Best of 2019 so Far?

An upcoming World of Reel critics poll will give us an indicator of what were the best reviewed films of the year thus far, but Eric Kohn and his IndieWire crew (David Ehrlich and Kate Erbland) have decided to be quick on the trigger and answer that question for us. According to them, in no particular order, “Us,” “Booksmart,” “Diamantino,” “High Life,” “The Beach Bum,” “Her Smell,” “Apollo 11,” ”The Souvenir,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “Diane” were the bees knees of the first six months of the movie year.

I do have a few problems with that list, which I won’t really get into here, but where are “Dogman,” “Dragged Across Concrete,” “Gloria Bell,” “Ash is Purest White,” “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” “Fyre,” and even “Avengers: Endgame.” I would easily replace “The Souvenir,” “Diane” and “Her Smell” for any of these. Missed Harmony Korine’s “Beach Bum” since it didn’t even screen for press in Boston. What gives? I was a major fan of Korine’s “Spring Breakers,” hopefully a blu-ray release is imminent.