My 10 favourite films of 2018 [2-1]

I've been dragging my feet something awful; it's been six months since the last instalment of my favourite films of 2018 rundown! But, as I will be wanting to do the 'favourite films of 2019' blog at some point, it seems only logical to clear the backlog now!

Should you be curious, part 1 of the blog was here.

02. Stan and Ollie

Jon S. Baird's biographical drama follows Laurel and Hardy, in the twilight of their careers, as they tour the UK, doing live-action recreations of their greatest hits. The gig is a bit beneath the two erstwhile Hollywood stars, but the enterprising Stan Laurel is trying to use it as a springboard for them to make a Robin Hood film. 

Oliver Hardy, who's health problems get worse with each day, is skeptical about whether said film will ever get made, and the shadow of a perceived 'betrayal', when he agreed to make a film without Stan many years ago, looms over the two.

Stan and Ollie gives a behind the scene look at one of comedy's most famous duos, and highlights that it is the strength of the friendship between them which really made their acts sing. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly give career-best turns as the little-and-large pair, nailing the performers' mannerisms and physicalities. As a classic film lover, it was a joy to watch them recreate 'The Cuckoo Waltz', clumsy coordination and all.

This nostalgia-basked film is a bittersweet watch, as it depicts a point in Laurel and Hardy's careers when their popularity has declined (and with that, comes a substantial downgrade in the hospitality they receive). Hardy would like to make do with just touring, but Laurel, the brains behind the two, has a yearning for something more, undoubtably to chase the glories of their prime, which poignantly recalls another film in my top 10 of 2018, A Star is Born.

What makes Stan and Ollie particularly moving was that, when the confrontation finally occurred, about the 'betrayal' that took place, the exchange between Reilly and Coogan felt organic and real. Furthermore, although their specific issue was that one made a film without the other, it represented something broader, of one friend feeling undervalued, and the other friend, feeling like they're being caged.

This dynamic is not uncommon to friendships (a more dramatic, modern-day version of this dialogue occurred in 2019's Booksmart), but Jon S. Baird's depiction of the two avoids taking sides, or demonising anyone. His astute direction underscores that sometimes life can just get in the way of a friendship, and, although the pain caused can linger, ultimately, the friendship will be robust enough to endure.

This point is made beautifully in an intelligent, gentle, moving film.

01. Black Panther

Wakanda Forever! As someone with only a passing interest in the Marvel movies, the fact that I'm crowning Black Panther as my favourite film of 2018 speaks volumes about the strength of its originality, visual flair and social commentary. Winner of Best Original Score, Costume Design and Production Design at the 2019 Oscars, it is a well-crafted, cerebral film with topical relevance.

Following his father's death, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to Wakanda to take the throne. His reign is complicated by the fact that his cousin, Erik Killmonger, feels he is the rightful heir to the throne, as well as discovering that his father had carried out some misdeeds, which T'Challa is keen to atone for.

The cloud that our parents' actions cast over our own lives is a tale as old as time, but under Ryan Coogler (Creed)'s capable hands, Black Panther is a feast for the storytelling senses. Wakanda is painted so vividly, and the level of detail is exceptional on everything from the futuristic African backdrop, to the individual characters' aesthetics. For example, to re-create Danai Gurira as Okoye's head tattoos, the application process took up to 3.5 hours a day.

With no expense spared on the bold artistic flourishes, the film's stars rise to the challenge. Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o and Letitia Wright absolutely kick-ass as the women who aid T'Challa, illustrating there is a place for strong women in superhero movies, without their place in them being shoved down audience's throats. Wright, as Shuri, T'Challa's 16-year-old tech whizz sister, is a winning blend of geekiness and  teenage swagger, winning the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2019 for her work in the film.

Joining the girls are Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke and Sterling K. Brown, who's brief cameo in the film as Killmonger's father imbues it with some Shakespearean heft.

What makes Black Panther transcend its comic book genre, ultimately, is its sober look at racism and colonialism, with the film postulating what would be appropriate in terms of reparations? Killmonger's closing line, 'bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, 'cause they knew death was better than bondage' was incredibly potent, and sadly highlights how little real progress we've made. 😞

Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of Killmonger, a villain with a justification, is some of his finest work, illustrating how sometimes, 'bad' people are merely products of their surroundings. He perfectly encapsulates the righteous anger that is felt by African-Americans today, given the structural racism they are faced with daily. 

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