The Best Films of 2022
Honorable Mentions: The Fabelmans, The Banshees of Inisherin, She Said, The Batman, RRR, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On, Hustle, Apollo 10 ½, Broker, Nope
10. After Yang
Director Koganada has a certain disarmingly hypnotic quality in his films. While lulling his audience with a relaxing cinematic environment, there is a subtle emotional punch. After Yang follows a family (Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith) dealing with the loss of their A.I assistant. Koganada’s screenplay is a contemplation of grief shown through very subdued performances. Farrell and Turner-Smith speak in hushed tones which convey lots by saying very little. The same could be said for the performances of their children, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja and Justin H. Min. The subtlety will not work for everyone but was a very emotional experience for me.
9. EO
EO follows a donkey of the same name as he journeys throughout modern Europe. Inspired by French Director Robert Bresson’s film Au Hasard Balthazar, the film does not have a straightforward narrative. EO chronicles this donkey’s journey in a natural and humanistic way over an 86-minute running time. The linear journey shows us what we need to know, without ever telling us. EO is so engaging through his eyes in ways that inform audiences about this character with no dialogue. There is the meaning behind EO’s journey that makes the film unlike any other “animal” focused story I have seen.
8. Aftersun
Films that deal with memory can become manipulative in the wrong filmmaker's hands. Conveying an honest portrayal of memory excuses filmmakers to manipulate an audience. Aftersun handles the topic of memory in ways that I have never seen before. Aftersun follows a character named Sophie, reflecting on a trip with her father (Paul Mescal) twenty years earlier. Seeing this trip through young Sophie’s (Frankie Corio) eyes, she attempts to try and understand the man her father was. The film's ethereal quality makes you feel like you are living in a memory. Combined with breakout performances from Mescal and Corio, that dreamlike feeling earned its place on my “best-of’ list.
7. The Northman
Robert Eggers is one of the best Horror/Thriller directors working today. His historical Horror films The Witch and The Lighthouse did not prepare me for The Northman. This historical Viking epic can be best described as a blend of both action and horror surrealism. The story follows a young Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgård) who goes on a path of revenge for his father's (Ethan Hawke) murder. The Northman is brutal, but a visually wondrous sight to behold. The film can be hard to stomach at times but has rich rewards for those willing to take the journey.
6. Hit The Road
This Iranian road trip comedy and drama was one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. Hit The Road follows an Iranian family on a drive to the Turkish border to smuggle their adult son out of the country. Director Panah Panahi has crafted one of 2022’s perfectly balanced genre films. The tonal pivots between hilarious family dynamics, and dramatic political subtexts, kept me surprised and were informative of Iranian history. Every interaction has a sense of honesty that felt refreshing for the year. I immediately cared about these characters as if they were my own family, leaving me with a lasting impression.
5. Women Talking
Women Talking follows eight women who are in an isolated Mennonite village in the year 2010. The story follows these women dealing with their faith as they come to a haunting realization. It could be argued that Women Talking is the equivalent of a stage play put on film. Some may consider that a dull endeavor, which is not the case thanks to a brilliant cast. Actors Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, and Claire Foy deliver some of the year's most moving and dramatic performances. Each actor conveys writer/director Sarah Polley’s words so thoroughly, that viewers grow to love these characters and understand them. Their struggle is so genuine and raw that I have not been able to stop thinking about it since seeing the film last year
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4. Tár
Tár tells the story of the fictional and world-renowned composer Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) as she grapples with a scandal. While it is not an easy watch, Tár succeeds as a scathing satire of an elitist life falling apart. Cate Blanchett delivers one of the year's best and her best performances, engaging audiences with an unlikable lead character. Knowing that she is not a good person, Blanchett crafts a fascinating character with numerous hidden layers. The screenplay by Field never glorifies her but allows audiences to understand her obsession with her ego and the power she loves having. Following a fictitious lead, the film never loses sight of its timeliness and relevance in a post #MeToo world.
3. Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once follows a middle-aged Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh). Evelyn ruins a struggling laundry business with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan). Frustrated with her life and relationships with her husband and daughter (Stephanie Hsu), she is swept up into an adventure across the multiverse. There are so many genres juggled, that the film could collapse at any moment. Thankfully, Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Known collectively as The Daniels) blend genres seamlessly. Large pivots from action, drama, comedies, and even thrillers, create a fast-paced and fun experience. Some could consider it too fast, if not for the stellar performances. Yeoh, Quan, Hsu, and Jaime Lee Curtis are called upon to play many different characters. It is a tough request but creates something original and incredibly exciting.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
I was in the minority surrounding the love and praise for the original Knives Out. My response to that film kept my expectations rather tempered for Glass Onion. My expectations were exceeded with this funny, sharp, and incredibly clever murder mystery. The combination of Director Rian Johnsons' screenplay, and Daniel Craig's brilliant lead performance, are a perfect homage to classic Agatha Christie mysteries. Add in an exciting supporting cast and the results equal the most entertaining movie I saw in 2022.
1. Babylon
When a film is divisive, the conversations surrounding it can lead to some fascinating discoveries. Damien Chazelle’s indictment of 1920s Hollywood was an electrifying trip to the movies. Occurring during the transition from silent to sound films, Babylon follows multiple characters dealing with the changing times. Clocking in at 3 hours and 8 minutes, the film never loses its propulsive energy. There is not a moment that feels wasted, even with some over-the-top sequences celebrating the film industry. The performances are so surprising, that audiences can never predict where the story will go. How the film balances fun, and fear and deals with themes of mortality and relevance make this the best film I saw in 2022.
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