It’s been a grand old year, politically, economically and of course cinematically. A glut of brilliant films have come forth and offered us insights and delights. As it is the time for reflection, let’s look back and give the top ten films of the year, shall we?
Honourable Mentions:
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Barbarian, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers and The Batman
10. GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (GUILLERMO DEL TORO & MARK GUSTAFSON)
The notorious GDT’s stop motion triumph is a film of wit, beauty and that trademark darkness that has marked the Mexican maestro’s career. An all-star voice cast – including Cate Blanchett as a monkey – aid this story that takes the tale of the wooden boy given life and spins a yarn of sinister circus masters, Fascist armies and songs about farts. It’s the emotional core that keeps the whole thing going with the beautiful song Ciao Papa sure to burrow into your heart. A masterpiece in a career full of them.
9. ELVIS (BAZ LURHMANN)
Luhrmann’s trademark excess comes into full force for this audacious retelling of the life of the King of Rock’n’Roll. Austin Butler doesn’t so much play Elvis as become him before our eyes, the charm, the showman, the drinker it’s all there in a film that is as enjoyable to watch as it is tragic by the end. Tom Hanks over-the-top turn as Colonel Tom Parker only adds to this, making for a sickly, but never boring jaunt through the life of one of the greats.
8. BONES AND ALL (LUCA GUADAGNINO)
A coming-of-age road movie that happens to also be about people who chow down on other people. Guadagnino’s horror/romance is marked by some truly great performances. Timotheé Chalamet is great as the aloof drifter who romances our heroine Maren. Taylor Russell is formidable in the lead role and carries it across the many twists and turns, it helps that a very scary Mark Rylance shows up to really add sinister notes to the film. It’s destined to be a film that those who love it take to their heart.
7. PREY (DAN TRATCHENBERG)
Who would have guessed that all it would take to make a great Predator movie would be to strip away everything the sequels added and go back to basics. One predator against a resourceful Native American is all that Dan “10 Cloverfield Lane” Tratchenberg needs to craft one of the year’s best action movies. Reigniting the franchise with a burst of blood soaked action, the horror elements work just as much as the punch ups and Amber Midthunder makes an action icon of herself. This film ain’t got time to bleed.
6. THE WOMAN KING (GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD)
Viola Davis leads this epic ensemble about an army of women warriors in Africa who go head-to-head with rival clans. While some of the story elements are you classic new-recruit in a war movie situations, the cast bring a joy and an intensity to the proceedings. Davis anchors the film with her stoic lead turn, while John Boyega is suitably regal as the King she serves. The supporting cast – particularly Lashana Lynch – dominate the movie that reminds us that historical action films can be inclusive and still bone crunching. Prince-Bythewood remains a sorely underrated talent of directing.
5. THE WHALE (DARREN ARONOFSKY)
Brendan Fraser’s triumphant return to leading roles is one of true humanity as the story of Charlie a morbidly obese man grapples with regret and his strained relationship with his daughter. While Fraser is getting the most awards chatter the supporting cast – Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton – are all exceptional too, and the final five minutes are sob-inducing. It might not be for everyone but Fraser’s performance reminds us that it’s high time we welcome him back with open arms. Nothing but love for my Encino man.
4. BODIES BODIES BODIES (HALINA REIJN)
A post-modern whodunnit that takes aim squarely at the vapid excess of of Gen X, what could be a buzzword laden premise is actually one of the year’s most fun comedy-horror films. Amandla Stenberg leads a cast that includes Pete Davidson, Maria Bakalova and Lee Pace and shows that being progressive isn’t always for good people. The satire cuts as deep as the violence in a film that gleefully wrong foots you the whole time.
3. NOPE (JORDAN PEELE)
Peele swings for the fences like a champion in his ode to Spielbergian blockbusters of the past. The story of man’s obsession with spectacle is the sort of old fashioned big budget movie of ideas they simply don’t make. A Close Encounters of the Hungry Kind this film could be called “just don’t look”, but shows Peele is one of Hollywood’s true visionaries. It’s haunting score, incredible visuals and game cast all round off one of the year’s most original, and shocking, treats.
2. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (DANIELS)
From farting corpse to multiverse of bad-ass, The Daniles duo take the world(s) by storm with this heartfelt and mad-cap adventure. Michelle Yeoh anchors the film as only she can, playing a woman drawn into a multiversal plot of destruction and bagels while trying to sort out her finances with the IRS. Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu offer sublime support as the film goes balls-to-the-hot-dog-fingers. It’s a film with massive ideas but more important emotional resonance. Never before has someone stating they’d like to do their taxes with someone been so romantic. And it features one of the all time Ratatouille jokes.
1. THE NORTHMAN (ROBERT EGGERS)
He will avenge you father. He will save you mother. He will kill you Fjolnir. Eggers third directorial effort is his biggest so far. Mixing his trademark grit and dirt with his love of farts and absurdist humour his viking epic sees Alexander Skarsgård wage a one man war with the elements to bring down his evil uncle (Claes Bang) and save his beloved mother (Nicole Kidman). Limb ripping, and emotionally potent this is one of THE movies of the year.
