Top 10 of 2018

It’s that time of year for Top 10 lists. Here are my top ten picks for films and television shows of 2018. And away we go:

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2018

1. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

Why: Epic storytelling with emotion, adventure and fun.

MVP: Spider-Man (Tom Holland) – the innocent but determined superhero

Highlight: StarLord jealous of the attention Thor is getting from his crew

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/04/film-avengers-infinity-war.html

2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT

Why: Love the action sequences, clever twists and Paris/London locales.

MVP: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) – the agent who never gives up

Highlight: Benji guiding Ethan through London at top speed

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/07/film-missionimpossible-fallout.html

3. SOLO

Why: Back off haters! This was fun, action-packed and well cast.

MVP: Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) – more than a Wookie sidekick  

Highlight: The Kessel Run

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/05/film-solo.html

4. A QUIET PLACE

Why: Amazing use of silence. They should close doors though.

MVP: Lee Abbott (John Krasinski) – writer, director, and loving father

Highlight: The intense birthing scene

LINK: No link available as I watched this after it was in the theatres.

5. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Why: Compelling biograph; phenomenal acting and music performances

MVP: Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) – the flamboyant defiant lead singer

Highlight: Convincing Ray Foster to release Bohemian Rhapsody

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/11/film-bohemian-rhapsody.html

6. ISLE OF DOGS

Why: Wes Anderson does it again with whimsical awesomeness

MVP: Duke (Jeff Goldblum) – ‘you head the rumor?’ gossip dog

Highlight: The constant coughs and brawls

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/04/film-isle-of-dogs.html

7. GAME NIGHT

Why: A fun time at the movies with games, action and humour.

MVP: Ryan (Billy Magnussen) - the token dumb friend

Highlight: Trying to remove a bullet without gagging

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/03/film-game-night.html

8. INCREDIBLES 2

Why: A continuation of action, great family dynamics, and humour

MVP: Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) – the adorable multi-talented toddler

Highlight: Jack-Jack versus the raccoon

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/06/film-incredibles-2.html

9. MARY POPPINS RETURNS

Why: Family fun with nostalgic references mixed with fresh songs and story

MVP: Mr. Dawes Jr. (Dick Van Dyke) – a banker that can light up a room

Highlight: ‘Trip a Little Light Fantastic’ song and dance

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/12/film-mary-poppins-returns.html

10. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Why: An amazingly animated adventure with loads of laughs and heart

MVP: Spider-Ham (John Mulaney) – the very odd pig-like Spider-Man

Highlight: Miles’ hand getting stuck in Gwen’s hair

LINK: http://popculturepusher.blogspot.com/2018/12/film-spiderman-into-spider-verse.html

If it was a Top 20:
11. Deadpool 2   12. Vice   13. Eighth Grade   14. Tag  

15. Wreck It Ralph 2   16. Creed 2    17. Jurassic World 2  

18. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?    19. Ready Player One  

20. Black Panther

TOP 10 TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2018

1. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (FOX)

Why: Consistently the funniest show on television. A perfect cast that plays well off each other. The lead up to the wedding was a great story arc.

MVP: Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) – good cop who is always up for fun

Best Episode of 2018: Jake & Amy (S05E22)

A bomb threat derails Jake & Amy’s wedding so the squad tries to save it.

2. BLACK MIRROR (NETFLIX)

Why: A brilliant look at the opportunities and downfalls of technology. Each episode is both thought provoking and creepy.

MVP: Charlie Booker – yeah, I’m going to go with the amazing writer

Best Episode of 2018: USS Callister (S04E01)

A role-playing game goes way too far as the a ship’s crew is held hostage

3. BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)

Why: The slow burn and meticulous details always pay off in a big way as we Jimmy get even closer to becoming Saul.

MVP: Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) – heartbreakingly loyal girlfriend to Jimmy

Best Episode of 2017: Quite a Ride (S04E05)

Jimmy is more Saul than ever selling burner phones

4. THIS IS US (NBC)

Why: Great script-writing filled with twists and emotional moments. Love the casting and the time jumping.

MVP: Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) – the best dad in the world

Best Episode of 2018: Super Bowl Sunday (S02E14)

Curse you Crock-Pot and your faulty wiring. Get ready to cry.

5. BARRY (HBO)

Why: The idea of a hitman wanting to become an actor hits all the right notes. Bill Hader and Henry Winkler play their parts so well.

MVP: NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan) – a bizarrely empathetic henchman

Best Episode of 2018: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going (S01E07)

Barry tries to avoid capture and must do some bad things

6. HAPPY TOGETHER (CBS)

Why: Sure, knock the premise of a celebrity living with his accountant and his wife. The couple are fun and are in love and I find them relatable.

MVP: Jake (Damon Wayans Jr.) – the funny over-confident husband

Best Episode of 2018: Let’s Work It Out (S01E03)

Jake and Claire try to ditch junk food and start exercising

7. ATLANTA (FX)

Why: While it’s not for everyone, I like the bottle episode aspect of the show. However, I did not like Teddy Perkins like the rest of the critics.

MVP: ‘Paper Boi’ (Brian Tyree Henry) – a rapper who wants some respect

Best Episode of 2018: Barbershop (S02E05)

A  series of obstacles that delay a simple haircut.

8. DAREDEVIL (NETFLIX)

Why: While it's hard to watch Daredevil get pummeled every episode, the story's strong and Wilson Fisk & Bullseye were a treat this year.

MVP: Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) – a kingpin with power and intellect

Best Episode of 2018: The Devil You Know (S03E06)

Fisk recruits Dex who infiltrates The Bulletin to get to Karen

9. THE AMERICANS (FX)

Why: Talk about a series finale! I felt it was a gigantic pay-off of six seasons of cat-and-mouse intrigue. I’ll miss the wigs and the tension.

MVP: Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) – a conflicted Russian wanting out

Best Episode of 2018: START (S06E10)

The well-earned finale as hard decisions are made by the Jennings

10. JACK RYAN (AMAZON)

Why: While the movies have been okay, I felt I got a lot more into Jack Ryan’s story with this series. Looking forward to the next season.

MVP: Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) – the earnest CIA analyst

Best Episode of 2017: Sources and Methods (S01E06)

Jack’s moral code is tested as they use a criminal to track down a target

If it was a Top 20:

11. Homeland   12. The Good Doctor   13. The Good Place   14. Ozark  

15. Handmaid’s Tale   16. Silicon Valley   17. Orange is the New Black   18. Escape at Dannemore   19. New Girl   20. Toys That Shaped Us

UPCOMING REVIEWS: 2019 Previews

So what’s in your Top 10 for 2018?

Film: Vice

GENRE: Biography, Drama

RATING: R for language and some violent images
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 12 minutes

STARRING: Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, The Big Short, The Fighter)

Amy Adams (American Hustle), Steve Carell (The Big Short, The Office)

DIRECTOR: Adam McKay (The Big Short, Anchorman, The Other Guys)

WRITER: Adam McKay (The Big Short, Ant-Man, The Campaign)

PLOT: The story of Dick Cheney’s rise from Washington intern to a vice president with way too much power.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Christian Bale’s makeup was enough to pull me in.

STORY STUFF: What an interesting story. I am always intrigued with which moments a writer will focus on when it comes to a person’s life story. What are those events that drive them and in this case change the course of history? As is stated during the end credits, this film is extremely liberal and a lot of things are just guessing, but it’s still an entertaining ride.

ACTING STUFF: Bale is awesome. He not only captures all the mannerisms and voice but he’s not just a caricature; you can see the wheels turning and the emotion being buried deep inside all the make-up and method actor weight. Adams does a wonderful job playing the Lady Macbeth. Carell looks like he’s having a lot of fun stepping into the shoes of Donald Rumsfeld. I wish we could have seen a bit more of Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards) as George W Bush.. In fact, the whole film is wonderfully cast.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Just like The Big Short, I find some of the edits a little jarring and off-putting at times. There are some fun juxtapositions but it seems forced. I really enjoyed the fake-out ending half way through the film, it was masterfully set-up. I was laughing pretty hard.  

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You want to see a bias but darkly humourous look at politics.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Top 10 of 2018, 2019 Previews

Film: Welcome to Marwen

GENRE: Drama

RATING: PG13 for violence, some language & doll/drawn nudity
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 56 minutes

STARRING: Steve Carell (Little Miss Sunshine, The Office, Vice )

Leslie Mann (This is 40), Merritt Wever (Walking Dead, Studio 60)

DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump)

WRITERS: Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas), Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express, Back to the Future)

PLOT: An artist turns to photography and action figures to help him recover after a traumatic attack.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The idea of this story drew me in.

STORY STUFF: I was pulled into the story pretty quickly. It may help that I used to spend a lot of time playing with my own action figures (maybe even beyond the usual age of ‘growing out of them’). I was touched by the true story of this artist trying to cope by any means necessary. I actually wish there was a bit more interaction between Carell’s Mark Hogancamp and the people in his real life. I also found it odd how accommodating and understanding everyone was, especially the women who find themselves represented by his action figures.  

ACTING STUFF: I thought Carell did a fantastic job. I was rooting for him the entire time. He made me really feel for Mark. Mann, as the new neighbor, was one of those women who were a little too understanding right from the start. I always enjoy the work of Wever, ever since Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. She always plays things so naturally.  

ARTISTIC STUFF: The mix of real and action figure was masterful; they blended perfectly. The attention to detail was amazing. I would love to have some of those photographs. I also really enjoyed the Back to the Future references. Fun stuff amongst the sad parts.

VERDICT: Three and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You loved your action figures and enjoy Steve Carell.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Vice

Film: A Star is Born

GENRE: Drama, Romance

RATING: R for language, nudity, substance abuse
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 16 minutes

STARRING: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper)

Lady Gaga (American Horror Story), Sam Elliot (Tombstone, The Ranch)

DIRECTOR: Bradley Cooper (newcomer)

WRITERS: Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Munich, Ali, The Insider),

Will Fetters (The Lucky One), Cooper (newcomer)

PLOT: A musician helps a young singer find fame while his star is quickly fading due to alcoholism.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Only watched this because of the Oscar buzz.

STORY STUFF: Could not get into the story. Maybe because I didn’t want to see Lady Gaga, sorry Ally, succeed. Maybe because it’s hard to watch someone destroy their life with alcohol. I don’t know. I did find the Grammy Award scene cringingly well done. I could just imagine the memes and how that would end up on every highlight package.

ACTING STUFF: Cooper does an excellent job. I enjoyed his chameleon-ish low growl along with the brilliant pairing of Sam Elliot as his brother. I’m really not a Lady Gaga fan, she just doesn’t seem authentic to me. I did enjoy the mini Alias reunions with Will Tippin (Cooper) hanging with Eric Weiss (Greg Grunberg) and learning from Arvin Sloan (Ron Rifkin).

ARTISTIC STUFF: The songs are okay but I’m not rushing to buy the soundtrack. There was a lot more guitar than I expected. Cooper’ directing was pretty good. There’s a great scene where we just see the bottom half of the body for a while, it’s a spoiler though, so I can’t really expand on that.

VERDICT: Two and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You’re one of Lady Gaga’s little monsters?

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Welcome to Marwen, Vice

Film: Mary Poppins Returns

GENRE: Family

RATING: PG for mild thematic elements
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 10 minutes

STARRING: Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, The Devil Wears Prada)

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Paddington)

DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods)

WRITER: David Magee (Finding Neverland, Life of Pi)

PLOT: Mary Poppins returns to help a now grown-up Michael Banks with his children during a difficult time.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Found the original Mary Poppins enchanting.

STORY STUFF: I greatly enjoyed the story. I thought the financial situation and the loss of a mother/wife was a fitting reason to bring Mary Poppins back. The flow of the story and songs are obvious counterparts to the original but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. Being a film aimed at kids and family, I found nothing wrong with the predictability of it all. It was nostalgic and fresh at the same time. I was also a bit moved by the family dynamic but then seeing as it came from the same writer as Finding Neverland, I’m not too surprised.

ACTING STUFF: Blunt is practically perfect in every way as she almost effortlessly fills the enormous shoes of Julie Andrews. Her tone and whimsy matches nicely to the original. Lin-Manuel Miranda has a jolly old time being the Dick Van Dyke-ish compatriot to Poppins. He also has a love story that I wish they had spent a bit more time on. I enjoyed the personalities of the children and found Georgie to be a fun embodiment of the original Michael Banks. Colin Firth and Meryl Street turn in some fun performances but when Dick Van Dyke entered the room, I had a gigantic smile on my face.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The art direction, animation and special effects are top notch. When it comes to the song and dance of the musical, I wished for more. Don’t get me wrong, there are some real winners, the half-animated ‘Cover is Not the Book’, the big dance number ‘Trip a Little Light Fantastic’ and the ‘Fly a Kite’-inspired ‘Nowhere to Go But Up’ to name a few. But there are a number of songs that I didn’t find that memorable. At first, I thought that the original Mary Poppins only seems better because I have heard the songs many times before. But if I think of something like The Greatest Showman, I found that the majority of songs were memorable right from the start. Maybe I’m being too picky.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You’ve seen Mary Poppins and want to feel nostalgic.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Welcome to Marwen, Vice

Film: Spiderman - Into the Spider-Verse

GENRE: Animated Adventure

RATING: PG for mild language, action violence and thematic elements
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 57 minutes

STARRING: Shameik Moore (The Get Down, Dope)

Jake Johnson (New Girl, Tag), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Bumblebee)

DIRECTORS: Peter Ramsey (Rise of the Guardians);

Bob Persichetti & Rodney Rothman (newcomers)

WRITERS: Rothman (22 Jump Street) & Phil Lord (The Lego Movie)

PLOT: Miles Morales becomes Spiderman and crosses paths with Spidermen from other dimensions.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Love the first Maguire Spidey and Homecoming.

STORY STUFF: I went in thinking I may be confused by the multi-verse aspect as I haven’t seen any Miles versions or other iterations. While I enjoy superhero films, I was never a true comic book fan (I only had a few to call my own). Luckily, they give enough backstory.  I found the story very engaging and enjoyable for the most part. I have to say ‘for the most part’ because a lady sitting behind me was more animated than what I was seeing on the screen. She would laugh way too hard at the jokes which made me wish it was less funny. But, unfortunately and fortunately, it was full of witty fun. This is well worth a second watch in the privacy of my own home.

ACTING STUFF: Great voice acting all around. Love the snarky sarcasm of Johnson and the odd-ness of John Mulaney (one of my favourite comedians at the moment). I was also unaware that Nicolas Cage (Face/Off, The Rock) voiced Spiderman Noir, he played it well. Fun stuff.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The animation is incredible. There are a number of styles that get blended together in a feast for the eyes. I don’t think the 3D is necessary though.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You enjoy Spiderman and enjoy a variety of animation

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Mary Poppin’s Returns, Welcome to Marwen

Film: Creed II

GENRE: Drama

RATING: PG-13 for violence and action
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 10 minutes

STARRING: Michael B Jordan (Black Panther, Fruitvale Station)

Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok, Creed)

DIRECTOR: Steven Caple Jr. (newcomer)

WRITERS: Stallone (Rocky I-III, V) & Juel Taylor (newcomer)

PLOT: Adonis faces off against Viktor Drago, son of his dad’s killer.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Enjoyed Creed and most of the Rocky films.

STORY STUFF: I think I like this one better than the first. The stakes were higher this time around and I found the Dragos a lot more interesting than the last guy. I also enjoyed the Rocky speeches. Of course, it’s pretty predictable but what are you gonna do?

ACTING STUFF: Everyone is at the top of their game. I enjoyed advice-giving healthy Stallone as opposed to dramatic cancer acting Stallone.  

ARTISTIC STUFF: The fights are compelling. Great drama and cinematography. Loved the throwback music cue near the end of the film. Maybe it’s just me, but I was bothered with Tessa Thompson’s long fake fingernails.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You enjoyed Creed and Rocky IV.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Green Book

Film: Ralph Breaks the Internet

GENRE: Animation Adventure

RATING: PG for action & rude humour
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 52 minutes

STARRING: John C Reilly (Chicago, Kong: Skull Island, Walk Hard)

Sarah Silverman (School of Rock), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman)

DIRECTORS: Phil Johnston (newcomer) & Rich Moore (Zootopia)

WRITERS: Johnston (Zootopia) & Pamela Ribon (Moana)

PLOT: Ralph and Vanellope enter the internet to save her arcade game.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Really enjoyed the original film.

STORY STUFF: That was a lot of fun for the most part. The first three quarters of the film are awesome, then the plot changes to preach about the nature of friendship and living your dreams. Like the first film, the writing and visuals are incredibly clever and do a fantastic job creatively showing what happens behind the scenes.

ACTING STUFF: Reilly and Silverman are perfectly cast; their voices play well off each other and make their characters come alive. I was worried that Gadot’s Shank would be one-note but thankfully she got to have a bit more fun. The highlight, however, are the Disney princesses. I kind of wish I didn’t see one of their scenes in a trailer so I could be surprised. Their second appearance is awesome. It was also great that 11 of the 14 original voice actors return to their beloved characters. Disney contracts apparently are binding forever.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The art direction for this film is incredible. Their vision of the internet behind the scenes is impressive. So many great Easter eggs, I may have to watch it again to catch everything. Also, talk about corporate synergy. They may be sellouts but it was fun to watch anyway. I found the ‘monster’ at the end actually unsettling if you look closer at it and may frighten young children. Just sayin’.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You use the internet or play video games.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Green Book