Cello-K Computer: A Classical Night of Radiohead

By Ben Youngerman, ArtsQuest Marketing Manager

Radiohead’s OK Computer is a historic album that has proven over the years to yield an infinite variety of artistic inspiration to people of all walks of life. That includes Portland, Oregon’s premiere alt-classical group, the Portland Cello Project. About a week before Radiohead is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Portland Cello Project brings a huge, orchestral ensemble (including brass, percussion and guest vocals by Patti King of The Shins) to perform a night in homage to the celebrated 1997 album.

Whether you love Radiohead, classical music or interesting mash-ups, here are just a few songs you can witness live when Portland Cello Project performs Radiohead’s OK Computer in the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling on March 21…

“Climbing Up the Walls”

“Paranoid Android”

“Karma Police”

“Exit Music (For a Film)”

“Jigsaw Falling Into Place”

Yeah, we know it’s from In Rainbows and not from OK Computer but it’s still awesome (and singer Patti Smith will be here for their performance).

Portland Cello Project Performs Radiohead’s OK Computer
Thursday, March 21
Musikfest Cafe pres. by Yuengling

Buy Tickets

Get tickets before this special performance fills up!

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7 Hilarious Tracy Morgan Moments

By Ben Youngerman, ArtsQuest Marketing Manager

Tracy Morgan is one of the most respected comedians in his field for one simple reason: he’s downright hilarious. Morgan’s unique comedic style has earned him countless fans and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Before the comedian performs two stand-up shows in the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling on February 23, and in honor of his 7 seasons on 30 Rock and 7 seasons on Saturday Night Live, these are 7 of our favorite Tracy Morgan moments…

Werewolf Bar Mitzvah – 30 Rock

It’s spooky scary how funny this quick cutaway was on 30 Rock.

That time he bought the Bronx Zoo…

After his accident, Tracy Morgan came into a large monetary settlement. Naturally, he made a zoo, and invited Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo for a tour.

Brian Fellow – Saturday Night Live

Tracy Morgan is not an accredited zoologist, nor is his character Brian Fellow. However, these SNL sketches have us roaring with laughter every time.

Staying Alive – Netflix

Following his terrible traffic accident in 2014, we were blessed to see Tracy return to his roots in stand-up comedy.

Starring in The Last O.G. with Tiffany Haddish

Tracy’s current project, The Last O.G. on TBS, is one of his funniest roles yet. Add the super talented Tiffany Haddish as a co-star and you have a riotous series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLOtiuqzEuE

Tracy Googles Himself – 30 Rock

Do NOT let Tracy use your computer.

I Wish It Was Christmas Today – Saturday Night Live

Tracy doesn’t say anything in this decades-long recurring SNL sketch, but his deadpan face and running in place cracks us up every time. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Come for a night of laughs (and life advice) when Tracy Morgan performs 2 shows in the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling!

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Tracy Morgan
Feb. 23, 7 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.
Musikfest Cafe pres. by Yuengling

Buy Tickets for 7 p.m.

Buy Tickets for 9:45 p.m.

Stand-Up to Boredom in 2019

By Ben Youngerman, ArtsQuest Marketing Manager

If your 2018 was a laughing stock, we’re stocking your 2019 with laughs! Nationally-touring comics, TV stars, the Lehigh Valley’s funniest comedians & more are helping you stand up to boredom early in the new year at SteelStacks. So get out of the house, bring some friends and enjoy these incredibly hilarious stand-up comedians coming to Bethlehem, PA…

Tracy Morgan – 2/23 (7pm & 9:45pm) – buy tickets

Tracy Morgan is one of the most respected comedians in his field. Starring for seven seasons on NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning 30 Rock and seven seasons on Saturday Night Live.

Raymond the Amish Comic – 1/5 – buy tickets

The first (and only) Amish stand-up comedian in the world. With 25 years of show business experience. Raymond The Amish Comic is a high-energy ranting-storyteller. Fans and club owners have called him an Amish Robin Williams.

Ahamed Weinberg – 1/11 – buy tickets

Ahamed Weinberg is a Los Angeles-based comedian from Philadelphia, who made his late night stand up debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers. He is one of Vulture’s “20 Comics to Watch” and was awarded New Face at the 2016 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Pilot Light with Glen Tickle & Tyler Rothrock – 1/17 – buy tickets

Glen Tickle & Tyler Rothrock bring you a night of standup comedy and potential future TV glory in the making that you won’t soon forget! Pilot Light will feature standup sets and a live reading of a television show pilot.

Improvised Standup – 1/19 – buy tickets

The Lehigh Valley’s best standups and improvisers face a new challenge when they’re given topics to talk about…while they’re onstage!

Dry Humor: Standup for Recovery – 1/24 – buy tickets

This annual comedy show, now in its fourth year, celebrates the sobriety of recovering alcoholic and Lehigh Valley-residing comedian Liz Russo. Also starring headliner Dave Landau and featured comedian Patrick Holbert.

Jon Dore – 1/31 – buy tickets

Jon Dore is a talented Canadian writer and actor that has infused his comedic abilities into numerous hit television shows and films. In addition to his new one-hour stand-up special, Big Questions, Huge Answers with Jon Dore premiered on Comedy Central in late 2018.

Sasheer Zamata – 2/8 – buy tickets

Sasheer Zamata is a comedian, actress, writer and former Saturday Night Live cast member for 4 seasons. Sasheer has been listed in Cosmopolitan‘s “13 Funny Women to Watch,” Time Out New York‘s “Top 10 Funniest Women in NYC,” Brooklyn Magazine‘s “50 Funniest People in Brooklyn,” and Complex Magazine‘s “Women in Comedy You Should Be Paying Attention to Right Now.”

Michelle Buteau – 3/29 – buy tickets

Born in New Jersey to Caribbean parents, comedian/host/actress Michelle Buteau brings her unique perspective and big personality to stage and screen. She was most recently the co-host of VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live.

Nick Di Paolo – 4/26 – buy tickets

In this day of watered down comedy, Nick Di Paolo’s brutally honest performances remind us of what great stand up should be – funny, socially relevant and a little bit reckless. He has performed on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Conan.

See LIVE comedy (including stand-up, improv & sketch comedy) every Thursday, Friday & Saturday at SteelStacks! CLICK HERE for our full hilarious lineup!

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Staff Picks: Best Comedy of 2018

It took us seven years, but, for the first time, the staff and volunteers behind the comedy programming at ArtsQuest have put together their lists of the best comedy of 2018. Some of these lists are only or mainly standup specials – the two most popular being John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City and Hannah Gadsby: Nanette – while some others feature TV shows, podcast episodes, web series, and even an album of Bill Murray reading poetry with cello & piano accompaniment. Netflix is about to drop 47 new specials on New Year’s Day, so get to these recommendations before your ‘My List’ explodes.

If you’re a comedy nerd like us, you’ll love LIVE COMEDY every Thursday, Friday & Saturday at SteelStacks and the 6th Annual SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival January 25-26!

RYAN HILL, ARTSQUEST PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR

(This is a list of standup specials only)

1. Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives

The laughs per minute are off the charts. Yes, the comedy is political, but Kondabolu doesn’t want applause for the premise, he wants laughs for his brilliant punchlines, of which there are no shortage.

2. The Standups: Aparna Nancherla

The best use of a PowerPoint you’ll ever see.

3. Hannah Gadsby: Nanette

If you made up your mind on this special without watching it, it’s your loss.

4. Todd Glass: Act Happy

My main complaint with taped specials is that there is no way they can capture the energy and thrill of live performance. Glass, a known perfectionist regarding the atmosphere of his shows,
employs a live jazz band to do more than just rimshots, and the effect allows for one of the liveliest yet intimate specials you’ll ever watch.

5. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

More brilliance from one of the best comedy writers working.

6. The Degenerates: Liza Treyger

This 30-minute set – as part of a Netflix collection featuring ‘dirty’ comics – gives us a young comic who, unlike other young comics, isn’t sacrificing a damn thing to get her message across.

7. Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife

Powerhouse keeps powerhousing.

8. Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh

I didn’t see this coming. Who saw this coming? Save for a couple moments that remind us why his movies are completely tone-deaf, this shows us a performer who I bet really misses doing standup as his main gig.

9. The Standups: Kyle Kinane

Kinane’s got the rhythms of jazz in his delivery, if the jazz was being performed by Tom Waits.

10. James Acaster: Repertoire (Recognize)

The imagination is off the charts with Acaster and all his gambles, however big, pay off.

ADDYSON YOUNG, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY COORDINATOR, PERFORMER: SPITFIRE

1. My Favorite Murder

A true crime comedy podcast. Check out Episode 137 (Gloogle – yes, with the extra l there on purpose) about the guys who lived inside a family’s house for weeks, making them think there was a haunting!

2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

The musical comedy sitcom that advocated for mental health in a way I’ve never seen before on television. Favorite moments include the “Heavy Boobs” song and the “Miracle of Birth” song.

3. Why Won’t You Date Me?

Nicole Byer is a truly wild human and I love listening to her podcast about the confusions of the dating world. While you don’t need to listen in order, the very first episode with Will Hines is crazy and really gets you right into what this whole podcast is about.

4. Glow
This series made me genuinely consider changing my whole life to be a pro-wrestler. The second season “promo” video they make in the episode where Alison Brie aka Ruth Wilder aka Zoya the Destroya rides a goat to from Russia to America is so terrible it’s wonderful.

5. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
“And also with your spirit.”

6. Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial
“Who’s the baby?!”

7. Jack Whitehall

British comedian whose arch nemesis is Robert Pattinson.

8. The Good Place

Such a great cast and a forking bonkers show. Definitely watch this show in order, but the last episode of this season with D’Arcy Carden playing all the characters (“Janet(s)”) was incredibly enjoyable.

9. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

A show about standup in the 1950’s by the creator of Gilmore Girls. The first episode of this season – where Susie experiences a delightful kidnapping – was both hilarious and beautifully shot.

10. Queer Eye

Get out your tissues and learn to french tuck. The first episode of the second season with Mama Tami will make you cry your eyes out. I’m not sure most people would count this as a comedy, but this show brings me joy so I just thought I should let everyone know about it in case there is anyone who has yet to discover this Netflix masterpiece.

JON LUNGER, ARTSQUEST MARKETING DIRECTOR, PERFORMER: SPITFIRE

1.-4. James Acaster: Repertoire:
S1:E1 – Recognise
S1:E2 – Represent
S1:E3 – Reset
S1:E4 – Recap

If you haven’t watched these 4 hour long stand-up specials, you’ve wasted your life this year. Dude has 4 hours of material and they’re all incredible.

5. The Good Place S3:E9 – Janet(s)

The Good Place is easily the best comedy on television right now. D’Arcy Carden is amazing and this episode proves it. We don’t deserve her.

6. Peter Rabbit
Not a joke. This movie was a friggin’ delight. Surprisingly funny and surprisingly violent, it may be the movie I enjoyed the most this year.

7. Hannah Gatsby: Nanette

Duh. This is great and I’m sure you’ve heard that from like everyone by now.

8. Astronomy Club S1:E2 – Relationship Status – Uncensored

I’ve been in love with Astronomy Club’s improv since I saw them at UCB-NY and I’m in love with their web series too. Come see them at the SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival on January 25th.

9. How Did This Get Made ep189 – Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: LIVE! (w/ Joe Mande, Tawny Newsome)

Paul Sheer, Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael’s podcast is a national treasure.

10. Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast ep71 – Flula Borg in Throwing The Robot Planet For A Loop

Off Book is easily one of the silliest best times you can insert directly into your ears. Pair that with the absurdly delightful Flula Borg and you have pure comedic joy. You can also see them at the SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival, but on January 26th!

BEN YOUNGERMAN, ARTSQUEST MARKETING MANAGER, PERFORMER/DIRECTOR: HOCKEY FIGHT 2

1. Gritty

Mascots are just furry, non-speaking versions of comedians. Nobody – or thing – had a more epic 2018 than our favorite orange fuzzball with googly eyes.

2. Tenacious D’s Post-Apacalypto

The D returned with a the greatest concept album and YouTube series that ever existed (so they’d say). Jack Black’s hand-drawn cartoons make this project look childish and genius at the same time.

3. “Diner Lobster” sketch on Saturday Night Live

I’m just sad this sketch never made it out of table read while John Mulaney was a Saturday Night Live writer. It’s the weirdest but best sketch SNL has produced in many years.

4. Conan in Japan

Conan O’Brien’s travelling segments are must-watch content. His latest trip to Japan was no exception.

5. Late Night with Seth Meyers, “A Closer Look”

The news is a daily horror show. Seth Meyers’ daily segment is one of the things that’s kept me laughing through the darkness.

6. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

John Mulaney is at the top of his game and only getting better.

7. Hiking with Kevin Nealon

This low-budget YouTube series features former-SNL star Kevin Nealon hiking in L.A. with his famous friends. Funny stuff and great insight into many of their careers.

8. South Park, “Dead Kids”

Since transitioning from fart jokes in the early seasons to social commentary in recent years, South Park has always had spot-on critiques. In season 22, though, Matt Stone and Trey Parker came out with their most biting episodes yet, beginning with the incredibly funny and sobering episode “Dead Kids.”

9. A President Show Documentary

Anthony Atamanuik is the best Trump satirist in the world. It’s a shame Comedy Central didn’t give the show a full second season of episodes, but this special hour was bigly.

10. Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh

Pun kind of intended, this was a breath of fresh air from one of my early comedy heroes. I haven’t been fond of most of his recent work, but Sandler looks reinvigorated (and is hilarious) in this Netflix special.

RICKEY NEGRON, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY ASSISTANT

1. Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
2. John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
3. John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons
4. Vir Das: Losing It
5. Gad Elmaleh: American Dream
6. Chris Rock: Tambourine
7. Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia
8. Ali Wong: Hard Knock Life
9. Tig Notaro: Happy to be Here
10. Ricky Gervais: Humanity

GLEN TICKLE, ARTSQUEST COMEDY COMMITTEE, HOST: NERD NITE BETHLEHEM

(presented in no particular order)

Seth Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity

I think comedy makes the world a better place in like, an abstract way, but it’s also nice to see people using it for concrete, measurable good, like this sixth-annual Hilarity for Charity variety show to raise money for Alzheimers. With appearances by Michelle Wolf, Tiffany Haddish, John Mulaney, and a bunch more people, it’s a great watch.

Hannah Gadsby: Nanette

This special sparked a lot of debate about what is and isn’t stand up, and I’m glad it did. And to be clear: It is stand up, but more importantly, let’s all stop trying to force taxonomy onto comedy. I’ll admit that the first few minutes aren’t really anything special. But after seeing the thing as a whole I think that’s by design. Gadsby lulls you in with some softballs, gets into some genuinely brilliant jokes about art history, and then just lays the audience out with the turn.

Drew Michael: Drew Michael

I’m including this special on my list even though I didn’t actually like it very much. Michael performs in a weird black void to no audience, with occasional interruptions by a woman on a Skype call that only kind of pays off at the end. Directed by Jerrod Carmichael, it’s beautifully shot. It makes bold choices that I don’t necessarily agree with or even enjoy, but they’re made intentionally, and I think it’s definitely worth your time.

Demetri Martin: The Overthinker

Here’s another one that takes a few shots at breaking the standard format of a standup special. Demetri Martin performs his usual style of absurd one-liners, music, and drawing, but leaves ample pauses while on stage for added voice-over jokes. It feels a little gimmicky, but what it does manage to accomplish is to make the finished special a very different experience than having seen the live show. Sometimes it can feel like you’re missing out on the experience of seeing live comedy when you watch something that was filmed, but the voice-over technique adds an element for the home viewer that the live audience didn’t have.

W. Kamau Bell: Private School Negro

W. Kamau Bell is doing some of my absolute favorite material about parenting right now. It’s hilarious, but he also blends the day-to-day aspects of being a parent with trying to raise a kid in the nightmare hellscape that is the year 2018. Bell even manages to make it seem like there might be a little bit of hope out there.

Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King

Minhaj uses one story and a slideshow presentation to try to summarize his life as an immigrant to the United States, and all the racism that entails. It’s a carefully scripted performance that doesn’t feel as loose as most standup, but both the jokes and the serious moments land well.

Bill Murray, Jan Vogler, and Friends: New Worlds

This one isn’t actually a comedy album, and it came out in 2017, but I need to round out this list, so I’m including it. New Worlds is an album where Bill Murray reads poetry over classic cello and piano music. Parts of it are funny, like when Murray recites the lyrics to “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story, but his reading of Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” and a few other moments on the album are genuinely very moving. The pairings of music and poetry are put together beautifully. It’s also incredibly relaxing and I frequently put the album on as I’m falling asleep.

Jason Brown: Jokes Through the Bathroom Door

Full disclosure, I produced this album on my label Circus Trapeze Records, Jason is one of my best friends, and the album was recorded at SteelStacks. All that said, it’s a really good album. I met Jason at the first open mic I did, so I’ve seen him grow as a performer a lot in the nine years we’ve been doing comedy together, and this was one of the best sets he’s ever had. It’s available to buy and stream everywhere you get albums.

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

I don’t know. John Mulaney is just really good at standup comedy and I like watching him do it.

Adam Sandler 100% Fresh

Listening to Sandler’s early albums as a kid and watching Billy Madison 500 times had a big impact on my life in comedy. I’ve always been a fan of Sandler’s, and I’ll even go to bat for his later, less-loved stuff (turns out your sense of humor changes as you get older and have kids) but 100% Fresh feels every bit like throwing on What the Hell Happened to Me? at a sleepover after the parents went to bed. I could have done without the gay-panic Rob Schneider astronaut song, but the bit about Chris Farley absolutely wrecked me.

LAUREN KELLY, ARTSQUEST COMEDY COMMITTEE

(presented in no particular order)
The Standups: Aparna Nancherla
The Comedy Lineup: Aisling Bea
Tig Notaro: Happy to Be Here
Todd Glass: Act Happy
Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial
Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
Natasha Leggero, Moshe Kasher: the Honeymoon Standup Special
Daniel Sloss: Jigsaw
The Standups: Kyle Kinane
Comedy Bang Bang Podcast – ep 574 November 19, 2018 – Scott Aukerman, Conan O’Brien, Lauren Lapkus, Paul F Tompkins, Mary Holland

LEEANMERIE ROUSE, ARTSQUEST COMEDY COMMITTEE

(presented in no particular order)
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
Katt Williams: Great America
Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
Chris Rock: Tambourine
The Comedy Lineup: Tom Dillon
The Comedy Lineup: Sam Jay
The Comedy Lineup: Taylor Tomlinson
The Comedy Lineup: Phil Wang
The Comedy Lineup: Michelle Buteau

ERIK PARKER, ARTSQUEST COMEDY COMMITTEE

(presented in no particular order)

Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
The Comedy Lineup: Sam Jay
Any time Julio Torres is on the Tonight Show
The ‘House Hunters’ sketch on the Liev Schrieber SNL
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
The Comedy Lineup: Phil Wang
Detroiters (RIP) – Trevor
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City

Staff Picks: Best Films of 2018

According to the staff and volunteers that powered the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas in 2018, The Favourite was, well… their favorite movie of the year! It shows up on more lists below (seven) than any other film and is overall the highest-ranked on those lists. Runners up include Eighth Grade (five lists, one #1 spot) and First Reformed (five lists, two #1 spots).

As we look back on our favorite films of 2018, remember that you can see award-winning films and your classic favorites while drinking a beer in our two art house theaters at SteelStacks in 2019! NOW PLAYING / SPECIAL SCREENINGS / COMING SOON

RYAN HILL, ARTSQUEST PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR

1. Eighth Grade

I didn’t know you could smile while you cringed until I saw this movie. Nothing is forced and nothing is sacred at the same time; it’s easily the pound-for-pound winner of the year for me.

2. Widows

A heist movie where the heist isn’t really the thing. Tightly directed; Viola Davis remains one of the best of our time.

3. Shoplifters

There’s so much heart in this film.

4. The Favourite

The dance scene is the funniest movie bit of 2018. The ending is… well… I still don’t know.

5. Three Identical Strangers

I’ve seen enough documentaries to be able to pretty much predict where they’re going and how they’re getting there. I had no clue through this film, it is arguably the most riveting of the year.

6. First Reformed

Ethan Hawke lifts this film, but Paul Schroeder’s detached direction is the low-key champion.

7. Tully

Charlize Theron will not get the credit she deserves for this solid piece of writing from Diablo Cody.

8. If Beale Street Could Talk

My first take on this film was that it was too slow. I now realize it was pretty much just right.

9. Madeline’s Madeline

Best third act of the year, or weirdest third act of the year? Hint: it’s both.

10. Blindspotting

Chewed me up and spit me out. If you can combine intensity with hilarity, you got me.

Just missing this list: Roma, Cold War, Black Panther.

ANTHONY DESANCTIS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY COORDINATOR

1. Roma
2. Eighth Grade
3. Shoplifters
4. A Star is Born
5. Paddington 2
6. The Hate U Give
7. Never Look Away
8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
9. Blindspotting
10. Ready Player One

2018 was definitely a year where I saw more foreign films than in past years. And I’m certainly glad I did. Roma is a masterpiece. This will be a film dissected in film classes for years to come for its breathtaking visuals and intimate storytelling. Alfonso Cuaron is one of the best filmmakers working today. And everyone should see Shoplifters and Never Look Away. When I went to Sundance at the beginning of the year, I was one of the first people to see Eighth Grade. And it’s been in my head ever since. Easily one of the most honest and relate-able films I’ve seen. Bo Burnham makes one hell of a directorial debut, as do Bradley Cooper and Carlos Lopez Estrada with A Star is Born and Blindspotting respectively. If anyone wants an instant pick-me-up, I suggest you watch Paddington 2 immediately. The Hate U Give is a tragically underrated film that I hope develops a strong following as the years go on. I had me in tears multiple times. And I never though an animated Spider-Man film would knock my socks off as much as it did, but WOW WOW WOW. It’s self-aware and pokes fun at itself while still honoring all the mythology that came before. And yes, I’m probably the only person I know who liked Ready Player One as much as I did, but it had me smiling from start to finish. It made the fan boy in me happy and reminded me of the blockbusters Spielberg is so well known for. It shows he can still make punk rock.

ADDYSON YOUNG, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY COORDINATOR

1. Leave No Trace

This film is so beautiful. The cinematography is spot on and the story of love between a daughter and father is truly touching.

2. Eighth Grade

This film was so awkward and I loved every cringy second of it. If you’ve ever been 13, you will relate to this film.

3. RBG

I already knew I loved the Notorious RGB, but this film really just affirmed how Kick-A** she truly is.

4. The Favourite

Just watch it, okay? Then we can talk about how delightfully strange this film is? Also, costumes!… and bunnies?

5. Won’t You Be My Neighbor

I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING!

6. Boy Erased

It’s a hard watch, but oh so worth it. Nicole Kidman also is positively wonderful.

7. A Quiet Place

I don’t usually like scary movies but this one I thoroughly enjoyed. Even if my shoulders did ache afterwards from tensing them up the entire movie.

8. Isle of Dogs

I almost adopted every dog in the Lehigh Valley after watching this film.

9. A Simple Favor

Critics dubbed this film as unrealistic, but, as a true crime podcast nerd, I thought this story was wonderfully insane.

10. The Spy Who Dumped Me

This is not a “good” movie, but g*ddammit if it’s not enjoyable anyway. There may be some plot holes, but Mila Kunis and Sam Heughan and Kate McKinnon in a pink sparkly suit fighting bad guys (we actually never really find out why they’re bad though) all over Europe is a win in my book.

Honorable Mention: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

It saddens me to put this film so low on my Top Ten (editor’s note: it’s not even in her Top Ten), but contrary to the seemingly popular opinion, I did enjoy this film. It’s no Harry Potter, for sure, but I’ll take all the wizarding world film, movie, plays, etc. I can get.

RICKEY NEGRON, ARTSQUEST CINEMA & COMEDY ASSISTANT

1. Roma
2. The Favourite
3. First Reformed
4. A Star Is Born
5. Eighth Grade
6. Blindspotting
7. Hereditary
8. A Quiet Place
9. Green Book
10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Honorable mentions: Black Panther, The Hate U Give, BlackKklansman, and Crazy Rich Asians.

CATHERINE FORD, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE

1. And Breathe Normally

Suspenseful while pulling at your heart strings. Wonderful script and some of the best acting I’ve seen this year.

2. A Kid Like Jake

Claire Danes turns in one of her best performances as well one of the best performances I’ve seen this year by any actress. It received mixed reviews but I was moved but the story, acting, and script.

3. Eighth Grade

A wonderful coming of age film.

4. Can You Ever Forgive Me

Melissa McCarthy was wonderful in this film as well as a strong supportive cast. Although I knew the story, I was kept on the edge of my seat watching this film.

5. BlackKklansman

Well written script and acting. It uses history to offer commentary on current events; it’ll be known as one of Spike Lee’s best.

6. The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Subtle but strong script and acting. Chloë Grace Moretz gives a strong performance in the lead role.

7. Isle of Dogs

Very entertaining and creative especially if you are a dog person, though that’s not necessary to enjoy the film. Both entertaining and meaningful.

8. Roma

Beautifully filmed, artistic, and moving.

9. The Cake Maker

Israeli director Ofir Raul Graizer’s first feature-length film is a drama about an unusual relationship.

10. The Favourite

Wonderful script and well-acted. I wasn’t always sure what was going on, but I was entertained. After watching the film with a group of friends we spent a couple hours discussing the film… that always means something.

Honorable Mention: Boy Erased

Nicole Kidman gives a strong performance as does Russell Crowe as his parents and Lucas Hedges as Jared. Unlike Miseducation of Cameron Post, this film is set in 2003 and focuses on a personal story where as Cameron Post gives insights to all the kids and adult counselors.

ROBERT DANIELS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE

1. First Reformed
2. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
3. Lean on Pete
4. Sorry to Bother You
5. Mandy
6. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
7. The Favourite
8. The Other Side of the Wind
9. Shoplifters
10. Game Night

In lieu of something wise or witty about each film, I submit the next twenty, which I feel some degree of bad about leaving out:

11-30: Roma, Upgrade, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Blindspotting, Assassination Nation, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, First Man, The Old Man & the Gun, The House That Jack Built, Paddington 2, You Were Never Really Here, Let the Sunshine In, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Hereditary, Isle of Dogs, Burning, Disobedience, Fahrenheit 11/9, The Rider, Thoroughbreds.

LAUREN TOCCI, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE/CO-CURATOR, FIRST SATURDAY HORROR SERIES

(presented in no particular order)

Black Panther
A Quiet Place
A Wrinkle in Time
A Star is Born
Hearts Beat Loud
Won’t You be My Neighbor
Annihilation
Roma
Avengers: Infinity War
The House with a Clock in its Walls

Putting this list together was a different experience this year. Insofar as it’s not common when your favorite movie of the year happens so early in the first quarter of the year. Black Panther for so many reasons is a special film, fantastic directing and truly emotionally anchored performances. Won’t You Be My Neighbor has the simultaneous ability to warm your heart and make you cry a river of tears. What I think mostly ties these films together are the compelling conversations they cause, the breath of fresh air filmmaking, and mostly the heart and resonance at the center of each story.

ADRIANNA GOBER, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE/CO-CURATOR, FIRST SATURDAY HORROR SERIES

1. The Favourite
2. Madeline’s Madeline
3. The Rider
4. Knife + Heart
5. Minding the Gap
6. Shoplifters
7. Holiday
8. First Reformed
9. Shirkers
10. Sorry to Bother You
Honorable Mention: Support the Girls

JASON PAULUS, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE

1. First Reformed
2. A Star Is Born
3. The Favourite
4. Burning
5. Mid90s
6. Vox Lux
7. You Were Never Really Here
8. Blindspotting
9. Roma
10. Wildlife

JEN SUWAK, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE

1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Won’t You be My Neighbor?
3. Mandy
4. Black Panther
5. BlackKklansman
6. Halloween
7. A Quiet Place
8. Three Identical Strangers
9. Annihilation
10. Aquaman

STEVE ABRUZZESE, ARTSQUEST CINEMA COMMITTEE

1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Sorry to Bother You
3. Won’t You be My Neighbor?
4. Mandy
5. BlackKklansman
6. Three Identical Strangers
7. Halloween
8. A Quiet Place
9. Black Panther
10. Annihilation

We look forward to seeing you in 2019 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas!

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