2018 has been a year of epic film premiers and blockbuster releases. Astounding records have been set and the most creative works have redefined the art of cinematography for all time. To offer a glimpse of just what the year has delivered on the big screen, here is a pick of the five best movies of 2018.
1. Black Panther
2018 was a big year for superhero movies, and Marvel’s Black Panther set new standards. It earned rave reviews and is now amongst the best rated films of all time. The film is a retelling of one of Marvel Comics’ most absorbing storylines: the tale of a technologically advanced African nation which passes off as a third world country to keep their technical knowhow secret.
The film follows the fortunes of T’Challa, the newly crowned monarch of the Wakanda nation, as he seeks to go against the age-old tradition of keeping Wakanda’s power and influence secret. But to achieve this, he must first overcome more immediate challenges to his authority and to his right to the throne on the home front.
2. You Were Never Really Here
You Were Never Really Here is a crime film which is an adaptation of a novella of the same name by Jonathan Ames. It tells the story of Joe, an ex-soldier assigned to rescue a kidnapped girl. While there are some John-Wick-like overtones throughout the film, it is nonetheless a gripping saga with a flavor all its own. Tackling difficult subjects such as human trafficking, child abuse, and psychological identity, this is a film which will regale you with nonstop action right to the end.
3. Crazy Rich Asians
A refreshing romantic comedy of its own kind, Crazy Asians is among the most engrossing releases of 2018. The dramatically hilarious film tells the tale of Rachel Chu, an American university professor who accompanies her longtime boyfriend on a trip to his family home in Singapore. While there, Rachel is surprised to discover that her boyfriend’s family is among the richest in the opulent city state. Full of quirky twists and turns, the film depicts an old storyline but nonetheless comes out as refreshingly original.
4. Mission: Impossible — Fallout
Tom Cruise reprises the lead role in the latest of the larger than life series – Mission: Impossible. It can be argued that this is not the greatest offering in the popular spy action saga. However, the punchy performance delivered by Cruise makes this a must-watch. The intricate plot manages to present a vivid portrayal of history with breathtaking set-pieces all punctuated with a wry sense of humor and memorable one-liners.
5. Annihilation
Alex Garland, best known as the director of Ex Machina, shows his unorthodox handiwork yet again with this Kafka-esque, hallucinogenic science fiction movie. As an adaptation of the novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Garland only sticks to the author’s plot in the essentials. It tells the tale of women who head off to investigate a series of intriguing phenomena and disappearances in a region of Florida known as “Area X”. Peril and death soon stalk the team of sleuths as they come face to face with otherworldly beings not willing to be sated by anything short of the ultimate price.
