The Last Black Man in San Francisco — Features

For this month’s theme, we’re selecting films that put particular emphasis on concrete jungles, films where the city itself becomes not just a location, but also a character. We may be following the lives of protagonists on screen, but it’s place they inhabit that plays just as much an important role as they do. We hate the traffic, the loud noises, and the lingering pollution, but we’ll be damned if we ever trade the metropolitan madness for suburban life. Because it’s the city, and there’s nothing like it.

Best Performances of 2019

The face of films has always been the actors. Through them, we are exposed to a world of different characters, perspectives, and ideas where we can empathize with situations completely unlike our own. They breathe life into the written word, taking an ordinary role and transforming it into something all their own. From masters of the trade and new entrants alike, these actors deliver performances that are truly exceptional. As chosen by our writing team, these are our favorite performances of 2019.

Best Scenes of 2019

Every year we watch hundreds of films that contain thousands of scenes within them, and through it all, we come away with a handful of stand out moments. Whether it be a climatic revelation, a subtle moment of directorial brilliance, or a poignant punctuation to conclude a film, these scenes display a creative, technical, and thematic mastery that we simply can’t stop thinking about. As selected by our writing team, these are our favorite scenes of 2019.

Megan's Top Ten Films of 2019

Martin Scorsese is right, it’s a perilous time for cinema. A single megacorporation dominates the box office with formulaic franchise installments while the space for the individual artist to create unique and subversive pieces of art shrinks. If cinema is to persist, we need uncompromising visionaries to guide us, to keep a mirror to our contemporary society, and to drive us out of our comfort zone. Thankfully in 2019, scores of talented filmmakers did just that…

Greg's Top Ten Films of 2019

This past year I saw 122 new releases, and admittedly, most weren’t worth my time. However, every year there are thirty or so films that make watching hours upon hours of film worth it. Finding a hidden gem, having your expectations blown away, seeing that long awaited film, experiencing that euphoric feeling only cinema can provide. It’s something special. And 2019 had no shortage of them. These are as good as it gets, so let’s begin.

Kevin's Top Ten Films of 2019

Right before the decade came to a close, 2019 went out with a particularly strong bevy of films. So much so that there are still many I have yet to watch, but from what I have seen, this year has been nothing short of remarkable. Compassion, joy, wonder, laughter, heartbreak. I believe you can find all these and more in the films from this year, and while there are so many I admire, here are the ones that stick out in my mind, providing a range of feelings that are particularly delightful to bask in for 2019.