Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Clare-Hope Ashitey, David Tennant, Hayley Atwell, Isabella Laughland, Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Mark Stanley, Nicholas Pinnock, Rochenda Sandall, Shubham Saraf, Youssef Kerkour
Find the best movies and show to watch from the year 2019. These handpicked recommendations are highly-rated by viewers and critics.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Actor: Clare-Hope Ashitey, David Tennant, Hayley Atwell, Isabella Laughland, Katherine Kelly, Lee Ingleby, Mark Stanley, Nicholas Pinnock, Rochenda Sandall, Shubham Saraf, Youssef Kerkour
This buddies-on-the-road drama was the highest-grossing independent film of 2019, which tells you everything you need to know about it: it’s familiar, but it’s not overblown.
A fisherman (Shia LaBeouf) has to flee after vandalizing the property of a rival fishing group who bully him. On the way, he meets a man with Down syndrome, who, unexpectedly, is on a journey to become a pro wrestler.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Actor: Ann Owens, Aurelian Smith Jr., Bruce Dern, Dakota Johnson, Deja Dee, John Hawkes, Jon Bernthal, Lee Spencer, Mick Foley, Rob Thomas, Shia LaBeouf, Susan McPhail, Thomas Haden Church, Tim Zajaros, Wayne Dehart, Yelawolf, Zachary Gottsagen, Zack Gottsagen
Director: Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson
Three kids from a poor neighborhood win scholarships to the best high-school in Spain and later find themselves at the center of a murder. There is a lot that comes to the surface from the working-class kids clashing with the wealthy. Themes of money, power, religion, and even sexuality make this show so compelling that I never felt like I needed a murder to keep watching.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Actor: Álvaro de Juana, Álvaro Rico, André Lamoglia, Aron Piper, Carla Díaz, Carmen Arrufat, Claudia Salas, Danna Paola, Diego Martín, Ester Exposito, Georgina Amorós, Georgina Amorós, Itzan Escamilla, Jaime Lorente, Jorge López, Jorge López, Manu Ríos, Maria Pedraza, Martina Cariddi, Miguel Bernardeau, Miguel Herran, Mina El Hammani, Omar Ayuso, Valentina Zenere
This historical drama opens with one of the most thrilling chase scenes in recent memory, as Higinio Blanco, the man at the center of the story, escapes government forces during the Spanish Civil War.
He goes into hiding that, without him realizing, would last 33 years. He would only emerge in a government amnesty in 1969, as would many like him across Spain.
Themes of love (Higinio was confined with his newlywed wife), solitude and fear are at the center of a story that remains thrilling even when it goes through the isolation years.
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Actor: Aitor Arregi, Antonio de la Torre, Antonio Romero, Belén Cuesta, Belén Cuesta, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Emilio Palacios, Enrique Asenjo, Esperanza Guardado, Francisco Franco, Íñigo Núñez, Joaquín Gómez, Jon Garaño, Jon Garaño, José Manuel Poga, Jose Manuel Poga, Jose Mari Goenaga, Marco Cáceres, Vicente Vergara
Director: Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño, Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga
This Eddie Murphy comedy had all the ingredients to be both a famous movie and an award-winner, but neither happened. It tells the true story of Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian who became famous for creating a character called Dolemite, a pimp, and who later attempted to make his own movie based on the same character. Murphy plays Rudy, but there are also other recognizable faces in supporting roles: Chris Rock, Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Snoop Dogg, and many others. It's above all a funny movie, but being Eddie Murphy's first R-rated movie since 1999, it's also a realistic portrayal of both 1970s L.A. and the struggles of being a black filmmaker at the time.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Actor: A.J. Tannen, Aaron Craven, Akono Dixon, Aleksandar Filimonović, Amy Keys, Baker Chase Powell, Barry Shabaka Henley, Bob Odenkirk, Brandon Stewart, Bubba Ganter, Chelsea Gilson, Cheryl Francis Harrington, Chris Rock, Claude Phillips, Cole S. McKay, Craig Brewer, Craig Robinson, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dale Gibson, David B. Lyons, Demetrius Hodges, Denise Milfort, Eddie Murphy, Erik Kilpatrick, Garland Whitt, Gerald Downey, Henry Monfries, Ivo Nandi, Jamaal Lewis, Jernard Burks, Jill Savel, John Michael Herndon, Joshua Weinstein, Kazy Tauginas, Keegan-Michael Key, Kezii Curtis, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lamar Usher, Leonel Claude, Li Eubanks, Luenell, Michael Peter Bolus, Mike Epps, Milan Carter, Monique StaTeena, Phil Abrams, Quartay Denaya, Ron Cephas Jones, Sade E. Moore, Saudia Rashed, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Tasha Smith, Tituss Burgess, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Toni Duclottni, Wesley Snipes
Director: Craig Brewer
Keir Gilchrist who you may know from the movie It's Kind of a Funny Story plays Sam, an 18-year-old on the autistic spectrum trying to navigate the "typical" aspects of a teenager's life: dating, independence, friendships, etc. Perhaps people dealing with autism can better attest to this, but the show feels genuine and realistic. Don't get me wrong, it's a comedy, but it's a really heartfelt approach to the funny sitcom format. In a lot of ways, Atypical is the perfect 2017 Netflix-age coming-of-age sitcom: it's funny and smart, but also keen to be realistic. And Atypical is about Sam's family almost as much as it is about him, and how they adjust to his new quest for self-discovery. Look out for newcomer Brigette Lundy-Paine, who does an amazing job playing Sam's siter Casey!
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Actor: Amy Okuda, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Casey Wilson, Fivel Stewart, Gino Montesinos, Graham Phillips, Graham Rogers, Jenna Boyd, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Keir Gilchrist, Michael Rapaport, Nik Dodani
A quiet movie about an unpredictable convict who gets enrolled in a wild mustang taming program. These initiatives, common around the country, offer fascinating parallels: both the horses and the inmates are emprisoned, both innately fight against their condition but are actively being made to comply. The central performance by Matthias Schoenaerts is nothing short of a masterpiece. He doesn't speak much and you almost don't want him to: everything else he does communicates so much more than words. Watching this movie just for him is reason enough.
Genre: Drama
Actor: Bruce Dern, Connie Britton, Gideon Adlon, Heath Hensley, Jasmeet Baduwalia, Jason Mitchell, John Logsdon, Josh Stewart, Kelly Richardson, Kieth Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, Noel Gugliemi, Santina Muha, Thomas Smittle
Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
Tim Robinson, who was briefly a Saturday Night Live actor, writes and stars in this series of hilarious and absurd comedy sketches. Every episode is 20 minutes or less and has about five or six skits. Robinson is supported by an array of talented actors like Andy Samberg, Cecily Strong, Will Forte, and Steven Yeun. The show starts off strong with possibly one of its best sketches - a job candidate who snaps when confronted with the small mishap of not knowing how to open a door. Then it moves to more absurd territory, like a horrific encounter caused by a “honk if you’re horny” sticker, a baby peageant that goes wrong, and so on. The brand of comedy is unique, and you will probably know if you like it or not from the first sketch alone (if you don’t, there is probably no reason to keep watching). Fans of The Eric Andre Show and Key and Peele will love this.
Genre: Comedy
Actor: Andy Samberg, Cecily Strong, Conner O'Malley, Fred Willard, Kate Berlant, Melody Peng, Sam Richardson, Shawntay Dalon, Tim Heidecker, Tim Robinson, Will Forte
Genre: Drama, Romance
Actor: Choi Jun-young, Hae-In Jung, Heo Ji-na, Jang Se-won, Jung Eu-gene, Jung Eugene, Jung Hae-in, Jung Ji-woo, Jung Yoo-jin, Kim Go-eun, Kim Guk-hee, Kim Hyun, Kim Kuk-hee, Na Chul, Nam Moon-chul, Nam Mun-cheol, Park Hae-joon, Park Hae-jun, Park Se-hyun, Shim Dal-gi, Sim Dal-gi, Song Duk-ho, Yoo Yeol
Director: Ji-woo Jung, Jung Ji-woo
The Platform is the closest thing to Parasite released so far. This interesting Spanish movie is about 90% a science-fiction drama and 10% a horror movie. It’s an allegory set in a future where prisoners live in vertical cells, and each cell has to wait for the cell above it to eat to get food. Depending on the floor where prisoners wake up, they might not get any food at all. This creates for disturbing situations that are hard to see as not representative of our modern societies.
Genre: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Actor: Alexandra Masangkay, Algis Arlauskas, Antonia San Juan, Chema Trujillo, Emilio Buale, Gorka Zufiaurre, Iván Massagué, Ivan Massagué, Mario Pardo, Miren Gaztañaga, Miriam Martín, Txubio Fernández de Jáuregui, Zihara Llana, Zorion Eguileor
Director: Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
At the age of 17, Héctor runs away from a juvenile detention center and embarks on a journey to find a shelter dog he had befriended in a rescue center whom he has found out has just been adopted. Along his quest, he is joined by his ailing grandmother and older brother.
Featuring beautiful landscapes of northern Spain, wonderful chemistry between the two central actors, and a simple yet dynamic story, Seventeen proves that what makes a movie great is the quality of its ingredients, not the quantity.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Actor: Biel Montoro, Carolina Clemente, Chani Martin, Daniel Fuster, Edgar Costas, Inigo Aranburu, Itsaso Arana, Javier Cifrian, Jorge Cabrera, Kandido Uranga, Lola Cordon, Mamen Duch, Nacho Sanchez, Patxi Santamaria
Director: Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
This 20-minute per episode comedy-drama is about three young friends from disadvantaged backgrounds who try to get their lives on track.
Some TV shows focus on well-off characters or a variety of “broke” characters who can magically afford to live in Williamsburg. Not Can You Hear Me (or M’entends tu in French). From singing at the Jesus songs in the subway to flashing a guy for free popcorn, the three friends really are struggling.
This means that they only have each other to face adversity and that as a show, it’s funny until it’s not. M’entends tu takes quick turns into deep drama, making it not only funny but rich with substance.
Genre: Comedy
Actor: Ève Landry, Eve Landry, Florence Longpré, Florence Longpre, Mélissa Bédard, Melissa Bedard
This thriller is about a modern-day Catholic “assessor” who investigates supernatural cases to see if an exorcism is needed. Don’t believe it? Neither does his partner, a prosecution psychologist.
The two join forces because, according to the assessor, “possession looks a lot like insanity”, and she can help him distinguish between the two.
The heavy religious connotations might bother some they’re nothing but a starting point (every supernatural TV show requires a supernatural premise). If you liked the X Files, for example, you will love this.
Genre: Drama
Actor: Aasif Mandvi, Christine Lahti, Katja Herbers, Kurt Fuller, Marti Matulis, Michael Emerson, Mike Colter
A poetic and peculiar movie from Senegal about a girl who is forced to marry a wealthy businessman instead of her love interest. The latter, a poor construction worker, embarks on a risky journey across the sea to Europe. The story takes a supernatural turn thereafter, one that is unlike anything seen before in stories around immigration, but one which makes sense. Still, the excellent acting and the long takes that immerse you in what life is like in Senegal, both in and out of the margins of society, are the reasons to watch here. Atlantics' characters are believable and will capture your interest throughout the usual and unusual parts of the movie. They provide rare insight into narratives that most of us have never been exposed to.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Actor: Abdou Balde, Amadou Mbow, Amina Kane, Aminata Kane, Arame Fall Faye, Babacar Sylla, Coumba Dieng, Diankou Sembene, Ibrahima Mbaye, Ibrahima Traore, Mama Sane, Mame Bineta Sane, Mariama Gassama, Mati Diop, Nicole Sougou, Traore
Director: Mati Diop