Best of the 2019 Chicago International Film Festival

The 55th Chicago International Film Festival has officially come to a close.  Over the last twelve days, the festival showed numerous films from all different genres with various budgets from a number of different countries from all around the world.  This is an incredibly diverse film festival and every year I am honored to attend it.  I saw 26 films at this year’s festival and I would say it was a very good year at the festival.  There were a number of great films I saw this year, including my favorite movie of 2019 so far.  There were also no films that I truly disliked or hated.  There were a few flawed ones, but none that I would truly consider a “bad” movie.  Here are my picks for the best movies and performances from the 55th Chicago International Film Festival.

 

 

 

 

 

TOP 5 FILMS

 

5 – WAVES (Trey Edward Shults)

• Trey Edward Shults most ambitious film to date is an emotionally exhausting look at parenting, family, the pressures of growing up, and how to handle tragedy.  This is a gorgeous film filled with stellar acting and great music choices.

 

 

4 – MARRIAGE STORY (Noah Baumbach)

• Noah Baumbach’s finest film to date is a heartbreaking and realistic look at one couple’s divorce featuring great writing and brilliant performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johannson.

 

 

3 – FORD V. FERRARI (James Mangold)

• A true American sports movie, Ford v Ferrari is an exhilarating racing film featuring top-notch direction from James Mangold, a smart screenplay, and a pair of excellent performances from Matt Damon and Christian Bale.

 

 

2 – KNIVES OUT (Rian Johnson)

• A slick, twisty, wildly entertaining whodunit from Rian Johnson featuring the best ensemble of 2019 and an ending you have to see to believe.

 

 

1 – THE IRISHMAN (Martin Scorsese)

• Smart, compelling, funny, and tense, with outstanding performances from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, and jaw-dropping usage of the de-aging technology, The Irishman is a bold new gangster classic from Martin Scorsese and the best movie I have seen in 2019.

 

 

 

BEST OF THE REST

BEST DIRECTOR: MARTIN SCORSESE, THE IRISHMAN 

Runner Up: Rian Johnson, Knives Out

BEST ACTOR: ADAM DRIVER, MARRIAGE STORY

Runner Up: Robert De Niro, The Irishman 

BEST ACTRESS: SCARLETT JOHANSSON, MARRIAGE STORY

Runner Up:  Alfre Woodard, Clemency

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: JOE PESCI, THE IRISHMAN 

Runner Up: Shia LeBeouf, Honey Boy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: ZOE DEUTCH, ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP

Runner Up: Taylor Russell, Waves

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: KNIVES OUT

Runner Up: Waves

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: THE IRISHMAN

Runner Up: Jojo Rabbit

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

Runner Up: Ford v Ferrari 

BEST ENSEMBLE: KNIVES OUT

Runner Up: The Irishman 

BEST MIDNIGHT MOVIE: ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP

Runner Up: Knives and Skin 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: LES MISERABLES

Runner Up: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

BEST DOCUMENTARY: JUMP SHOT

Runner Up: Ringside 

 

 

OVERALL RANKING

1- THE IRISHMAN

2- KNIVES OUT

3- FORD V. FERRARI

4- MARRIAGE STORY

5- WAVES

6- LES MISERABLES

7- PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

8- CLEMENCY 

9- HONEY BOY

10- ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP

11- BY THE GRACE OF GOD

12- JOJO RABBIT 

13- JUMPSHOT

14- EXTRACURRICULAR 

15- RINGSIDE

16- THE APOLLO

17 – KNIVES AND SKIN

18- MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN

19- ALELI

20- THE TRAITOR 

21- INITIALS S.G.

22- GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR

23- ADORATION 

24- HALA

25- 8: A SOUTH AFRICAN HORROR STORY

26- FORMAN VS FORMAN 

 

 

 

 

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