LeavittLens’ Top 10 Films of 2019

After a slow start to the year, 2019 rattled off a hot streak of excellent films in the final few months. The following is a list of my top picks from 2019, in order of their LeavittLens rankings. Reviews will continue to pour in for each of them, so be sure to subscribe to hear my thoughts as they do!

There were an abundance of philosophical, theological, and social themes permeating movies this last year, notably issues of classism, the inevitability and dignity of death, dealing with and moving on from the past, and many others. In compiling this list, I noticed that multiple films are characterized by one or more of these themes; this likely says much about our nation and world in our present epoch, and will continue to remain in my reflections on 2019 as a year.

You can learn more about my ranking system here; the best movies often start when the closing credits roll, sticking with you well beyond their endings, and each member of this list certainly fits that criteria.

What were your favorites? Comment and make your cases below!

*Disclaimer – I don’t get paid to watch movies, so I unfortunately missed a few this year. Here are some notable films that I cannot include because I have yet see them: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, A Hidden Life, The Souvenir, Pain and Glory, Ford v. Ferrari, Transit, Midsommar*

1. Parasite | Director: Bong Joon-Ho | LeavittLens Rating: 9.5/10

2. Little Women | Director: Greta Gerwig | LeavittLens Rating: 9.5/10

3. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood | Director: Quentin Tarantino | LeavittLens Rating: 9/10

4. The Irishman | Director: Martin Scorsese | LeavittLens Rating: 9/10

5. Marriage Story | Director: Noah Baumbach | LeavittLens Rating: 9/10

6. The Two Popes | Director: Fernando Meirelles | LeavittLens Rating: 9/10

7. Knives Out | Director: Rian Johnson | LeavittLens Rating: 8.5/10

8. Ad Astra | Director: James Gray | LeavittLens Rating: 8/10

9. The Last Black Man In San Fransisco | Director: Joe Talbot | LeavittLens Rating: 7.5/10

10. 1917 | Director: Sam Mendes | LeavittLens Rating: 7.5/10

Honorable Mentions that just missed the cut: The Lighthouse, The Farewell, Joker, Us, Avengers: Endgame