Our film critics pick the best movies of 2019 (so far)
The Times' film critics, Kenneth Turan and Justin Chang, sat down for a midyear conversation on the state of movies and moviegoing, and to list their favorite films of 2019 so far. Their conversation ranged from worthy studio hits ("Us," "Toy Story 4") and pictures that deserved wider audiences ("Late Night") to exceptional documentaries ("Apollo 11," "Black Mother").
KENNETH TURAN: The calendar may say we're halfway through 2019, but in terms of the film year it doesn't quite feel that way. Rather, the vibe is more like "Is that all there is?," a lyric that Peggy Lee made famous.
There've been good films, that's for sure. But so much has been unsettling, from the agents-writers imbroglio to the eternal concern about the threat streaming services pose to the theatrical experience, that despite some big numbers for select films a malaise seems to have settled over everything. Or is that just me?
JUSTIN CHANG: Not just you. That malaise has many different faces, which is why it's hard to pin down. You could sense it in some of the grim box-office reporting from this summer alone, which has seen one
