Reflect upon the movies that were released in a given year and your favorites likely resonated with you on a deeply personal level – my 2022 list is no different. It spans a range of emotion and thematic elements that at times hit me so squarely in the chest I couldn’t help but cry, laugh, get scared or become shakily indignant – being in love, losing love, absolute heartbreak, what it means to be a mother, an undying admiration for filmmaking, people who understand, people who likely never will, the reality of depression, second chances, abandonment, bigotry, desperation, existentialism, and the very comforting possibility that we may actually live in many universes.
TOP 20
1
Everything Everywhere All at Once
At its core, a movie about kindness and understanding but told via googly eyes, body humor, martial arts, rocks, everything bagels…and butt plugs. Beyond refreshing existential take on the meaning of nothing. And that means everything.
2
The Banshees of Inisherin
An allegory of war. The western Irish coast. Colin Farrell’s eyebrows. And a really, really sweet donkey named Jenny. All serve as apt backdrops to a character study about what we will do to save or break a relationship and the film ultimately strikes the perfect balance between melancholy and humor in telling this unusual story.
3
Marcel The Shell with Shoes On (2021, released widely in 2022)
This little guy captured every feel I have. The stop-motion animation equivalent to last year’s nearly perfect C’mon, C’mon. This made me want a big bear hug from Jenny Slate.
4
Happening (2021, released widely in 2022)
An unflinching account of a woman who struggles to find anyone to help her get an abortion, a word that, true to life in 1963 France, is never uttered in the film. The over-the-shoulder shots of her bobbing ponytail and tight aspect ratio put us directly in Anne’s thoughts and, fittingly, the story focuses squarely on the lonely solitude of her decision – no romantic entanglement, no pressure from a man to make one choice or another, no remorse. The ramifications are brutal and hard to watch but so important. This should be required viewing for everyone in 2022 America.
5
The Fabelmans
Loved every second of this. Thought it would be more about the magic of moviemaking but was pleasantly surprised to see the film explore the nuances of this process. Film sees life through a very subjective lens and Spielberg captures the choices we make through his own family’s story. And all Twin Peaks vibes rushed in when I recognized David Lynch’s voice as he played the legendary John Ford. A little nerd fest in the final moments that was absolutely priceless.
6
Nope
Admittedly I still have a ton of questions about this one and had to watch it three times to get to some kind of understanding. Is it a commentary on surveillance, Hollywood vanity, the dangers of stardom, the Wild West? Is there significance to the monkey – a symbol of greed and unfulfilled wishes? Or is it really just about extraterrestrial life invading our own? All of the above? Regardless, an epic and beautiful film with a budget that Jordan Peele proves he deserves.
7
RRR
Like the main characters’ dance and fight moves, this movie has swiftly and decisively put the action genre on a new level. An incredible whirlwind of epic proportions. Move over, Marvel…
8
Murina
Two blue swimsuits, a harpoon and sheer willpower. This movie quietly tackles a tenuous relationship between Julija and her parents that unravels at the arrival of an old family friend. The symbolism of the sea as a bittersweet oasis and ultimate path to freedom for Julija is obvious but works really well here. It is not heavy-handed and takes its time despite the film’s lean run time.
9
Armageddon Time
What last year’s Belfast tried (and failed) to do. A searing tale of 80s America seen through a child’s eye with bigotry and friendship in the foreground and adults squarely in the background.
10
Barbarian
In addition to being a really fun horror film that subverts just about every genre expectation we have, this film also does a great job on a societal level depicting different types of men. From the sexist to the cancelled, from the slightly creepy to the outright monstrous, this is a story of a woman trapped among all of them. One of my favorite details is Keith’s copy of Jane Eyre in his suitcase. Blink and you’ll miss it, but it’s an excellent choice considering the feminist debate around that novel – Rochester loves Jane but locks up Bertha? It’s a complicated premise that mirrors this film and the comparison is worth further examination.
11
Emily the Criminal
Emily is like a lot of us – somewhat broken, riddled with debt, saddled with the consequences of life decisions, exhausted from being exploited at dead-end jobs, and desperate to make ends meet. Aubrey Plaza is a stunning force as Emily. The anxiety established as she navigates her way through some very frustrating situations is palpably uncomfortable and sometimes downright maddening.
12
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
An utterly charming meta movie. It’s not stellar filmmaking but its cleverness puts it in this list for me and it was refreshing to see Cage and Pascal having fun with such a silly premise.
13
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
What a sweet and touching tale of outlaw cats, the sweetest goofball dog and a clever reimagining of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. A delight all around.
14
Top Gun Maverick
Yes, it’s not much different from the original, but this one gets points for its adventurous spirit and for helping to usher people back to theaters. The film’s nostalgia is palpable and its heart is evident in every scene.
15
Dog
Unlike a lot of movies about dogs, this is not one that overtly sympathizes with the titular dog. She’s a real beast in many ways – unruly, quick to anger, scared of thunder, and hungry for anything in the car, including water bottles. What is unspoken in this film feels very genuine, and it never becomes too cute. We feel for both characters and delight when they do finally come to understand each other, but the film gets to this point patiently and doesn’t compromise real emotion for cheap jokes or too many sweet moments.
16
Tar
Like The Fabelmans, this has a lot to say about whether we should, or even can, separate our feelings about the artist from the art itself. The fictional Lydia Tar is a complicated character who tangles our sense of this idea and the result is a movie that really makes you ponder the idea of art and its human ego counterpart.
17
The Northman
Brooding, bloody, brutal in magnificently epic scope. And Taylor-Joy is able to now be the witch in full glory.
18
Smile
Along with Barbarian and Fresh, one of my favorite scary movies of 2022. On its deepest level, it explores the kind of trauma that leaves deep marks and wounds that others either cannot fully see or care to comprehend. And this feels very real.
19
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Johnson’s scenes in which she describes how tortured her mind is are worth every minute of this gem. I’ve rarely heard in film more accurate depictions of depression, anxiety and autism.
20
The Menu
A deliciously twisted story that both proves that you can find new ways to scare an audience and beautifully showcases the very talented Taylor-Joy and Fiennes.
THE REST
God’s Creatures
One of my faves featured a quite creepy Paul Mescal as a disturbed young man doted on by his adoring mother who slowly discovers who her son really is. As with Daisy Edgar-Jones, I didn’t know Mescal before this and his bit role in The Lost Daughter. I later discovered the hauntingly romantic show Normal People, starring both of them. A treasure trove of ideas, human connection, and love that is difficult but worth the wait.
Fresh
I never want to eat meat of any kind ever again. Luckily, even though Where the Crawdads Sing is even further down this list, it introduced me to Daisy Edgar-Jones and I’ve been obsessed with seeing everything else she’s in. She doesn’t disappoint in this one at all. See it if you’re not squeamish…
On the Count of Three (2021, released widely in 2022)
A very poignant dark comedy told with great verisimilitude, especially when it comes to mental health – and this is not an easy task. I ached for it to end differently but knew it never could. I’m just glad a movie like this exists.
Emergency
What a refreshing take on male friendship. There are tears, honest conversations about racism, sexism and morality peppered throughout the breathless action. Bonus, I’m honestly the only person I know who says repeatedly that “pussy” is actually a sexist word so I actually clapped when Carlos says it. 🙂
Violent Night: When the love of your life takes a break from you during Christmas, plunging your self-loathing to a new low, what do you do? Go see this. Each stabbing, slaying, and knockout drag-out satisfied every angry bone in my body. And David Harbour’s smoldering intensity satisfied the rest. Loved ringing in this year’s worst holiday with this. Better than therapy and a lot sexier.
Bros
A delightful rom-com. Billy Eichner isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who like his comedy, it’s nice to see him showcased like this.
Elvis
Tom Hanks’ accent is distracting and odd, but Austin Butler makes this movie his own and makes up for any flaws. His performance is definitely Oscar-worthy and the film itself stays in keeping with the Baz Luhrmann style. It’s kinetic, wild, fresh, colorful and just a lot of fun.
Phantom of the Open (2021, released widely in 2022)
On the heels of The Duke, this is another British underdog story that is altogether charming, funny and heartwarming. You’d feel bad, surely, for saying otherwise since Maurice Flitcroft is basically Paddington personified – red hat, sunny disposition, endless optimism, and all. Makes complete sense that the writers of Paddington wrote this darling as well.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
It’s hard to pull off a movie set almost entirely in one locale, but this one succeeds. The dialogue, while sometimes a bit too histrionic, is engaging, real, and well articulated. Kudos to Emma Thompson for her incredible vulnerability and to Daryl McCormack for his quiet unraveling.
The Batman
Robert Pattinson as Batman? I’m in for whatever this creatively intelligent actor does and this was no exception. It didn’t make my top 20 but it is definitely worth the time. My one qualm – can we stop putting Paul Dano in creepy roles??
The Eternal Daughter
Symbolism and the theme of memories vs. their reality were both strong but the glacial pacing and lack of resolution strain the movie as a whole. Tilda Swinton, though, on point as always.
The Lost City
No real surprises but a fun adventure ride with the added bonus of playing against Tatum’s usual badass ways. He clearly had fun with this role. And Sandra Bullock is always a pleasure to watch.
I Want You Back
Jenny Slate and Charlie Day. Falling out of love with other people and in love with each other. Formulaic, yes, but endearing, double yes.
Three Thousand Years of Longing
Idris and Tilda are electric, but the plot loses that energy after she makes her ultimate wish. A lot of buildup for an eventual fizzle.
Not Okay
Like Do Revenge, I only watched this because the plot was vaguely interesting and because Zoey Deutch stars in it. The movie is as vapid as her character but it wasn’t terrible for a mindless Saturday night watch.
Do Revenge
Wasn’t crazy about this until the twist near the end. Stayed in for Maya Hawke and that was worth every minute.
Jurassic World Dominion
I wanted to love it because of the nostalgia it evokes. But sadly, the dinosaurs, Jeff Goldblum and the Barbasol can are the best things about it.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Kya and the landscape are WAY more beautifully put together than the book suggests and the characters are pretty two-dimensional. Wonderfully lyrical slow-moving shots of Kya’s drawings but not a whole lot more.
Deep Water
The most intriguing thing about this mystery is the very odd chemistry between Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas.
Ticket to Paradise
I’ll watch anything with Roberts and Clooney even if it’s predictable and watered down. Appeasable enough for all to watch on Thanksgiving but nothing special.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Fell asleep during the last half hour and never bothered to go back. Characters were extremely shallow and ceaselessly boring. I didn’t like Knives Out either though and I realize that’s not a popular opinion!
Jackass Forever
Never saw any of the others. Don’t plan to but this was pretty hilariously raunchy nevertheless.
Amsterdam
The best parts about this were the flashbacks of the trio’s friendship and Christian Bale’s facial antics. But the pacing was really off and by the end the actors looked mostly bored. Then I found out that the general in real life was an imperialist asshole who ravaged foreign lands. Why stretch history to this extent? Just make up the characters and be done with it.
The Bubble
I’ve never laughed less during an Apatow film and I was too embarrassed for everyone in it that I never even finished watching it.
