The 2019 Stars & Popcorn Movie Awards
Best Villain: Brandon Bryer (Brightburn)
Personally, the most terrifying villain of the year for me was young Brandon Bryer. In a twisted tale inspired by the Superman mythos, Brightburn looked at what might have happened if the man of steel wasn’t so altruistic. Young Brandon has super strength, super speed, flight, laser vision and a serious lack of empathy. Instead of embracing the human race and vowing to protect it, he sees it as a bunch of ants too far beneath him to warrant a second thought when it comes to squishing them. That’s some pretty scary stuff right there.
Runner-Up: Arthur Fleck (Joker)
I know that I said Joker was overrated and I stand by that. However, Phoenix created an incredibly complex character in Arthur. What makes him such an intriguing villain is that he doesn’t see himself as a bad guy. Personally, I think that makes the bad guys all the more interesting. So, I’m giving the runner up spot to old Arthur.
Best On-Screen Romance – Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen (Long Shot)
Long Shot made a lot of good calls when it came to the romance between these two characters. For one, it flipped the script by having the woman be the uptight and successful one and the man as the passionate and charming screw-up. Then there’s the fact that it’s actually an age-appropriate relationship (usually the guy is at least a decade older). More than that, it was a relationship between two people that were committed to making it work even when things looked bad. This romance is inspiring, and I hope to find a rich politician that will one day love me too.
Runner-Up – Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton (The Sun is Also a Star)
Look, I know that The Sun is Also a Star is sentimental drivel, but that didn’t stop me from loving every minute of it. Shahidi and Melton, two stars that are almost too beautiful to look at directly, have enough charm to match their jaw-dropping good looks. Because of that, I couldn’t help rooting for these star-crossed lovers.
Best On-Screen Duo – Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart)
What can I say? Booksmart is one of those rare movies that did everything right. At the top of that list was the casting of Dever and Feldstein in the lead roles. The two share outstanding chemistry together and riff off one another perfectly from start to finish. Their relationship isn’t perfect, but even when they’re at their lowest, their friendship is nothing short of inspiring. I don’t think Booksmart would have been half as good without these two leads and their exceptional work.
Runner-Up: Christian Bale and Matt Damon (Ford V Ferrari)
Friendship comes in all shapes and sizes. Christian Bale and Matt Damon prove that in Ford v Ferrari as two “friends” who are at each other’s throats as often as they’re hugging it out. Still, when the chips were down, these two had one another’s back and kept their eye on the prize.
Wokest Movie of 2019: Booksmart
For such a delightful comedy, Booksmart spat a lot of truth. The film really focuses on the different paths that people take in life and revealed that just because it might not be the path you’re familiar with, that doesn’t make it the wrong one. Plus, it slayed as far as representation went. We had two female leads, one of which was gay (one IRL and one in the film), plenty of characters of color, and a solid message about not judging a book by its cover. Also, it just so happened to have been directed by a woman. When it comes to proper feminism, Booksmart hit the nail on the head.
Runner-Up: Jojo Rabbit
Who would have thought that in 2019 we would need a reminder that Nazis are, and always have been, bad. Jojo Rabbit is so much more as it examines the reality that most racism and xenophobia exist because scared little boys want to wear funny costumes and be part of the group.
Most Disappointing Film of the Year: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
The King of the Kaiju returned to the big screen this year in what was probably one of the most disappointing Godzilla movies of all time. Don’t get me wrong, the action was pretty epic as we watch Godzilla throw down with loads of other giant monsters. However, the human element was so bad it almost made the film unwatchable. Considering that this was one of the 10 movies I was the most excited for in 2019, I consider this the film that let me down the most. However, I do have to give it some credit for not ending up on my worst films of the year list.
Runner-Up: Alita: Battle Angel
Guys, let me explain it one more time: A female character that can kick everyone’s ass is not the same as a “strong female character.” Alita wasn’t a feminist film, it was a film about a bug-eyed android that wanted to beat everyone around her into joining her team rather than earn the respect that real leadership is founded upon.
Honorary Mention: X-Men: Dark Phoenix
As most of you know, Disney bought Fox and regained the film rights to X-Men and all the mutants we’ve come to love over the years. Their one final goodbye was supposed to be Dark Phoenix. Instead of a fond farewell, we wanted our favorite mutants executed in a field and dumped into a mass grave…
As you can see, it was quite a year for movies. Make sure you leave a comment about your thoughts regarding the movies selected for top honors this year. As always, Stars & Popcorn will be back in 2020 to let you know the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to movies. Until then, have a safe and happy New Year!