2018 was a crazy year to say the least. Thankfully, we have films to give us inspiration, hope, beauty, humor, and sheer fun in the face of Life and horrifying tweets. Here are the Writers Guild Foundation staff’s favorite movies of the year. You can read most of these screenplays in the Library when we reopen on January 2.
Libbie Anderson - Director of Programs and Community Outreach
You Were Never Really Here (screenplay by Lynne Ramsay)
In Libbie’s words: “Lynne Ramsay is an absolute genius and one of my favorite directors working today. Her take on the down-and-out hitman trope is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
Javier Barrios - Librarian
A Quiet Place (screenplay by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck and John Krasinski)
In Jav’s words: “[This movie] was a fresh take on the monster movie genre.”
Dustin Fleischmann - Events Coordinator
Roma (screenplay by Alfonso Cuaron)
In Dustin’s words: “Y Tu Mamá También has been my favorite foreign language film since high school, but this might have overthrown it. All the elements from this movie come together to form something authentic and emotionally arresting, from the outstanding performance by Yalitza Aparicio and the signature lingering and meditative camerawork borrowed from Cuarón’s previous collaborations with Emmanuel Lubezki. Since it’s on Netflix, you literally have no excuse to not watch it.”
Lauren O’Connor - Librarian
Support the Girls (screenplay by Andrew Bujalski)
In Lauren’s words: “With most of the action taking place at a sports bar/grill in Texas, this film takes characters we've really only seen objectified in media and in life (that is to say scantily clad waitresses of Hooters-like restaurants and the clientele of such establishments) and looks at their day-to-day travails with warmth, humanity and humor. Also, I appreciate movies that take place in the south that feel like the filmmakers have actually been to the south. It adds to the realism and charm. “
Enid Portuguez - Director of Events and Communications
The Favourite (screenplay by Deborah Davis & Tony McNamara)
In Enid’s words: “The Favourite was an odd, quirky film that I couldn’t look away from. The three female lead characters were so compelling in their complexity and motivations, however disturbing or unsavory they may be. So much of my delight stemmed from small, well-timed reactions and lines that were so true to the characters.”
Hilary Swett - Archivist
A Quiet Place (screenplay by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck and John Krasinski)
In Hilary’s words: “A Quiet Place was so fresh and raw and shows us how much you can achieve without dialogue. And wrapping a family drama in a horror package was a great call.”