Top 5 of May 2018

Every time I sit down to write these monthly posts it gives me a chance to reflect on what has happened to me in the last month of my life. This current reflection and post is evidence that my life is getting crazier and busier with each passing day. It's not a struggle to keep up with such a fast-paced world, but finding time to do other things like watch a new movie every day or play video games is getting sparse. Sacrifices are soon to come.

I'm not gonna lie, I didn't hold up to my resolution this month at all. I slacked hard on my daily new movie. I'm not going to use excuses to explain myself, but I will say that my time wasn't wasted not watching movies. I moved across the coast from Arizona to Oregon, visited my future home in British Columbia, Canada and my short film La Esencia took part in the Scottsdale Short Film Festival that my whole crew and myself attended. Along with the festival, my cinematographer Sam Felker won the award for best cinematography and an incredibly substantial prize to go along with it. I couldn't be happier for him and all the work he put into the film.

Out of 31 days, I only got to watch 12 new movies this month. To say I slacked off is an understatement, but that doesn't mean I didn't watch some really fantastic films. So without further ado, here's my top 5 films I watched for the first time in May of 2018:

#5: Top Gun (1986)

Directed by Tony Scott

Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are that I'm only watching this now. The only reason it took me so long to get around to this film was self-doubt. What if I watched it and didn't like it? It has very average ratings online, but is considered to be a cult-classic and staple of 1908's cinema. I finally pushed myself to hit play and I'm so glad that I did. Tom Cruise kills this lead role as the ultra-charismatic character Maverick training to become a part of the most elite fighter pilots in the world. Along the way he undergoes his own self-doubt, love, loss and the one and only Iceman played by Val Kilmer. I'm not sure if I watched a 100 minute Kenny Loggins music video or a contest for who could get sweatiest in their close-up, but I do know that this film took my breath away...

#4: Blue Valentine (2010)

Directed by Derek Cianfrance

If you know me, you know I love Ryan Gosling with a passion. He manages to captivate me in every role he takes on, and this film was no exception. Along with his fabulous screen partner Michelle Williams and the wonderful direction of Derek Cianfrance, this film delivers a wonderful commentary on true love, true consequence and the very real struggles of family life. I was already stunned with her role in Manchester by the Sea, but her performance in this film as Cindy was just as (if not more) powerful. It's a true testament to their chemistry, the direction and the storytelling power that film has to offer. I also want to commend the filmmaker's choice to shoot on film rather than digital. It's a noticeable difference that really pays off and give the film a truly unique authenticity that you couldn't capture on digital.

#3: The Usual Suspects (1995)

Directed by Brian Singer

Since I've started watching movies this year, I've noticed an over-saturation of crime-drama films in Hollywood. It's rare for me now to be stunned by anything from the genre, but I gotta hand it to Brian Singer and the filmmakers behind The Usual Suspects. Coupled with Brain's direction style and strong sense of storytelling, this movie hooks you in from the first scene and refuses to let go. It continues to ask questions and lead you down the path of Keaton, Verbal, McManus, Fenster and Hockney on their quest for doom at the hands of the infamous Keyser Söze. It's truly a film for the ages with a twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan jealous.

#2: Magnolia

Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

How do you put words to a film that has so much to say? Magnolia is an incredible story about several different characters and their personal struggles, only for all their paths to cross and their stories to crash in an incredible (and unexpected) climax. Although PTA's characters are very unique, that doesn't stop his actors from giving incredibly powerful performances in his films. Tom Cruise (again on my list) takes on a character I wouldn't have expected him to pull off alongside the great talent of Philip Baker Hall, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards and the icing on the cake with William H. Macy. An all-star cast, an all-star director and an all-star script is a formula for success. Trust me when I say I wasn't expected to be glued to the screen for it's three hour run time, but I definitely was.

#1: Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh

As a filmmaker myself I cannot imagine writing, directing and producing a film with such a strong social commentary that's relevant to the times it's released in. But Martin McDonagh can and did just that with this film. In a part written by him for lead actress Frances McDormand, Three Billboards is a powerful (and awkwardly hilarious) commentary on small-town rural life in America, police mentality and the strength of a single mother's will to do what she believes is right. Apart from the excellent writing from Martin and superb acting from Frances, the hidden gem in this film is without a doubt Sam Rockewell's supporting role as Dixon. He delivers his best performance ever here and that alone is more than enough reason to see this film as soon as you possibly can. I can't wait to watch it again and again in the near future.

So that wraps up my list for May of 2018! I really appreciate anyone reading these posts and I highly encourage you to watch/check out these movies if you haven't already. Some other honorable mentions that I saw this month include Avengers: Infinity War (2018), City of God (2002), Boyhood (2014) and Where to Invade Next (2015). I'll see you all next month with a new list of fantastic films!

-morgan