Since 2011, I have been pulling together a list of the best movies of the year according to the Brisbane-based critics who I run into regularly at preview screenings.  Those films to have topped prior year lists have been Drive in 2011, Argo in 2012, Gravity in 2013, Boyhood in 2014, Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015La La Land in 2016, Get Out in 2017 and The Favourite in 2018.

To come up with an overall top 10, I’ve used a simple points system and applied it to the list of each critic. It is as follows:
 - 3 points for the top film on each list.
 - 2 points for the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list.
 - 1 point for the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list.

If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the most number of top 10 lists is ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval).

In the 9 years that I’ve putting together this list, we’ve never had such a comprehensive winner.  Parasite is the clear choice of Brisbane critics as the best film of 2019.  The Palme d’Or winner from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was ranked in the “top 10” by 11 of 12 critics (it was only my list where it was missing!) and 6 critics had it as their top movie of the year.

Parasite finished 14 points ahead of the second place getter, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (the previous record winning margin was La La Land by 10 points in 2016).  The other two films to appear on more than 50% of the critics’ respective “top 10” lists were Knives Out in 3rd place and Us in 4th place.

Another milestone this year was the inclusion of 3 foreign language films in the top 10.  In addition to Parasite, both Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Pain and Glory made the cut with 3 critics naming Antonio Banderas (the star of Pain and Glory) as giving the year’s best performance.

The remaining films on the list included two Netflix dramas, The Irishman and Marriage Story, and two comedies, Jojo Rabbit and Booksmart.

 

On that note, here are the top 10 movies of 2019 according to Brisbane critics…

Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 of 2019
1.  Parasite
2.  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3.  Knives Out
4.  Us
5.  Portrait of a Lady on Fire
6.  The Irishman
7.  Jojo Rabbit
8.  Marriage Story
9.  Booksmart
10.  Pain and Glory

You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here.

A big thanks to all the critics who were able to contribute. Hopefully we'll do it again next year!

You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2019) below.
 


 

Matthew ToomeyMatthew Toomey

Born in Brisbane, Matt Toomey was introduced to the world of cinema when he landed a job at a video store fresh out of high school in 1995. A few years later, he started his own website and reviewed movies regularly on a community radio station. In 2005, he joined the team at 612ABC and can be heard reviewing the latest releases every Thursday morning. He can also be heard weekly on regional ABC throughout Queensland.

Website: thefilmpie.com
Twitter: @ToomeyMatt

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. If Beale Street Could Talk
2. Eighth Grade
3. The Guilty
4. The Nightingale
5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
6. The Report
7. The Australian Dream
8. Toy Story 4
9. Dogman
10. Burning
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
The Australian Dream
Best Performance:
Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade)
Worst Film:
After
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Cold Pursuit
If Beale Street Could Talk

 

Sarah WardSarah Ward

Sarah Ward is a freelance film critic, arts and culture writer, and film festival organiser. She is the Australia-based critic for Screen International, the film and weekend editor for Concrete Playground, a writer for the Goethe-Institut Australien’s Kino in Oz, and a contributor to Flicks Australia, SBS, SBS Movies and ScreenHub. Her work has been published by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, AACTA, Birth.Movies.Death, Junkee, FilmInk, Lumina, Senses of Cinema, Broadsheet, Televised Revolution, ArtsHub, Metro Magazine, Screen Education and the World Film Locations book series. She is also the editor of Trespass Magazine, a film and TV critic for ABC radio Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and has worked with the Brisbane International Film Festival, Queensland Film Festival, Sydney Underground Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival.

Websites: concreteplayground.com
screendaily.com/sarah-ward/1100859.contributor
goethe.de/ins/au/en/kul/sup/kio.html
flicks.com.au/author/sarah-ward/
sbs.com.au/guide/person/sarah-ward
sbs.com.au/movies/person/sarah-ward
birthmoviesdeath.com/author/sarah.ward
trespassmag.com
Twitter: @swardplay

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. The Nightingale
3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
4. Pain and Glory
5. Us
6. High Life
7. Burning
8. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
9. Marriage Story
10. The Irishman
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Little Joe
2. Synonyms
3. True History of the Kelly Gang
4. I Lost My Body
5. Atlantics
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Weathering with You
Best Documentary:
Varda by Agnes
Best Performance:
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Worst Film:
Cats
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Crawl
Parasite

 

Garry WilliamsGarry Williams

Garry Williams is a reviewer for Film Club, a radio program broadcast on 4ZZZ-FM (102.1FM) each Thursday from 6-7pm.

Website: 4zzz.org.au/program/film-club
Twitter: @thegeegenie

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Woman at War
2. Parasite
3. Sorry We Missed You
4. Joker
5. Us
6. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
7. The Irishman
8. Pain and Glory
9. Official Secrets
10. The Report
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Capital in the 20th Century
2. The Spy Gone North
3. Memory: The Origins of Alien
4. Untouchable
5. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
 
Best Australian Film:
Acute Misfortune
Best Animated Film:
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Best Documentary:
2040
Best Performance:
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Worst Film:
The Nightingale
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Rocketman
Woman at War

 

Peter GrayPeter Gray

Peter Gray is a Brisbane based freelance entertainment writer specialising in film. Currently the entertainment reporter/film reviewer for QNews, Queensland’s largest LGBT publication, and regular contributor to Brisbanista, The AU Reviews and This is Film.

Website: rottentomatoes.com/critic/peter-gray/movies
brisbanista.com.au
thisisfilm.com
qnews.com.au
Twitter: @ratedPDG

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3. Pain and Glory
4. Marriage Story
5. Booksmart
6. Us
7. Destroyer
8. Midsommar
9. The Farewell
10. Hustlers
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Dolemite Is My Name
2. The Day Shall Come
3. Little Monsters
4. The Perfection
5. In Fabric
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
The Australian Dream
Best Performance:
Florence Pugh (Midsommar)
Worst Film:
Cats
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Child's Play
Parasite

 

Ella DonaldElla Donald

Ella is a journalist, writer, and academic. She teaches at the University of Queensland, she's a regular contributor to GQ magazine, also she writes profiles, features, and interviews for publications like Vanity Fair, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, ABC, and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Website: elladonaldwriter.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ellafdonald

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2. Mystify: Michael Hutchence
3. Parasite
4. Knives Out
5. Jojo Rabbit
6. Woman at War
7. Booksmart
8. Little Woods
9. Ford v Ferrari
10. Vox Lux
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Little Women
2. Dark Waters
3. Matthias et Maxime
4. Homecoming
5. A Hidden Life
 
Best Australian Film:
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Best Performance:
Brad Pitt (Ad Astra)
Worst Film:
Joker
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Charlie's Angels
Portrait of a Lady on Fire

 

David EdwardsDavid Edwards

David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb Magazine and writes about film and television.

Website: www.theblurb.com.au
Twitter: @TheBlurbMag

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3. The Farewell
4. Birds of Passage
5. Booksmart
6. Knives Out
7. Jojo Rabbit
8. If Beale Street Could Talk
9. The White Crow
10. Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. 1917
2. The Sound of Silence
3. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
 
Best Australian Film:
Judy and Punch
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
Best Performance:
Awkwafina (The Farewell)
Worst Film:
Promised
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Zombieland: Double Tap
Parasite

 

Dave CreweDave Crewe

Freelance film critic with a fondness for arthouse and grindhouse films in roughly equal measure. Obsessed with David Lynch. Founding editor of ccpopculture, and freelances for SBS Movies, Junkee, The Brag, Metro Magazine and Screen Education, amongst others.

Website: ccpopculture.com
Twitter: @dacrewe

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Ad Astra
2. Parasite
3. Pain and Glory
4. The Irishman
5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
6. Hustlers
7. Avengers: Endgame
8. If Beale Street Could Talk
9. Rocketman
10. Us
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Knife + Heart
2. Under the Silver Lake
3. Colour Out of Space
4. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
5. So Long, My Son
 
Best Australian Film:
The Furies
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly
Best Performance:
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Worst Film:
Secret Obsession
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Terminator: Dark Fate
Ad Astra

 

Rob HudsonRob Hudson

Rob Hudson is the editor of popular culture website modmove.com and reviews film, theatre and music.

Website: modmove.com
Twitter: @modmove

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3. The Irishman
4. Knives Out
5. Jojo Rabbit
6. Hotel Mumbai
7. Booksmart
8. Avengers: Endgame
9. The Nightingale
10. Us
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Dolemite Is My Name
2. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
3. Love, Antosha
4. Hail Satan?
5. Velvet Buzzsaw
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
Apollo 11
Best Performance:
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Worst Film:
Playing with Fire
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Ready or Not
Parasite

 

Baz McAlisterBaz McAlister

Walkley Award finalist Baz McAlister is a writer and deputy night editor at The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, and co-hosts 'Force Material', a podcast about the secrets, history and influences of Star Wars.

Website: bazmcalister.wordpress.com
www.forcematerial.com
Twitter: @bazmcalister

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Us
3. Parasite
4. Knives Out
5. Midsommar
6. Avengers: Endgame
7. Booksmart
8. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
9. The Kid Who Would Be King
10. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Documentary:
Free Solo
Best Performance:
Lupita Nyong'o (Us)
Worst Film:
Rambo: Last Blood
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Jojo Rabbit

 

Adam RabocziAdam Roboczi

Adam Raboczi is a reviewer for 4ZZZ’s Film Club (Thursdays @ 6pm) and manages the show’s Facebook page.  He can currently be blamed for adding the dreaded CGI to movies.

Website: 4zzzfm.org.au/program/film-club
facebook.com/4zzzFilmClub/
Twitter: n/a

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
3. Burning
4. Knives Out
5. Marriage Story
6. Midsommar
7. The House That Jack Built
8. The Farewell
9. Woman at War
10. Dragged Across Concrete
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. In Fabric
2. Her Smell
3. Dolemite Is My Name
4. Dogs Don't Wear Pants
5. The Art of Self-Defense
 
Best Australian Film:
The Nightingale
Best Animated Film:
Frozen 2
Best Documentary:
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Best Performance:
Elizabeth Moss (Her Smell)
Worst Film:
Cats
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Wild Rose
Parasite

 

Nick L'BarrowNick L'Barrow

Talking about all the latest releases via 60 second video reviews on Instagram! Also, a contributing writer for Novastream and panellist on various podcasts for the Finely Taylored YouTube channel.

Website: instagram.com/nicksflicksfix
novastreamnetwork.com
Twitter: n/a

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Parasite
2. The Irishman
3. Marriage Story
4. Knives Out
5. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
6. Jojo Rabbit
7. Ford v Ferrari
8. Joker
9. Ad Astra
10. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
 
Top Unreleased Films:
1. Monos
2. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
3. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
4. Paddleton
5. Dolemite Is My Name
 
Best Australian Film:
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan
Best Animated Film:
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Best Documentary:
The Australian Dream
Best Performance:
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Worst Film:
Playing with Fire
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Good Boys
Parasite

 

Shayne GrieveShayne Grieve

Shayne currently teaches Film and TV at Grace Lutheran College and tries to justify all his cinema visits as professional development.

Website: thisisfilm.com
Twitter: @ShayneTIF

 
Top 10 Released Films:
1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
2. The Irishman
3. Parasite
4. Avengers: Endgame
5. Us
6. Marriage Story
7. Ad Astra
8. Knives Out
9. If Beale Street Could Talk
10. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
 
Best Animated Film:
Toy Story 4
Best Performance:
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Worst Film:
Hellboy
Most Surprised To Enjoy:
Hustlers
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood