As we head into the final month of 2019, lists of critically acclaimed films are piling up and moviegoers have plenty to be thankful for. Our critics, Justin Chang and Kenneth Turan , offer this guide to the best of recently released films — some of which are are already streaming. In general release unless otherwise noted.
A worthy winner of the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival, this feature directing debut from the French Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop tells a hypnotic story of migration and abandonment, romance and ghosts. NR.A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood A deeply moving companion piece to last year’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” Marielle Heller’s subtly directed drama casts an excellent Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers and Matthew Rhys as a cynical journalist who is transformed by their encounter. PG.
Its possibly true story of the life and crimes of a Mafia hit man, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, is a revelation, as intoxicating a film as the year has seen, allowing director Martin Scorsese to use his expected mastery of all elements of filmmaking to ends we did not see coming. R.