Since its the end of year, I decided to make a list of my favorite movies this year. This would also be a good opportunity to talk about movies I didn't review this year, considering I only started updating my blog a few months ago. To remind you, these are MY FAVORITES from this year of what moved me and what has been stuck in my head and have convinced me to watch more than once. Everyone is entitled to your opinion or what your rankings are but these are mine.
10. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
This was a movie that a lot of people were not big fan of when it came out. The concept was outlandish. Kogonada decided to make a very Americanized version of a Studio Ghibili movie. But that was not the reason why people did not like it. At least I don't think it is. I think people were expecting this to be a date movie, a rom-com of sorts but like Materialists, this was almost the antithesis of that expectation. The idea of trying to get two people together through a very creepy GPS that takes them through each of their memories, whether traumatic or defining for the other person to experience while also tangibly dealing with it in real time, is alot to handle. Imagine watching this on a third date with someone you're getting to know. Recipe for disaster? Maybe. But I do appreciate the absurdity of two pessimists becoming hopeful in the end through speculative fiction.
9. Good Boy
I was going to put Companion here, but I changed my mind and chose Good Boy instead because it played with a new concept. Shudder, a sub-channel on AMC, has been making low-budget horror movies lately, and their last big hit was Late Night With The Devil (which I also loved) is something you should check out. But I'm not here to talk about that movie. Centered around a golden retriever and his owner going back to his recently passed father's home. There, Indy, the dog, encounters dog spirits that lead him to a sad truth of what had happened in that house. Executed as a dog version of a Stephen King horror tale, it might be on the nose to say that the dog pulled off an Oscar-worthy performance.
8. Hamnet
I was nowhere near underwhelmed with how Hamnet turned out. The main nitpick was, of course, Chloe Zhao. I was not a fan of Nomadland, and I was probably one of the few people who actually enjoyed Eternals. I feel like Hamnet was a good marriage of both. Drawing from a book and semi-historical events, Zhao brings to life an outside perspective on who Shakespeare was while also shedding light on the inspiration for one of his great tragedies. I chose the picture above because it was probably my favorite sequence in the movie. To see this crowd and Agnes in the Globe Theater witnessing Hamlet for the first time with Noah freaking Jupe as the titular character, moved me in ways that I never thought possible.
7. Materialists
I wanted to include this picture of Celine Song because of her response in a specific interview about how unhappy she was with the audience's reaction to Lucy choosing John at the end of the movie. (SPOILER ALERT) just because he was poor, which I thought was very enlightening. People should go watch it, RIGHT NOW! Beyond classicism, Materialists also argue that there are now so many factors that make dating difficult today, including unrealistic expectations to appear desirable. What I also laud Song for in this movie is that she shows how these expectations affect both women AND men, and the lengths they go to get a first date.
6. Frankenstein
This is the closest thing to a faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, and it is executed far better than any recent attempt, all thanks to Guillermo Del Toro. Everything about this movie was gorgeous, from the costumes to the gothic architecture. Even the changes Del Toro made, I could get behind. Still, the main idea that I am so happy about is the inclusion of Creature's perspective, something filmmakers have avoided doing commercially for some reason. Jacob Elordi is surprisingly a great actor and has more range than people give him credit for. I am still sad that this was not released on a wide scale and should have been seen in theaters by everyone.
5. Wake Up Dead Man
I was not a big fan of Glass Onion; you can find my review on this blog. I thought Wake Up Dead Man was a good return to form for the Knives Out franchise, not being flashy and not seeming like a summer movie. (Which I did talk about in this movie's review). The sequel is not great in my book because of the debate between faith and adversity toward religion. It also evoked the grounded, gothic themes that made me fall in love with the atmosphere and tone Rian Johnson introduced in the original film. I am also glad that Hollywood is starting to recognize how talented Josh O'Connor is. I can't wait to see him in the new Spielberg movie.
4. Thunderbolts*
Yes, I was having a considerable debate with myself about which Marvel movie to add here. I decided to go with Thunderbolts*. These B-grade Avengers were a memorable team-up and probably Marvel's attempt to make their own Suicide Squad (and they do it more successfully, might I add). Unfortunately, not many people bothered to watch it because they didn't know much about any of these characters, except Bucky. You could blame it on the oversaturation of Marvel content lately. Still, for those who could appreciate it without having to do the homework, their dynamic was very reminiscent of what they did with the original Avengers. We are also given a threat involving BOTH Valentina and Sentry, two characters who are not killed off because they will be integral to the franchise's future. But a highlight I want to mention is indeed is the writing for this film. The movie has a fascinating take on what depression can look like and on dealing with mental health issues, which reminds me of how compelling this plotline is. But for biased reasons, it's the first Marvel movie to prominently feature a Malaysian landmark.
3. Superman
I chose this picture because when I watched Superman, I was back in Malaysia for the summer, and for some reason, they decided to censor the iconic kiss scene. I was mad and sad that I didn't get to see it, but I finally did when I watched it again on HBO. Superman had a lot to say, and he had a lot of shoes to fill and expectations to meet. It was rebooting the DC movies and showcasing James Gunn as the head of a sub-studio directing the movie. This iteration of the iconic character will stick with me for a long time. Through allegories of world issues and an ethical debate about what one should or should not do in a conflict, I interpret Superman Corenswet's portrayal as an antithesis of toxic masculinity. I could go on and on about it if we ever get into a conversation about how even the parts people had reservations about support that interpretation. It is probably one of the movies from this past year that I wished I had reviewed.
2. F1 The movie
I was flipping between positions for where F1 and Superman should be, but decided to make this decision because F1 was a big surprise from the outset. With Joseph Kosinski at the helm, some of us were doubting how he could pull this off. He not only brings Brad Pitt back to his movie-star status but also makes an enthralling, exquisite film about second chances. It also sparked renewed interest in F1 racing. Hans Zimmer's score fuels me into an adrenaline rush both times I've watched it, and its star-studded soundtrack is a pop gem that still graces my sister's and my Spotify playlists every once in a while. Like I said before, what hooks us into watching is the determination of these characters, and probably should be one of the few good movies about the industry and the influence it makes on the players... or in this case, racers, that surrounds it, which makes it all the more exciting.
1. Sinners
I recently watched Sinners on 70mm, and it was terrifying. That was the loudest movie experience I have had so far, and it elevates the movie to a whole new level, from its visuals to its outstanding score. The idea of marginalized communities transforming into vengeful vampires was what got me wanting to watch this movie in he first place, but with the emotionally charged intentions of these events transpire and the focus on the blues and transformation of music, as well as how that transpires into descendants, I have no words that encapsulate that. It was a hell of a time. I want this to be nominated and win as many awards as it can.
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