It’s the end of the year, and while lots of folks will be publishing their “best-of” lists, I thought I’d just give you a list of 10 of some of my favorite films of the year. These aren’t all award-show shoe-ins or anything like that (though some are), but rather just movies I enjoyed throughout the year.
Some of these are films you may have seen, but some of them may have slipped past you at the theaters or on their various streaming services, and it is by no means an exhaustive list, either…
In no particular order, obviously, as this isn’t a ranking of any sort:
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On: I said it at the time, this is one of my favorite animated films of the year, one that literally everyone can watch and enjoy. If you missed it when it released, find it now.
Top Gun Maverick: A return to the days of old, when big-budget blockbusters were both big-budget and blockbusters. Tom Cruise’s insistence on both shooting the flight sequences practically AND waiting to release the film in theaters proved that the theater-going experience is not only NOT DEAD, but crucial to the survival of Hollywood.
Death on the Nile: I know, I know… Armie Hammer… but hear me out. Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot is stellar, and the old-Hollywood feel of the cinematography is just fun to watch.
The Northman: Eggar’s brutally beautiful Viking epic might be too dark for some, but it’s mix of the realities of warfare and the magical mythology is awesome for fantasy fans.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: Nicolas Cage playing Nicolas Cage in a meta, simultaneously self-referential and self-effacing buddy comedy with Pedro Pascal? This is a no-brainer for any Cage fan or fan of movies in general.
A Love Song: Veteran actors Dale Dickey and Wes Studi in a quiet tale of life, love, and waiting–and wanting–for more. This one ran under the radar, but if you want to see an unconventional love story told with a side of quirky comedy (unrelated to the love story), then search this one out.
Rosaline: This is one I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to enjoy, but darned if Kaitlyn Dever didn’t deliver 100% in this look at life before, during, and after Romeo met Juliet.
Causeway: A limited theatrical release before hitting Apple TV+, most folks probably missed this Jennifer Lawrence/Brian Tyree Henry vehicle about lost souls.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio: By now, you’ve heard how incredible this one is, so if you haven’t watched it yet, do it now. Today. Don’t wait.
Glass Onion – A Knives Out Mystery: This is just a fun, solid, whodunit follow-up to the unexpectedly successful Knives Out from writer/director Rian Johnson, but this is worth your time just to watch this great cast really diving into the material and having fun with it.
Honorable mentions (including TV series or specials):
Werewolf By Night: Completely unexpected, and possibly the best thing from Marvel’s Phase 4 line-up, hands down. More from DIRECTOR (not composer) Michael Giacchino, please.
Andor: The best Star Wars entry since the Rogue One prequel (of which this is, in fact, a prequel, lol). Solid writing, a grounded story, and a an ambiguously rebellious Stellan Skarsgård make this must see television.
Violent Night: The Santa we need, not the Santa we deserve. I’ve seen it twice and I smiled through the entire run both times. David Harbour redeems the disastrous (through no fault of his) Hellboy.
Living: This Bill Nighy-led movie affected me the way only someone of a certain age or disposition might be moved by the story of a lifelong bureaucrat coming to grips with his life only as the end of it approaches. Long relegated to supporting roles, Bill Nighy absolutely shines in this, so if you can find it, watch it. I cried… dammit.
So, there you go. Hopefully I’ve given you some things to check out that you might otherwise have overlooked.
We’ve got a few more reviews and episodes to do before the New Year hits.
Have a great holiday season, everyone!
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