My Year in Film (2022)

Welcome to my eighth annual movies-of-the-year list. After two plus years of dwindling box office numbers, we finally started to see things trend in a positive direction for movie theaters. Top Gun: Maverick made nearly 1.5 billion dollars worldwide. We also saw the continued revolution that is streaming. Many films that were released theatrically became available to watch just 45 days after debuting on the big screen. We also continued the trend of Pixar films (historically a box office home run) going straight to Disney+ with Turning Red. I still managed to go to the theater on quite a few occasions this year, and in total saw 100 films that were released in 2022. Below, you will get those 100 films ranked from worst to best. I'll categorize them all into tiers, as well as give a rating and small blurb for each. I'll conclude with a watch-list of things I want to check out but haven't yet had the chance. And since this is my last "Best Of" list for 2022, I'll also link my other three lists chronicling television, music, and video games. I hope you find films mentioned here that will intrigue, enlighten, delight, terrify, and amaze you.

Awful:

100) Jurassic World: Dominion (1.5/10) - The final installment of the reboot trilogy commits every possible sin a sequel can commit. They brought back the original cast, in hopes the nostalgia would make up for the total lack of originality. Spoiler - - it doesn't.

99) Do Revenge (2/10) - The script of this movie wants to have it's cake and eat it too. If your main characters prove to be awful human beings that do awful things throughout the entire runtime, you can't expect an audience member to react positively to said characters facing no actual repercussions for their actions.

Below Average:

98) Dog (2.5/10) - If you love dogs and/or love gazing at Channing Tatum for two hours, you'll likely be reasonably entertained. But if you desire a fresh perspective on the road trip formula - - you won't find it here.

97) The Lost City (2.5/10) - Another Channing Tatum vehicle that I found to be mediocre. It's a comedy/adventure that fails on both fronts. I've loved a lot of Tatum's work over the years, but 2022 was not a banner year for him.

96) Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (3/10) - While there are some fun visuals and gags from the creative mind of Sam Raimi, the script here is complete garbage. They commit character assassination of Wanda Maximoff and the central relationship between Stephen Strange and America Chavez is woefully underdeveloped.

95) Deadstream (3/10) - I'm a sucker for found footage horror films and there are a few things to like about this 2022 entry. Executing the formula via a live-stream is a fun way to modernize the concept. While the main character here is intentionally written to be a douchebag and that provides a few laughs, it's still a challenge to spend an hour and a half with such a personality.

94) One Piece Film Red (3.5/10) - Red is the 15th film in this ongoing anime production. I don't want to speak too negatively about it, because it was my first time watching any One Piece work, and therefore didn't have any knowledge of the characters, rule-sets, or world. All I can say is that this isn't a great introduction to the universe as a stand-alone experience.

93) Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (3.5/10) - While the animation is stunning, the story here doesn't come close to living up to the previous film installment in the Super saga (Broly).

92) Elvis (3.5/10) - The presence of this film in the Best Picture category at the Academy Awards was an absolute joke. While Austin Butler's performance as Elvis is worthy of praise, the nicest word to describe the direction by Baz Luhrmann would be "amateurish." I also don't think telling the story from the perspective of Elvis' promoter was the right choice.

Average:

91) The Outfit (4/10) - This is a low budget, single location thriller. Mark Rylance makes the most of the material, which unfortunately suffers from a subpar final act.

90) Beast (4/10) - The direction by Baltamar Kormakur is lively and engaging and Idris Elba gives a committed performance. The issue is the script, which adds unnecessary family drama when the fight for survival is all that's needed.

89) Thor: Love and Thunder (4/10) - Outside of an excellent turn from Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher, this feels like a poor man's Ragnorak in every conceivable way.

88) Lightyear (4.5/10) - I was really excited for Pixar to venture into the Sci-Fi genre but this was a relatively safe endeavor that doesn't adequately expand on the classic character.

87) I Want You Back (4.5/10) - Charlie Day and Jenny Slate play Peter and Emma, who were both recently broken up with and subsequently device a plan to try to ruin the new relationships of their exes in hopes that will win them back.

86) Violent Night (5/10) - David Harbour does a commendable job as an ass-kicking Santa Claus. There are some fun Christmas based puns and the action is reasonably entertaining.

85) The Bad Guys (5/10) - This animated feature offers a rudimentary perspective on being a good person. There's little to no messaging here worth pondering as an adult.

84) Scream (5.5/10) - A new cast brings some life to this long running franchise. Scream VI is already out at the time this blog post will be published.

83) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (5.5/10) - Another fun action-adventure in this sequel of the video game adaptation. The cast of characters is expanded, which unfortunately takes a bit of the emotional punch away from Sonic's personal journey.

82) Fall (5.5/10) - A fun low budget thriller about two women who attempt to climb a two thousand foot tower in the desert. As one would probably guess, it doesn't go off without a hitch.

81) Jackass Forever (6/10) - While there are genuine moments of hilarity in here and the level of commitment to the bit is truly exemplary, there's far too many pranks that are purely about the performers pain tolerance, which simply aren't as fun to watch. I could be in the minority here, but I don't want to watch Johnny Knoxville suffer a literal concussion in an attempt at entertainment.

80) The Black Phone (6/10) - Director Scott Derrickson and actor Ethan Hawke team up again for another horror entry after working together on Sinister. Based in Denver in 1978, Hawke plays a child abductor nicknamed "The Grabber." While the film is well made and features interesting insights on abuse, it lacks actual scares and offers no lingering unease.

79) Men (6/10) - Director and writer Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina, Devs) is one of my favorite artists of recent years. Despite Men having an intriguing set-up and a strong central performance from Jessie Buckley, the film as a whole is less than the sum of its parts.

78) The Redeem Team (6/10) - A competent chronicling of the 2008 United States Olympic men's basketball team and the pressure to regain supremacy of the sport on the world's biggest stage.

77) Confess, Fletch (6.5/10) - Your mileage may vary on the quality of the humor in this Jon Hamm led vehicle. The mystery is treated as a means to an end, so the comedy makes or breaks the film.

76) Breaking (6.5/10) - Based on a true story from 2017, this thriller stars John Boyega as a former military man that has been shorted his rightful compensation for his service.

75) Stutz (6.5/10) - Jonah Hill directs this documentary focusing on his therapist and friend, Dr. Phil Stutz. There are a few nuggets of wisdom to be gained here, and Stutz does have an engaging personality. The relationship between the subject and Hill comes off as incredibly genuine and heartfelt.

74) Babylon (6.5/10) - This is a very divisive film that bombed at the box office. Director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land, First Man) just tries too much here. Typically you have to choose whether your film is going to be a more plot-oriented vehicle, or if it's going to be a character study. He attempts to do both here - - largely succeeding at making a compelling plot (one focused on the transition from the silent film era to talking pictures) while miserably failing at creating compelling characters.

Above Average:

73) Significant Other (6.6/10) - In this thriller, a couple goes on a camping trip and over the course of the weekend something happens that permanently changes their relationship. The script intentionally leaves out the inciting incident initially, making you wonder which one of them has actually undergone a change.

72) Honor Society (6.6/10) - A fairly standard coming of age flick with a strong lead performance from Angourie Rice. I didn't particularly care for how one of the key supporting characters was handled.

71) Hustle (6.7/10) - As a huge basketball junkie, seeing a competently made film about the basketball industry is a legitimate joy. Using actual professional basketball players (Juancho Hernangomez, Anthony Edwards) allows for the films on court scenes to have an authenticity and electricity that other basketball films lack.

70) Till (6.7/10) - This true story is based on the abduction and lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955 and his mother's (Mamie Till-Bradley) activism following the racially motivated murder.

69) Cyrano (6.8/10) - A well choreographed musical with solid performances and direction.

68) Smile (6.8/10) - A respectable horror film that takes elements from previous genre standouts like It Follows and The Ring.

67) Triangle of Sadness (6.8/10) - Director Ruben Ostlund was recognized for this film by the Academy for Best Picture despite this being one of his weaker efforts (Check out Force Majeure if you haven't yet). Much like Babylon, there's obvious technical expertise on show, but the emotional component is lacking.

66) Not Okay (6.9/10) - Zoey Deutch (Set it Up, Everybody Wants Some!!) plays Danni, a compulsive liar who ends up becoming famous over a fabrication on social media. Danni is clearly unhappy, and thinks the fame will be the solution to her problems. After she makes a genuine connection based on her lie, she has to decide what's truly important.

65) See For Me (7/10) - A very intriguing premise in which a blind house sitter has to navigate a break-in to the residence. The title relates to an app that has seeing people be the eyes for the visually impaired. Could you guide a blind person to safety in a life threatening scenario?

64) The Duke (7/10) - This story is based on the actual theft in 1961 of the Portrait of the Duke of Wellington. It takes a while to sink its teeth into you, in part because they gloss over the excitement of the robbery itself. But the second half of the film, that focuses on the trial, is gripping spectacle.

63) Resurrection (7.1/10) - A very disturbing horror film about a women that has to re-live past trauma when a man forces his way back into her life. Rebecca Hall is mindbogglingly good in this and her performance is worth the watch on its own.

62) The Batman (7.2/10) - There's lots to like about the most recent grim Batman installment. Robert Pattinson is as magnetic as ever, the cinematography is fantastic, and the mystery is compelling. My main issues involve the length (2 hours and 56 minutes) and the forced romantic side plot.

61) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (7.2/10) - The absence of Chadwick Boseman is ever present. Fortunately, the film doesn't just gloss over that fact, instead opting to discuss his loss and the immense grief that comes with it.

60) Vengeance (7.3/10) - This dark comedy has a lot going for it. It's frequently funny, it features a really fun turn by Ashton Kutcher, and it has some interesting political messaging to boot.

59) Bodies Bodies Bodies (7.3/10) - A reunion of old friends quickly evolves into something much more sinister when one of the group is found dead. Alliances are formed, trust is shaken, and as the title suggests, more than one person perishes.

Good:

58) Turning Red (7.5/10) - A coming of age story from Pixar about a Chinese-Canadian girl in the early 2000's going through puberty. Director Domee Shi (Bao) crafts an extremely authentic feeling film based on her own childhood experiences.

57) Avatar: The Way of Water (7.5/10) - Much like the original, this James Cameron project has groundbreaking computer generated imagery (CGI). Purely as a visual feat, it's an unbridled success. Unfortunately, I have plenty of issues with the script, most notably how the character of Neytiri is handled.

56) Speak No Evil (7.6/10) - A Danish couple (Bjorn and Louise) meet a Dutch couple at a wedding in Tuscany. After a second chance encounter with the family, Bjorn and Louise, along with their daughter (Agnes), are invited on a weekend trip to the countryside in the Netherlands. Despite having a good initial impression, as the weekend progresses, they become increasingly uncomfortable with their decision.

55) Werewolf By Night (7.6/10) - At just under an hour long, this is an short but rewarding Marvel experience that pays homage to horror classics like Nosferatu and The Wolf Man.

54) Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (7.7/10) - While there have been countless adaptations of Pinocchio over the years, Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth) will always find a unique angle and perspective that has previously gone unexplored.

53) All My Friends Hate Me (7.7/10) - This British dark comedy involves a man who goes on a weekend trip to visit some old friends. Director Andrew Gaynord puts the audience in the protagonists shoes for what appears to be a very bizarre few days. But is he an unreliable narrator? Is the man we're watching so self absorbed that it's impossible to decipher what behavior is actually erratic?

52) Watcher (7.7/10) - A woman moves to Romania with her boyfriend after he gets a new job. She finds herself wandering the city while he's at work and becomes paranoid at the prospect that someone is stalking her. A slow burn of a thriller with plenty of psychological tension.

51) X (7.7/10) - The first of a horror trilogy by Ti West (Part 3: MaXXXine to be released TBA). X focuses on an adult film crew that rents out a guest house in the country to shoot scenes. An elderly couple own the connected property, and they end up being more menacing than they appear.

50) The Sea Beast (7.8/10) - The message of this animated movie, to not make decisions based off of fear and to actually embrace differences, is a valuable lesson for kids. Karl Urban (The Boys) voices the lead character Jacob, who has to choose which side he's on - - with his crew mates who make their livelihood hunting sea beasts, or with a young orphan girl, who questions whether the beasts are the actual threat they've been made out to be.

49) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (7.8/10) - Rian Johnson (The Last Jedi, Looper) is single-handedly keeping the whodunit sub-genre afloat with Knives Out, Glass Onion, and the Peacock series Poker Face. While Glass Onion lacks the same level of sophistication with the actual mystery as its predecessor, it features another fun ensemble cast and a clever screenplay.

48) The Woman King (7.9/10) - Viola Davis and company kick major ass in this action film based on the true story of the Agojie, an all female warrior unit that fought and protected a kingdom in West Africa between the 17th and 19th centuries. It excels as a fun and uplifting story of the perseverance and strength of women.

47) Devotion (7.9/10) - While there's another aviation based film that is much higher on this list (funny enough that also stars Glen Powell), it doesn't take away from this true story being quite thrilling in its own right. Jonathan Majors stars as Jesse Brown, the first African-American aviator to complete the United States Navy's basic flight training program.

Really Good:

46) Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (8/10) - Gorgeous animation, fun action sequences, and a terrifying antagonist makes this sequel even better than the original. There's also a really thoughtful and sensitive portrayal of an anxiety attack.

45) Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 (8/10) - A Netflix documentary on the utter chaos and incompetence surrounding the Woodstock festival in New York in 1999. This three part documentary examines the cost cutting and greed that led to truly awful conditions for the attendees. The bands that were selected were certainly popular at the time, but the event organizers did not consider what type of crowds the more rowdy, rock and metal focused acts would generate.

44) The Menu (8.1/10) - This dark comedy pokes fun at the pretentiousness of fine dining establishments and some of it's clientele. The cast is exquisite. Ralph Fiennes plays the Head Chef that has lost all joy for his craft and has an ulterior motive. Nicholas Hoult plays a foodie who can pinpoint specific ingredients in the dishes but is incapable of cooking a meal himself.

43) She Said (8.1/10) - While this journalistic genre film doesn't hit the heights of something like Spotlight, it's still a fascinating true story of the New York Times reporters uncovering the misconduct and abuse by Harvey Weinstein. This is told in about as straight forward a manner as humanly possible, but the performances by Carrey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan keep things lively and engaging.

42) Bros (8.2/10) - A lovely gay rom-com from the mind of the hilarious Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street). It's unfortunate that this bombed at the box office (I saw it in theaters!) because we need more queer representation on the big screen. There's plenty to like here, from the script, to the performances, and to the earnest love story at its center.

41) Wildcat (8.2/10) - A riveting documentary about a former military man who, given his experience dealing with harsh environments, is uniquely qualified to help raise an ocelot in the Peruvian Amazon. The mission's goal was to reintroduce it into the wild. Director's Melissa Lesh and Trevor Frost frame everything from a humanist perspective, including examining PTSD, suicide, and inter-species bonding.

40) Fresh (8.2/10) - This independent film, along with another movie later on in this list, are hard to discuss in any way without spoiling them. I'll just say that Daisy Egdar-Jones and Sebastian Stan are magnetic as the leads and it's a ton of fun.

39) Bones and All (8.3/10) - Director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) blends a lot of genres into his most recent feature that stars Taylor Russell, Timothee Chalamet, and Mark Rylance. Cannibalism is at the forefront and the title references the process of consuming the entirety of a person. The horror elements are the best bits (pun intended). While the coming of age and romantic elements work at times, they also lead to a tone that can best be described as muddled.

38) Pleasure (8.3/10) - A fictional story about the porn world that utilizes real adult film actors and actresses to craft what feels like a documentary about the industry. It takes you from the beginning stages of a career (building a following on social media, finding an agent, living in a dorm with other aspiring performers), to the actual filming of scenes and deciphering which studios to work for. This doesn't shy away from the harsher realities of the industry, including how performers are programmed to view colleagues as the opposition, and climbing the ladder often involves committing to scenes that are demeaning and dehumanizing.

37) Cha Cha Real Smooth (8.4/10) - The second feature film by director/actor Cooper Raiff. His debut, Shithouse, was a raw and emotional look at leaving for college and learning how to adapt to a new environment. The most recent production works as a spiritual successor, tackling the post college experience and trying to figure out where you want your life to lead. Dakota Johnson, who stars alongside Raiff, is splendid and the chemistry between the two is palpable.

36) Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (8.4/10) - This is the definition of a feel-good movie based on the 1958 novel Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris. Lesley Manville stars as Mrs. Harris, a character that makes everyone around her feel special and often is so empathetic and kind that her own needs and desires aren't met. She lucks into some money and finally decides to pursue a personal dream of obtaining a Dior dress.

35) Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist (8.4/10) - A cat-fishing story that blends sports, religion, social media, and the state of modern relationships all into one extremely satisfying package. It's two episodes so one could argue it's a limited series, but it feels more like a long movie for the purposes of this exercise.

34) Living (8.5/10) - In a rare glimpse at a later-life crisis, Bill Nighy so elegantly evokes a sense of regret at the prospect of his life coming to a close. For someone that lived for decades on auto-pilot, he comes to the realization that he needs to remedy his way of life to truly be happy and make a difference with the little time he has left.

33) The Tinder Swindler (8.5/10) - I couldn't believe what I was watching as I progressed through this Netflix documentary. This is an absolutely insane true story about a con man that wooed women on Tinder and convinced them he was ultra wealthy, only to lull them into a false sense of security and attempt to swindle them later.

32) Enola Holmes 2 (8.6/10) - While not quite as brilliant as its predecessor, this Sherlock Holmes spin-off continues to shine by basing the plot on historically accurate and influential women's rights protests. The inner monologue and fourth wall breaking methods allow for the audience to experience the satisfaction of cracking the case as if they were the one experiencing the epiphany.

31) After Yang (8.6/10) - A reincarnation story told from the lens of an AI. This is a philosophically inquisitive film that asks more questions than it has answers. If you meet it on its wavelength, it's a beautiful, introspective journey.

30) Parallel Mothers (8.7/10) - Prolific film-maker Pedro Almodovar (The Skin I Live In, Pain and Glory) crafts another compelling narrative that exudes melodrama and stunning revelations. While the two separate story lines are both equally compelling, they don't connect to each other in the most satisfying of manners.

29) Petite Maman (8.7/10) - Celine Sciamma's follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a beautiful tribute to the mother-daughter dynamic. While it's hard to live up to my #2 film of 2020, the French writer/director continues to produce wholly unique and emotionally affecting work.

28) Sissy (8.8/10) - In this Shudder original, Aisha Dee plays the titular character Sissy. All from her perspective, we see a women who is seemingly successful, but a run-in with a childhood friend brings up a lot of pent-up feelings.

27) The Innocents (8.8/10) - While this is labeled as a Norwegian thriller, I would more adequately describe it as a horror film. Once you grasp the supernatural element, along with a certain character's disposition, you soon become paralyzed by the impending doom.

26) Thirteen Lives (8.9/10) - Based on the true story of a youth soccer team in Thailand that gets trapped in a flooded cave and the attempted rescue. Director Ron Howard knows exactly how to squeeze all of the drama from the situation. The divers, played by Colin Farrell and Viggo Mortensen, have to figure out how to get to the team's location within the cave, and then also how to get them back out safely.

25) Pearl (8.9/10) - This is the second of that trilogy of horror films by Ti West I mentioned earlier (X). Mia Goth, who also was in X, gets the lead role here and is stellar as an unhinged maniac during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918.

24) To Leslie (8.9/10) - Andrea Riseborough stars as Leslie, a women who wins the lottery at an early age but loses it all through alcoholism. This doesn't break the mold of addiction dramas, but it does feature great performances and an empathetic view of the disease.

23) Emergency (9/10) - A poignant examination of how black people have to think twice about calling the police even in situations where there's no wrongdoing. The script by K.D. Davila doesn't sugarcoat the issues, including the trauma that ensues from being profiled and targeted merely because of the color of your skin.

22) Prey (9/10) - While there have been plenty of Predator sequels and spin-offs, none have reinvented the formula as adeptly as this prequel. The biggest issue I have is that they didn't film it in Comanche, instead opting for English with a Comanche dub.

21) The Northman (9/10) - The most accessible film to date from director Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse). Plot wise this is a simple revenge story, but if you've seen Eggers' previous work, you know there's a lot more to his films than narrative. The cinematography from longtime collaborator Jarin Blaschke is stunning to behold.

Great:

20) The Banshees of Inisherin (9.1/10) - Director Martin McDonagh reunites with actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in another brilliant character study. Like the previous collaboration, In Bruges, this film has a great sense of setting and what a locale can add to a story. Behind the dark humor lies a very astute observation on the ambiguous purpose of life and how we all react differently to the realization that our time is fleeting.

19) Barbarian (9.1/10) - Please don't watch any trailers for this movie - - go in blind. It's a refreshingly original horror film that takes twists and turns that are as shocking as they are effective. The main theme, abuse, is analyzed from multiple different angles.

18) The Fallout (9.2/10) - Jenna Ortega shows why she's a rising star with her turn as a high-school student that survives a school shooting. Director Megan Park shines a light on the impact that these tragedies have and how wide of a net it casts on the victims and their families.

17) Causeway (9.3/10) - An understated character study with two great performances at its center from the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry. An unlikely friendship is forged between two people that have both dealt with intense trauma and are still navigating how to effectively cope.

16) Emily the Criminal (9.3/10) - Aubrey Plaza stars as a young women who is struggling to make ends meet while the people around her are flourishing financially. She makes one seemingly small decision that snowballs into one of the more thrilling films of the year.

15) Belle (9.3/10) - After making a relatively simple family story with his previous film (Mirai), director Mamoru Hosoda crafts an ambitious follow-up that touches on social media, grief, and empathy. This anime re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast premise offers gorgeous visuals, a catchy soundtrack, and an emotionally resonant climax.

14) Top Gun: Maverick (9.4/10) - Like a lot of Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie's recent projects (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Mission Impossible: Fallout), this sequel several decades in the making provides plenty of thrills, crazy stunts, and wonderful set pieces. The script plays it safe, opting for a neutral, unidentifiable foe.

13) Girl Picture (9.4/10) - A Finnish coming of age story that tackles young love and parental influence for good and for ill. The two leads are terrific at exhibiting a uniqueness with their respective characters while simultaneously showing the traits they picked up from their upbringing.

12) Official Competition (9.5/10) - This satirical look into the film-making industry is both hilarious and instructive. This Spanish language film features tremendous performances from the three leads (Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar Martinez).

11) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (9.5/10) - With these lists, I try to combine objective quality and personal taste to come to a happy medium. This Nicholas Cage and Pedro Pascal bro-mance is my favorite film of the year. While the film isn't attempting to be anything more than a fun time, it achieves that objective and then some. Cage gets to play himself, and tackles the self deprecating elements of the script with humility. He also knows exactly how campy he needs to be from one scene to the next given his persona.

10) Nope (9.6/10) - Jordan Peele's third feature film is a truly compelling horror/Sci-Fi hybrid that touches on race in Hollywood and the lengths people will go to generate, consume, and capture spectacle. Keke Palmer is getting a lot of the plaudits for her performance as the brash and energetic younger sister, and rightfully so, but I also have to shout out Daniel Kaluuya, who inhabits an introverted, observant personality type with subtle brilliance.

9) Tar (9.6/10) - I hesitate to say this is Cate Blanchett's career best performance, largely because she's had many magnificent roles over the years, but she is undeniably exceptional as classical composer Lydia Tar. Most films that focus on abuse, manipulation, and power imbalance tend to show things from the perspective of the victim. Director Todd Fields decided on a different approach, instead opting to illuminate the actual methods and rationalization of the culprit.

Masterpieces:

8) Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Aged Childhood (9.7/10) - As Richard Linklater has done with a lot of his work (Everybody Wants Some!!, Boyhood, Dazed and Confused), he goes into the past to create a powerful sense of nostalgia with this rotoscope animation. Jack Black narrates what is a dramatized version of Linklater's childhood in Houston, Texas during the moon race of the 1960's.

7) All Quiet on the Western Front (9.7/10) - An absolutely stunning film-making feat. This World War 1 epic features incredible direction, cinematography, and performances. While it certainly succeeds in showcasing the horrors of battle from all angles, the biggest takeaway from the film is the lasting impact that trauma inflicts upon the soldiers on the front lines.

6) The Fablemans (9.7/10) - Steven Spielbergs filmography includes a ton of classics (Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Indiana Jones). While I don't consider his movies from the last 10-15 years to be peak Spielberg by any stretch, his newest autobiographical coming of age story is the wonderful addition to his body of work. The skills he's accumulated over his life in the business are put on full display here, just on a smaller scale. The specificity of the script allows for incredibly fleshed out characters and mesmerizing moments.

5) Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (9.7/10) - While I know there have been copious amounts of Tony Hawk related documentaries over the years, this tells a deeper tale than simply his skating exploits. Hawk, now 54, can't put down his board, and has suffered countless concussions and other injuries over the years. For someone who has accomplished literally everything there is to accomplish in his particular field, what motivates him to keep pushing, even at the expense of his own health?

4) Happening (9.8/10) - Given the dismantling of Roe v Wade, it's important to recognize what the criminalizing of abortion does to women and the dangers it imposes. This film based in France in the 1960's offers a glimpse at the horrors of forcing women to take matters into their own hands. Anamaria Vartolomei gives a powerhouse performance as a young college student that faces an unwanted pregnancy.

3) The Worst Person in the World (9.9/10) - A look into the livelihoods of the millennial generation. This film doesn't sugarcoat anything, from modern dating to the quest for purpose. Rarely have I ever seen such sophisticated depictions of relationships. The main character, Julie (performed beautifully by Renate Reinsve), falls in and out of love, changes her mind multiple times on her career pursuits, and generally struggles to find consistent happiness. Through it all, director Joachim Trier utilizes an empathetic approach to the characters and their universal dilemmas.

2) Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (10/10) - An incredibly heartwarming, funny, and insightful story on taking risks, appreciating what you have, and the value of our relationships in life. Jenny Slate brings her comedic and dramatic chops to the forefront as a screenwriter and the voice of the lead character, Marcel. It's just an incredibly wholesome film.

1) Everything Everywhere All At Once (10/10) - The Daniels (Swiss Army Man) have a definitively outside the box creative vision. While some viewers might deem certain elements a tad too silly, there's genuine drama, warmth, and depth to this action packed spectacle. While multiple-universe story lines are fairly commonplace now thanks to Marvel, this executes the formula to provide biting commentary on the internet and the negative effects it has on its users. Ke Huy Quan puts in an outstanding performance. His character, Waymond, shows that men don't have to have giant muscles or resort to violence to be strong.

Watch-list:

A Hero

A House Made of Splinters

Aftersun

All That Breathes

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Argentina, 1985

Armageddon Time

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn

Benediction

Broken

Catherine Called Birdy

Close

Cow

Crimes of the Future

Death on the Nile

Decision to Leave

EO

Fire of Love

Flux Gourmet

God's Country

Hellraiser

Hold Your Fire

Mad God

Montana Story

Navalny

Nitram

On the Count of Three

One Fine Morning

Piggy

Saloum

The Cursed

The Eternal Daughter

The Inspection

The Quiet Girl

The Souvenir Part II

The Tale of King Crab

The Wonder

Three Thousand Years of Longing

Vesper

You Won't Be Alone

Thanks for reading! If you haven't seen or heard my other "Best of 2022" summations, check out the links below:

2022 Music:

https://g-bugay.wixsite.com/filmlists/post/my-year-in-music-2022

2022 Television:

https://g-bugay.wixsite.com/filmlists/post/my-year-in-television-2022

2022 Video Game Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hV8gDwvk4ZVazYKiFKgtU?si=epJPfDYOSlO1vFeJ1JcaBQ