Film Film 10 out of 10 With a new decade upon us, there are plenty of record- shattering Box Office smash hits to look back on, writes Sean Wilson, as he reviews fun films from last year he biggest releases may stand-up Arthur Fleck. The actor’s have fallen outside of intense commitment to the role, Tthe ‘traditional’ summer combined with powerful mystique box office period, but 24 comic exerted by the DC villain, made book extravaganzas (or variants Joker the biggest pop culture thereof), and a number of thrilling talking point of the autumn, franchises kept audiences pinned keeping viewers gripped, even to their seats. One particular as it prompted queasy questions movie toppled Avatar to become about the nature of violence and the highest-grossing of all time, morality. Phoenix builds on the established film stars continued legacy of previous actors such as to prove their mettle, and darker, Jack Nicholson and the late Heath more controversial material struck Ledger, ultimately emerging with a chord with huge crowds. Here a portrayal that is uniquely his are just some of 2019’s most own. So are we going to get notable success stories. a sequel? Looking at those FAST & FURIOUS: this was a once-in-a-generation box office figures, it’s hard HOBBS & SHAW event that marked the culmination JOKER to imagine otherwise. Released: August of Phase Three of the Marvel Released: October Directed by: David Leitch Cinematic Universe (MCU), Directed by: Todd Phillips Starring: Dwayne Johnson, rewarding 10 years’ worth of fan Starring: Joaquin Phoenix Jason Statham loyalty in funny, emotional and Talk about a movie that had the As the tyre-burning Fast & Furious thrilling style. The time-travel last laugh. Director Todd Phillips’ franchise reaches new heights canvas staged by directors the Joker original story has emerged of entertaining ludicrousness Russo brothers is, refreshingly, as the most profitable comic book (the ninth movie is coming in played for laughs (how many of movie of time, with grosses of 2020), the movies are also us have scrutinised Back to the $1bn against a relatively modest starting to career down brand Future’s science that closely?). $55m budget. The film’s success new avenues. The first test came And this means we can become is all the more impressive when this year with spin-off Hobbs & further invested in the classic one considers its dark and Shaw, pairing Dwayne Johnson’s Marvel characters with whom tortured nature, largely burly Luke Hobbs with Jason we’ve grown for the past decade, embodied by a sensational Statham’s devious Deckard not least Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Joaquin Phoenix as Shaw, and it proved a massive audiences on a globe-trotting course of one movie – are Man. The actor’s brilliant blend conflicted wannabe success. Grossing $758m smash-em-up adventure that we having fun yet? of snark and heart embodies the worldwide against a $200m owed no concessions to reality. success of Avengers: Endgame, budget, Hobbs & Shaw left boring Indeed, Johnson and Statham’s AVENGERS: ENDGAME and the MCU as a whole: this is concepts like gravity and logic enjoyably bickering frenemies Released: April 2019 not a franchise about the suits, by the side of the road, whisking are, to all intents and purposes, Directed by: Joe and but the characters who wear superheroes, and Deadpool 2 Anthony Russo them. Little wonder that Endgame Left and Above: Joaquin helmer David Leitch seemingly Starring: Robert Downey toppled James Cameron’s Avatar Phoenix starred in Joker knows no bounds as far as the Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett to become the highest-grossing Top: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ action scenes are concerned. Johansson, Paul Rudd movie ever made, with grosses Johnson and Jason Statham Johnson even manages to lasso a Blockbusters didn’t come more of almost $2.8bn worldwide. in Fast & Furious spin-off helicopter and run down the side ambitiously staged in 2019 than Marvel’s Phase Four period can’t Hobbs & Shaw of a London skyscraper in the Avengers: Endgame. Put simply, start soon enough. 66 Upward Curve January-March 2020 January-March 2020 Upward Curve 67 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM Released: May Directed by: Chad Stahelski Starring: Keanu Reeves 2019 was officially Keanu Reeves’ comeback year. Not only did he voice the endearing Duke Caboom in Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story 4, he also re-asserted his action icon credentials with the third instalment of the hard-hitting John Wick franchise. Picking up where the first two stylish thrillers left off, stoicism is concerned. Little Phase Four of the MCU officially So which of 2020’s blockbusters director Chad Stahelski (stunt wonder we’re all hungry for gets underway with Scarlett will be racing to fill the Star Wars co-ordinator on The Matrix) a fourth instalment. Impressively, Johansson’s Black Widow movie gap? It remains to be seen, but contrives some genuinely jaw- in a continued display of Reeves’ in May, followed by Eternals in there’s no denying it’s set to be dropping set-pieces that push revived star power, Parabellum is November. Christopher Nolan another bonanza year for rip- Reeves to the limit, including the biggest hit in the series so far returns in July with mysterious roaring popcorn cinema. ■ elaborately staged shootouts, with global takings of $326m. espionage thriller Tenet, Disney- a bike chase and a brilliantly So what about 2020? It’s set Pixar present two animations, Top: Super-assassin John Wick wince-inducing, knife-throwing to be a year of comebacks and Onward and Soul, and Tom Cruise (Keanu Reeves) on the run with assault that has to be seen to be farewells, starting with Daniel feels the need for speed (again) in a $14m price tag on his head believed. As with Speed and The Craig’s final movie as James Top Gun: Maverick. Above: The Avengers: Endgame Matrix, Reeves once again proves Bond. Due for release in April, Notable by its absence, however, cast includes Robert Downey that he’s in a league of his own as No Time To Die is the 25th movie is Star Wars, which takes a hiatus Jr., Chris Evans, Paul Rudd far as unflinching, jaw-dropping in the 007 franchise. following The Rise of Skywalker. and Scarlett Johansson 68 Upward Curve January-March 2020.