Retrospective 2019- A Year in Film

April

Screens in Bloom

Image sources: Warner Bros., Lionsgate & A24

As spring went into full bloom, so did the year’s blockbuster slate as April delivered remakes and comic-book fare of varying quality and success, including an injection of real humour into DC’s Extended Universe with ‘Shazam!‘ and a new screen adaptation of a Stephen King classic with ‘Pet Sematary‘, plus a rather forgettable reboot of a beloved monster series with ‘Hellboy‘. Yet there was still some cinematic variety lingering in the air as UK audiences were treated to acclaimed indie coming-of-age dramas and directorial debuts ‘Eighth Grade‘ and ‘Mid90s‘, as well as melodic rebellious British drama ‘Wild Rose‘ and a French take on the American western with Jacques Audiard’s ‘The Sisters Brothers‘.

The End of the Beginning

Image source: Marvel

April also delivered by far the year’s biggest film, and after a cheeky re-release and a concerted effort from Disney the highest grossing (non inflation-adjusted) film of all time ‘Avengers: Endgame‘. Not only did it rake in $2.79 billion and effectively close the decade-long first chapter of Marvel’s MCU in epic fashion, but it also ended the run of some major characters, including the iron-suited granddaddy who made it all possible, or so we’re led to believe—making way for a new phase of MCU sequels and new additions, which begins in earnest with the ‘Black Widow’ standalone film in May of 2020.

Those We Lost

Image source: Disney, HBO, Getty Images & Lucasfilm

April saw the passing among others of veteran American character actor Seymour Cassel (84) (Faces, Rushmore) and veteran American TV star Georgia Engel (70) (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Everybody Loves Raymond). We also saw the unexpected loss of American writer/director John Singleton (51) (Boyz n the Hood, Shaft), plus gentle British giant and everyone’s favourite Wookiee Peter Mayhew (74) (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back).

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