This year I ended up seeing 105 new releases and all but 3 were in a theater. I really enjoyed most of what I saw so it was actually quite difficult to compile my annual list of top ten favorites but I finally narrowed it down! As in year's past, my ranking is not based on the critical response or on box office receipts but, rather, on how much I enjoyed each movie and, as ever, it is an eclectic list. (Click on the title to read my original review).
10. CODA
Even though CODA is the type of formulaic coming of age story that we have all seen many times before, it is incredibly heartwarming and I absolutely loved it. This feel-good movie features an exceptional lead performance by Emilia Jones as a young woman trying to find her place in the world as the only hearing member of a deaf family completely dependent on her for its livelihood. It also features a delightful ensemble cast made up of deaf performers who add authenticity to the story. I laughed out loud many times and was reduced to tears by the moving conclusion.
9. Pig
I was not expecting to love Pig as much as I did but this powerful meditation on finding meaning in a meaningless world surprised me. Nicolas Cage (who is hit or miss with me) plays Robin Feld, a man who goes in search of his prized foraging pig after it has been stolen, and he gives one of the best performances of his career. This movie is a complex character study rather than a traditional revenge thriller, which might be disappointing to some, but I think it is absolutely brilliant. While it is definitely a slow burn, everything that happens builds upon the central idea and the resolution is more hopeful than I was expecting.
8. C'mon C'mon
Another movie that really surprised me this year was C'mon C'mon. It took me awhile to become invested but, once I did, I found it to be an immensely moving story about what kids can teach adults and what adults can do to help the kids in their lives. Joaquin Phoenix gives an incredibly warmhearted performance and his chemistry with Woody Norman, who is extraordinary, feels really honest and natural. Not a lot happens but it is a beautiful film about human connection.
Many scenes in The Power of the Dog do not seem important on the surface, and could almost be called mundane, but they are fraught with tension leading to a resolution that took me completely by surprise. Benedict Cumberbatch, in one of his best performances, is unnerving and captivating as someone who feels compelled to assert his masculinity at all times and Kirsten Dunst, in one of her best performances, is haunting as a woman who comes undone after unknowingly changing the status quo between two brothers. I loved the beautiful cinematography and atmospheric score but, more than anything, this is one of the most thought-provoking movies I saw this year.
I am a huge fan of Wes Anderson and The French Dispatch is the most Wes Anderson-like movie that he has ever made! When the editor of the Sunday supplement to the Liberty Kansas Sun located in the French city of Ennui-sur-Blase dies, his staff picks four of the best articles to reprint for its final issue and each story has its own distinct visual style and mode of communication (my favorite is Revisions to a Manifesto). The cast is made up of Anderson's usual roster of actors (with a few new faces) who all give humorous and quirky performances. It is incredibly witty and I laughed out loud through the entire movie.
When I found out that my favorite actor Adam Driver was starring in The Last Duel, I immediately read the book upon which it is based by Eric Jager and I was captivated by the true account of the last legally sanctioned trial by combat in France during the Middle Ages. I think the structure of this movie is brilliant because it shows each character's view the same events and the subtle differences are very powerful. Jean de Carrouges believes he is the hero demanding justice for his wife, Jacques Le Gris believes his actions are justified, and Marguerite de Carrouges believes that she is the victim of both men. The performances are excellent and the scenes involving medieval warfare are spectacular, especially the duel. It is a shame that more people didn't see this because, in my opinion, it is outstanding.
4. Eternals
The critical response to Eternals was very mixed but I loved it! In fact, it is probably my favorite entry in the MCU. I particularly loved how the character arcs and motivations for each of the Eternals are informed by the mythology surrounding their names. I also loved the relationships between the characters and how they are developed in a nonlinear way throughout ancient history to build the narrative cumulatively. Finally, I loved the philosophical debates between the characters about whether humanity deserves to be saved and I think the resolution of this question is beautiful and poignant. Like most movies in the MCU the visuals are gorgeous, the action sequences are a lot of fun, and the score is amazing but it also the most thought-provoking entry in the franchise and I am looking forward to seeing more of these characters.
3. Dune
As a huge fan of the book Dune by Frank Herbert, I think Denis Villeneuve's adaptation is absolutely brilliant. The message about the evils of colonialism, the oppression of indigenous peoples, and the destruction of the environment in pursuit of a valuable resource is supported by a scope that is epic with some truly spectacular and visually stunning sequences (I loved the depiction of the ornithopters and the sandworms). The entire cast is outstanding but I was especially impressed by Timothee Chalamet's portrayal of Paul's journey from resistance to then acceptance of his destiny and Jason Momoa's depiction of Duncan's loyalty to Paul and House Atreides. Hans Zimmer's score is incredibly atmospheric, particularly the chanting of the choir, and adds to the grandeur. I can't wait for the next installment!
I love literary adaptations and The Green Knight is a bold retelling of the classic legend. I usually do not like it when liberties are taken with the source material but the final sequence is incredible and left me sitting in the theater pondering what it means to live with honor long after the final credits rolled. The cinematography is beautiful and atmospheric and the literal and figurative journey taken by Gawain is shown through powerful imagery and symbolism. Dev Patel is riveting in the role and and I was spellbound by his performance. It is a masterpiece and I love it more with each viewing.
1. Annette
My favorite movie this year is the musical Annette. The romance between Henry McHenry, a provocative comedian, and Ann Defransnoux, an international opera star, is incredibly surreal and fantastical as the lines between reality and performance are continually blurred. The use of a puppet to portray their daughter Annette is absolutely brilliant because she is used by both of her parents for their own ends and becomes a real little girl only after she refuses to perform for them ever again. Adam Driver gives a tour-de-force performance that is arguably the best of his career. I was so impressed by his physicality in an expletive-laden and rage-fueled rant during a comedy routine and by his singing ability, especially in the emotionally charged "Stepping Back in Time" and "Sympathy for the Abyss." This is one of the most thought-provoking movies I have ever seen with music (written by Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks) that I can't get out of my head. Every time I watch it, I find something new that blows my mind!
Honorable mentions: Judas and the Black Messiah, In the Heights, West Side Story, The Sparks Brothers, and Raya and the Last Dragon.
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