Cedars, January 2020

January 2020 18 ART & ENTERTAINMENT Top 5 Movies of 2019 by Hunter Johnson 5. ‘Ad Astra’ “Ad Astra” is not like most space travel epics. It’s not about big stories or loud ac- tion set pieces or overly-relatable protag- onists. It’s about holding onto hope in the midst of deep and despairing abandonment. “Ad Astra” is about an introverted as- tronaut named Roy (played by Brad Pitt), who’s sent on a mission to retrieve his long- lost father from space. This film is brought to life by three big- name stars. In this film, Brad Pitt gives one of the best performances of his entire 30- year career of acclaimed acting. He shows a different range in this film. His character isn’t the bold, charismatic, inviting lead that is Pitt’s signature role. His performance is raw and painfully quiet. The subtleties that Pitt incorporates into this expressionless character show how real he is. Roy is a lost character, someone who has spent so much time in the empty void of space that he’s be- gun to lose track of who he is. The only hope he has is the search to find his father. The second star of this film is cine- matographer Hoyte van Hoytema. Hoyte- ma’s surreal illustration of space brings the symbolism and themes to life, making the action on screen engaging for the audience. He’s created a beautiful painting for these characters to exist within, and sometimes, they do more than just exist in it. There are scenes of space explosions, moon pirates, and manic space-monkeys that Hoytema gorgeously puts together that create an en- thralling atmosphere. Finally, the most important star of this film is director James Gray. He is the glue that holds it together. He balances the inti- mate moments of Brad Pitt’s character with the grandiose picture of space that Hoytema creates. He also features the hypnotic mu- sical score of Max Richter and the brilliant supporting cast of Tommy Lee Jones, Don- ald Sutherland, and Ruth Negga without taking anything away from the clarity that this film is solely about Roy’s complex con- nection with his father. “Ad Astra” may not be the space block- buster that “Interstellar,” “Gravity” and “The Martian” succeeded in being, but it is a highly engaging character-study that will allow viewers to experience all sides of a man with a lost soul, who is on the hunt to discover where his purpose lies. 4. ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Ten years ago, no one thought Marvel films would be at where they are now. It was considered a filmmaking miracle that the first “Avengers” worked at all. It was the beginning of an interconnected universe where characters could exist in separate worlds, and then come together in an epic finale every few years. That method has worked thoroughly as now, 23 films later, audiences are not only willing to watch a connected franchise, but are constantly thrilledatwhatwill comenext. Directed by well-versed comic-nerds, Anthony and Joe Russo, “Avengers: End- game” features characters that audiences love. Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans turn in their absolute best performances of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers after portray- ing them each in 10 films over the course of the last decade. Their characters had a be- ginning, middle and end to their arcs, and this film gives them the endings that fit per- fectly with the rest of the story. Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Ren- ner (Hawkeye), and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) also turn in some of their most compelling performances to date with these charac- ters. However, those original six Avengers from the early films are not the only heroes anymore. “Endgame” makes sure that ev- ery single character in these 23 films gets their due, featuring over 55 supporting cast members that have all appeared in previous Marvel films. “Endgame” also has a score from re- nowned composer, Alan Silvestri, who re- turns after composing the music for “Cap- tain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” Silvestri provides the epic atmosphere that is necessary in order for all the emotional payoff that this film gives for its characters. The only negative toward “Endgame” is its tendency to overuse nostalgia to tell its story. The entire middle act is essentially a plot device to just look back on how great previous Marvel films were. It’s delightful to watch, but less engaged viewers may not understand what the fuss is all about. That doesn’t stop this from being one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged blockbusters of all time. It finishes an epic saga, and it gets viewers excited for what Marvel will do next. 3. ‘Little Women’ Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868 novel has been adapted into film six times since 1917. Each came with a new take on the March sisters and their classic coming-of- age story. Now, director Greta Gerwig has adopted her own spin to offer something new to this nostalgic story with a seventh film adaptation. The result is a completely fresh and en- gaging retelling of a story that narrows in on the struggles of these sisters, particularly Jo and Amy. Saoirse Ronan plays Jo, the stubborn, ambitious girl who wants more than any- thing to be a successful writer. Ronan brings a palpable realness to Jo’s struggle in her performance. She wants to show the world that she is an independent woman who needs nothing but her writing, but she must reconcile this with the intense loneliness that she is battling inside. Ronan is perfectly cast as she encapsulates that self-sufficient nature mixed with aching anxiety. Jo’s youngest sister, Amy, is played by Florence Pugh. Gerwig has enlarged