Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)
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Though 2018 was a strong year for film in terms of diverse casting, edgier projects and marginalised stories, not every movie got the appreciation it deserves. We’ve put together a list of worthy films from the past year that have been overlooked – whether due to challenging storylines, a lack of advertising budget, or simply not catching the public’s eye. Amazingly, the combined box office of these films is just over $60 million, less than 10% of the takings of October’s heavily publicised (but poorly received) blockbuster Venom. As this list will show, popularity isn’t always an indicator of quality! [Photo: Daniela Vega in A Fantastic Woman]

By Victoria Luxford

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Culture
Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Rider – What happens when you lose your purpose? That’s the question a young rodeo cowboy begins asking himself following an accident in this overlooked American drama. A startling work that explores what identity – or life’s purpose – really means, and how hard one person must fight to retain it. With Brady Jandreau starring in a film based on his very own life, this is as real a drama as you are likely to see, making an uplifting case for the strength of the human spirit.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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I Kill Giants – A low-budget fantasy featuring a breathtaking performance from young star Madison Wolfe as Barbara, a quirky high schooler tasked with defending her town against giants. A real tear-jerker, topics such as grief, family and loneliness combine in a gem of a movie that also features impressive effects and a committed cast, including the likes of Zoe Saldana as Barbara’s concerned teacher, and Imogen Poots as her overwrought older sister. A glorious family film that harks back to the imaginative classics of the ‘80s.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Loveless – Winning the Jury Prize at Cannes and Best Film at The London Film Festival should tell you everything you need to know about Andrey Zvyagintsev’s latest project, which follows a couple going through a bitter divorce that leads to the disappearance of their young son. A comment on relationships, commercialism and life in modern Russia, Loveless is a difficult film to watch at times, as the characters are far from sympathetic. However, the genius storytelling ensures it’s a film you won’t forget in a hurry.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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A Fantastic Woman – The wonderful thing about the progression of cinema this year has been the number of diverse voices being heard, ones that may not have made it to the big screen in the past. Sebastián Lelio’s A Fantastic Woman might not have gotten the widespread audience it deserved, but it did gain critical adoration and a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for its portrayal of a Chilean transgender woman (Daniela Vega) dealing with grief and bigotry in the wake of her lover’s death. With a fiery, defiant turn from Vega, the story has moments of laughter, sadness and great beauty.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Tully – Unlike most films on this list, Tully was actually a well-funded studio dramedy with a top star and reasonably wide advertising push. However, this controversial tale of a mother of three rescued by a night nanny (the Tully of the title) didn’t land with audiences, which is a shame given the committed performance from Charlize Theron, as well as the sharp writing from Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman (Juno, Young Adult). While the depiction of mental health issues caused some controversy, this decidedly unglamorous take on motherhood is well worth seeking out.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Sweet Country – Australian film-maker Warwick Thornton’s first narrative feature since 2009’s Samson and Delilah, Sweet Country is a film that both celebrates his country’s natural beauty and condemns its socio-political problems. Hamilton Morris shines as Sam Kelly, an Aboriginal man living in the Outback in the 1920s who goes on the run after killing a white man in self defence. Viewable both as one man’s journey and a wider discussion on race in Australia, the film evokes the almost mythical quality of old westerns and features strong support from Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Square – A collaboration between several countries that takes a darkly satirical look at the world of modern art. We follow the curator of a modern art museum (Claes Bang) in his disastrous attempt to drum up publicity for his new exhibition. An interesting film that takes an analytical scalpel to the pomposity of the art scene, the talented international cast (Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary) brings to life the arrogance of many who hover around the industry. A strange but delightful comedy.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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I Got Life! (Aurore) – One area of the human experience rarely covered (especially in Hollywood) is the journeys of women over 40. Enter this delightfully warm French comedy. Agnès Jaoui lights up the screen as a mother dealing with separation, an impending grandchild, and the attitudes of society toward older women. A great story told with heart and humanity, cinema-goers tired of the same old stories trotted out by big-budget studios will rejoice in a journey that offers something a little bit different.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Western – Many films embrace a typical western philosophy without actually being set in the Old West – Aliens and The Dark Knight being two great examples. The decidedly less glamorous setting of a building site in Bulgaria is the venue for this marvel of a film, with Meinhard Neumann taking the role of modern gunslinger as a loner caught between the concerns of the locals and the prejudices of his fellow construction workers. Simply made and featuring excellent acting, Western is a film that will draw you in with its unique take on a familiar formula.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Funny Cow – If you don’t already love the work of accomplished British actor Maxine Peake, be prepared to have a new favourite star! The British actor steals the show as a would-be comedian dealing with bigotry, abuse and heartbreak in ‘70s Britain. Modest but hilarious in a downtrodden kind of way, it’s an unfussy “rise to the middle” journey that will win your heart.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Breadwinner – Anyone who argues that hand-drawn animation is dead needs to check out this Angelina Jolie-produced tale about a young girl in Kabul who poses as a boy in order to become the breadwinner for her family following her father’s arrest. Viewing a very complicated political climate through the eyes of an innocent child brings a heartbeat to the headlines, and even those unfamiliar with this part of the world will be moved by this simple but effective film that teaches the power of hope and the value of storytelling.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Ideal Home – Two incredibly funny men come together to bring the house down in a comedy that feels just right for this moment. Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd play a selfish media couple who must think of something other than themselves when Coogan’s grandson arrives on their doorstep. It’s a touching film that explores the ups and downs of parenthood. However, the real gold is found in the back-and-forth banter between the stars, who improvise their way to comedy gold.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Hotel Artemis – Another studio release that just didn’t find the momentum it needed, Jodie Foster is glorious as the head of a hospital that takes care of criminals, and experiences a heavy intake on the night of a riot. Framed as a quirky sci-fi short story, the film’s violence may not be for everyone, and the gritty depiction of the future brings to mind films such as 2012’s Dredd (which also struggled to find popularity despite good reviews). Nevertheless, Foster is brilliant as the lead of an all-star cast that includes Zachary Quinto, Dave Bautista and everyone’s favourite dinosaur hunter Jeff Goldblum, in a crime-thriller that’s worth a watch.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Cold War – While this tragic 1950s-set Polish romance had a staggered release throughout 2018, 2019 might be the year it finds prominence thanks to a growing Oscar buzz. Should it win, it would be justified praise for the heartbreaking tale of doomed love between a musical director (Tomasz Kot) and a young singer (Joanna Kulig) whose bond is torn apart by political circumstance. It may not be the most feel-good film you’ll ever see, but, thanks to extraordinary performances and crisp black-and-white direction by Paweł Pawlikowski, you’ll certainly feel a lot of other emotions.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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They Shall Not Grow Old – Peter Jackson’s first bona fide classic since The Return of The King, They Shall Not Grow Old takes archived footage of British World War I soldiers and restores it, adding realistic sounds and voices in order to lend a documentary feel to the stories, which are narrated by archived interviews with real-life soldiers. A collaboration between Jackson, The BBC and London’s Imperial War Museum, this startling account of one of the greatest struggles in recent history should be seen by every generation – not only to learn about one of the world’s most devastating conflicts, but also to marvel at the masterful film-making on display.

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Films From 2018 You May Have Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

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