THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best MOVIES Of The Year

THE YEAR IN MOVIES - 2022

2022 was a lot of things, but it was undoubtedly a great year for movies. Putting together this list, it really hit me just how large a volume of excellent films we got this past year. I genuinely loved just about every film in my *Top 50* - which is kind of insane. I've already heard the comparisons being made to the most recent year that felt like a truly landmark year for movies, 2007. And I think they just might be valid. Or maybe this year's cascade of films just hits different after the relative draught of 2020-2021 and all of the pandemic-era delays. Whatever the case may be, I feel almost overwhelmed by how much quality filmmaking we were treated to this year ... and I still haven't even seen everything on my to-watch list. 

And yet ... despite all of these great movies, things are looking a bit bleak at the box office. Fans, pundits, and industry folks seem unsure to what extent they should be panicking. But clearly, there's at least a little bit of panicking going on. We're seeing some interesting yet troubling trends at the box office. Movies that are not part of major blockbuster franchises are, for the most part, not doing great. What's clear is that older audiences are not showing up to support the sorts of adult or prestige fair that could typically break out based on great reviews or word of mouth. Younger audiences are still helping to make Marvel movies into huge hits - as well as other films that have some sort of viral buzzworthiness to them, that have a real sense of urgency to be seen in a theater, with an audience. Horror movies had a huge year, and horror proved itself, as a genre, to be one of the most reliable ways to get audiences into a theater in this new climate we find ourselves in. Additionally, movies like Everything Everywhere All At Once showed that original ideas could still make an impact - you just needed material that felt aimed at the younger audience that's still frequenting theaters. 

Of course, movies are in a lot more places than theaters. 2022 continued to see shortened windows from theatrical release to digital and streaming - and it was fascinating to see to what extent consumers did or didn't catch on. Early VOD can now end up as a huge part of a given film's overall revenue, and many seem content to wait for movies to be available at home before watching. Meanwhile, subscription streaming services like Disney Plus heavily promoted the early availability of key films - betting that the longterm subscriber gain would outweigh potential losses to theatrical and digital transactional revenue. The world of streaming is still very much a wild west, with studios seemingly caught between the rock and hard place of wanting to both grow their subscribers while not cannibalizing their more traditional revenue streams. It's becoming increasingly apparent that the current streaming ecosystem is unsustainable. There's too much content, and too much money being spent for not enough return. It's why eyebrows were raised when Netflix gave Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery a limited, pre-streaming theatrical release - only to stick to the plan of pulling the title from theaters after a mere one week of release ... even though the movie performed like gangbusters. It's difficult to wrap your head around - for years, movie studios could weather the ups and downs of their annual hits and flops, because a big hit movie meant major guaranteed profits. With streaming, the true benefit of a hit feels harder to measure - especially given that these services tend to bleed money even if they hit a critical mass of subscribers. Still, putting the business part aside, there's no question that a number of high-quality films debuted this year on streaming. One of my favorite movies of the year, the incredible RRR, was a Netflix exclusive. Hulu launched some really great movies - like The Princess and Prey (which, I've got to say, would have been cool to see on the big screen). Even Roku, of all places, had people rushing to watch its hilarious film Weird. 

I totally understand why many are still reluctant to go to the theater. We're still very much in the midst of a pandemic, and as we got into Fall and Winter, COVID numbers really climbed in a lot of areas. It makes you wonder if movie studios will start more so avoiding big theatrical releases in the colder months if the pandemic continues in similar fashion year after year (let's hope not). Personally, I feel pretty comfortable going to a movie theater as long as I wear a good mask and keep it on at all times. Yes, I miss eating snacks while at the theater. And I really miss seeing the reactions of my friends when their faces are covered. But still, to me, there's nothing like being in a theater, with an audience, and seeing a movie on the big screen. It's still my favorite thing to do. As I've talked about in my other posts, for several months now I've been dealing with Long COVID. It's been difficult for me to do a lot of things due to persistent lightheadedness and dizziness. But luckily, going to the movies - where I'm solely focused on the screen and can tune out everything else happening around me - has been something I have been able to do with relatively little issue (if anything, it's the pre-show crowds and chatter that get me). So I haven't been able to do a lot since June - but I have seen a lot of movies. And I've never been more thankful for movies, as they really are my biggest pastime during all this Long COVID craziness.

I do wonder though ... Lately, I get the feeling from friends and acquaintances that a lot of people are just sort of tuning out. When arguably our best living director in Steven Spielberg releases arguably one of his best movies in years - and it gets such a relatively muted response - something seems broken. Yes, The Fabelmans is a smaller and more personal movie, I get it. But again, I'm just noticing that a lot of people seem disconnected from movies these days. Maybe it's that in this age of endless phone-scrolling and social media dopamine hits, committing a few hours to one, uninterrupted piece of content is just too much? I definitely worry sometimes that we're collectively losing our ability to engage with longform storytelling, that we're unable or unwilling to just let ourselves be immersed in something without distraction. But to me, that's the joy of movies - immersion in another person's story. Letting go and giving ourselves over to the whims of a storyteller. Meeting new characters, going on a new journey - that sense of discovery whenever we begin watching a new film and wondering where it might take us. Don't get me wrong ... I don't think movies are going anywhere any time soon. But I do think we need to inject a little more passion into the movie discourse. Worry less about which major superhero universes will have their hierarchies changed. Put more energy into hyping up what we love and making sure that people know where to find it. 

So if you take anything away from my Best of 2022 list, let it be this: find one movie on this list that you haven't seen, and go watch it. Carve out a couple of hours and get lost in a great film.

DANNY'S BEST MOVIES OF 2022:

1.) Tár

- Todd Fields' Tár is my pick for movie of the year. I had a feeling it would be when I got out of the theater and felt shaken to my core. This is one of those big, bold, thunderous, character-driven films in the vein of classics like There Will Be Blood - a harrowing portrait of one iconoclastic woman's downward spiral and fall from grace. Cate Blanchett, one of the best actors I've ever seen, delivers a career best performance here. If ever there was a lock for awards season, it's Blanchett for Best Actress. She's in every scene of this film, and you can't take your eyes off her for a second. Every word she says feels perfectly calculated, perfectly executed as part of her full-body inhabitation of Lydia Tár - a character so fully-realized that many (me included) initially thought she was a real person. The film slowly unfolds with the rising tension of a horror movie. What starts out, seemingly, as a character study reveals itself as something more. There's a mystery here, a constant sense of "wait, what is this movie?" that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Tár will take your breath away.

2.) The Fabelmans

- Steven Spielberg gives us something special with The Fabelmans. This semi-autobiographical movie tells a poignant, funny, and memorable coming-of-age story through the lens of a movie-obsessed young man. While it's a smaller and more personal film than the kinds of blockbusters Spielberg is perhaps best known for, this one is no less dazzling. Spielberg fills this one with so many incredibly-composed sequences - it's a wonder to watch. Michelle Williams is a scene-stealer as a manic mom trying to hide the fact that her marriage is falling apart. Judd Hirsch shows up for an amazing extended cameo. And, cherry on top, this movie has one of the best endings of any movie I've ever seen - a moment that had me grinning from ear to ear. Even when dealing with the mundane, Spielberg brings his trademark magic to this one.

3.) The Banshees of Inisherin

- Ever since I first saw In Bruges, I've been a big fan of the work of playwright, writer, and director Martin McDonagh. With Banshees, McDonagh reunites that movie's primary actors - Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson - for what may well be his greatest film yet. Banshees is a darkly hilarious and melancholy tale set in McDonagh's native Ireland. And the movie, with it's lush green island setting, looks amazing. But it's the combination of a brilliant script and even more brilliant acting that makes this one so great. Farrell and Gleeson make for a wonderful team, and it's a joy to watch them recite McDonagh's lyrical dialogue. Throw in killer supporting turns from Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan, and you've got an incredible ensemble. I loved this movie. It's a soul-stirring rumination on friendship, family, depression, and mortality. 

4.) Top Gun: Maverick

- One of the best blockbusters in years, and one I definitely didn't see coming. Who would have thought that the decades-in-the-making sequel to a movie that's the embodiment of 80's cheese would be this exhilarating, emotion-filled, and just plain awesome? Top Gun: Maverick works so well because, in an age where so many blockbusters seem overstuffed, with scattershot plotting and muddled action, this one very quickly and clearly establishes the team, their objectives, and the obstacles in their way. What's more, the airborne action is absolutely thrilling, with some of the most intense, nail-biting on-screen aerial combat we've ever seen. Give credit to director Joseph Kosinski. I've been on his bandwagon ever since Tron Legacy, but he absolutely knocks this one out of the park. And yes, give credit to to Tom Cruise. Few other movie stars, ever, bring his level of intensity, charisma, and complete and utter dedication to these kinds of roles. Maverick is a new action classic.

5.) X / Pearl

- What a year it was for horror, and what a year it was for director Ti West. West has been one of my favorites for years now - ever since I saw his cult horror classic House of the Devil. But it was great to see him get so much overdue adulation this year for the incredible one-two punch of X and Pearl. And yeah, I'm cheating and giving them one combined slot in my rankings this year. First we got X - a wildly entertaining homage to classic slasher movie. It was some of the most fun I've had at any movie this year - and it featured a killer double performance from Mia Goth as well. Goth then went on to star in X's prequel, Pearl - as a younger version of one of the characters she played in X (and the surprise trailer announcement that played for Pearl, at the end of X's credits, was one of the coolest movie moments of the year). But Mia Goth in Pearl - holy lord - this was a horror movie performance for the ages. If X was this series' Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pearl was its Wizard of Oz - a technicolor wonder about a young woman wishing to go somewhere over the rainbow, but ending up in a blood-soaked hell of her own creation. Goth absolutely crushes it here. And, bonus: we've still got one more sequel - Maxxxine - coming in 2023! I cannot freaking wait.

6.) Decision to Leave

- Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) is one of our greatest living directors, so I wish that the release of his latest film had come with a bit more fanfare. But if you haven't yet seen Decision to Leave, go watch it asap. It's another hauntingly atmospheric, mind-bending, genre-bending film from a director who rarely misses. This story - about a police detective who falls hopelessly for a mysterious woman, while trying to solve the case of her dead husband, is filled with twists and turns - not to mention amazing performances and masterful direction from Park. It's a neo-noir filed with bad romance, visceral action, engaging mystery, and some of the most eye-popping imagery of any film this year.

7.) Everything Everywhere All At Once

- The filmmaking team known as The Daniels have undoubtedly been making some of the most original, wildly creative, and must-see movies out there for a while now. And they may have created their masterpiece with Everything Everywhere All At Once. Watching this movie felt like strapping on a jet-pack filled with rocket fuel - it's a nonstop, 100 mph roller coaster ride through the multiverse - and it isn't afraid to get really, delightfully weird as it hurtles you on this strange adventure. That said, the magic of this movie is that no matter how crazy it gets, it's also got a big, beating heart that elevates the film beyond just being a quirky novelty. With amazing performances from Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan (and what a comeback story this is for him!), Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Hong, and more - this ultimately becomes a movie about finding one's true place in the universe (or in this case, multiverse). It's hard not to love this film.

8.) Triangle of Sadness

- One of my biggest surprises of 2022. Triangle of Sadness - from Force Majeure writer/director Ruben Östlund - is a savagely satirical film about class, gender, and race that is also riotously funny and entertaining. The movie tells the story of various wealthy socialites on a luxury cruise - and what then happens to them when things on the boat begin to go horribly wrong. The movie features a fantastic ensemble cast (including a never-funnier Woody Harrelson), although Dolly De Leon ends up, perhaps, stealing the show as a beleaguered crew member. There have been a lot of works of late that give us these sort of "eat the rich" social satires - but Triangle of Sadness is a standout that I won't soon forget. It had my theater positively rolling with laughter and applause.

9.) RRR

- I pressed play on this movie sight unseen one night after seeing various social media recommendations, and man, I was not prepared for the awesomeness that awaited. This Indian epic, which debuted on Netflix, is a mythic, larger than life story of almost biblical proportions. It's got eye-melting action, dazzling musical numbers, a dueling-heroes' journey that is instantly iconic, and any number of wonderfully-realized sequences that feel like pure, unadulterated cinema of the highest order. The sheer energy of this film never wavers over its three hour running time.

10.) Babylon

- This late-in-the-year release is already proving to be one of the most divisive movies in a while. People seem to love it or hate it ... but count me as one of this film's big supporters. To me, director Damien Chazelle is one of the emerging mega-talents of the last decade, and Babylon is an absolute stunner when it comes to its directorial craftsmanship. So many sequences in this film are, in my view, simply incredible - from the extended opening that takes place at a wild Hollywood party during the height of the silent movie era, to an instant-classic segment where Margot Robbie repeatedly tries and fails to nail a scene at the start of the "talkie" era of movie-making. Perhaps some went into this one expecting a classic The Artist-like movie about the history of the movies. But that is not this. Chazelle and his great cast instead give us a wild, weird, at times almost Lynch-ian look at the underbelly of an industry that corrupts, self-destructs, and makes deals with the devil. 

JUST MISSED THE CUT:

11.) The Menu

- A darkly hilarious and ridiculously entertaining horror-comedy of the highest order, The Menu was another one that really surprised me this year. The entire cast is fantastic, but Ralph Fiennes steals the show as a psycho chef out to extract bloody vengeance on his spoiled patrons.

 

 

12.) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

- The best MCU film of the year - and perhaps one of the best ever - Wakanda Forever pulled off the impossible. It gave us a sequel to Black Panther that both paid moving tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, and also moved the franchise forward by giving its supporting cast a real chance to shine. An emotion-packed epic.

 

 

13.) Bones and All 

 

- This road-trip cannibal romance showed us a strange love that you also couldn't help but root for. Directed with a stunning 80's-retro aesthetic by Luca Guadagnino, the film feature a breakout performance by Taylor Russell and an incredible supporting turn from Mark Rylance. Rylance's uber-creepy turn here makes for one of the best and most disturbing movie villains I've seen in a long time.

 

14.) She Said

- A riveting and powerful film. Revisiting the Harvey Weinstein story is not easy, and the details remain disturbing. But the movie also spotlights the tenacity and bravery of the reporters who chronicled the story in a way that is inspiring. A top tier journalism movie that stands aside the greats like All the President’s Men and Spotlight.

15.) Elvis

- Baz Luhrmann's ostentatious directorial style proves a perfect match for the story of the larger-than-life persona that was Elvis Presley. While a lot of the story was familiar to me, I'd certainly never seen it told like this. Austin Butler is also amazing in the title role. He completely embodies "The King," while bringing some modern flourishes to the table. And he shines during the musical performances, with an incredible level of dynamism and charisma.

THE NEXT BEST:

16.) Women Talking

- A powerful film. An incredible ensemble cast, and a compelling and timely narrative about breaking free from oppression. The movie tells the story of the women of a shut-away-from-the-world Mennonite colony, who debate whether to flee or fight the colony's violent and abusive men.Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, and Ben Whishaw are each award-worthy. Fantastic work from Sarah Polley as writer/director as well.

17.) The Batman

- With a dark, ominous, moody vibe (enhanced by an amazing score) - this latest film version of Batman was a welcome new take on the character that I'm excited to see more of. The cast was also, top to bottom, one of the best we've ever seen in a Batman film. Robert Pattinson was excellent, as was Zoe Kravitz, as was Jeffrey Wright (and Colin Farrell, and John Turturro, and Andy Serkis ...). Matt Reeves did right by Batman with this one.


18.) The Inspection

- A gripping and powerful film, featuring a remarkable lead performance from Jeremy Pope - not to mention a great supporting cast (including a devastatingly strong turn from Gabrielle Union). An affecting story about a gay man joining the Marines and dealing with bigotry in the military circa 2005, this one shows how powerful film's ability to generate empathy truly is.


19.) The Black Phone

- This one really surprised me. It was gripping and incredibly intense, but also thematically rich, emotional, and even inspiring. The look and feel of the movie perfectly matched its 1978 setting, the cast was awesome - from Ethan Hawke as the creepy villain to Jeremy Davies in a great role to a couple of uber-talented kid actors as the leads. Director Scott Derrickson knocked it out of the park, and C. Robert Cargill's script (based on a story by the great Joe Hill) was excellent. 

20.) Barbarian

- Oh man, what a wonderfully insane and demented horror film. A true audience movie that delights in messing with the viewer - even as it is pointedly satirical and unexpectedly pretty hilarious. Great score too. I'll never forget how much fun I had seeing this one in the theater - it truly had the audience in the palm of its hand. If you haven't seen it yet, read nothing! Go in and watch it cold.


21.) Funny Pages

- Truly one of 2022's under-appreciated gems. Funny Pages is a darkly hilarious slice of life movie, centered around a teen obsessed with underground comics and his desperate attempts to break into that scene. With that said, the film ratchets up to Uncut Gems-esque levels of tension at times - so buckle up. This is a highly entertaining coming of age tale in which every cast member shines.


22.) Brian and Charles

- A quirky British comedy that's full of heart, this story of a lonely inventor and his robot friend completely charmed me, even as it had surprising depth - with so much to say about the human condition. A dash of The Office, a bit of Edgar Wright, a bit of Taika Waititi, and a bit of Frankenstein ... this one really surprised me, and I absolutely loved it.


23.) Bodies Bodies Bodies

- A genuinely hilarious horror satire / murder mystery that has so many fantastic, funny, and biting moments. Perfectly cast across the board with a murderer's row of talented young actors - including Borat standout Maria Bakalova. Some really impressive direction and a cool score to boot. And what an awesome, on-point script. Had a lot of fun seeing it in a theater with a highly-engaged audience.


24.) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

-  It took me a bit to get what this movie was going for, exactly - but once some of the big reveals occurred midway through I was all in, right through to the explosive ending. Rian Johnson's follow-up to the amazing Knives Out is ultimately very funny, whip-smart, and possessing of a nearly prophetic level of spot-on social satire. In addition to the once-again excellent Daniel Craig as world's-greatest-detective Benoit Blanc, Janelle Monáe here is a true standout, delivering an awards-worthy performance that helps to carry the film.


25.) Nope

- It's interesting that with each new film, Jordan Peele seems to be getting a little more experimental with narrative. With Nope, he leans heavily into more abstract thematic explorations - which can at times create a sense of confusion or even frustration. But there's clearly a method to the madness, and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and artfulness and ambition of what Peele does here. The way he blends humor and horror with a Spielberg-ian sense of awe and wonder (if anything, this seems to be his take on Close Encounters) is seriously impressive.

MORE GREAT FILMS OF 2022:


26.) Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio

-  The best animated film of the year, Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio - like so many of the director's projects - is bursting with heart and passion. The stop-motion animation is incredible. And the movie goes to some surprisingly dark and melancholy places, and has a lot on its mind thematically. A cut above other recent animated fare.


27.) Weird

- As a man who to this day considers himself a mega-fan of the legendary "Weird" Al Yankovic - this movie was pure joy on a stick. This hilarious mock-biopic is a throwback to the days of classic absurdist comedies (including Al's own 80's cult classic UHF). It goes for broke and throws jokes and gags and random cameos at you with reckless, wild abandon - and a huge portion of them hit and hit big. This one had me laughing hysterically throughout. And kudos to Daniel Radcliffe for going all-in here - a fearless comedic performance. Seriously.


28.) Aftersun

- Aftersun is a highly affecting, artfully told story of remembered fragments of a father / daughter relationship. Paul Mescal (Normal People) is fantastic in this - few actors have his talent for understated, naturalistic emoting. And Writer/Director Charlotte Wells makes an incredibly strong first impression. She is undoubtedly a talent on the rise, and one to watch.


29.) Avatar: Way of Water

- When James Cameron gets going, he really gets going. No one does meticulously plotted-out set piece action sequences like him - and NO ONE does a climactic final "boss fight" battle like he can. The highly-anticipated Avatar sequel has some shaky moments, but it goes into another gear in its final act, and delivers several fist-pumping "oh $%#@" moments with aplomb and awesomeness. While I don't think it quite lives up to the game-changing original, there's no question that Way of the Water provides a unique, visually-stunning experience that makes it an immersive and must-see technological marvel.

30.) The Woman King

- The Woman King is a true historical epic in the classic Hollywood sense - with rousing moments and great character work that brought to mind films like Gladiator. I also found myself really fascinated with the real-life history behind this movie, as this story of warring African tribes was not one I was at all familiar with going in. The movie is filled with spectacular action, and it's also got a powerhouse performance from Viola Davis to boot.

31.) All Quiet on the Western Front

- What a harrowing film. Filled with shockingly visceral battle scenes, it made me extra grateful not to have lived through the seeming nightmare that was WWI. This film shows its horrors and its futility with seeringly memorable brutality. Strong acting and skillful direction, and a really memorable score as well.


32.) Thor: Love & Thunder

- I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed Love & Thunder. Alternatively hilarious and emotional, it goes all-in on the Taika Waititi-ness. Maybe his humor isn't to everyone's tastes. Maybe his use of an early-80's sci-fi camp aesthetic (think the 1980 Flash Gordon movie) isn't to everyone's liking. But I love the quirky and unique style that Waititi brings to this franchise, and love how much he's able to put his personal stamp on this film. The rocking Guns n' Roses-powered soundtrack is the icing on the cake.


33.) Men

- So yeah, wow, Men - the latest from Alex Garland (Ex Machina) - was a lot to process (and just a bit traumatizing). But Garland's movies are always filled with big, ambitious ideas - and he's one of my favorite filmmakers working today. This one has a lot of his signatures - but also a surreal nightmarish quality a la Aronofsky's Mother. Jessie Buckley is fantastic, and the great Rory Kinnear is sort of mind-blowing in multiple roles. This is a one-of-a-kind film that functions as both surreal folk horror and as scathing self-critique of, well, men. Definitely a cinematic experience I won't soon forget.

34.) Prey

-  Prey combined the big action of the original Predator with a great character journey (with a breakout performance from Amber Midthunder) and unique setting. Dan (10 Cloverfield Lane) Trachtenberg does a phenomenal job here too, proving again that he’s one of today’s best action/thriller directors. A more than worthy entry in the Predator franchise, and the best Predator movie since the original.


35.) Scream

- Believe it or not, until last year ... I'd never seen a Scream movie! But don't worry, I righted that wrong by watching the first four entries leading up to this year's fifth - a very meta "requel" that I highly enjoyed. Great cast, great use of the returning characters, lots of spot-on meta commentary and comedy, and it kept me guessing throughout. It was even surprisingly emotional in parts. A ton of fun.


36.) The Outfit

- Another underrated gem of 2022, The Outfit is a twisty, tightly-written crime thriller featuring another incredible 2022 performance from the great Mark Rylance. Rylance plays an unassuming tailor who begrudgingly ends up working for the mob - but as the movie progresses, we learn there is an unexpected depth to his character that turns the movie on its head. Give this one a watch if you haven't seen it!


37.) Bullet Train

- A very entertaining and clever "Tarantino-like" (which I feel we don't see as often these days) - with a stacked cast of great actors and one of those great, seemingly-effortless movie star performances from Brad Pitt (with Joey King and Brian Tyree Henry also major standouts). Loved the cinematography, lighting, and overall vibe of this one too. Glad I got to see it on the big screen.

38.) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

- A highly enjoyable, highly self-referential film that made me laugh a ton. Nic Cage and Pedro Pascal really go for it here, and there are several moments that I think will soon enter the all-time Nic Cage canon. The movie most shines when it's just riffing on the Cage persona, and letting Cage flow freely with his trademark offbeat line readings (the hardest I laughed the entire movie was literally just the way that, at one point, Cage says "Captain Corelli's Mandolin"). 


39.) The Northman

- The Northman is an interesting, visually-stunning film that feels not quite like anything else. It's a huge, epic action movie, sure - but it also has that special brand of Robert Eggers nightmarish surrealism, mixed with his trademark attention to historical detail. It's unique, to say the least. But I really dug the film, and Eggers remains one of those special filmmakers whose movies I eagerly anticipate.

40.) Armageddon Time

- This film's portrayal of a Jewish family really resonated with me - with a lot of similarities to my own for sure. I thought the movie had a timely message about pushing against the survivalist instincts that manifest in an historically marginalized/oppressed people, and the need to realize that all of us - regardless of religion, race, or culture - are in fact in the same struggle for freedom and acceptance. 


41.) Deep Water

- This Hulu original film was just the right mix of dark and campy. Some very early-90’s thriller vibes here, and I say that in the most complimentary way possible. Stars Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas totally knew exactly what movie they were in, and Tracy Letts has a great supporting turn here as well.


42.) Kimi

- The latest Steven Soderbergh-directed HBO Max original film was another super cool movie from the always interesting director. I love how Soderbergh's last couple of movies just have this feeling of experimentation, where anything seems possible from a plot, genre, and aesthetic perspective. This pandemic era techno-thriller is a skillfully done genre exercise (with some spot-on social commentary to boot) that I really enjoyed.

43.) Turning Red

- Pixar's Turning Red was another great animated film of 2022. This is a very specific story about a girl going through adolescence, but as with many of the great Pixar films, it says something universal even as it's telling a more narrowly-focused story. Despite being a straight white adult male, I still related to many of this film's themes deeply and think others will as well - regardless of age or gender or cultural background. This one's got great characters, gorgeous animation, and tons of heart.


44.) Emily The Criminal

- A super cool and ultra-timely movie about the Millennial struggle to survive financially and spiritually in a rough and tumble world of unchecked capitalism. While thematically it's extremely topical, aesthetically it has a super-sleek 70's thriller sort of vibe. Aubrey Plaza, yet again, knocks it out of the park as the lead. It's one of her best performances to date

45.) Till 

- Till is a powerful drama featuring an incredibly strong, knockout central performance from Danielle Deadwyler. I knew the basics of this real life story, but the movie really makes the tragedy of it all sink in and gets you emotionally invested. I hope they show this film to kids in classrooms - everyone should know the story of Emmett Till. Sadly, it still very much resonates today.

 

46.) Marcel the Shell With Shoes On

- Who knew a little shell could be so profound? Jenny Slate is so funny and creative, and this film - based on Slate's series of digital shorts - is one that's oddly stuck with me since watching it. You can't help but get invested in Marcel the Shell's quest to find its lost family, and you can't help but sort of love this quirky character and the oddball world that Slate's created here. 

47.) After Yang

- I love when a film can use an interesting science fiction concept to effectively deliver a smaller and more personal story, and that's exactly what this one does. Featuring another great 2022 performance from Colin Farrell, this story of a future where androids fill in as family members is memorable and moving.

 48.) Bros

- Bros is absolutely hilarious. Billy Eichner is excellent as the lead, and there are a number of extremely funny cameos - including an amazing role for SNL's Bowen Yang that had me rolling in laughter. In many ways this movie - with its mix of very raunchy humor with very sweet sentimentality - is very much in the vein of your standard issue Judd Apatow movie like The 40 Year Old Virgin or Trainwreck (Apatow is a producer here, Nicholas Stoller directs). But it felt kind of revolutionary to see this kind of story but about two gay men. Cool stuff.

49.) Clerks 3

- The first Clerks was so important to me, and a big part of my journey towards wanting to write movies. This new sequel has a lot of laughs, but I also found it to be surprisingly emotional. I grew up so attached to these characters, and seeing them go through some stuff in this third and likely final chapter really tugged on the ol' heartstrings. I’m glad Kevin Smith got to make this one, by Crom.


50.) Ambulance

- Ambulance is, undeniably, some truly top-tier Bayhem. In fact, this might be one of my favorite-ever Michael Bay films, and it's certainly a long-overdue return to form for the iconic action maestro. Also, Jake Gyllenhaal really goes for it here, playing a completely unhinged psycho who is all sorts of entertaining.

BONUS: 51.) Athena

- Adding this one retroactively, as I watched it in January 2023 and really thought it deserved a place on this list. This Netflix movie is a French action-thriller about two brothers caught on opposite ends of a chaotic conflict, stemming from the death of their other brother at the hands of out-of-control cops. One of the surviving brothers now leads a violent anti-cop revolution, the other tries to quell the uprising as a member of the French FBI. With incredible visuals (much of the movie is shot in a breathtaking, one-take style a la 1917) and a timely premise, this one is well worth checking out.

HONORABLE MENTIONS - OTHER RECOMMENDED MOVIES FROM THIS YEAR:

- Confess, Fletch

- White Noise

- Beavis & Butthead Do the Universe

- 3000 Years of Longing

- Halloween Ends

- Do Revenge

- Spoiler Alert

- Don't Worry Darling

- The Adam Project

- Wendell and Wild

- Something in the Dirt

- Matilda: The Musical

- Rosaline

- Mr. Malcom's List

- Hellraiser

- Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers

- The Sea Beast

- Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

- Watcher

- Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness

- Morbius

- Dead For a Dollar

- The Munsters

- Werewolf By Night

INDIVIDUAL 2022 AWARDS:


BEST LEAD ACTOR:

1.) Colin Farrell - The Banshees of Inisherin
2.) Jeremy Pope - The Inspection
3.) Hae il Park - Decision to Leave
4.) Austin Butler - Elvis
5.) Ralph Fiennes - The Menu


BEST LEADING ACTRESS:

1.) Cate Blanchett - TAR
2.) Mia Goth - Pearl
3.) Michelle Williams - The Fablemans
3.) Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All At Once
4.) TIE: Margot Robbie - Babylon / Danielle Deadwyler - Till


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1.) Brendan Gleeson - The Banshees of Inisherin
2.) Ke Huy Quan - Everything Everywhere All at Once
3.) Paul Mescal - Aftersun
4.) Ben Whishaw - Women Talking
5.) Barry Keoghan - The Banshees of Inisherin

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1.) Kerry Condon - The Banshees of Inisherin
2.) Dolly De Leon - Triangle of Sadness
3.) Jessie Buckley - Women Talking
4.) Claire Foy - Women Talking
5.) Janelle Monae - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story


BEST DIRECTOR:

1.) Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
2.) Joseph Kosinski - Top Gun: Maverick
3.) Park Chan Wook - Decision to Leave
4.) Damien Chazelle - Babylon
5.) Todd Fields - TAR


BEST SCREENPLAY:

1.) TAR
2.) The Banshees of Inisherin
3.) The Fabelmans
4.) Triangle of Sadness
5.) The Menu
6.) Decision to Leave
7.) Women Talking
8.) Everything Everywhere All At Once
9.) Pearl
10.) Bodies Bodies Bodies

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best GAMES Of The Year

 - It was a big year for games, even as the industry continues to face a lot of upheaval. But before I get into that, first thing's first: I finally got a PS5 this year! As 2022 wore on, it finally became not-impossible to get Sony's next-generation console - which was great news for those of us eager to play proper versions of this year's big new games like Horizon: Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok. It was nice to finally be part of the conversation when it came to PS5, and the console - along with a new OLED TV - also finally allowed me to experience 4K gaming and TV/movie watching, which was pretty sweet (I'm still reeling from watching Top Gun: Maverick on a 4K disc - wow!). It will be interesting to see if Sony, now that its latest console is more widely available following pandemic-era shortages, will once again assert dominance over the gaming market like it did during the PS2 era. 

Sony may have a bit of a fight on its hands though to stay at the top. This year, Microsoft continued to buy up major developers - and while we've yet to see many fruits of all these new teams under the XBOX banner - major games like Bethesda's Skyrim-in-space epic Starfield, (potentially) coming out next year, are going to push some gamers to make the leap. Of course, with the current popularity of the Steamdeck console and its ability to bring high-end PC gaming to the masses, it may ultimately be a moot point for Microsoft. Nintendo, meanwhile, is facing an aging but still popular Switch console. Thanks to the continued wave of great indie games that play well on Switch - as well as Nintendo's first party lineup of exclusive games still being relatively strong - the Switch is in surprisingly solid shape even in 2022. And of course, a new Legend of Zelda game - the long awaited Breath of the Wild sequel - is set for 2023. So there's at least something left in that Switch tank. But when will Nintendo unveil a new console? Certainly, one of the big questions for the games industry going into 2023. As for Sony, they continue to thrive thanks to a combination of great third party games as well as their own in-house lineup of killer apps. Sony dropped a knockout one-two punch in 2022 of new God of War and Horizon games, and 2023 looks to be another big year - with Spider-Man 2, among other big exclusives. I've long been Team Playstation due to Sony's continued commitment to publishing great single-player adventure games - my videogame bread and butter - so we'll see if I start getting any console envy for XBOX in 2023.

Of course, one of the biggest games of 2022 was From Software's Elden Ring. It's been fascinating to see the gradual growth in popularity of the "Soulsbourne" series of games - that began with the Demon's Soul / Dark Souls franchise, and then continued with other From Software games like Bloodbourne and Sekiro. These games tend to be long, opaque, and extremely challenging - so I've been intimidated in terms of really trying to get into them. I gave Bloodbourne a try years ago, but just couldn't devote the time to really try to master it, and gave up in frustration. Still, I got caught up this year in the Elden Ring hype. Not only did the game incredible reviews, but it had a world created in part by Game of Thrones' George RR Martin. How could I pass it up? I'm still in the very early stages of the game, but I think I'm starting to "get it" and am eager to play more. We'll see if I am eventually able to fully jump onboard the bandwagon.

More naturally my speed are narrative based games, and 2022 saw some really cool ones. Immortality revived the mostly dormant "interactive movie" genre with an uber-compelling supernatural mystery - where the key to solving it was wading through hundreds of clips from old movies, interviews, and footage to discern what really happened to a disappeared actress. I also loved "the cat game," Stray, which saw you play as a cat as you explore a gorgeously-realized post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world. Then there's The Case of the Golden Idol - a brilliantly conceived mystery game that makes you feel like a regular Benoit Blanc. It's really cool to see the kinds of original, highly-imaginative interactive experiences that games - including the better-than-ever indie games space - are now providing.

Finally, in recent years I talked about how much games helped me deal with the pandemic. Even though I was stuck indoors, I was able to experience all kinds of interactive adventures. This year, games helped me again in a similar way. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the second half of 2022 saw me dealing with various health issues related to Long COVID. There were long stretches where doing much of anything would make me dizzy or lightheaded, and it was difficult for me to go out, see friends, etc. Luckily, videogames didn't seem to trigger my symptoms, and once again, they were a great escape and a great way to manage my anxiety. A lot of my gaming time this past year was taken up by finally finishing one of last year's top games, Psychonauts 2. That game's premise - exploring the insides of people's minds and ridding them of toxicity - proved especially resonant this past year.

I may struggle to find time to play all the games I'd like these days, but I remain passionate about games as a medium. A shout-out, as always, to the fine folks at the Triple Click podcast - who always keep me feeling plugged-in and excited about the latest and greatest industry goings-on. In any case, I still enjoy trying to spread that passion to others, so here are my picks for 2022.

DANNY'S BEST GAMES OF THE YEAR:

1.) Horizon: Forbidden West

- To me, the promise of a new Horizon game was my system-seller for the PS5 - and when I finally got the new console this year, I made a point to purchase the bundle with Horizon: Forbidden West packed in. While it was always going to be hard to top the novelty of the first game's wild post-post-apocalyptic premise, this sequel makes up for a perhaps overly-familiar plot with the sheer wonder of its world and the pure awesomeness of its combat-based gameplay. The game looks amazing on the PS5 - pushing the boundaries of open-world game graphics with incredibly-rendered landscapes. I love the verticality and wide-open nature of the gameplay (as opposed to the more grounded gameplay of, say, God of War). And the combat improves upon the first game to feel smoother, cleaner, and crunchier. It was a pleasure to play as Aloy again, and I'm excited to play a lot more of this one in the year ahead.


2.) God of War: Ragnarok

- Even though I was a huge fan of the original God of War games, I loved the way that Sony evolved the franchise for the modern era. The combat became weightier, the story became much more textured, and the world much more immersive. Now, this new sequel gives us more of what made the previous God of War one of the defining console games of the last ten years - and that's pretty much what we all wanted. The combat once again feels great, the story again features great stuff from Game Award-winning voice actor Christopher Judge as Kratos, and the eye-popping visuals are absolutely second to none. Triple-A gaming at its finest. 


3.) Elden Ring

- As I said above, I'm still trying to level myself up so I can give Elden Ring a real go of it. But even in my novice state, I can still appreciate the massive achievement that is this game. From Software doesn't handhold, and that makes the sense of discovery and mystery something truly special and unique. 


4.) Stray

- I had a lot of fun exploring the broken-down, hauntingly derelict cities of Stray. Somehow, playing as an incredibly life-like cat - but wandering through a city devoid of other organic lifeforms - proved an extremely potent combo. A wonderful showpiece game, this one is a great game to show non-gamers  - the perfect example of what videogames, at their most creative, can be.


5.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

- If, like me, you grew up on the classic beat-'em-up arcade games put out by Konami - then this new, retro-styled TMNT game was a slice of nostalgic 90's heaven. It looks and plays exactly as you'd hope it would, but with plenty of modern upgrades and conveniences. So grab a buddy and relive your childhood - this one is undoubtedly "cowabunga!"-worthy.


6.) The Case of the Golden Idol

- I discovered this PC mystery game thanks to the enthusiastic recommendation of Triple Click, and I've really enjoyed the time I've spent with it. The game creates the illusion of being a master detective, by having you solve mysteries in a sort of Mad Libs style - piecing together who did what, how they did it, and why. It's simple yet brilliant.


7.) Kirby and the Forgotten Land

- Believe it or not, this was my first-ever Kirby game - but I really enjoyed my first foray into one of Nintendo's most storied franchises. The game is a 3D platformer in classic Nintendo style, and, as you might expect, it's incredibly creative, whimsical, and fun. In this one, Kirby can swallow up all kinds of enemies - taking on their various powers/abilities as he does - which leads to constantly shifting gameplay elements. It's a breezy, delightful game.


8.) Immortality

- I still remember, as a kid, how cool it seemed when games began incorporating the then-new technology of "full-motion video" in order to create interactive movie experiences. That genre sort of fizzled, and was seen as a near-forgotten relic of the 90's. But lately, it's making a comeback, with games like Immortal telling interactive stories in really cool and interesting ways. This one's got an awesomely creepy and mysterious atmosphere and really sucks you in. More like this, please.


9.) Rollerdome

- This game's striking, minimalist art style immediately grabbed me - as did its futuristic setting and Rollerball-like premise of Tony Hawk meets Twisted Metal. Skating around in an arena while engaged in fast-paced death matches is a lot of fun, and the unique aesthetic and vibe only adds to the experience. 


10.) Perfect Tides

- Perfect Tides is a late addition to my list - a game I dove into after seeing it pop up on others' Best of the Year rankings. I'm glad I gave it a try - this is a classic, retro-styled point and click adventure game (which I love), but with a unique narrative and setting. This game sees you play as a 16 year old girl circa the year 2000 - who lives in an isolated island community - and it's got a heavy vibe of Millennial nostalgia for the Y2K era. With interesting characters as well as humor mixed with real emotional weight, this is a unique indie game that I definitely recommend.

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best COMICS Of The Year

 

 

THE BEST COMICS OF 2022:

- Well, 2022 was an awesome year for comics. Okay, I'm clearly biased - I'll admit. Because 2022 was the year that my first ever comic book - HALLOWEEN TEAM - released its first two issues. Finally, after years of thinking about creating my own comic - this year, that dream became a reality. I teamed up with the talented artist Matt Shults, and we worked to create, release, and promote our very own self-published comic book. Easily one of my most exciting moments of 2022 - the release of Halloween Team #1 allowed me to finally transition from comic fan to comic creator. A lot of work went into it (obviously, a *ton* of work on Matt's part - especially given that he's penciling, inking, coloring, and lettering each issue!). But there were so many fun and rewarding moments leading up to and after the release. From giving away free physical copies of our first issue for Free Comic Book Day (at the legendary House of Secrets comic book shop in Burbank), to getting press coverage from top sites like Newsarama and Daily Dead, to doing interviews with outlets like Comic Crusaders, to getting awesome T-shirts made via Design By Humans ... it's been one heck of a ride. And it's not over yet! 2023 will see the long-awaited release of Issues #3 and #4, and hopefully even more cool news about the future of the book. So yeah, we did it - we made a comic book! In a year of so many ups and downs and so much craziness, this was my proudest (and coolest!) accomplishment.

Halloween Team aside, I read a lot of really great comic books in 2022. More than that, this was another year where the craziness of the ongoing pandemic - as well as several months (and counting) of Long COVID-related health issues - meant that my weekly comics haul again took on a special meaning for me. No matter how bleak things got - even if I couldn't get out of bed - I always had new books to look forward to each and every week. Clearly, I'm a huge fan of movies, TV, games, etc. - but there's something about cozy-ing up with a new comic book that is sort of, for me at least, the ultimate pop culture comfort food.

I'll admit, there were some much-hyped comic book events and storylines this past year that sort of landed with a thud. But I still managed to find a lot of exciting new stories in, at times, unexpected places. I also continued my recent practice of finding an older comic to binge-read through (okay, binge might be the wrong word, as I tend to do this at a pretty slow pace). In 2022, I read through DC's classic The Question series from the late 80's, written by the late great Denny O'Neil and with art from the talented Denys Cowan. What an interesting, thought-provoking, and unique series that was. 

As always, one of the things I love about comics is the way that, on one hand, I can always turn to old reliable favorites - creators and characters who I've followed for years ... but, on the other hand, there are always new discoveries to be made. In 2022, some of my favorite comics were from longtime favorite writers like Ed Brubaker and G. Willow Wilson. But then there were series like True Kvlt - a completely original concept from a writer, Scott Bryan Wilson, with whom I had zero previous familiarity. I hope that some people will take a chance on my name and on Halloween Team this year in that same way. 

So without further ado, here are my top comics of the year.
 

DANNY'S BEST COMICS OF 2022:


1.) Reckless

- Reckless has been near the top of my list in previous years, but in 2022 I can't help but give it the top spot. Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are simply the best in the biz, and reading each new Reckless graphic novel (of which we got two this year: The Ghost in You and Follow Me Down) is a complete joy. These books - gritty, hard-boiled pulp-noir adventures - tell top-tier, self contained mystery stories even as each volume dives deeper into the psyche of protagonist Ethan Reckless. "Your trouble is his business, for the right price" states the tagline. That said, this year's first new Reckless book, The Ghost In You, shifts its focus to Ethan's erstwhile partner-in-crime Anna - delivering a unique but no-less-compelling adventure. Then, Follow Me Down returned the spotlight to Ethan, taking his story through the end of the 80's and providing some tantalizing hints about his future. To sum up: the Reckless books are the best comics going today - brilliantly written, fantastically realized via Sean Phillips' art, and just the absolute gold standard for great crime fiction, period. Read them asap.

2.) Superman: Space Age

- Mark Russell has been one of my favorite new comic writers of the last several years, but I think he may have created his magnum opus with the superlative Superman: Space Age. The book follows a version of Superman who emerges as a hero in the 1960's, and proceeds to tell a complex, emotion-filled, and downright inspiring story that seamlessly mixes classic DC Comics lore with real-world history.

3.) The Human Target

-Tom King has been one of the biggest "name" writers in comics in recent years, but 2022 may have been his best year yet, pound for pound, as a writer. His stylized noir take on the DC Universe - The Human Target - might be my favorite thing he's written to date. It follows classic DC adventurer Christopher Chance (aka The Human Target) as he seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding his own impending death (after he consumes a poisoned drink intended for Lex Luthor). Somehow, King makes the bwa-ha-ha Justice League of the 80's into the perfect noir supporting cast (and list of suspects). What a cool series.

4.) Love Everlasting

- And here is Tom King again, with this crazy series for Image that's one part tribute to old romance comics and one part meta, mind-bending mystery with a decidedly Lynch-ian flair. The book follows a woman named Joan as she finds herself flung into all manner of melodramatic romance stories that evoke old comics from the 50's and 60's. But as Joan becomes more self-aware of her status as a romance story protagonist, she realizes she's trapped in some strange, hellish nightmare from which she can't escape. What's really going on here? I have no idea, but I'm eagerly reading each new issue to find out.

5.) The Department of Truth

- While it released a little more sporadically in 2022, The Department of Truth was once again one of the best ongoing comics going. Writer James Tynion just keeps getting deeper and deeper into the book's various mysteries and conspiracies - and I consistently can't wait for each new issue's latest twists and turns. And he continues to tantalizingly mix real-world politics with a far-out premise - one that posits that public belief in ideas is what actually manifests them into reality. In the age of conspiracy theory that we live in, it's a disturbing and fascinating train of thought.

6.) Eight Billion Genies

- I've read a lot of writer Charles Soule's work for DC Comics over the years, but I've been loving his latest original series. The premise is insane - one day, every person on earth suddenly gets their own magic genie that will grant exactly one wish. Somehow, Soule milks this premise for humor, horror, and real human drama - and it all works. Bursting with creativity and constantly going in unexpected directions, this is one of my favorite new comic book discoveries of 2022.

 
7.) Regarding the Matter of Oswald's Body

- This gripping miniseries is an action-packed, character driven conspiracy thriller, written by the talented Christopher Cantwell. It presents a fascinating story about a team of misfits, assembled by the US government, to cover up what "really" happened during the JFK assassination. The book's version of what happened is pretty fascinating, but the writing really shines thanks to its memorable characters. Ultimately, the potential fates of these outcasts proves just as compelling as the shocking truth behind the assassination.

8.) Rogues

- Speaking of stories about great characters in a tightly-written thriller, see also Joshua Williamson's crime-caper story Rogues - which presents aging versions of The Flash's classic rogues gallery who've reassembled to pull off one final score. Williamson combines his obvious love for the DC Comics pantheon with a real knack for writing a gripping, heist-movie-esque narrative. The Rogues have long been fan favorites, but this book gives them, perhaps, their most memorable misadventure yet.

9.) Poison Ivy

- After her long run writing Ms. Marvel, I guess I began to associate writer G. Willow Wilson with inspiring stories of true-blue heroism. This year, however, Wilson showed her dark side by penning a series about Batman villain turned antihero Poison Ivy - and I'm glad she did. Her Ivy series is a wickedly awesome character study about a woman filled with righteous anger, hellbent on doing things her way. It's arguably the best-ever story for this long-tenured character.

10.) Gotham City: Year One

- And one more great 2022 series from writer Tom King. What can I say, the guy's been on an absolute roll of late. His new Gotham City: Year One series sees King return to the world of Batman, but in a story set a few generations before Bruce Wayne ever donned the pointy ears. Here, the now aged and extra-grizzled private eye Slam Bradley relates to Bruce how he once helped the Waynes solve the mystery of their kidnapped baby. Slam's story is classic crime-noir fiction, and it's King at the height of his powers. 

 

THE NEXT BEST

 

- Okay, there were a few more comics from 2022 that I just couldn't leave off the list, so ...

 

 

11.) Nightwing

 

- For the second consecutive year, writer Tom Taylor has helped to make Nightwing, arguably, the best and most consistent ongoing book in the DC Comics stable. He's aided greatly by the incredible artwork of Bruno Redondo, which is pure poetry-in-motion.

 

 

12.) Batman (Chip Zdarsky run)

 

- It's still fairly early in the run, but ever since taking over writing duties on the mainline Batman book, writer Chip Zdarsky has been absolutely crushing it. His initial story arc - about a fail-safe anti-Batman android (created, of course, by Batman) determined to kill its creator at any cost - has been an epic instant classic.

 

 

13.) Saga

 

- Saga returned in 2022, only to then begin another long hiatus after a several month run. And that's a shame, because Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staple's humanistic space-opera epic came back as good as ever. I'm eagerly awaiting the book's eventual return, because it's unquestionably one of the best comics of the last ten years.

 

 

14.) True Kvlt

 

- I mentioned above that True Kvlt was one of my favorite new-comic-discoveries of the year. I mean, how can you not sort of love a quirky crime comic about fast food employees gone rogue? The book's obsession with the inner workings of the fast food service industry prove just as fascinating as its crazy Satanic cult storyline. 

15.) Lazarus: Risen

- Okay, Lazarus: Risen only had one new issue in 2022 (granted, it was a huge, oversized issue) - but still, I can't help but include it here because, hey, Lazarus is one of the best comic book series ever - and in 2022 we got closure on a number of key storylines that have been building for years. Writer Greg Rucka is one of the best, and his future saga about a world ruled by warring corporations proves all-the-more-plausible (sadly) with each passing year.

OTHER FAVORITES FROM 2022

- GCPD: The Blue Wall

- Dark Ride

- Stargirl: The Lost Children

- The Nice House on the Lake

- Junkyard Joe

- Batman: Beyond the White Knight

- Batman: The Knight

- Flashpoint Beyond

- I Am Batman

- Detective Comics (Mariko Tamaki run)

- Batman - One Bad Day: Two Face

- The Closet

- The New Champion of Shazam!

- Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty

- The Joker

- Dark Spaces: Wildfire

- Fables

- Firepower

- Batgirls

- Captain Marvel

- Canary

- Superman: Son of Kal-El

 

WRITERS OF THE YEAR:

1.) Tom King (The Human Target, Love Everlasting, Gotham City: Year One)
2.) Ed Brubaker (Reckless)

3.) Tom Taylor (Nightwing, Superman: Son of Kal-El)
4.) James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth, The Nice House On The Lake)
5.) Mark Russell (Superman: Space Age)
6.) G. Willow Wilson (Poison Ivy)
7.) Chip Zdarsky (Batman, Batman: Knight)
8.) John Ridley (I Am Batman, GCPD: The Blue Wall)

9.) Joshua Williamson (Rogues, Dark Ride)

10.) Geoff Johns (Flashpoint Beyond, Stargirl: The Lost Children, Junkyard Joe)

 

ARTISTS OF THE YEAR:

1.) Bruno Redondo (Nightwing)
2.) Greg Smallwood (The Human Target)
3.) Sean Phillips (Reckless)

4.) Fiona Staples (Saga)
5.) Jorge Jiménez (Batman)
6.) Elsa Charretier (Love Everlasting)
7.) Phil Hester (Gotham City: Year One)

8.) Leomacs (Rogues)
9.) Sean Murphy (Batman: Beyond the White Knight)

10.) Martin Simmonds (The Department of Truth)

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 

- When I look back at 2022, it will in many ways be a tale of two halves of a year. Going into 2022, it felt like, after multiple years of pandemic-induced precautions, things might finally be getting back to some degree of normalcy. There were so many things I was looking forward to finally doing again this year - and of course, a big part of that included concert-going.

I had seen some great shows in 2021, but I started 2022 out with a bang by seeing my first ever Sparks concert. I had become an instant fan after seeing Edgar Wright's Sparks Brothers documentary, and I could not wait to see them in person. The February show - at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA -  did not disappoint. The legendary Mael brothers who comprise the band were as amazing as ever, putting on an amazing, career-spanning show. Later, in April, I once again saw one of my all-time favorites, Alice Cooper, in concert at the Greek theater in LA. The concert would prove historic - as it was one of the final Alice shows featuring guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss, who I'd also become a huge fan of over the years. Nita would leave the band that summer to pursue solo efforts, but man, I'm glad I got to see her play with Alice Cooper one more time. In May, I saw the memorable musical Hadestown - featuring songs that evoked classic folk and blues music. In June, I was seemingly recovered from a rough bout with COVID and feeling ready to rock (literally and metaphorically) once again. I saw an incredible "Weird" Al Yankovic show that once again saw Al forego playing his parody hits in favor of original songs and rarities. It was great to see the legendary Al in concert again, and after some major bumps in the road with COVID, things were looking up.

Until they weren't. In early July some of my nagging, lingering COVID symptoms erupted into full-on Long COVID. I suffered debilitating vertigo attacks that then morphed into persistent dizziness, and then into lightheadedness. My blood pressure spiked, I got weird rashes and muscle/joint pains, and had strange bouts of blurry vision. And that, unfortunately, has been the crazy reality that's characterized the second half of my 2022. I wasn't able to go into the office, congregate with friends, or even drive. Through the ups and downs of my ongoing symptoms, I tried my best to still go out when I could. In September, I somehow made it to a live production of Jagged Little Pill - based on the Alanis Morissette album of the same name - at the Pantages theater. And it was fantastic. But overall, I've been very limited these last several months. And I struggled at times to keep my spirits up when so much seemed to be working against me. 

And that, as always, is where music played a huge role for me. I remember the moment I got the latest Interrupters album and gave it a listen. During the height of my Long COVID issues, I heard their song "Jailbird" - and the punk rock anthem felt like the perfect song for that moment. "Strung out adrenaline junkie / My heart pounds, but I look like a zombie / There's wires crossed inside my brain / And broken tracks lead to runaway trains." It's amazing how the right music can take a melancholy feeling and turn it into a rebellious rallying cry. There's some kind of alchemy there that works magic - that lifts us up, inspires us, and energizes us to scream, scratch, claw, and fight no matter how tired we may be. This past year we lost the rock icon Meat Loaf (following last year's loss of his legendary collaborator, Jim Steinman). I always joked that Meat Loaf's songs were so epic that they could make even doing laundry feel like an adventure. Such is the power of a great song. So yeah - long live the spirit of rock n' roll. And as always, for those about to rock: I salute you.

DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2022:


1.) The Interrupters - "Jailbird"

- I've been a huge fan of The Interrupters for years now, and I'm eternally grateful that they help to keep 90's/00's-style punk rock alive and well, while still experimenting and evolving. Their latest album In the Wild was another strong entry in their canon, but "Jailbird," to me, was the standout song. As I mention above, it's a simple fist-pumping punk anthem that nevertheless contains some affecting lyrics that speak to the moment we're in. Dealing with our own health and wellbeing. Trying to get our minds and bodies to function properly. It can all be a lot, but this song turns the despair into a rallying cry.

2.) The Interrupters - "Raised By Wolves"

- One more from The Interrupters. "Raised By Wolves" is a bit less uptempo than a typical Interrupters song, and that speaks to the continued evolution of the band that I mention above. But yeah, this song is one of the band's best - a clearly personal reflection on coming up in hard times and having to fend for yourself and find your own pack. Singer Aimee Allen's soulful wolf-cries are the icing on the cake.

 

3.) Billy Idol - "Cage"

- Yes, seriously. 80's legend Billy Idol had a new album this year, and it contained some genuinely incredible songs - chief among them "Cage," an absolutely banging rocker that will have you pumping your fist in the air like it's 1985. Idol's more grizzled sound - an inevitability of age - only adds to the primal power of this one.

4.) Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs - "Electric Gypsy"

- The 2017 death of the great Tom Petty still haunts me ... but this year I took comfort that key members of The Heartbreakers are still out there, making great classic rock music just like old times. Petty's legendary guitarist Mike Campbell has his own band now, and they put out one heck of an album this year. Check out "Electric Gypsy" for some down n' dirty, blues-y rock that just never goes out of style.

5.) Paramore - "This Is Why"

- Yes, part of me still laments the fact that Paramore moved so far away from their harder-edged hard rock roots. But there's no denying that "This Is Why" is a fantastic alt-rock/dance-rock tune that would get any bar or club (or personal at-home dance party) hopping. Hayley Williams belts out the uber-catchy chorus with aplomb - it's a party anthem for the stay-at-home era.

6.) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Burning"

- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their first new album in several years in 2022, and there appears to be no ring-rust, so to speak. Their music is as atmospheric and immersive as ever, ready-made for epic movie trailer montages and the like. "Burning" is one of those new songs that feels like it's already existed for decades.

7.) Scorpions - "Rock Believer"

- Somehow, Scorpions just keep on truckin', delivering awesome new arena-ready rock anthems year after year, decade after decade. While some may dismiss the band as 80's relics, the fact is that they never really stopped putting out great new rock music. In 2022, we got yet another new Scorpions album - and while not, as a whole, a classic - it does contain at least one certified new classic in "Rock Believer." A bit cheesy? Sure. But in these dark times I'll gladly take a bit of cheese with my crazy-burger.

8.) Ghost - "Darkness at the Heart of My Love"

- Ghost has really emerged as one of my favorite modern rock bands - a weird but potent mix of Smashing Pumpkins goth-metal and 80's-style over-the-top arena rock. "Darkness at the Heart of My Love" has that goth-horror tinge for sure, but at its heart it's a good, old-fashioned, slow-building 80's-style power ballad. So get ready to pump your fist and play some air guitar along with this one.

9.) Falling in Reverse - "Zombified"

- This year, the WWE wrestler formerly known as Paige - now going by her given name of Saraya - made her long-awaited return to the wrestling ring for ring for rival AEW. Her grand entrance was made all the more epic by the kickass rock song that accompanied it, and I was immediately curious about this new entrance theme. Turns out, it's a new song from band Falling in Reverse - and it rules. All you need is that opening growl of "zombified!" to know you're about to get rocked.


10.) Avril Lavigne - "Love Sux"

- It's no secret that I've long had a soft spot for Avril Lavigne's brand of brash, bratty pop-punk - and this year she came out with a legitimately great new album that was a return to 2000's-era Avril that was sure to give Millennials everywhere a rush of nostalgia. "Love Sux" is maybe my favorite from the new album, a ridiculously shameless rock song with lyrics like "let's play a game of tic-tac-toe /
I'ma go and make all my exes say 'Oh." If that kind of stuff is your jam, then yeah, Avril came through for you in a big way in 2022.

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best TV Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2022 - The Best TV Shows of The Year

- Wow, it's been a while. 2022 has been ... a year. Some extremely cool and exciting things happened, and some extremely not-so-cool and not-so-exciting things happened. But through it all, pop-culture was there in abundance and helped to get me through the tough times. So I'm excited to finally sit down and write out my annual year in review posts - because there was SO much great content this year, and a lot of it ultimately has special meaning to me given the circumstances in which I enjoyed it. 

As for TV, there was seemingly more TV than ever this year. Seriously, I watched a lot. Like, a lot. And yet my list of still-need-to-watch series remains extremely long. So yeah, apologies in advance for not including such favorites as The Bear, Star Trek: Discovery, and Station 11 on this list. Hopefully I'll circle back to some of those series in 2023. That said - I joke, but we once again find ourselves in a seemingly unsustainable TV ecosystem. Several major, studio-backed streaming services competing for market share. Cable and network TV, more so than ever, struggling to attract viewers - with this year's Better Call Saul finale, airing on AMC, feeling like the end of an era for a certain age of cable-driven prestige TV. 

There's a glut of content - much of it not getting the awareness or time needed to have a decent shot at attracting an audience. I was so disheartened earlier this year, for example, when the breathtakingly original HBO Max sci-fi series, Raised By Wolves, was unceremoniously canceled after a second season that launched with extremely minimal fanfare. I think it's also increasingly difficult for non-franchise series to compete with the pull of Disney's regular stream of Star Wars and Marvel series. TV has traditionally been a medium where original ideas can thrive, and I hope it stays that way even in the face of so much new content based on massive IP (even if a lot of that content - i.e. the impressively sophisticated Star Wars drama Andor - was pretty damn good). 

It's interesting to think about - the golden era of modern prestige TV has ended ... so where does that leave us now? It does sometimes feel like we've gone from an era of consistent A-level series to a lot of good-but-flawed B+ content. I think a lot of us will, for a long time, look back with wistful fondness on the halycon days of The Sopranos, Lost, Breaking Bad, Justified, The Americans, and Better Call Saul. And I say that, but ... I also know that there were an absurd number of great TV series this past year. So much so that I've been agonizing over my Top 10 list, worrying that I'm leaving out some absolutely killer TV. 

So let's get to it. Here's the list.

DANNY'S TOP TV SHOWS OF 2022:


1. BETTER CALL SAUL

- With as much great TV as there was in 2022, #1 was an easy choice for me this year. Better Call Saul's final season was a masterclass in writing, direction, action, and in damn good television. Fans will eternally debate which was better: Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul. But the fact that anyone is even having that conversation is a testament to the remarkable talent of Vince Gilligan and his team of writers, Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn (where's her Emmy?!), and the rest of the incredible cast, and all the many others who brought this superlative show to life. One of the great TV series of all time, and it ended on the highest of high notes.

2. RESERVATION DOGS

- If you haven't seen Reservation Dogs, get to it. This Hulu dramedy, about wayward teens lost in place on a Native American reservation, is alternately hilarious and moving and poignant. The cast is filled with breakout talent, the writing is second to none, and the show has genuinely taught me so much about a culture and way of life that I had only passing familiarity with. I hope there's a lot more of this series to come.

3. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

- It's always a pleasure to see a great TV comedy just completely find its groove. And that's what happened with Season 4 of What We Do In the Shadows, which fired on all cylinders and was an absolute joke machine. The five main cast members crush it every time, the characters are now TV comedy icons, and some of the episodes in S4 had me absolutely rolling with laughter. Time to give this vampire sitcom its due - it's up there with the all-time great comedies.

4. THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES

- Thank the lord for Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Jody Hill. The trio behind such dark comedy classics as Eastbound & Down and Vince Principals is working their unholy magic once again with HBO's gemstones, and it's a joy to behold. The series brilliantly and hilariously satirizes Big Religion while also delivering a surprisingly epic saga of family power struggle.

5. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

- Just when you thought cable TV was dead ... AMC releases this delightfully dark series about the undead. Forget what you know from the 90's movie, this series takes the Anne Rice source material in several bold new directions, using its lead to tell the story of a black, gay man in 1910's New Orleans - whose life is forever changed when he's bitten (and smitten) by the mysterious vampire Lestat. Brilliant writing and acting make this one an absolute must-see.

6. STRANGER THINGS

- I didn't anticipate that this latest season of Stranger Things would rank so high on this year's list, but man, after a bit of a lull, S4 brought it. This year, the show delivered its best season since the first, packed with memorable character moments, creepy horror, and epic action. I mean, "Running Up That Hill" - need I say more? Okay, how about Eddie Munson rocking out to Metallica's Master of Puppets in the Upside Down? I'm geeking out just thinking about the awesomeness. It was great to see Stranger Things in top form once again.

7. THE AFTERPARTY

- In a year filled with great murder mysteries, this Apple TV series stands out as maybe my favorite. The story of a high school reunion gone wrong, the show had the brilliant conceit of framing each episode from the point of view of a different character - with each ep taking on an appropriate genre trapping that reflected the POV character. And so we got, for example, the brilliantly hilarious Ben Schwartz-led musical episode - one of the best and funniest episodes of TV I've ever seen. More, please.

8. ATLANTA

- The final season of Atlanta was a tour de force, cementing it as one of the best ever. Long ago, Donald Glover and co. established this as a series that could do literally anything with a given episode - but even so, I never expected things like a late-series ep that took the form of a mockumentary about how Disney's first black CEO created A Goofy Movie in order to reflect the black experience. This final season was one hell of a send-off, filled with hilarity and poignancy and randomness. End of an era.

9. THE WHITE LOTUS

- This is a surprise. I was a big fan of the first season of The White Lotus, but this year's S2 - even if it took a little while to really get going - ultimately became something truly special. Mike White is simply a master when it comes to exploring social dynamics. This season was funny, awkward, and then, in the incredible finale, ridiculously gripping. What a cast, too - from Aubrey Plaza's wound-tight newlywed to Jennifer Coolidge's nervous-energy-filled socialite. It's a tribute to this season that we all went from "wait, another one?" to "a new White Lotus every year, please."

10. HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

- Okay, I was kind of torn about which series to give the #10 slot here. And let's face it, House of the Dragon got off to a slightly rocky start, had some fits and starts, and had a huge legacy to live up to as the first official spin off of Game of Thrones. But then ... I kept coming back to that one scene. Paddy Considine's Viserys, weakened and near death, making that long walk to the Iron Throne one final time. I mean, it doesn't get more epic than that. And I can only hope that we're in for more such epicness in future seasons. Because if we are, this is going to be one kick-ass show.

The Next Best:


11. THE HANDMAID'S TALE

-For anyone who gave up on The Handmaid's Tale, I've got some news for you: this show just had a pretty amazing season - its best in years. S5 brilliantly focused on the rocky relationship between June and Serena, taking it in many unexpected directions.

12. SEVERANCE

- This Apple original has one of the most compelling series premises in a while: a near future world in which people can "sever" their brains in order to experience a work life that's completely separate from home life. Of course, this all leads to intriguing mystery, conspiracy, and lots of weirdness - all delivered in thrilling and often darkly funny fashion. I'm excited for S2, no question.
 

13. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING

- S2 of this excellent Steve Martin / Martin Short / Selena Gomez vehicle matched S1 in just about every way - a compelling whodunnit, plenty of hilarious schtick from its two comedy legends, and more great characterization for their younger companion, played with wonderfully sardonic wit by Selena Gomez.

14. OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH

- Taika Waititi's subversive pirate saga was one of the best new series of the year. While at first I assumed this would be, essentially, What We Do in the Shadows but with pirates - this one proved to be a very different beast. Anchored by the amazing Rhys Darby, Our Flag is often extremely funny, but is also a surprisingly soulful and nuanced look at heavy concepts like masculinity and sexuality.

15. ANDOR

- 2022 saw some really fun Star Wars content (I'll still go to bat that The Book of Boba Fett was a lot of fun), but who saw this one coming? Andor is Star Wars as true prestige TV - with writer Tony Gilroy lending real gravitas and grittiness to this story of a rogue turned reluctant rebel. The series takes a little time to hit its stride, but by the time we get to the episodes set in one of the Empire's work-camp prisons (featuring an amazing supporting turn from Andy Serkis) - hot damn, business picks up. 

16. THE GREAT NORTH

- The best and funniest new FOX animated sitcom in I don't know how long, The Great North is poised to take its place alongside the greats like The Simpsons, King of the Hill, etc. With an amazing voice cast (including Nick Offerman, Will Forte, and Jenny Slate), the show is a great comfort-food watch that never fails to make me smile.

17. SEARCH PARTY

- I binged through all of Search Party leading up to its early-2022 fifth and final season - and if you haven't seen it, I'd encourage you to do the same. I love the show's cast (Alia Shawkat! John Erly!), its guest stars (Jeff Goldblum is fantastic in S5), the way it deals with Millennial aimlessness and angst (better than almost any other show ever), and the way it isn't afraid to go pretty much anywhere (S5 gets into insane sci-fi/horror territory in a way I was not expecting whatsoever). I will miss this show.

18. RAISED BY WOLVES

- One of the toughest cancellations of 2022, I was so bummed when HBO Max gave Raised By Wolves the proverbial axe. Especially because it felt like, after two seasons, the show was still just scratching the surface of the epic story still to come. But man, this show was just a mind-bending blast of dark, hardcore, horror-tinged sci-fi that evoked classics like Alien and Blade Runner. In a fair world, its cast would get Emmy noms and the show would have six seasons and a movie.

19. THE REHEARSAL

- Nathan Fielder, of Nathan For You (quasi) fame, finally returned to TV in 2022 for his most talked-about project yet. The Rehearsal was some of the most flat-out compelling and awkwardly hilarious TV I've ever seen, and it walked that fine line between reality and fiction in a way that only Fielder can really do. What was real here and what was staged? Who can say. But that is, I think, exactly the conversation that evil-genius Fielder wants us all to be having.

20. PEACEMAKER

- Okay, so let's state this upfront - Peacemaker has maybe the greatest opening credits sequence ever in TV history. But, it also saw James Gunn take a DC Comics D-lister and make him the lead in one of the funniest, weirdest, and most entertaining superhero comic book adaptations ever. Who knew John Cena had this in him? This is, easily, his role of a lifetime.

21. WESTWORLD

- Personally, I don't get those who jumped ship on Westworld. Okay, perhaps it struggled, over the years, to live up to its zeitgeist-y first season. But there's IMO no denying that its fourth and final season was truly top-notch science fiction TV. The show boldly took its premise to new places - a mysterious world in which every aspect was controlled by Tessa Thompson's Charlotte Hale and Ed Harris' Man in Black, where only synthetic freedom fighters (played by the always great Aaron Paul, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and Evan Rachel Wood - among others) stood in their way.

22. COBRA KAI

- After having fully caught up on Cobra Kai last year, I was excited to jump into the latest season and get even more awesomely melodramatic line-readings, epic fight scenes, and pro-wrestling style face and heel turns. Cobra Kai is just a ridiculous amount of fun, and an easy show to love if you're of a certain age.

23. RESIDENT ALIEN

- I've really developed an affection for SYFY's lovable alien dramedy. Alan Tudyk is so effortlessly hilarious as an awkward extraterrestrial who's taken on human form. But the show also does such a great job with its large supporting cast, really creating this feeling that, with each episode, you're visiting all your old friends in a quirky small town. Don't sleep on this one.

24. THE BOYS

- Season 3 of The Boys gave us more timely superhero satire that pulled zero punches. Antony Starr keeps getting better and better as sadistic superman Homelander, and his highly meme-able facial expressions are always a highlight. Give props too to Erin Moriarty as Starlight, who, as was the case in the comic book series, is so often the heart and soul of the show.

25. BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD

- Paramount Plus' revival of Beavis & Butthead is, believe it or not, freaking fantastic. Series creator Mike Judge proves himself as genius as ever with these latest episodes, which alternate between segments where Beavis & Butthead are teens, and ones where they've aged in real time and are now middle-aged losers (even more haplessly and hilariously pathetic than ever). For years, lazy critics blasted this show as being dumb. Time has shown that, if anything, it was (and continues to be) brilliantly prophetic.

Just Missed the Cut:

- The Sandman

- Ms. Marvel

- She-Hulk

- Barry

- Wednesday

- Stargirl

- Winning Time

- The Book of Boba Fett

- Harley Quinn

- Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities 

- Big Mouth

- Rick & Morty

- Picard

- Mr. Mayor

- Murderville

- American Horror Story: NYC

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:


The Best TV Heroes of 2021:

1.) Ms. Marvel - Ms. Marvel
2.) Cassian Andor - Andor
3.) Starlight - The Boys
4.) Eddie Munson - Stranger Things
5.) Wednesday Addams - Wednesday

The Best TV Villains of 2021:

1.) Gus Fring and Lalo Salamanca - Better Call Saul
2.) Homelander - The Boys
3.) Serena Joy Waterford - The Handmaid's Tale
4.) Terry Silver - Cobra Kai
5.) Charlotte Hale - Westworld
 

The Best TV Anti-Heroes of 2021:

1.) Peacemaker - Peacemaker
2.) Lestat and Louis de Pointe du Lac - Interview with the Vampire
3.) Saul Goodman - Better Call Saul
4.) Rhaenyra Targaryen - House of the Dragon
5.) Harry Vanderspeigle - Resident Alien