Many great and groundbreaking movies were released this past year that took huge leaps in furthering the film industry and breaking through to new levels of cinema that will set up future films with incredible opportunities in creativity and completely new content. Some noteworthy ones that come to mind are “Black Panther,” which pushed the industry forward in representation tremendously;  “A Quiet Place,” which used (or rather, didn’t use) audio in a way unlike any recent films to create a unique and terrifying horror flick; “Bandersnatch,” which was interactive and let the audience not only enjoy and be engulfed in the story, but be apart of it; and many more. Overall, it was a great year for movie-goers. Due to the year being finished and the start of a new one, I’ve decided to create a list of my top five movies in 2018 that I think everyone should watch if they get the chance.

5. Isle of Dogs

It was a tough decision in placing this movie on the list, especially with the animated “Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse” being such a big hit that I truly did love (even if it was a superhero movie), but I think “Isle of Dogs” rightfully earned its place. Wes Anderson did a great job with this movie. It’s no surprise a film of his has remarkable visuals, but I think the claymation/animation technique used in his most recent film really takes the cake for most appealing one he’s made so far. The visuals and dynamic characters in the movie work together to tell a great story.

4. Blakkklansman

“Blakkklansman” takes place in 1970’s Colorado Springs, following the cities first African-American detective as he leads a case to investigate and infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. It’s an amazing and powerful movie that exposes the still-present racism that exists in our country. It mixes in comedy with the seriousness of the topic being addressed and the suspense of a cop movie. All of these things make for a great film that touches on important issues and shows an intricate storyline that keeps the viewer fully invested and at the edge of their seats throughout the film.

3. Eighth Grade

Bo Burnham made his directorial debut this year with his film “Eighth Grade” and surprised everyone with the quality and talent that he has as a filmmaker, even earning a  99% on rotten tomatoes. This film incorporates the social media presence of today while capturing the universally awkward and cringy aspects of growing up in a way that every person can relate to.

2. Roma

“Roma” is one of the most well made movies I’ve seen in a very long time. If it weren’t for a personal relatability and connection to my number one choice, “Roma” definitely would’ve taken the cake and placed first on this list. Everything about this movie is portrayed beautifully with a simplicity that many modern films seem to lack. It doesn’t go all out or try to hard to be anything but what it is. The entire film is in black and white and all the shots are mesmerizing, while the emotion in this film is raw and it all just feels very human. Everything is shot with a beauty and grace unlike other movies.

1. Mid90s

To no surprise, Jonah Hill’s “Mid90s” takes number one on the list. Another impressive directorial debut produced by A24, this film had a huge impact on me this year, and it’s one that I hold very near and dear to my heart. As stated in a previous review written for the gazette, this movie is just authentic. It’s real. It shows the struggles and vulgarity of teenhood in a way unlike most other coming-of-age movies, while incorporating the nostalgia factor of the 90s’ skate scene. This film was very influential for me personally, and it reshaped a lot of aspects in my life, especially in regards to filmmaking and cinema. I’ve already watched it about seven or eight times, and I will be looking forward to rewatching it many more times in the years to come.

Honorable Mentions

“Shoplifters”, “If Beale Street Could Talk”, “The Favourite”, “First Reformed”, “Hereditary”, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, “Sorry To Bother You”

I felt it was necessary to include a small bit of movies that I never got around to seeing, but feel might’ve had a great chance at making it on this list and are definitely worth the time to view. I didn’t want to overlook these films as they seem to have been ones that were remarkable to many other movie-goers this year.