2019's Best | My Favorite Movies, Albums, TV and More
At the beginning of the year I promised myself I’d make a list, one that truly mentioned every piece of content I enjoyed from the first day to the last. Not just something I threw together during Thanksgiving week after realizing it’s time to do so, trying to extract titles and moments from my dusty new dad memory.
I’m not new to year-end madness. As an editor at big magazines, every winter the staff and I would begin email chains, gather up for meetings and, finally, write lists highlighting what we believed were the best things out.
Sharing is caring, right? Here are shows, music, movies, and whatnots that inspired me to think harder, laugh, tear up, run faster during jogs, lift harder in the weight room, dance with Noey, call home more…
John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky | Documentary
The Beatles have always been a blind spot for me. I know they were awesome, legends on Earth when the foursome was rocking in the ‘60s. I’ve heard the “must-listen” albums. I know them. But I’ll never lie and say I’m anything close to an expert. But I did know John Lennon was special among the special. His solo album “Imagine” and its title cut are some of the most lauded musical works of all time. And even more cool than watching footage of its creation in Above Us Only Sky is learning about his relationship to wife Yoko Ono. Up until this doc, I had only known her importance in Lennon’s life to be a few degrees warmer than ornamental—the spacey woman who met a rock star at the right time and encouraged him to, I don’t know, do yoga and take cool pictures or something. Wrong! She was a real artist in her own right and true contributor to John’s masterpiece, not to mention his development as a man. One of the best documentaries I saw this year.
Uncut Gems | Movie
Stressful.
Jerrod Carmichael’s Home Videos | Documentary
This was the year I became a huge Carmichael fan. I’d generally liked him before—his interview with Tyler, the Creator, his role on Jay-Z’s Friends remake, his appliances as a guest on network late night shows. I knew he was funny and thought differently. But it wasn’t until his HBO Mother’s and Father’s Day specials Home Videos and Sermon on the Mount that I really fell deep. In them, he interviews mother about how she found a way to forgiving his cheating father, then Jerrod speaks with his dad, who still can’t fully bring himself to a place of accountability. It’s lo-fi, messy in the way matters of the heart are, and just flat-out good. Watch it and then go back and watch his stand-up specials. 8 is hilarious.
Marvel’s Grand Phase 1 Finale | Movies
The sweetest three words uttered in 2019 cinema (Shh! Don’t tell Scorese I called this movie that!) were Endgame’s “On your left.” And the Far From Home is best Spider-Man movie ever. Let’s not argue either of my opinions.
Solange’s When I Get Home | Album
I wish I knew how to read music. At times I wish I knew more about it scientifically. Mostly because I’m aware that certain chords and their progressions make me float. There’s a song on Solange’s When I Get Home called “Jerrod.” Whatever she, John Key, and John Carroll Kirby did as a production trio unlocked me. It’s not the only time on the album either. I’ll let you discover the rest on your own.
Surviving R. Kelly | Documentary series
It’s amazing what you can escape with good songs and lawyers. Many, many people tried to tell us that R. Kelly was a horrible, child porn-making vulture—an evil man armed with epic R&B superpowers. But it wasn’t until Dream Hampton and a brave gang of his victims cliqued up that the chocolate factory was crushed and melted forever. Good riddance.
Ramy | TV
Skepta’s Ignorance is Bliss | Album
The Joker | Movie
Run—don’t walk—to this piece I thought up about one of ‘19’s best movies.
The Boys | TV
“What if you found out superheroes are horrible, manufactured beings?,” this show asked. “Well,” I answered, “I’d watch the hell out of that.” And then I did. With a smile.
Guava Island | Movie
All work and no play makes for angry commoners. All that bum-ass boss had to do was let the people boogie. Damn.
Us | Movie
We hit a theater in Leimert Park to watch this. We were 30 deep. We were Black. We went out for drinks after. We talked it out. Times we good.
Wow, That’s Crazy | Album
Sex Education | TV
I watch shows like this and fall right back into the year 2002, when I was a high school senior and just trying to figure this life shit out—all jacked up on teenage angst, hormones, and fear.
Euphoria | TV
See above reasoning.
The End of the F***ing World | TV
TOP BOY | TV
You get me?
Little Women | Movie
Business of Hype | Podcast
Thank you, Jeff Staple. You and your guests provided inspiration to me. Daily.
Catastrophe | TV
Stuck the landing. Perfect ending to the series
GLOW (season 3) | TV
Came flying off the top rope and landed right on my feels.
Succession (season 2) | TV
The media business is an ugly world to navigate? Who knew?! Kendall’s my guy, by the way.
Rhythm & Flow | TV
Did we really need the rap battle challenge? Some of my favorite Hip-Hop artists would get torched in a battle, but out-song the same person who dissed them well over a diss track. Aside from that, R&F was fire.
Parasite | Movie
Great movie! But who’s the parasite?
Ad Astra | Movie
“I still love you, Dad.”
The Watchmen | TV
The way this show developed was A-1. “A God Walks into Abar” might be the single best hour of TV I watched in 2019.)
James Blake’s Assume Form | Album
Play “Power On.” It’s a beaut’.
Tyler, the Creator’s Igor | Album
It’s such a joy to hear this guy grow free and progress as an artist.