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