Parasite

Well, this seals the deal: 2019 was the year that Austin formally fell in love with Bong Joon-ho. First the Alamo Drafthouse renames its flagship South Lamar location after him, now the seven regular members of The Austin Chronicle‘s film review team has selected his scathing social satire Parasite as their consensus film of the year.

Consensus is undoubtedly the word, as the Korean filmmaker’s hilarious and incisive takedown of social climbing was the only film this year to make it onto every Chronicle critic’s list (you can see all our individual and diverse selections below).

As Screens editor, let me take a moment to thank Marjorie Baumgarten, Steve Davis, Kimberley Jones, Josh Kupecki, Matthew Monagle, and Marc Savlov for all the late nights, short deadlines, cranky screener software, and for sharing their opinions and expertise on everything from the grandest blockbusters to the most unlikely indie underdogs. Make sure that you go online for even more categories, including ones for performances, screenplays, best director, and a special new slot for The Little Film That Could. This is our way to celebrate the most micro of microbudget, the most offbeat of visions, the films that came from the outer limits of cinema to deliver something truly unique. Find those plus our countdowns of the most-read reviews, Screens stories, and most eagerly awaited unreleased titles out of this year’s festival circuit, at austinchronicle.com/screens.

The Austin Chronicle Top 10 Films of 2019

1) Parasite

2) Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

3) Marriage Story

4) Portrait of a Lady on Fire

5) Pain and Glory

6) Monos

7) The Farewell

8) Uncut Gems

9) Little Women

10) Waves

This article appears in Top 10s 2019.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.