Monday, January 27, 2020
10 Best Scenes in 2019
2019 gave us so many good scenes. I could easily make a list of at least 50, but the traditional format has always been and will remain 10. But it was so hard to choose the ranking. However number 1? Well, that easily won. So here we go:
Honorable mentions:
My name is Carol, Captain Marvel
The neon lights, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
The minute of silence, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
The killing of the baseball boy, Doctor Sleep
The three doors, It: Chapter Two
Rose searches for Abra, Doctor Sleep
The first ritual, Midsommar
Morocco fight, John Wick - Chapter 3
Turn around, Portrait of the Lady on Fire
The ruins, 1917
10. Red's Monologue, Us
This is the point of the movie where the ridiculousness, plot holes and lack of planning ahead in the script is not evident yet so I was still hoping this is gonna be really good. Red's entrance, the first time we hear her voice and her words, which shape a disturbing fairytale of two girls living in two very different worlds, are just so incredible and make such an impression. Lupita made this movie worth seeing and her performance as both women is absolutely brilliant.
9. Apologize, The Irishman
The only scene in The Irishman that felt like it was Casino/Goodfellass/The Wolf of Wall Street levels of rewatchable and entertaining was this one, the hilarious standoff between Hoffa and Tony Pro with Pacino and Graham being so, so funny here. Right after I finished the movie I had to rewind and watch this comedy gold again.
8. The Ending, The Lighthouse
The entire movie is such an engaging and fascinating portrait of descent into madness and it finishes with an ascent to the forbidden treasure and the fall to the doom. The sequence of Thomas walking up the stairs then going mad from seeing the light and that absolutely nightmarish ending is such an unforgettable scene.
7. The Ending, Ready or Not
In what is a visually stunning homage to Heathers, Grace, blood soaked and exhausted, emerges from the burning mansion and lights up a a cigarette on the steps. She is just sitting there and answers "in-laws" to the officer's question about what happened. The entire movie was so much fun and it was such a fantastic way to end it.
6. Shootout at the Continental, John Wick - Chapter 3
With Vivaldi's Winter blasting in the background John takes out the goons sent to kill him as Winston hilariously dodges Adjudicator's phone calls and pleas for a deal. There are so many stunning action sequences in this movie, but this one blends the flawless action with humorous moments in the most impressive manner.
5. The Quarry, It Chapter: Two
It: Chapter Two is a mess of a movie but it still managed to give us one of the finest scenes of the year where Ritchie breaks down after losing Eddie and all of his friends immediately swim to him to console him. It's such a beautiful moment that is really, really moving. If only the rest of the film was as well done as this scene is.
4. "God is in Heaven!", Marriage Story
Laura Dern's tough and passionate lawyer is one of the best things about Marriage Story. Her rant about women being held to different standard than men is so frighteningly on point and it's the best written piece of dialogue in 2019. And she delivers it the only way any woman out there would - with righteous, unstoppable fury.
3. The Ending, Midsommar
This film is one of the most shocking ones that we saw in 2019 and while there are a lot of moments that come close to Aster's previous Hereditary, it's the ending that is truly, truly chilling. Finally succumbing to madness Dani watches as her boyfriend burns alive with a smile on her face, embracing her new family and their devious, twisted ways.
2. The Explanation, Knives Out
I don't think anyone has had as much fun playing a character in 2019 as Daniel Craig in this movie. The whole script is very funny and smart but the best and most riveting moment comes when Benoit Blanc explains the whole mystery to Martha and the audience. It's so clever, funny and well thought-out. Even if you guessed "who" and "how" , the "why" will still surprise you.
1. Portals/Avengers! Assemble, Avengers: Endgame
This is the moment a decade and 20+ movies in the making and it really, really lands. In the year of franchises disappointing their fans, MCU has brought the fans the finale that was a love letter to their commitment to the series and its culminating moment earned the emotions and brought so many of us to tears. It's the single most emotional moment in 2019 and the way so many people all around the world experienced it, applauding, crying, smiling and cheering was just magical. For all the disdain so many have for comic book movies, nothing else in the world got a reaction like that on such a huge scale.
Oh,k I love all of your picks! I could never narrow it down to just 10.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteGreat list! Of course I agree with your top pick. Easily my favorite moment in film this year.
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful endings here too. I love that scene you chose from Knives Out as well. I still laugh thinking about 'That little nazi boy masturbating in the bathroom!"
That was an amazing line! :P
DeleteDamn I love this list so much. I rewatched Knives Out last night and somehow the explanation is even better the second time round.
ReplyDeleteRight?! It's such a clever film!
DeleteIt would have been a crime for the portals scene from Avengers: Endgame to be anywhere but the top spot. :-P But you're right, it was an absolutely wonderful payoff to over 10 years worth of films. Ready or Not's "In-laws." is one of my new favorite final film lines!
ReplyDeleteYEY, glad to see so much love for Ready or Not!
DeleteI love these choices, and I agree with your #1 pick. I'm not sure I will ever have another theatrical experience like I did with End Game.
ReplyDeleteRight? It was amazing to be part of this during opening week!
DeleteSome great scenes from Doctor Sleep in your honorable mentions, but I'd argue the conversation at the bar is the best scene from that movie. Still one of the most intensely gripping scenes of any movie this past year IMO.
ReplyDeleteAlso great top choice for #1. That movie is filled with so many great moments, and that's definitely up there among the top of the pack. :)
Yeah that was an amazing scene! It's even longer in director's cut!
DeleteCompletely agree with number 1! And your reasoning. I loved the quarry scene in IT2 (and the doors) I wish those moments could have somehow carried through to the rest of the film!
ReplyDeleteRight? I still don't understand what Muschietti did with this movie
DeleteI haven't seen four movies from your top 10, but the others that I have - great picks! I wasn't really keen on watching Ready or Not, but I'm now adding it to my watch list.
ReplyDeleteOh it's excellent, so much fun!
DeleteI have seen the Portals scene so many times I cannot count and it gives me goosebumps every single time.
ReplyDeleteI also really need to watch Doctor Sleep
Yep! Doctor Sleep has some issues but it's definitely worth seeing! One of the best recent King adaptations
DeleteHard to argue with your top 3. Scene of the year for me is Adam Driver doing "Being Alive" in Marriage Story. I also love every minute of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and would put several scenes up there (lights, like you; also the Spahn Movie Ranch sequence and the very end...post beatdown/flamethrower/etc).
ReplyDeleteI hated this movie but that neon scene was really nice, also all the moments with Pitt and his dogs
DeleteGreat picks! Pugh's face in number 3 is sooo creepy and effective. I loved that shot.
ReplyDeleteSuch an amazing ending <3
DeleteI'm surprised a scene from The Irishman made it but I'm glad because I loved the film.
ReplyDeleteLaura Dern's would probably be my number 1. I LOVED that scene. It's not only the best written dialogue of 2019 but in years if you ask me. And her delivery, mesmerising!
I'm yet to see some of these movies though so I guess my number 1 could change.
Great post!
It was one of the few scenes this year I watched several times and the only one in the whole movie that reminded me of my fav type of Scorsese's scenes :)
DeleteThank you!
I skipped a few because I haven't seen the movies yet but I think the number one is such a good pick. The overall film for me wasn't my favourite but Cap.. I just ... my heart was full when he said that and the hammer and I just. I don't think I can, in my current state of emotions, watch that scene without crying.
ReplyDeleteReady or Not was so beautiful! I took a lot of screen grabs of that scene and plan to have it as my desktop background when I finally get my folders organised enough to do that. :D
My backgrounds are always hot dudes....ugh I'm so shallow lol
DeleteGreat list! Lupita's voice and that monologue will haunt me forever. Your top of picks would be on my list too, even if I'm not a big fan of Marriage Story. And nice job noticing the callback to Heathers in Ready or Not, I totally didn't think of that. If the devastating ending of Infinity War could be matched with an equally happier reaction in the MCU, it'd definitely be the Avengers Assemble moment in Endgame.
ReplyDeleteLupita was just legendary in this movie <3
Delete