At the end of every year, Barack Obama shares a few lists of his favourite pieces of art that have come out over the last 12 months. Whether it's movies, books, or music, the former president clearly has excellent taste, as evident by his picks for 2018, which he shared on Instagram [1].
"As 2018 draws to a close, I'm continuing a favourite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved," he captioned his social media post. "It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers — some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before . . . I hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening."
If you're wondering which movies made the cut, keep reading!
Annihilation
The first book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, Annihilation, got the big-screen treatment in 2018. The sci-fi novel's adaptation stars Natalie Portman [3], Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson as scientists sent on a dangerous, top-secret expedition to a location where the laws of nature don't necessarily apply. As the new environment threatens to literally tear them apart, Portman's character attempts to solve a mystery involving her husband (Oscar Isaac), who went on a similar mission months earlier and came back not-quite himself.
Black Panther
The Ryan Coogler-directed superhero blockbuster reintroduces us to Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, the heroic man underneath the Black Panther [4] costume. While trying to balance his new role as King of Wakanda and helping to defend his country, he goes up against Michael B. Jordan's villain, Erik Killmonger. And don't forget about T'Challa's fierce family and allies, made up of Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, and Danai Gurira.
BlacKkKlansman
BlacKkKlansman recounts the real-life story of Ron Stallworth, an African-American detective who successfully infiltrated a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Colourado Springs, CO, to become one of its leaders. John David Washington (Ballers) stars as Stallworth and Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Last Jedi [5]) plays Flip Zimmerman, a fellow officer who stands in as Stallworth's "white self" when it comes time to meet Klan leader David Duke, portrayed by Topher Grace [6] (That '70s Show).
Blindspotting
Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal star in this drama about two friends struggling to keep themselves afloat, and safe, in their Oakland, CA, neighbourhood. While one, Colin, tries to make it through his final three days of probation, his volatile best friend threatens to bring his new beginning crashing down. And when they witness a police officer shoot a suspect in the back, things only get more dangerous.
Burning
The Walking Dead [7]'s Steven Yeun stars in this 2018 mystery set in South Korea about a man whose chance meeting with a childhood friend unexpectedly leads him into the path of a maybe-serial killer.
The Death of Stalin
An all-star cast fleshes out this black comedy, which sees Soviet leaders facing off for power in the wake of tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin's death in 1953.
Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham's directorial debut hinges around 13-year-old Kayla (Elsie Fisher) as she navigates the final week of her less-than-stellar eighth grade year. From her angsty interactions with her dad to genuine feelings of isolation while enduring the embarrassing effects of puberty, the dramedy casts a realistic lens on a formative time period.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Set in 1970s Harlem, wife-to-be Tish recounts the passion and trust that has cemented her relationship with her artist fiancé, Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt. Although the devoted couple has a promising dream of a future together, their plans are destroyed when Fonny is thrown in jail for a crime he didn't commit.
Leave No Trace
A father and daughter (Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie) live a peaceful existence in a remote section of a lush nature reserve in Oregon, which allows them to live freely without having to make contact with the outside world. But when a seemingly innocent mistakes lands them in the hands of the authorities, they begin a difficult journey in search of a new place to call home.
Minding the Gap
This 2018 documentary hones in on three young men who escape their volatile families in the Rust Belt through skateboarding and their loyal friendships to each other. The footage was shot over the course of 12 years, which offers plenty of interesting meditations on forgiveness and the rocky transition between childhood and adulthood.
The Rider
A young cowboy (Brady Jandreau) searches for a new purpose in life after a devastating accident leaves him unable to compete in the rodeo circuit that he's grown up loving.
Roma
Alfonso Cuarón's critically-acclaimed Netflix drama about Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighbourhood of Roma in Mexico City, is already drumming up plenty of Oscar buzz.
Shoplifters
Shoplifters, a Japanese drama, is a beautiful, heartfelt story about a family of small-time criminals who rescue a child in their neighbourhood from her abusive home. Sadly their compassionate choice has crushing repercussions.
Support the Girls
This underrated dramedy [8] follows the general manager (Regina King) at a Hooters-like sports bar as she deals with one hell of a day, while also trying to protect the girls who work at her restaurant.
Won't You Be My Neighbour?
It's been over a decade since Fred Rogers passed away, but his memory continues to live on in documentaries like Won't You Be My Neighbour?, which explores his life and legacy. Through interviews with friends and family members, the film dives into Rogers' offscreen life and his groundbreaking show, Mister Rogers' Neighbourhood.