the vigilante films, no more.

    (Honorable Mention) 14- The Post – Interesting insight into the press, with this old-fashioned charming atmosphere that I like.

    (Honorable Mention) 15- Maze Runner: The Death Cure – A bit long, somehow predictable but I enjoyed following the characters again. And it is packed with action, which matters.

    Guilty Pleasure – The Spy Who Dumped Me

    Disappointments – How It Ends, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

    Most Overrated – Venom, The Meg, Tomb Raider

    Least Favourite – A-X-L

    Most anticipated films in 2019 – Jacob’s Ladder, Alita: Battle Angel, The New Mutants, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

    Voilà.
    Be seeing you
    Olly Rath from France

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12. The Year End Best Of (YEBO) shows are an annual MPW highlight for me. Some favorite moments from this year’s show:

    Andy blowing his timing during GCR’s the read-through of the list of listener contributors. Somewhere out there, Just Gabe is thinking, “What did I ever do to Andy?”

    William Rowan Jr. pre-slagging Josh for his unexpectedly effusive review of Aquaman and disclosing Josh’s hitherto unknown (by me, at least) hatred of bad GCI in superhero movies.

    Jay taking a verbal dump on GCR’s pick of The Cloverfield Paradox.

    GCR punching back by throwing a Jaymaker after Our Host gets a little out of control fawning over the unparalleled awesomeness of William Rowan Jr.’s picks.

    Jay’s shockingly line-crossing mockery of the reputation of The Empire Strikes Back. Delightful, and also a moment that will live in MPW infamy.

    The YEBO episode have all of the same great interplay among the hosts that has always been an MPW calling card, but everyone is just a little bit more testy and committed than usual. I think the higher-than-usual emotional stakes of talking about favorite movies makes everyone try a little harder, while also feeling a bit more loose and punchy. It’s a beautiful paradox. Also, the YEBO badinage is always like Nigel Tufnel’s amps: “One louder.”

    My favorite moment of the show, however, was Karl and Josh picking the same BMOTY. I did not see that one coming. It also created in me a new resolve to see BlacKkKlansman as soon as possible. It was just one of those things for me this year: I kept meaning to head to the theater, and then to sit down with the DVD, and every time something else would come up. That’s another thing that I love about the YEBO shows: I always get a lot of great information about stuff I should seek out, at a time of year when studios are often dumping a lot of bad product anyway. Speaking of which, Jay, could you help a brother out and put all of the YEBO lists in the show notes? I’m always running when I listen to MPW, so it’s never convenient to take notes about all of the intriguing-sounding stuff that I didn’t see. Plus I’m lazy. Do it for the listeners!

    Also, how did you not capital-L LOVE Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse? It’s almost like you hate the cinema, or something.

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13. Here’s my totally 100% correct, completely indisputable list… which I already need to dispute, myself, now having seen Vice, which belongs in there somewhere. I also suspect that I’ll like The Favourite a lot more than Karl, with its comparisons to Death of Stalin, so that might fit in there, too. But anyway, this is what I sent to J at the deadline, FWIW.

    1. Paddington 2 – My theme for the year seemed to be “movies I had no interest in, which turned out to be incredible,” and this tops the lot. An overdose of charm and whimsy, that delights throughout. The surprised look on Brendan Gleeson’s face in a pivotal scene describes mine while watching this.

    2. The Death of Stalin – Seems gimmicky, the way it plays comically with its subject of Russia’s succession crisis after the titular event, but a second viewing sealed the depth of this for me, as I picked up on several bits of humor I’d missed the first time (and I loved it the first time!).

    3. American Animals – Part documentary, part fictionalization, this puts you into the hearts and minds of three college kids and the heist they attempted in 2004. The scale of the heist is small by usual film standards, but this succeeds in connecting you closely to the large impact and consequences for its subjects.

    4. Isle of Dogs – Another Wes Anderson stop-motion film? Um, yes, please. Could have been a disappointment compared to Fantastic Mr. Fox, but is again very original and fun, with a rhythm and style and depth of its own. Mr. Anderson should be required to make one of these every few years.

    5. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse – Another Spider-Man movie? Um, no, thanks. We don’t really need that. Wait… YES, WE DO! This was brilliant and continuously interesting, visually. Easily one of the best comic book depictions on film, ever.

    6. Roma – This year’s Florida Project for me. A vivid glimpse into a place and time and people that illuminates their struggles, their pains, and their growth and change. So many poignant moments and scenes throughout, and a recurring theme of water collecting and flowing, which included in my eyes.

    7. Sorry to Bother You – Not as consistently successful as Death of Stalin in pulling off its black humor and satire, but I love that it aims for something cool and different and often succeeds. Feels refreshing and innovative, but also morphing things like Brazil and Office Space.

    8. Mandy – With the exception of some goofy one-liners, which briefly pulled me out of the film’s hypnotic trance, this movie made great use of Nic Cage’s “Nic Cage-ness.” But even aside from that, so many interesting and indelible moments and scenes, and a beautiful (and beautifully terrifying) visual style.

    9. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – I was in the minority that loved Hail, Caesar!, and certainly this collection of old west vignettes won’t be for everyone, but wow, do the Coens have a gift for language and character, and they use it to great effect here, with ruminations on death and hope and survival.

    10. Blindspotting – A great balance of a powerful racial commentary and a lighter buddy flick, which both shows and tells in ways that are vital and impactful. I already knew Daveed Diggs was terrific, but Rafael Casal should build a career from this performance.

    11. A Star is Born – Did we really need this remake of a remake? Apparently, yes. I love the way Bradley Cooper directs the parallel trajectories of the two characters, and shows them intimately changing as their worlds collapse and expand. Also, Lady Gaga, duh.

    12. Smallfoot – Religion is hooey! But wait, sometimes it serves a purpose. Okay, that’s a big generalization, but kudos to this film for tackling a difficult subject in such a fun way. Again, zero interest in seeing this to begin with, but it turned out to be very clever and entertaining.

    13. Borg vs. McEnroe – Another film I didn’t care much about seeing, though I had followed the original matches as a kid. But I appreciated the way the contrasting characters of these two tennis giants was depicted and explored. And Shia Lebouf as the jerkface brat McEnroe? Well, sure.

    14. Bad Times at the El Royale – Feels a bit like someone doing a mashup of Tarantino, Hitchcock, and the Coen Bros. But assuming you like Tarantino, Hitchcock, and the Coen Bros., then it’s still a damn entertaining film to watch.

    15. Mission Impossible: Fallout – At this point, with the exception of MI:2 being a little weaker, these are all within a thin margin of each other, and all super thrilling with insane action. And yet, one of the coolest things about this entry is a non-action scene involving a very large number of double-crosses.

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14. Listening to this now. The best part of the show so far is Jason criticizing Ryan for picking The Cloverfield Paradox at #8 just moments after saying Mute was his #8. Wow, Jason. Wow.

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15. Karl, what’s wrong with you, maaaan?? The Favourite is awesome!! Wow. Such a great battle of wits between three really strong characters. Actually four, counting the poofy-haired politician guy. Amazing performances, wonderful dialogue, interesting political machinations going on, and some real intensity. More of a tragedy than the trailer suggests, and it almost seemed like a suspense thriller in the way that you were wondering how it was going to play out. It’s a 9.5 for me, and would easily bump somewhere into the middle of my top 10.

    I also wanted to mention how funny the “post credits” scene was for me. By that, I mean the three older ladies sitting in front of me. Apparently, they have sort of a Golden Girls Film Club, and as they were getting ready to leave, I overheard several fun comments, such as, “Well, I guess I’m never going to get to pick the movie again.” “That sure wasn’t Mary Poppins!” “But the reviews made it sound so good?!” And the word “depraved” came up a few times. During the trailers, one of them wildly applauded the Downton Abbey trailer (hey, I was excited, too), so presumably that’s more of what they were looking for in this period piece. Ha. Suffice to say, YMMV. Don’t go in expecting Mary Poppins or Downton Abbey and you might just love it. Or, as it would seem, don’t be Karl.
    😜

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