2019 Smart AwardsShows or movies that premiered in 2019 – The Smart Awards are for shows or movies that aren’t dumbed down, that force you to use your brain. And the acting is subtle rather than over the top or playing to the camera. *2019 was a very full year, so this year’s awards are broken down a little differently.
Docudrama about the horrific accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 near the Ukrainian city of Pripyat. Very well acted. Harris and Watson may win awards for this. The technical jargon can be difficult to follow, but in this case you want to know what happened, so you try hard to understand it.
Creator: Craig Mazin
Cast: Jared Harris, Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård
IMDb: 9.6
Where: HBO, Amazon On Demand, iTunes, Vudu
Netflix can be proud of this one. Kaitlyn Dever (Justified) plays a young woman who is raped by a serial rapist. Complications ensue when she tries to tell the police. This is a really well-done drama, with a subtlety and intelligence rarely done with American shows. Based on actual events.
Creators: Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, Merritt Wever
IMDb: 8.7
Where: Netflix
Based on the writings of the late Bruce Lee, this Cinemax martial-arts action drama, set in old San Francisco, follows the travails of a Chinese immigrant who’s come to America to find his sister. This show is a perfect mashup of two previous Cinemax hits. It has the raw, supercharged, intense action of Banshee, and the period-piece look/feel and drama of The Knick. Bottom line: If you liked Banshee, or like martial arts, you’ll like this show.
Creator: Jonathan Tropper (Banshee)
Cast: Andrew Koji, Jason Tobin, Olivia Cheng
IMDb: 8.3
Where: Max Go (Cinemax)
Netflix did something right here (foreshadowed in this article): they produced a quality movie for theatrical release. The Irishman got a limited release in theaters on November 1, then was available for streaming on November 27. The movie is long (3 hours 30 minutes) and slow-paced, and you may have difficulty with the make-them-look-younger CGI. But overall I liked this old Scorcese-style gangster movie, which had another rare onscreen pairing of Pacino and De Niro. (Their first was in Heat; see article here.) Pacino was the standout for me in this one.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
IMDb: 8.1
Where: Netflix
I didn’t think the format of this show would work, but somehow they succeeded. It all takes place, basically, in a police interrogation room. I’ve seen only the UK version, but Netflix also has Germany, France, and Spain versions that have different storylines and actors. I’d bet all of them are solid, but the Brits sure can act.
Creators: Jim Field Smith, George Kay
Cast: David Tennant, Hayley Atwell, Katherine Kelly
IMDb: 7.5
Where: Netflix
As far as superhero movies go, Marvel’s Avengers movies might be the smartest (along with Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy). Here the team tries to undo the tragic, cosmic events of 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. It’s obvious that the Russos, as well as Joss Whedon before them, have made an effort to go beyond special effects, and have an intelligent, emotional story, with some occasional, mostly unforced humor added. For fans of the superhero genre, this is pretty smart stuff.
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth
IMDb: 8.5
Where: Disney+, Amazon On Demand, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu
In WWI, two young soldiers are assigned the task of getting a life-saving message to an infrantry deep in enemy territory. This is certainly a smart film. It may get a Best Picture Oscar. But like 2017’s Dunkirk, for all its perfect production and smarts, it still seems a bit thin.
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones)
IMDb: 8.6
Where: in theaters
(2019 U.S.) Acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou gives a Shakespearesque story of love, revenge, and the struggle for power. Though the film is mostly sort of black and white, each frame feels like a painting. It’s not Zhang Yimou’s best movie, but it makes this list for visual style and overall effort toward smart cinema.
Original title: Ying
Director: Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers)
Cast: Chao Deng, Li Sun, Ryan Zheng
IMDb: 7.0
Where: Netflix
This is both a prequel and sequel to the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, which was also a semi-popular movie in 2009. You don’t have to be familiar with either of those to jump right into this dystopian tale of racism and anti-heroes. Though not great, it makes the list because I believe in rewarding shows/movies that try to be creative and outside-the-box.
Creator: Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers)
Cast: Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart
IMDb: 7.9
Where: HBO
A smart show with an all-star British cast, plus Olivia Munn. A young woman with paranormal abilities works for a secret government organization. I liked this show, but thought it would be much better. So I’m hoping for a stronger second season. It makes the list mainly because at least it’s trying to be intelligent and different.
Writer: Daniel O’Malley (novel based on)
Cast: Emma Greenwell, Joely Richardson, Olivia Munn
IMDb: 6.5
Where: Starz, Starz-Amazon
Two detectives investigate the death of a young girl. Another near-hit from Starz. This crime drama is Ireland’s take on Nordic noir. Like others on this list, this one gets credit for making a solid attempt at intelligent storytelling.
Creator: Sarah Phelps
Cast: Sarah Greene, Killian Scott (Love/Hate), Michael D'Arcy
IMDb: 7.2
Where: Starz, Starz-Amazon
Like I said, 2019 was a very full year. These are pretty good also, if it’s your type of show.
CRIME DRAMAS:
FANTASY: