As a whole, 2018 was a diverse year for movies. There were huge blockbusters such as Ready Player One and Black Panther, independent films like Eighth Grade and mid90s, and animated films such as the massively successful Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Here are a few titles that stand out as some of the best films made in 2018.
- Beautiful Boy (Drama)
Based on the best selling pair of memoirs by David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy is the story of a teenager struggling with drug addiction, and his father’s attempts to help him overcome it. Nic is played masterfully by Timothée Chalamet, opposite Steve Carell in a dramatic role despite his usual comedic characters. It’s very easy to see in the movie that a significant amount of time and effort was put into it, and it brings light to a subject that many people aren’t aware of. Poignant, raw, and emotional, Beautiful Boy is a true gem of independent films that everyone should check out.
2. Minding The Gap (Documentary)
Through the use of old home movie footage and modern interviews, Bing Liu’s first film is an incredibly moving documentary about growing up, friendship, and skateboarding. The film mostly follows two friends, Zack and Keire, but Bing also turns the camera on himself as they recall their unstable upbringings and dissect the effect it’s had on their lives as adults. Despite it’s short runtime, Minding the Gap is a powerful documentary about identity, family, and forging friendships out of trauma.
3. BlacKkKlansman (Drama/Crime)
Known for films such as Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, Spike Lee turns to the crime genre in this tight, effective thriller about a black police officer’s sting operation to take down a branch of the KKK. It’s clever, important, and even funny at times, filled to the brim with excellent performances and an ending you won’t forget. In a year full of great films tackling themes of racism, BlacKkKlansman takes a major issue, and weaves it into a stylistic crime film you won’t want to miss.
